Seattle

Seeing Seattle (xi) sidewalks you’ll never see in Ottawa

Westsideaction

the photo shows a generously wide sidewalk, interlock retaining wall, nice mulched bit of planting between the walkway and the road. Notice too how some surface treatment (sandblasting?) gave it an interesting pattern and texture. But there is something here that is extraordinary. there’s a pretty ordinary bike lane on the adjacent road. and a spot where the bike lane turns onto a bike path, crossing our sidewalk first. I;m not so sure I like the post, but it probably keeps motorists out. No, what is special can be seen in this picture: Look very carefully. Look at the left … Continue reading Seeing Seattle (xi) sidewalks you’ll never see in Ottawa

roads, Seattle

Seeing Seattle (ix) street paving you can’t have here

Westsideaction

There are a variety of reasons to pave a street in something other than asphalt. Decorative paving, for example, highlights to drivers and pedestrians that we are in a special place. Take extra care. Regular readers of this site will have seen many such paving examples of certain blocks or even major intersections. And sometimes the paving is deliberately complex to increase uncertainty and blur the distinctions between different parts of the paved area. Right in the heart of downtown Seattle there was this paving pattern that covered sidewalks, corsswalks, roads, parking areas, intersections… [an area roughly akin to Rideau … Continue reading Seeing Seattle (ix) street paving you can’t have here

Seattle1 Comment

Seeing Seattle (viii) Misc street observations

Westsideaction

Visiting other cities reveals so many subtle differences in how something can be done. It breaks my assumptions — often implicit — that things “just are that way” as a matter of course.  So rather than look in depth at some significant urban planning diffences, which will be subject of future stories (drainage swales, bus stops, etc) lets look at a few miscellaneous differences. Here’s a few examples. Seattle’s Chinatown, being remonikered as the International District, seemed to have a heavy import-export-industrial flavour to it, rather than being a restaurant row. There was the requisite Chinatown Arch, albeit much more … Continue reading Seeing Seattle (viii) Misc street observations

Seattle2 Comments

Seeing Seattle (vii) Cultivating trees as if they were wanted

Westsideaction

  The picture shows a typical older street. The walkway is set back from the vehicle curb. There is a row of trees planted between the walk and the curb. Between the trees is asphalt, concrete, or pavers. The trees are tolerated but paved surfaces dominate. This would still rate as excellent by Ottawa standards, should we be so lucky as to have a boulevard of trees on a street. Here’s a newer installation, in front of an infill midrise apartment. Here’s another:   Notice too the steel frame and glass panels that partially shelter the pedestrians from rain or … Continue reading Seeing Seattle (vii) Cultivating trees as if they were wanted

Ottawa

Seeing Seattle (vi): real trees in the downtown

Westsideaction

  I was really struck by how green Seattle is. Not just green-grass green, but how respectful it was of large-scale green plants. The picture above is not a typical street. Much of Seattle has been yielded over to the almightly motorists who seem to have a real hate-on for trees. But there were quite a few neighbourhoods and areas of the downtown with lots of trees. Imagine Sussex Drive or the Market with trees of this size. Trees do grow just fine in cities, not that one could guess that in Ottawa, but they require decent size planting beds, … Continue reading Seeing Seattle (vi): real trees in the downtown

Ottawa

Seeing Seattle (v): signs you don’t see in Ottawa

Westsideaction

The above signage was painted onto the sidewalk, at an intersection, just as I wondered which way I was to cross the street. Several downtown walking paths were identified. If in Ottawa, they could guide one to Parliament, or the ByWard Market, etc. There weren’t very many of these red signs, but where they were they were obvious and useful. Wayfinding is a reasonable municipal expenditure in areas with lots of visitors. Ideally, they would also be found in other neighbourhoods, useful for visitors and locals alike. Seattle has a mild climate, and street people naturally gravitate to nice places with … Continue reading Seeing Seattle (v): signs you don’t see in Ottawa

condos, Ottawa

I can get it for you, RETAIL

Westsideaction

I can understand why people buy a condo apartment or townhouse to live in.  People like the sense of control. Of ownership. Permanence. And once it is paid off, you don’t have to earn the (taxable) income to pay rent. I also understand that renting is cheaper, and the tax benefits similar, if you invest the difference between renting and saving into the stock market, preferably in low-cost ETF’s. But then you are a tenant … and some people don’t thrill to that. But that is not what this is about. It’s about people who buy condos for investment purposes. … Continue reading I can get it for you, RETAIL

Seattle1 Comment

Seeing Seattle (iv): the Burke Gilman trail (the more urban bits)

Westsideaction

As the Burke Gilman trail moves eastwards it approaches Fremont. First, it climbs some hills. Shown here, it sort of merges with a concrete sidewalk (note the sign, which I carefully cut off, with courtesy instructions):   This section had no yellow line:       the view from the hill was fine: Linkages to other loops and paths were marked out at various points:     We passed a chocolate factory with a sign telling people it wasn’t a retail store. Fortunately, that part was nearby, albeit not with the benefit of useful directions from the factory. Admire our … Continue reading Seeing Seattle (iv): the Burke Gilman trail (the more urban bits)

Seattle

Seeing Seattle (ii) : When bike paths and pedestrians conflict

Westsideaction

Of course we rented bikes. Gotta explore and check out their bike facilities. In the Green Lake area, we found ample evidence of cyclists and pedestrians — and dog walkers, joggers, and runners  — in conflict for limited space. This solution is pretty rational: it appears to be a bi-directional asphalt path and a flush concrete pedestrian sidewalk beside it (on both sides). But once the pedestrians and cyclists are separated, other issues of equity arise. Joggers go faster than walkers, the elderly, or people with strollers. Is this jogger going the right way being on the left sidewalk or should … Continue reading Seeing Seattle (ii) : When bike paths and pedestrians conflict

Seattle

Seeing Seattle (iii): the Burke Gilman trail

Westsideaction

The most famous bike path / trail in Seattle is the Burke Gilman trail.  It runs from Puget Sound (the Ocean) inland along the ship canal that connects to Lake Washington (fresh water) via the smaller Lake Union (half and half). The path then runs past the University of Washington campus (called “U Dub” by the locals. Dub is short for W. Now, in my old age, I know why the previous US president was nicknamed Dubya. It’s sort of scary to be 10 years out of date.) From the northern shores of Lake Washington, the trail runs forever to … Continue reading Seeing Seattle (iii): the Burke Gilman trail

Ottawa, Seattle1 Comment

Benchmarking Ottawa

Westsideaction

Readers may have noticed I’ve been away for a while. I was in the American Pacific Northwest. And have tons of photos of intensification, sidewalks, streetscaping, traffic circles, transit, street painting, infills, bio-swales, bike lanes, bike paths, and just plain weird stuff. Since this is election time in municipal Ottawa, I’ll take the next few weeks to look at Seattle, Bellevue, some smaller towns on the Olympic Penninsula, and nirvana Portland. It’s both interesting to see how they do things, and of course compare them to what we get here. Of course the cities are bigger; the climate is different … Continue reading Benchmarking Ottawa

Ottawa5 Comments

Skinny sidewalk

Westsideaction

  This isn’t the skinniest sidewalk we’ve ever featured here, but it certainly is curious. It’s on Clyde Avenue, beside the Canadian Tire store. The sidewalk on each side of this “intersection” is regular 2m or so width. Nice enough, in its typically minimalist way. The little island in the centre of the intersection also shortens the crossing legs and lets pedestrians assess danger from approaching vehicles in two stages. I approve. This is the private entrance to a private property, yet there is no [depressed] curb along the street. It is a curious hybrid of driveway entrance and road … Continue reading Skinny sidewalk

Ottawa3 Comments

Privatizing road calming

Westsideaction

  Spotted on Woodroffe Avenue (near the public library at Carlingwood) this speed feedback sign reminds drivers of their actual speed. It would have been much more useful with a copy of the posted speed limit sign below it. The City didn’t install this sign, it is funded somewhat privately by the Councillor (using his budget, I presume).  Like bus shelters, roadside benches with advertising, or garbage cans with advertising, it combines civic benefit with private advertising. I have no problem with this. If the City were to officially do this themselves, sans advertising, the sign would be much more … Continue reading Privatizing road calming

Ottawa3 Comments

Mixed blessings as an old retail friend vanishes

Westsideaction

The Grand and Toy stationery and copy shop chain has retired from the retail storefront market. I have spent many a dollar there over the decades, and its demise means the disappearance of yet another [formerly] Canadian business. Storefront copy shops are now big-chain US brands. Ottawa will look increasingly like a generic North American downtown. One thing I won’t miss are the large window wraps that turned the glass into seldom-changed advertising bland-assity. Maybe, just maybe, we will get tenants in the spaces vacated by Grand and Toy that have windows and something interesting to see as one goes … Continue reading Mixed blessings as an old retail friend vanishes

Ottawa1 Comment

Seeing Seattle (part i) — downtown bike track

Westsideaction

  I checked out this bi-directional bike track in downtown Seattle.  It is separated from other vehicles by a poured curb, which in turn was interrupted by breaks to allow for water drainage and driveway access. |(above)  the pavement was painted green at private driveways to businesses, not just at intersections, like the Laurier bike track here.   above:  a whole block painted green, with car parking on the outside edge of the track, with a painted spacer to reduce dooring and motor car passengers stepping out in front of cyclists. I don’t know why the launching point on the … Continue reading Seeing Seattle (part i) — downtown bike track

Ottawa1 Comment

Gardening in cracks — err, narrow urban spaces

Westsideaction

In east-side Montreal a few weeks back, I noticed a number of merchants or building owners (because these were not residential properties) were squeezing plants into the cracks between the sidewalk and building facade. I’m not sure why such narrow spaces  were “left over” unpaved, but they were put to good use.     the Hakone grass (yellow green stuff above) isn’t cheap either, about $12 per plant. I also noticed someone — city or merchants association — planted many of the openings around sidewalk trees:       In the Le Plateau district, I was astounded to see the City … Continue reading Gardening in cracks — err, narrow urban spaces

Ottawa1 Comment

Chinatown BIA sponsors another community garden spot

Westsideaction

The Chinatown BIA has for years provided funding for the original Somerset community garden at Somerset/Empress. Funding replenishes mulch, buys a hose or some plants, etc. They also funded a whack of tulip planting in all the streetscaping planters near Booth. When the City rebuilt Somerset a few years back, they provided a really nice planter near Booth, with two trees. Alas, almost all the tangly shrubby things on the bottom died the first winter. But, they are guaranteed ! So the landscapers returned last year and replanted. Only to see them all die another time last winter. The City … Continue reading Chinatown BIA sponsors another community garden spot

Ottawa2 Comments

Community Gardens just keep on growing

Westsideaction

The City kindly parked two round planters on Elm Street in front of the little park there, in advance of construction (someday) of a permanent bulb out — imagine, replacing parking with a park ! Councillor Holmes sponsored a buying-spree to get some plants for the planters. There isn’t much left in the big box stores, but we got the two planters filled. Next spring, some of the plants might get swapped out or traded with other community-maintained garden spots on the west side. The planters arrived in all their naked glory, but actually filled with good dirt: Some kids … Continue reading Community Gardens just keep on growing

cycling in Ottawa, Ottawa, pedestrians, sidewalks, walkways

Example of a simple big-crosswalk

Westsideaction

OK, I’ve wondered (and bitched)  bit about the cacophony of crossing markings at Fifth and the QED. So what are other options? In the above pic, there is a bi-directional bike path leading to the intersection in the foreground. A lateral shift, what laypeople might call a severe jog, in the bike path encourages cyclists to slow down at the intersection. Built in traffic calming. The cross street sidewalk is brick, so there is a colour and texture identification. And for the cyclists and pedestrians on the street we are standing on, there is one giant zebra-striped crossing. Not a … Continue reading Example of a simple big-crosswalk

cycling in Ottawa, Ottawa, pedestrians, sidewalks, walkways8 Comments

Complexity confuses

Westsideaction

  Is it just me, or is there a fresh proliferation of new symbols and signs we are supposed to recognize and obey?  I find a lot of them not very clear at all. The new pedestrian crosswalk and cyclist crossride at Fifth and the Canal is an overdue intersection improvement and I am grateful that it is there. And I look forward to a lot more safe crossings in our road-traffic-dominated city. But the proliferation of symbols and signs is a sight to behold. Look at the above pic. The nearest crosswalk is marked with solid white lines and … Continue reading Complexity confuses

Florida, Ottawa, pedestrians, streetscaping, walkways4 Comments

Putting pedestrians first at intersections

Westsideaction

Yesterday I self-indulged in a bit of bitch about how the City makes intersections safer for motor vehicles at the expense of pedestrians: Look at almost any intersection. The City locates the signal posts back from the curb line, for the safety of motorists. But then directs pedestrians to stand in the same spot where they deem it too dangerous to place a wooden or steel post.  Allright, the natural question is what could be done to make it better? My first response is Amsterdam, like many European cities, puts real bollards (set deep into cement bases, designed to repel … Continue reading Putting pedestrians first at intersections