From My Bottom Step

Green Transit Efforts

Paul Berton published an editorial recently about London’s pathetic green transportation ranking (”London’s green transit efforts still need work”; LFP; 2008/11/18). He makes a bit of a mention about public transit without being too critical (keep a sharp eye on this site for more news about the LTC fare increase that was just passed as soon as I receive a clarification from it’s General Manager). Mr. Berton pays lip-service to the creation of bicycle paths but fails to point out the lousy job that the city does of maintaining them or clearing them of ice and snow during the winter. And as usual, he completely ignores pedestrians. Continue Reading

Playing Games with Citizen Safety

This afternoon, I received a written copy of the motion that was passed by ETC as a result of my delegation re traffic warrants:
At its meeting held on October 27, 2008, the Environment and Transportation Committee (ETC) heard a verbal presentation and received a communication dated October 26, 2008 from G. Fowler … with respect to pedestrian safety. The ETC asked the Civic Administration to report back on the warrants and standards for pedestrians through the creation of Book 15 of the Ontario Traffic Manual and how they relate to our Transportation Master Plan. (13/17/ETC). Continue Reading

Google Maps Adds Walking Directions

Google Maps today released a new feature for those wanting to find directions for walking. The new feature ignores the direction of one-way streets, uses pedestrian-only paths, and tires to avoid hills.
Continue Reading

My Latest Brush

With a bit less luck, one of last weeks treks over to the local neighbourhood mall for a bit of exersize and a cup of java and some socializing might well have been the last walk that I ever took!… Continue Reading

Pedestrians Don’t Matter

Despite any rhetoric to the contrary, there’s no real transparency at London’s City Hall. Particularly for those citizens who aren’t politically well-connected.
Phil McLeod’s article about problems re citizen participation and engagement, and accessibility of politicians to citizens was exactly right! Consider that there’s still been no response from my ward councillor about … Continue Reading

Presentation to CAPS

This is a transcript of the prepared portion of the presentation that I made to the CAPS Committee earlier this evening at City Hall:

Good evening, Councillors.

I come before you this evening in order to voice certain concerns that I have as a lifelong member of this community.

For far too long, I think, our elected … Continue Reading