Of Cars and Bikes, Chickens and Ducks

Living in downtown Victoria it is possible to go car-less. We used ours the first day we arrived, to get groceries, and have not moved it since.

Between walking and public transit - and bicycles if we had them here - we do not need a vehicle.

We have met many people who have chosen to go carless, including one couple who live in Vancouver and came to Victoria via public transit for a weekend cultural getaway to take in the opera and two plays. They even brought much of their own food for the weekend, in suitcases!

Going without a car is not a hardship for the people we have talked with; rather, they are enthusiastic about it. They enjoy the cost savings, the hassle-free nature of their lives, and the enjoyment and healthy living they get from walking and cycling.

For trips out of town, they use public transit or rent a vehicle if it is absolutely necessary.

Year-round cycling is a feature of life in Victoria. Here is an iconic image that the Times-Colonist published during the big snows earlier this month:

Source: Victoria Times-Colonist

Victoria is going all-out to expand its network of separated bike lanes, fast-tracking 35 km of separated bike lanes in the next three years. This decision has been controversial, as in some cases, roadway or parking capacity is being reduced. 

There is also a rumour that cherry trees are being removed to make bike lanes, but it seems that this has been overblown. The issue of loss of cherry trees has more to do with planting drought-resistant native species, to adapt to climate change, than it has to do with bike lanes. The mayor talks more about this in a recent post on her blog.  https://lisahelpsvictoria.ca/2019/02/25/cherry-trees-urban-forest-management-and-climate-change-the-facts/

Fort Street Separated Bike Lanes.
Notice the two-way markings, the barriers separating bikes from traffic,
and the green markings for intersections.

Navigating these bike lanes can be challenging for cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers, especially the process of turning. I watched a YouTube video that explained it, and I was confused. There is definitely a learning curve involved. 

But in the long term, road safety will be much improved, especially for cyclists. And that is the aim! The risks of cycling in traffic have definitely prevented me from enjoying riding my bike on busy roads.

If we are to successfully reduce private vehicle usage in cities, alternative modes of transport, like walking, cycling and public transit, must be attractive and seamless.

The first North American roll-out of U-bicycles was in Victoria, in 2017. These are a dockless rental bike that is based on a barcode stamped onto the bike's locking mechanism. An app allows users to rent them and leave them anywhere.

U-Bicycle in Victoria

Helmets are included with the bike rental

Projects like this will contribute to reducing our dependency on private automobiles. 

Over ten years ago, the phrase "Climate Code Red" described the emergency that we are facing globally as a result of climate change. 

The authors compare our current situation to that of World War II, when the economy diverted a huge percent of spending to the war effort. 

They argue that we must make similar investment decisions now, to prevent the worst effects of climate change. 

That was over a decade ago, and we have not yet stepped up to make those tough decisions. The time is now!

Part of the ability to move away from private vehicles is for communities to become much more self-reliant. "Resilient community" is one of the terms I have heard to explain this. 

One aspect of resilience is food self-sufficiency, or "sustainable" local food. This involves supporting local food production, buying locally for example. 

In James Bay, I have encountered a couple of folks who are going far beyond herbs in pots or raised vegetable beds. Two of the more well-known are Chris and Susannah Adams, who describe themselves as "urban farmers".

The home of Chris and Susannah Adams on Battery Street

The James Bay Beacon, a community newspaper, has published a couple of articles about the Adams, in 2013 and again in 2016: http://www.jamesbaybeacon.ca/?q=node/1086 and http://jamesbaybeacon.ca/?q=node/1952

We walk by the Adams place regularly, and have chatted with Chris a few times. He has taught himself much about organic farming and how to develop integrated farming systems. For example,  Welsh Harlequin ducks - a heritage breed which is hard to find - provide rich eggs high in protein and fat. They are productive; one duck laid 300 eggs in a year. They also perform important work on the farm, eating slugs which accumulate under the mulch that Chris and Susannah use to protect their crops. 

Welsh Harlequin Ducks in James Bay

Chris is also an advocate for native plants, and is experimenting with a bed that has some of the plants which grow in Garry Oak meadows which used to be so widespread on southeastern Vancouver Island. 

Garry Oak meadow, Uplands Park, Victoria, with Camas in bloom.
Source: http://www.goert.ca (Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team)

One of the plants Chris is growing is Camas, a beautiful blue flower with an edible bulb which was a staple of the local First Nations diet. The picture to the left shows a remnant of this native ecosystem.

The photo below shows more detail of Chris and Susannah's farm. Notice the raised beds, made of ferrous concrete.

Chris made the material for the raised beds from ferrous concrete, finished with an iron oxide pigment.
The closest bed has been planted with Camas bulbs, native to this area, as well as a filbert tree.

Ken was very interested in the raised beds made of ferrous concrete, and researched the process. Here is one link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzAOAWQb_hY

As well as ducks, Chris and Susannah have chickens, in this case, a hybrid chicken known as the ISA brown (ISA for the French company which originally developed the hybrid).

ISA chickens are known for being productive egg-layers 

We have seen chickens elsewhere in James Bay. Sustainable local agriculture is one part of a resilient community. I will write in my next post about other components of resilience.

The Science, Politics and Optics of Sewage

There has been a lot written about Victoria's sewage treatment - or rather, the lack of it.

Thanks to a very effective public campaign by those who have been horrified that Victoria does not treat its sewage before discharging to the ocean, the Capital Regional District, and the City of Victoria in particular, are now in the midst of a major construction project.

Scheduled for completion in 2020 the project will result in sewage being piped from where it is presently discharged into the ocean, along Dallas Road, to a forcemain at Clover Point, thence undersea to a new treatment plant being built in Esquimalt for tertiary treatment. Part of the plan also involves the creation of biosolids from the treatment which will be available for re-use.

The construction is evident all along Dallas Road and some of the adjacent intersecting roads.

Dallas Road construction, February 2019

Ken checking out the pipe stacked along Menzies Street

More information about the details of the whole project are available at https://www.crd.bc.ca/project/wastewater-treatment-project

One of the reasons the campaign for treatment was effective was Mr. Floatie, seen here at City Hall:

I have been aware of Mr. Floatie for many years, and used him as an example of effective public marketing in a number of presentations I did over a decade ago. His "Coming Out" party at Earth Day in 2004 was launched with a press release with some memorable scatological humour, and catchy phrases. He represented the group P.O.O.P. (People Opposed to Outfall Pollution) as their official "spokesturd".

Extract from P.O.O.P. Press Release, April 24, 2004

Mr. Floatie's slogan "Dilution is not the Solution to Victoria's Pollution" rang strongly with Victoria's citizens.

My interest has been piqued recently because there were many scientists who argued that the project was not necessary, and that resources would be more effectively spent in other ways.

See the website http://www.rstv.ca/  which argues that "there will be no significant benefit to the marine environment for this vast expenditure of public funds".

Two conflicting messages. One, much catchier than the other, and that was the one that captured public opinion.

In the case of Victoria's sewage, it is likely that no matter what scientists said, the optics of Victoria discharging raw sewage into the ocean would lead to pressure for treatment. 

The scientists who banded together to argue that sewage treatment was unnecessary lost their battle. Perhaps their website is too wordy, reading too much like research papers. How can words argue with Mr. Floatie?

Mr. Floatie was an effective image in the campaign for sewage treatment.
Here he is on his way to his "retirement" party. (Source: CBC)

At the global environmental scale we need more Mr. Floaties. We need advocates to be clear about the urgency for action, and we need decision-makers to take tough actions on climate change. 

We need to market action on climate change, just the way Mr. Floatie marketed action on sewage treatment for Victoria.

Victoria's Post-European Settlement History

The first time we walked downtown we saw the deep hole by the Visitors' Centre. And it is a DEEP hole!

Customs House Redevelopment, Victoria

This development is going to be a fancy, upscale residential one, called "Customs House".

There is some information on the website customshouse.ca which refers to the three "grand dames" of Victoria's inner harbour: the Empress Hotel, the BC Legislature, and the Customs House.

The building was constructed in 1914, and housed the federal customs offices. It was built on the granite foundations of the 1898-built Post Office, and was designated a heritage building in Victoria.

The walls that can be seen in the background are staying, and are going to be incorporated into the new development.

Photos below show the lengths which have been taken to keep the walls from tumbling down.

Customs House Wall, from back

Redevelopment showing the sign for the Presentation Centre

An article in the Victoria Times Colonist from February 2018 says the redevelopment is costing the developer $28 million. At that time, units were reported to be selling between $1.6 and $3 million, but sale prices are probably greater than these.

There was considerable controversy over the fact that the City has given purchasers of units a 10 year "tax-holiday" estimated to be costing the City over $5 million.

The justification is that it is part of the City's program to "stabilize" its heritage buildings. Any renovations must include seismic upgrading (Victoria is in an earthquake zone). The seismic upgrading for the Customs House development will exceed $6 million for the developer.

Here is a photo I found on the internet of the original Customs House:

Looking into the Customs House and its significance historically triggered a few more thoughts about our history - in this case, post-European settlement history.

Walking downtown and James Bay certainly provides a sense of the past, more so than in a newer community such as Salmon Arm. Emily Carr spent most of her life in Victoria, and her presence is here.

Statue honouring Emily Carr, with Empress Hotel in the background

Emily Carr house, Government Street. Carr was born here and
lived most of her life in the James Bay neighbourhood.

I have shown a few images of some of James Bay's older houses in an earlier posting. There are many more! Here is a small sample:

The City has done an excellent job of acknowledging and protecting heritage - despite the (partial) loss of some buildings such as Customs House. There are heritage walking tours through many of the old neighbourhoods, and a substantial 4 volume set of coffee table books called "This Old House" which focusses on the heritage of twelve neighbourhoods, including James Bay.

A visitor interested in focussing on Victoria's post-European settlement history should definitely check out this site: https://victoriaheritagefoundation.ca/

The apartment building we are staying in, Beacon Lodge, was built the year after Emily Carr died, 1946, by the Coté family, Francophones who had moved to Victoria from Edmonton. Apparently the octagonal windows are a feature of the Art Deco movement of the time. Originally it was a guest house, but was converted to apartments in the 1970's.

The most charming thing for me about the building is not its construction, but the plaque in the foyer: 

This is so apropos for me -- I see myself as a friend of nature, always seeking beauty, rest and contentment.

Definitely I am in the right place!

Victoria Potpourri

In the last week, interspersed with snowstorms, I have experienced the richness of urban life, all within walking distance of our abode.

Talks, a poetry reading, a writers' group, coffee conversations and discussion groups provided the intellectual component.

We participated in a most interesting conversation group at the James Bay Coffee Company, at a regular weekly group associated with the Unitarian church that meets at New Horizons Centre in James Bay. This group discusses random topics which are selected at the time; there is a bit of loose format which helps the discussion not get bogged down.

This time the topic was truth and knowledge, suggested by someone who has been reading the book Post-Truth. I enjoyed the thoughtfulness of the participants, and the breadth of points raised. It was a good example of "group mind" in action.

Post-Truth was released last year, and traces the development of the conditions in our democracy leading to the situation that we have now, where the phrase "alternative facts" is an acceptable one, and where leaders lie.

The discussion was so stimulating that right afterwards we walked downtown to the library and found a copy of the book, which we borrowed using our BC One Card. (This is a wonderful service whereby users of one library system like the Okanagan Regional Library can register for another library system and have access to their materials.)

I am now part-way through the book. The last chapter is titled "Fighting Post-Truth". I will report on the author's ideas after I have read it.



We have walked many kilometres in the James Bay, Inner Harbour and downtown areas. Walks on the streets and in the park provided fresh air (sometimes, REALLY fresh when the wind was howling!) and visual stimulus and beauty.


On Valentine's Day I came across this on a park bench. Yes, it is all about "Love, love, love." If we acted out of love, instead of fear, how much different our world would be. It is a constant meditation for me, letting go of fear and embracing love.

A message for every day, all year -- love

A few of the snow-bound scenes I encountered in my wanderings:

Beacon Hill Park

Arbutus, the only broadleaf evergreen in Canada, usually growing within 1 1/2 km of the ocean

Along Dallas Road

Pond at Beacon Hill Park

Here is a house with an amazing stained glass door, located on Government Street.

And, some different types of "public art".

Terry Fox Memorial at Mile 0,
where he started his Marathon of Hope

Lots of snowmen around town!

Finally, I love this piece of public art in Beacon Hill Park. She has a quiet peacefulness to her ... earth goddess, spirit of the forest.

Sleeping Moss Lady

Peace be with you all.

Pondering Snow and Rain

Snow in Victoria.... an uncommon occurrence.

Here was the monochromatic view out our window this morning.

All this snow has got me thinking about watersheds. Where does the runoff go when the snow melts? And how does paving natural areas affect the cycle?

This image from the website waterbalance.ca shows the earth's water cycle and how urban development affects pollution of both surface water and groundwater.

The image below, from the US Geologic Survey, does a better job of showing snow melt as part of the water cycle. However, it does not show urban areas, and the impact of urban development on water quality and groundwater quantity.

Years ago I met an engineer, Tom Holz, who had pioneered what he called Zero Impact Development in Seattle. This is an approach to urban development to try to mimic nature, and keep rainfall and meltwater in place as much as possible, rather than piping it "away".

Zero Impact Development is also termed "Green Infrastructure":

• Subdivisions are developed with a lower proportion of hard surfaces, and more "permeable" or water absorbing areas.
• Runoff in parking lots is directed to areas of permeable soil. 
• Streets are narrower than the standard subdivision width.
• Street development includes wide strips of deep soil to absorb rainwater without runoff. The photo below illustrates this. A swale, or depression, keeps water from running onto the roadway.
• Zero Impact Development favours alternative ground covers to traditional lawn grass, which is not very effective at absorbing water during rainfall events. 
• Benefits include reduced runoff, thus reducing the risk of flooding and erosion. 
• Overall, water pollution is reduced, because runoff water is filtered by the soil, before seeping out into lakes, rivers and the ocean.

Stormwater Swale - a feature of Zero Impact Development. Source: The Nature Conservancy

I would like to see more communities adopt this approach to managing urban runoff.

For more information, refer to the EPA publication "Expanding the Benefits of Seattle's Green Stormwater Infrastructure" (EPA 832-R-16-011, January 2017), available at https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2017-03/documents/seattle_technical_assistance_010517_combined_508.pdf

The image below shows how individual properties can help manage stormwater runoff, by planting "rain gardens", areas where water can be diverted, with deep spongy topsoil and water-loving plants.

Source: http://www.thewalleye.ca/event/rain-garden-tour-2 (Thunder Bay, Ontario)

Climate change is leading to more severe storm events. Planning for stormwater runoff can protect our urban infrastructure from flooding, as well as protect water quality.

It is essential we change our ways of developing subdivisions.

The Walkable Community

In the week that we've been in Victoria, we have so far walked over 50 km, just around James Bay, the downtown, and Beacon Hill Park. Ken commented that he enjoys walking here, but not at home. This has led me to think about "what makes for a walkable community"?

There is no doubt that in James Bay, people walk. So what is it about James Bay that has led to people walking?

Here are a few thoughts:

Aesthetics

James Bay is beautiful. Even if a person is not paying attention to the aesthetics of the way the community has been developed, I think that the beauty unconsciously sinks in.  So many houses have been painted in attractive colours, and landscaped with sensitivity. Here are just a couple of examples.

Here is a bit more detail of the house above. The burgundy of the dogwood on the left contrasts beautifully with the creamy yellow paint. The gentle touch of the peach door adds the right amount of colour to warm up the building, and the steps and sidewalk add more warmth to the overall effect.

Here is an example of a house painted much more gaily.

If you zoom in on the plaque beneath the window, you'll see the building has been designated a City of Victoria Heritage Building.

One more image showing the aesthetics of the buildings and landscaping:

In the image above is an element that I'll say more about later in this post, the garden art with the plastic kitchen spoons.

Scale

Yes, there are high rises in James Bay, some that, from a distance, have few redeeming qualities, exposing broad flat facades with no break-up of the harsh lines of the structure. Nonetheless, most high rises have a "soft" edge to them, and, so far, the number of high rises is in proportion to the scale of the rest of the community. Here are some images taken on this snowy day in Victoria which illustrate this.

As well, much of the "densification" in James Bay is being accomplished by keeping the existing buildings, and adding more to the back or sides. 

Here are two more shots of higher density housing, showing the contrast and complexity of landscaping which adds to the human scale.

Part of scale is retaining the heritage flavour of Victoria. Here is a church that is now a private residence. The fencing is to keep urban chickens. 

Diversity

James Bay has so much diversity to keep a walker interested.

One of its attractions is small-scale commercial development within the community! A person does not have to get into a car, or onto a bus, to go to the grocery store, the bank, the drugstore, the liquor store. Niagara Grocery stands alone on Niagara Street. In many cities, this is just not possible in our suburban development model which concentrates commercial development at the intersection of busy corridors. For years I have thought that this approach to urban planning was opposite to what people want. Niagara Grocery proves that stores can survive without having to be located in a central mall.

James Bay Village is in the centre of the community, located for ease of access by people walking, not the edge of the community where ease of access by cars is the criterion. The "Village" is so busy that the aisles of the Thrifty's Store are often jammed, to the point that it is almost impossible to navigate them. I have only been in the new Red Barn grocery store (a few blocks away) once but I am sure it will thrive just because the capacity of the Village is close to its maximum.

James Bay thrives with coffee shops and life. These coffee shops host musical jam nights, philosophical discussions, and conversation. I am reminded of my childhood images of what it might have been like in the Latin Quarter in Paris in the early 20th century.

I took the photo of the Starbucks because of the recycling container inside. In Salmon Arm, the Starbucks there told me they were not able to recycle their coffee cups. Not so in Victoria!

Another part of the diversity of the community is the various ways people have made their gardens and sidewalks interesting. I still have yet to explore the full range of what people are doing. Here are a few examples.

The two photos below are of funky art done with painting rocks. You can see more, and get still more of a flavour of James Bay, by visiting the website http://rock-art.ca/index.html

I enjoyed the imagination and creativity of these creations; the bees on the music score, and the cut orange, just drew me in!

When I first saw this tree, with the sunlight catching the hanging teacups, I thought they were magnolia blossoms.

Flowers

Victoria is known as the City of Blossoms, with flowers blooming year-round. The streets are adorned with colour from winter heathers, and many species whose names I don't know.

The Ocean and the Park

And of course, part of James Bay's attractiveness is created by the presence of the walk along Dallas Road, the ever-changing ocean, and the myriad of pathways through Beacon Hill Park. A person can easily move out of the streets, and onto a pathway through the diverse gardens of Beacon Hill Park, or down onto the rocks below Dallas Road and smell the ocean. 

Beacon Hill Park is a presence along Douglas Street, where rock outcrops add interest.

The smaller scale of the streetscapes of James Bay is balanced by the huge ocean vista which is a constant presence along Dallas Road.

So, there are a few of my thoughts of what makes for a walkable community. James Bay has them all!