the23rdstory.com
Follow me on Twitter:
  • home
  • graphic recording
    • Image Gallery >
      • Health Care Graphics
      • Learning about the Land
      • Public Engagement
    • Video gallery >
      • "Ten Years Together"
      • Calgary Public Library
      • Other videos
    • FAQ
  • comics
  • Graphic Medicine
  • hester's blog
  • About
    • Clients
  • contact

In Defense of "Walkability"

1/29/2013

19 Comments

 
I sure like the Calgary Herald, but this opinion piece by Naomi Lakritz reads like a paid advertisement for urban-sprawling development projects - except that they can't have paid that well, because there are just so many holes in what isn't even really an argument.

Well, it's an opinion, which is just fine. I don't usually like to criticize other people's opinions, to which they have every right. But this one was published by a newspaper that claims to represent our city, for a readership of thousands. These readers should know that there's another side to the story, right here in Calgary.

At the time of writing, it looks like there are already quite a few Calgarians getting their dander up about this closed-minded piece. But I can't resist adding my two cents, a little bit of ink of paper, and a firm belief in the possibility of a walkable city:
Picture
Some excerpts from Ms. Lakritz's article (to all of which, I say: phooey):
...it’s much easier just to acknowledge, as Ald. Shane Keating* did, that “We can’t have a society where everyone walks to the grocery store.”

No, we can’t. The reason is that, unless you live right around the corner from it, walking to the grocery store, getting a few items and walking home again takes about three hours. As compared to maybe 20 minutes by car.
...
If you walk, you can bring home two, maybe three bags at the most.
...
Walkability severely limits your grocery list. No milk cartons (too heavy), glass jars (ditto) or a lot of cans (more ditto). No ice cream or other frozen food in warm weather.
...
You can trundle your groceries home in one of those lightweight wheeled carts, but you’re still limited by weight, volume, weather considerations, and the level of industriousness with which the people who live along your route home have shovelled and de-iced their sidewalks.
...
(*I don't know the context for this remark, but it doesn't leave me with a great impression of Alderman Keating's vision for the city.)

I know I've referred to this comic strip story in a few other places, but just in case anyone would like more details about my weekly Lakritz-defying walk, here's the map of my neighbourhood walk in Ramsay (also published in the Calgary Herald back in December 2011).
Picture
One more note about Ms. Lakritz's comments. It's true that walking leaves you at the mercy of your friendly neighbourhood sidewalk shovellers. To respond that that conundrum, here's a chicken-or-the-egg scenario to keep you up tonight:

Walking to the market every week helped me to get to know my neighbours better, which put us all on friendly terms, which motivated us all to keep our walks shovelled, which helped me to walk to the market!

(Actually, the problem was never the neighbours: if there was a problem, it was the City, which built a great, brand-new, walkable sidewalk that abruptly and frustratingly ends at the corner of 26th Avenue & Dartmouth Road SE. But I digress.)
Picture
Picture
My walk to the market engaged me with my community in a way I'd never experienced before (back when I was a flight attendant who never spent any time at home). It was the first step towards a local artwalk (pictured here) that livened up my street in 2012. It was the first step to reassuring me that it would be safe to let my son walk to our local school when he's old enough to attend it - after all, he's already friends with almost every neighbour between the school and our house.

But think about this... the fact that the market was THERE, 800 metres from my door, gave me a destination, a place to do my shopping, a place to make friends, a place to take my toddler that came complete with indoor bathrooms. (Actually, I've also drawn a comic strip about that evolving relationship with the Crossroads Market.) The point is that I am lucky to live in a neighbourhood in which this option is available.

Yes, I still head to Superstore about once a month to buy a big package of toilet paper and a few other things that fit in my trunk. But if more neighbourhoods were premised on "walkability", I'm guessing we'd see more positive changes than just a higher rank on the Walk Score.

And by the way... for those of you who are just waiting to point out that not everyone is as mobile as I: don't get me started. Or, if you'd like to get me started, please let me know.
19 Comments
Peter Rishaug
1/29/2013 04:38:58 pm

Sam - this is awesome. I've been posting about this article all day today and to see your witty, thoughtful, and humerous reply makes me so happy to a Ramsay resident (just moved here April 2012). Bravo!!
P.S. Love your work in the newsletter :-)

Reply
sam hester link
1/29/2013 05:05:22 pm

Thanks so much! I'm so glad this Herald article provoked such a great response from Calgarians. See you in the hood!

Reply
Augustus ;^)
1/30/2013 04:16:33 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z99FHvVt1G4

Reply
sam hester link
1/31/2013 05:30:12 am

Hey Augustus (wink!)

Thanks for this post about Jane Jacobs & her great activism. Highly recommended!

Reply
Zoey Duncan link
1/30/2013 05:15:58 am

This is a fabulous response to that very strange column. Great work! Makes me want to walk to the grocery store more often, too.

Reply
Sean link
1/31/2013 03:26:49 am

I live in Mount Pleasant. My wife works from home, I drive to work. Whenever we go out for dinner we walk. We surprise friends with how walkable the neighborhood is.

But neighborhoods such as Shawnessey and Taradale care completely not walkable. It's a car lifestyle for those that live in the extreme suburbs.

Reply
sam hester link
1/31/2013 05:00:33 am

Thanks for taking the time to comment. Mount Pleasant is a lovely place to walk around in! And it's in a great location for walking to & from other places.

But yes, it absolutely makes sense to drive in a neighbourhood like Shawnessy or Taradale. Neighbourhoods like those were designed for driving. But we can still send the message to our City Council that we'd like future developments to be designed for easier walking (incorporating elements like more corner shops and fewer enormous shopping hubs that you can't walk home from).

Cars are a reality in Calgary. But walking can be fun too!

Reply
Mike
1/31/2013 03:34:24 am

Sorry.. I rather drive in the suburbs then walk in Ramsay to get murdered and my cries for help ignored by the asshole that live there.

Reply
sam hester link
1/31/2013 05:20:39 am

You are certainly welcome to that opinion. I think you're referring to the murder of Gloria Black Plume, which occurred in 1999 (14 years ago). It's no secret that Ramsay has a history of being a pretty sketchy and sometimes even dangerous neighbourhood.

Maybe you would be interested in learning that in more recent years, Ramsay has been ranked as Calgary's safest inner-city community, in particular since the completion of the new District 1 police station on 26th Avenue SE. (I actually know the names of our neighbourhood police staff!)

And you might also be interested in learning that, last year, a local mural and film were created to celebrate Gloria Black Plume's life:

http://this.org/magazine/2012/02/09/spirit-of-the-bluebird-transforms-a-mural-into-a-living-tribute/

You might be surprised at the renewal going on in Ramsay. But don't take my word for it - come and see for yourself if you're interested.

Reply
Mike
1/31/2013 07:11:58 am

I'm referring to the murder of Tara Landgraf only 5 years ago.

Thanks for forgetting.

Mike (not the angry one)
1/31/2013 08:12:45 am

Great post. As someone who lives in the deep south, we wish we lived in a community like Ramsay. Every Sunday we drive down to the crossroads market to get our protein and just walk around. We've developed quite a few great relationships (shout out to Regina's Fine Meats).

We live in Shawnessy, and with the exception of only when its really cold, we always make a point to walk down to the local Sobey's when we need produce, eggs, etc. It's a great way to get some exercise (especially the walk back).

I think it also comes down to how you want to spend your time. You can find happiness in anything, we've learned to slow our lives down a bit and enjoy simple things like walking to the store - and I think we're better for it.

---

Reply
sam hester link
2/7/2013 07:33:18 am

Just realized I hadn't replied to your note - sorry about that! Thanks for writing. You're so right... there are things that can be enjoyed in every neighbourhood if you have the right attitude. And especially if you have good company on the walk. Thanks again! (& maybe I'll catch up with you at Regina's!)

Reply
Andrew (not angry at all)
2/1/2013 06:11:30 am

Hey Mike, sorry to see people so down on the place they live. I live in Marda Loop, having moved back here from Killarney say 13 years ago. Haven't regretted it for a second. I can walk for whatever I need, if I feel like walking. My kid can get milk or a candy bar safely around the corner.
Maybe if you got out on foot more, talked to people, you wouldn't need to feel so afraid. There isn't a murderer lurking behind every bush. Stop taking yourself so seriously.

Reply
skin mole link
3/28/2013 03:50:15 pm

Wow! Your site is full of creativity, and I can guess how much time these sketches may have taken to drawn.
Appreciable effort!

Reply
sam hester link
3/31/2013 05:44:21 am

Thanks!

Reply
www.outlookemailtech.com link
7/11/2013 04:12:36 pm

The cartoons and posters shown here are really fabulous, the artist designed these posters have done a great job to convey great information through these posters. I really liked the theme in defense of walk-ability as it is nicely synchronized with the content. Good job guys!

Reply
http://www.charter-mallorca.com/ link
8/22/2013 11:10:17 pm

I was looking for some topics that are enough popular and finally founded your blog, it has superb topics with great popularity

Reply
cheap flights link
9/25/2013 02:09:39 am

Pull back any insulation. Look for dampness in the insulation for signs of leakage. Inspect the water tank's inlet connection for proper tightness and dryness. Examine any inline filter for leaks at the hose connections. Thanks a lot.

Reply
buy real likes on instagram link
5/13/2014 06:00:24 pm

Likes tremendously enrich the track record of one's webpage and although using the suited variety rely; several of us are likely to be interested in your account. The corporations supplying these companies, will supply you with non-automated or robotic likes and provide you with authentic Instagram likes. The great matter regarding this would be the point they're immediately despatched as part of your account which signifies you do not have to wait that an incredible offer. And when you're a company, escalating your Instagram likes will be practical.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    sam hester

    I am a graphic recorder based in Calgary. I like local stories. I write comics when I have free time. And I leave eraser shavings everywhere I go.

    Looking for a
    graphic recorder?

    Look here!

    Picture

    contact me

    sam@the23rdstory.com
    Picture

    my website

    www.the23rdstory.com started as a blog and now includes some information about my graphic recording practice as well.

    I also have an (old) website which features a lot of my (old) work. Look out, it's a bit clunky and there are a lot of links that don't go anywhere, but there are still a few interesting things there:
    www.thedrawingbook.com


    Categories

    All
    3 Things For Canada
    Alec
    Alphabets
    Andrew
    Bob Dylan
    Calgary Arts
    Calgary Board Of Education
    Calgary Flood Diary
    Calgary Is Awesome
    Canada 150
    Carra Artist In Residence
    Christmas Cards
    City Hall 101
    Colouring Book
    Comics
    Comics Expo
    Dreams
    Edmonton
    Find It
    Graphic Recording
    Hats
    How We Met
    IAQ
    Imagine Calgary
    Libraries
    Maps
    Margaret Mahy
    Multi Generational Housing
    Murals
    My Dad
    Newsletter
    Painting
    Photo Journal
    Politics
    Pop Ups
    Ramsay
    Ramsay Comics Artist In Residence Series
    Sketchnotes
    Soul Of The City
    Suburbs
    TED
    The Drawing Book
    Utility Boxes
    Votekit
    Walkability
    Writing
    Ya Fiction

    archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2020
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012

    RSS Feed

    Some nice things people said about my work:

    “If Breitkreuz and Foong [founders of the Calgary Comics & Entertainment Expo] represent the Type-A side of Calgary's self-publishing community, Hester may be the community's right brain.” – Tom Babin, FFWD Magazine

    “…A strong graphic style similar to other autobiographically-inclined Canadian cartoonists like Chester Brown and Julie Doucet.” – Gilbert Bouchard, Edmonton Journal

    The 23rd Story: an indie comics creator's tales of life in Calgary

© sam hester 2022