Quebec City

[Patrick]

It's clean, efficient, and certainly unique. It would be great for Central Boston and I think it would make an excellent option for a route between the college hill/ downtown Providence area. I'm surprised there aren't more of these things out there.

I agree. Burlington, VT has the same type of service, with an electric (or clean natural vegie oil or something of the sort) bus that runs from the University down college street (for those of you unfamiliar with the city college street connects the suburban part of the city to the urban core, and runs directly along a very residential street) to the downtown shopping center, the lake beyond, and then back up the hill. A very miniature route, limited in scope just as it sounds like Quebec's is, but for a much smaller city it sounds like the same idea. I agree there should be many more of these types of services. it does two things that I can think of off the top of my head: brings people downtown that otherwise would not be there, because of lack of interest in walking, or lack of willingness to pay for a bus fee, and it also reduces car travel in a very efficient and practical way that people are more willing to utilize (given its small loop, since it seems like the longer the trip the more privacy in travel would be desired). One thing I've never really understood about the environmental benefit of electric cars is that electricity generation plants are among the biggest, if not THE biggest, producer of greenhouse gasses in the country. admittedly I am not an environmental scientist, but isn't switching to electric cars just moving the source of the problem from gas to electricity generation (however it might be produced)?

 

[crash575]

Patrick you're right about electric vehicles simply moving the source of pollution but it's far easier to install pollution control technology on a few large stationary sources vs. a very large number of mobile sources. There is no current technology to control carbon dioxide emissions so the argument doesn't hold for that. If the electricity the electric vehicle is using is from a non polluting source then there is no pollution/carbon emitted.

Back on topic, I went to Quebec when I was a teenager and it was one of the best trips I've ever taken.

 

[jass]

Small downtown buses are very common around the world. Boston is an oddity in that we have the same bus for highway routes, city routes and downtown (north end) routes.

A minibus should serve places like the north end, regular buses for most routes and coach style buses for express routes

 

[Shepard]

Patrick you're right about electric vehicles simply moving the source of pollution but it's far easier to install pollution control technology on a few large stationary sources vs. a very large number of mobile sources.

Exactly. And, additionally, electric vehicles can be much lighter without their own combustion engine, which means the equivalent fuel/voltage needed from the central electric source is less than what you'd need out of a gas car's engine.

 

[Patrick]

Exactly. And, additionally, electric vehicles can be much lighter without their own combustion engine, which means the equivalent fuel/voltage needed from the central electric source is less than what you'd need out of a gas car's engine.

thanks for the input guys, the reasons both of you cited are so straightforward I should have thought about them on my own, but as I said I am admittedly not an expert in this stuff. But it seems commonsensical, now that I consider the factors listed above. I just remember thinking that electricity was such a good sounding alternative to gas until I learned that electrical plants are huge producers (usually) of GHGs.

 

[crash575]

Continuing the off topic discussion...

I read an article recently that argued that the pollution from mining and refining the battery material may outweigh the reduction gained from using electric vehicles. Metal smelting (especial nickel for batteries) is extremely noxious. At least car battery recycling is nearly universal even for the special batteries hybrids use.

I wouldn't put much weight in that argument but it's an interesting thought.

 

[choo]

Back to Quebec City, Those pictures make it look great. I would rather drive 6 hours north and end up there then 6 south and be in baltimore.

When's the best season to go? I am thinking early fall.

 

[Lrfox]

Distrubanist, great pics! Thanks for adding them. It's not, "my thread," it's a thread I started on Quebec City. If anyone else has some photos, jump right in.

Also, interesting conversation on the electric bus. While I'm aware that the "fuel" to produce the electricity is found elsewhere and pollutes equally as much, my feeling is that reducing emissions in already congested areas (i.e. urban cores) by A) having zero emissions vehicles, and B) providing clean alternatives for people who would otherwise drive non-zero emissions vehicles in those areas. In the big scheme of things, it's probably close to a wash, but for city centers, there's no question it's a good thing.

When's the best season to go? I am thinking early fall.

It is great. It's not just the "Old City" that's worth visiting either. Sure, that's the centerpiece, but the "Lower City," and "Old Port" areas are VERY nice. Even some of the non-historic areas are charming and beautiful. Some of the nearby villages are nice too.

Early fall (September-early Oct.) is very picturesque and temperatures are nice . I haven't been in the summer time, but I hear that's wonderful too. Last time I was there it was late Fall and during the day it was comfortable, but it got brisk at night. I'll be honest, while the snow was beautiful and the city is well-suited for the cold, it was frigid last week. I wouldn't say "don't go" in the winter, but if you do, bring some serious arctic gear (parkas, fur hats, and the like are very popular). Boston gets cold in the winter, but Quebec is much colder and the wind is an issue in spots too. They are prepared for the weather, but man, is it cold. I want to go to the Carnival they have in the winter and see the Ice Hotel (set to open 5 days after I left this year) and all of those sights, but I'd rather go again in the fall or summer.

 

[Ron Newman]

While visiting Quebec City, be sure to take a side trip to Montmorency Falls.

 

[Patrick]

Also, interesting conversation on the electric bus. While I'm aware that the "fuel" to produce the electricity is found elsewhere and pollutes equally as much, my feeling is that reducing emissions in already congested areas (i.e. urban cores) by A) having zero emissions vehicles, and B) providing clean alternatives for people who would otherwise drive non-zero emissions vehicles in those areas. In the big scheme of things, it's probably close to a wash, but for city centers, there's no question it's a good thing.

very good point...something to think about, you're right that in the grand scheme of things the net benefit may be zero, but to the people in already polluted areas, the practical effect will be a much cleaner immediate environment....I hadn't thought of that. thanks.

 

[erikyow]

It's been a little while since I've been to Qu?bec, despite it only being about 4 hours from where I presently live.

Given that many of us take a keen interest in urban regeneration, to anyone who is contemplating a trip up to Qu?bec, I recommend that you check out the area just outside Vieux Qu?bec called St-Roch (pronounced 'rock'). It used to be a more industrial, run down area that has really been transformed in the past 15 years or so and has become quite a destination these days. "? voir" (A must see) as they say in French.

Also if anyone is into skiing, there are some fantastic mountains less than an hour from downtown Qu?bec. Mont-Sainte-Anne, Le massif and Stoneham are all pretty close by and include some pretty cool sights along the way, including the Montmorency Falls and the village of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupr

 

[#bancars]

Passed through Quebec recently--got this view from a rooftop bar in Place D'Youville. Hadn't been in 15 years--happy to report it is as lovely as ever, though definitely filled with tourists (myself included)!