HI,
I thought I would share with you the submission that Bike to the Future
has made to the consultants undertaking the Charleswood Transportation
Study. It is available here
<http://biketothefuture.org/attachments/0000/1824/2012-10-26_bttf_charleswoo…>.
Our next steps will be to contact as many organizations within the study
area as possible and ask them to join us in asking for the improvements
we have identified. If you can help out in that regard, please feel
free to contact me at 204-894-6540.
Cheers,
Mark Cohoe
Executive Director
Bike to the Future
[Though it's disappointing (but not surprising) to hear such vocal backlash
to MPI's proposed contributions to improve the safety of road
infrastructure, it's encouraging that it's now on the table. For years, we
have heard the great ways ICBC has used this approach to address poorly
designed road infrastructure, especially intersections. The result has been
greatly improved safety for everyone, including pedestrians and cyclists.
Plus it has saved everyone money through reduced claims. Not mentioned but
included would also be health care savings from those hurt in collissions.
Sounds like a win all around! -cheers, Beth]
MPI, PUB split over safety fund Regulator backs idea but doesn't want
premiums to pay for it
By: Bruce Owen
The Public Utilities Board has not given a green light to Manitoba Public
Insurance's plan to help fund road-improvement projects.
But there are indications the panel that regulates automobile insurance
rates is on the same road as MPI with regard to funding road-safety
projects.
MPI and the PUB are divided over how the Crown insurer is to pay for such
projects.
Money for a new road-safety program, which could include rumble strips or
new merging lanes, would come out of basic insurance premiums, MPI
spokesman Brian Smiley said, the same as it does now for MPI's current
road-safety programs.
Funding would not come out of MPI's rate-stabilization reserve, which
stands at about $156 million, MPI's 2011-12 annual report states.
The PUB has been after MPI for about two years to take about $20 million
out of its rate-stabilization reserve and create a separate road-safety
program to pay for initiatives that would reduce collisions and costly
claims, such as when a car hits a deer.
How soon a plan gets put on the PUB's table -- MPI officials have been
mulling this for more than a year -- depends on what a yet-to-be-announced
independent consultant recommends.
"We are in the very, very early stages of this," Smiley said Tuesday. "We
told the PUB we are looking at this. This is very preliminary."
News the insurer is looking at expanding its road-safety program was
reported last week by the Free Press and soundly criticized by the
Opposition Progressive Conservatives. The Tories say it's the government's
job to spruce up infrastructure.
"Manitoba Public Insurance has a specific mandate and that is to provide
Manitoba drivers with insurance, period," Brandon MLA Reg Helwer, the
party's critic for MPI, has said.
MPI is eyeing the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia's
road-improvement program, which began in 1989. ICBC splits the cost of road
projects -- such as roundabouts, pedestrian signals, rumble strips,
medians, sign upgrades and intersection improvements -- with municipalities
and the B.C. government.
ICBC says a recent evaluation of the program found two years following a
project's implementation, there is on average, a 20 per cent reduction in
severe crashes and a 12 per cent reduction in property damage crashes.
The evaluation also found for every dollar spent on a project, ICBC and
customers saved $5.60 over two years and $12.80 over five years in reduced
claims costs.
CAA Manitoba spokeswoman Liz Peters said the auto association wants to see
MPI's plan before it passes judgment.
"While we acknowledge a similar endeavour has been successful for ICBC, we
disagree that this is a strategy that Manitobans would likely support,"
Peters told the PUB at a hearing last week.
"We definitely believe that infrastructure is the role of the government
and should remain that way."
Byron Williams, who represents the Manitoba branch of the Consumers'
Association of Canada, told the PUB his clients believe infrastructure
spending should also be paid through tax dollars, not insurance premiums.
"But our clients want to emphasize that they're open to persuasion on this,
but open to persuasion based upon sound empirical evidence," he said.
"There's also risk that they're dissipating the corporation's energies on
too many roles, minimizing the positive contribution it can make."
bruce.owen(a)freepress.mb.ca
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/mpi-pub-split-over-safety-fun…
<bruce.owen(a)freepress.mb.ca>
For Facebook users only:
For those of you who would like to see more biking, walking, busing, and
sometimes driving in Winnipeg - please take a moment of your time to
support your local carshare co-op.
The Cooperator's Insurance company is hosting a National Co-op Challenge,
and Peg City is the only Manitoba finalist! We have a 50% chance of winning
$30,000, $15,000 or $10,000 to help us grow the co-op....but we need your
help because the competition is tight!
Please follow this link to watch our video and vote for our group! Feel
free to share it with your friends and co-workers :)
https://apps.facebook.com/contestshq/contests/291687/voteable_entries/60151…
--
*Shoni Litinsky* | Active and Safe Routes to School
Green Action Centre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>
3rd floor, 303 Portage Avenue* | *(204) 925-3773
Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living.
Support our work by becoming a
member<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/memberships/>
Find us here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/>
*Friendly reminder about tomorrow afternoon's webinar. A more detailed
description was also just provided this morning (pasted below)...*
* * * *
Green Action Centre and Bike to the Future invite you to join us for a
local viewing of the upcoming APBP webinar at the EcoCentre (3rd floor, 303
Portage Ave) followed by group discussion.*
*
*The Green Lane Project*
Wednesday, October 31st | 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. CDT
[image: image]Join us for an informative webinar about the innovative Green
Lane Project. Martha Roskowski, Green Lane Project Director, discusses the
project's scope and goals and shares the results of a recent inventory of
the lanes. She'll also discuss the challenges and opportunities of
protected lanes and how they fit into the emerging concept of low-stress
networks as the key to encouraging more people to make short trips by bike.
She will provide an update on the progress being made by the six focus
cities in the project (Austin, Chicago, Memphis, Portland, San Francisco
and Washington D.C.), as an introduction to detailed presentations from
Chicago and San Francisco.
Mike Amsden's presentation about Chicago's Protected Bike Lane Initiative
will focus on two recently installed protected bike lanes (cycle tracks) in
Chicago: Elston Avenue and 55th Street. Elston Avenue is a popular commuter
route for bicyclists that travels through several industrial areas. This
mix of industrial uses and bicycle traffic presented unique design,
operational and outreach challenges. 55th Street is the northern border of
the University of Chicago. Before installation of a road diet with
protected bike lanes, four lanes of motor vehicle traffic created a barrier
for people walking or bicycling to campus from neighborhoods to the north.
Mike's presentation will describe the purpose, safety benefits, design
details, and challenges of each project.
Seleta Reynolds of San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency will focus
on the JFK Drive bike lanes with results to date and lessons learned. San
Francisco implemented its first parking-buffered cycletrack on JFK Drive in
Golden Gate Park in May, 2012. The presentation will cover lessons learned
in every aspect from the outreach method to the construction staging, and
finally early evaluation, which includes both quantitative measures and
qualitative measures including field surveys of users.
Presenters:
- Martha Roskowski, Director, Green Lane Project
- Mike Amsden, Senior Planner, T.Y. Lin International
- Seleta Reynolds, Section Leader, Livable Streets Sustainable Streets
Division, SFMTA
Incentives would encourage cycling to work
30 October 2012 | By Jennifer
Paterson<http://www.employeebenefits.co.uk/jennifer-paterson/6.bio>
http://www.employeebenefits.co.uk/benefits/tax-efficient-benefits/bikes-for…
Almost half (48%) of respondents would cycle to work more often if there
were extra incentives or rewards for them to do so, according to research
by innovation foundation Nesta.
The research, which surveyed more than 4,000 UK adults, found that, among
employees who already cycle to work, the factors most likely to get them to
cycle more include: safe storage (40%), access to bike maintenance (31%)
and shower facilities (29%).
A further 14% said they would welcome training sessions, such as road
safety courses.
However, among employers surveyed in another piece of research by Nesta,
only 13% of HR decision makers said that they currently offer incentives
and rewards to encourage employees to cycle to work.
Its *Human resources decision makers and business leaders survey*, which
polled 507 HR decision makers, found that 23% of respondents said there
would be no benefit to their organisation if more employees cycled to work.
Almost half (48%) of respondents said employee cycling would give them
healthier staff and lead to fewer sick days, while 49% said it would help
towards meeting their environmental targets.
A lack of employee demand was the most commonly perceived barrier to
setting up a bikes-for-work initiative, with 39% of respondents citing this
reason.
On the back of this research, Nesta has introduced a Workplace Cycling
Challenge, which encourages employers to submit innovative ideas for
getting more of their workforce commuting by bike. The challenge is open to
all employers with 10 or more employees.
Geoff Mulgan, chief executive at Nesta, said: “Through our Workplace
Cycling Challenge, we hope to remove some of the barriers to cycling and
get more people on their bikes.
“Our research shows that many people would be keen to give cycling a go if
only the right incentives were put in place and this presents organisations
with a huge opportunity to reap all the benefits associated with an active,
cycling workforce.”
[Apologies in advance for any cross-postings. Hope to see you there! -
Anders]
*Two-Day Professional Training Session on Bicycle-Friendly and
People-Friendly Cities
Winnipeg* *Nov.22nd and 23rd*
Bicycle-friendly cities are people-friendly cities. Building a city that
accommodates the bicycle means building an economically viable, sustainable
and socially vibrant city. This November and December, a team of
internationally known experts from The Netherlands, Denmark, Canada and the
United States are traveling across North America with an innovative
training program called "The Kickstand Sessions". Customized training
sessions take European expertise and an understanding of North American
context to develop solutions that suit the unique characteristics of each
city. Trainers coach participants to discover local solutions in
engineering, planning, policy, culture and marketing which will permit
people of all ages, abilities, genders and backgrounds to bicycle more
often.
*Two Day Workshop*
Thursday, Nov 22nd (8:30am - 5:00pm)
Friday, Nov 23rd (9:00 am – 5:00 pm)
Space limited to 36 participants.
*Location:*
University of Manitoba Events
Centre<http://umanitoba.ca/admin/campus_planning_office/Event%20Centre.html>
100 One Research Road (in Smart Park)
Complimentary bike parking for 20 and vehicle parking for 75
*Workshop Fees and Registration*:
$800 / pp for two day workshop (taxes, lunch and refreshment breaks
included)
*Register Now. <http://copenhagenize.eu/kickstand/signup.html>*
For more information, visit to the Kickstand
website<http://kickstandsessions.com/>.
All training fees are processed through PayPal.
Spaces are limited to ensure a high quality learning environment.
*PLEASE NOTE:* We are also coordinating an opportunity for the general
public to hear / see / learn from our European friends. Details coming soon.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
*FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS*
*Is this a training session just about applying European best practices in
North America?*
No. We know that European best practices cannot be directly applied in the
North American context. We have heard the argument about how large and
spread out North America is, and of course the winters! This training
session is unique as it brings together experts from The Netherlands,
Denmark, Canada and the United States. Our training team will inspire and
coach participants in devising local solutions that build on local
conditions. The Kickstand Sessions provide a unique opportunity for
professionals to work alongside international cycling experts. Spaces are
limited to ensure a high quality learning environment with 4 trainers and a
maximum of 36 participants.
*
TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS
* -Focus on the local conditions that need to be in place for the bicycle
to work as a catalyst for creating people-friendly cities
-Learn how to create the cultural and political support that is necessary
to incorporate bicycle infrastructure into your city's transport system
-Understand the most strategic and cost-effective approaches for
integrating bicycle routes and facilities with other forms of transport
-See how to incorporate bicycle planning into pedestrian planning and why
this creates safe street designs that work for all road users
-Learn what it means to accommodate the needs of women, children, the
elderly, low-income families, immigrants and people with disabilities (All
of these groups use bicycles heavily in The Netherlands and Denmark)
-Uncover the leading-edge approaches used to market and promote urban
cycling and why it works
-Be motivated by international best practices and lessons that matter to
your community
-Dispel common barriers to cycling like weather, topography, funding,
political will and car-oriented planning -Discover how cycling is central
to building livable, modern, resilient and active cities
-Find out the characteristics of bicycle culture and how this can be
inherited and supported locally
-Set a roadmap of key action items that are proven in cities around the
world
-And much more!
*
Who should attend this professional training session?
*-Transportation engineers and planners
-Professionals and business leaders in development, architecture, planning
and design
-Local economic development officials and tourism professionals
-Public health promoters and professionals
-Community groups and business improvement associations
-Organizations that support women, children, the elderly, new Canadians,
low-income families and other key groups
-Champions of resilient and liveable communities
* * * * * * * * * * * *
*SOCIAL MEDIA*
Join the discussion on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/kickstandsessions>
and Twitter <https://twitter.com/kickstand_bike>!
*CONTACT*
If you have any questions about the training session, please do not
hesitate to contact:
*in Manitoba:*
Anders Swanson
(204) 797-1962
andersswanson(a)gmail.com
*Canadian Coordinating Chair:*
Elizabeth Allingham
Community Engagement Manager, The Kickstand Sessions - North America
(613) 216-2332
kickstandcanada(a)copenhagenize.eu
*THANKYOU* to representatives from government and non-government
organizations for helping to coordinate logistics and spread the word esp.
the University of Manitoba, Manitoba’s Dutch and Danish Consuls, Portage la
Prairie's bicycle committee, The University of Manitoba Institute for
Transportation Engineers Student Chapter, Bike to the Future, the Winnipeg
Trails Association, Manitoba Professional Planners' Institute, MPI, Green
Action Centre, the Physical Activity Coalition of Manitoba, the City of
Winnipeg, Manitoba Local Government and more.
Bike lanes, trails popular, poll says Strong majority supports healthy
initiatives
By: Mia Rabson
Winnipeggers may hate change, but thus far, the slew of new bike lanes and
trails in the last two years have been met with a thumbs-up from most
people.
A Probe Research poll for the Free Press found 71 per cent of Winnipeggers
see the new bike paths and trails as very or somewhat successful for
cyclists, and 60 per cent said they were very or somewhat successful for
motorists.
Most people fell into the slightly happy crowd, with 50 per cent calling
them somewhat successful for cyclists and 51 per cent calling them somewhat
successful for motorists, compared to 21 per cent and nine per cent who
said they were very successful for cyclists and motorists, respectively.
"When all is said and done, people think they are starting to do what
they're supposed to do," said Probe Research president Scott MacKay.
MacKay said he "honestly didn't know what to expect" when the question was
asked, so he wasn't surprised by the results.
More than $20 million was spent to build or improve more than three dozen
bicycle paths, including dedicated bike lanes on major streets and
multi-use trails.
Much of the money came via the federal government's economic-stimulus
plans, but required contributions from provincial and municipal governments.
The poll did not ask whether people are more likely to use bikes since the
addition of the new trails and paths, but MacKay said this poll will be a
good baseline for comparison in the future.
Bike to the Future, an advocacy group for cycling in Winnipeg, estimates
the number of cyclists in downtown Winnipeg has gone up 47 per cent since
2011, to about 13,000 people a day.
Mark Cohoe, Bike to the Future's executive director, said the new paths and
bike lanes have greatly contributed to that increase. He said he is not
surprised people like the new paths because they have been a great addition
to the city's cycling community.
"There is a definite improvement in how motorists and cyclists interact,"
said Cohoe.
He said while there is still animosity between cyclists and drivers, the
trails have helped make everyone safer.
Most of the bike paths were built in 2009 and 2010.
MacKay said the poll question came about because there was a lot of chatter
on radio call-in shows and even around the water cooler in the Probe
offices, about cycling in Winnipeg.
"There's always been this debate between car people and the bike people,"
he said.
On a personal level, he's seen many more cyclists on his way to work each
day, and he himself was sometimes confused by the new signs marking bike
lanes.
He wanted to know whether the new paths were working for cyclists, for
motorists, or neither.
Cohoe said there are still major gaps, such as Pembina Highway. However,
once the second rapid-transit phase is completed, and the cycling upgrades
as part of the Pembina Underpass project are finished, it will give
cyclists a safe trail to connect them all the way to the University of
Manitoba.
He said another priority for cyclists right now is for the completion of
the trail between Grant and Wilkes near Shaftesbury Boulevard.
mia.rabson(a)freepress.mb.ca
*Probe Research poll questions*
*Overall, how successful would you say these bike lanes, trails and paths
have been in making travel around the city better for Winnipeg cyclists?*
Very successful: 21 per cent
Somewhat successful: 50 per cent
Somewhat unsuccessful: 15 per cent
Very unsuccessful: six per cent
*Overall, how successful would you say these bike lanes, trails and paths
have been in making travel around the city better for Winnipeg motorists?*
Very successful: nine per cent
Somewhat successful: 51 per cent
Somewhat unsuccessful: 20 per cent
Very unsuccessful: 13 per cent
The poll of 600 Winnipeg adults was conducted randomly by phone between
Sept. 19 and Oct. 14. It is considered to be accurate within 4.1 percentage
points, 19 times out of 20.
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/bike-lanes-trails-popular-poll-says-…
I've notice on the City's website front page - the City is
<http://www.winnipeg.ca/clerks/docs/boards/boards.stm> 'Seeking Citizens to
Serve' on boards and commissions with a deadline to apply of November 16th,
BUT - nowhere is there a listing for the City's Active Transportation
Advisory Committee.
This past May, the City chose to 'relieve' all representatives (both city
representatives and volunteers) from their duties on the Active
Transportation Advisory Committee. As a volunteer member at the time, we
were told they would be 'reformatting' the committee and posting the
opportunity to serve on the committee in the near future.
As Mark Cohoe noted in a previous 'Charleswood Transportation Study' posting
to this list serve- there were many AT omissions in the Charleswood
Transportation plan that: ' . . . had the City maintained the AT Advisory
Committee, these errors would have been spotted prior to the public
information display.'
An advisory committee is an invaluable asset - for both the citizens and the
City. An advisory committee provides insight and guidance to the City's one
Active Transportation Coordinator and Public Works Department - and assists
in ensuring costly AT errors and omissions do not occur.
I encourage you to email the Mayor and your city Councillor
<http://winnipeg.ca/council/> and ask them where folks can apply to serve
on the Active Transportation Advisory Committee - in light of the November
16th deadline.
Janice Lukes
*Measuring the Street: New Metrics for 21st Century Streets*
New York City’s streets are constantly called on to the meet new and varied
needs of a growing, dynamic, 21st Century city – and to do this in a
complex environment where there is little opportunity to expand the
existing footprint. How do city leaders address these challenges and
measure their success? This report discusses key approaches to street
design projects, and how results can be measured against goals for safety,
serving all users and creating great public spaces while also maintaining
the flow of traffic. Using a cross-section of recent NYCDOT street design
projects, this report details the metrics NYCDOT uses to evaluate street
projects,
and illustrates how measuring results can show progress toward safe,
sustainable, livable and economically competitive streets.
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/2012-10-measuring-the-street.pdf