Dear Editor:
"'Instead of maximizing facilities for motorcars, we should maximize the advantages of urban life. Parks, playgrounds, and schools, theatres, universities and concert halls, to say nothing of a quiet night's sleep and a sunny outlook when one wakes up, are more important that any benefits derived from the constant use of automobiles,' (Lewis) Mumford wrote presciently in 1955. Cities, he believed with all his heart, existed for pedestrians, not cars."
Alice Alexiou, Jane Jacobs: Urban Visionary So I led a river walk along the Quay and participated in another Jane's Walk along Westminster Pier in New Westminster on Jane Jacob's birthday.
It is significant that New Westminster had 10 Jane's Walks, while Vancouver and other cities around the world had fewer.
In the process of sharing information about the Quay with residents of our community, I probably learned more about Jane's vision for urban living. And it's not tied up in highways and cars. Rather it's people who get to know each other, look after their neighbours and community.
As I look at where I live, the focal point is not the community, though I will admit politicians have been trying to improve that.
What I see are roads and railways that lead away from community, that divide us, that create noise and (toxic) pollution and allow for unwanted crime. Could we not put all these unnecessary roads and rails and bridges, beneath us? The cost is high; the loss of our small community in New Westminster is higher.
So, to the local newspapers, I say, keep including the citizens' voices on how we do things in the community. Remember it's all about people! For more information on Jane's Walks, go to www.janeswalk.net.
Mike Hoyer, via email
