Panhandling is a significant issue in the City of Edmonton, and while the city has methods for dealing with it, they are not always effective. In this post, I’ll examine the city’s current approach, highlight a specific intersection where it’s not working, explain what Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is, and show how it could be a powerful new tool for the city to use in this area and others.
The City of Edmonton’s first method for addressing panhandling is to tackle the issues behind it, such as homelessness, addiction, and mental health concerns. To do this, the city partners with charitable organizations and has a “Spare Some Change” campaign with the police to encourage the public to donate to these organizations rather than directly to panhandlers.
The city’s other primary tool is the new Public Spaces Bylaw. This bylaw specifically bans panhandling on or around roads, medians, and similar areas, with violations resulting in fines that start at twenty-five dollars.
However, both of these tools are failing to address panhandling at an intersection I have passed by every day I walk to work at the Rossdale Water Treatment Plant doing flagging during construction there. The intersection in question is 105th Street and 100th Avenue, where 105th Street goes from a one-way road up the steep hill there to a two way street. There is also a concrete median in the one-way part of the 105th street junction that separates cars turning left from those going straight or turning right after coming up the hill, and this is where I’ve seen someone most days panhandling there – usually around 6:20 am, before the city’s 311 lines are open for the day.
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a strategy that uses urban design to reduce opportunities for crime and increase a sense of public safety. This is a perfect example of where CPTED could be an effective tool for the city. The situation is dangerous for both panhandlers and drivers, so a physical change would be a significant improvement. Making it impossible to stand on the median would permanently solve the issue and allow drivers to keep their full attention on the intersection and other traffic.
Beyond this one intersection, CPTED could also be a valuable tool in other public spaces, such as parks. By using smart environmental design, the city could discourage people from camping or sleeping overnight—an action already prohibited by another bylaw—while also improving the aesthetics and feel of the space.
CPTED has a proven record of success in other places, so why shouldn’t the City of Edmonton bring it in to make a positive change here?
