Hot off the computer: Price Tags 90. You can download it here.
Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, B.C. may be the poster children of good urbanism in their respective countries. But they also influence each other – and this issue of Price Tags ilustrates how in their newest neighbourhoods.
Also: dramatic views of the North American west under snow.
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Very cool.
I have a question about your comment on page 11 about the asphalt paths. Yes, they look rather desolate. Would you prefer concrete paths instead? I am asking this question as a pedestrian advocate in Eugene, Oregon.
Asphalt is a bit easier on pedestrian/runner joints than concrete, so I am uncomfortable with all these concrete paths that only benefit bikers. There are alternatives used in Europe, like waterbound macadam, a pervious and ’soft’ surface that can take bikes, wheelchairs and strollers, but not necessarily the cities maintenance truck American size).
Could you maybe elaborate a bit on your comment?
By the way, I think the vast, monotonous lawn next to the path is just as bland.
Thank you for your time and for spreading (mostly) good design ideas.
Katja Heide
Katja
Thanks for writing – and for the question. I quite agree on the blandness of the lawn – which is really my point on the paths, though that doesn’t come across in four words.
In fact, cyclists and inline skaters much prefer asphalt, which is what we provide as part of the design for our seawall. But it’s separated by a median of trees and planting from the ped paths, which are done in pavers, partly for aesthetics and partly to discourage wheels.
A picture wopuld help here – but the point is that there’s a level of design and detailing missing from the Willamette Greenway. (And perhaps the asphalt paths are temporary, waiting for the completion of adjacent construction; I wasn’t able to confirm that.)
The current design is not only bland but also invites conflict – as both those on wheels and feet use the same space, without any clear indication of who should be where.
In any event, Portland deserves so much better.
Gord
Thanks for the terrific piece Gordon. As a Portland resident, I’ve always thought of Vancouver as our ‘big brother’, someone that we aspire to be like. It’s nice to know that the little guy has some qualities of his own worth emulating. Here is to both cities becoming a model of sustainability for the rest of North America.