In Support of Country Lanes

Building Upon Vancouver's Leadership on Green Lanes

What is a Country Lane?Country Lanes were created in cooperation with the City of Vancouver and a group of neighbourhoods as a demonstration project approved by City Council in summer 2002.

The first and most successful of 3 prototype Country Lanes was built on the south alleyway of 700-block East 27th Avenue.

It was constructed in cooperation with the local Mountain View Neighbourhood Group.

Origins of the LaneThe original Country Lane was opened by Mayor Philip Owen in November 2002. The Mountain View community was awarded as "Neighbourhood of the Yea r" by CBC's Early Edition radio program in 2001, after successfully addressing social disorder on their streets.

The spirit of community, and the hard work of volunteers made Mountain View a sure candidate for this project, which was built with the help of neighbours.

Mountain View volunteers roll up their sleeves and help build Vancouver's first Country Lane.

Mountain View's Country Lane quickly became a focus of community gatherings, as with this event with the World Planner's Congress in June 2006.

The neighbourhood's annual community BBQ also happens in the Country Lane.

An annual tradition now in its 9th year

State of the Country Lanes Initiative

In its six years the Country Lane on East 27th has received NO maintenance from city staff. Grass and gardens are tended by neighbours. The lane surface remains in very good shape.

With no new lanes on the horizon, the original Country Lane program is effectively on life support. No senior staff have advocated for the original lane concept, and the excuse of "high cost" of installation and maintenance is often repeated.

No documented evidence has been provided by city staff to prove that the lanes will cost "three to four times more" more than asphalt surfaces as claimed. In October 2008, an "asphalt strip" lane alternative with minimal greening was put forward to City Council by the Engineering Dept.

Since the Country Lanes were first built in 2002, no other block has requested that one be built despite being offered by the City as a "local improvement." Prohibitively high ratepayer fees and charges for ongoing "maintenance" have discouraged their development.

The Asphalt AssaultToday, Vancouver's lanes are being paved because it's deemed to be the most affordable way to surface them. Asphalt lanes are hostile to their surroundings, inefficient in design, and add to Metro Vancouver's growing "heat island," one of many contributors to global warming. Asphalt lanes are meant to suit one purpose: smooth the way for drivers.

Weak arguments are put forward, such as how asphalt lanes provide "street hockey venues." If these surfaces truly encouraged street hockey then Vancouver alleys would be bustling with active kids and parents all over. They're clearly not.

Where does the water go?In order to deal with the inevitable water run-off of paved lanes sewer systems must be built and maintained.

Why isn't there a "special levy" for alleys requiring sewers, or a "carbon tax" for the heat island asphalt creates?

If cost is a factor, why shouldn't asphalt lanes subsidize green lanes that impact our environment less?

Rain. We get a lot of it here.Shouldn't we build to suit our local climate?

On the wettest of the wettest Vancouver days, during the wettest weeks of the year, pooling on Country Lanes is nominal. Water percolates into the ground continuously with no traces after the rain stops.

Back lanes of yesterday...todayRemember when ALL Vancouver back alleys looked like this? Many still do. Properly graded lane surfaces like these can last indefinitely.

So, why the rush to pave over a style of lane that has worked for generations of car commuters?

What evidence of pent up public demand for asphalt is there?

Country Lanes add to our city's public realm

Gardens line the edges of the Country Lane. Public realm features like the bench built from an abandoned railroad tie are added by neighbours.

The lanes are a cherished part of the community. They are quiet, clean, and inviting. Cars drive slower making them safer.

Whether no one is there...

...or not.

Vancouver's Country Lanes must flourish. Innovative thinking and leadership from city staff will be the only way this can happen.

It's about the next generation.Vancouver must make the best choices to build healthy neighbourhoods. Car-friendly environments are not a legacy we can afford.

It's time to change the business-as-usual approach by pouring tons of toxic asphalt into our residential back alleys. It's time to consider the true costs of paving all our lanes.

Background info

CoV Local Improvements page describes the laneshttp://vancouver.ca/engsvcs/streets/admin/improvements/improvementTypes/countryLane.htm

Community web page dedicated to the Country Lanehttp://www.mountain-view.ca/mountain-view-country-lane.html

CoV flyer used to promote the original laneshttp://www.mountain-view.ca/pdf/vancouver-country-lane-flyer.pdf