Abstract - Draft

I think I've finally got this strong enough to bear criticism without me breaking down in tears, so it's time to post it. Been tinkering with it for too long. Any comments are of course welcome.

Abstract

Kamloops is one of many Canadian cities faced with excessive Urban Sprawl. Its relatively low population is spread over vast tracts of land, resulting in greatly increased infrastructure requirements, severely limited transportation options, and a general loss of civic identity.

When Kamloops was incorporated at the turn of the twentieth century, lack of transportation and services forced almost all development to occur in what is now the Downtown area. As automobiles became widely available, development pushed outward in all directions. While this expansion allowed for the city to grow quickly, it also created many problems. Much of the population of Kamloops lives in suburbs on the outskirts of town. The suburbanites of Kamloops must rely on their cars to reach the city amenities, which results in a higher emission of carbon gases, and a larger amount of traffic deaths. As well, these suburbs have been designed primarily for vehicles, discouraging pedestrian traffic and with it, community involvement.

Though the problem of Urban Sprawl is by no means unique to Kamloops or Canada, there are many countries that have not felt the effects of automobile focused development as strongly. European cities, built long before the advent of the automobile, have on average much denser populations and much more effective transportation networks than their Canadian counterparts. The city of Bruges, Belgium for example, has a population similar to Kamloops, with over twice the density. As well, Bruges enjoys an extensive bus, light rail, and cycling network vastly superior to Kamloops. Further, Bruges has achieved this while still preserving the historic character of the city, resulting in a highly desirable living environment.

This report will compare the Urban Sprawl situation in Kamloops to that of Bruges. It will discuss the different methods that Bruges used to maintain high density, and create a more attractive and productive city. These ideas and methods will then be related to Kamloops, to determine which if any should be implemented.

The main methods which will be discussed within this report include creating higher density buildings within the downtown regions of the city, creating pedestrian friendly environments, and promoting healthy, alternative methods of transportation. Smart growth boundaries and the elimination of strip malls and community subdivisions will also be discussed further within this report.