-
A Step In the Right
Direction
Week 1: Make hay while the sun shines. Let's savour
the nice walking to school weather while it lasts. See you out
there!
Week 2: "...but, but, but, I live in Dunbar
- you don't expect us to walk from there do you?"
Well, no. Not all the way anyway.
A number of kids attending Shaughnessy Elementary are 'cross-boundary'
- I understand that sometimes the distances seem ominous. So
here's an idea for people who simply live too far away to walk.
Why not park a healthy distance from the school, let's say four
blocks, and then hike in from there. After all we're lucky -
could you imagine a better neighbourhood for a morning walk?
It's a great way to start your day.
Note: International walk to school
day is Wednesday, October X.
Week 3: A word about the RAZOR.
I give a big thumbs up to the Razor scooter as a way of getting
to and from school. Unlike skateboards, or even bikes, the Razor
can be mastered easily and is safe to use on the sidewalk.
Here's the safety protocol -
for basic transportation use, helmets are not mandatory (as they
are for bicycles) but are recommended. Make sure your child understands
well the braking system before you leave the driveway. Teach
your child to be especially careful, when scooting on sidewalks,
at blind corners like at driveways and laneways which are bordered
by hedges - cars might pop out unseen. Beyond that, my opinion
is that this is a fad you can buy into - they're a blast.
Note: International walk to school
day is October X (next Wednesday.)
Week 4:
It seems like there is no challenge beyond the students of Shaughnessy
Elementary. A full 77% of students walked, biked, or razored
to school on International Walk to School Day this past Wednesday.
Congratulations to you all.
There were a few cars on Marguerite
Street between 8:40 and 9:05 a.m. dropping kids off, but only
a few - and vive la différence. Car traffic volume was
39% of what it was for the same period the Wednesday before.
(Thanks to Andy Buttar for gathering this information.) I know
some of you simply forgot. Don't worry about it.
The most striking moment for
me was seeing so many of you, students and parents alike, walking
together up that crowded sidewalk along Marguerite Street from
Nanton at around 8:52 a.m. People were talking to each other,
even laughing.
Once again, congratulations to
all participants: students, staff, and parents.
Week 5:
The habit of exercise is one of the most important gifts
you can give to your child (your children). They're always watching,
they're always learning. Don't miss the opportunity to let them
know that you consider exercise to be important...even modest
exercise. You don't have to be a tri-athlete to walk a few blocks
to school with them, and you're setting a great example.
Week 6: WHAT...WALK EVERY DAY?
You don't have to walk to school every day to be moving in the
right direction. If you have been driving your child/children
to school every day, then walking them to school one day a week
is an improvement. Alternatively you might decide to structure
your week around a walking plan: walk on Tuesday and Thursday,
or better yet, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Experiment: find
the plan that works for you.
And remember, if you live too
far away to walk from home, park your car a few blocks away and
walk in from there.
Week 7 The Travel Mug: A Tribute
It's one of the great innovations. Here's how it works: fill
with hot liquid (coffee, tea, chicken soup - choose your poison)
at 8:40 on weekday mornings. Find a comfortable sidewalk, a child
or two, and start walking towards Shaughnessy Elementary. Sip
every 30 to 45 seconds. For optimal effect kick leaves, breathe
deeply, and pick-up and polish the occasional chestnut (yes,
experts in the field say that you can do this one-handed). For
greater value, sip more slowly - there'll be some left for your
walk home or back to your car. Travel mugs available at Tim Horton's,
Starbucks, and other fine hot beverage dealerships. Get yours
today.
Week 8: The Sky Is Falling...The Sky Is Falling
Global warming, greenhouse gases, ozone depletion...I can sense
you slipping into skim mode already. Wait, give me one more chance.
In September of this year the
Antarctic ozone hole expanded to its largest size in history
and for the first time exposed areas in southern Chile to its
harmful effects. The hole was caused principally by 'CFCs' in
the atmosphere, but the emissions that result from the burning
of fossil fuels significantly exacerbates the problem. Many climatologists
believe that it is likely that there will soon be a matching
arctic ozone hole. In Greater Vancouver as in most North American
cities, the passenger car is by far the biggest producer of harmful
emissions from the burning of fossil fuels. The unpleasant truth
I'm stumbling towards here is this: driving Becky to ballet and
Cynthia to soccer is burning crops and people's skin in Punta
Arenas.
This is something that none of
us want to think about. The price of doing nothing is very high
however - not perhaps for us, but for our children, and their
children. Maybe it's too late for our generation to do anything
about our dependency on the automobile, but let's not let our
children make our mistake. We don't want to scare them, but we
owe it to our children to make sure they understand that there
is a very big future cost for all the driving we do.
And you know, walking to school
on Monday morning might just be the perfect time for this little
talk. What do you think?
Week 9: A+ Architecture
Rosedale, Forest Hill, Westmount, Shaughnessy... The neighbourhood
surrounding the school is second to nowhere in Canada for it's
residential architecture, but how often do we really get a chance
to drink it in? Walking to and from school is a perfect opportunity
to appreciate the exceptional beauty of the neighborhood. If
you're driving and then parking a few blocks away from school
so that you can finish your journey on foot, you can choose a
different street every day. Do your children have favourite houses?
Which ones are yours? Next week: A Shaughnessy Walking Tour.
Week 10: Mini Walking Tour No.1: Tudor Row
Park on Balfour, just west of Granville. A house which jumps
out at you right away is 1533 Balfour - a pristine manor house
with Tudor stylings. Although there is actually a blend of styles
here including some modern features, the brick detail and the
protruding support beams suggest a Tudor flavour more convincingly
than many of the older Tudor style houses in the neighborhood.
All that's missing is the drooping shingle roof. But wait...look
across the street at 1550!
At the end of the block on your
left (1588), is the lot where the "haunted house" of
Shaughnessy used to be. It was derelict for years but has recently
been ripped down and now another is being built. (The ghosts
say they're staying.)
Turn right on Alexandra and then
a quick left on Matthews and find a cluster of massive Tudor
mansions. At the end of the block we switch to flamboyant Victorian
when we hit Canuck Place on the left. (Swing by in the evening
and check out the dramatic lighting.)
Bear left on Marguerite - you're
two blocks from school. Total distance: 0.78 km, 9 minutes.
[This is the first of four suggested
walking routes to school, which I hope will encourage those of
you who live far away, to walk at least part way to school if
you are not already doing so. All routes are between 0.7 and
0.8 kms. The route distances all end at the 'temporary crosswalk'
on Marguerite near the west (side) entrance to the school. The
duration figures were determined in closely-monitored field trails
using a distractible 7 year old subject and include look-at-the-squirrel-daddy,
and can-we-stroke-the-kitty? time delays.]
Week 11 Mini Walking Tour No.2: Perambulating Up Pine
00
Park at Pine and Hosmer, which is to the north and west of the
school. There is a real diversity of architectural styles in
the two-block stretch of Pine between Hosmer and King Edward
Boulevard (25th). An exceptional renovation/restoration has recently
been completed at 3660 Pine...and with just a little imagination
you can picture an elegant horse drawn carriage at the side driveway
ready to carry ladies of quality and gentlemen of distinction
to the opera perhaps, or maybe a fashionable dinner party.
And then the smorgasbord begins:
the English country cottage style (3683), the Japanese flavoured
western house (3790) (notice the temple-like roof lines), and
wonderful 'reconditioned barn' style house (3851) down at the
corner on your right. My favourite is ahead in the next block
(3924). It is a little less grand than most of the others, but
very homey - stone laced pillars, a well-trained climbing vine,
shingle siding, and Tudor features up top.
Don't go all the way to King
Edward Avenue - cut left at the lane and follow it for two short
blocks to Marguerite...and then Bob's your uncle. (Watch out
for crazed cyclists as you cross the Cypress/Angus bike route
at Angus.) Total distance: .72 km, 8 minutes
Quiz: There is an impressive mansion at Pine and Matthews (1838
Matthews) with a striking irregular brick chimney. Actually there
is more than one chimney poking through the roof. How many chimneys
are there? (Answer next week.)
Week 12 Mini Walking Tour No.3: The Nanton Grind
So you've had enough of architectural walking tours, and you're
looking for something a little more...invigorating. Here's one
for you. Park on Nanton down near Arbutus - at the Arbutus Club.
Walk the six short blocks straight up Nanton to school, and walk
'em hard - no pain, no gain. (Power Gels optional.) Total distance:
0.70 km, 8 minutes.
Solution to last week's quiz:
There are three chimneys at 1838 Matthews. This question was
not that easy - you have to be quite far north on Pine (around
3790) to see all three chimneys.
Week 13: Mini Walking Tour No.4: Slalom Anyone?
Who said roads always have to be straight? Well it certainly
wasn't the surveyor who mapped out Marguerite Street through
our part of Shaughnessy. Park north of 33rd on Marguerite and
follow its twists and turns to school. It's slightly downhill
for most of the way.
Actually, this one's great fun
on a bike - use caution at the five-corner intersection however,
and more caution as you approach Nanton and school traffic. Total
distance: 0.73 kms, 8 minutes (2 minutes by bike.)
Week 14: Traffic Safety 101
And by the way, walking to school is a great opportunity to teach
younger children about how to stay safe when near traffic. When
you're out walking together, you might occasionally discuss things
like traffic lights, stop signs, and right of way rules and conventions,
so that they will learn good pedestrian habits.
And it's not just learning the
rules. It's just as important for them to have a feel for when
it is safe to go, and when it's best to wait. We only get this
feel for tricky traffic situations when we're out in the field,
so to speak, facing those situations in person. As our children
take their first tentative steps out into this larger world,
perhaps we should be at their sides.
------ Winter Break -------
Week 15:
Hey Buddy...ya lookin' for a high quality, discount New Year's
resolution? Have I got a deal for you. For one low low price
you can get fresh air and exercise, a great start to your day,
and an enlightening conversation with a very close relative (or
two...or three). It's got somethin' to do with your legs, but
I ain't say'n no more 'til you pay up, see. Leave payment in
unmarked lunch bag behind the bike rack. No Cheques. No half-eaten
sandwiches.
Week 16: The Family Car & Pollution: part 1: SUVs
Did you know that due to a loophole in the laws regulating air
quality emissions for automobiles, Suburban Utility Vehicles
(SUVs) were miscategorized as trucks, which have very relaxed
pollution standards. Although the loophole has been plugged and
the laws have been tightened up, the changes will not be in effect
until 2003.
As you are probably aware 'passenger
vehicles' are by far the single biggest source of air pollution
in the Greater Vancouver Regional District even when compared
to transport trucks, buses, and all types of heavy industry.
The SUV tops the list as worst polluter in this category, followed
by vans (including minivans), and smaller trucks. What's the
alternative? ...Stay tuned for part 2, next week.
Week 17: The Family Car & Pollution: part 2: 'hybrids'
Hybrid cars such as the Toyota Prius use a combination of gas
and an internally regenerating battery to double energy efficiency
under normal city driving conditions. This means that hybrids
use half as much gas, or looked at another way, they cut pollution
in half. Imagine the difference if we all drove hybrids! Interested?
The Prius is available locally at all Vancouver Area Toyota dealerships
for under $30,000 in five attractive colours...including green.
(It's not what you're thinking - I do not work for Toyota.) Next
week: The Family Car & Pollution, part 3: the 'hydrogen fuel
cell'.
Week 18: The Family Car & Pollution: part 3: the
'hydrogen fuel cell'
An even more promising development than the 'hybrid' car I talked
about last week, is the hydrogen fuel cell powered car. Unlike
a battery which stores electricity, a fuel cell is a power generator
which makes electricity on demand. According to the David Suzuki
Society analysis of this technology "vehicles powered by
hydrogen fuel cells have amazing potential. If their fuel cells
draw their power from hydrogen produced by renewable sources,
such as solar energy, they would produce no harmful emissions
- only water vapour. The result would be a global-warming-free,
pollution-free vehicle with high performance."
Daimler-Benz, Chrysler, Honda,
Volkswagen, Ford, GM, Nissan, and Volvo are all making proto-types
that make use of the Ballard Fuel Cell developed at Ballard Industries
right here in the Lower Mainland. In October, 2000, Bill Ford,
CEO of the Ford Motor Company (and yes, he is the great grandson
of automobile pioneer Henry Ford), made an extraordinary pronouncement:
"The 100-year reign of the polluting internal combustion
engine is coming to an end... It will soon be replaced in motor
vehicles by the hydrogen fuel cell..." Honda and Toyota
expect to have fuel cell power vehicles commercially available
by 2003. The Ford and Daimler-Chrysler versions should be available
in 2004.
Week 19: The Family Car & Pollution: part 4: Problem
Solved?
If we all suddenly had 'zero emission' fuel cell powered cars
in our driveways, I think there would be a temptation for many
people to regard the car problem solved, and to drive perhaps
even more than before. It's true that pollution is the biggie
problem, but it's important to remember that there are other
reasons to leave that car right there in the driveway. Over the
coming months I'd like to step away from my focus on pollution
and return to the other reasons - health, safety, education,
lifestyle - that make not driving to school such a good idea.
Week 20: The Sound of Silence
Something unusual happened a week ago Thursday: Winter. It was
snowing as we all made our way to school, remember? Did you notice
how quiet it was, how peaceful? Someone told me once that the
snow absorbs the sound. It was so quiet you couldn't hear a snowball
being launched. "Gotcha Daddy!" As our expedition wound
its way through the powdered, tree-lined streets of North Shaughnessy,
my most junior colleague started to sing Christmas carols...well
why not? "...and since we've no place to go, let it snow,
let it snow, let it snow." In Vancouver, snow provides a
rare opportunity - I would have been crazy not to have walked
to school on that day.
Week 21: Hello, My name is Bob...I'm a car-aholic...
Addiction is a common metaphor for the dependency on our cars
that many of us share. The argument goes something like this:
you get a taste for the comfort and convenience of cars, you
become hooked, and despite the harmful effects (pollution, physical
dormancy, stress, and the fact that they're a black hole for
money) all of which you know about, you find you just can't live
without them.
Well, of course I would never
suggest that you were addicted to your car. I will offer one
thought on the subject however. Living without dependence on
your car can be a liberating experience. You do have to do more
planning, but your sense of time and even your sense of what
is important will change, and I think for the better. Maybe,
just maybe, walking to and from school can be a step towards
a new sense of freedom. Think about it.
Week 22 A Penny Saved...
A quick survey of the cars dropping kids off at Shaughnessy Elementary
would suggest that most families don't need the savings that
would result from reduced car use. There is another way to look
at this however. Here's an idea:
Estimate the amount of money
your family saves by not using your car (for shopping, visiting,
as well as travelling to school) and put that money into a dedicated
family charity fund. Maybe you already have one of these. Choosing
a charity can be a fun family project - Amnesty International,
Oxfam, Greenpeace, the Vancouver Food Bank, the Save the Slovakian
Dwarf Shrew Foundation...there are plenty of good causes to choose
from. Your child/children can never have too many lessons about
value of money, to say nothing of the value of civic responsibility.
Week 23: Time out
You're busy, I'm busy, we're all busy. Most of us regard driving
our kids to school as a time saver. But you may be surprised
at how little time you are banking. So how much time is at stake?
Why not time how long it takes you to walk from home (or to and
from your car if you are parking and walking), and subtract from
that the time it takes you to drop your kids at the curb right
at school. The result will be the time cost of your walk to school.
Is it worth it?
My feeling is that you gain something
important in exchange for that little scrap of time: the moment
of calm that you can get from that little walk is something that
will stick with you all day.
Week 24: Bicycles
Don't think I haven't heard you all whispering... "That
walk to school guy is a real hypocrite - he never walks to school."
Well, it's true - we do bike though. In fact bikes are a bit
of a personal obsession: I have six of them, in the summer I'm
a serious marathon cyclist, I write essays and articles about
recreational and competitive cycling, and there's nothing I'd
rather do on a Saturday night than fine tune my index shifting...well,
almost nothing. Many of you know this, and have been wondering
why I seem to have been avoiding bicycles in these blurbs.
My hesitation has, I suppose,
been because of the risks inherent in riding bikes in traffic.
In particular I'm hesitant to encourage anyone who isn't totally
prepared to ride into that 9 a.m. Marguerite Street quagmire.
After the break I would like to take a closer look at biking
to school, and especially at managing the risks of biking to
school - look for a five parts series starting March 30th. Enjoy
the break.
Week 25: Bicycles and Sidewalks
Strictly speaking it is illegal to ride bikes on the sidewalk.
This is a law intended to protect pedestrians. While bearing
pedestrian safety in mind, the no-bikes-on-sidewalks law is one
which I would encourage the parents of younger cyclists to overlook
for a few years - it is important for your child to be comfortable
and stable on a bike before venturing on to city road ways.
Riding on sidewalks to and from
school can be a good way for new cyclists to learn in relative
safety. Remember though, that pedestrians have the right of way
and your child must be prepared to stop for them. Be very careful
at driveways, lanes, and of course at intersections - consider
getting off and walking across the big ones.
Week 26: Bicycle helmets...it's the law!
Yes it's the law, but safety is the real issue here. I had a
high speed crash a few years ago and a helmet probably saved
my life - many cyclists have the same story. Kids should never
never ride without them. Helmets are sold at any reputable bike
shop. They're cheap, and a lot less geeky than they were when
we parents were kids. Our local bike shops include:
Ace Cycle (on Broadway near Trutch)
Cyclepath (on Broadway at Hemlock)
Cambie Cycle (Cambie at 17th)
West Point Cycle, Kerrisdale (West Boulevard at KFC)
The staffs in all these bike
shops are very helpful. They can help you properly size a helmet,
and can also show you how to adjust that tricky chinstrap. Helmets
can also be found at Canadian Tire and Toys 'r' Us, but with
no staff help.
Week 27: "Where can I buy a good kid's bike? How
much should I spend?"
Any kid's bike that costs more than $400 can be regarded as expensive.
Cyclepath on Broadway and West Point Cycle in Kerrisdale both
have good selections of shiny new little kid's bikes (starting
at $150), through to young teen's bikes (sensible Norcos for
$300). For new bikes with a little more panache, the sky's the
limit, but $600 buys a pretty mean machine. Especially for younger
kids, 6 - 10 years old, the gear shifters that can be operated
simply by turning the handle bar grips forwards and back are
fantastic - look for these.
I often send people to Cheap
Skates, the consignment store at Dunbar and 17th. It's a buyer
beware situation, but with astonishingly low prices. (Be prepared
to do a little tweaking.) And by the way, although you won't
win cool points at a bike rally, having a slightly dumpy-looking
used bike is probably your best insurance against theft.
Week 28: Biking in the rain
Will bikes slip? Well no - the fat, deep tread tires that are
ubiquitous on kid's bikes have made slipping in the rain a near
impossibility. They're even pretty good in snow. The big safety
concern when it is raining is visibility - how visible you are
to motorists. Brightly coloured rainwear with reflective strips
is of course a good idea. Reflectors and especially flashing
rear lights are cheap and reliable. Finally, consider walking
rather than biking when the rain is heavy and light levels are
particularly low.
Week 29: Bike as Status Symbol
People my age - parents' age - carry the idea from our youth
that we 'progress' from walking, to bikes, to cars, to better
cars. But is this really a progression? Attitudes might be shifting.
Fast forward: picture your child
at age twenty-five, working downtown. Who is going to make heads
turn - your kid on her/his mountain bike, or someone else's kid
who schleps in from their BMW? Biking to work already has a cachet,
and I think this is likely to increase. Dressing for success
for our children's generation will include fittings for commuter
bike wear. Of course your kids will need the requisite bike skills...and
what better way to develop these skills than cycling to and from
school.
Week 30: Greenways and Bike Routes
Four years ago I had never heard the word greenways, but quite
quickly it has made its way into our lexicon. Greenways are designated
city side streets meant to attract pedestrian and bicycle traffic.
Cars are discouraged by 'traffic calming devices' like traffic
circles and bike chutes, and by limiting access from major streets.
The Cypress/Angus Bike Route
that passes one block from Shaughnessy is our local greenway,
though curiously in this neighborhood, unlike on greenways everywhere
else in the city, there are no traffic calming or access limiting
devices. In fact the Cypress/Angus greenway seems particularly
attractive to car traffic. Oh well.
Although there is no greenway
ethics handbook, I have made the decision not to drive my car
on greenways. Every time a car passes a cyclist or pedestrian
there is an 8-10 second cloud of noise, and a lung full of exhaust.
Then it is again peaceful. I like to think of these corridors
as sanctuaries: roads that are also parks. What do you think?
Week 31: Stress...Stress...Stress
All things considered, the daily dance of cars and vans that
goes on around the school is about as fluid as could be expected.
Still bottlenecks form, and there are other traffic glitches
that lead to frustrations -sometimes you can feel the simmering
tension change to anger. I saw a parent's car stall on Marguerite
Street last year - she was met with a chorus of angry beeping.
It was an ugly scene. I felt bad for her.
Perhaps Marguerite Street traffic
crunch stress is something you can do without? You know, an invigorating
ten-minute walk in the morning is a great release, especially
given the alternative. Why not park 10 minutes from school and
walk in. (Limited gloating is permitted as you pass the traffic
snarl on Marguerite.)
Week 32: Exercise, Pure and Simple
Fitness is already an important part of a Shaughnessy Elementary
education. Look at the Terry Fox Run, Kilometer Club, the popularity
of the track program and other extra-curricular athletics. Shaughnessy
students and parents as a group don't need to be lectured on
the physical and psychological benefits of exercise. If however,
your child is avoiding physical activity at school and you feel
he or she isn't getting enough exercise, then walking to and
from school represents a valuable opportunity.
Week 33: "Hold on honey...Daddy can't talk right
now."
When you're driving in traffic it can be difficult to listen
to, and talk to your children. After all, you're doing the important
job of avoiding traffic accidents. Not so when you walk them
to school. Generally speaking, when you're walking you don't
have to worry about crashing into things - when was the last
time someone had a serious walking accident? For most of your
walk to school your mind will be free from traffic concerns and
can be devoted to what your kids are saying. Just watch out for
those sidewalk cracks.
Week 34: June is Walk to school Wednesday Month
...Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to walk to
school on Wednesday, June 6, and on every other Wednesday until
the school year ends. Remember, if you live too far away to walk
from home, choose a Shaughnessy neighbourhood side street (maybe
four blocks away) and walk in from there. Don't forget your secret
agent compass ring. ...this newsletter will self destruct in
five seconds...
Week 35: Rain Delay
I guess when you live in a rainforest, you shouldn't be surprised
when it rains on your parade. Despite the drizzle many families,
who might otherwise have driven, did cruise up to school in rain
boots instead of wheels, and for this I give you a ten-umbrella
salute.
Still, the weather did discourage
many, and so I think we should regard this past Wednesday as
just a pre-season warm-up event, and we'll make this coming Wednesday,
June 13 the real start of walk-to-school-Wednesday month at Shaughnessy
Elementary.
There won't be a reminder notice
next Tuesday, so this is your reminder. As always, if you have
to drive, park a few blocks away and walk in. It will be a great
start to all our days.
Week 36: Walk To School Wednesday
Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday, Wednesday Wednesday - Wednesday
Wednesday. Wednesday? Wednesday Wednesday...
Wednesday Wednesday, Wednesday,
June 20, Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday. Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday
Wednesday: Wednesday. Wednesday!
Week 37: Did you hear that... ?
One of the nice things about walking is that you can hear sounds
you would never hear in a car - bird songs, rustling leaves,
a distant train whistle... Nature's symphony is going on all
around us. Have a listen.
Bye, Thanks.
Enjoy your summer.
© Eric Fergusson, 2001 |
