AT-Network May 2012

at-network@lists.umanitoba.ca

9 participants
28 discussions

by Jessie Klassen

The W.R.E.N.C.H and Bike to the Future are hosting a community bike ride and you are invited! The satellite (or longer rides) are intended as a way for you to explore a new area of the city and enjoy the Sunday car-free bike routes with other cyclists. Chose a corner of the city and ride with a group to the Forks where you will meet other riders and proceed on a short family orientated ride to the Legislature for a celebration. *Satellite Rides – 11:30 AM meet up, 12:00 PM depart* Each satellite ride will have two ride leaders to guide the group to the Forks. The rides starting at: 1. *Kildonan Park – *meet at the Pavilion 2. *Omand Park/Creek – *meet at the corner of Raglan Rd and Woseley Ave 3. *St. Boniface/St. Vital – *meet at the entrance to Windsor Park Golf Course on Des Meurons ending at: Oodena Celebration Circle, the Forks Market *All Ages Family Ride – 12:00 PM* 12-1 pm : Bike decorating with Art City and bike repair stations. Meet up at the Oodena Celebration Circle, the Forks Market 1 pm : All ages ride along the Assiniboine Cycle Track to the Manitoba Legislature 2pm : *Celebration* and gathering at the Legislature. Food, music, games and more! Feel free to bring a picnic blanket, music or a game to play. There will be *Bike Valet <http://www.bicyclevaletwinnipeg.ca/>* at the Legislature during our celebration. Other information *Parking at the Forks Market – *There is parking at the Forks. You can take a look at this map<http://www.theforks.com/attractions/at-the-forks/the-forks-market> to find out more. *Kidsfest <http://kidsfest.ca/>* will be happening at the Forks all weekend so double up and go to the festival and join our ride. *Volunteers needed and extra trailers.* Contact us at: info(a)thewrench.ca or call 296-3389 **

11 years, 10 months

Active & Green Special Issue: Women and Families

by Jessie Klassen

Check out our special issue of Active & Green e-newsletter: Women & Families! I hope you enjoy! Please share it with coworkers and friends. Jessie Klassen Green Action Centre Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.<http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a183a3f55cc&id=9c86e2306a…> *Looking to improve commuter options at your workplace?* Request resources<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/request-information-presentation-or-mee…>on cycling, carpooling, commuting surveys and tracking progress, among others. Book a presentation<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/request-information-presentation-or-mee…>on the various commuting options, creating a commuter friendly workplace, or greening the workplace. Attend a free Creative Commuting Ambassador<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/creative-commuting-ambassador-training/>workshop. Talk to us about implementing a Smart Trips<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/smart-trips/>program at your workplace. ------------------------------ Upcoming Events International Trails Day<http://www.winnipegtrails.ca/2012/05/04/celebrate-trail-day-%E2%80%94-satur…> Saturday, June 2 Commuter Challenge<http://greenactioncentre.ca/event/commuter-challenge-2012/> Week of June 3-9 Register now as an individual or workplace to win great prizes<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/commuter-challenge-prizes/>like VIA Rail's $500 voucher! Wine, Wenches & Wrenches<http://greenactioncentre.ca/event/wine-wenches-wrenches/> Riding on the Road Sun, June 3, 7:00-9:00 pm Clean Air Day on the Bridge<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/celebrating-active-commuters-on-clean-a…> Wed, June 6, 7:00-9:00 a.m. Bonnycastle Park Clean Air Day (schools) <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/clean-air-day/> Wednesday, June 6 <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/bougeons-en-hiver/>Wheely Fun Bike Ride <http://greenactioncentre.ca/event/wheely-fun-bike-ride-on-june-10/> Sun, June 10, 11:30-2:00 p.m. Sun Trek <http://www.winnipeginmotion.ca/news/special/?id=2820> Sun, June 10, 1:00-4:00 p.m. MEC BikeFest <http://blog.mec.ca/events/mec-bikefest/mec-bikefest-winnipeg/> Saturday, June 16 Bike to Work Day <http://biketoworkdaywinnipeg.org/> Friday, June 22 Bike to the Folk Festival<http://www.winnipegfolkfestival.ca/festival/plan-your-visit/ways-to-go-gree…> Wed, July 4, 5:45 a.m. ------------------------------ *Membership* Green Action Centre promotes membership as a way to expand and extend our outreach into the community. *Membership is FREE *and requires no specific commitment. Through our bi-weekly e-bulletins, we work to keep our members informed on timely and important environmental issues in Manitoba. If you are not already a member, please take the time to join us<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>. Please also pass this along to your friends and family. *Help us grow our membership and outreach. * SPECIAL ISSUE! *Women & Families* Commute with your kids The morning commute can be a hectic time for families. Commuting together<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/commute-with-your-kids/>by bus, bike or on foot one day a week can add adventure, physical activity, and quality family time to this busy time of day. Getting to school Want to bike or take the bus to work, but also need to drop your kids off at school? Green Action Centre’s Active and Safe Routes to School<http://greenactioncentre.ca/2012/and-the-winner-is/>program offers a number of innovative solutions to improve morning and afternoon drop-off and pick-up at your children’s school. Their School Travel Planning program recently won a Manitoba Planning Excellence Award<http://greenactioncentre.ca/2012/and-the-winner-is/> . Bike with your family [image: Nathan Wild and son Graham]Having a hard time finding information on biking with your family? We’ve compiled a list of great resources on biking <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/bike-with-your-family/> while pregnant, cycling with babies and toddlers, planning your route, teaching kids the rules of the road, and much more. Women as "canaries" >From "Moon Cycle" bike maintenance classes to "Wine, Wenches and Wrenches" events for learning to ride with safety and confidence (while avoiding helmet hair!), more women-focused courses are being offered. Why is it important to get more women cycling for transportation?<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/women-and-cycling/> Cycling fashion sense Just because you’re on a bike doesn’t mean you have to look like a Tour de France rider. Step away from the spandex and embrace your flair for fashion. Check out our quickie style guide<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/cycling-fashion-sense/>on everything from funky helmets and bike seats to baskets and skirt garters, and lots in between like dressy shoes and colourful bike bells. Cycling infrastructure Don't know the difference between a cycle track and bike boulevard or a bike lane versus a sharrow? Join the club! But our handy photo guide<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/winnipeg-cycling-infrastructure-deciphe…>will help you decipher Winnipeg's cycling infrastructure and find a route that suits your comfort level. You are receiving this email because you are an Active & Green subscriber. Unsubscribe<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…> jessie(a)greenactioncentre.ca from this list. Our mailing address is: Green Action Centre 3-303 Portage Ave. Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2B4 Canada Add us to your address book<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/vcard?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a183a3f5…> Copyright (C) 2012 Green Action Centre All rights reserved. Forward<http://us2.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a183a3f55cc&id=9c8…>this email to a friend Update your profile<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/profile?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a183a3…> [image: Email Marketing Powered by MailChimp]<http://www.mailchimp.com/monkey-rewards/?aid=af15a2f9f91ef9a183a3f55cc&afl=1>

11 years, 10 months

The surprising rise of Minneapolis as a top bike town

by Beth McKechnie

The surprising rise of Minneapolis as a top bike town By Jay Walljasper, photos by Zach Vanderkooy, Thu, 04/05/2012 People across the country were surprised last year when Bicycling Magazine named Minneapolis America’s “#1 Bike City,” beating out Portland, Oregon, which had claimed the honor for many years. Shock that a place in the heartland could outperform cities on the coasts was matched by widespread disbelief that cycling was even possible in a state famous for its ferocious winters. But this skepticism fades with a closer look at the facts. Nearly four percent of Minneapolis residents bike to work according to census data. That’s an increase of 33 percent since 2007, and 500 percent since 1980. At least one-third of those commuters ride some days during the winter, according to federally funded research conducted by Bike Walk Twin Cities. Even on the coldest days about one-fifth of them are out on their bikes. *Read the full article here<http://www.bicycletimesmag.com/content/surprising-rise-minneapolis-top-bike…> *.

11 years, 10 months

Please join us tomorrow for the Commuter Challenge Media Launch!

by Shoni Litinsky

Join us tomorrow for the Commuter Challenge Media Launch<http://greenactioncentre.ca/event/commuter-challenge-media-launch/>! The event is taking place at 11:00 am at the Fort Rouge Rapid Transit Station. Everyone is welcome to attend. Please arrive by bike, on foot or Rapid Transit in true Commuter Challenge fashion! *Cyclists:* We will be forming a bike brigade to ride to the launch from Bonnycastle Park (Southwest corner of Main and Assiniboine) to the Launch. Riders will meet at 10:20 am and be departing at 10:30am sharp. The Honourable Jim Rondeau, Minister of Healthy Living, Youth and Seniors, will be joining us for the ride. If you have not yet registered for the Commuter Challenge please do so here: http://greenactioncentre.ca/program/commuterchallenge/ -- *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/>

11 years, 11 months

WFP: My life as a cyclist (May27'12)

by Beth McKechnie

My life as a cyclist I expected conservative attitudes when I returned to Winnipeg, but driver disdain was a shocker By: Amanda San Filippo I recently came home to Winnipeg after a five-year hiatus. I knew moving back to this city I'd be dealing with typical Winnipeg conservatism. We've always been slow to evolve. Coupled with the fact the typical North American city has been designed around the automobile, I was prepared for a slight regression in cycling culture and, consequently, less tolerant drivers. What I was not prepared for was the actual disdain so many drivers seem to have for cyclists, to the point where my life has intentionally been put at risk. For these reasons, I often pick and choose when to follow the rules. Let me explain: I arrive at a stop sign. I slow down, but don't come to a complete stop, because I'll hold traffic up too much. A driver yells at me: "It's called a stop sign for a reason!" as he gently rolls through the stop sign himself. Wanting to avoid another outburst, I decide to come to a complete stop at the next intersection. The driver behind me grows impatient and decides to pull up beside me. I arrived at the intersection before the car approaching the intersection to my left, but the car that pulled up beside me arrived after. Since it is my turn to go, I proceed cautiously, only to have the driver to my left flip me off, because he had to stop in the middle of the intersection to let me go. This doubling-up (bike and car in the same lane) is especially common when making left turns. I can't clear an intersection as quickly as a car. If I am not commanding my lane, drivers will often drive up beside me to try to clear the intersection before me. This can be dangerous because I have to get from the left curb on one side of the intersection to the right curb on the other. If the car doubles up, and there are other cars behind it, I become sandwiched between the vehicles that should have been behind me and the oncoming traffic. But when I do try to command my lane, I am often met with anger. I am reminded of one incident when a young woman in an SUV started yelling. Rarely can I make out a person's words when they are in their car. Naturally, I turned to make sure I was not in any danger. Her turn signal appeared just as I looked behind me. I didn't notice it right away. This infuriated her even more, at which point she stepped on the gas and squealed her tires, nearly knocking me off my bike. I wish I could say these were isolated incidents. They are not. I am met with this type of impatience, belligerence and often danger, every day. I'll often cycle on the sidewalks, risking a heftier fine than the average speeding ticket. I'm left wondering if this city really does care more about the almighty dollar than the safety of its citizens. It's not all bad, though. If cycling were really so bad, I wouldn't do it. I've designed some coping mechanisms. For one, I couple an obnoxiously large helmet with an airheaded smile. People seem less inclined to yell at you if they think you're missing a few screws. I am also overly courteous to drivers who are respectful of me, even when they are visibly irritated. I often wave and thank them for their patience. Generally, they smile back. You'd be surprised how much a smile from a stranger can make a person forget their annoyance. I try to de-escalate where I can. Last month, I was biking down River Avenue. The parked cars were lined up leading up to Osborne Street. If I stayed in the curb lane, I risked having someone open their door in my face. This happens more often than one would think. So, I biked in the next lane. On this particular day, a car started honking while approaching me from behind. This is particularly dangerous, as the sudden sound of a horn startles a cyclist, causing them to lose balance or instinctively swerve into another lane. My partner, who was cycling in front of me, approached the driver at a red light, and asked why he had honked at me. The driver quickly became defensive and told us to meet him in the parking lot up ahead. He came out of his car, fists clenched, threw his hat to the ground and said: "What's your problem? You looked pretty far out in your lane there. You wanna fight, buddy?" This isn't the first time a driver has threatened to fight us, simply for asking them why they were yelling. My partner informed him we weren't looking to fight. We explained to him we were simply trying to avoid opening car doors. He looked at us begrudgingly, fists still clenched, and huffed: "I'm just really having a bad day. I'm sorry I took it out on you," and stomped off. I thought, "Well, it's a start." *Amanda San Filippo is the co-ordinator for Bicycle Valet Winnipeg, and is such an avid cyclist, she decided to sell her car.*

11 years, 11 months

WFP View From the West: Confessions of a Winnipeg sidewalk cyclist (May26'12)

by Beth McKechnie

Confessions of a Winnipeg sidewalk cyclist By: Sarah Whiteford I am a criminal, and the offence of cycling on the sidewalk in Winnipeg could land me a fine of $110. But the alternative of cycling along the very busy and far-too-narrow thoroughfare of St. Mary's Road during my daily commute seems far more risky. Most of the 12-kilometre route lacks any form of cycling-friendly infrastructure, with no dedicated paths or bike lanes and only a few short sections of diamond lanes. Several times I have attempted cycling on the road, jostling for position among the multitude of cars during the morning and evening rush hours. While the aggressive and belligerent drivers are no picnic, much more frightening are those drivers who fail to notice you are there. Manitoba Healthy Living states on its website that, on average, 150 cyclists are hospitalized or killed every year in the province. This week in Winnipeg, cyclist Violet Nelson fell victim to that statistic when her bicycle collided with a vehicle, throwing her into the path of a semi-trailer. While the details of that accident are not known, what has been demonstrated by research is cycling safety is correlated with having the transportation infrastructure for cycling. Anne Harris, an epidemiologist and investigator with the Bicyclists' Injuries and the Cycling Environment Study at the University of British Columbia, states "More and more, we're seeing evidence that dedicated cycling infrastructure on roads, separated from motor vehicles, protects cyclists from injuries." In contrast to dedicated cycling lanes or tracks, cycling on the sidewalk does pose a high risk for injury. Vehicles at intersections frequently do not look for fast-moving traffic on sidewalks. Sidewalks are multi-purpose trails and may be used by a variety of persons, including pedestrians, in-line skaters and those using motorized scooters. In order to minimize the risk to others and myself during my commute, I leave very early in the morning when the sidewalks are relatively free from traffic. My bicycle is outfitted with many forms of safety equipment, including a bell, front and rear lights and additional reflective tape. I generally go much slower on the sidewalks, moving onto the grass when passing pedestrians and reducing my speed as I approach each intersection. While occasionally a pedestrian will object to my presence on the sidewalk, most give me a wave or wish me a good day as I swerve past. But when I do come across one of my fellow cyclists who is braving the morning commute on the road, I hang my head in shame, feeling as though I am somehow letting down the side. The City of Winnipeg has announced that in July it will begin construction of a dedicated cycling lane along Pembina Highway. And while the city also has many existing cycling paths along major arteries, such as Bishop Grandin Boulevard, the infrastructure for the many cyclists who commute downtown each day is still woefully lacking. So, until this infrastructure improves, I am afraid I will likely continue my life of crime by cycling on the sidewalk. *Sarah Whiteford is a policy manager for the provincial government.*

11 years, 11 months

Sun Trek - June 10

by Kristine Hayward

Hi - please help us spread the word on the Sun Trek event by forwarding it onto your networks, adding it to your calendar of events or e-newsletters! Thanks! K Join Winnipeg in motion and our many community partners for the 1st annual Sun Trek Event - Free summer fun for all ages! Pick up your passport and take part in any of the following activities: * Geocaching * Golf * Floor Shuffleboard * Horse Shoes * Lawn Bowling * Sand Volleyball * Slack Lining * Tennis * Urban Poling * Children's Games and much more! Sunday, June 10, 2012 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Harbour View Golf and Recreation Complex - 1867 Springfield Road For additional information - visit www.winnipeginmotion.ca <http://www.winnipeginmotion.ca/> or call 204-940-1676 Thanks! Kristine Hayward in motion Coordinator 2nd floor - 490 Hargrave Street Winnipeg, MB R3A 0X7 Telephone 204 940-1676 Cell 204 232-7546 Fax 204-940-2690 khayward(a)wrha.mb.ca <mailto:khayward@wrha.mb.ca> Sign up to receive updates from Winnipeg in motion @ http://www.winnipeginmotion.ca/signup/ <http://www.winnipeginmotion.ca/signup/> PLEASE NOTE THAT WE HAVE RECENTLY MOVED (MAY 5, 2012) - our mailing address and fax number has changed. This email and/or any documents in this transmission is intended for the addressee(s) only and may contain legally privileged or confidential information. Any unauthorized use, disclosure, distribution, copying or dissemination is strictly prohibited. If you receive this transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately and return the original. 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.

11 years, 11 months

Pembina Highway to get dedicated cycling lanes (CBC)

by Beth McKechnie

[From Bike to the Future's cycling news page at http://biketothefuture.org/cycling-news] May 24, 2012 cbc.ca<http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/story/2012/05/24/mb-pembina-highway-…> *Construction set to begin in July* One of Winnipeg's busiest streets, Pembina Highway, is about to get a bicycle-friendly makeover. The City of Winnipeg will begin construction in July of dedicated cycling lanes northbound and southbound on Pembina between Chevrier Boulevard and Plaza Drive. "They're going to narrow the median, move the vehicles over, and so we'll have the sidewalk, we'll have a bike lane, and then we'll have the same number of lanes for traffic," Janice Lukes of the Winnipeg Trails Association told CBC News Thursday. "There won't be any reduction in traffic, no reduction in parking," she added. Lukes said she's not sure when construction of the lanes will be completed, but she said it's a priority given the new Winnipeg Blue Bombers stadium that is currently being built at the University of Manitoba. The city is also looking at ways to expand the Pembina Highway underpass to accommodate cyclists as well as add an extra lane of vehicular traffic. Audio interview of Janice Lukes by CBC Radio One's Larry Updike on *Up To Speed* -- 5:14<http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/story/2012/05/24/mb-pembina-highway-…>

11 years, 11 months

WFP: Cyclist killed on Higgins Ave was passionate mentor, volunteer (May25'12)

by Beth McKechnie

Cyclist killed on Higgins Avenue was passionate mentor, volunteer By: Mary Agnes Welch A longtime North End volunteer who died Wednesday in a bike accident was an expert cyclist who always followed safety rules. Violet Nelson taught dozens of neighbourhood girls proper road safety and organized a 15-kilometre bike-a-thon when she ran the North End's aboriginal Girl Guides program. "She biked for transportation. She didn't like the idea of driving a vehicle," said her mother, also named Violet Nelson. "She didn't like the pollution." At the time of the accident, the mother of two was cycling the few blocks from her work as the finance manager of a cutting-edge art gallery to the Native Women's Transition Centre, where she planned to join two of the province's most powerful politicians for a news conference. Nelson, who chaired the NWTC's volunteer board, worked for years on a new halfway house for former female inmates. Premier Greg Selinger and St. Boniface MP Shelly Glover were on hand Wednesday to open the 15-unit lodge meant to help offenders get back on their feet and reunite with their children. "She was always late," her mom said with a small laugh. "But I knew something was wrong when she didn't show up. That was a very important project to her." In a short interview, Lucille Bruce, executive director of the NWTC, said staff was in shock over Nelson's death. Nelson was cycling westbound on Higgins, just past Main Street, when she was in collision with a westbound vehicle in the curb lane. The collision threw her under the wheels of a semi-trailer, also travelling westbound, in the median lane. The driver of the semi wasn’t aware that he had run over Nelson and continued on. He was later contacted by police. Nelson, known as Vie to all her friends, leaves behind two young children -- an 11-year-old daughter and a five-year-old son. "Her life revolved around them," her mother said. She was very fit and sporty and had a wall full of trophies, her mom added. She suffered from dyslexia and dropped out of school a few credits into her Grade 9 year. But she was a whiz with numbers and later taught herself all kinds of administrative skills. Most recently, she was the finance manager at the Graffiti Gallery on Higgins Avenue. Nelson was an avid volunteer from the time she was in grade school at Faraday School in the North End, where she also routinely stuck up for her brother when he got picked on. As a teen, she spent nine months as a Katimavik youth volunteer in Quebec. Later, when she was on staff at the Indian and Metis Friendship Centre, she founded the aboriginal Girl Guides, recruiting and training the leaders and designing the curriculum for a program that quickly spread into several low-income neighbourhoods. It was through the Guides that she offered bike riding and safety lessons, and organized the bike-a-thon. "She was a very passionate woman. She'd come into the room and she'd light up the room," her mom said. "She knew how to get people doing things." A wake is planned for Wednesday at Thunderbird House, likely beginning at 6 p.m. A formal service will follow Thursday at 11 a.m. at Thunderbird House. maryagnes.welch(a)freepress.mb.ca http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/inspiration-to-aboriginal-girls-1539…

11 years, 11 months

WFP: NDP introduces law making bike helmets mandatory for those under 18 (May24'12)

by Beth McKechnie

Wear those bike helmets, kids NDP introduces law making headgear mandatory for those under 18 By: Larry Kusch After refusing for years to mandate the use of bicycle helmets, the Manitoba NDP relented with legislation that will require cyclists under the age of 18 to don protective headgear. Healthy Living Minister Jim Rondeau, who introduced the legislation on Wednesday, said the government's approach was to rely first on public education and programs that provided free or inexpensive helmets to preschool and school-age children. Those programs saw 80,000 helmets distributed to kids over the past half-dozen years, he said. Introducing a bike-helmet law was "the next logical step," Rondeau said Wednesday. "The amendments introduced today are a critical step forward in protecting our children and young cyclists and preventing serious injuries and fatalities," Rondeau said. Anke Sinclair, a mother of two boys, Mehru, 9, and Yannick, 3, said her children use helmets. "I think it's a safety issue. I think if they do fall -- whatever the cause -- I think it will protect their heads," she said. Sinclair said she thinks there needs to be more education for motorists around cyclists. "Me, as a cyclist, I see that some motorists don't really know what to do with me," said Sinclair. She said she's spoken to other people who want to ride their bikes more, but "do not feel safe." Sinclair also said it's very important to improve bike lanes in the city. Rondeau told reporters he doesn't expect police will be handing out many tickets once the bill is passed and proclaimed. He did not indicate when the new law would take effect. "We're not going to have a lot of cops chasing kids -- ever," Rondeau said, noting that in jurisdictions with similar legislation "very, very few tickets are given out." What the government is counting on, he said, is once a law is in effect, folks will understand it and obey it. "The major goal is to get people to know the law." Manitoba is one of only four provinces without some kind of bicycle-helmet law. Several jurisdictions, such as Alberta and Ontario, have had laws in place for a decade or more, while four provinces require all cyclists wear helmets. In provinces where child bicycle-helmet use is mandatory, compliance rates are 80 per cent or more. The usage rate in Manitoba sits at 42 per cent among children. The Manitoba Liberals have beat the drum for a bike-helmet law since 2006, but every time one of its members introduced a private member's bill touting a bike law, it was shot down by the ruling NDP. Liberal Leader Jon Gerrard said he was "very pleased that the government at last has listened" to his party and introduced the legislation. But he said it should have applied to adults as well as children. A Winnipeg pediatric neurosurgeon agreed. "There's nothing more protective about an adult's skull and brain versus a 17-year-old's. When your head hits the concrete... the impact is the same," Dr. Patrick McDonald told The Canadian Press. Rondeau didn't rule out expanding the helmet law to cover adults, but he said for now the government was content to apply it only to kids. He said children are less-experienced riders and prone to "the most risky behaviours" on a bicycle. "We'll monitor (the legislation) to see if we have to go further in the next little while." Charles Weaver, a spokesman for the Winnipeg cycling group Bike to the Future, said he is disappointed the government isn't doing more to protect cyclists. He noted his organization is split on whether bike-helmet use should be legislated. The province should be doing more to promote cycling as a healthy form of transportation and to educate motorists and cyclists on road safety, he said. Right now, many people are discouraged from riding their bikes because of safety fears. "We'd much rather they (the government) spent an effort on making cycling safer rather than protecting us from our own crashes," Weaver said. In some countries, such as Holland and Denmark, bike usage is much higher and injury rates are lower because of better laws, bike infrastructure and education, he said. "In this legislation, government is telling Manitobans: 'Our roads are dangerous for cyclists, so wear a helmet to protect yourself.' This is a Band-Aid solution," Weaver said. Will Belford, a mechanic/owner at Natural Cycle on Albert Street, said there are "many different aspects" of safety on the road. "As it stands right now, for Winnipeggers, it is still dangerous," he said. "Given the complexity of the situation, helmets for minors... would not be a mistake in my mind. Children are certainly at most risk because they have the least experience riding on roads, and that's really where most of the accidents happen." -- with files from Gabrielle Giroday larry.kusch(a)freepress.mb.ca *Cycling injuries (2005-2009)* An average of 165 cycling-related injuries requiring hospitalization occurred each year in Manitoba between 2005 and 2009, the most recent period for which statistics are available. Forty-five per cent of these injuries involved children. An average of 22 people per year were hospitalized for cycling-related head injuries during that time. About half were children. 13 people, including one child, died as a result of cycling mishaps between 2005 and 2009. -- source: Province of Manitoba *What's proposed:* All Manitobans under 18 years of age would be required to wear a proper helmet when riding a bicycle. Exemptions would be made on religious grounds. Kids riding on private property would also be exempt. Children under age 14 would not be prosecuted for failing to wear a helmet, but their parents would face fines of up to $50. Provision would be made for alternatives to fines for a first offence; those alternative penalties are still to be decided. Kids riding as passengers on a bike or being towed by a bicycle would also be required to wear a helmet. *Helmet safety tips* Buy a helmet that is approved by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) for use while riding a bicycle. Replace a helmet that's got a crack in it, since it might not offer maximum protection. Ensure the helmet fits properly and is adjusted regularly. -- source: Safety Services Manitoba (formerly Manitoba Safety Council)

11 years, 11 months

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AT-Network May 2012