New Awards Program
Is your workplace doing something new and exciting to support walking
and biking to work? Has your employer been a long-time supporter of transit
use, carpooling, or teleworking? Recognize their efforts with the first ever
Commuter Friendly Workplace Awards! To find out more, visit
www.resourceconservation.mb.ca/gci/TDM. New projects are also eligible to
apply.
Hello everyone:
We have had a couple of messages posted recently about quantifying the
benefits of active transportation to justify the investment in
infrastructure. There is a new report available from the U.S. that does
exactly that. It is called "Active Transportation for America:
A Case for Increased Federal Investment in Bicycling and Walking" and may be
useful in comparing to the Winnipeg situation.
You can find the report and additional information at:
http://www.railstotrails.org/whatwedo/trailadvocacy/ATFA/index.html
cheers,
Beth
We need your help with an exciting project to help establish a
CarShare organization in Winnipeg!
To determine the potential interest in this initiative we are surveying residents of the Osborne Village and Broadway-Assiniboine neighbourhoods.
Log on to CarShareSurvey.com to take a quick survey, or call 786-9963.
Please forward to any friends, family, colleagues or distant acquaintances that you think might be interested!
Thank you from the CarShare Team!
http://www.insnet.org/ins_headlines.rxml?id=25519&photo=
Smart Bikes for Denmark
iNSNews Oct. 13, 2008
MIT researchers unveiled a major new project in Copenhagen on Oct. 10 called Smart Biking, aimed at transforming bicycle use in Denmark's largest city, promoting urban sustainability and building new connections between the city's cyclists.
Cheers
Stacy Matwick
Information Centre
International Institute for Sustainable Development
161 Portage Ave. E., 6th floor
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 0Y4
Voice: (204)958-7755 Fax: (204)958-7710
Email: smatwick(a)iisd.ca Website: http://www.iisd.org
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read" Groucho Marx
"Life is like a bicycle, to keep your balance your must keep on moving" Albert Einstein
Does this help?:
I calculated the current cost of accidents, pollution, congestion, noise and
greenhouse gases for the city at apporximately $*960 million / year. *I
thought it might help to have costs associated with any argument for active
transportation and against projects which cause more long term car
dependence like Waverly West, an inner ring road for Winnipeg, etc...
I won't post often, but thought this might be a useful stat that is unique.
It might put some context in a world where we are always told of the
challenges and the costs of bike lanes/ paths, etc.. , but have no local
ammunition to express the gains that we will see or the costs of simply
doing nothing.
*
*While writing an email to a committee I sit on, I realized I needed a
dollar number to attach to the problems caused by cars in Winnipeg. A fair
and realistic number is hard to come by, so I had to figure it out. It
pains me to talk dollars about what what should be an obvious, intuitive and
heartfelt argument, . . . nonetheless . .
I was inspired by the recently released results of a very unique 1.4 million
dollar study done by Transport Canada, showing that the cost of car
dependence in Canada is *$40 Billion* */ year*. (easy to read
reference<http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/09/01/mtl-socialcosttransportstudy090…>(CBC)
- I have emailed Transport Canada for help finding the study itself.)
I thought it would be more useful if it were applied specifically to
Winnipeg. My simple methodology, which Jeremy or Mark at Bike to the Future
may wish to critique, was as follows:
- The current population of Canada is 33,403,049 people.
(reference)<http://www.statcan.ca/english/edu/clock/population.htm>Eighty
percent of them live in urban centres, the people most affected by
the adverse effects of automobile dependence.
(reference)<http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/demo62a.htm>=
26,722,439 people.
- The current population of Winnipeg (100% urban) is 653,300
(reference)<http://www.winnipeg.ca/cao/pdfs/population.pdf>
or 2.4% of the urban population of Canada.
2.4% of $40 billion (Winnipeg's share) = *$960 million. **
960 million dollars does not include the loss of the disposable wealth
people would have from not owning a car (approx 13-17% of their income minus
the cost of bicycles and a trailer for each of their family members, bus
tickets/handit transit / taxis for the winter or for the elderly, membership
to a car co-op for trips to the lake and train tickets at Christmas). It
also does not include intangible costs like lost tourism, lost tax base
(people mmoving away or not moving here at all), lost wildlife and lost
aesthetic value and a great deal other things that always get overlooked in
any rational / linear study attempts to quantify this interesting and
complex world.
*Anders Swanson*
One Green City
*
Hello everyone:
I found the following article in the weekly newspapers a bit of a head
shaker Councillor Lillian Thomas (Elmwood-East Kildonan) and Jim Maloway,
NDP canadidate in the federal riding of Elmwood-Transcona, are trying to
argue that peds and cyclists are not actually safer with a separate bridge.
Here's the link plus I've pasted the text below:
http://www.canstarnews.com/page/story/the_metro/3404
cheers,
Beth
* * * * *
Maloway, Thomas opposed to bridge plan
By Jolie Toews
Oct. 2, 2008
Two local politicians say the citys recent decision to build a bridge for
pedestrians and cyclists between the Disraeli and Louise bridges wont make
it safer for users and isnt worth the expense.
On Sept. 24, city council voted 11-4 in favour of the Disraeli Bridge
rehabilitation project that calls for repairs to the existing single-span,
four-lane roadway that connects Henderson Highway with Main Street.
The $140-million plan includes replacement of the bridge deck, refurbishment
of the concrete foundations and steel bridge girders and widened shared
vehicle and cyclist curb lanes with one pedestrian sidewalk.
The plan also includes a new $15-million bridge for cyclists and pedestrians
to be located east of the Disraeli Bridge over the Red River.
Coun. Lillian Thomas (Elmwood-East Kildonan) voted against the plan, saying
it didnt make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists and didnt address the
expected traffic disruptions during the bridges closure while it undergoes
repairs.
It makes no sense to spend $15 million there, said Thomas, adding that the
plan should have included a sidewalk on each side of the Disraeli Bridge
instead of a separate bridge solely for pedestrian and cyclist use.
Thomas said having a single sidewalk on the east side of the Disraeli Bridge
isnt safe for pedestrians who are leaving or going to the north side of the
bridge on the west side of Henderson Highway because they have to walk under
the bridge to get across.
I think my area is pretty safe, but thats not a safe area, said Thomas,
referring to the area just south of the Elmwood Cemetery.
Jim Maloway, NDP candidate in the federal riding of Elmwood-Transcona, said
the new bridge could create safety concerns for pedestrians and cyclists
because they would be removed from most people who would be willing to help
them if they were in danger.
Maloway said he doesnt think its worth spending $15 million on building
the new bridge.
Why would you build a bicycle bridge between two existing bridges when it
probably wont be used much in the winter time and probably not very much at
night because of the area it leads into? he said.
Maloway said he is still fighting for a two-span, six-lane Disraeli Bridge.
We need the second span, because the city, itself, says well need it in 20
years, said Maloway, a former NDP MLA.
Maloway said he is still collecting signatures from people in the area who
are opposed to the plan to close the bridge for up to 16 months for repairs
and would prefer a second span.
The city said the plan is the most functional and cost-effective way to
preserve the Disraeli Bridge for at least the next 75 years.
The city said it decided not to build a two-span, six-lane bridge because
additional traffic lanes are not necessary for the traffic volumes in the
near future.
Approximately 40,000 vehicles currently cross the Disraeli Bridge every day.
City officials have said daily traffic volumes upwards of 60,000 vehicles
would merit consideration of expanding the bridge to six lanes. The
estimated cost of building a six-lane structure is $300 million.
Elmwood business owner Jan Stuyck, a member of the stakeholder advisory
committee for the project, supports a new bridge for pedestrians and
cyclists.
It is safer, by far, she said.
Stuyck said she is concerned about people walking and cycling alongside
traffic on the Disraeli Bridge.
If they fall, theyre right there under the traffic, she said.
The city approved plans for a public-private partnership to repair the
existing structure. One of the objectives is to complete construction in the
shortest possible time and, if possible, only partially close the bridge.
Construction is slated to begin in 2010.
Thomas said she is unhappy that the community didnt have enough time to
find out about the new plan.
People in the area are feeling like theyre being picked on, Thomas said,
pointing to the citys decision to tear down the Kelvin Community Centre and
its decision not to build a second span for the Disraeli.
----- Original Message -----
From: Michael Haynes
To: activetransportation(a)rogers.com
Sent: Friday, October 03, 2008 11:44 AM
Subject: Active Transportation - Canada: October 3, 2008
Active Transportation - Canada features a regular posting of news articles, studies, reports, and other items that have relevance in this field, with previous postings available in an archive. In addition, pictures of existing Active Transportation infrastructure from communities across Canada will be profiled each week.
The following items have recently been posted to the Active Transportation - Canada Blog. To view in more detail, go to: http://activetransportation-canada.blogspot.com
****************************************************************************************************
1.. Article - $50B transit plan would improve GO, TTC
2.. Upcoming Event - Vancouver: Guidelines for Child and Youth Friendly Land Use and Transportation Planning
3.. Article - Kelowna cycling cash
4.. Interesting Website - Worldometers: Bicycle Statistics
5.. Article - Obesity and high oil prices are good news for the world’s biggest bikemaker
6.. Upcoming Event - Toronto: Ontario's Inaugural Road Pricing Forum
7.. Article - Belleville: Kiwanis Skateboard Park is 'friggin' sick'
8.. Article - A small step for commuters, a giant leap for saving the planet
9.. Article - Montreal: Carefree on a car-free day
10.. Article - It's traffic as usual on Toronto's no-car day
11.. Car Free Day News - London UK
****************************************************************************************************
A reminder e-mail of new postings will be sent no more often than once per week. To continue to receive these updates, you need take no action. Should you not wish to receive updates, please return this e-mail with "Unsubscribe" in the Subject area.
For more information, please contact:
Michael Haynes
Director
TransActive Solutions
activetransportation(a)rogers.com
613.424.2803
MORE CITIES TRYING OUT CICLOVIAS
According to an article in the Sept. 28 "Parks, Greenways, Trails, Great
Places to Walk & Bike" newsletter [by Gil Penalosa], "An increasing number
of cities are temporarily opening streets to people and closing them to
cars. Without any capital investments (some operational), they are getting
people out to be physically active; from thousands in small communities to
millions in large cities, it is working.
"Thanks to StreetFilms and the leadership of Clarence Eckerson, now we can
learn from many of these 'best practices.' Use the videos to get people on
board, and then barrow the Nike slogan and 'just do it!' It takes political
will, a can-do attitude from city staff, and community engagement.
"See four examples of magnificent exercises of social integration where
people of all ages, gender, levels of ability, economic and ethnic
backgrounds come out and participate as equals. Although Bogota has enjoyed
ciclovia for many years, NYC, San Francisco, and Portland began in 2008; you
can too, by learning from them. This could be your first resolution for
2009!"
Videos:
Bogota (CO): http://tinyurl.com/4ynyeu
New York City (NY): http://tinyurl.com/3mwe9p
San Francisco (CA): http://tinyurl.com/4m3svh
Portland (OR) http://tinyurl.com/3tqlh9