[Snipped from the Centerlines e-newsletter #216 published by the National
Center for Bicycling and Walking]
COME ON GOOGLE -- GET MORE CYCLE-FRIENDLY!
According to the Nov. 27th Life Cycle UK newsletter, "A global campaign is
underway to persuade the planet's favourite search engine to be more
cycle-friendly. Many of us use the wonderful Google maps to find our way
around. The maps show a street plan, or at the click of a button, an aerial
photo to help you get a feel for the terrain. Another click and you can
summon up live traffic info, and car drivers can get detailed directions
from A to B. For the USA and some other countries Google has also added a
mass transit directions option which tells you how to reach your destination
by bus, tram or train. Now cyclists are asking for a Bike There feature.
"The organisers of the campaign say: 'By implementing the "Public Transit"
option, Google and the Google Maps team have shown themselves to be
concerned and capable world citizens. A "Bike There" feature would be the
ultimate statement in support of sustainable development, self-reliance,
exercise and healthy living: that's bicycle directions.'
"Campaigners envisage the "Bike There" feature showing cycle lanes, bike
paths and other infrastructure, and giving cyclists the option of seeing
either the most direct route or the quietist and safest. The feature would
make cycling easier and more pleasant for millions of people around the
world. It would empower world citizens to adapt their lifestyles to face the
challenges of global climate change and it would help Google fulfill its
mission of "organising the world's information and making it universally
accessible and useful. More than 40,000 people have already signed the
on-line petition. Add your voice to the campaign now!"
To learn more, go to:
http://www.petitiononline.com/bikether/petition.html
Hi,
Just a quick note to let everyone know that the Winnipeg Jazz
Festival has arranged to have bike racks placed at all of their
venues for this year's festival. At most venues, the racks have a TD
Jazz Festival flag to make them stand out. There will also be bike
parking at the closing weekend at Old Market Square. Please remember
to bring a lock with you for the bikes.
Mark
The ParticipACTION Sun Life - Inspire the nation tour is coming to Winnipeg on Sunday, July 5th to deliver a clear and simple message to the city - it's time to get active and move more!
Visit the Inspirational Booth to get a FREE pedometer, interact with tour staff and record a video about how you've added more movement to your life, so you can inspire others to do the same. Your story could be featured in a television commercial. The Inspirational Booth will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Join ParticipACTION, Sun Life Financial and local partners, Winnipeg in motion and Manitoba in motion, as we inspire Manitobans to get moving by holding an in motion Walking Rally. Gather your friends and family and come out for a FUN, FREE, FAMILY scavenger hunt for your chance to win prizes.
Date: Sunday, July 5th
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Assiniboine Park - near the Duck Pond
For additional information, please visit www.winnipeginmotion.ca or call Winnipeg in motion at 940-3648.
** Sign-up to receive Winnipeg in motion email updates www.winnipeginmotion.ca/signup/ **
-------------------------------------------------------------
Deanna Betteridge, M.Sc.
in motion Coordinator
2 - 189 Evanson St.
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3G 0N9
204-940-3264 (w)
204-232-3297 (c)
204-940-8409 (f)
E-mail: dbetteridge(a)wrha.mb.ca
Web site: www.winnipeginmotion.ca
This email and/or any documents in this transmission is intended for the
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Ce courriel et tout document dans cette transmission est destiné à la personne ou aux personnes à qui il est adressé. Il peut contenir des informations privilégiées ou confidentielles. Toute utilisation, divulgation, distribution, copie, ou diffusion non autorisée est strictement défendue. Si vous n'êtes pas le destinataire de ce message, veuillez en informer l'expéditeur immédiatement et lui remettre l'original.
Yet another fantastic film from streetfilms. This one involves removing
cars from a major intersection and the placing of street furniture in the
street. Allowances are made for street cars to travel through at 17th /
Castro / Market in San Francisco.
After 17 years of planning, installation occured over a 72 hour period, from
cars to pedestrian friendly streetscape.
http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/san-francisco-carves-a-park-from-the-mi…
I would be curious to hear about where you think this could occur in
Winnipeg, such as Albert / McDermot / Bannatyne area.
This network isn't a discussion based forum, so feel free to e-mail me if
you have a suggestion and I'll compile a list and reply back.
David Wieser
Winnipeg Free Press: June 27, 2009
Editorials
Winnipeg can become cycling city
Cycling groups now say they feel they were sold a bill of goods because of a flawed feature in the overall plan. A gap in the route at the Osborne Street rail underpass will separate the northern and southern sections of the bicycling path, forcing cyclists from both directions to use the narrow sidewalks or the roadway beneath the CN Rail tracks. Cyclists, of course, already use the underpass, but the bike trail will funnel many more people into a potentially dangerous bottleneck with pedestrians and motorists.
For its part, the city says it will rebuild the entire underpass sometime in the future, but it's not in the budget now. In the meantime, civic traffic engineers have a variety of ideas for solving the problem on a short-term basis, including dedicating one sidewalk for pedestrians and the other for bikes, and possibly even expanding a sidewalk, but they are unsatisfactory answers to a problem that has been on the table for many years. It is also hard to imagine cyclists sharing a single sidewalk in a safe manner.
The three levels of government are spending $138 million for the first phase of the Southwest Transit Corridor, but they should dig a little deeper to ensure the project is done right now, rather than waiting for the crumbling underpass to die of old age. If not, they may want to consider other options, rather than building a pathway with a giant pothole in the middle. The province has already said it's prepared to help with extra cash.
It is in the city's interest to get more motorists out of their cars and onto buses. Another way to get people to leave their cars at home is to develop good infrastructure for cyclists. In fact, there's no reason why Winnipeg can't develop a reputation as a cycling city, which would be a significant promotional tool.
Some skeptics say the city's severe winters are an obstacle to achieving that goal, but the observation is uninformed.
Minneapolis is a winter city, too, yet it has been named the No. 2 cycling city (after Portland) in the United States, boasting 65 kilometres of dedicated bike lanes along city streets, and 130 kilometres of off-street bicycle paths. That's in addition to other measures to encourage and support cycling. As a result, an estimated 7,200 people regularly commute to work by bicycle, including many in the winter. The city has pledged that by 2020, everyone will have convenient access to a cycling route.
Winnipeg already has many passionate cyclists, but the lack of infrastructure is a deterrent to convincing more people to give it a try. The average person is just too intimidated by the poor roads and close proximity to cars to consider travelling very far by bicycle.
The city has been talking about rapid transit for decades. Now that we are ready to begin a small leg of the project, let's get started on the right foot. A transportation initiative that discourages cyclists is no way to launch a project that wants to get cars off the road and encourage alternative modes of transportation.
[Circulated on behalf of Bike to the Future...]
Help inform Winnipeggers about a critical gap in the City's Active Transportation network and get a free ice cream!
Join us this Thursday June 25th at noon at the South Osborne Underpass for a press conference highlighting the sudden and fundamental change in the Southwest Rapid Transit Corridor.
Background
For years the rapid transit project has been mandated to include an integrated Active Transportation Pathway. In the current plans, the pathway has become disconnected by the South Osborne Underpass. The fragmented remnants of the pathway will lead motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians into conflict.
Paul Jordan, Chair of the Winnipeg Trails Association, along with representatives from the Winnipeg Trails Association, The Forks, the Prairie Pathfinders walking club, Bike to the Future, Winnipeg Rapid Transit Coalition, Manitoba Cycling Association, and One Green City are undertaking an awareness campaign to inform the public of this fundamental change. Paul and others will hold a short press conference on the Active Transportation component of the Southwest Rapid Transit Corridor project followed by a walk through the underpass and free Banana Boat ice cream on the other side.
This is one of the most critical "choke points" of the Active Transportation Network. If must be addressed now.
We hope you can attend. Please share this message with your contacts.
Press Release PDF
Letter to Premier Doer PDF
Letter to Mayor Katz PDF
The Gap in the City's SW Rapid Transit Corridor bikeway plan (May 23rd)
The Gap -- diagram PDF
Curt Hull
Bike to the Future, Treasurer
http://biketothefuture.org
*Please post widely*
Register NOW for Bike to Work Day!
Only 4 days left to go!
Friday, June 19th, 2009
On-line registration for this FREE event is now open at http://biketoworkdaywinnipeg.org/registrations/new.
Great prizes! Pancake Breakfast! Group Rides! Bike Oases!
Refer a friend and have more chances to win! The more friends you refer, the more times your name gets entered in the prize draws.
The event this year is bigger and better! Events of the day include:
Manitoba Lotteries Pancake Breakfast - 7-9 am
June 19th, 2009 7-9 am, Forks Market
Join us for food, music, entertainment and company the morning of Bike to Work Day!
The first 300 cyclists to arrive will receive a free pancake breakfast.
*NEW This Year!*
Bike Oases - 6:30 - 9:00 am
Stop by your local neighbourhood Oasis on your way to work for some snacks and refreshments provided by Edna Fedya Restaurant. Then, once you're energized you can Catch the Wave (see below for more information) downtown to the Pancake Breakfast with other cyclists!
Oasis Locations (check out www.biketoworkdaywinnipeg.org for a visual map coming soon!)
Natural Cycle Oasis - at Polo Park (on Portage Avenue)
Free Press Oasis - Northgate Shopping Centre (on McPhillips)
Manitoba Public Insurance Oasis - Kildonan Crossing (Narin at Lagimodiere - Moxies Parking Lot)
Alter Ego Sports Oasis - Edna Fedya Restaurant in Smart Park (off Chancellor) at the University of Manitoba
*NEW This Year!*
Catch the Wave
Bike Waves (escorted group rides) will be leaving from each Oases at 7:15 am and going to the Forks. Route details are posted at www.biketoworkdaywinnipeg.org. Cyclists are welcome to join up with or leave the wave at any time along the route.
If you're already a rider - come out to show how many of us there are out there!
If you're not a rider - come out to ride safely in a group.
Bike Waves will be lead by experienced cyclists bringing valuable safety tips for newer riders.
Check out www.biketoworkdaywinnipeg.org for more information, great photos, fun maps and more exciting information about Bike to Work Day 2009!
Hello Everyone,
Please see the attached invitation to the Building the Network Public Open
House on Wednesday June 24 from 4:00 - 8:00 PM at Red River College Princess
Street Campus, CGA Manitoba Room, P-107 Main Floor.
Please feel free to distribute to your email mailing groups, post to
websites and print copies of the poster to put up. Please contact me if you
have any questions.
Hope to see you all on the 24th!
Regards,
Erik Dickson B.Sc. (Hons)
Marr Consulting Services
8th Floor - 136 Market Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3B 0P4
Phone: (204) 927-3456 ext. 242
Fax: (204) 927-3443
Please consider our environment before printing this message.
