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South Mississauga leads the pack on biking and walking
2008-05-08 21:32:25.000
As the City embarks on developing its long-overdue master plan to remake Mississauga into a cycling and walking place (the first of four public input meetings takes place Saturday), officials can consider themselves fortunate to have a comprehensive report to draw upon already in their pocket.
The report came out of a workshop, Creating a Great Waterfront Community, held earlier this year. More than 50 residents and members of area community organizations took part in generating a variety of ideas and concerns.
The event was organized by VIVA Port Credit (Village Inspired Vision Alliance), and facilitated by Walk & Bike for Life, a national organization based in Port Credit whose mission is to raise awareness of the benefits of walking and cycling.
“It’s a very democratic document because it actually does reflect the input of the participants. That’s why it’s called a community-led action plan,” said VIVA chair Dorothy Tomiuk.
Although the ideas are geared towards the lakeshore district, they can be applied throughout the city, said Gil Penalosa, executive director of Walk & Bike for Life.
“Good ideas are universal. They can be adapted easily anywhere if there’s a will,” said Penalosa, who last October left the City of Mississauga, where he worked on the project, Building the City for the 21st Century.
Like Tomiuk, Penalosa says the report presents the community’s ideas, comments and suggestions.
And what are they?
For starters, residents want Lakeshore Rd. from the Toronto border to Oakville reduced from four to three lanes. The centre lane would be reversible (eastbound traffic in the morning/westbound in the evening) and the fourth lane used for a physically-separated two-way bike lane. The idea’s not exactly novel because it has been successfully implemented in many cities. What’s intriguing, however, is that it could be up and running within a year and at minimal cost.
Other recommendations include installing secure bike racks in GO stations, schools, community centres, libraries and other gathering places. Residents would also like to see Lakeshore during morning hours on weekends. For pedestrians, improving signage and maintaining sidewalks during winter months is a good first step.
“We call these ideas petunias because, as you know, that flower is easy to grow. They are ideas that you can get going quickly — that will give everybody a boost and encourage everybody for the long haul,” said Tomiuk.
Long-term actions, those in the two to five-year range, are more ambitious.
“All arterial roads should be ‘complete streets’ that are designed, built and maintained with pedestrians, cyclists, public transit and cars — in that order — in mind,” said Penalosa.
Workshop participants drew inspiration from all over the world — Copenhagen, Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Bogota and, closer to home, Vancouver and New York City.
A Mississauga that’s geared towards a healthy lifestyle, noted Penalosa, will not only enhance the city’s quality of life, but leverage its economic competitiveness.
“In an ever more globalized world, the best people, whether they are carpenters, artists, engineers or medical doctors, can live anywhere in the world. Why would they choose to live in Mississauga and not Vancouver or Sao Paulo?” he asked.
Tomiuk is extremely optimistic.
“There’s a confluence right now,” she said. “All around the world the most successful cities put walking and biking first. It’s exciting.”
jchin@mississauga.net
The report came out of a workshop, Creating a Great Waterfront Community, held earlier this year. More than 50 residents and members of area community organizations took part in generating a variety of ideas and concerns.
The event was organized by VIVA Port Credit (Village Inspired Vision Alliance), and facilitated by Walk & Bike for Life, a national organization based in Port Credit whose mission is to raise awareness of the benefits of walking and cycling.
“It’s a very democratic document because it actually does reflect the input of the participants. That’s why it’s called a community-led action plan,” said VIVA chair Dorothy Tomiuk.
Although the ideas are geared towards the lakeshore district, they can be applied throughout the city, said Gil Penalosa, executive director of Walk & Bike for Life.
“Good ideas are universal. They can be adapted easily anywhere if there’s a will,” said Penalosa, who last October left the City of Mississauga, where he worked on the project, Building the City for the 21st Century.
Like Tomiuk, Penalosa says the report presents the community’s ideas, comments and suggestions.
And what are they?
For starters, residents want Lakeshore Rd. from the Toronto border to Oakville reduced from four to three lanes. The centre lane would be reversible (eastbound traffic in the morning/westbound in the evening) and the fourth lane used for a physically-separated two-way bike lane. The idea’s not exactly novel because it has been successfully implemented in many cities. What’s intriguing, however, is that it could be up and running within a year and at minimal cost.
Other recommendations include installing secure bike racks in GO stations, schools, community centres, libraries and other gathering places. Residents would also like to see Lakeshore during morning hours on weekends. For pedestrians, improving signage and maintaining sidewalks during winter months is a good first step.
“We call these ideas petunias because, as you know, that flower is easy to grow. They are ideas that you can get going quickly — that will give everybody a boost and encourage everybody for the long haul,” said Tomiuk.
Long-term actions, those in the two to five-year range, are more ambitious.
“All arterial roads should be ‘complete streets’ that are designed, built and maintained with pedestrians, cyclists, public transit and cars — in that order — in mind,” said Penalosa.
Workshop participants drew inspiration from all over the world — Copenhagen, Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Bogota and, closer to home, Vancouver and New York City.
A Mississauga that’s geared towards a healthy lifestyle, noted Penalosa, will not only enhance the city’s quality of life, but leverage its economic competitiveness.
“In an ever more globalized world, the best people, whether they are carpenters, artists, engineers or medical doctors, can live anywhere in the world. Why would they choose to live in Mississauga and not Vancouver or Sao Paulo?” he asked.
Tomiuk is extremely optimistic.
“There’s a confluence right now,” she said. “All around the world the most successful cities put walking and biking first. It’s exciting.”
jchin@mississauga.net