Surrey’s population has grown by 2.9 per cent or over 16,500 people from 2018 to 2019 and will continue to grow to become the largest city in B.C. in the coming years. To discuss transit and mobility options for the fastest-growing region in B.C., Kwantlen Polytechnic University will host two Mobilities 2020 Geo-Forums.
“Because we know that Surrey and the South of Fraser Area (SOFA) is the fastest-growing urban-region in the province, mobility and livability issues will continue to be of critical importance to our quality of life,” says David Sadoway, a geography instructor at KPU and the organizer of this event.
“So really we want to talk about movement and non-vehicular mobility in all its forms - from transit to walking, cycling, or taking a wheelchair - in the diverse places we live, work and play, both today and into the future.”
Both events will feature a panel of public transportation officials, urban planners, scholars as well as local community activists and ordinary citizens. Panelists include:
- Stan Leyenhorst, Universal Access Design
- Andy Yan, SFU City Program
- Sandy James, Walk Metro Vancouver
- Patrick Condon, Founding Urban Design Chair at UBC
- Douglas McLeod, Manager Transport Planning at the City of Surrey
- Todd Litman, Victoria Transport Policy Institute
- Don Buchanan, Transportation Planner at the City of Surrey
Sadoway says with a growing population there are challenges with congestion, road safety, air and noise pollution as well as Surrey’s reputation with urban sprawl, suburbia and an auto-oriented landscape. With this discussion, he hopes attendees can explore what other places in North America are doing to tackle these problems and what communities like Surrey have been doing right so far.
“Entrenched car culture cannot be tackled with a few silver bullet steps, but instead requires integrated, comprehensive approaches.”
The Mobilities 2020 Geo-Forums take place on Thursday, February 27 and Thursday, March 19, both from 7-9 p.m. at KPU Civic Plaza. These events are free and open to the public but registration is required.