PAUL ZIMERMAN

THE COUNCILLOR SUGGESTS FIVE WAYS URBAN PLANNING CAN IMPROVE AIR QUALITY

1MAKE THE CITY MORE CONVENIENT FOR PEDESTRIANS: WIDER PAVEMENTS AND MORE CROSSINGS, SEATS AND SHADE, SO PEOPLE ARE WILLING AND ABLE TO WALK.

2DEVELOP AND ENFORCE BUILDING CODES THAT GREATLY REDUCE DEMAND FOR AIR CONDITIONING.

3REQUIRE URBAN RENEWAL SCHEMES TO INCLUDE PLENTY OF OPEN SPACE FOR PARKLAND TO IMPROVE VENTILATION.

4USE ELECTRONIC ROAD PRICING COMBINED WITH PARK-AND-WALK FACILITIES ON URBAN FRINGES TO DISCOURAGE VEHICLES FROM ENTERING CORE URBAN AREAS. SIMILARLY, ELECTRONIC ROAD PRICING COMBINED WITH PARK-AND-RIDE FACILITIES AT TRAIN STATIONS WOULD CUT THE NUMBER OF CROSS-BORDER VEHICLES ENTERING CORE URBAN AREAS.

5SET A 30KM/H SPEED LIMIT IN CORE URBAN AREAS, WHICH WOULD CUT EMISSIONS BY REDUCING RAPID ACCELERATION AND BRAKING BETWEEN JUNCTIONS.