May 2012 - AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

Wheely Fun Bike Ride! June 10
by Jessie Klassen 31 May '12

31 May '12

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 **

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Active & Green Special Issue: Women and Families
by Jessie Klassen 31 May '12

31 May '12

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>

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The surprising rise of Minneapolis as a top bike town
by Beth McKechnie 30 May '12

30 May '12

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…> *.

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Please join us tomorrow for the Commuter Challenge Media Launch!
by Shoni Litinsky 28 May '12

28 May '12

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/>

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WFP: My life as a cyclist (May27'12)
by Beth McKechnie 27 May '12

27 May '12

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.*

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WFP View From the West: Confessions of a Winnipeg sidewalk cyclist (May26'12)
by Beth McKechnie 26 May '12

26 May '12

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.*

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Sun Trek - June 10
by Kristine Hayward 25 May '12

25 May '12

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.

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Pembina Highway to get dedicated cycling lanes (CBC)
by Beth McKechnie 25 May '12

25 May '12

[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-…>

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WFP: Cyclist killed on Higgins Ave was passionate mentor, volunteer (May25'12)
by Beth McKechnie 25 May '12

25 May '12

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…

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WFP: NDP introduces law making bike helmets mandatory for those under 18 (May24'12)
by Beth McKechnie 24 May '12

24 May '12

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)

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Posting to the AT Network
by Beth McKechnie 17 May '12

17 May '12

Hello AT Network subscribers! Just a friendly reminder that everyone subscribed to this list can post messages – new research, events, programs, opportunities to collaborate, requests for information, etc. All you have to do is address the message to: AT-Network(a)lists.umanitoba.ca cheers, Beth

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Evaluation for In-street Bicycle Parking Webinar
by Mark Cohoe 17 May '12

17 May '12

Hi, For those who attended yesterday's webinar, " In Street Bicycle Parking: What, When, Where and How Much?", we hope you enjoyed the webinar and found it valuable. Please take a few minutes to complete a short online evaluation <http://www.apbp.org/surveys/?id=Evaluation_May-12>to help improve future webinars provided by APBP. We look forward to seeing everyone at the next APBP webinar, "Resolving Conflicts at Complex Intersections". Join us Wednesday June 20th from 2pm to 3pm in the Eco Centre Boardroom. Cheers, Mark *//*

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WFP: Changes favour pedal-pushers - Bill loosens law for bikes on roads (May17'12)
by Beth McKechnie 17 May '12

17 May '12

Changes favour pedal-pushers Bill loosens law for bikes on roads By: Larry Kusch THE province plans to make it easier for municipalities to create designated bike lanes for cyclists. On Wednesday, the Selinger government proposed several changes to the Highway Traffic Act, amending the law's definition of traffic to include bicycles. Bicyclists have always been allowed to use roadways and will still have that right under the proposed amendments. But under the current act, municipalities can only create shared bike lanes on roads where bikes share the roadway with buses. Under the proposed legislation, municipalities would be able to create bike lanes on roadways even if buses don't travel that route. Also under the current act, bicycles are not allowed to use the shoulders of highways even if they are paved. A proposed change would permit bikes on highway shoulders. "Municipalities are asking for a way to address cycle traffic and bike lanes and so on within their municipal boundaries," Local Government Minister Ron Lemieux told reporters. "This will give them the bylaw-making authority to do that." Lemieux said the changes were developed in response to the growing number of Manitobans who choose bicycles as transportation over gas-powered vehicles. He said the proposed legislation would not give municipalities power to set new rules for cyclists or impose or adjust fines. That would remain under provincial authority. One proposed change would specify cyclists must ride single file on highways unless passing another bike. Winnipeg's cycling community responded positively to the proposals. Tim Woodcock, owner of Woodcock Cycle Works, said the changes would make it considerably safer for cyclists to get around. "There are a lot of cyclists who would love to ride more, but they're not comfortable riding on the roads the way they're designed and with the cars being so close," he said. Don Ellison, who commutes 40 kilometres every day on his bike, said the changes would raise awareness among motorists that cyclists have the right to use the road. Commuting cyclists seek routes that include a maximum of bike paths and a minimum of roadways, Ellison said. "We need bicycle routes that cut right through the city and come from all the different boroughs. That's how you get people riding for transportation, by getting them off the main drags." -- with files from Geoff Kirbyson larry.kusch(a)freepress.mb.ca http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/changes-favour-pedal-pushers-1518409…

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Manitoba News Release: Proposed Amendments to Highway Traffic Act Would Support More Active Transportation: Lemieux
by Anders Swanson 16 May '12

16 May '12

FYI May 16, 2012 PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC ACT WOULD SUPPORT MORE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION: LEMIEUX - - - Municipalities Could Set Bylaws On How Cyclists Use Roadways Proposed amendments would expand the Highway Traffic Act to boost forms of active transportation and help create designated bicycle pathways on existing roads, said Local Government Minister Ron Lemieux after introducing the legislation. "The proposals will amend the act's definition of traffic to include bicycles," said Lemieux. "It means municipalities would have the power to make bylaws that regulate bicycle traffic and adapt the bylaws to the specific needs of their communities, and that will mean more routes for cyclists." Commuter cycling is largely an urban activity and the proposed changes would give municipalities a larger role in managing the flow of traffic on their streets and in their neighbourhoods, Lemieux said. Municipal governments are often best positioned to assess routes and areas where integrating bicycles with motor vehicles is appropriate, he added. The minister said the proposed amendments are part of the Manitoba government's ongoing commitment to support healthy living and a cleaner environment. The proposed changes have been developed in response to the growing number of Manitobans who are choosing bicycles over gas-powered vehicles. "The environmental benefits of this trend are enormous and we want to support and encourage the use of bicycles across the province," Lemieux said. "We think this proposed legislation will open an important dialogue between motorists and cyclists and increase mutual respect for everyone who operates a vehicle on public roads." More information on the proposed amendments is available at: http://web2.gov.mb.ca/bills/40-1/index.php. - anders

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ParkBus offers carless Toronto (and next year, Ottawa) an escape route for camping
by Beth McKechnie 16 May '12

16 May '12

What a fabulous idea for Manitoba! Birds Hill Park would be the perfect place to start with its proximity to Winnipeg and camping/trails. (Thanks to Mike Balshaw for sharing.) ParkBus offers carless Toronto (and next year, Ottawa) an escape route for camping Posted by John Michael McGrath<http://toronto.openfile.ca/users/john-michael-mcgrath>on Friday, May 11, 2012 http://toronto.openfile.ca/blog/toronto/2012/parkbus-offers-carless-toronto… If you live in downtown Toronto and want to go camping, there's a non-trivial chance that you don't own the car to get you from A to B. This is a problem crying out for a solution. So when the Ontario Parkbus Initiative <http://www.parkbus.ca/>'s press release started flying around Twitter this afternoon their traffic spiked because, apparently, a lot of people are interested in their service: offering carless urbanites a route out of the city in the summer. "Our website is crashing today," says Boris Issaev, project manager at Parkbus.ca. They're not about to become millionaires from the brisk business (Parkbus doesn't make money on the ticket sales) but that's not the point. If the traffic they're seeing today is any indication, the point is that a large market was apparently being ignored, and isn't anymore. Issaev says the first idea for Parkbus started in 2010, with an information table at Mountain Equipment Co-Op to sign up interested campers and some emails to skeptical bus companies. The first year was a small success, and 2011 saw it expand slightly in what Issaev calls "almost regular service" and get the attention of Ontario Parks. The summer of 2012 is going to be even bigger, thanks in part to a $240,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, with regular service from Toronto to Bruce National Park, as well as Killarney, Algonquin, and Grundy Lake Provincial Parks. "We'd love to be in every park in Ontario, obviously, but we're trying to grow sustainably," says Issaev. Part of the plan for that growth is to start a pilot program in Ottawa next year, on at least some weekends. "Right now, we're getting some people taking the train down from Ottawa and getting on the bus in Toronto, which doesn't make sense for them," says Issaev. "So next year we're looking at weekend pilots in Ottawa to Algonquin." Booking with Parkbus may not be quite as flexible as renting an SUV (there's a limit to the number of bikes allowed on a bus, for example—and no canoes allowed) but anyone who's had the dubious pleasure of trying to wrangle a few friends into a rented SUV and keeping all the gear straight for the weekend may want to check Parkbus out. CORRECTION: The grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation that is making Parkbus' expansion possible is $240,000, not $40,000 as this post originally stated.

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Which commute is the healthiest
by Beth McKechnie 16 May '12

16 May '12

Which commute is the healthiest? By Laurie Tarkan<http://www.foxnews.com/archive/author/laurie-tarkan/index.html> Published May 10, 2012 FoxNews.com The longer you commute, the worse your health, according to the latest in a string of studies showing that sitting—even in a car—is bad for you. The study, published in the June issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, found that those who have the longest drives to work have decreased cardio fitness, are heavier and have higher blood pressure than those with shorter commutes. That’s bad news, since the average time driving to work increased from 17.6 minutes in 1983 to 22.5 minutes in 2001. The question: Is it being sedentary for so long that raises the risk or is it the stress of driving, or both? And is another type of commute, like taking a train or bus any better for you? In this study, researchers studied about 4,000 residents who lived in metropolitan areas of Texas. Researchers recorded commuting distances as well as several measures of health including cardiorespiratory fitness, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, glucose levels, cholesterol and blood pressure. Participants also recorded the amount of physical activity they did. The study found that people who drove longer distances to work reported doing less physical activity, had decreased cardio fitness and greater BMI, waist circumference and blood pressure. Cholesterol and glucose levels were not affected. Those who drove only 10 miles or more to work were more likely to have high blood pressure, and those who commuted 15 miles or more were less likely to meet recommendations for physical activity and were more likely to be obese. Even when physical activity was adjusted for (meaning taken out of the equation), the other risk factors remained, suggesting that long commuters expend less daily energy than others. The reason blood pressure also increased with driving distance may be linked to the stress of commuting. Past studies have associated daily commuting with high blood pressure, tension and fatigue. "Those with longer commutes may be more likely to be exposed to heavy traffic resulting in higher stress levels and more time sitting," says lead investigator of the new study, Christine M. Hoehner of Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. *Commuting by Train* But is commuting by train or bus any better? One study looked at the health of people who took a train from New Jersey to Manhattan. It turns out that if you use public transportation, you spend more time walking – to the train station and to your office – than if you drive. The study found that train commuters walked an average of 30 percent more steps per workday than those who drove to work. It also found that people commuting by car reported significantly more stress and a more negative mood than those who rode the train. *The Best Commute* Of course, the best way to get to work is to walk or ride a bike—an active commute. One study found that active commuting that incorporates walking or cycling was associated with an 11 percent reduction in cardiovascular risk. Another study found that men with any active commuting (versus none) were less likely to be obese, and had lower risk factors for heart disease across the board. Since there’s growing evidence that sitting at your desk all day is bad for your health, try to maximize the activity of your commute to your office. If walking or biking isn’t possible, second best is public transportation since. If you must drive to work, as most Americans do, then think about incorporating walking into your day as much as possible to counter all that time you’re sitting. http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/05/10/which-commute-is-healthiest/#ixzz1…

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Webinar reminder: In-Street Bicycle Parking: Wed, May 16, 2-3 pm, EcoCentre
by Beth McKechnie 15 May '12

15 May '12

*** Friendly reminder about tomorrow's webinar *** 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.* *Detailed descriptions provided below.* *In-street Bicycle Parking: What, When, Where and How Much? Wednesday, May 16th • 2:00 to 3:00 pm CST RSVPs are appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! cheers, Beth 925-3772 * * * * * Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) presents: In-street Bicycle Parking: What, When, Where and How Much? Wednesday, May 16th • 2:00 to 3:00 pm CST Increasingly communities face the dilemma of bicycles and pedestrians competing for scarce sidewalk space. As pedestrian activity increases wider sidewalks are needed, while as cycling increases more bicycle parking—traditionally placed on sidewalks—is also needed. In-street bicycle corrals allow agencies to place bicycle parking in the street, [image: parking]off the pedestrian way, resolving this conflict and making more efficient use of existing parking spaces. However, jurisdictions may hesitate to undertake bicycle corrals since there are few design examples and little specific guidance on which to base such projects. Planners, engineers, developers and advocates should attend this webinar to learn how to scale up bicycle parking to meet growing demand while avoiding negative impacts to the pedestrian environment. Placing bicycle parking in the street presents unique challenges for traffic engineers and streetscape designers. Issues include roadway operations, cyclist and pedestrian safety, placement of a bike corral in relation to other sidewalk and street design elements, pedestrian flows and adjacent land uses. The webinar will address these challenges with examples of successful in-street bicycle parking projects (examples from New York City, Portland, and Washington D.C.). Presenters will also define best practices for providing bicycle parking in the street and discuss how a program might progress, beginning with public process and moving through costs, installation, and maintenance. Presenters include Eric Anderson, City of Berkeley, California; Sarah Figliozzi, Portland Bureau of Transportation; Chris Holben, District Department of Transportation; and Hayes Lord, New York City Department of Transportation. -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre<http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> 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/>

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Wales to discourage car reliance - Active Travel Bill
by Beth McKechnie 15 May '12

15 May '12

[Couldn't find this Globe & Mail (May14'12) article online so here's a scan – very interesting!] [image: Inline image 1]

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Successful bicycling initiatives for youth
by Beth McKechnie 11 May '12

11 May '12

New resource: http://lin.ca/resource-details/21997 Bicycling Interventions for Youth (2012) Diana McHugh researched and produced this powerpoint as her internship project with Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness this past term. Included in the slide show are examples of successful bicycling initiatives for youth, information and tips for implementing effective interventions as well as common barriers to increasing and promoting youth to cycle. Diana has just graduated from Dalhousie's School of Planning and the College of Sustainability. (Thanks to Jaymi Derrett for sharing!)

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Join the masses on Bike to Work Day!
by Beth McKechnie 11 May '12

11 May '12

** Please share widely with your networks ** *Join the masses on Friday, June 22, 2012 as we Bike to Work!* To register visit www.biketoworkdaywinnipeg.org See printable handbills and poster attached, and check out the promo video below: http://youtu.be/H0kx2rs7ADg

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Why there is no war between bikes and cars in the Netherlands
by Beth McKechnie 09 May '12

09 May '12

*Why There's No War Between Drivers and Cyclists in the Netherlands* Sarah Goodyear <http://www.theatlanticcities.com/authors/sarah-goodyear/> / May 08, 2012 Bicycling is such an integral part of life in the Netherlands, you might think that Dutch people are born knowing how to cycle. They aren’t, of course. What’s kind of wonderful is the way that they learn. It’s not just a matter of going to the park with a parent, getting a push, and falling down a bunch of times until you can pedal on your own. Dutch children are expected to learn and follow the rules of the road, because starting in secondary school – at age 12 – they are expected to be able to ride their bikes on their own to school, sometimes as far as nine or 10 miles. Because this independent travel for children is valued in Dutch society, education about traffic safety is something that every Dutch child receives. There's even a bicycle road test that Dutch children are required to take at age 12 in order to prove that they are responsible cycling citizens. *Read full article & see videos: * * http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2012/05/why-theres-no-war-between-… *<http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2012/05/why-theres-no-war-between-…> (Thanks to Dave Elmore for sharing.)

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Your Help is Needed to Ensure Pembina Gap is Closed
by Mark Cohoe 08 May '12

08 May '12

This Wednesday, May 9^th , the City of Winnipeg will be hosting an open house giving an opportunity to review three options being proposed for improvements to the Pembina Highway Underpass (at Jubilee).Only one of the proposed options meets the minimum requirements for active transportation.Only option 3 includes the long promised pathway to safely carry cyclists and pedestrians over Pembina Highway.This crossing has consistently been included in public plans <http://winnipegtransit.com/assets/80/Southwest_Rapid_Transit_Corridor_-_Sta…> for the Southwest Rapid Transit Corridor, the City has chosen to present the public with two options for the Pembina Underpass that exclude pedestrians and cyclists from having a safe, convenient way to cross one of the busiest roadways in the city. What difference would the exclusion of this pathway make?For those that Portland terms the "interested but concerned" cyclist (they estimate this represents 60% of their population), it means a lot.These potential cyclists will not choose a high traffic roadway like the Jubilee Overpass, nor will they suffer constant stopping and dismounting to get to their destination along lower traffic routes that avoid Jubilee Overpass (and incidentally cause them to stop all traffic on Pembina when they cross just south of Jubilee).For these cyclists, the lack of a safe, convenient, and separated pathway across Pembina will mean choosing their car over their bike for trips that they would otherwise gladly make by bike. We are asking all members to make an effort to get out to the open house <http://winnipeg.ca/publicworks/MajorProjects/PembinaHighwayUnderpass/defaul…> this Wednesday, fill out the on line survey (available after May 9^th ) and write your City Councillor and Provincial MLA to make it known that the only acceptable option for the Pembina Underpass is one that includes room for a separated AT Pathway over Pembina Highway when Rapid Transit is extended.The open house is being held at the APEGN office (870 Pembina Highway) just north of the underpass.Comments can be sent to the project web-site <file:///C:%5CUsers%5CMCohoe%5CDocuments%5CBike%20to%20the%20Future%5CCity%20Committee%5CBikeways%5CPembina%20Bikeway%5CPembina%20Underpass%5C%28http:%5Cwww.winnipeg.ca%5Cpublicworks%5CMajorProjects%5CPembinaHighwayUnderpass%5Cdefault.asp%29> or sent directly to the head planner in charge of this project, Jacqueline East <mailto:jeast@dillon.ca>. Sincerely, Mark Cohoe Bike to the Future

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In-Street Bicycle Parking webinar: Wed, May 16th, 2-3 pm, EcoCentre
by Beth McKechnie 08 May '12

08 May '12

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.* *Detailed descriptions provided below.* *In-street Bicycle Parking: What, When, Where and How Much? Wednesday, May 16th • 2:00 to 3:00 pm CST RSVPs are appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! cheers, Beth 925-3772 * * * * * Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) presents: In-street Bicycle Parking: What, When, Where and How Much? Wednesday, May 16th • 2:00 to 3:00 pm CST Increasingly communities face the dilemma of bicycles and pedestrians competing for scarce sidewalk space. As pedestrian activity increases wider sidewalks are needed, while as cycling increases more bicycle parking—traditionally placed on sidewalks—is also needed. In-street bicycle corrals allow agencies to place bicycle parking in the street, off the pedestrian way, resolving this conflict and making more efficient use of existing parking spaces. However, jurisdictions may hesitate to undertake bicycle corrals since there are few design examples and little specific guidance on which to base such projects. Planners, engineers, developers and advocates should attend this webinar to learn how to scale up bicycle parking to meet growing demand while avoiding negative impacts to the pedestrian environment. Placing bicycle parking in the street presents unique challenges for traffic engineers and streetscape designers. Issues include roadway operations, cyclist and pedestrian safety, placement of a bike corral in relation to other sidewalk and street design elements, pedestrian flows and adjacent land uses. The webinar will address these challenges with examples of successful in-street bicycle parking projects (examples from New York City, Portland, and Washington D.C.). Presenters will also define best practices for providing bicycle parking in the street and discuss how a program might progress, beginning with public process and moving through costs, installation, and maintenance. Presenters include Eric Anderson, City of Berkeley, California; Sarah Figliozzi, Portland Bureau of Transportation; Chris Holben, District Department of Transportation; and Hayes Lord, New York City Department of Transportation. APBP has applied to the AICP for one Certification Maintenance credit for this webinar, and will provide an attendance certificate to those who document their professional development hours. -- *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/>

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BikeMobile Project - Safe Routes to School (CA)
by Beth McKechnie 07 May '12

07 May '12

Interesting article attached on a new BikeMobile project under the Safe Routes to School Program in Dublin, California. More coverage here: http://www.arounddublinblog.com/2012/04/dublin-ca-innovative-bikemobile-fix… (Thanks to Bob Kurylko for forwarding.) cheers, Beth

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Wine, Wenches, and Wrenches - Upcoming Ladies Cycling Workshops
by Shoni Litinsky 07 May '12

07 May '12

Please circulate to anyone that may be interested to join us! [image: Inline image 1] -- *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/>

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Globe and Mail: Saving lives by slowing down on city streets
by Beth McKechnie 06 May '12

06 May '12

Saving lives by slowing down on city streets Kelly Grant From Monday's Globe and Mail Published Sunday, Apr. 29, 2012 9:08PM EDT http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/saving-lives-by-slowing-down-o… Toronto’s top doctor wants speed limits in Canada’s largest city reduced by 10 to 20 kilometres an hour, an idea that’ll be a tough sell when he pitches it to the Board of Health on Monday. When Medical Officer of Health David McKeown revealed his proposal last week, it was panned faster than the speed of a car on one of Toronto’s 60 km/h arterial roads. Mayor Rob Ford dismissed it as “nuts, nuts, nuts, nuts,” while the head of the public works committee urged Dr. McKeown to “stick to his knitting,” unless he’s after a job in the transportation department. But Dr. McKeown’s proposal isn’t outrageous. Other major cities around the world are experimenting with lowering speed limits as part of their efforts to keep pedestrians, cyclists and drivers safe, something supporters hope will nudge urban dwellers out of their cars. New York implemented its first “slow speed” 20-mph (about 32 km/h) zone in the heart of the Bronx last fall. Edmonton recently wrapped up a pilot project testing a 10 km/h reduction – to 40 km/h from 50 – in six neighbourhoods, three of which have elected to retain the lower speed caps. And Portsmouth, England, has received calls from across the globe about its decision to implement a nearly city-wide speed limit of 20 mph. These interventions go beyond traditional traffic-calming measures, such as speed bumps. “I’m not surprised that on first blush, some people might be concerned about the recommendation,” Dr. McKeown said in an interview. “[But] the evidence of the relationship between speed and mortality and fatality is very strong.” Pedestrians are eight times more likely to die when hit by cars travelling 50 km/h than when struck by vehicles travelling 30 km/h, according to the World Health Organization. Strong as it may be, the science supporting lower speed limits isn’t exactly surprising. Slowing down saves lives. However, municipal leaders must balance safety with the need to get from point A to point B in a reasonable time. That’s why most of the cities testing lower speed limits are using neighbourhood streets, not arterial roads, as their petri dishes. Take New York. In a bid to cut traffic fatalities in half by 2030, the Big Apple has implemented a raft of measures to persuade motorists to slow down, including cheeky commercials reminding New Yorkers there actually *is *a speed limit in the city, and it’s 30 mph. New York’s Department of Transportation has taken a particularly aggressive step in the Claremont section of The Bronx. Often abused as a shortcut, the quarter-mile residential neighbourhood saw 46 people killed or seriously injured in motor-vehicle crashes from 2006 to 2010, prompting the city to make Claremont its first 20-mph zone. The zone is marked with 14 distinctive gateway entrances, 28 posted speed limit signs and nine speed humps. “It sends a clear message to those drivers that neighbourhood streets are not shortcuts, they are not speedways,” said New York Transportation commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan. She said residents were “wildly supportive” of the new zone. “People were happy because they were tired of seeing their streets used as speedways.” Now more than 100 New York neighbourhoods have applied for slow-speed zones, she added. “I think that you’re starting to see cities all over the country look for these kinds of interventions. There’s a big hue and cry to have safer streets,” she said. It’s still an open question whether reducing the posted speed limit alone actually compels motorists to ease off the gas. Claremont’s experience is still too fresh to have produced useful data. In any case, the neighbourhood’s slow zone includes speed bumps, making it difficult to separate their effects from those of a lower posted speed limit. Edmonton, on the other hand, has the hard numbers to show that a reduced speed limit is little match for road design. Beginning on May 1, 2010, the Alberta capital reduced speed limits in six very different neighbourhoods to 40 km/h from 50, using only signs and enforcement, including photo radar. Overall, operating speeds fells by 7 per cent or about 3.5 km/h. The number of serious crashes dropped slightly in all but one of the test areas, where severe collisions actually increased. Sounds promising, until you look at the actual speeds logged during the six-month experiment. In two older neighbourhoods, operating speeds fell to 51 km/h from about 53; in two grid-patterned areas, speeds dropped to 53 km/h from 55; and in two newly built pockets, speeds fell to 57 km/h from 60. In other words, next to nobody respected the 40 km/h limit. Road design mattered. Motorists drove slower on older, narrow streets lined with parked cars, and faster on new, wider thoroughfares with little parking. “One of the things about reducing the speed limit on any given road is that it needs to make sense to the public,” said Scott McDonald, senior speed management co-ordinator for Edmonton’s Office of Traffic Safety. That’s one of the reasons Dr. McKeown’s recommendations have taken such a beating. Right now, Toronto’s speed limit, unless otherwise posted, is 50 km/h. Some wide arterial roads are 60 km/h, most residential streets are 40 km/h, and streets with speed bumps are 30 km/h. The Medical Officer of Health favours reducing the residential limit to 30 km/h and the default speed limit to 40 km/h. In a city strangled by gridlock, the thought of puttering along at 40 km/h on an arterial road isn’t likely to be embraced. At least not by Toronto city council, which has the final say on speeds within city limits. That doesn’t discourage Dr. McKeown. Slower speeds are just a small – if controversial – part of the report he’ll be championing on Monday. “We are facing a significant burden of illness associated with obesity and diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and being more active in our day-to-day activities is a very important way of combatting those major health threats,” Dr. McKeown said. *Lower speeds, higher savings* One English city has found that the slow way can also be the safe and cheap way. There hasn’t been a single fatality on the roads of Portsmouth since the island city of 207,000 on the south coast of England implemented a 20 mph (or 32 km/h) speed limit in 2007-2008. The cap applies to 1,245 streets, or 94 per cent of Portsmouth’s roads. Unlike most cities that try to slow down motorists, Portsmouth’s limit isn’t reinforced with speed bumps or other physical changes to the road. “We decided to do it because we had a triple fatality on a residential road and, obviously, we had members of the public that were extremely concerned,” said Adam Bunce, an assistant traffic engineer and project manager for Portsmouth’s 20-mph project. Reaction to lowering the speed limit by 10 mph was mixed at first. Residents doubted that signs and the occasional police blitz would compel drivers to take their foot off the gas. (Drivers nabbed breaking the 20-mph rule are slapped with a £60 ($95) fine and three-point loss on their licences, unless they agree to attend a one-hour safety seminar, complete with videos of horrible car crashes.) But a 2010 interim evaluation found the lower limits worked – for the most part. Average speeds dropped by just 0.9 mph overall. On blocks where the average “before” speed was higher than 24 mph, the average speed fell by seven mph. Total injuries for pedestrians, passengers and drivers, though, was down 22 per cent. The biggest knock on the plan is that serious injuries actually increased by six per cent, a result Mr. Bunce dismissed as statistically insignificant because the city has so few auto accidents. In other words, Portsmouth’s motorists were already taking it slow. The city’s narrow residential streets, lined with Victorian homes and parked cars, aren’t conducive to speeding. The 20-mph limit doesn’t apply on the major motorways and distributor roads that carry most commuters. Toronto and the majority of Canadian cities, especially those built out after the Second World War, don’t enjoy the same advantages of urban form. However, if any do decide to follow Portsmouth’s lead, they’ll find one advantage applies as much here as it does across the pond: A sweeping speed-limit reduction is cheaper than traditional traffic-calming measures. Portsmouth was preparing to dole out £2-million ($3.2-million) over five years, mostly on speed bumps, when it switched gears to lowering the speed limit almost everywhere. “Implementing a city-wide speed limit at £623,000 ($993,000), we saved ourselves £1.5-million ($2.4-million),” Mr. Bunce said. Graphics: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/your-probability-of-de… http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/the-faster-you-drive-t…

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Dutch videos about speeding
by Beth McKechnie 04 May '12

04 May '12

The Dutch are particularly good at using humour to make a point. Would be great to see something like this for Winnipeg and other urban centres in MB. http://youtu.be/y60YQOzNWYE Thanks to Jonathan Borland for sharing the videos! cheers, Beth

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Bicycle Facilities Design Course for Engineers - May 27 in Winnipeg!!! CITE 2012
by Anders Swanson 03 May '12

03 May '12

[Thanks to Bjorn Radstrom for passing this along - a very valuable training opportunity for engineers interested in designing for the bicycle - Anders]. “Bicycle Facilities Design Course” is being offered at the annual Canadian Institute of Transportation Engineers (CITE 2012) conference in Winnipeg. The workshop is on Sunday, May 27th from 08:30 to 16:30. There are details at: http://www.cite7.org/Winnipeg2012/WinnipegWorkshops.php. You can register for the workshop without registering for the rest of the conference.

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