I'm going to miss out on this, I think, because it's also World Oceans Day on June 8 and the World Oceans Day event I'm attending conflicts in time, but I wanted to pass this on for the rest of you. There are a few spots left I think, so register quickly!

Walking Around the World: Innovation and inspiration for Designing, Engineering and Planning our Cities
Dr. Rodney Tolley with Bronwen Thornton, Walk 21
June 8, 7 pm at UBC Robson Square, 800 Robson Street, Vancouver
Reservations required: Call 778-782-5100 or email cstudies@sfu.ca
"The obesity epidemic, congestion, pollution, peak oil and climate change are just five of the imperatives that demand we walk more -- and walk more often. Yet the barriers to walking have intensified in recent years. This presentation will show how streets around the world are being opened up again to people on foot, with spectacular benefits for our personal health, and the health of our cities, our communities and our children." (SFU City Program | PDF Flyer)

Last Monday's anti-Gateway demonstration in Surrey; I'm in there somewhere! Photo from GatewaySucks.org

Stephen Rees's blog has been bursting with exciting news lately, nearly every single post. When I say exciting, I don't necessarily mean good, but the headlines do indicate multiple turning points in a potentially positive direction in what has so far been a steadfast plot on the part of our provincial and even federal government to proceed with Gateway.* At a time when gas prices have begun to increase once more, international shipping is declining, and peak oil is on the horizon, our provincial and federal governments are teaming up to build more roads and expand the port on the premise that it will create jobs. While I agree that creating jobs in British Columbia is of utmost importance, the economic benefits of redirecting funding toward building transit would more than double the number of jobs — and they would be local. That keeps BC money in BC. In fact, a study by the Canadian Urban Transit Association found that three times as many jobs are created in public transit as highways. Public transit encourages smart growth, reduces congestion and pollution (thereby making a grand step toward the Province's 33% reduction in GHG goal), and has minimal environmental impacts.

Want to help steer the government away from highway jobs and construction to green jobs and transit, all across Canada? Here are some petitions and events happening right now:

PETITIONS
- Halt the Gateway Project
- Rail for the Valley: bring back passenger rail now

WRITE TO OUR POLITICIANS/MEDIA
- A Green Economy Makes Cents:

"On January 27, our federal government will introduce a new budget and invest billions of your tax dollars on stimulating the Canadian economy. Let's make sure that as much of the stimulus package as possible is green." Send a message to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty asking the government to invest in green jobs and green infrastructure. (David Suzuki Foundation)

Read my letter. (Americans can use the Wilderness Society's page to send a letter to Congress on the same issue.)

SURREY - Surrey City Council candidate Paul Hillsdon announced today the centrepiece of his campaign — the Transit for Tomorrow plan. The plan, designed specifically to meet the growing transport demands of the South Fraser area (Surrey, Langley, Delta, and White Rock), would vastly expand the rapid transit system, with no need for local property tax increases or fare hikes.

"The Transit for Tomorrow plan begins to fix our woefully inadequate transit with fiscal prudence during these times of economic hardship. Construction of the lines will boost the local economy and create jobs, while addressing our transport, health and environment issues all at the same time," said Hillsdon.

On Saturday I attended a forum put on by VALTAC (Valley Transportation Advisory Committee), hosted at the Langley Township Hall. (Nice building!) It was a statement toward our poor transit network South of the Fraser that all five speakers drove to the venue. Stephen Rees joked that the TransLink trip planner wouldn't even give him a trip itinerary because it would take either more than 3 hours or more than 3 transfers. My proximity to the Hall made it easy enough to get there, if you consider a bus late by 7 minutes then a 20-minute walk easy. And Langley isn't exactly known for being pedestrian-friendly.

The forum was about getting better public transportation South of the Fraser, mainly via rail connections. There is much support for one solution, spearheaded by a group called Rail for the Valley, which would reinstate the Interurban that ran from about 1900 to 1950 all the way from Vancouver to Chilliwack. Maps at the venue showed the dense urban centres through which this rail line passes. (Today it is used only for freight.)

Increasingly, the news in the blogs I read has focused on climate change, biofuels and alternative energy for fueling transportation... and with good reason. We're faced with a crisis, and we all know that. Many of the solutions already exist, in the past before depedence on oil became the norm for most transportation, and gave us solid plastic, plastic bags, chemical fertilizers, fat-free ice cream (propylene glycol, anyone?), and the American Dream: a big house on a big lot in suburbia. Well, Canadians have made that dream as much of a reality as our neighbours to the south, and in greater Vancouver, the hidden evil of it is present in perhaps no stronger a form than in the suburbs of Surrey and Langley.

I'm sitting outside with my iPod and my wifi from home. The bus never made it b/c someone decided to go up 176 in response to a closed area (due to yet another gas leak) instead of rerouting to pick us up. Maybe the next bus will if this just happened but good thing I have a cellphone. My fellow riders are pretty frustrated. Haha the other bus just snuck up so quietly I didnt notice. That bus route won't get me to the market so I'm going to walk to the other one. Oh good, the eastbound one arrived! The one i'd have been taking home from the market...

Rail for the Valley will be at Gateway debate: a public Forum on Sustainable Transportation for the Fraser Valley presented by UCFV's Environment Club.

When: 7:00pm Wednesday January 23

Where: Room B101 (Lecture Hall) University College of the Fraser Valley, 33844 King Rd. Abbotsford

Debate format + Q&A. Speakers include:
- Abbotsford/Clayburn MLA John van Dongen
- Nathan Pachal, of VALTAC and the Rail for the Valley campaign
- Transportation expert Stephen Rees
- Jim Houlahan, VP, CAW 111, representing 2000 bus drivers
- David Fields, Society Promoting Environmental Conservation

Join students, faculty, politicians and the community for a spirited discussion on transit issues in the Fraser Valley. Bring your questions and concerns.

Come and support the Rail for the Valley movement!

I'm excited to note that buttons I designed will be handed out at the event. There are two different styles, "collect them all." Wear and share your support: take a few extra to give to your friends. If someone asks you about yours, offer it to them and explain you have another one at home. Tell them about the campaign. Let's spread the message!