Happy Father’s Day! Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:
Headlines
- Bike lanes are what everyone is talking about this week now that three sections of the Downtown Bike Network opened on Friday afternoon. The majority of the network will open by July. Learn about how to use the network here and provide feedback to the City using this online survey.
- I saw a lot of people using the new bike lanes on Saturday and plenty of excitement on social media. Not everyone is in favor of the new lanes though, as according to CBC some motorists are upset with the changes. On the other hand, when are drivers happy about anything? The new rules will take some getting used to, but this bike network is a great thing for our city. And you know, a mass bike ride for infill awareness isn’t such a bad idea 🙂
- The other great thing about the bike lanes is that they make it safer to be a pedestrian, especially important as we are clearly still a long way from achieving Vision Zero. A woman and her dog were struck and killed in a marked crosswalk by a driver on Saturday.
- I am very excited for Edmonton’s first no-car event being organized for next summer by Paths for People. “It creates a bridge so all Edmontonians can go out an enjoy our streets,” said Anna Ho. They’re looking at using the High Level Bridge for the event.
- One year after safety barriers were installed on the High Level Bridge, the number of suicide attempts from the bridge has dropped by 50%, according to the City.
- Dandelions cramping your style? The City says it is “balancing safety, environmental, financial and social costs and benefits with new measures to address this year’s proliferation of dandelions.” They’re going to be applying two treatments of iron chelate, first in late June, then again later in July.
- Curious about Edmonton’s sister city relationships? Jacquie DuVal looked into the issue for Taproot’s latest story.
- It’s the debate that just won’t die. Two of NAIT’s marketing instructors have weighed in on the “City of Champions” slogan and signs.
- Some Edmontonians continue to protest against the proposed safe injection sites. “The city is hoping to open the new safe injection centres by next year.”
- EPS is reassuring citizens that Edmonton is “a safe city” has partnered with an associate professor at MacEwan University to study 196 homicides in the city between 2007 and 2012. “The research shows that in almost 75 per cent of cases, the victims knew their killers” and that “substance abuse was a factor in most cases and 84 per cent of the killers were ‘criminally active’ beforehand.”
- Aurora Cannabis held a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday for its new production facility near the Edmonton International Airport. “Once marijuana is legalized and the facility is running at full capacity, the company expects to produce more than 100,000 kg of marijuana per year.”
- It’s the end of the End of the World as we know it. The City has released new designs for the popular lookout point that aim to increase safety.
- For more recent headlines, check out ShareEdmonton.
Downtown Bike Lanes are now partially open!
Upcoming Events
- This year’s edition of the Freewill Shakespeare Festival kicks off on Tuesday! A number of other annual festivals start this week as well, including the Summer Solstice Festival, The Works, the Found Festival, and the Edmonton International Jazz Festival.
- The City is hosting a public open house on Tuesday evening at the Old Timers Cabin to discuss PlanWhyte, a plan for the future of Whyte Avenue.
- Running for office in this year’s Municipal Election? Don’t miss an information session being held at the Elections and Census Office on Wednesday from noon until 2pm.
- Please join us on Wednesday night at the Sugar Swing ballroom for the first Taproot event where we’ll discuss urban planning ideas like a highline on the High Level and a “nature bomb” to one of our city’s busiest corridors. Get your tickets here!
- Wednesday is National Aboriginal Day and the City and its partners are hosting a series of events all week long.
- Make Music Edmonton takes place on Wednesday at venues all along 124 Street.
- The Yards is launching its summer issue on Thursday evening at CKUA Radio.
- The Foodie Bike Tour is back again on Saturday!
- Celebrate the 90th anniversary of Blatchford Field at the Alberta Aviation Museum on Saturday.
- Pets in the Park takes place on Sunday at Hawrelak Park!
- Symphony in the City takes place on Sunday at the Legislature grounds!
- Be sure to check out Taproot Edmonton’s guide to summer festivals & events for more upcoming events!
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