This fall, Bike to the Future collaborated with the Manitoba Cycling
Association to make its first ever presentation to the Public Utilities
Board identifying concerns that MPI fails to teach motorists how to drive
safely near cyclists, both in their Driver Education booklet and in their
public advertising.
The PUB picked up on several points we emphasized in their Order
[http://www.pub.gov.mb.ca/pdf/mpi07/157-12.pdf .].
1. Section 10.0: "It is therefore recommended that: 3. MPI review and act
upon the recommendations put forward by the presenters from Bike to the
Future and the Manitoba Cycling Association with respect to road safety and
messaging to motorists regarding cyclists."
2. Section 11: "It is therefore ordered that: A Road Safety Research
Technical Conference take place to discuss Road Safety matters, involving
interveners and community partners, to be held on or before March 31, 2013."
... that the PUB expects MPI "would seek to involve scientist and experts
from North America on road safety issues such as . roadway bicycle safety,
and the role of other road safety investments" and will include in the
conference interveners and community partners, among others. Further, "The
Board anticipates that at the next GRA [General Rate Application]
proceeding, MPI will come forward with new road safety initiatives,
including with respect to . bicyclists ., in addition to its ongoing
initiatives relative to unsafe speed, impaired driving and seatbelt usage.
3. The PUB noted the Corporation's goal, as stated in its Strategic Plan,
that it will become a community leader and act as a central repository to
facilitate the sharing of data amongst stakeholders for research and making
informed decisions, and to take a more active role in road safety research.
This responds to Bike to the Future's request for more and better data
relating to cycling safety.
The Road Safety Technical Conference could have a huge impact on cycling and
safety if it brings in experts from cities that have successfully increased
cycling traffic, and develops a consensus among leaders of government
departments and police forces on how to manage circulation in order to
increase the safety of cyclists.
Cycling Health and Safety An overview of cycling health and safety research
Prepared By: *Chris Cavacuiti BA, MD, CCFP, MHSc, ASAM*
Staff Physician, St. Michael's Hopsital, Department of Family and Community
Medicine
Toronto, Ontario
Introduction
In my cycling-related research work with Share the Road and the St.
Michael’s Dept. of Family and Community Medicine at the University of
Toronto, I’ve been truly impressed with the breadth and quality of the
studies that have been published on this topic. As anyone who has an
interest in cycling health and safety research will tell you, there are
some incredibly smart and dedicated researchers out there who have made
this topic their life’s work.
When I speak to other cycling researchers and advocates, one of the biggest
challenges they tell me that they face is finding and organizing the wealth
of data that is already out there. I am often approached by journalists,
researchers and advocates who are looking for more information on a
particular area of cycling research, but there was usually nowhere I could
send them for quick and easy access to the information they wanted.
These experiences made me realize that what I and many others needed was a
well-organized, well cited and text-searchable overview of key cycling
research that would contain many of the most important facts, figures and
findings in this field.
I approached Eleanor McMahon at Share the Road with this idea and asked her
if Share the Road would be interested in helping to organize this overview
and host it on their website. Share the Road thought this was a great idea
and kindly agreed to help. So in the summer of 2012, Share the Road and I
hired a very bright and capable young summer student (Matthew Cheah), to
help us put together this overview.
I’d like to personally thank Eleanor McMahon and Matthew Cheah for all
their work in helping make this overview a reality.
I’d also like to thank Cary Moretti for his IT input and support with this
project (…and for putting up with me talking about this project on more
than a few of our long rides together!)
One final word - we’ve made every effort to keep the statistics and wording
in this overview as close to the original documents as possible and to
correctly cite each and every fact, figure and quotation we’ve included.
However, this document is no replacement for reading the original articles
and we’d encourage those who are using this overview to cross-reference our
statistics with the original documents. Believe us - they are well worth
the read!
Happy searching!
http://www.sharetheroad.ca/files/Cycling_Safety_Overview___2012_12_05.pdf
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Hello everyone,
It is finally here, the first ITE Manitoba monthly lunch presentation will
be on Thursday, December 13th! As usual, it will take place at 12 noon at
The Round Table at 800 Pembina Highway. Our presenter this month is Dr.
Jeannette Montufar, P. Eng., of the University of Manitoba. Dr. Montufar’s
presentation is on The New Pedestrian Control Guide.
Dr. Montufar is a professional engineer registered in Manitoba and Alberta,
and Associate Professor in Civil Engineering at the University of Manitoba.
She is also Principal of Montufar Group, a transportation consulting firm
specializing in road safety and freight transportation. Dr. Montufar has
done extensive work in the U.S. and Canada on projects dealing with road
safety, freight transportation, the application of advanced technologies to
commercial vehicle operations, truck size and weight policy, goods movement
in urban areas, traffic information systems, and the automation of data
collection systems. She has worked for the Battelle Memorial Institute in
Columbus, Ohio; the Texas Transportation Institute in College Station,
Texas; and the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute in
Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The cost for the presentation and lunch is $20 for members and guests, and
$15 for students. This notice can also be found at www.itemanitoba.ca<
http://www.itemanitoba.ca>. We hope to see you all there next week!
Björn Rådström, BSc(CE), P. Eng.
ITE Manitoba Secretary
http://www.chicagonow.com/easy-as-riding-a-bike/2012/12/perfect-become-the-e
nemy-of-the-good/
Bicycling Infrastructure: Don't Let the Perfect Become the Enemy of the Good
By Brent Cohrs, Monday at 10:19 am
When it comes to safe and efficient bicycling infrastructure, few nations
can rival the Netherlands. It really seems that the Dutch have thought of
everything.
As this video shows, a transportation system that gives equal consideration
to those choosing to travel under their own power by bike and purposely
addresses the differences of speed and mass between bicycles and motor
vehicles can result in a win-win for all road users. We need only look at
the number of fatalities to see the proof. The Netherlands experiences 1.1
deaths per 100 million kilometers traveled versus the US average of 5.8 for
the same distance.
I pointed out in last week
<http://www.chicagonow.com/easy-as-riding-a-bike/2012/11/wearing-a-bike-helm
et/> 's post about helmet usage that the remarkable aspect of Dutch
bicycling being five times safer is that their number of trips taken by bike
is also twenty-seven times greater than ours. Success like this heartens
bicycle advocates who truly believe in the Field of Dreams approach; "if you
build it, they will come."
In a perfect world - or more precisely a perfect United States - citizens
would come together and demand a transportation system that accommodates all
users equally. Whichever mode an individual chose for him or herself -
personal vehicle, mass transit, bicycle, or own two feet - would be equally
safe by design. There would still be trade-offs and sacrifices among
choices, but personal safety wouldn't be one of them.
As we cycling advocates talk amongst ourselves and admire the Dutch (and the
Danes), we're all painfully aware that they didn't become ultra
bike-friendly overnight. Political will for major changes began in the
1970s when the nation became fed up with the number of children killed by
automobiles, the leveling of historic buildings to create parking spaces,
growing traffic congestion, and worsening smog. They vowed to nip their
problem in the bud and today have a much different flower to show for their
efforts.
We're not so lucky in the US. Our love affair with the car grew unabated
through two oil shortages and volatile swings in gasoline pricing over the
past 40 years. Vehicles didn't shrink in size like they did in Europe, they
grew larger! Mass transit has had to fight tooth and nail for federal
transportation funding. Bicycling and pedestrian advocates have only held a
seat at the table for the past decade and we're still sitting on folding
chairs.
As much as we bicycling advocates would like to achieve the perfect, we'll
be lucky if we can attain the "good enough". Not that we won't keep
striving and pushing the general public toward that tipping point when not
riding a bike will be viewed as more hazardous to one's health than riding a
bike. We just need to stay patient, remain persistent, and continue to win
little battles, savoring our victories and inspiring our troops.
But we also have to be realistic.
We need to acknowledge that right now and for the foreseeable future, we
have an incomplete infrastructure. Too few protected bike lanes. Too many
lanes that end abruptly or deliver us to unsafe intersections. Too much
inconsistency with sharrows
<http://gridchicago.com/2012/cdot-fast-to-build-new-bikeways-but-needs-to-re
ctify-existing-ones/> , bike lanes, and cycle tracks. Lanes that put us in
the door zone or subject us to the hazard of the right-hook. We all know
the system's shortfalls.
In the meantime, we still need to ride the streets we have and stay safe
doing so. The best thing we Illinois cyclists have going for us is Public
Act 095-0231
<http://ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=095-0231> or as I
like to refer to it, the Three-Foot Law. In this 2008 transportation act,
motorists must give a minimum of three feet of clearance when passing a
bicycle traveling in the same direction. We are not only required to stay
as far to the right as is practicable, but as is safe. This means that we
may pass other cyclists on the left, move left to avoid potholes, ride clear
of the door zone, cross to the left turn lane, and move to the left of the
right turn lane at intersections. This is the law and these are our rights.
While we wait for the good to become the perfect through the efforts of our
advocacy groups, we can all learn to adjust our riding to the incomplete
infrastructure we have in place right now.
Hello everyone,
The link below takes you to a series of slides that clearly articulate the
space required for cyclists on the road. Thanks to Bob Kurylko for
forwarding. Please note that it was identified as "a work still in progress
by Dan Gutierrez."
In my mind, Dan's diagrams and explanations perfectly capture why so many
people are too scared to cycle in traffic. Being trapped riding in the edge
hazard combined with the close pass zone creates a scary and dangerous
situation that current standards for bicycle facilities don't address
adequately.
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B-Gu4I2V0ZScbTR0MHhoZHh2RzQ<https://docs.google.com/a/greenactioncentre.ca/file/d/0B-Gu4I2V0ZScbTR0MHho…>
cheers,
Beth
FYI In my opinion much better than the Canadian TAC document
“...1.1. PROBLEM STATEMENT AND RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
The objective of this project was to prepare a comprehensive update to the 1999 AASHTO Guide for the
Development of Bicycle Facilities.
The Guide is recognized and accepted throughout the United States as the national guideline for bicycle
facility planning and design. It has evolved over time - the 1981 edition of the Guide was 31 pages long
and had only four pages of guidance on designing on‐road bicycle facilities. By the time the 1999 edition
was published, the Guide had more than doubled in length, with considerably more information on
planning, on‐road bicycle facility design, shared use path design, and operations and maintenance.
Usage of the Guide has grown rapidly as nationwide spending on bicycle facilities has increased. Each
successive federal transportation bill since ISTEA in 1991 has increased funding for bikeway construction
in the U.S. Despite its popularity and utility, however, the 1999 edition of the Guide lacks important
information, and does not reflect significant research findings of the past decade. Additionally, parts of
the Guide need to incorporate changes from updated national references such as the "Manual on
Uniform Traffic Control Devices" (MUTCD) and the AASHTO "Policy on Geometric Design of Highways
and Streets," (AASHTO "Green Book"), among others.
In 2004, the NCHRP Task 187 Report entitled "Updating the AASHTO Guide for the Development of
Bicycle Facilities" conducted initial research, interviews, and a literature review to determine the
recommended scope and content of the next edition of the Guide. That report made recommendations
for numerous changes to the 1999 Guide. The new draft of the Guide incorporates these
recommendations, along with new guidance and research, and practical experience gained through the
design and construction of bikeways throughout the United States....”
http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/nchrp/docs/NCHRP_15-37_FR.pdf
204.488.8988
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Zdan, Terry (MIT)" <Terry.Zdan(a)gov.mb.ca>
Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2012 08:55:27 -0600
Subject: Bikeway traffic control guidelines for Canada - Second edition
(2012)
Top of Form****
*Bikeway traffic control guidelines for Canada - Second edition (2012)*****
****
Product Code: PTM-BIKEGD2-E****
*Bikeway Traffic Control Guidelines for Canada* outlines the appropriate
traffic control for the installation of signs and pavement markings on
bikeways and contains diagrams of typical installations. Many of the
guidelines may be applicable to both on-road and off-road bikeways. ****
This 118-page document was produced with the intention of providing
guidance in the application of bicycle-related traffic control devices on
bikeways that are within the public right of way. Signs and pavement
markings must be designed carefully and installed properly to maximize
their effectiveness. It is important that agencies responsible for the
application of these guidelines use sound engineering judgement and
principles when implementing bicycle-related traffic control devices. ****
These guidelines are expected to evolve over time, depending on prudent
engineering judgement, experimentation and testing which is anticipated to
take place in an effort to continue addressing the needs of cyclists in
Canada. ****
Member Price: $150.00
*Regular Price: $199.50*****
Bottom of Form****
** **
** **
Thank you and regards****
** **
Terry Zdan BA MEDes****
** **
Policy & Service Development****
Manitoba Infrastructure & Transportation****
1520 215 Garry Street****
Winnipeg MB R3C 3P3****
P 204 945 7381****
C 204 227 3724****
E Terrry.Zdan(a)gov.mb.ca****
** **
** **
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/Province+seeks+public+input+cycling+i… seeks public input for cycling improvements
The Ontario government wants to hear from you about how to improve cycling in the province.
At
a news conference Friday in Ottawa, Minister of Infrastructure and
Transportation Bob Chiarelli said the province is looking for public
input to form the basis of a draft cycling strategy. The public has
until Jan. 29, 2013, to offer comments on such things as improvements to
cycling infrastructure, public education and legislation.Chiarelli
said that starting in January, municipalities can also apply for funds
under the new Municipal Infrastructure Program as it pertains to
supporting the development of local cycling networks. Cycling
infrastructure funds were not available to municipalities under the
program in the past, but now they can apply for funds up to $2 million,
he said.The draft cycling strategy will also look to create a
provincial cycling network to connect destinations and recreational
cycling and tourism routes, run public education campaigns with groups
such as Share The Road, update the Driver’s Handbook to include better
guidelines for cycling and sharing the road with other vehicles, and
provide cycling safety and bike maintenance information with new bikes
sold.
“This means that what was in some respects a series of ad
hoc initiatives that existed in Ontario by various stakeholders or
municipalities and sometimes the province is (now) going to be much more
comprehensive,” Chiarelli said in an interview.“It’s going to be
better funded and it’s going to make a significant difference for
cyclists, they’re going to be safer on the road, they’re going to have
better infrastructure, and cycling will be more exciting for a lot of
people because part of the policy is related to tourism so that we’re
going to be connecting regions with cycling paths.”Chiarelli sad
Ontario has “the safest roads” in North America, although cycling
fatalities still do happen in the province. He said he hopes the new
initiatives will help reduce the number of cycling fatalities in
Ontario.
“We’re going to have better infrastructure, more bike
lanes and we’re going to have better educated drivers and cyclists. We
think of cyclists becoming more educated, but automobile drivers need to
be more educated and they need to know where the cyclists have the
right to go on the road — they’re not only restricted to driving along
the curb. They have access to the road under the appropriate
circumstances and there are lot of drivers who don’t understand that,”
he said.The announcement was welcomed by the Share the Road
Cycling Coalition, a provincial cycling policy and advocacy
organization, adding it was Ontario’s first cycling policy update in 20
years.
“I think you are seeing a quantum leap forward in terms of
parties in the legislature supporting this in each of their different
ways,” Eleanor McMahon, founder of Share The Road Cycling Coalition,
said at the news conference held at retailer Bushtukah. She founded the
coalition after her husband, an OPP officer, was killed in 2006 by a
motorist while cycling.“This is not the time
for partisanship, it is the time for focusing on the safety of our most
vulnerable citizens and making sure that there is clarity on our
roadways so that motorists and cyclists can share the road in a safe
way,” McMahon said.
She said the coalition’s 2010 green paper on
bicycling in the province, which was based on the responses of 1,200
people, outlined priorities on how the government could make Ontario
more bicycle friendly. The coalition also endorsed the 2012 Coroner’s
Review of Cycling Deaths in Ontario which called for cycling
infrastructure and education investments.She said she hopes the province can meet municipalities “halfway” in coming up with a comprehensive cycling strategy.“Some
of this stuff can seem quite mundane but it affects everybody in our
day-to-day lives, if we want to cross an intersection and it doesn’t
feel safe, or as cyclists we don’t have the proper turning
opportunities,” McMahon said.
“We’re taking about signage,
infrastructure, bike lanes, and sometimes segregated bike lanes if at
all possible. I know that any change creates opposition, but (public)
education is important,” she said.
Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/travel/Province+seeks+public+input+cycling+imp…