Calgary plus15 Sky Network - good or bad and getting people walk more often?
Walk This Way, 13.10.2017 Virpi Ansio, Network of Finnish Cycling Municipalities
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Plus15, Calgary • Public pedestrian walkway system • Mostly 15 feet above the street level (also +30, +45) • “it provides additional pedestrian space and facilities with no expense to the taxpayer” • “it is like a whole another city where people can hang out on and drink coffee on terraces even when it is -30 outside”.
Background • After World War II: Lack of investments for pedestrians, increase of cars and retail stores moved to suburbs. • 1960: cities build underground pedestrian systems (Calgary: high water table) • 1965: Harold Hanen´s idea of +15 system • 1970: The First +15 bridge installed • 1984: +15 Network 8 km long and 38 bridges • Today: More than 62 bridges and 18 km walkways
Pedestrian counts
Same spots and vehicles
Let´s have a walk
A City For All Places ”Bridges are places – natural places for human interaction. Perhaps the most significant benefit of the +15 system is the increased social connection fostered by bridging.” Harold Hanen (1935-2000), visionarist who dreamed the system into reality
Thoughts • Gives public access through private buildings around Downtown • Provides alternative routes for pedestrian to varied destinations • Feels like long (and never ending) airport terminal • Are streets given to cars? • It is like a labyrinth! • Lack of fresh(?) air and birds
More information More about Plus15: http://www.calgary.ca/PDA/pd/Pages/CentreCity/Calgarys-Plus15-Skywalk.aspx The map of Plus15 (paper) Plus15 Route planner: http://plus15.com/ Plus15 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtTMgZSo1SU
The next Walk21 conference in October 2018 will be hosted Bogotá, Colombia!
