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How can we reach our 2020
Greenest City Targets?

chris thoreau

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8 results found

  1. Municipal tax break for property owners that allow urban farmers to farm their yards

    256 votes
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    4 comments  ·  GC 2020 » Encourage local food  ·  Admin →
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    chris thoreau commented  · 

    Go Will GO!!!

    chris thoreau supported this idea  · 

  2. Develop a local food hub and expand the availability of local food at a neighbourhood level

    506 votes
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    12 comments  ·  GC 2020 » Encourage local food  ·  Admin →
    chris thoreau supported this idea  · 

  3. Expand current blue box recycling

    15 votes
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    5 comments  ·  GC 2020 » Reduce waste  ·  Admin →
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    chris thoreau commented  · 

    Vancouver's blue box recycling also needs basic expansion. Right now we can only recycle 4 plastic types Whereas in Victoria they can recycle all seven. And what about soft plastic?

    chris thoreau supported this idea  · 

  4. Repeal mandatory bike helmet legislation

    408 votes
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    72 comments  ·  GC 2020 » Travel predominately by foot, bike, and transit  ·  Admin →
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    chris thoreau commented  · 

    I wanted to add another point regarding the helmet law (I vented earlier).

    The bike helmet law may actually be one of the few that could be effective if enacted properly. The idea of many laws is to prevent or promote certain actions. Yet the laws only offer fines as incentive (or disincentive).

    An effective way of making such a law useful is to issue the fine, but then refund/cancel the fine if the "offender' purchases a helmet and produces a receipt. If you "forgot" your helmet then you get a warning (or 2).

    There is no doubt that helmets save lives and until this city completely separates vehicle and bicycle traffic the helmet will continue to save lives. But the city needs to offer more support than fines for "helmet offenders".

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    chris thoreau commented  · 

    I am not sure I support a helmet law OR repealing the law. In many progressive European cities, helmets are not required and there are very few incidents with cyclists. However, this is because there are very well established biking routes in these places which completely separate cars from bicycles. Further, there are strong laws that support cycling including large fines for drivers who injure or even interrupt cyclists. The reason we have to wear helmets here is because our current cycling system is inadequate and it is therefore dangerous to ride without one. Our biking routes in Vancouver are simply roads designated as biking routes - but still roads. Ironically, these routes are quire dangerous (take 10th avenue for example) as they are quite narrow and actually bring vehicles in closer contact with cyclists.

    For those of you with kids, would you let your child ride a bike without a helmet? And if not, you need to set the example by wearing one yourself.

    Take this opportunity to reallocate your votes to something that will really make a difference in this city - these are wasted votes.

  5. Support Urban Farming Entrepeneurship

    215 votes
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    7 comments  ·  GC 2020 » Encourage local food  ·  Admin →
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    chris thoreau commented  · 

    Dear Anonymous,

    I am curious where you are seeing urban and part-time farmers underprice their produce. Are there markets in Vancouver where this is happening?

    Why do you set $15 as your minimum labour cost? I believe it should be up to each farmer to price his or her produce according to his or her own needs. And is it $15 in every year (including start up year)? I made $2.63/hour my first year, so have I done something unethical? This year I may make $10 if I am lucky. Does this mean I am underpricing my produce? At the same time I was able to pay my apprentices at $12/hour

    I appreciate your comments, but my experience tells otherwise, so I would love to see some examples or precedents for your suggestions. My pocket book tells me that nobody is underpricing at the market! And $15 is an easily achievable goal (mine is $22.hour). But it takes time to get there.

    chris thoreau shared this idea  · 

  6. Reuse centres in every neighbourhood and at Waste Disposal Sites and Transfer Stations

    20 votes
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    8 comments  ·  GC 2020 » Reduce waste  ·  Admin →
    chris thoreau supported this idea  · 

  7. create an urban farm network

    121 votes
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    3 comments  ·  GC 2020 » Encourage local food  ·  Admin →
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    chris thoreau commented  · 

    I would like to comment that this type of project is on its way. I am doing such a project as an UBC undergrad thesis. You will be able to keep updates on my blog at cmthoreau.wordpress.com (no posts yet - but coming soon!)

  8. Encourage urban food production

    669 votes
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    23 comments  ·  GC 2020 » Encourage local food  ·  Admin →
    chris thoreau supported this idea  · 

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