Progressive City Planning for Victoria

This appeared in the Times Colonist Newspaper on August 24, 2004

The other evening I decided to go down to Darcy’s pub for a pint with a few friends. We arrived around 10:30 p.m. and went out to the patio to enjoy the scenery and watch the tourists pass by. However after being there for less then five minutes we were informed that we had to go inside due to the new bylaw passed that prohibits drinking on the patio past 11 p.m.

Why does this city keep repressing all downtown activity? Progressive Canadian cities like Toronto and Calgary allow people to sit out in the nice weather and enjoy a beverage, so why doesn’t Victoria? It seems this city is run by a group of old dictators looking to suck all life out of this city by driving away customers and tourists in the process.

Perhaps instead of closing the patios we should be closing a few select streets (Wharf and Government) with some small two-foot gates. This would allow the patios to extend out onto the sidewalk and the pedestrians can take over the roads. Not only would it bring people together it would create more interactivity between the tourists and the local businesses.

Victoria, it’s time to escape your archaic views and start building a city with life and some progressive views on city planning.

Add comment August 24th, 2004