Youth-Led Innovation in Sustainable Transportation: The Future of Surrey Through the Eyes of Urban ReVision
CityHive is on a mission to transform the way that young people are engaged in shaping their cities and communities. Despite being on the frontlines of environmental, social, and economic crises, young people are too rarely involved in local planning and decision-making. We run not-for-profit programs to change that by building youth knowledge, skills, and agency. We envision cities where youth are actively involved in civic planning, shaping, and decision-making. A youth-engaged city is a resilient, sustainable, and livable city—not only for young people, but for all current and future generations.
As the world grapples with climate change and urban congestion, the significance of sustainable transportation has never been more pressing. For the youth, especially those engaged in CityHive's Urban ReVision program, this is not just a global issue—it's a personal and local one. Urban ReVision, dedicated to empowering BIPOC youth in urban planning and civic governance, has brought together Anmol, Emily, Jill, and Tahmineh to reimagine transportation in Surrey.Their project, rooted in the need for accessible and safe transportation, promises to showcase the potential impacts of thoughtful urban design on a popular intersection in the City of Surrey, the King George intersection, and offers a glimpse into a greener, more inclusive future for the city.
AddressingCurrent Transportation Challenges
Surrey's rapid growth strains its transportation infrastructure, leading to congestion and accessibility issues.Marginalized communities, often residing further from the city center, face compounded difficulties. The team's project aims to highlight these challenges and propose solutions that are comprehensible to the public and actionable for policymakers.
Their focus on the King George intersection is strategic, considering its notoriety for being dangerous and congested. By examining this specific site, they hope to extrapolate broader lessons for the city's transportation network.
SustainableAlternatives and Collaborative Solutions
The team sees immense potential in carsharing services like Modo to reduce vehicle use and greenhouse gas emissions.Carsharing offers financial relief and flexibility, providing an alternative to private car ownership. This is particularly relevant for those needing occasional access to a car without the burdens of ownership.
In addition to carsharing, bike-sharing and other transportation alternatives can complement public transit improvements.These solutions fill gaps, reduce congestion, and offer more choices for residents, contributing to a more efficient and sustainable transportation system.
Learning from Global Examples
Successful transportation models from cities like Vancouver, Tokyo, and Calgary offer valuable insights. Surrey can adopt policies from these cities to enhance its infrastructure. This includes regular updates to the Official Community Plan (OCP), private sector contributions, and incorporating night safety features such as enhanced traffic lighting.
Integrating these best practices involves tailoring them to Surrey's unique needs, ensuring that public transportation redesigns are scaled appropriately to population density and area-specific requirements.
CityHive’sExperience with Modo: Driving Climate Action and Supporting Our Programming
Modo Carshare plays a pivotal role in supporting active transportation and providing alternatives for daily commuters. By offering flexible, cost-effective solutions, Modo encourages residents to reduce their reliance on private cars, thus lowering their carbon footprint and contributing to a healthier environment. For many of our programs, Modo has become a reliable and cost-effective way for us to transport essential materials and supplies to workshops and events across the city.Whether we’re hosting a hands-on urban planning workshop or preparing for a community showcase, having access to Modo ensures that we can easily transport everything we need without relying on private vehicles, which contributes to our goal of reducing carbon emissions.
Modo plays a crucial role in facilitating our team’s participation in various networking events and community collaborations.From attending key stakeholder meetings to traveling across different neighbourhoods to engage with youth and partners, the flexibility of Modo helps us stay connected and active within the community. It allows our team and participants to travel freely, affordably, and with minimal environmental impact, reflecting the very practices of sustainability and collaboration we aim to promote through our initiatives.
By integratingModo into our operations, we not only reduce our organizational carbon footprint but also demonstrate the power of shared mobility solutions in addressing urban transportation challenges. This partnership is a practical example of how climate-conscious choices can align with operational efficiency, helping CityHive continue its mission to empower youth and foster sustainable, inclusive cities.
A Vision for the Future
The team's vision for Surrey's transportation future is ambitious yet attainable. They envision roads shared harmoniously by cars, bikes, and buses, creating healthier communities with less noise and air pollution. Technological advancements in traffic management and increased transportation options will contribute to a more walkable and transit-friendly ciTheir project, through public awareness and strategic recommendations, aims to influence civic change. By presenting their findings and solutions to policymakers, they hope to demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of sustainable transportation redesigns, inspiring action and investment in a greener, more accessible Surrey.
Anmol, Emily, Jill, and Tahmineh's work in theUrban ReVision program exemplifies the power of youth-led initiatives in driving sustainable change. Their dedication to improving transportation inSurrey highlights the importance of inclusive and thoughtful urban planning. As they prepare to present their project at the Community Showcase, their vision for a sustainable and equitable transportation system serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration for the future of Surrey and beyond.
To follow their journey and learn more about their project, visit Surrey Revisioned on Instagram.
By investing in and supporting initiatives like Urban ReVision, we can empower the next generation to create cities that are not only livable but also thrive sustainably for years to come.
