Simone_s_off

YouTube video by Vox Road signs suck. What if we got rid of them all?

Interesting video about the concepts of shared spaces. Go take a quick break and watch it
youtu.be/VUbsFtLkGN8

And I love that they do it VERY slowly. They are the best "traffic calming devices"! 😁

Niiice! I used to completely avoid Beach/Pacific when trying to get to the bridge from the west end and went down some alleys instead, but that wasn't ideal either. So happy there is a better way now!

I didn't know they added a bike lane there! So now there is a safe way to get from Beach Ave to Burrard bridge?

I'm not opposed to it, I'm just trying to defend a very adequate building design. Don't let perfect be the enemy of good!

I did not comment on the article (which is well written), but on your post criticising the street connections of some projects and, I'm sorry but I don't think you're a very good judge of that, based on a tweet I remember very well

I looked at the plans of both applications and don't see why one is superior to the other. Maybe you can enlighten me?

It is! the bike counter on Smithe Street was cut so often, I think the City gave up on repairing it. Last time it was cut, they just removed it.

bike counter with cut cables on a bike lane.

In Vancouver, some people are so afraid of data that they regularly vandalize city infrastructure.
This is the second time in a few weeks that the cables of this particular bike counter have been cut.

You should read the books of Jan Gehl, he does exactly what you say: study social interactions and what types of places that foster connections and which ones don't and explains what makes for good/bad places better than I do.

The point I was kind of trying to make was that you keep on advocating for these ambiguous "open spaces" which are exactly the kind of spaces that look good on plan but never get used because there is no reason for a resident to randomly sit in front of their lobby, other than waiting for a taxi...

The benches and little libraries are usually placed on the boulevard/sidewalk, not on private property. And you can hand out Halloween candy in a lobby. It's actually quite fun to have a space were several neighbours can come together to do that instead of standing at your door by yourself.

I never said there can't be any other amenity on the block. But we're talking about your criticism of this one specific project!?

so, project number one (10th and Carolina) will be a central hub for community gatherings, but project number two is a walled off fortress of solitude. I just don't see it....

no, the daycare doesn't make it less closed off, but the huge playground does.
And if you have that much space dedicated to a community amenity, you just have to accept there might not be space for other things such as community gardens and cafes.

There's a building in my neighbourhood that has space for residents right beside the sidewalk and I've never seen anyone using it. Those semi-public spaces that are neither here nor there usually don't function well.

Pierre Poilievre has been in politics for 20 years, he's written 0 legislation; has one of the highest pensions in government. He's voted against the environment & climate nearly 400 times, derailed legislation to benefit workers, and voted against affordable housing initiatives.

To me you lost all credibility of judging "street connection" when you portrayed (over on the other site) a building with lot's of glazing facing the street, outdoor spaces with a bit of landscape buffer and a daycare on the ground floor as an impenetrable fortress...

my thoughts exactly!

Nothing beats the hollow brick they use in Austria/Germany, though! Solid, great sound and thermal insulation and way more sustainable than concrete.

That's why I bought an e-bike that allows me to take the battery off, when I lock it up somewhere outside. If you remove the battery, you make the bike a lot less interesting to thieves. Plus I use two heavy duty locks, not a problem to carry them on an e-bike.

Great resource for your future shopping trips!

YouTube video by CBC News Trudeau: Canada will retaliate with 25% tariffs on $155B of U.S. goods

Here's the speech if you haven't heard it. 13 minutes of your time. Share it with your American friends and neighbours, because they won't see it otherwise. Circulate it in Mexico and Denmark, France and the UK, Panama and Germany, Poland and Estonia, and especially -- especially -- Ukraine.

Doug Ford is counting on cold weather keeping us at home instead of at the polls.

Let’s stay cozy and vote by mail!

Applications to vote by mail close on Feb. 21. Start the application now and you’ll have plenty of time to make sure your vote counts on Feb. 27.

votebymail.elections.on.ca

#OnPoli

Amazing!

yes, it took me a few years as well to get the the setup right (and have enough motivation), but once you have it figured out, it's great. I have to admit, the biggest game changer for me was getting an e-bike, which allows me to bundle up and be cozy, without worrying about getting too sweaty!

Thanks! I'll have to share the praise with Vancouver, which makes it very easy somedays to take nice photos :)

winter bike lane with trees on both sides, the ocean beyond and the sun rising.

Some people say commuting by bike in the winter is miserable.
Counterpoint:

How is it possible that within seconds, an entire campsite books up for the entire summer?