Hello there! We are Monkey Rebel, a group of Middle-Schoolers who want to change the world and make it a better place. You can find more about us and what we do at www.monkeyrebel.ca

We started this petition to ask that the City of New Westminster embraces the concept of 15 minute cities!

What is a 15-minute city, you may ask?

A 15-minute city is a place where everything you need is 15 minutes away. It's also a city that's almost car free, where we could shut down some streets to reduce co2 emissions, and create more of a community in the city. 

This does not mean that cars will be illegal!!!

It just means that it will be safer for people to use bicycles and to walk the streets. MORE choices, NOT less!

It also means that areas in New Westminster that have not received much attention and are missing benches, lights, and all that good stuff, will have it! 

We are meeting with City Council in June and bringing this motion to the Council Members.

New Westminster is in a prime position to become a 15-minute city and become an example for everyone on how to build community and be more green. Our city already has made such a commitment to the environment and to cyclists! It should not be hard to take this next step.

There are so many benefits to these changes! The population in New Westminster has been growing exponentially, even though the area of the city has not increased. This makes it important for us to plan on how to support the infrastructure of our city. A 15-minute model would help decrease traffic in our city and decrease the impact on our roads.

A 15-minute city brings to its population better health and a better quality of life! Attractive and safe roads make people want to be active and walk around. ​People who walk and bike more have less health issues!

Walking helps not only physical health, but mental health as well. Even just seeing more trees and people can increase happiness and well-being. ​

And of course, once people start biking more, it also helps reduce CO2 emissions, helps people connect with nature and the outside, and helps stop climate change. 

What do we want from the city, then?

• Education! A campaign letting people know that the city is working towards being a 15-minute city, and why!
• Bicycle maps on the streets, so people know where is the next bicycle lane -- this could even be simple signs with QR codes!
• More lights on backroads, so that we have a safe, well-lit path, from one side of the city to the other
• A walking web! From one side to another, a web of walkable paths with trees, benches and more, so anyone can go from Sapperton to the Quay without issues
• Focus on areas that are not already connected and beautified, so that we don't price people out of their homes -- this could be a chance to make areas that are not connected and not very attractive into more attractive areas, so the prices of rental in other areas would go down!
• Continue trying to get teenagers free access to public transit 
• Closing some streets in the downtown area, so we can have walking commercial streets like Victoria already has done!
• Bike grants, bike racks, and improved safety on bike lanes!

Please sign this petition and help us show that the City of New westminster backs up this motion! 

If you use a car, this won't matter too much, but it will make a lot of difference to people who walk and bike -- LIKE US! 

Help our club make a difference! :D