AT-Network May 2012

at-network@lists.umanitoba.ca

9 participants
28 discussions

by Beth McKechnie

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

11 years, 4 months

Evaluation for In-street Bicycle Parking Webinar

by Mark Cohoe

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 *//*

11 years, 4 months

WFP: Changes favour pedal-pushers - Bill loosens law for bikes on roads (May17'12)

by Beth McKechnie

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…

11 years, 4 months

Manitoba News Release: Proposed Amendments to Highway Traffic Act Would Support More Active Transportation: Lemieux

by Anders Swanson

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

11 years, 4 months

ParkBus offers carless Toronto (and next year, Ottawa) an escape route for camping

by Beth McKechnie

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.

11 years, 4 months

Which commute is the healthiest

by Beth McKechnie

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…

11 years, 4 months

Webinar reminder: In-Street Bicycle Parking: Wed, May 16, 2-3 pm, EcoCentre

by Beth McKechnie

*** 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/>

11 years, 4 months

Wales to discourage car reliance - Active Travel Bill

by Beth McKechnie

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

11 years, 4 months

Successful bicycling initiatives for youth

by Beth McKechnie

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!)

11 years, 4 months

Join the masses on Bike to Work Day!

by Beth McKechnie

** 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

11 years, 4 months

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AT-Network May 2012