From early in the morning, until late at night, I see people on the streets here in James Bay and in Fairfield — walking, cycling, pushing walkers or strollers, skateboarding, walking their dogs. These are people who are using human-powered transportation to do their daily activities, rather than getting into vehicles.
Yes, there are also many people walking and jogging along Dallas Road, or in Beacon Hill Park — doing these activities for recreation or fitness.
But what I'm talking about is people walking the streets, as part of their lives, as part of getting their chores done.
Having so many people on the streets gives the area a human, life-filled energy. Years ago Jane Jacobs wrote that one of the best ways to keep neighbourhoods safe is to have what she called "eyes on the street". When people use the streets for walking, sitting, gathering — they are doing precisely what Jacobs was talking about.
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| Pedestrians at the heart of James Bay. Notice the occupied bench across the crosswalk, and the public art which adds to the aesthetics. |
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| Busy sidewalk, Menzies Street (Face of person in foreground has been blurred for privacy) |
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| People crowding the sidewalk, further north on Menzies Street |
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| Simcoe Street |
What makes the streets of James Bay and Fairfield so attractive for people to walk? I have a few thoughts!
Functional Diversity
Within about a square kilometre, James Bay hosts shops, corner stores, markets, restaurants, coffee shops and pubs. It is easier to get to all these by foot (or by bike), rather than driving and dealing with the hassle of parking. Fairfield is similar size, and with the Cook Street Village, has comparable diversity.
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| Coffee shop seats waiting for customers |
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| The Bent Mast, at James Bay "Five Corners" |
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| The Bent Mast from a different angle |
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| A different view of Five Corners |
Attractive, Quiet Streets
Walking these streets is both pleasant and interesting. The streets are lined with trees, the houses and apartments are growing gardens of all types — from vegetables to perennials, and last, but certainly not least, there is such a wonderful array of buildings, many of which are beautiful. The diversity of the area often means that I find something to stimulate my curiosity, learn about a new thing.
Quiet is something important to me; many of these residential streets are surprisingly quiet for a city the size of Victoria. There is no highway to intrude with truck motors, and minimal amount of through traffic — especially this year with the postponement of cruise ships at Ogden Point.
Less vehicle noise means it is easier for the walker or cyclist to enjoy other sounds — bird song, the sound of the wind in the trees, the sound of conversation or children's laughter.
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| Attractive trees and landscaping, coupled with diversity of buildings, add to the ambience for a walker |
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| Just one example of the aesthetic buildings of the area |
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| Menzies Street, approaching "Five Corners": greenery enhances the aesthetic, and adds interest |
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| Greenery outside Thrifty's softens the harsh lines of the commercial building |
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| Trees and hedges abound on the surrounding residential streets. (Niagara Street.) |
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| Attractive gardens welcome anyone passing by New Horizons, |
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| Perennial garden on the corner of a parking lot, Menzies and Michigan Streets |
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| Perennial garden, Niagara Street |
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| Eye-catching display oriented to walkers, beside an attractive house and paved sidewalk, Niagara Street |
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| A boulevard vegetable garden on Niagara Street adds interest for the walker |
Places to Sit
A feature for those who walk is having places to sit and rest, to take a break, have a conversation. There are many benches scattered in James Bay and Fairfield.
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| South Turner Street |
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| Cook Street |
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| Michigan Street Playground |
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| Attractive space on Government Street |
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| Dogs are not forgotten on the streets here! |
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| A hose has been left out for dog walkers to refill the bowl for their canine; Cook Street |
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| Open space outside the Red Barn, Menzies Street. Notice the tables, benches, and large raised planter which also provides a sitting place. |
People Rather than Vehicles!
To accommodate social distancing and reducing risk of Covid 19, Victoria has created more people-space on streets. I hope that the conversion "sticks" for the long term, as we realize how much more we enjoy our streets when there are fewer vehicles.
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| This restaurant and fish market on Erie Street have expanded into the street |
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| Simcoe Street. Part of the road has now been dedicated to pedestrians. Drivers must slow down in order to navigate the "yielding to oncoming traffic" - which makes for a more pleasant, and quieter, walking experience for pedestrians. |
Measures to Reduce Vehicle Speed
As well as reducing — at least temporarily — the available road space for vehicles, the City has also installed speed bumps on at least two James Bay streets, to reduce vehicle speed. These aren't temporary.
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| Traffic calming speed bump, Marifield Road |
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| One of two speed bumps, Montreal Street |
Pedestrian / Bike Only Accesses
I have been impressed at how many roads Victoria has closed to vehicle through traffic, while keeping connectors open for people. Plus, I have encountered numerous corridors for people between buildings. A few examples follow.
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| Pedestrian corridor |
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| Most corridors don't have steps; this one is on a shortcut to Moss Rock |
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| Pedestrian corridor below Moss Rock |
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| Arbutus tree beside corridor to Moss Rock |
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| Signage for shortcut connector |
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| Road closure replaced with accessible pedestrian and bike connector |
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| Another road closure replaced with accessible connector for people |
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| When Avalon Street was "disconnected" from Government Street, a pleasant mini-park was created at its end |
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| The same space from a different angle, showing the relationship to Government Street |
Dispersed Commercial Activities
Commercial activities are not all concentrated in one central place such as the James Bay Village. There are corner grocery stores, small restaurants, specialized shops, and pubs in other parts of James Bay. The result is people on the streets to get to these various places. In Fairfield, while most of the commercial activity is along Cook Street, there are other small stores such as hair salons elsewhere in the community.
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| Formerly Niagara Market; now under new ownership (For Good Measure). This store is several blocks from the James Bay Village. |
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| Another store that is several blocks from any other commercial enterprises, on Government Street closer to the Legislature |
I have focussed mostly on James Bay, and a little upon Fairfield, in this post. But there are many other people spaces in Victoria! Downtown comes to mind. For residents of James Bay and Fairfield, downtown is within walking distance. And there are other communities, which I have not mentioned here - North Park and Fernwood for example.
I could devote a post to any of these areas, but here I'll limit the focus to showing how downtown businesses are expanding into Government Street. Again, this is a temporary response due to Covid, but perhaps it will become permanent.
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| Government Street |
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| Lots of tables for social distancing |
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| Government Street |
Walking and the Senses
Walking and cycling are sensory experiences. Colour, smell, and pleasant sounds all add to the richness of our lives and our enjoyment of our daily chores. The more we can design our urban environments to enhance pleasant sensory experiences, the more people will want to walk and cycle.
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| An honour system farmstand selling eggs and vegetables from a permaculture garden on the corner of Paddon and Battery Streets — and an eye-catching gate |
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| Fragrance and delicate colour |
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| Vibrant colours on this house! |
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| A feast of colour |
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| The trees provide a haven for birds — and birdsong for the walkers! |
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| Fragrant flowers, colourful background. The heart for front line workers is an extra feature, prolific in the area. |
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| One of the many attractive Little Libraries in Victoria oriented to people using the sidewalk. It is always a pleasure to stop and thumb through a book or two, and perhaps find one worthy of a read. |
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| Attractive front yard, Fairfield |
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| Front yard vegetable garden, Fairfield |
There is so much joy to be found in walking and cycling, as I explore the neighbourhoods around me. And I appreciate it when small efforts are made to improve the experience for walkers and cyclists.
