Thought you would enjoy a shot of the 9 remaining MPlanners in our fancy robes. I think Pat said something about photoshopping the rest of the class in. We missed you guys!
Hope all is well where you are,
Erika
Monday, May 25, 2009
It's Official
For the non-facebookers,
Thought you would enjoy a shot of the 9 remaining MPlanners in our fancy robes. I think Pat said something about photoshopping the rest of the class in. We missed you guys!
Hope all is well where you are,
Erika
Thought you would enjoy a shot of the 9 remaining MPlanners in our fancy robes. I think Pat said something about photoshopping the rest of the class in. We missed you guys!
Hope all is well where you are,
Erika
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Cycling the Danforth
Hello all,
An interesting article from today's Globe and Mail:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090520.BIKE20ART2302//TPStory/Front
It seems as though authorities in Toronto are beginning to warm to the idea of cross-city bicycle lanes. Toronto's transportation network has always baffled me; although the city has one of the continent's best public transit systems, it also gave itself entirely up to the 'freeway method' of urban revitalization in the twentieth century, and continues to extend these roads. Though its many inner city neighbourhoods have fine-grained, walkable streets, once one hits the downtown, this pedestrian comfort is extinguished would-be-Manhattan streetscapes of wind-channeling towers, massive surface parking lots, billboards, and wailing taxicabs. And from what I understand, the city is a beast to cycle in.
It's interesting that they've chosen the Bloor-Danforth for the east-west alignment of the proposed bicycle route; I've always been under the impression that circulation throughout that area would be pretty amenable to cyclists (wider right-of-ways, slower traffic). I've heard from a couple of people that cycling College or Queen Streets is a real pain in the butt (pardon the pneumatic pun).
It's kind of disheartening, though, that Councilors and the powers-that-be might side with the few businesses along the Bloor-Danforth that are rallying against such changes. If a cycle lane removes a few parking spots, it could of course impact restaurants who rely on wealthy, drive-to-the-door senior clinetele for a good chunk of their business, and who require a few stalls right in front of their establishment.
This the type of case in which planners need to be steadfast in the face of nagging business voices. I'm certain BIAs as a whole will be supporting the initiative, if for no other reason than the bicycle is currently de rigeur amongst cocktail-swilling twentysomethings and is even leaching its way into the pantlegs of the Creative Class. Quick bicycle routes means easier access to retail strips across the city. They represent a leap of faith on behalf of the same authorities who helped produce the current Torontonian traffic miasma.
- Ken
An interesting article from today's Globe and Mail:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090520.BIKE20ART2302//TPStory/Front
It seems as though authorities in Toronto are beginning to warm to the idea of cross-city bicycle lanes. Toronto's transportation network has always baffled me; although the city has one of the continent's best public transit systems, it also gave itself entirely up to the 'freeway method' of urban revitalization in the twentieth century, and continues to extend these roads. Though its many inner city neighbourhoods have fine-grained, walkable streets, once one hits the downtown, this pedestrian comfort is extinguished would-be-Manhattan streetscapes of wind-channeling towers, massive surface parking lots, billboards, and wailing taxicabs. And from what I understand, the city is a beast to cycle in.
It's interesting that they've chosen the Bloor-Danforth for the east-west alignment of the proposed bicycle route; I've always been under the impression that circulation throughout that area would be pretty amenable to cyclists (wider right-of-ways, slower traffic). I've heard from a couple of people that cycling College or Queen Streets is a real pain in the butt (pardon the pneumatic pun).
It's kind of disheartening, though, that Councilors and the powers-that-be might side with the few businesses along the Bloor-Danforth that are rallying against such changes. If a cycle lane removes a few parking spots, it could of course impact restaurants who rely on wealthy, drive-to-the-door senior clinetele for a good chunk of their business, and who require a few stalls right in front of their establishment.
This the type of case in which planners need to be steadfast in the face of nagging business voices. I'm certain BIAs as a whole will be supporting the initiative, if for no other reason than the bicycle is currently de rigeur amongst cocktail-swilling twentysomethings and is even leaching its way into the pantlegs of the Creative Class. Quick bicycle routes means easier access to retail strips across the city. They represent a leap of faith on behalf of the same authorities who helped produce the current Torontonian traffic miasma.
- Ken
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
"Hey" from the other coast
Hey Everyone,
I'm at the public library in San Luis Obispo right now, making use of their free internet. "San Luis Obispo" might sound Mexican, but it's not. It's about halfway between LA and San Francisco. I bailed at the last minute on my Mexico plans; the combination of travelling on my own in Mexico + Swine Flu was just a bit more than I was comfortable with.
It's been a great few weeks so far. San Francisco is a fantastic city. We walked for miles and miles, from the Castro to the Mission to Pacific Heights. The quality and diversity of beer in these parts is pretty impressive. The Deschutes Brewery Pale Ale and views from secluded hillside pocket parks go very well together.
Rachel flew back to Vancouver after our SF and "NorCal" explorations, and I've since made my way south via the coastal highway. It's been fun meeting locals and travellers. It's taken some time for me to gain comfort travelling on my own and meeting people, but learning that's been a good experience in itself.
It has been great to be surfing again. The swell has been pretty minimal, but that matches my skill pretty well, and it's been enough to make for some sweet sweet rides.
I hope you're all well. I'm happy to know a bunch of us are still in Halifax, holding down the fort, so to speak.
Later,
Graeme
I'm at the public library in San Luis Obispo right now, making use of their free internet. "San Luis Obispo" might sound Mexican, but it's not. It's about halfway between LA and San Francisco. I bailed at the last minute on my Mexico plans; the combination of travelling on my own in Mexico + Swine Flu was just a bit more than I was comfortable with.
It's been a great few weeks so far. San Francisco is a fantastic city. We walked for miles and miles, from the Castro to the Mission to Pacific Heights. The quality and diversity of beer in these parts is pretty impressive. The Deschutes Brewery Pale Ale and views from secluded hillside pocket parks go very well together.
Rachel flew back to Vancouver after our SF and "NorCal" explorations, and I've since made my way south via the coastal highway. It's been fun meeting locals and travellers. It's taken some time for me to gain comfort travelling on my own and meeting people, but learning that's been a good experience in itself.
It has been great to be surfing again. The swell has been pretty minimal, but that matches my skill pretty well, and it's been enough to make for some sweet sweet rides.
I hope you're all well. I'm happy to know a bunch of us are still in Halifax, holding down the fort, so to speak.
Later,
Graeme
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