A summary here from Stephen Rees here – and his evaluation:
This was by far the best presentation in the series so far, in large part because it was not read from a script. He was speaking to the slides he was showing but clearly enjoyed interacting with the audience. It was indeed a performance – and a good one at that.
On the other hand there did not seem to be a great deal that was new or remarkable in the content. Working in this field for forty years means that I have actually witnessed exactly the same set of prescriptions proffered for a what at the time seemed like different problems – congestion, growth, inequity, sustainability, bad air quality, global warming. And now happiness – or its absence.
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A Storify here by Melissa Fong. (Next time, Melissa, a black turtleneck it will be.)
#happycity tweets here.
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Novae Res Urbis (available by subscription only) did a summary:
The Yes side in the upcoming regional ballot on transit in Metro Vancouver will need a detailed, well-funded campaign – and must convince car drivers that more SkyTrain line, light rail and rapid buses will reduce gridlock on the roads.
So says Charles Montgomery, the Vancouver author of a new book, Happy City, which examines how well-designed cities can boost social interaction and enhance our sense of well-being.
Speaking at Simon Fraser University last week, Montgomery said: “Eighty-fi ve per cent of people move through this region in cars. They need to understand how transit and infrastructure improvements will improve their everyday life.” …
The author cited a poll which found that a majority of motorists would not support road pricing if the levy went into transit – “which would be exactly the thing that would save them” because congestion will only be reduced with more transit.
“So again this is fast-brain thinking. This is what referendum thinking does to us.”
So the best option is to cancel the referendum, quipped Montgomery, before talking about steps the Yes side could take to win the vote. …
Montgomery asked how do we stop basing our planning on “fear-based impulsive thinking?” He then pointed out that the region adopted a “slow-thinking” rational approach toward planning before — in 1975 with the Livable Region Plan, which proposed an urban development pattern based on focusing growth in compact centres.
Montgomery noted that regional mayors are meeting weekly to come up with a transit package they will present to Transportation Minister Todd Stone in mid-April.
About what that vision might be, Montgomery said: “Of course, Broadway subway. I’ve seen the numbers and I don’t want to wait any longer at Commercial Drive.
“And of course, Surrey light rail, both as a way to getting people around and as a way of building more connected communities.
“Of course, a network of rapid buses to link it altogether.
And improvements to the Expo line to handle all these extra people who are coming.”
The problem as I see it is you can have all the books written, presentations given and conferences provided on this stuff but it’s actually brave members of Parliament or Congress and City Mayors that need to pick up these ideas and do something with them. We know the evidence – we now need to *do* something with it.