GC 2020
657 results found
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Provide rainwater catchments to those living in condos with balconies to help with urban gardens
While waiting for building codes to come into effect requiring rainwater collection and water efficient irrigation systems, this can be a simple way to assist condo dwellers in using less water when it comes to their own balcony gardens.
13 votesThe City sells smaller rainbarrels for this use http://vancouver.ca/engsvcs/solidwaste/grownatural/rainbarrels.htm
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Develop incentives to restore the bee populations
[Submitted via email by Patrice Allen]
Develop incentives to restore the bee populations, not only for their products but for cross-pollination in ALL green spaces.
18 votesHobby bee keeping guidelines under review and there are beehives on top of City Hall. For details on the City of Vancouver bee keeping initiatives, please visit: http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/socialplanning/initiatives/foodpolicy/projects/beekeeping.htm
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Encourage grass lawn alternatives
[Submitted via email by Patrice Allen]
Grass lawns use excessive water and toxic fertilizers, just to get that lush look. Why not more veggie & flower beds? Or Japanese style pebbles, bricks, tiles, and water-recycling ponds (also to help prevent noise pollution and give the birds a place to drink from) and, most low maintenance of all, a herb lawn of thyme or any of the other fragrant, soft, herbaceous carpets that grow themselves. Encourage planting of succulents (less watering) and native plants and grasses.
11 votesThe City does encourage alternatives to lawns http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/guidelines/W005.pdf
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redesign the "islands" under the cambie bridge
The current granite rubble covering the piers of the cambie bridge is both ugly and sterile. This area could be easily redesigned into a viable habitat that would provide a sheltered/inaccessible piece of false creek to encourage both terrestrial and marine wildlife.
9 votes -
Create local food distribution system
We have a back/front yard garden that grows primarily produce. Some years, like this one, the yield is pretty meager. But other years, like last summer, we have WAY more produce than we can possibly use, even with constant canning.
I typically start giving away the extra to unsuspecting friends and neighbours, but I would love to have a way to sell it.
Most back-yard gardeners don't produce enough produce to go to the trouble of selling it, but if there was an easy way to sell the excess into a system that could then combine it with the produce…
24 votesSome elements of a local distribution network are in place with the Farmer’s Markets. The New City Market will increase the scale of this. This idea is included in the draft Greenest City Action Plan.
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relax bike restrictions on skytrain
Allowing bikes on the skytrain during rush hours will encourage people to use transit & their bikes as a viable means of transport. The trains are crowded but a possible solution would be to make the last car of each train seatless making way more room for bicycles and passengers at the same time.
21 votesOutside City jurisdiction. It would be nice to relax these restrictions, but they do serve a purpose — relaxing them is only feasible when and where there is sufficient capacity on transit vehicles. Providing more abundant and more secure bicyle parking at transit hubs will play a bigger part in cycle-transit integration.
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Ban power washers for residential use
[Submitted via email by Patrice Allen]
"Ban power washers for residential use, and monitor their use or find alternatives for commercial use. At present they are noisy, gas-sucking or power sucking annoyances that waste tons of water while owners wash their trucks, their driveways and their dogs. It stuns me. I have sat outside of a Safeway store at the tables provided and watched while two men have power washed a concrete planter and a small portion of sidewalk, for HOURS, using TONS of water and power. Why, in Rain City, do we have to powerwash everything that is exposed…
0 votesAn outright ban on power/pressure washers is not part of the Draft Greenest City Action Plan, but education about appropriate uses and alternatives to their use is part fo the plan.
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Create tax incentives for businesses to add planted outdoor spaces for their patrons
[Submitted via mail by Penny Perry]
"usinesses should be rewarded with lower taxes if they supply a planted refuge for their patrons. I am thinking of the fabulous space provided by La Casa Gelato on Glen Drive."
4 votes -
Require businesses and office to provide outdoor ashtrays
[Submitted via mail by Penny Perry]
"All offices and businesses should be required to provide outdoor ashtrays. The volume of cigarette garbage on the streets, in the gutters and around the boulevard trees is pretty disgusting. I think i heard a tree on Broadway cough the other day."
0 votes -
Retain all transit on Seymour and Howe
[Submitted via mail by Penny Perry]
Transit on Seymour and Howe is very convenient because if you miss one bus another one that might be going in the same direction will come along in a reasonable time.
0 votesTrolley wires will be maintained on these routes, so that buses can easily be rerouted off Granville to allow for special events and other closures.
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Day long transit lanes
[Submitted via mail by Penny Perry]
If transit were faster more people would use it and transit lanes allow the buses to make good time. Transit lanes must also make life easier for the bus drivers.
5 votesThis is a great idea that is outside City jurisdiction
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Avoid 50-100 year mistakes.
Ensure that long-term infrastructure, especially buildings, are sustainable from the very start.
4 votesOngoing green building programs address sustainability.
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Local Food
Encourage developers to provide commercial space, throughout residential neighborhods, for outlets for locally grown food. Residential development are often required to provide community oriented commercial uses, such as day care.
Local food markets, distributred throughout the residential neighborhoods, would help support local food growth, and reduce impact on infrastructure by reducing the need to get in the car.
11 votesUrban agriculture components are now part of the public benefit negotiations for major developments, however the use of these benefits for a neighbourhood hub like this has not yet been contemplated. Options for neighbourhood based distribution of local food are being considered in the draft Greenest City Action Plan.
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Plant edibles
My neighbourhood is full of boulevard trees and planted round-abouts, however, none of this vegetation is edible!
Instead of horse chestnut trees, plant real chestnut trees. Instead of oaks and maples, plant apple trees, crab apples, cherry, even peach.
Instead of hedges, try blueberry/huckleberry bushes or rhubarb.
We can increase our food security by putting our available green space to good use!
60 votes -
Recycling should be compulsory
I was amazed to find out that recycling is an option for business, and even for large residential buildings. A friend who lives in a 50-unit residential building (near Broadway and Commercial) found out that they were not recycling anything. When she brought it up with the landlord, he said that it was not required and that it was a waste of money.
Even if fines are not in place, recycling should be mandatory. If the city still needs to charge extra to finance this service , it should not be an option.
There are similar ideas about recycling, including…44 votes -
'Pedestrianize' Robson St. permanently (no cars) - or at least do a 6 month trial
Studies show that commercial streets (full of shops, cafes and restaurants) that have been converted into foot or bicycle traffic only, have dramatic increases in public activity and economic growth.
Do you know any other streets that would benefit from this? Leave your comment below!
52 votesThe draft Greenest City plan will include directions to explore pedestrian-only and pedestrian-priority streets in the downtown core. Potential locations will be identified at a later date (e.g. as part of the transportation plan update).
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No tax on bikes and biking equipment.
Saving of 12% brings the cost of bikes and safety equipment down.
11 votesThis is under provincial jurisdiction.
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Green Hastings Park
This public asset is being used by a Casino, a dying horse racing industry, a year round comercial rental industry, a noisy amusement park, and two coorporate ball clubs.
Daylight the salmon stream, return the community soccer fields. etc...
145 votes -
Tie air pollution permits to targeted pollution reduction plans
For those industries permitted to pollute (chicken and fish reduction plants, diesel exhaust from the port) tie specific targeted reductions as a condition of permit and monitor to assure results.
5 votesPollution permits are granted by Metro Vancouver, and the standards which must be adhered to have become more stringent and will continue to be reassessed.
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keep transit open later - esp. on weekends
Giving people more access to late night transit - especially on the weekends 0 will increase their likelihood of using it to get to central areas as well as decrease the number of drunk drivers on the road.
41 votesA good idea that is outside municipal jurisdiction. The City will continue to work with TransLink and advocate for improved transit service, including higher frequency and longer hours.
