Abbotsford BC Plan Shows How it Can Be Done

This is apropos of nothing really, but it's something to come back to. We have our TSP here, which we updated a few years back with Bike and Walk Salem, the State just released a new Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, and none of them come close to a statement or vision like this:

Abbotsford, BC draft Official Community Plan
(See Chapt 3 for more on this policy)

"Make Walking, Biking & Transit Delightful."

• Align land use and transportation
• Redesign streets
• Transportation choice
• Rethink parking

Yeah. That's what we're talking about for high-level policy. As a policy statement it's spritely and clear. As a set of goals it's actionable.

Oregon: final draft adopted May 2016

Compare that energy and concision to the rhetoric in the new State Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan:

THE VISION
Specifically by 2040, the Plan envisions that:
“In Oregon, people of all ages, incomes, and abilities can access destinations in urban and rural areas on comfortable, safe, well-connected biking and walking routes. People can enjoy Oregon’s scenic beauty by walking and biking on a transportation system that respects the needs of its users and their sense of safety. Bicycle and pedestrian networks are recognized as integral, interconnected elements of the Oregon transportation system that contribute to our diverse and vibrant communities and the health and quality of life enjoyed by Oregonians.”

They're different, I know. One's a state-level plan, the other's for a municipality about the size of Salem and is not solely a transportation plan.

But it's all about the desire, the verve, and the vision.

See. It can be done.

Those wacky Canadians.

(They look to be formally adopting the plan, which seems to be much like our Comprehensive Plan, later this month. Maybe after reading more of it there will be more to say. As a comparison, it could be very interesting.)