Mobility Without Borders on Transportation Innovation
Featured in the presentation are ways to escape from inefficient transportation planning. It lays out better structures than the “just build bigger roads” mentality that has overtaken the greater Mississauga area over the last few decades. Far too many suburban and urban cities in the world face rising business costs, poor air quality, and a loss of regional and global positioning facilitating a negative impact on economy.
On June 23, 2008 the Canadian Urban Institute held this International Symposium on Transportation Innovation. See the Canadian Urban Institute for a list of presentors and a copy of their presentations on how cities around the world, including Toronto and Hamilton, are changing how they think about transportation.
The presentation emphasizes the bringing together of both the public sector and businesses to cooperate and create consensus. This demands effective governance and will result in a “win-win” mentality between the partnering groups.
Mississauga is right in the sweetspot of transportation development between Hamilton and Toronto. To their credit, cooperation is being developed between key transportation initiates such as Metrolinx and the Mississauga Cycling Master Plan. Mississauga has also made moves in re-thinking the old mall layouts and planning to convert them into “retail nodes” with street level access that is friendlier to walkers, cyclists, and public transportation. Building higher density residential accomodations around these nodes give them an attractive and warmer community feel. See here and here for news on Mississauga’s move to smarter urban development and their proposed “de-malling” strategy.
The Mississauga Cycling Advisory Committee is asking that these plans acknowledge cycling as a key factor in the multi-mode structures. This would involve some of the following considerations:
- Routes for bicycles to both the retail nodes and public transportation stops
- Main feeder routes for bicycles to public transportation
- Public transportation allowing facilities for bicycles at both the stations and on the buses or trains
- Safe places for bicycles to travel in areas with high pedestrian density
John Ed:
January 13th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Riding a bicycle in Mississauga is just plain dangerous. All the riding trails and side lanes are a good idea, but more often than not you’re going to meet a group of joggers in the bike lanes and you still have to cross over major thoroughfares. Some thought has to be given to light air transport. We’ve missed our chance now that the best rotorcraft manufacturing plant for light aircraft was sold and moved to south africa. I think we need to start setting aside areas of land within Mississauga to accomodate future light rotorcraft transportation systems. It might sound far fetched, but then so did highways a few years ago.
Allan Harder:
January 16th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Thanks for your comments, John. Yes, your comments on light air transport do sound far-fetched. I’m sure the founder of the Mississauga Cycling Committee could recall times for us in the early ’90s as being considered a “maverick”, “dreamer”, or other creative phrases for suggesting that Mississauga recognize cyclists as part of the transportation fabric in this city.
My how the times have changed. The cycling committee is now anticipating the springtime public sessions for comment on the Mississauga Cycling Master Plan study. Part of the study will look at addressing the safety of cyclists on multi-use trails. The Cycling Master Plan can really put Mississauga on the map as a greater city to live. Joggers in on-road bike lanes are a concern, but any I have come across have been courteous in moving well out of my way. Take a look at the humourous video in our post called “The Transportation Food Chain”. I would love to hear what you think, http://www.mississaugacycling.ca/the-transportation-food-chain-944.htm
Karel:
January 18th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
What does John mean when he says some thought has to be given to light air transport? What type of vehicles does he refer to? How are they more efficient or economical compared to conventional public transit systems? How would something flying around the city be affected by Pearson’s air traffic? I guess I did give it some thought I a can conclude that Allan is being generous when he calls John’s comments far-fetched.
Let’s focus on making the city accessible by bicycle and light rail and keep the science fiction for the library.