The Bike to the Future Office Administrator / Bicycle Valet Winnipeg Project
Coordinator will report to Bike to the Future's Board of Directors and
provide administrative support to the organization. This person will also be
the primary leader and executive director of Bicycle Valet Winnipeg, a
project of Bike to the Future.
Find the job posting and more details here:
http://biketothefuture.org/news/archives/2011/04/23/employment-opportunity-…
For more info, or to submit a resume, please email
contact(a)biketothefuture.org.
http://dc.streetsblog.org/2011/04/25/under-pressure-aashto-withdraws-object…
Under Pressure, AASHTO Withdraws Objection to Stronger Bike-Ped Rules
by Angie Schmitt <http://dc.streetsblog.org/author/angie-schmitt/> on April
25, 2011
The Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials is withdrawing
its opposition to an important federal policy change that puts cyclists and
pedestrians on a more equal footing with motorists.
Active transportation groups were outraged earlier this month when AASHTO
requested<http://dc.streetsblog.org/2011/04/12/aashto-new-rule-makes-it-too-hard-to-i…>that
the FHWA revert to an old standard that required state DOTs show only
that “due consideration” had been given to the needs of cyclists and
pedestrians in federally financed transportation projects. *A newer
requirement increased the standard to “due accommodation,” shifting the
burden on transportation agencies to demonstrate that extreme circumstances
prevent the inclusion of bike and pedestrian infrastructure.*
In his statement Friday, AASHTO Executive Director John Horsley said the
agency’s request was meant “to streamline the effort and paperwork required
to justify why bicycle or pedestrian facilities may or may not be
appropriate on a given federal aid project.” But he added that the group
would withdraw the request in light of opposition that emerged after the League
of American Bicyclists<http://www.bikeleague.org/blog/2011/04/aashto-wants-to-weaken-us-dot-bicycl…>,
this blog<http://dc.streetsblog.org/2011/04/12/aashto-new-rule-makes-it-too-hard-to-i…>and
other
bike advocates<http://bikeportland.org/2011/04/19/odot-expresses-disappointment-in-aashto-…>took
up the issue.
Horsley said that since that time several state DOT chiefs also came out
against the request, including Matthew Garrett of the Oregon
DOT<http://bikeportland.org/2011/04/19/odot-expresses-disappointment-in-aashto-…>
.
“In response to the concerns expressed by several members of AASHTO’s Board
of Directors, President [Susan] Martinovich has directed AASHTO for the time
being to withdraw its request that FHWA rescind its guidance on the meaning
of ‘due consideration’ of bicycle and pedestrian needs,” said Horsley. “This
will give AASHTO an opportunity to meet with bicycle and pedestrian advocacy
groups on May 19 to discuss this issue.”
Andy Clarke of the League of American Bicyclists is planning to attend the
meeting. He says he’s glad AASHTO is warming to the idea that all
transportation projects should begin with the idea of including bicycles and
pedestrians in the plan “rather than ‘we’re not going to include bike stuff
unless someone makes us.’”
Clarke said AASHTO’s backpedaling is an important demonstration of the
collective power of bicycle and pedestrian advocates.
“I’m glad we called them on it,” he said. “I’m glad they heard a good deal
of dissent.”
--
*Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action
Centre<http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/>
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/>
3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us
here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/>
Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living.
Support our work by becoming a
member<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/memberships/>
State begins tracking ‘dooring’ crashes involving cyclists SUN-TIMES MEDIA
WIRE
Apr 25, 2011 11:50AM
Gov. Pat Quinn on Monday announced the state will begin tracking “dooring”
crashes — accidents involving bicyclists struck by opened doors from parked
cars.
The change will help determine locations where road improvements and public
outreach efforts may be necessary to protect cyclists, a release from the
Active Transportation Alliance said.
The new policy is the result of a collaboration between the Illinois Dept.
of Transportation and the Active Transportation Alliance. Before the change,
dooring collisions went unrecognized in IDOT’s annual reporting of traffic
statistics because a moving vehicle was not involved.
The data will be used to plan for improved roadway designs and additional
communication with motorists in areas with high concentrations of cyclists,
the release said.
IDOT’s Division of Traffic Safety is also reaching out to law enforcement
agencies with instructions on how to begin recording dooring crashes.
Police departments that have already begun tracking them, including
Chicago, will have their data included in the state’s statistics retroactive
to May 2010.
http://www.suntimes.com/5014213-417/state-begins-tracking-dooring-crashes-i…
--
*Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action
Centre<http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/>
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/>
3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us
here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/>
Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living.
Support our work by becoming a
member<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/memberships/>
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Matt <mgcarreau(a)gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Apr 22, 2011 at 5:36 PM
Subject: Jane's Walk strolling into town!
Hi there,
my name is Matt Koop-Pearce and I am a volunteer organizer for this year's
edition of Jane's Walk. The organizing committee is making a big push to
promote the fast approaching Jane's Walk on May 7 & 8 and we would
appreciate your help. I am contacting you because you or your organization
either has a community member leading a walk or because Jane's Walk is an
event that yourself and folks in your community would most certainly be
interested in hearing about and participating in.
Can you please help us get the word out by forwarding the message below
through your personal, professional, and community networks and email list
serves? I have also attached a PDF of our media release and a poster that
you are welcome to forward along with this message. Of course, word of mouth
promotion is always the most powerful, so we hope you will take a moment to
check out some of exciting walks planned for this year and convince your
friends and neighbours to participate in Jane's Walk on May 7 & 8!
Thank you sincerely,
Matt Koop-Pearce
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shine your walking shoes Winnipeg:
The fifth annual Jane's Walk festival is coming up May 7 & 8 !
On Saturday May 7 & Sunday May 8, join a walking tour in your community lead
by your neighbours. Explore Winnipeg's diverse and vibrant neighbourhoods
while walking, talking and sharing ideas.
What is Jane's Walk?
Jane's Walk is an annual celebration of sustainable cities, walkable
neighbourhoods, and vibrant communities. Named in honour of Jane
Jacobs<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Jacobs>--an
urbanist and activist whose writings championed a fresh, community-based
approach to city building--the first Jane's Walk was organized in Toronto
five years ago and has since spread to more than 30 cities across Canada and
70 cities worldwide. Jane's Walk is now in it's fifth year in Winnipeg and
includes walks on a range of themes and topics, including local history,
urban biodiversity, city planning, design and transportation issues, social
experiences of the city, and more. Jane's Walks are intended to create a
space for citizens to talk about what matters to them in the places they
live, work and play.
How do I join a Jane's Walk?
Participating in Jane's Walk is simple: local community members with a
passion for urban issues and local history have organized walking tours in
their neighbourhood; a list of confirmed walks is published on the Jane's
Walk website <http://janeswalk.net/cities/landing/category/winnipeg/> and
the public is invited to join any walk of their choosing—no registration or
RSVP required. Simply meet your walk leader at the time and place indicated
in the online listing. Remember, Jane's Walk is a "walking conversation" and
we encourage walk leaders and participants alike to contribute to the
conversation by asking questions and sharing their knowledge and passion for
cities.
What walks are being offered this year?
Some of the walks confirmed for this year's Jane's Walk include:
- *History Lives In North Point Douglas* with Robert Galston
- *Winnipeg Modern: Explore Winnipeg's Modernist Architectural
Heritage*with Serena Keshavjee
- *The Rapid Tranist Walk* with Paul Hesse
- *So You Thought You Knew the West End: Murals and More* with Gloria
Cardwell-Hoeppner
- *Discover Public Art in Downtown Winnipeg* with Tricia Wasney
- *Sharing Cars and Gardens: An educational walk through Osborne Village *with
Melissa Dupuis and
Shauna Carmichael
- Walks in *West Broadway, Selkirk Avenue, and Central Park* neighbourhoods
are also planned!
New walks are being confirmed everyday. For a complete listing of Jane's
Walks check out our website: www.janeswalk.net
I want to organize a Jane's Walk in my community!
Awesome! Jane's Walk is presently accepting submissions from individuals or
groups interested in organizing a walking tour in their community. To
propose a walk, visit our website and send an email to our coordinator Matt
Koop-Pearce at mgcarreau(a)gmail.com The deadline to submit a walk is May 6th.
Contact
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/janeswalkwinnipeg
Matt Koop-Pearce, volunteer organizer
mgcarreau(a)gmail.com
(204) 421-2903
[*Transportation Research A, Vol. 45, 2011*, in press]
*Bicycling Renaissance in North America?
An Update and Re-Appraisal of Cycling Trends and Policies
*by John Pucher, Ralph Buehler and Mark Seinen
http://www.8-80cities.org/Articles/Bicycling%20Renaissance%20in%20North%20A…
*Abstract*
This paper reviews trends in cycling levels, safety, and policies in Canada
and the USA over the past two decades. we analyze aggregate data for the two
countries as well as city-specific case study data for nine large cities
(Chicago, Minneapolos, Montreal, New York, Portland, San Francisco, Toronto,
Vancouver, and Washington). Cycling levels have increased in both the USA
and Canada, while cyclist fatalities have fallen... The bike share of work
commuters is more than twice as high in Canada as the USA, and is higher int
he western parts of both countries. Cycling is concentrated in central
cities, especially near universities and in gentrified neighborhoods near
the city center. Almost all the growth in cycling in the USA has been among
men between 25-64 years old, while cycling rates have remained steady among
women and fallen sharply for children. Cycling rates have risen much faster
in the nine case study cities than in their countries as a whole, at least
doubling in all the cities since 1990. They have implemented a wide range of
infrastructure and programs to promote cycling and increase cycling safety:
expanded and improved bike lanes and paths, traffic calming, parking,
bike-transit integration, bike sharing, training programs, and promotional
events. Portland's comprehensive package of cycling policies has succeeded
in raising cycling levels 6-fold and provides an example that other North
American cities can follow.
--
*Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action
Centre<http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/>
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/>
3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us
here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/>
Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living.
Support our work by becoming a
member<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/memberships/>
Hi everyone,
*Bike to Work Day Winnipeg 2011* needs volunteers to help with tasks right
away as well as on June 24th.
It would be great if you could share the attached volunteer application form
with your various professional networks, family and friends.
many thanks!
Beth
*Environment International*<http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/01604120>
Volume 37, Issue
4<http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=PublicationURL&_tockey=%23TOC%2358…>,
May 2011, Pages 766-777
*
Improving Health through Policies that Promote Active Travel: A Review of
Evidence to Support Integrated Health Impact Assessment*
Abstract Background
Substantial policy changes to control obesity, limit chronic disease, and
reduce air pollution emissions, including greenhouse gasses, have been
recommended. Transportation and planning policies that promote active travel
by walking and cycling can contribute to these goals, potentially yielding
further co-benefits. Little is known, however, about the interconnections
among effects of policies considered, including potential unintended
consequences.
Objectives and methods
We review available literature regarding health impacts from policies that
encourage active travel in the context of developing health impact
assessment (HIA) models to help decision-makers propose better solutions for
healthy environments. We identify important components of HIA models of
modal shifts in active travel in response to transport policies and
interventions.
Results and discussion
Policies that increase active travel are likely to generate large individual
health benefits through increases in physical activity for active travelers.
Smaller, but population-wide benefits could accrue through reductions in air
and noise pollution. Depending on conditions of policy implementations, risk
tradeoffs are possible for some individuals who shift to active travel and
consequently increase inhalation of air pollutants and exposure to traffic
injuries. Well-designed policies may enhance health benefits through
indirect outcomes such as improved social capital and diet, but these
synergies are not sufficiently well understood to allow quantification at
this time.
Conclusion
Evaluating impacts of active travel policies is highly complex; however,
many associations can be quantified. Identifying health-maximizing policies
and conditions requires integrated HIAs.
Research highlights
► Active travel policies are growing in popularity worldwide. ► We review
multiple benefits and potential risks associated with policies. ►
Quantitative relationships for health impact assessments are discussed. ►
Major health benefits are especially expected from physical activity
outcomes. ► Well designed policies may enhance co-benefits and mitigate
risks.
LINK:
http://bb4md8jw9n.search.serialssolutions.com//?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&ctx_ver…<http://bb4md8jw9n.search.serialssolutions.com/?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&ctx_ver=…>
Hopefully the author's tongue is firmly planted in their cheek! Have a great
day and happy cycling!
Erik Dickson
Scatliff+Miller+Murray
Emailed to me today from the other side!
By P.J. O'ROURKE
Getty Images
Cyclists ride over the Brooklyn Bridge. 'Although the technology necessary
to build a bicycle has been around since ancient Egypt, bikes didn't appear
until the 19th century. The reason it took mankind 5,000 years to get the
idea for the bicycle is that it was a bad idea.'
A fibrosis of bicycle lanes is spreading through the cities of the world.
The well-being of innocent motorists is threatened as traffic passageways
are choked by the spread of dull whirs, sharp whistles and sanctimonious
pedal-pushing.
Bike lanes have appeared in all the predictable placesAmsterdam,
Copenhagen, Berkeley and Palo Alto. But the incidence of bike lanes is also
on the rise in unlikely locales such as slush-covered Boston, rain-drenched
Vancouver, frozen Montreal and Bogotá, Colombia (where, perhaps, bicycles
have been given the traffic lanes previously reserved for drug mules). Even
Dublin, Ireland, has had portions of its streets set aside for bicycles
onlysurely unnecessary in a country where everyone's car has been
repossessed.
Then there is the notorious case of New York City. Not long ago the only
people who braved New York on bicycles were maniacal bike messengers and
children heeding an abusive parent's command to "go play in traffic." Now
New York has 670 miles of bike lanesrather more than it has miles of
decently paved streets.
The proliferation of New York's bike lanes is the work of the city's
indomitable transportation commissioner, Janette Sadik-(Genghis)-Khan. Her
department has a horde of 4,500 employees and a budget nearing a billion
dollars. The transportation commissioner's job isjudging by rush-hour cab
and subway rides and last December's blizzardto prevent the transportation
of anybody or anything to anywhere in New York. Bicycles are the perfect way
to go nowhere while carrying nothing.
The bicycle is a parody of a wheeled vehiclea donkey cart without the cart,
where you do the work of the donkey. Although the technology necessary to
build a bicycle has been around since ancient Egypt, bikes didn't appear
until the 19th century. The reason it took mankind 5,000 years to get the
idea for the bicycle is that it was a bad idea. The bicycle is the only
method of conveyance worse than feet. You can walk up three flights of
stairs carrying one end of a sofa. Try that on a bicycle.
View Full Image
The Image Works
A French racing cyclist, in 1912
Almost everything that travels on a city street, including some of the
larger people in the crosswalks, can crush a bicycle. Everything that
protrudes from or into a city streetpot holes, pavement cracks, manhole
coverscan send a bicycle flying into the air. When the president of the
United States goes somewhere in Washington, does he ride an armored bicycle?
Given that riding a bike in a city is insane and that very few cities need
more insane people on their streets, why the profusion of urban bike lanes?
One excuse for bike lanes is that an increase in bicycle riding means a
decrease in traffic congestion. A visit to New Yorkor Bogotágives the lie
to this notion. You can't decrease traffic congestion by putting things in
the way of traffic. Also, only a few bicycles are needed to take up as much
space as my Chevrolet Suburbanjust one if its rider is wobbling all over
the place while trying to Tweet. And my Suburban seats eight. The answer to
traffic congestion is lower taxes so that legions of baby boomers my age can
afford to retire and stay home.
Bike lane advocates also claim that bicycles are environmentally friendly,
producing less pollution and fewer carbon emissions than automobiles. But
bicycle riders do a lot of huffing and puffing, exhaling large amounts of
CO2. And whether a bicycle rider, after a long bicycle ride, is cleaner than
the exhaust of a modern automobile is open to question.
If drops in pollution and traffic congestion are wanted and if discomfort
and inconvenience are the trade-offs, we should be packed into tiny circus
clown cars. These fit neatly into bike lanes and provide more amusement to
bystanders than bicycle wrecks.
In fact, bike lanes don't necessarily lessen car travel. A study by the U.K.
Department for Transport found that the installation of "cycle facilities"
in eight towns and cities resulted in no change in the number of people
driving cars. Bike lanes don't even necessarily increase bike riding. In the
late 1980s and early 1990s the Dutch government spent $945 million on
bicycle routes without any discernible effect on how many Dutch rode
bicycles.
The bicycle is a parody of a wheeled vehiclea donkey cart without the
cart, where you do the work of the donkey.
But maybe there's a darker side to bike-lane advocacy. Political activists
of a certain ideological stripe want citizens to have a child-like
dependence on government. And it's impossible to feel like a grown-up when
you're on a bicycle if you aren't in the Tour de France.
All but the most athletic among us get on and off a bicycle the way a
toddler goes up and down stairs. Wearing bicycle shorts in public is more
embarrassing than wearing Depends. Exchanging briefcases for backpacks takes
us from the boardroom to the schoolyard. And it's hard to keep a straight
face when talking to anyone in a Skittles-colored, Wiffle ball-slotted bike
helmet that makes you look like Woody Woodpecker.
Bike lanes must be intended to foster immaturity or New York would have
chosen instead to create 670 miles of bridle paths. Being on horseback has
adult gravitas. Search plazas, parks and city squares the world over and you
won't fine a single statue of a national hero riding a bike.
This promotion of childishness in the electorate means that bike lanes are
just the beginning. Soon we'll be making room on our city streets for
scooter and skateboard lanes, Soapbox Derby lanes, pogo-stick lanes, lanes
for Radio Flyer wagons (actually more practical than bicycles since you can
carry a case of beerif we're still allowed to drink beer), stilt lanes,
three-legged-race lanes, lanes for skipping while playing the comb and wax
paper, hopscotch lanes and Mother-May-I lanes with Mayor Bloomberg at the
top of Lenox Hill shouting to the people on Park Avenue, "Take three baby
steps!"
A good, hard-played game of Mother-May-I will make us all more physically
fit. Fitness being another reason given for cluttering our cities with bike
lanes. But why is it so important that the public be fit? Fit for what? Are
they planning to draft us into forced labor battalions?
Bike lanes violate a fundamental principle of democracy. We, the majority
who do not ride bicycles, are being forced to sacrifice our left turns,
parking places and chances to squeeze by delivery trucks so that an affluent
elite can feel good about itself for getting wet, cold, tired and run-over.
Our tax dollars are being used to subsidize our annoyance.
Bicycle riders must be made to bear the burden of this special-interest
boondoggle. Bicycle registration fees should be raised until they produce
enough revenue to build and maintain new expressways so that drivers can
avoid city streets clogged by bike lanes. Special rubber fittings should be
made available so that bicycle riders can wear E-ZPass transponders on their
noses. And riders' license qualifications should be rigorous, requiring not
only written exams and road tests but also bathroom scales. No one is to be
allowed on a bicycle if the view he or she presents from behind causes the
kind of hysterical laughter that stops traffic.
Bike lanes can become an acceptable part of the urban landscape, if bicycle
riders are willing to pay their way. And if they pay enough, maybe we'll
even give them a lift during the next snow storm.
Mr. O'Rourke's many books include "Don't VoteIt Just Encourages the
Bastards."
Recreation Connections Manitoba is pleased to partner with Green Action
Centre to coordinate a new two year initiative - *After The School Bell
Rings: A Manitoba After School Recreation Project.* The initiative, funded
through the Public Health Agency of Canada Healthy Living Fund and the
Province of Manitoba until March 2013, is focusing on promoting and
supporting increased access and opportunities for children and youth aged
6-12 years to engage in physical activity and healthy living practices in
the critical after school time period (3 – 6 p.m.).
The project goals include:
1) Increasing capacity for children’s physical activity and healthy
eating in the after school time period.
2) Improving access and reducing barriers to physical activity
opportunities and facilities.
3) Promoting active and safe routes to and from school.
One of our first steps is to collect some basic information about what is
currently happening in Manitoba in regard to after school programming. If
you provide programming for *children aged 6 to 12 years* during the *3 – 6
p.m.* time period, we would appreciate you taking a few minutes to complete
the on-line survey by clicking on the link below, no later than *April 14,
2011*. A draw for an activity/game equipment & resource kit with a value of
approximately *$200* will be made from all completed surveys meeting the
deadline date.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/After_School_Recreation_Project_SURVEY
We are attempting to make this provincial survey as inclusive as possible
and this request is being sent out to various organizations across the
Province. However, we are aware that our mailing list does not include all
after school providers. If you represent an organization/network with a
number of service providing entities, we would ask that you either complete
the survey on their behalf, if appropriate, or forward the request to the
various members. If you are aware of additional after school programs that
may have been missed, please forward the request to them as well. Please be
aware that we have distributed the survey to the following groups with
multiple programs/sites - Boys & Girls Clubs of Winnipeg, City of Winnipeg
Community Services Department, General Council of Winnipeg Community
Centres, YMCA-YWCA, Youth for Christ, Lighthouses, Coalition of Community
Based Youth Serving Agencies, Manitoba Association of Friendship Centres. We
apologize in advance to any service providers who receive multiple copies of
this request.
We are in the process of developing a web site related to the After The
School Bell Rings project. It is anticipated that survey results will be
posted on the web site.
Thank you for your assistance in providing information on your programs and
sharing the survey with other providers.
Roy Mulligan
Project Coordinator
After The School Bell Rings: A Manitoba After School Recreation Project
Recreation Connections Manitoba
317-145 Pacific Ave.
Winnipeg, MB R3B 2Z6
Phone: 925-5751
Email: recconnections.pro(a)sportmanitoba.ca