West & East divide-cycling issues, non-car issues

[shootingstar]

the West people deciding not to share anything with the East people anymore, preferring to deal with neighbours in the PNW instead.

This being said, I feel that the urban fabric of the Eastern cities is very, very different from that of the Western ones. Of course we can learn from one another, and we should. I like subscribing to the World Carfree Network's magazine and mailing list because of all the amazing stuff I learn there.

On the other hand I don't think there's anything such as "right information." What worked in one place doesn't necessarily work in another.

For example the mere fact that cities like Montreal and Boston have existed for 400 years (compared to about 100 for Vancouver) make a big difference in infrastructure matters. In the same vein, I'm all for 'Copenhagenizing,' but the truth is that the variables are TOTALLY different here and solutions can't be imported without some serious thought if we want them to work. The density of cities is also very, very different.

I do see too much of the Western side of North America just tending to share alot more willingly on mass transportation, etc. Somehow I attribute to convenience, same time zone. I dunno. or maybe it's a shared vibe thing. Why on earth is there such little discussion among Vancouverites/Americans, on what has happened in Montreal with Velo Quebec in cycling infrastructure planning on west coast? I heard more about it in Ontario. Ottawa has done some good work, yet we hardly hear about developments discussed here on the west coast. Velo Quebec has been years ahead running their organization like..a business.

I agree the urban fabric, particularily the big metropolitan cities over 1 million in Toronto, Montreal are each very different. I was looking at some personal photos of the ethnic neighbourhoods in Toronto, Kensington, Greektown, Little Italy... Commercial St. in Vancouver does not compare. Not at all. Just totally different, more dense, more diverse than Vancouver. Cycling around in Toronto, one feels a far great hyperactive energy/pacing (despite greater traffic congestion and slowness of cars) and abit edgier for barely controlled chaos of urban life.

Abit off topic: The other day, I read that Sam Adams, mayor for Portland, OR wanted to compare his city to ...Freiburg, Germany. It just makes a person laugh. We will be going there in June for a few days. Dearie, who understands the German cities vibe a whole lot more since he has been to several German towns and cities several trips, can't even understand this type of green city comparison. Sure Freiburg is bike friendly and has some other great things going that make it green, but it a medieval based town steeped in history, with its old town square, castle, etc. and much smaller. Cannot compare really compare to any North American city. Would Quebec City be comparable??? Probably not (what a windy city to bike around).