District of Squamish has been working to develop a plan for car-free days in Squamish.
It was one of the several activities the district was engaged in the past few months with its goal of ‘Shift Beyond the Car’.
‘Shift Beyond the Car’ is among the actions the district is working towards under its Climate Change Action Plan.
From April to October, the district worked with a university student to research successful examples of car-free days in other communities, and to develop a plan for such days in Squamish.
The plan involvs hosting car-free days once a week during warmer seasons, possibly in combination with farmers’ market.
Another action towards moving away from the car involves creating and printing user-friendly, waterproof, pocket-sized maps that show how to travel around Squamish by bike.
The district also provided funding and support for the October GoByBike week to make up for cancelled spring event and build support for the new event, previously called the Bike to Work Week.
For its ‘Shift Beyond the Car’ plan, the district will also support and incentivise high-density infill development along the core transit networks.
Density will be prioritized around neighbourhood nodes and in mixed use areas through additional housing forms, such as row housing, suites, density bonuses, and reductions in parking requirements.
The district is also working with a team of graduate students at UBC to research neigbourhood nodes and come up with a detailed analysis of the benefits of nodal development.
Transportation planner is also continuing to work with BC Transit toward increasing levels of service and improving transit infrastructure, including the transit maintenance facility.
Transportation planner is also making transit fares available in additional locations in Squamish and advertising the locations/times that fare products are sold.
Ihor Zalubniak says
Can’t say I support this. Simply wont go to the areas included in this “prohibition”. Don’t ride a bike, only go to the areas to shop and considering the weight of stuff won’t take the bus. Density bonuses for parking reduction. How many times does it have to be said, “ we are a geographically isolated community that relies of individualized transportation”. Of the numerous new members of our community, how many currently or even in the next 3 to 5 years can expect to be able to walk or use public transport to get to work. Or is it thought that the majority will work from home and never travel out of the core. As for the sources of the statistics and models, again, “we are a geographically isolated community” and planning must incorporate that fact.
Cheers’
Ihor Zalubniak says
Car free days? Invite tourists to drive to Squamish and then park their cars and walk down to the farmers market. What’s the statistic on how many people attending the farmers market are local vs tourists.
N_Dj says
Such an exaple of vasting tax payers money, yes this is the bigest problem in multi-million population of Squamish metrople, noting is more urgent… And, plan to close the Sea to Sky Hwy as well, you know it goes through the city…
Donald Patrick says
Too many thinkers being paid for nothing…. take your dreams somewhere else. Who can go out shopping to support local business and return to home base on transit… like what does a back pack allow …. get out of the dream world and save some money…. these intellectual students are just parasites and seems they are being supported by those that are spending other people’s money… wake up and smell the coffee.
Alex says
The dear staff at City Hall are under the illusion that if they take away parking spaces, cars will disappear.
They would be a little more credible if they closed the parking lot beside City Hall including the Mayor’s reserved spot and THEY walked/bussed to work.