tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10100067.post6437179259726242784..comments2024-01-14T14:15:01.131-06:00Comments on The Rise and Sprawl: In praise of normal city spacesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10100067.post-76306774641181172522010-09-03T23:05:04.775-05:002010-09-03T23:05:04.775-05:00lonely, that is!lonely, that is!Spugsleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05514502163560568920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10100067.post-983588485242207992010-09-03T23:03:37.153-05:002010-09-03T23:03:37.153-05:00Yes, Sophia, I agree that Vancouver gives us many ...Yes, Sophia, I agree that Vancouver gives us many valuable lessons. I just wish more 'Peggers were actually paying attention. Winnipeg is so far behind in terms of sustainable urban fabric, it's a bit frightening. Alas, we are a city utterly dominated by the automobile, and lots of bad planning decisions flow from that. Why densify when there is soooo much cheap land to be had? Plus, greenfield development is easiest and most profitable for developers. Since governments don't put any limits on them, and since gasoline is so cheap, why should they stop? The status quo is a powerful force, indeed.<br />Call me crazy, but even if we could magically create some non-polluting fuel for cars, I would still argue for more walkable streetscapes and increased transit. Automobiles are such a horrible misallocation of precious resources, and are so damaging to human habitats. Some cities, like Copenhagen and Vancouver, "get it" and are planning for the future. I agree that our only hope is through the political process. But Winnipeg is a very slow moving, conservative town (notwithstanding our socialist streak) and much education needs to be done. I just hope passionate people like yourself are able to stay here to improve our lonley little outpost.Spugsleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05514502163560568920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10100067.post-48454247865676871622010-09-02T01:39:09.637-05:002010-09-02T01:39:09.637-05:00Spugsley, you cannot be more correct about having ...Spugsley, you cannot be more correct about having more sensible policies in the city. A government that supports it is the only way it will happen. For awhile I was jaded about how much concern Winnipegers have, and it is very evident online... probably moreso offline? I just spent my summer in Vancouver and was very impressed with Gregor Robertson's council, and the all-around civic engagement happening around me. Maybe I was lucky to land in an area where my surrounding environment spoke to me like that. Over 2 million people, what were the chances I met the great, intelligent people I met. Anyway, to sum it up I'm very excited at this late hour to read these conversations. I would love to hear any thoughts, suggestions and connect with any of you reading out there: http://ywg.posterous.com<br /><br />Also I remember finding this blog in its early years, following it as I travelled through my educational career at the faculty of Architecture in U of M. However I was too afraid to say anything or felt like I didn't know enough. I still feel that way haha. Very happy to see you are still posting!Sophiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04624436100955253930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10100067.post-81856299674634399512010-08-24T22:07:04.462-05:002010-08-24T22:07:04.462-05:00This proposed pedestrian mall is such small potato...This proposed pedestrian mall is such small potatoes. It's sad really. And have they actually been to Ottawa lately? Sparks street is deserted most of the time.<br />Rather than planning stunts can we just have some sensible "meat and potatoes" policies to increase our urban density? Let's start with a moratorium on additional parking spaces in the downtown, shall we?<br />And the 'burbs need just as much help as the downtown if you ask me. What we need is a concerted effort from all levels of government to improve our urban habitats. There are two lynchpins of this policy: better transit and increased density. Both must be pursued in tandem, or the wheels fall off the cart (the ox cart, if you want a local flavour).Spugsleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05514502163560568920noreply@blogger.com