Latest news with #Speck
American Press
25-05-2025
- General
- American Press
Walking the line: A safer, more walkable Lake Charles starts here
Walkability expert Jeff Speck stopped by Lake Charles last month to tour the city and bestow his walkability wisdom. (Special to the American Press) To begin making Lake Charles more walkable, the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana called in the big guns. Walkability expert Jeff Speck stopped by Lake Charles last month to tour the city and bestow his walkability wisdom upon city officials, city planners and curious citizens alike. Speck is an American urban designer known internationally for his books 'Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time' (the century's best-selling book on walkability) and 'Walkable City Rules: 101 Steps to Making Better Places.' With 30 years of experience, he has become a global advocate for new urbanist walkability principles. He consults cities looking to take actionable steps, some simple and some complicated, to improve walkability. After assessing the city's current layout, he determines strengths and weaknesses in walkability and assists in drafting a more walkable design. 'If you've got a lot of good things going for you, I can be most helpful by making suggestions about things you can change. I really see it as my responsibility to share with cities the stuff I notice,' he said. He was brought to Lake Charles after the Community Foundation of SWLA Board Chair Jim Rock attended the Congress for New Urbanism annual conference last year. Speck spoke there, and Rock became enraptured with his philosophy on urban development and walkability. After a chance meeting, the two connected and coordinated Speck's trip. While not a full consultation, he toured the city and presented his findings at the Lake Charles Event Center. The Philosophy Walkability is a 'window into good planning.' Most of the benefits of greater walkability are clear. Walking benefits public health by encouraging pedestrians to exercise and getting them outside. But Speck is more interested in the bigger picture. 'Walkable City,' which came out in 2012, lays out these benefits to discuss why cities need to be more walkable and how to do it. 'While people think of me in the framework of walking for health and all the different aspects of the walkable lifestyle … I'm not so interested in that as I am in what makes cities great,' he explained.'I just happened to learn through the years that if you design around walkability, you do make cities great.' Enhanced walkability helps the environment by limiting motorist emissions, boosts the economy by supporting neighborhood businesses, and supports a strong, tight-knit community, to name just a few. He believes it is not only a good framework for design, but it is also a concept that is digestible for the general public. 'Walkability' is just the 'best practices in urban design,' but walkability is an accessible idea that allows pedestrians to advocate for themselves, he said. The 'general theory of walkability' poses the question, 'How do cities encourage people to walk in a society where driving is heavily subsidized?' 'Once you own a car, the smart thing to do is to use it all the time. Every mile you drive costs less than the mile before,' he said. 'The smart thing to do is drive. The car is there in the driveway between you and everything, and it's just natural to fall into the car.' The solution is simple at first glance. To get people to walk, the walk has to be better than the drive. Speck's walkability foundation is built on four components of a great walk: useful, safe, comfortable and interesting. The concept of a 'useful walk' has become less common. Speck said there are two ways to design a town: the traditional neighborhood or the suburban sprawl. The traditional neighborhood is compact, diverse and walkable, with most of an individual's need within five minutes from their home. City planners strayed away from traditional neighborhoods in the 19th century with the invention of Euclidean zoning, or single-use zoning, which was created to keep residential areas away from industrial activity. Now, it's the most prevalent type of city planning in the United States. But by dividing large plots of land into areas that just have one use, Euclidean zoning limits a walk's ability to be useful. The traditional neighborhood places essential services like housing, grocery, gym, park, dining, entertainment (and coffee) all within a five-minute walk. These neighborhoods also mitigate traffic congestion by not only keeping cars off the road, but by allowing traffic to easily flow through several connecting streets. By contrast, the suburban sprawl hinders a resident's ability to easily walk to resources and burdens multi-lane roads with more traffic. The suburban sprawl is also less safe. The United States has a 'traffic violence epidemic,' he said. In the last 15 years, there has been a 78 percent increase in the likelihood of being killed as a pedestrian. Pedestrians are 290 percent more likely to be killed by a car in a suburban sprawl, he said. 'So the idea that everyone wants their kid to grow up on a cul-de-sac, but once you leave the cul-de-sac, you're exposed to this extremely dangerous environment.' Pedestrian deaths are more likely in cities with little to no pedestrian accommodations and roads with multiple wide lanes, which directly correlates to the speed of traffic. Street designs with wider lanes, fewer intersections, one-way travel, big shoulders, and no trees create more freedom for drivers to speed. By eliminating 'elbow room' and 'forgiveness' for motorists, they are forced to slow down. As an example, Speck said studies show that motorists tend to drive seven miles per hour slower when the center line is removed from a street. 'It's contrary to common sense, but if you think about it, it makes sense,' Speck explained. 'That double yellow stripe makes you feel safe as a driver and makes you go seven miles an hour faster. That's the psychology we need to understand when we're designing downtown streets.' Most two-lane streets without turnlanes can handle average traffic, he added. Safety is the easiest tenet for cities to address because they own the streets. The best way to curb speeding is to design roads with narrower lanes. This is a change that doesn't have to be expensive. 'Don't rebuild. Restripe. You can restripe downtown for the price of rebuilding just a few streets, and we like to see that money go as far as possible.' The standard width for lanes is 10 feet, with an accompanying seven- to eight-foot parking lane. Parallel parking is paramount because it is an 'essential barrier of steel that protects the curb from moving vehicles.' Pedestrian safety can also be boosted by street medians with trees, wider sidewalks, and bike lanes that run between the sidewalk and lane parking. A comfortable walk can be achieved by aligning with design principles walkers feel secure. This can be done by creating a sense of enclosure with buildings and planting that line the sidewalks. And a walk becomes interesting with trees, vibrant architecture and street art that makes a walk unique. Walkability in Lake Charles In its current state, the region 'urban design adjacent,' Speck said. Downtown Lake Charles is well-situated to become more walkable, but the city's current infrastructure raises safety concerns for pedestrians. But he believes the new urbanist ways of thinking about pedestrian safety could greatly benefit Lake Charles because the city's street design process is 'broken.' 'I've heard that kids are walking to school on the four-foot sidewalk with the rollover curbs adjacent to 13 lanes on Nelson Road, and that shouldn't be happening. 'I'm sure the engineers working in your city want it to be safe. But this idea that safety comes not from forgiveness, but from actual constraint, is one that hasn't taken hold here yet,' he said later while acknowledging recently-striped 15-foot lanes. Pedestrian safety in Lake Charles can be improved by restriping roads, especially the downtown streets, to shrink lanes and add street parking. Kirby and Ryan streets could be reduced down to two lanes, he noted. To make walking more comfortable downtown, the street edges need to be developed. He highlighted the Lake Charles Event Center parking lot that faces Lake Shore Drive. The areas closest to the road could be developed into a safe sidewalk with street parking and trees. Speck also suggested a focus on foliage. 'Trees are vastly undervalued, and all I can say is, it's worth every dollar you spend on them. Palm trees, however, are not really trees,' he joked. 'You should stop using palm trees.'
Epoch Times
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Pro-Separation Albertans Hold Rally, Say Things Won't Change Under Confederation
EDMONTON—Katheryn Speck said she used to be a Canadian nationalist, travelled the world with a maple leaf on her backpack and once lived in Quebec so she could become fluently bilingual. But on Saturday she was among hundreds of people who rallied at the Alberta legislature to support separation from Canada, with many in the crowd waving Alberta flags and a few even displaying the U.S. Stars and Stripes. 'I thought it was a beautiful, fantastic country. But now I'm so disappointed. I'm literally crushed that we'll never be represented in this country and there's never a chance of changing the government,' Speck said. Earlier this week, Premier Danielle Smith's government proposed legislation that would lower the bar for holding a referendum. While Smith told reporters she won't presuppose what questions Albertans might bring to a ballot, the move would make it easier for citizens to call for a vote to secede from Canada. The federal Liberals' election win Monday has also prompted some people in the province to demand an exit. Speck said the National Energy Policy of the 1980s eroded her Canadian pride. Now a decade of Liberal policies that she said have blocked pipelines and stymied the province's energy industry have her thinking there's no fix under Confederation. Related Stories 4/13/2025 11/4/2019 'Once the votes are counted in Ontario, the election is over. We don't matter. We never matter,' she said. Hannah Henze, a 17-year-old who attended Saturday's rally, said she might have felt differently about separation if the Conservatives had won. 'If (Pierre) Poilievre was in, I feel we'd have a lot more hope than a third or fourth Liberal term, which is just going to ruin our country,' Henze said. Leo Jensen, meanwhile, said Canadians are worried about losing auto manufacturing jobs due to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, but they don't seem concerned about protecting jobs in Alberta's oil and gas sector. 'I don't see how a province like Quebec takes all of our dirty money, but they won't let a dirty pipeline go through Quebec to aid an oil refinery in New Brunswick,' Jensen said. A few dozen counter-protesters attempted to drown out the rally, many holding signs saying that separation would violate treaties with First Nations. Piikani Nation Chief Troy Knowlton said in a letter earlier this week that it's understandable many in the West are frustrated their rejection of the federal Liberal party in the election didn't play out elsewhere. But he said Alberta doesn't have the authority to interfere with or negate treaties. On her provincewide radio call-in show on Saturday, the premier said she fully respects treaty rights. 'Everything I do is changing Alberta's relationship with Ottawa. First Nations have their own relationship with Ottawa and that's enshrined in treaty. That does not change,' Smith said. In March, Smith threatened a 'national unity crisis' if the next prime minister doesn't acquiesce to a list of her demands within six months, but reiterated this week that she supports a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada. Rally attendee Susan Westernaier said she believed everything would be better if Alberta separated. 'We have the oil, we have the resources. We're fine,' Westernaier said, noting she believed Monday's election was rigged.
CBC
04-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Albertans 'crushed' by Liberal election win rally to separate from Canada
Katheryn Speck said she used to be a Canadian nationalist, travelled the world with a maple leaf on her backpack and once lived in Quebec so she could become fluently bilingual. But on Saturday she was among hundreds of people who rallied at the Alberta Legislature to support separation from Canada, with many in the crowd waving Alberta flags and a few even displaying the U.S. Stars and Stripes. "I thought it was a beautiful, fantastic country. But now I'm so disappointed. I'm literally crushed that we'll never be represented in this country and there's never a chance of changing the government," Speck said. Earlier this week, Premier Danielle Smith's government proposed legislation that would lower the bar for holding a referendum. While Smith told reporters she won't presuppose what questions Albertans might bring to a ballot, the move would make it easier for citizens to call for a vote to secede from Canada. The federal Liberals' election win Monday has also prompted some people in the province to demand an exit. WATCH | Counter-protesters meet hundreds of Albertans rallying for separation: Hundreds gather in Edmonton to call for separation from Canada 18 hours ago Duration 1:38 In the wake of the federal election, which saw another mandate for the Liberal party, Alberta introduced legislation that could make it easier for citizens to force referendums. Now, some Albertans advocating for separation from Canada are feeling emboldened. Paige Parsons has more from a weekend rally at the Legislature. Speck said the National Energy Program of the 1980s eroded her Canadian pride. Now a decade of Liberal policies that she said have blocked pipelines and stymied the province's energy industry have her thinking there's no fix under Confederation. "Once the votes are counted in Ontario, the election is over. We don't matter. We never matter," she said. Hannah Henze, a 17-year-old who attended Saturday's rally, said she might have felt differently about separation if the Conservatives had won. "If (Conservative Leader Pierre) Poilievre was in, I feel we'd have a lot more hope than a third or fourth Liberal term, which is just going to ruin our country," Henze said. Leo Jensen, meanwhile, said Canadians are worried about losing auto manufacturing jobs due to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, but they don't seem concerned about protecting jobs in Alberta's oil and gas sector. "I don't see how a province like Quebec takes all of our dirty money, but they won't let a dirty pipeline go through Quebec to aid an oil refinery in New Brunswick," Jensen said. First Nation concerns A few dozen counter-protesters attempted to drown out the rally, many holding signs saying that separation would violate treaties with First Nations. Piikani Nation Chief Troy Knowlton said in a letter earlier this week that it's understandable many in the West are frustrated their rejection of the federal Liberal party in the election didn't play out elsewhere. But he said Alberta doesn't have the authority to interfere with or negate treaties. On her provincewide radio call-in show on Saturday, the premier said she fully respects treaty rights. "Everything I do is changing Alberta's relationship with Ottawa. First Nations have their own relationship with Ottawa and that's enshrined in treaty. That does not change," Smith said. WATCH | Premier Smith takes a swing at Ottawa post-election: Smith slams Ottawa's clean energy plan, defends referendum move 3 days ago Duration 2:46 Alberta Premier Danielle Smith accuses the federal government of pushing a net-zero energy plan that would be disastrous for the province, while also defending legislation that would make it easier to trigger a referendum on separating from Canada. In March, Smith threatened a "national unity crisis" if the next prime minister doesn't acquiesce to a list of her demands within six months, but reiterated this week that she supports a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada. Rally attendee Susan Westernaier said she believed everything would be better if Alberta separated.
Vancouver Sun
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Albertans disillusioned with Confederation rally for separation in Edmonton
Article content Katheryn Speck said she used to be a Canadian nationalist, travelled the world with a maple leaf on her backpack and once lived in Quebec so she could become fluently bilingual. Article content Article content But on Saturday, she was among hundreds of people who rallied at the Alberta legislature to support separation from Canada, with many in the crowd waving Alberta flags and a few even displaying the U.S. Stars and Stripes. Article content Article content 'I thought it was a beautiful, fantastic country. But now I'm so disappointed. I'm literally crushed that we'll never be represented in this country and there's never a chance of changing the government,' Speck said. Article content Article content Earlier this week, Premier Danielle Smith's government proposed legislation that would lower the bar for holding a referendum. While Smith told reporters she won't presuppose what questions Albertans might bring to a ballot, the move would make it easier for citizens to call for a vote to secede from Canada. Article content The federal Liberals' election win Monday has also prompted some people in the province to demand an exit. Article content Speck said the National Energy Policy of the 1980s eroded her Canadian pride. Now, a decade of Liberal policies that she said have blocked pipelines and stymied the province's energy industry have her thinking there's no fix under Confederation. Article content Article content 'Once the votes are counted in Ontario, the election is over. We don't matter. We never matter,' she said. Article content Article content Hannah Henze, a 17-year-old who attended Saturday's rally, said she might have felt differently about separation if the Conservatives had won. Article content 'If (Pierre) Poilievre was in, I feel we'd have a lot more hope than a third or fourth Liberal term, which is just going to ruin our country,' Henze said. Article content Leo Jensen, meanwhile, said Canadians are worried about losing auto manufacturing jobs due to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, but they don't seem concerned about protecting jobs in Alberta's oil and gas sector. Article content 'I don't see how a province like Quebec takes all of our dirty money, but they won't let a dirty pipeline go through Quebec to aid an oil refinery in New Brunswick,' Jensen said. Article content A few dozen counter-protesters attempted to drown out the rally, many holding signs saying that separation would violate treaties with First Nations. Article content Article content Piikani Nation Chief Troy Knowlton said in a letter earlier this week that it's understandable many in the West are frustrated their rejection of the federal Liberal party in the election didn't play out elsewhere. But he said Alberta doesn't have the authority to interfere with or negate treaties.
Edmonton Journal
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
Albertans disillusioned with Confederation rally for separation in Edmonton
Article content 'I thought it was a beautiful, fantastic country. But now I'm so disappointed. I'm literally crushed that we'll never be represented in this country and there's never a chance of changing the government,' Speck said. Earlier this week, Premier Danielle Smith's government proposed legislation that would lower the bar for holding a referendum. While Smith told reporters she won't presuppose what questions Albertans might bring to a ballot, the move would make it easier for citizens to call for a vote to secede from Canada. Danielle Smith lowers bar for Alberta referendum with separatism sentiment emerging The federal Liberals' election win Monday has also prompted some people in the province to demand an exit. Speck said the National Energy Policy of the 1980s eroded her Canadian pride. Now, a decade of Liberal policies that she said have blocked pipelines and stymied the province's energy industry have her thinking there's no fix under Confederation.
