| Free bikes at U of C
The University of Calgary has started a new program that provides bikes to encourage more environmentally friendly transportation on campus.
There are now 10 bikes, painted bright yellow and red that will be left at various locations on campus for students, staff and faculty to use. Anyone can use the bikes, but they cannot be taken off campus and must be returned to a bike rack. Hans Luu, environmental management co-ordinator at the U of C, says the program fits into the university’s new sustainability initiative – it will help educate people about more environmentally friendly transport as well as encouraging health and wellness.
"I see them here and there. I know that they are being used so that’s good," says Luu. "It’s our hope that not only students but staff and faculty will also be able to use them because for getting around campus it makes more sense than hopping in a car."
Luu says the university has already received quite a few donated bikes and is hoping to have a total of 30 bikes by next spring.
City working on new plan for 17 Ave. S.W.
The city is working on a new plan for 17th Avenue S.W. between Macleod Trail and 17th Street S.W.
Brent Toderian, manager of Centre City planning and design for the City of Calgary, says the need for such a plan became evident after public outcry over the redevelopment of the historic Mount Royal Block. Calgarians expressed concern about the design of the building that would replace the Mount Royal Block and about more chain stores moving into the neighbourhood.
"We want to put some strong effort into this because of the importance of 17th Avenue," says Toderian. "We have nothing else comparable as a 24-hour street."
The city has already held two public consultations on the future of the avenue, but is still asking for feedback. You can e-mail the city at centrecityideas@calgary.ca or call 268-2828 and leave a message.
"We’re asking Calgarians what they think 17th Avenue should become in the future," says Toderian. "We haven’t come to any conclusions. We’re listening with an open mind."
However, Toderian says Calgarians have to understand that the city can only control the size and design of buildings and the look of the streetscape, not who the tenants will be.
"One of the things I’ve said up front and honestly with all the stakeholders, we have to be honest about what we can and can’t control," says Toderian. "We can’t say ‘no chain stores – keep the independents.’"
Toderian explains that the city can’t choose who building owners lease their space to.
Government releases draft plan for South Saskatchewan River basin
A draft management plan for the South Saskatchewan River basin recommends that the government stop giving out new water licences in the Bow, Oldman and South Saskatchewan rivers until the minister of environment determines how much more water can be withdrawn without jeopardizing them.
The plan also sets new, stricter water conservation objectives for the Bow, Oldman, St. Mary, Belly and Waterton rivers to try and ensure a healthy aquatic environment and establishes a limit on how much water can be withdrawn from the Red Deer River (600,000 cubic decameters). The plan will also allow Alberta Environment to prevent up to 10 per cent of water being diverted from a river if it is "in the public interest to protect the aquatic environment."
Doug Ohrn, project co-ordinator for the South Saskatchewan River Basin Water Management Plan, says the government recognizes that the rivers in the basin are close to being over allocated, and would like to stabilize and see some improvements in the aquatic environment.
Ohrn says the water conservation objectives won’t be legally binding and the government won’t take away water from licence holders to achieve them.
"The flow could still be less than (water conservation objectives), but it represents a target we would like to move towards," he says.
He adds that the government will ask water licence holders to try and conserve as much water as they can, but it will be on a voluntary basis.
The draft plan was created after considering recommendations from four basin advisory councils as well as input from the public. Albertans still have a chance to provide input on the draft plan until December 9. For more information go to www.gov.ab.ca/envr and click on SSRB Draft Water Management Plan. |
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