Vision slate wants car free Sundays (free ice cream up for debate)

The "We're not really a slate" slate of Visionites Kash Dhaliwal, Kerry Jang and Andrea Reimer wants a three-month trial run of car free zones in Vancouver. It's true, they sent it in an e-mail just now.

Subject: RELEASE: Time for Car Free Street Trial

For immediate release – Monday, September 8, 2008

Davie Day Highlights Need for Car Free Street Trial
Reimer, Jang and Dhaliwal Call for Three Month Trial in the Punjabi Market, West End and Commercial Drive

Vancouver, BC – Andrea Reimer, Kerry Jang and Kashmir Dhaliwal joined forces today to call for a three month Car Free Street trial program on Sundays in summer 2009 in three popular commercial streets: Commercial Drive, the West End and the Punjabi Market area of Main Street. Reimer, Jang, and Dhaliwal – all seeking Vision Vancouver’s nomination for city council – made the call the day after the 5th Annual Davie Day once again drew large crowds.

Said Reimer, “It’s an incredible thing to see the community come together when the roads are opened up to people. When we can safely enjoy time outside with friends and family, an area like the Davie Village gets transformed from a congested street choked by cars into a vibrant public space.”

Reimer added that Vancouver is behind the times on car free streets with weekly pedestrian street openings taking place this summer in many global cities including Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, London, Paris, San Francisco and New York, where 7 miles of Park Avenue went car free every Sunday in August.

Car free streets have been shown to have large economic pay-offs. In many studies, reducing vehicle traffic speeds and improving walking conditions significantly increased retail sales and property values. The annual Car Free Commercial Drive Day has borne this out with merchants reporting an 80% increase in retail sales.

Said Dhaliwal, “Opening up the streets on Sunday in areas like the West End or the Punjabi Market would be a major boon for the local merchants. It’s also a chance for arts and culture to be on display and a more integral part of people’s lives.”

Jang added that the benefits go beyond economic. In Bogota, Colombia, the car free Sunday "cyclovia" brings 1.5 million people into the city's streets and has been credited with huge increase in public pride and safety, and decrease in crime and congestion.

“Over the past several years community volunteers have pulled together an annual Car Free Commercial Drive Festival, despite the absence of leadership on this issue from City Hall. It’s been so popular that volunteers from other areas expanded it into a community-led Car Free Vancouver Day that attracted 100,000 people in four areas. We’re saying it’s time for elected officials to listen to the people, take leadership and make this a weekly event next summer,” concluded Jang.

Meanwhile, Gregor Robertson has just sent out an e-mail endorsing all the incumbent Visionites:

Subject: GREGOR ROBERTSON ENDORSES FOUR VISION CITY COUNCILLORS FOR NOMINATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Release

Monday, September 8, 2008

GREGOR ROBERTSON ENDORSES FOUR VISION CITY COUNCILLORS FOR NOMINATION

(VANCOUVER) Vision Vancouver mayoral candidate Gregor Robertson today endorsed City of Vancouver Councillors Tim Stevenson, Heather Deal, George Chow, and Raymond Louie.

"We've got a great group of candidates seeking Vision nominations, but the work that the Vision councillors have done these past three years is truly impressive," said Robertson. "Under Sam Sullivan, Peter Ladner and the NPA, the Vision caucus has been the voice of reason on an otherwise dysfunctional city council."

"Tim, Heather, George, and Raymond have been instrumental in building Vision Vancouver, and I want the four of them on my team as we head into the election on November 15th."

Vision caucus chair Raymond Louie endorsed the other three councillors and reiterated the good work they have done.

"I'm proud of the work the four of us have accomplished on council these past three years. Heather, Tim and George have done a great job standing up for our city, and I look forward to working with them in the next council term," said Louie.

Robertson cited the four Vision councillors' experience as one of the reasons why Vancouverites would benefit from having them on council.

"Whether it's affordable housing, addiction issues, or public safety, the four Vision councillors have pushed for the solutions that our citizens want but the NPA ignore. Our city needs their experience on council, and that's why I'm proud to endorse them for the Vision nomination on September 20th."

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