[It appears traffic flow only includes motorists, not pedestrians. -Beth]
*CTV Winnipeg: Crosswalk buttons deactivated*
Pedestrians now have to wait for the traffic lights to change at regular
intervals, rather than spurring the lights to change by pushing the buttons
at many Winnipeg intersections. City officials hope the move will improve
traffic flow. Jon Hendricks reports.
http://watch.ctv.ca/news/top-picks/pushing-buttons/#clip615049
*Celebrate Winter with BOUGEONS EN HIVER: THE JACK FROST CHALLENGE!
Register now - starts this Saturday!*
Bougeons en hiver: The Jack Frost Challenge! is a new event celebrating
winter in Manitoba. Sign up your team of 1 to 5 to skate, bike, ski,
snowshoe, or walk a combined total of 130 km during the week of February
11th to 17th. Participants will be entered in a draw for ‘cool’ prizes.
Winnipeggers can tally some of their kilometres on the Assiniboine Credit
Union River Trail on Friday, February 17 for the first Ice It To Work
Day<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ice-it-to-work-day/>.
Register at www.greenactioncentre.ca or call us at (204) 925-3775 or
1-866-394-8880 (toll free) for more information. A Co-Actif
Epica<http://actifepi.ca/>Event.
* * * * *
*Soyez actif en participant à « Bougeons en hivers : The Jack Frost
Challenge! »*
*Inscrivez-vous maintenant – débute ce samedi!*
Bougeons en hiver : The Jack Frost Challenge! est un nouvel événement
célébrant l’hiver manitobaine! Inscrivez-vous en équipe d’une à cinq
personnes pour faire le patinage, la bicyclette, la raquette ou la marche
d’un total collectif de 130km sur une durée d’une semaine, du 11 au 17
février, 2012. Vous aurez la chance de gagner des prix.
Les participants de Winnipeg peuvent se promener sur le Sentier d'hiver
Assiniboine Credit Union, le vendredi 17 février, pour le premier Ice it to
Work Day <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ice-it-to-work-day/>.
Inscrivez-vous au www.greenactioncentre.ca ou pour plus d’information
composez le 1-866-394-8880 (sans frais) ou le (204) 925-3775.
--
*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/>
Green Action Centre and Bike to the Future invite you to join us for a
local viewing of the APBP webinar* "*Land Use Planning: Routine Inclusion
of Bicycling and Walking in New Developments *" *at the EcoCentre (3rd
floor, 303 Portage Ave) followed by group discussion.
RSVPs appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then!
cheers,
Beth
925-3772
Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) presents:
Land Use Planning: Routine Inclusion of Bicycling and Walking in New
Developments
Wednesday, February 15th • 2:00 to 3:30 pm CST
Broad land use patterns and transportation policies determine whether
walking and bicycling are not just possible, but practical and enjoyable.
Understanding how the big picture works is essential for those engaged in
regulating, designing and advocating for more sustainable transportation
options. Attend this webinar to learn how land use policy and regulations
are the basis for pedestrian and bicycle friendly communities, and what to
look for in plan review. Through overview and examples of policy and
regulations, and the experience of one small Wisconsin city (Fitchburg,
pop. 20,000), you'll find out how innovative zoning codes and policies can
help promote active transportation.
People attending this webinar will learn about:
- The connection between transportation and land use, and how it relates
to Smart Growth
- The importance of connectivity and the benefits of street networks
- Smart Code/Form-based Code, including the Bicycle Module, as well as
the urban-rural continuum of development contexts
- Land use policy vs. regulations, including what can be regulated
through zoning and subdivision standards
- Examples of site designs and best practices for integrating design
standards into land use regulations
- The land use, development regulations, and bike/ped transportation
elements of the Fitchburg, Wisconsin Comprehensive Plan.
Presenters: John Cock, Associate/Regional Manager Southeast, Alta Planning
+ Design; Mike Lydon, Principal, The Street Plans Collaborative; Ahna
Bijzak, Transportation Project Engineer, City of Fitchburg; and Susan
Sloper, Community Planner, City of Fitchburg.
--
*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/>
Bridging the gap between suburbs Red River pedestrian crossing discussed
By: Jen Skerritt
Winnipeg is set to reignite talks about a decades-old idea to create a new
pedestrian bridge across the Red River.
This week, a firm hired by the city will hold public consultations on
possible ways to create a pedestrian bridge or aerial tramway to connect
the University of Manitoba with St. Vital.
Enlarge Image <http://media.winnipegfreepress.com/images/3801693.jpg>
While the idea of linking the campus to the other side of the Red River has
been discussed for years, the city has never moved ahead with a concrete
plan.
MMM Group project planner Misty Carson said they have come up with five
proposed locations where the two sides of the river can connect, including
possible links at King's Park, Henteleff Park and near the U of M law
school.
Carson said the firm is in the process of finalizing cost estimates for
each option at each location, which it hopes to present at the community
meetings.
Right now, Carson said two options -- a pedestrian bridge and an aerial
tramway -- are up for discussion.
"We're very much at the beginning of understanding public favour and
interest for something like this," Carson said.
The notion of connecting the U of M campus with St. Vital last gained
traction in 2007. A Winnipeg Transit report suggested it would cost about
$3 million to build a 250-metre cable connection between the U of M and
Henteleff Tree Nursery. At the time, a pedestrian bridge was estimated to
cost between $12 million and $15 million.
The idea failed to get the go-ahead at council's public works committee.
This time around, St. Norbert Coun. Justin Swandel said he'd like to see
the preliminary ideas focus on crossings that are doable and won't infringe
on riverbank stability, soil or floodway operations.
He said he suspects public feedback could be a "mixed bag," with residents
and students who support the active transportation link and others who are
resistant to change.
However, he said he's interested in exploring the idea of some kind of
pedestrian connection between the two sides.
"I want to see what comes back out of this and see if we can get it
focused," Swandel said.
"What I don't like is jumping too far in too early, which is why we've got
to get some feedback on this."
U of M officials aren't sure what impact -- if any -- such a proposal would
have on concerns about game-day traffic at the new stadium.
Michelle Richard, director of campus planning, said it hasn't been
considered as part of the game-day planning process. However, she said it
would be an opportunity for the campus to connect with other parts of the
community.
"Our focus would be on finding ways to create linkages from the university
and the broader community," she said. "This is a real opportunity to make
those connections."
City of Winnipeg spokeswoman Tammy Melesko said public feedback will be
used to draft a report that outlines locations along the Red River where a
pedestrian link could be built.
Council's public works committee will review the report, which will contain
cost estimates for each location, should the project move ahead.
Some residents have already raised concerns.
St. Vital Coun. Brian Mayes said Winnipeggers on his side of the river have
expressed concern that a community garden group uses the green space at one
of the proposed connections north of the U of M.
Mayes said other homeowners worry people will park their cars and walk to
the new football stadium on game days.
Mayes said he's interested in looking at beefing up the pedestrian
connection on Bishop Grandin Boulevard to make it easier for people to
travel on bike and on foot.
"It would benefit some people in St. Vital, but on the other hand, there
seems to be a lot of opposition, even without considering the cost," Mayes
said.
jen.skerrit(a)freepress.mb.ca
NOTE: You can fill out the MMM survey at
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/activetransport
Complete Streets Forum 2012
From: Toronto Centre for Active Transportation (TCAT)
Is walkability, bikeability, mobility, or livability part of your work?
The 2012 Complete Streets Forum is TCAT's fifth annual active
transportation conference taking place on April 23, 2012 at Evergreen Brick
Works <http://tcat.ca/completestreetsforum2012/venue>. The Complete Streets
Forum represents a holistic approach to active transportation policy and
planning with a focus on cycling and walking while maintaining the
interests of other road users.
The Forum continues to develop the program of sharing research, best
practices, and creative solutions for designing and implementing safe and
inviting streets for everyone.
The themes and program for the upcoming conference have incorporated
feedback from 2011 attendees and is focusing on providing direct experience
with implementing Complete Streets, including policy, tools, and examples.
The conference will provide numerous opportunities to learn from, consult
with, and network with professionals with Complete Streets experience
across North America.
*The goal of the 2012 Complete Streets Forum is to accelerate the
implementation of Complete Streets across Canada.*
We invite all professionals working to improve our communities, cities, and
urban landscape for all road users, including, cycling, walking, and
transit, of all ages and abilities to join us. The presentations and
workshops will be of particular interest to planners, transportation
officials, public health professionals, engineers, urban designers,
architects, landscape architects, developers, accessibility and mobility
experts, emergency responders, taxi drivers, non-profits, and more.
Read more: http://www.tcat.ca/completestreetsforum2012
--
*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/>
St. Vital gondola not off the ground yet
<http://www.winnipegsun.com/2012/02/01/st-vital-gondola-not-off-the-ground-y…>
Winnipeg Sun
http://www.winnipegsun.com/2012/02/01/st-vital-gondola-not-off-the-ground-y…
Would you take a gondola from St. Vital to Fort Garry?
The city's really asking.
A survey regarding the proposed pedestrian crossing linking South St. Vital
to the University of Manitoba presents a motorized gondola as one of four
bridge design options.
The survey also asks for preferred locations for the crossing, all in the
riverbend encircling the university.
The gondola idea has been in the works since March 2011, when the city put
out a call for tenders for an active transportation bridge.
"What we've asked for is different ways to look at active transportation,"
Coun. Justin Swandel, who represents both sides of the river in the area,
said last year. "It could be a gondola, a bridge or any other creative and
innovative idea."
"My sense is it would be a lot more than just the university folks using
it. I live in St. Norbert and I could use it to cycle to St. Vital Centre,"
Swandel said, noting people may also just take advantage of it as a
recreational option.
Swandel said it's unsure what a bridge might cost, although he did say the
city is building a similar active transportation bridge as part of the
Disraeli Bridges project for about $15 million.
You can fill out the survey
here.<https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/activetransport>