Well designed communities lead to healthier residents

“…Learn[ing] from past mistakes by designing new communities and redesigning existing communities with walkability in mind. The emphasis [is] on more and greater connectivity of bike paths on the island of Montreal…”

This excellent article in the Montreal Gazette emphasizes the importance of redesigning communities to be walkable, bikable and fun to play in.  Research shows that those living in close proximity to opportunities to be more active will indeed do so resulting in better health.

I firmly believe that we must continue to make our streets more cycle friendly, hence I proposed the current CSL Cycles program which is steadily unfolding across Cote Saint-Luc with support from Mayor Housefather and members of Council.

I am also committed to slowing down traffic, calming our streets and making them safer for pedestrians and cyclists.  In Cote Saint-Luc we do not discourage street hockey, we want kids to continue to play outside but to do so safely, under the watchful eye of adults.

Getting across the street needs to be easier and safer for all pedestrians young and old.  I have pushed for bumped out sidewalks at street corners when roads are bring rebuilt, resulting in a shorter distance to cross the road, slower traffic and ultimately safer passage.  I’m pleased Council has agreed to support this suggestion.

While not a huge fan of speed humps, sometimes they are necessary but moreover bollards, street line markings and raised crosswalks are having an overall positive effect in Cote Saint-Luc and I’m proud to have pushed for all of these initiatives in our city.

What do you envision as being leading edge in terms of city design promoting health?  Post your comment here.

Related articles

• Steps To A Walkable Community (urbanvista.net)

 

CSL Corner – District 6 Report (The Free Press)

CSL Corner: Lots going on in District 6

by Councillor Glenn J. Nashen

The Free Press, February 15, 2012

District 6 is not only the geographic centre of the City of Côte Saint-Luc, but has become a major hub of activity with recreation facilities, education possibilities and development opportunities.

The new Aquatic and Community Centre (ACC) on Parkhaven Avenue is midway through its highly successful inaugural year.  The Wagar Tennis Courts on Caldwell Avenue are receiving a total upgrade this year.  And this summer the most exciting and innovative park in the west end will open behind the ACC. Imagination Park, the first new Côte Saint-Luc park of the 21^st century, is a $600,000 investment and will be a major attraction for local residents as well as users of the outdoor pool, gymnasium and ACC.

A task force has been appointed to propose the launch of a new mainstream, English-language public high school at the EMSB’s Giovanni Palatucci Facility on Parkhaven Avenue.  Once home to Wagar High School, the site is ideally located to offer Côte Saint-Luc and west end residents a high calibre, affordable educational option.

The Griffith-McConnell Residence, also on Parkhaven Avenue, closed down last year and was recently sold to new owners. What does the future hold for this valuable site? Only time will tell.

Also, the volunteer Citizens on Patrol (VCOP) and Emergency Medical Services rely on the generosity of our volunteers who serve our community with great dedication. VCOP is now recruiting for its spring class of new patrollers and EMS will follow this summer. For more info visit CoteSaintLuc.org or call 514-485-6800.

I am working with the Transportation Committee to expand the CSL Cycles network.  Our goal this year is to connect to our neighbouring municipalities.

Please follow my tweets (@GlennJNashen) on local issues and public safety announcements and subscribe to my blog for very local news and views at www.GlennJ.Nashen.com.

Glenn J. Nashen is city councillor for District 6 and responsible for Public Safety and Transportation.

Did you cycle the CSL route?

In the last few years I proposed the creation of a Cote Saint-Luc bicycle route initiative which I called “CSL Cycles”.  After two years of planning, in June 2011, the City launched the bicycle route along a 10-kilometer stretch in its northern half as part of an initiative to encourage residents to stay active.

Now that the summer is over, we’d like your feedback. Please complete the following satisfaction survey so that we can improve the route next year.

My plan, which is approved by the city, is to continue this route by connecting to the NDG bike route which leads to the routes headed downtown and to the Lachine Canal.

Please click this link to complete the survey and offer any suggestions.  The survey will only take a couple of minutes:

http://www.cotesaintluc.org/bikeroutesurvey

“Velo CSL Cycles” bike initiative is launched

The City of Côte Saint-Luc has designated a bicycle route along an 10-kilometer route in the northern half of the city, as part of an initiative to encourage residents to stay active.

I have advocated for a cycling plan for our City for quite some time and in June 2008 I submitted a detailed plan entitled CSL Cycles and am very pleased that we have finally launched the first phase of a 5-year plan to make cycling fun and safer in Cote Saint-Luc.  This new route will make motorists more aware of bicyclists and along some stretches will create a reserved bike lane.

The route will form a single direction loop that includes Mackle Rd., Blossom Ave., Wavell Rd., and Marc Chagall Ave., and some additional roads. It will also cut right through Pierre Elliot Trudeau Park and Shuster Park. No parking spaces will be lost to the new bicycle route. About 115 chevrons have been painted at 100 meter internals on the road surface to warn motorists to look out for bicyclists. On some stretches of the route, there will be parallel lines to mark the reserved bicycle lane.

The bicycle path is part of the “Vélo CSL Cycles”, a phrase that I coined as a bicycling promotion and safety initiative. In addition to encouraging bicyclists to use the new bicycle route, the city will also be making it safer for bicyclists to use the three underpasses on Cavendish Blvd., Côte Saint-Luc Rd., and Westminster Ave. The city will post signs to advise bicyclists that they are able to ride on the sidewalk in the underpass, but must yield to and dismount for pedestrians.

 We’re making it safer for cyclists who want to use the sidewalk at the three underpasses.  As the council member responsible for public safety and traffic issues it is important that I stress that cyclists must act responsibly and stop and dismount every time they pass a pedestrian. And, without a doubt, all cyclists must wear a helmet.

CSL became the first city in all of Canada to legislate the wearing of bike helmets when I moved this resolution in 1991.  Studies show that 80% of head injuries can be prevented or reduced by wearing an approved helmet.

The next phases of the Velo CSL Cycles plan will call for designated bike lanes on Cavendish to connect with the NDG/Montreal routes that already connect to the De Maisonneuve lane toward downtown as well as the Lachine Canal bike path.  I have also pitched ideas including connecting Westminster in CSL and Montreal West to the Lachine Canal, creating bike paths through the city lanes on the northern strip of the city near Mather and behind some schools and homes such as the school near Blossom and behind the homes on Holland where the Hydro dirt road connects to the Cavendish overpass. We should also create on-street routes in Districts 4 and 5 on the southern portion of CSL and eventually build a pedestrian and cycle bridge connecting the area behind Bialik to Hampstead and the Parkhaven area to the CSL Shopping Centre.

I’d also like to thank Charles Senekal, Manager of the Engineering Department, and Mohammed Ali, Engineer, for their commitment and interest in handling this project with the utmost of professionalism.

For a map of the bicycle path and more information about the bicycling promotion and safety initiative, visit www.CoteSaintLuc.org/en/cslcycles.

En francais:  http://www.cotesaintluc.org/fr/velocsl