Week+7


 * Week 7: Sustainable Transit, Retrofitting Suburbia **
 * 1. What is the difference in carbon footprint of the average urban dweller as compared to suburban dweller? **

The average urban dweller has 1/3 of the carbon footprint of a suburban dweller. The suburban’s carbon footprint is larger due to a increased reliability on automobiles for transportation to different locations. Individual housing also means larger exterior surfaces which leaks more energy.


 * 2. Describe the changing demographic in suburbia, and why having a house is no longer sustainable because of this changing demographic. **

Oil use is doubled due to driving a lot more to get to other places. Buildings in the suburbs are more spread out geographically and also require individual energy consumption, unlike shared homes in the urban area which would have a central HVAC system. Separate dwellings also have more exterior surface areas to leak energy out of.


 * 3. Based on this TED talk by Ellen Dunham Jones, list 5 reasons to retrofit suburbia: **

Retrofitting: reusing the structure/building Third Places: places other than home to have fun/feel safe

1. Climate Change: Suburbia uses more energy and leaks more energy than it is sustainable. 2. Health: Sedentary lifestyles, increasing obesity, increasing in diabetes and heart diseases in children are rising issues. Kids not walking to school is a contributing factor. 3. Affordability: rising gas and oil prices and our dependency on foreign oil makes transportation 32% more expensive in the surburbs. 4.Demographic shift: There are less children in new households and retiring boomers want mixed age communities. 5. Under-perfoming asphalt: In dead spaces such as unused or underused parking lots, black asphalt absorbs heat and light, which eventually contributes to cloud albedo.


 * 4. What is transit-oriented/pedestrian-friendly development? Was it successful in Portland, Oregon? Do you think it could be a model for other cities in the world? Why or why not? **

Transit oriented/pedestrian-friendly development are neighbourhoods that mix residential and commercial areas. They also maximize public access to transportation to encourage an increase in ridership. It is successful in Portland, and reduces automobile dependency. It could be a model for other cities in the world because it can revitalize communities and bring traffic to areas surrounding major transit stops, increasing the local economy. Other examples of TOD cities in are Vancouver, BC and Hong Kong.


 * 5. List some potential benefits and drawbacks to transit-oriented development. **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Potential Benefits:
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Increase employment rates directly and indirectly
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Reduce automobile dependency
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Encourage local businesses

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Potential Drawbacks:
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Real estate prices increased
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Increase in local population, which may lead to overcrowdedness


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">6. For your major assignment, and your personal experience, could any of these urban planning, and sustainable transit planning principles, be applied to your commute within Oakville and Mississauga? Think of your commute as a whole systems process, analyse each step of your commute, and apply your new understanding of sustainable transport city, and how to make it easier for people as they get older, and do not want to own cars or drive.(2 paragraphs) **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Transit-oriented development is already implemented in the downtown core of Toronto. In Mississauga and Oakville, I believe this can be applied, but not as successful as in Toronto. The distance between places is too great. Major roads such as Burnhamthorpe, Dundas, Erin Mills, and Mississauga Road can provide paths for these transit routes. However, most residences reside in smaller roads that may not be quickly accessible to these major roads and possible transit stops.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In order to provide for senior citizens, transit stops would have to be distally closer to their homes and common places of interest. This can be difficult as there are multiple residential types that senior live (independently, senior homes, etc.) over a large area of space. Buses should be more consistent, and when riding them, should provide a comfortable environment and be as accessible as possible to accommodate their needs.