Sustainability & Municipalities

Blog 3 Sustainability and the Municipality

To achieve sustainability, an effort must be made at all levels of government, as well as personal accountability.
Municipalities can play a vital role regarding increasing community and local sustainability. Although they have no direct control over transportation, which usually falls under the provincial umbrella, they can still assist it. Municipalities can encourage bus only lanes, and car-pooling.

Bicycle lanes and parking is usually the responsibility of municipalities. All new business and even existing ones should be forced to install bike racks to promote bicycle usage. Heavy bicycle traffic areas should be designated with bicycle specific lanes and on road grade separation so that bicyclists don’t directly share the road with cars. The municipality can offer a discount on helmets and lights to encourage their purchase. In addition, certain days can be dedicated to bicycle maintenance classes and rider training.

One of the biggest contributions that I believe municipalities can give to sustainability is the promotion of local business. It goes with the slow city idea to promote local food and business. The municipality, especially a small one such as Colwood, could start a bi monthly newsletter highlighting different business within the town. The local business can then demonstrate how they are sustainable and the benefits of purchasing local products and supporting local businesses. Again, this idea goes back to the slow city movement. Community events are organized at the municipal level. Local citizens and business can support one another towards sustainability.

Community gardens and tree planting initiatives can provide much needed green space and provide a source for local and sustainable food.

I feel I’m being too repetitive in this blog, most of what the municipality can add to sustainability has been mention in previous blogs, the slow city movement and transition town sum up what can be done.