The following article by former WERA director Terry Lavender originally appeared in the Vancouver Observer:

In a recent article in The Province, SFU transportation researcher Anthony Perl says Vancouver needs a pedestrian advocate. I agree.

According to the Downtown Transportation Plan, which the City adopted seven years ago, pedestrians are the first priority for the City, followed by cyclists, transit and then private vehicles. The Plan (available here: vancouver.ca/dtp/dtpfinalplan.htm) recommends that the City "Provide pedestrians greater priority through pedestrian activated traffic signals, wider sidewalks, elimination of “delayed walk” at intersections, mid-block crossings and landscaped medians." Yet, seven years on, it is difficult to discern how this has been implemented in practice. Consider:

WERA's critique of density in the West End

info about rezoning on CoV's website

An Open letter to: Prime Minister Harper, Premier Gordon Campbell, Minister Rich Coleman, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, Vancouver City Council, Dr. Perry Kendall and concerned citizens.

KEEPING THE DOOR OPEN: Dialogues on Drug Use (KDO) has solicited the support of the sentiments expressed in this letter from members of the community, who are listed at the end of this letter.
We support shelters as a short term initiative; however, we need to develop more mid and long term options. The controversy over the HEAT shelters should be leading us to call for an increase in drug treatment services. This includes expansion of supervised consumption sites and more methadone and heroin substitution treatment. Barriers to shelters for people who use drugs will exacerbate the situation, ensuring entrenchment, increased marginalisation and desperation of people on the street.
We call on our government nationally, regionally and locally to provide leadership and stewardship of policies that reflect humanitarian values of respect, compassion and inclusion, while protecting the human rights and dignity of all citizens.

photos of Nelson Park

The West End Residents Association was mentioned in a Vancouver Observer story about the first day of the Burrard Bridge lane re-allocation trial.