We’re told that changing policies is difficult – and in some ways it is; there’s a lot of moving parts and a lot of details to consider. But we also see examples of sweeping policy changes all the time, at all the levels of government – just look at how much changed during Covid-19. It’s totally possible, if we have the political will (and public pressure – that’s where you come in) to do it.
So…We need to talk about cars.
Halloween is my favourite holiday, always has been (yes this is going somewhere).
It’s ‘come as you aren’t’ night.
We can imagine ourselves as different people, living in different worlds.
I’ve always been fascinated with this spooky day because social norms get suspended – kids are encouraged to take candy from strangers; we knock on doors of people we don’t know; people fill the streets; cars are told to get out of the way because kids are trick-or-treating.
I love reimagining what our streets could look like if we broke more social norms, especially those norms that are hurting us and the Earth.
“I love reimagining what our streets could look like if we broke more social norms, especially those norms that are hurting us and the Earth.”
People in the street signal something special, whether a holiday, a protest, or Open Air Dunlop here in Barrie, because the streets are not made for people – they’re made for cars. Streets are public spaces, so why aren’t they built for the public?
A lot of how we live is shaped by what our neighbourhoods, towns and cities look and feel like.
The physical spaces that we live in influences how we think, act and perceive the world (and how we move through it).
Physical structures plus social structures like individualism, patriarchy, racism and colonialism can make us think and behave in certain ways that are harmful to others, the natural world and ourselves.
We’re well aware that we have to reduce car use in order to reduce emissions and meet global climate targets (and no, electric cars can’t do this – they only offer a step on the way).
Great, so cities can just invest in better public transit and make more bike lanes and we’re good right? That’s a big part of it, but it goes a bit deeper than some policy changes and reorganizing budgets. I think you know this.
Cars are universal in our culture – our lives are literally built around them.
The rapid development of Canadian cities and towns in the last half of the 20th century prioritized cars, making city planning policies and practices assume that we will use cars and keep sprawling cities forever and somehow not run out of land or oil. It was a different time.
But the problem is that many of those policies and practices are still being used, despite the fact that SO much has changed in the 21st century so far – oh yeah, and climate breakdown is a thing.
We’re told that changing policies is difficult – and in some ways it is; there’s a lot of moving parts and a lot of details to consider. But we also see examples of sweeping policy changes all the time, at all the levels of government – just look at how much changed during Covid-19. It’s totally possible, if we have the political will (and public pressure – that’s where you come in) to do it.
“…we also see examples of sweeping policy changes all the time, at all the levels of government – just look at how much changed during Covid-19.”
A lot of us are willing to make the major changes that we need to combat the climate crisis. Many are willing and eager to transition away from cars and to public transit and active transportation – it’s necessary to reduce emissions, it protects our forests, farmland and water, and it will build happier, healthier and nicer communities.
But not everyone will so readily make this leap – not when every other Youtube ad is: Car = Freedom.
Cars mean a lot to people – status, identity, masculinity. That makes it personal (and shows how successfully the market can convince us that we need things that we don’t, even when they cause harm).
People don’t want to give up their cars or trucks because they perceive that to mean giving up their freedom or their status.
Because we are so embedded in the lifestyle of consumption, taking away our stuff can feel like taking away who we are. I don’t have to tell you that that’s not a very healthy or meaningful way to live.
When we plan for cars – aka urban sprawl – we get more cars.
So, if we know we need less cars, why are we still planning for more by building highways and approving development outside of current boundaries? Isn’t that the opposite of climate action? Yes, yes it is.
But with smart planning that centers our carbon budget and our wellbeing instead of short-term profit, this can change.
Instead, let’s reimagine our communities as ones that cover the needs of diverse people within the limits of regional ecosystems, and that have a strong public sphere where people can socialize, create and learn. We can plan for what are called ‘complete communities’.
Governments have failed to act to protect our communities and the futures of our children and grandchildren, and they continue to treat our environment as if it’s incidental to life, rather than a foundation for it.
We need strong community organizations to fight for our future, now more than ever.
Please consider donating to support our work. It’s people like you who make us possible.
“…let’s reimagine our communities as ones that cover the needs of diverse people within the limits of regional ecosystems, and that have a strong public sphere where people can socialize, create and learn.”
These are neighbourhoods that have our basic needs nearby and are built for ‘intensification’, which means filling in the spaces that we already have within city limits. Basically, we can take the space currently for cars (roads, driveways, parking lots) and fill that in with things that we actually need like:
And all of this is on top of the health benefits of planning for people instead of cars:
All of these things work towards social justice too, because the economic, health and accessibility issues created by planning for cars impacts marginalized populations the most.
Would people gather in their front yards with people instead of fenced-off backyards?
Would people treat each other better?
Would people use that extra space to grow food or plant pollinator gardens?
Would you have street parties?
Full on snowball or water gun fights on the street?
Picnic tables, public art, music, BBQs?
What could you have instead of a driveway?
Would people work together to build a street-long haunted house on Halloween? (That’s what I would do tbh).
When we can picture a community that centers health, equity and the environment, we can create those communities. Reimagining the places where we live now opens up paths towards what those places can be in the future.
I, for one, would love to know how all of you would redesign your street for living instead of driving, no matter what kind of street you live on!
Kelly, signing off.
P.S – I think of these blog posts as an ongoing discussion. You can share your comments below, on social media (links below!) or get in touch with me at kelly@simcoecountygreenbelt.ca.
Kelly is SCGC's Youth Engagement Lead. She has a M.Ed. from OISE, and a B.A. (Hons) from Laurentian, where she specialized in Sociology. She's particularly interested in environmental education.
This week, there has been a lot of tension between less-than-ideal solutions that may be more practical in the short term, and ideal solutions that might allow things to worsen in the present moment. Ever since I was young, I have believed there is always another option that was missing from these limited conversations.
At this moment in time it is natural to feel discouraged and doubtful that the work we do is worthwhile at all. I get lost in the disasters happening every day and begin to think that nothing I do will ever create the changes I want to see.
…the changes in Bill 23 do not address the housing affordability crisis, rather they will simply put more money into the pockets of billionaire developers at the expense of Ontarians and the natural resources we depend on.
Very soon, the federal government will be deciding whether the Holland Marsh Highway (aka Bradford Bypass) poses enough risk to the health of our environment and communities to designate it for a federal impact assessment. The 25-year-old studies the province is using are woefully out of date and must be updated before work proceeds. The Holland Marsh Highway poses significant risk to the environment, Lake Simcoe, and our communities.
I didn’t know what I was in for, but I knew that helping youth get engaged through a grassroots organization was something I couldn’t pass up. This is exactly what I was looking for – a chance to do something in my community.
How local organizations can help reduce barriers to youth engagement in community organizations, local government, and climate action.
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