AT-Network September 2012

at-network@lists.umanitoba.ca

9 participants
25 discussions

Safe Route to School Planning: A Transportation Engineering Perspective

by Shoni Litinsky

For anyone interested in delving deeper into understanding the ins and outs of transportation engineering related to site designs (you don't have to be involved with school's to learn from this one) - this Canadian webinar is extremely helpful! This webinar archive has been put out by Canada Walks - the Active and Safe Routes to School Program in Ontario, and covers how the engineering approvals and practices related to school siting and design have been changing over the past ten years. The webinar provides examples of opportunities to proactively work with engineering partners in planning and designing schools that promote walking, cycling, and transit trips. Click here to view webinar <http://tinyurl.com/9qdr7xj> Please contact me if you would like to request any of the resources that are shared in the presentation. *Did you know?* Monday October 1st kicks off International Walk to School Month! Sign up your school today<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/iwalk/>. -- *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, 6 months

Edmonton Public School Board calls on all schools to have AT plans (Sept.26'12)

by Beth McKechnie

Edmonton Public School Board calls on all schools to have active transportation plans http://metronews.ca/news/edmonton/384082/edmonton-public-school-board-calls… The Edmonton Public School Board has enacted a policy to encourage students and parents to look to active transportation first when heading to school. In a release Wednesday, the board said the plan has many benefits, including increased safety, reduction in car volume and traffic volume as well as health benefits for students. Of all Edmonton Public Schools, 13 already have formal active transportation plans in effect. EPSB is asking students and families to use any “self-propelled” mode of transportation – like biking or walking – and to couple these with public transportation. * * * * * [Related articles follow from June 17'12] Active travel plans in motion at some Edmonton schools http://metronews.ca/news/edmonton/266701/active-travel-plans-in-the-works-a… Each morning and afternoon during the school year, a few parents wear fluorescent vests out in front of Johnny Bright School. They wave vehicles along, tell them where to stop, open doors and assist students in getting in and out quickly and safely. Called greeters, they are one of many initiatives the K-9 school has in place as part of a School Travel Plan launched in early 2011 to promote active transportation and cut down on vehicle congestion. “It speeds up the time (a vehicle) might sit there,” said Jennifer Harbin, parent to a Grade 8 student and volunteer on the Parent Traffic Committee. And that’s the No. 1 issue, according to principal Scott Millar. “We have such a high volume of traffic,” he said, noting the school is “bursting at the seams.” When the school opened in 2010, Harbin began driving her daughter to school. “But when I saw how long the line-ups were, I looked at her and said ‘you’re going to start taking the bus,’” she said. A hands-up survey last year showed 40 per cent of Johnny Bright students are driven, 27 per cent walk, nine per cent ride bikes, 13 per cent take the school bus, six per cent carpool and two per cent take public transit. “We’re really working hard at the awareness, and getting families to think about how they’re getting to school,” said Harbin. *Other initiatives* - Other committee initiatives include walk and bike to school weeks, newsletters and identifying drop-off locations not directly in front of the school. - Future plans include installing another bike rack, incorporating active transportation into the health curriculum, and developing a map of routes with Walkable Edmonton. District-wide active transportation plan possible for Edmonton Public School Board http://metronews.ca/news/edmonton/266696/district-wide-active-transportatio… Parents driving their kids to school is a growing trend, and it’s something the Edmonton Public School Board is trying to put the brakes on. According to Statistics Canada, more students are driven compared to the number who walk or bike to school – and that same trend is observed equally in both suburban and mature Edmonton neighbourhoods, according to a report that went before the board of trustees last month. Reasons for that include convenience, weather and program location, said EPSB planning director Lorne Parker, noting resulting problems include improper parking, illegal U-turns, unsafe drop-offs, and disruptions to buses. And while there are 10 schools with School Travel Plans in place, various levels of participation and success has led to discussion of the feasibility of a district-wide active transportation plan. “There’s certainly a will on the part of the board to look at developing one,” said Parker. “But it would be significant work to have all schools on board.” Of course, different schools have different needs based on neighbourhood design, enrollment and other “local factors,” said Parker. An initial timeline of three years would be challenging, according to the report, so in the meantime EPSB is working to refine individual school approaches, and will continue working with partners AMA School Safety Patrol, Walkable Edmonton, EPS and Alberta Transportation.

11 years, 7 months

Job posting: Executive Director, Bike to the Future (and more)

by Beth McKechnie

*Job posting: Executive Director, Bike to the Future* Bike to the Future <http://biketothefuture.org> (BttF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to making cycling in Winnipeg a safe, enjoyable, accessible, and convenient transportation choice year-round. BttF relies largely on volunteers to promote cycling education, advocate for cycling infrastructure, and generally encouraging more people to cycle more often. BttF is looking for an energetic and organized individual who is passionate about cycling in Winnipeg to work as Executive Director. The Executive Director will be responsible for providing administrative support, strategic planning and direction, resource generation, and public relations. The Executive Director will report to and receive direction from the BttF Board <http://biketothefuture.org/about>. Compensation includes a base amount of $600 per month for 40 hours work per month, and an amount equal to 30% of resources generated in excess of $5000 per year. A flexible work schedule is required. Resumes and cover letters can be sent to Loren Braul, Bike to the Future Co-Chai <loren(a)biketothefuture.org>r. *Application Deadline:* October 6, 2012 BttF Executive Director contract<http://biketothefuture.org/attachments/0000/1812/2012-09-25_bttf_executive_…>(PDF) ________________________________________ The minutes from BttF's September Monthly Meeting have been posted at biketothefuture.org/about/meetings. Our October Monthly Meeting<http://biketothefuture.org/events/archives/2012/09/19/october-monthly-meeti…>is on Tuesday October 9 at 5:30 at the *Sport for Life Centre*. ________________________________________ Bike to the Future's Co-Chair, Tom McMahon, appeared before the Manitoba Public Utilities Board <http://www.pub.gov.mb.ca> (PUB) on September 25 to make a presentation on Manitoba Public Insurance’s (MPI) 2013-2014 rate application. *The presentation pointed out many actions that MPI could take to increase the safety of cyclists on Manitoba roadways. and asked the PUB to tell MPI to improve and increase its public education for drivers and cyclists.* Afterwards, another presenter told us he thought it was one of the most comprehensive, well-researched presentations he has seen at a PUB hearing. Thanks to Tom, Charles Feaver (BttF's Provincial Committee Director), Manitoba Cycling Association <http://mbcycling.ca> President Jason Carter, Anders Swanson, and other BttF volunteers for producing the *presentation document<http://biketothefuture.org/attachments/0000/1813/2012-09-25_bttftopub_mpi.p…> * (PDF, 14 pages with color diagrams). ________________________________________ Kevin Miller Bike to the Future, Secretary biketothefuture.org

11 years, 7 months

Globe & Mail: Ontario coroner recommends speed limit of 30 km/hr

by Beth McKechnie

[Following up on Shoni's email yesterday, here's a related Globe and Mail article] Lower residential speed limits, Ontario coroner urges Renata D’Aliesio The Globe and Mail Published Wednesday, Sep. 19 2012, 11:50 AM EDT http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/lower-residential-speed-limits… In an era when the car is no longer the undisputed king of the road, Ontario’s chief coroner is calling for an overhaul of the province’s streets to bolster pedestrian safety, including suggesting many residential speed limits be lowered to 30 kilometres an hour. Andrew McCallum made this recommendation and 25 others Wednesday after analyzing the circumstances of 95 pedestrian deaths on Ontario roads in 2010. The review found that 67 per cent of the fatalities took place on streets with a posted speed limit above 50 km/h, while only 5 per cent occurred on roads with a lower limit. Video: Road-safety tips for drivers, parents and students<http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/life-video/video-road-safety-tips-for-d…> Other significant factors cited in the review were jaywalking – nearly one-third were killed as they tried to traverse a street outside of a crosswalk or intersection – and inattentive motorists and walkers. In fact, pedestrian distractions, such as smartphones, music players and dogs, may have contributed to about 20 per cent of the fatalities compared with 14 per cent linked to driver inattention. “We know that we need to make … a road paradigm shift,” said Deputy Chief Coroner Bert Lauwers, who led the pedestrian-death review. “We don’t do well when we’re struck by a car and we do a lot poorer when the rate of speed is high.” Echoing a contentious recommendation made by Toronto’s medical officer of health in the spring, the province’s top death investigators are urging municipalities to lower speed limits to 30 km/h on many residential streets and to drop the unsigned limit to 40 km/h from 50 km/h. Dr. Lauwers said a change to the provincial Highway Traffic Act would be needed to reduce the unsigned speed limit, but a spokesman for Transportation Minister Bob Chiarelli suggested municipalities already have the power to reduce speeds within their boundaries. “This should be a decision for local representatives to make with their communities,” said David Salter, the minister’s press secretary. Back in April, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford balked at the idea of lowering speed limits by 10 to 20 km/h, calling the proposal “nuts, nuts, nuts, nuts.” But Dr. Lauwers said research shows that people struck by a car travelling 50 km/h are twice as likely to die than at 40 km/h and five times more likely to perish than at 30 km/h. The review of pedestrian deaths follows an Ontario coroner’s probe of cyclist fatalities, released in June. That review, which examined 129 cyclist deaths between 2006 and 2010, prompted 14 recommendations for improving bike safety and curbing fatalities. They included developing a provincial cycling plan, designing streets to accommodate all road users – and a controversial call to make helmets mandatory for all riders, which is the case in British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. The coroner is also urging Transport Canada to require heavy trucks to install side guards to help prevent cyclists and pedestrians from falling underneath and getting crushed by the rear wheels. The federal transport regulator, however, has maintained there is not sufficient evidence to support such a regulation. Ontario’s Transportation Ministry, which is finalizing a provincial cycling strategy, will take a close look at the proposals to bolster pedestrian safety, Mr. Salter said. With the changes, the coroner believes pedestrian fatalities could be cut by 50 per cent by 2022. Many of the recommendations, such as increased enforcement and redesigning communities to better accommodate all road users, would cost money, but they underscore the changing nature of Canada’s traffic-clogged cities. More and more, people are commuting by bike, transit or on foot. Ontario Provincial Police Chief Superintendent Don Bell supports the coroner’s pedestrian-safety recommendations, which include encouraging walkers to put away their smartphones. Distracted pedestrians have become a major challenge for police officers, he noted. “Walking is like driving a motor vehicle,” Mr. Bell said. “By not paying attention in a road-traffic situation, you are putting your life at risk.”

11 years, 7 months

Creating a Walking Strategy for Ontarians is a top recommendation in the Chief Coroner's report released today

by Shoni Litinsky

In case anyone is interested to see the latest news from Ontario... September 19, 2012 Recommendations Aim to Prevent Pedestrian Deaths in Ontario<http://news.ontario.ca/mcscs/en/2012/09/chief-coroner-releases-pedestrian-d…> Dr. Andrew McCallum, Chief Coroner for Ontario, today released the Office of the Chief Coroner's Pedestrian Death Review. The Pedestrian Death Review was undertaken as a result of concern surrounding the issue of pedestrian safety after a spate of deaths in January 2010. The purpose of the review was to examine the circumstances of 95 deaths that occurred from Jan. 1, 2010 to Dec. 31, 2010 and make recommendations to help prevent future deaths. The review was led by Dr. Bert Lauwers, Deputy Chief Coroner, Inquests with help from stakeholders and members of the public, who contributed their comments. It resulted in 26 recommendations in the areas of leadership, legislation, education, engineering and enforcement. These include: - Creating a Walking Strategy for Ontarians - Adopting a 'complete streets' approach to guide the development of new communities and the re-development of existing communities in Ontario - Installing side guards on heavy trucks - Providing municipalities greater flexibility to adjust speed limits and create more pedestrian crossings - Educating drivers on the scenarios that can lead to a pedestrian collision - Increasing enforcement. QUICK FACTS - 67 per cent of the deaths occurred on roads with a posted speed limit beyond 50 km/hr and only 5 per cent on roads below 50 km/hr. - 75 per cent of the fatalities occurred on wide arterial roads. - Pedestrians over the age of 65 accounted for 36 per cent of the fatalities but account for only 13.2 per cent of the population of Ontario. - Children accounted for 3 per cent of the fatalities. - Peak hours for pedestrian collisions were between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. - Approximately 20 per cent of pedestrians may have had some form of distraction such as a mobile device. - January was the peak month for pedestrian collisions. LEARN MORE - The full report is available online at www.ontario.ca/coronersreports. <http://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/english/DeathInvestigations/office_coroner/P…> CONTACTS - Jennifer Kerr Office of the Chief Coroner 416-314-4005 Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services ontario.ca/safety <http://www.ontario.ca/safety> -- *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, 7 months

Webinar Invitation: September 26 - Safe Routes Planning - A Transportation Engineering Perspective

by Shoni Litinsky

To everyone interested in Active School Travel, Green Action Centre invites you to join us for a local viewing of the upcoming Safe Routes to School Webinar at the EcoCentre (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave) followed by group discussion.* *Detailed description provided below.* *If you would like to attend from your own computer, please register for the event with Sandra Jones - scjones(a)telus.net RSVPs are appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! Cheers, Shoni 204-925-3773 * * * * * *Wednesday September 26, 12:00 to 1:00 pm CST.* *Safe Route to School Planning: A Transportation Engineering Perspective* Safe Routes to School (SRTS) and school travel planning have always been important components of the transportation planning and transportation engineering realms. Hear from Dwayne Cross and Russell Brownlee with the Canadian District of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (CITE), about - how the engineering approvals and practices related to school siting and design have been changing of over the past ten years, and - learn of opportunities to proactively work with your engineering partners in planning and designing schools that promote walking, cycling and transit trips. *Russell* is a recognized expert in undertaking in-service safety reviews of transportation facilities and has conducted operational and safety reviews at existing and proposed school sites. He will draw on years of experience related to school planning, design and operations as a municipal employee as well as through his safety review consulting work. Most recently, Russell prepared a guideline document related to school site location and access for the Region of Durham, and was the keynote speaker and facilitator at a *School Siting & School Site Design for a Healthy Community* workshop in Hamilton, Ontario. He is currently a member of an ITE International Committee preparing an Information Report on *School Site Planning, Design and Transportation*, which is now going through the balloting process to be released for approval. *Dwayne* has developed highway planning policies and procedures, prepared transportation assessments for prospective schools, performed numerous highway commissioning reviews, and managed consulting services for several design, traffic, and transportation studies. As a member of the Technical Liaison Committee of CITE, Dwayne will provide an overview of CITE and its TLC Committee efforts. Green Communities' Canada Walks thanks the CITE for this educational opportunity and dialogue to assist facilitators and stakeholders with their STP work. Additional Bio *Russell Brownlee, B.Sc., M.A.Sc., FITE, P.Eng*. is a Transportation Safety Engineer with over 17 years of public and private sector experience in the areas of road user safety, rail safety, and transportation engineering. At Giffin Koerth he provides expert opinions in the areas of transportation system design, operations and maintenance, primarily related to road and rail facilities. Russell is an active member of the Institute of Transportation Engineers. He is the Canadian District Director and represents Canada on ITE’s International Board of Direction. *Dwayne Cross, P.Eng. MITE*, has over 14 years of public sector experience, spending the majority of this time as Highway Planning Engineer and Senior Highway Planning Engineer with the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. He also has experience in the positions of Project Engineer, Highway Design Engineer, and Access Management Engineer. He has led the planning and pre-construction efforts of several 100-Series highways throughout Nova Scotia. Dwayne became a member of ITE in late 2006 and has been actively involved ever since. Dwayne was President of the Atlantic Provinces Section for four years, ending in 2010. As Past President, he remains an active member of the Section and the activities of its Executive. -- *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, 7 months

Thurs a.m. - cyclists invited to CBC show at Stella's on Sherbrook

by Beth McKechnie

Hi folks: I am forwarding this message from Jason Carter at the Manitoba Cycling Association in case you are interested in participating. -cheers, Beth __________________________________________ CBC Information Radio has asked me to invite cyclists of all types (commuters, racers, couriers, occasional, recreational, advocates, etc.) to participate in live segments during their morning show on *Thursday, Sept 20th at Stella's Cafe, 116 Sherbrook St.* Marcy Markusa will be there at 6:30 a.m. to do numerous interviews with cyclists ("hits") throughout the show's time slot, ending around 8:30 a.m. This is part of their week-long theme of cycling and active transportation as "The Next Big Thing". Here is the show's concept as described by Marcy: The plan is to be in the community at Stella's on Thursday morning for a discussion specifically around downtown. Cycling through downtown. Into downtown, Portage Avenue etc. *What's keeping us from getting there safely?* We are booking (hopefully) someone politically connected and some cyclists with different ideas for the best plans for moving forward. If you can, please come and join us. This is an excellent opportunity for new voices to be heard about the good, bad and ugly subject of cycling in downtown Winnipeg. If you come by bike, be prepared to lock it up somewhere along the street. If you come by other means, please wear something that identifies you as a cyclist (e.g. jersey, or jacket from a "kit"). Also be prepared to purchase breakfast there - we are guests, after all, at Stella's. Hope to see you there!

11 years, 7 months

Funding: Up to $10, 000 for projects that promote healthy living - Southern MB RHA

by Anders Swanson

[Anyone on here from Southern MB? Chronic disease prevention and healthy living-focused grants have helped start numerous active transportation initiatives that are still going strong. This might be for you. See below. Apologies if this is a repost; note the deadline has been extended. If the attached PDFs don't come through the mailing list filter, feel free to email me directly or use the contact info below. - Anders] ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Madeleine Sarrasin Subject: REMINDER: Funding for health-related projects / RAPPEL: Subventions pour projets de santé *Reminder:* You have until the October 5th (extended date) to apply for up to $10,000 of funding for projects that promote healthy living *Rappel:* Vous avez jusqu'au 5 octobre (extension de date) pour faire demande de financement de jusqu'à 10 000 $ pour des projets de promotion de la vie saine ------------------------------ Funding of up to $10,000 available for projects that support healthy living. Communities are invited to submit a funding application for healthy living projects that: · Address an important need identified, initiated and led by the community; · Aim to improve the health and well-being of populations most at risk for chronic disease; · Promote long-lasting effects and benefits to community health. There will be two opportunities to apply for this funding provided through the *Healthy Together Now* program. Application deadlines will be October 1, 2012 and January 11, 2013. Communities can access the application package online at www.sehealth.mb.ca- under *Quick Links* on the left hand side, select *Healthy Living & Health Promotion*, and select *Healthy Together Now*. Community initiatives must meet the project criteria as outlined in Appendix 1, also found on this website. Please distribute and share in your networks. Thank you! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subventions de jusqu’à 10 000 $ disponibles pour des projets faisant la promotion de la vie saine. Les communautés peuvent faire demande de subvention pour des initiatives de vie saine qui : · adressent un important besoin identifié, initié et guidé par la communauté · visent à améliorer la santé et le bien-être de populations à risque de développer des maladies chroniques · assurent des avantages et effets positifs à long termes sur la santé de la collectivité. Il y aura deux occasions de faire demande pour les subventions du programme *Healthy Together Now*. Toute demande doit être soumise au plus tard soit le *1er octobre 2012*, ou encore, le *11 janvier 2013*. Le formulaire de demande est disponible sur le site web au www.sehealth.mb.ca - sous *Liens rapides *sur la barre gauche, choisir *Vie saine & promotion de la santé*, et choisir *Healthy Together Now*. Les initiatives communautaires doivent répondre aux Critères de financement, tels qu’énoncés dans l’Annexe 1, aussi accessible à ce site web. SVP aussi distribuer dans vos réseaux. Merci! Madeleine Sarrasin Healthy Living Facilitator/Facilitatrice de modes de vie sains | *Southern Regional Health Authority/Office régional de la santé du Sud* Tel (204) 346-6692 | Fax/Télec (204) 346-6693 | msarrasin(a)sehealth.mb.ca *"Just because I can't see the stars does not mean I cannot reach for them." **anonymous ** **Privacy Disclaimer** - The information contained in this transmission is confidential only for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed.** **Virus Disclaimer** - Any attachments to this message have been scanned for viruses by automated server-based virus scan.***

11 years, 7 months

The Future of Bicycle Design - Cardboard!

by Erik Dickson

Incredible bicycle made of $9 worth of cardboard. Wonderful design that shows anything is possible if you work for it. This $9 Cardboard Bike Can Support Riders Up To 485lbs It's 100% recycled and very lightweight, with a frame that's stronger than carbon fiber. http://www.fastcodesign.com/1670753/this-9-cardboard-bike-can-support-riders -up-to-485lbs Regards, Erik Dickson Suite 1120 - 201 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3B 3K6 ph: (204) 927-3444 ext. 242 fax: (204) 927-3443 web: www.scatliff.ca blog: http://scatliff.tumblr.com Please consider our environment before printing this message.

11 years, 7 months

AT webinar reminder: Liability - Understanding and Managing Risk, Wed, Sept 19th, 2-3 pm, EcoCentre

by Beth McKechnie

Green Action Centre and Bike to the Future invite you to join us for a local viewing of the upcoming APBP webinar this Wednesday, Sept. 19th at the EcoCentre (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave) followed by group discussion.* *A detailed description is provided below.* ** **Liability: Understanding and Managing Risk Wednesday, September 19th | 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. CDT * RSVPs are appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! cheers, Beth 925-3772 * * * * * The Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) presents: Liability: Understanding and Managing Risk Wednesday, September 19th | 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. CDT The law is a tool--not a barrier--to making public streets safer for all users. Learn how city and state departments of transportation use the law as a normal part of evaluating bicycle and pedestrian projects and when determining whether improvements are needed after a crash occurs. [image: risk]Presentations will provide the context of federal and state guidance on local policy and design decisions, an overview of the legal concepts, and a case study of how the City of Seattle has successfully documented and defended design decisions. This webinar session will specifically discuss the concepts of negligence, reasonable care and governmental immunity. Examples are offered to encourage engineers, planners, law enforcement and legal counsel to collaborate for improved outcomes. Who should attend? Transportation planners, engineers, public works directors and staff, legal counsel, law enforcement and elected officials who need to know how to work within the existing framework of federal and state requirements to meet public demand for safe streets that are pedestrian and bicycle friendly. Presenters: Rebecca Boatright, Senior Assistant City Attorney with the City of Seattle; Michael Ronkin, Principal, Designing Streets for People; Benjamin Winig, Senior Staff Attorney and Program Director, ChangeLab Solutions.

11 years, 7 months

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AT-Network September 2012