EPIC and the greening of Vancouver.

EPIC was good, although I think there was less food exhibitors then last year and more focus on consumer goods than ever. Missing from this year is the organic food market, which I guess nobody really bought much there anyway. The cars are the same as last year and there was a cool plug-in hybrid scooter from china that gets 0.7 litres/ 100 km and runs for 30 km on electricity alone. It is only $2700. There is a bit of a focus on bikes with a few exhibitors. 

The real reason I went was to hear Gregor Robertson's (Mayor of Vancouver) plan for greening the city. He was a no-show! However councillor Andrea Reimer, who heads the green team, did an excellent job of describing the plan. It is long and still in the planning stages, and you may already know this, but here is what I found the most interesting:

• The new all electric Mitsubishi i MIEV (http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com/special/ev/whatis/index.html) is being beta tested in Vancouver. Vancouver is going to set up coin operated quick charging stations at specially marked parking spots for electric cars only, and the car will be available for purchasing first in Vancouver, then the rest of the world. Release date is in 2010.
• All new condo's and houses/townhouses have to be built with electric plugs for charging electric vehicles in all parking areas.
• Ecodensity is here to stay.
• There will be grants available for neighbourhood greening projects and a fast track of country lanes and green streets.
• A priority on housing and reduction of homelessness, with a green focus (whatever that means!).
• Vancouver was once considered one of the greenest cities in the world, not anymore. We are not even in the top 100. The goal is to be the greenest in the world and stay that way by setting standards for other cities to follow.
• An economic development plan that focuses on a green economy, to be a world leader in green industries.
• Training for unskilled labourers, homeless and those with mental health/addiction issues for green jobs.
• Mandatory composting/green waste pickup. Infrastructure in place, to begin this summer.
• Focus on public space, eyes on the street and pedestrians. More closures for car free days, more life on the streets.
• Perhaps my favourite part of the plan, NO MORE painted white lines for cycling lanes. The city will begin removal of these starting on Burrard, Pender and Howe. Separated cycling lanes where a 8 year old and a 80 year old can safely cycle will immediately replace these and traffic lane reductions will happen. The city wants to beat the rest of the world on this front with all major arterials within a 15 km radius of downtown having separated bike lanes , cycling priority signals and widened sidewalks. Greenways will continue to be expanded. The goal is over 30% of non-walking trips to be by bike.
• And finally, wait for it..., wait for it..., TRAMS! If the city gets it's way, they will run from Granville to Arbutus to Marine and on to New West and all over the place. The city's position on the UBC rapid transit line is a push for LRT, no subway, no Skytrain, public life, street life, no more capacity for cars.
• Well, now finally, Engineering now has a green planning department and will be required to comply with the transportation goals, including not charging households for sidewalks and no more road capacity increases.

So there you have it, will it happen? I think so, many cities across the globe are moving forward in their efforts to create a better life for it's citizens and Vancouver is well positioned to be a leader in sustainable, green and inclusive planning. The vision is in place, it is moving rapidly and in two years Vancouver may be a very different and a much better city.

What do you think?