Still from Leonardo Dalessandri film Under the Lucan Sun WHAT: Design the Network - Session #2, It's More Than Just Buses WHERE: World Trade and Convention Centre, Argyle Street WHEN: Tuesday, July 19, 6pm-8pm HOW MUCH: Free! HALIFAX REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY - A bus stop could be an amazing thing (gardens, playgrounds, outdoor gym) is one point which came up in the first public session - "Exploring the Options" - at It's More Than Just Buses on Tuesday, June 28th, 2011. It's More Than Just Buses is a public discussion initiative that explores the options of public transit, designs a better network and mobilizes for support, organized by the Planning and Design Centre and Fusion Halifax. Guest speaker Steven Dale, also raised another smart key point with regards to transit administration, which is the development of a staff policy for all Metro Transit employees, particularly the network planners, whereby they must take the bus at least once a week, if not more. Why I found this to be such a brilliant idea, is because you can only understand how something works in practice and how it could work better, by using it and taking part. This fact was evident at the public session, where all those that attended and rode the bus frequently, had lots to offer the discussion. Of course, there was frustration concerning the current infrastructure and digression from discussion questions, but only because people wanted their experiences and ideas to be heard and they were! Find more of the group discussion points here.

WHAT: It's More Than Buses - Public Forum on Public Transit WHEN: Tuesday, June 28th (July 19 & Sept. 7), 6pm-8pm WHERE: World Trade and Convention Centre HOW MUCH: Free HALIFAX - Waiting for the bus each morning to start my short daily morning commute to work in Downtown Halifax, I observe the regular bottle-necking on Robie Street, whereby cars are narrowly packed together carrying generally one driver each. In much larger cities, transit is used more often by commuters and helps to create a more active, efficient and accessible transit system and urban culture. If you have ever used Metro Transit in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), then you have likely thought of ways that the infrastructure could be improved. As a daily bus commuter, I really enjoy the transit system - but it has only come with time of understanding the way it works in Halifax, particularly, by having a cell phone to check the exact time in which I can expect the bus to arrive. I have also been privy to peoples opinions about the HRM transit system - referencing specifically (in)frequency of buses and (in)consistent schedules.

HALIFAX - Metro Transit is hosting four public consultations today and tomorrow to aid a consultant's review of HRM's public transit system as part of its Universal Accessibility Planning Study. The sessions will consist of a short presentation followed by a question & answer period. Metro Transit states: This includes reviewing Metro Transit’s existing infrastructure (vehicles, terminals, bus stops, shelters, etc.), and evaluating the overall business processes and products, such as accessible customer information (directional signage around service areas); communication; website; and policies & practices for accessible customer service." While Metro Transit is to be lauded for commissioning a study aimed at improving 'the overall accessibility' while inviting residents to participate in these discussions, my disappointment lies in the distinct lack of reach to the community or ridership itself.

HALIFAX -  In 2005, Halifax's north end collective consciousness came together to sprout Imagine Bloomfield in an effort to renew and preserve a nexus of history, community and cultural activity relevant to the needs of the area. Since 2005, needs assessments have been conducted, consultants hired, volunteers amassed and finally in 2010 a MasterPlan for redevelopment of the site was tabled and accepted unanimously by Halifax Regional Council. Recently, Imagine Bloomfield reported that “an implementation process report is expected to begin being acted upon in 2011.” Without saying, Imagine Bloomfield is an incredible project which has been inspired by the the passion and dedication of a group of people and has successfully inspired city planners to imagine new ideas for their property to move a little quicker to get this development off of the ground. Based on my own observations and experiences of developments and planning in Halifax for the last 9 years, the skeptic in me still wonders when this project will in fact bloom. Seriously - IMAGINE - planning in Halifax. From March 10- 12, 2011, Dalhousie University graduate students from the School of Planning have organized a conference titled IMAGINE. The intent of IMAGINE is to explore long-term planning through speakers and activities to create an understanding of how long-term planning should and can influence how cities are planned today. The conference will facilitate the sharing of ideas and lessons learned between professionals, academics and the community, while exploring a combination of initiatives and ideas from a wide range of speakers with diverse backgrounds.

HALIFAX - It's December. Inevitably, this time of year makes us all take the time to reflect on the year that's past; what's changed, what's stayed the same, what it was you said you'd do and never got around to, and what you wish you had done.   And then there are the things that you couldn't have anticipated doing, but are so happy you did. In her December 10th District 14 E-mail newsletter, Councillor Jennifer Watts informed her constituents that she had taken up a challenge to travel car-free for the month of December as a part of the A Dare to Remember campaign. I wondered why, so I wrote to Jennifer and asked her some questions. Here's what she had to share: What inspired you to get involved with the Stephen Lewis Foundation's Dare to Remember project? JW: Kristin Roe contacted me to ask if I would take part in the campaign. Kristin swam the English Channel (and Halifax Harbour!) earlier this year to help raise funds for the foundation and when she asked if I would take on a challenge it was too hard to say no. The Stephen Lewis Foundation is doing really important work in Africa and I was glad to take on a dare that supported their work and also supported sustainability in HRM. Why did you decide to challenge yourself in this way? JW: Kristin suggested that I take on a challenge related to my interest in the environment.  I talked with my family about it and they suggested that I give up driving my car for the month of December. It was kind of scary since the weather is unpredictable and there are lots of social functions to go to on top of regular meetings but I thought this is the best month to see if it can work or not work. So far I have been cycling, walking, transiting, taxi-ing, and hitching rides in other people's cars. Women in developing countries often are dependent on walking, taxis, buses and the generosity of others for rides to get around — driving a car is not a reality for a majority of these women and yet they are the backbone of their families and their communities. It seemed that the dare for me would not be as challenging as the reality that these women live every day of their lives. So from Dec 1 to Dec 31 I decided to not drive my car and to rely on other modes of transport and the kindness of friends, colleagues and family for carpooling when necessary.

LISTEN TO THE NEW SPACING RADIO PODCAST! While some parks are jam-packed with kids, dog walkers and seniors practicing Tai Chi, others are deserted and neglected. Producer Mieke Anderson speaks to David Harvey about his recent study on improving parks. Also, Spacing Ottawa's Evan Thornton discusses his city's plans to turn back the clock to a time when car was king. And reporter Andrew Walsh addresses the pros and cons of the public bike network, BIXI, with Spacing Montreal's Alanah ...

LISTEN TO TODAY'S SPACING RADIO PODCAST Sometimes exploring a city means just shutting your eyes and listening. In this soundscape, Spacing producer Mieke Anderson takes you underground into the Glasgow subway system. Affectionately known as "the Clockwork Orange" because of its orange subway cars and circular route, Glasgow's underground dates back to 1896 making it the third oldest in the world. Recently, the city was considering ...

[caption id="attachment_4765" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Source: Statistics Canada"][/caption] Despite dramatic differences in population, density, infrastructure, and growth, there is remarkable consistency between commuting patterns in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, and Halifax, particularly when it comes to travelling by car. And incidentally, when it comes to getting us out of them, we seem to find buses and bike lanes unconvincing. A closer look at our most recent census data raises some surprising – and some predictable – findings about the way we get to work and how preferences change as our cities grow.