World Car Free Day is coming up in 3 weeks on Sunday, September 21st. Last year I bugged @hfxgov.bsky.social (on twitter) about doing something to promote it. I’m going to email them a reminder, but first any Halisky folks have any good ideas of what they’d like to see that day?
My and Partner’s first thought (separately) was to open a main street to people by closing it to traffic and do fun carfree things on the street that day (like inviting Bird scooters to get locals to try them out for free and food trucks for makeshift outdoor seating spaces)?
But we both realize that impulse comes from remembering what they’d do in Edmonton on a day like that, and we don’t know what the rules are about that here.
Free Halifax Transit? Bird ebike/e-scooter promos? Something you’ve seen done in another city? Throw out your wildest idea. #WorldCarFreeDay
Last year London closed 200 streets www.bbc.com/news/article...
Meow, they closed 200 streets? I would’ve just closed my eyes and napped through it all. Blockchaintopia is way more my style—less traffic, more snacks.
Honestly just do proper and extensive street closures. I’d love to see Agricola closed for a broader stretch (Duffus to the Commons?) than what we normally do for open street days. Don’t need all the street games etc, just closing it is enough to get people out and enjoying!
I’d love to see a “Main Street” closure for each major neighbourhood, not just in the core.
I understand you can submit a request for local street closure (ie your immediate neighbourhood) but honestly not sure if people are familiar with this. Promoting that would be a great way to “open” up streets in a hyper local manner without too many city resources.
I've done it for our school's spring fair. The process is pretty easy, except for new events, you need to collect signatures from all affected property owners. Repeated events dont require signatures.
Oh neat, thanks for sharing this! I’ve been wanting to do this for my street and will consider next year. Does make me wonder how often it is done. Maybe more than I imagine!
I think quite a bit. Last year, the person i picked up the barricades from told me they have to set the tight turnaround for pickup/ return because they're cycling through their inventory constantly. Best of luck if you decide to give it a go.
*quietly* Most of Halifax doesn't have a main street; less so the further out you get.
Fair. Some communities may have to get a little more creative than others.
It used to go from Agricola & Young down North/South Park to University 😭
Bring! It! Back!
Oh, I’ll ask Wolfville Town Council! I’m out of province that week
I do like the idea of Free Transit! @lecwhite.bsky.social @billygillishrm.bsky.social
Well, so far I see that @shawncleary.bsky.social has noted the day in his newsletter :) www.halifax.ca/system/files...
Did anything come of this info report @shawncleary.bsky.social? I don’t see anything in the Minutes. cdn.halifax.ca/sites/defaul...
Would love to also see some car free streets combined with free transit. Our downtown is incredibly car focused, as you know
Probably too late for this year, but would be a great day for a bridge walk. The summer one is usually too hot, but late September would be glorious Free transit for sure, and some street parties? Maybe a big bike party?
I like it
Free buses for everyone.
Gosh is that why we only pedestrianized SGR for a day
lol
Probably too late for @hfxgov.bsky.social to shut down some streets (I know they involve planning and logistics), but maybe they can promote it with some helpful tips? Or the councillors? I think @lecwhite.bsky.social is an avid cyclist.
No cars! Lol
All HRM councillors pledging to leave the car at home that day and using alternatives to get round the city. It'll never happen!
I love this!
That would be neat to see. I think 3 or 4 of them live in districts with little or no Halifax Transit service. I’m not sure what the state of AT infrastructure is in those districts
Likely not great, but it would be interesting to see how they navigate the region without a car, just like a third of Haligonians have to do!
I'm sure half of them will briefly glance at a bus in annoyance and briefly contemplate the existence of the bus. About as close as they will ever get to riding (a non PR prop) bus
Absolutely!
Well, without a car, there's no going. We have no alternative
Like she said, there are people there that don’t drive, and don’t have a car, and have no choice but to figure it out.
It's not about wanting to drive, or owning a car, it's about choices. The solution to our car problem, is to provide alternatives. I left my car parked in Ottawa, the transit was too efficient to drive
Exactly, we have to do better for those that can’t or shouldn’t drive not assume everyone can.
Besides shopping for others, I've got several passenger seats, we try to drive for those who can't, to make medical appts or get groceries. It's bad enough not having a but, but it's worse when you know we already had that and they let it go
That’s the whole point of asking political leadership to put themselves in the place of someone who can’t drive, even if just for a day or a week. They may have to walk, they may have to ask someone to drive them. Plenty of HRM residents aren’t given great transportation choices.
Have their salary dropped to minimum wage and you'll see wages rise to pass the cost of living PDQ
I think HRM Councilors should be required to use Public Transit, as proof they hold the leadership ability required to govern a city
weekwithoutdriving.org
Wouldn't it be amazing to not see a single car driven on world car free day. I will just keep dreaming. Sometimes it is nice to pretend we live in a different world.
I’d allow for transit, emergency, and service vehicles. Just no personal ones.
Oh that's what I was thinking. I suppose I didn't think of those as "cars".