Summary of Mobility Motivate Panels – Sept. 7th, 2024, Kaslo, BC
The Mobility Motivate event at the Kootenay Resilience Festival focused on reimagining transportation solutions for the Kootenay region. The event began with an acknowledgment of the traditional territory of the Sinixt and a commitment to a resilient future. Jean-Marc La Flamme led the event in front of the Kootenay Lake Innovation Centre.
The event featured various speakers discussing different aspects of sustainable mobility:
- Leslie Payne from the Kootenay Car Share Cooperative spoke about the history and benefits of the car-sharing model in rural communities and the importance of transitioning away from personal vehicle ownership to reduce greenhouse gases.
- Mark Jennings Bates discussed the potential of flying cars and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, highlighting the challenges and regulatory hurdles in adopting these new technologies for rural areas.
- Solita Work advocated for cycling as a primary form of transportation, emphasizing its affordability, health benefits, and minimal environmental impact, and proposed community halls as transit hubs.
- Rupert Robin, manager of the Nelson Airport and a local pilot, addressed the logistical challenges of regional air transport and suggested better coordination among local airports to improve efficiency.
The panel discussed the integration of various transport modes, including car shares, e-bikes, public transit, and aviation, to create a seamless mobility network for the region. The conversation highlighted the need for innovative strategies like combining services and better aligning public transport schedules with community needs. The discussion also included ideas for improving infrastructure and services to support a more sustainable and interconnected transportation system in the Kootenays.
The event concluded with a musical performance by Stubbs and The, reinforcing the festival’s spirit of creativity and community engagement.
Thank you, everyone, for joining us at Mobility Motivate and the Kootenay Resilience Festival! A special thanks to All Ears Productions, The Langham, Kootenay Lake Innovation Centre and Kootenay Mountain Culture Productions for their incredible support in making this event possible. And our sponsors below! But this journey doesn’t end here!
Please stay tuned for a gathering this late fall at Selkirk College, where we’ll continue the conversation and focus on turning ideas into real action. Don’t forget to enter your thoughts in the Thought Exchange to help guide our next steps—your input is vital!”
THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING SPONSORS!
