---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Terry Zdan <tjzdan50(a)gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 7 Mar 2013 10:15:55 -0600
Subject: Mayor of London proposes $1.4B cycling plan for the city;
“Crossrail for the bike”
Mayor of London proposes $1.4B cycling plan for the city; “Crossrail for
the bike” <http://www.greencarcongress.com/2013/03/london-20130307.html> 7
March 2013
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has
outlined<http://www.london.gov.uk/media/press_releases_mayoral/“crossrail-bike”-mayo…>a
vision<http://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Cycling%20Vision%20GLA%20templ…>for
a £913-million (US$1.48-billion) investment in cycling infrastructure
for the city.
Among other features, the plans would create a “Crossrail for the bike”—a
route that will run for more than 15 miles (24 km), very substantially
segregated, from the western suburbs, through the heart of London, to
Canary Wharf and Barking. It would use new Dutch-style segregated cycle
tracks along, among other places, the Victoria Embankment and the Westway
flyover. It is believed to be the longest substantially-segregated cycle
route of any city in Europe.
*Continue Reading “Mayor of London proposes $1.4B cycling plan for the
city; “Crossrail for the
*<http://www.greencarcongress.com/2013/03/london-20130307.html>
--
Terry Zdan
126 Duncan Norrie Drive
Wpg MB R3P 2J9
CANADA
tjzdan50(a)gmail.com <tjzdan(a)gmasil.com>
[Not so sure about the "less impact on traffic" comment – I would hope that
the RT extension and accompanying AT would have a definite impact! Tongue
planted firmly in cheek. -cheers, Beth]
Rapid-transit busway gets Parker Lands nod Council approves dogleg route
despite concerns
By: Jen Skerritt
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/rapid-transit-busway-gets-parker-lan…
A plan to extend the second phase of Winnipeg's southwest rapid-transit
corridor through the Parker Lands has passed another hurdle.
On Wednesday, council's executive policy committee voted unanimously in
favour of the dogleg route that runs west through the Parker Lands, then
southeast along a Manitoba Hydro corridor. The city hired Dillon Consulting
in 2012 to examine potential alignments, and consultants determined this
route has more benefits than a busway that runs south along the CN rail
line west of Pembina Highway.
A city report said the Parker route will have less impact on traffic and
would allow buses to travel faster because there are fewer road crossings.
Coun. John Orlikow (River Heights) and several citizens told members of the
committee the city did not fully consider the potential benefits of
extending the corridor south near Pembina along the CN Letellier line.
Orlikow said he believes the Parker Lands will develop regardless of the
rapid-transit corridor, but the city will not be able to redevelop Pembina
Highway without bus rapid transit.
Area residents expressed concern the route will have a negative
environmental impact on the Parker wetlands.
"There's just too many missing holes here," said Orlikow, who urged EPC to
further study the alignment options.
Winnipeg Transit director Dave Wardrop said the Parker route provides more
opportunities for infill development and fewer expropriations than
extending the corridor south near Pembina Highway. He said the city would
have to relocate the rail line closer to surrounding homes if it installed
a busway there, and there would not be room for active-transportation
corridors.
Public works chairman Coun. Dan Vandal (St. Boniface) reiterated his
support for the recommended route through the Parker Lands, saying Winnipeg
is years behind rapid transit in other cities and needs to get the second
phase finished.
The first phase of the southwest rapid transit corridor opened last April
and runs between Queen Elizabeth Way near The Forks to Jubilee Avenue near
Pembina.
City council will vote on the proposed alignment for the second phase later
this month.
Mayor Sam Katz said any council decision is subject to having the money in
place.
The city plans to spend $10 million on the second phase of the Southwest
Transitway in 2014 and another $127.5 million in 2015. Winnipeg hopes the
province will match the city's contribution of $137.5 million, and the city
has applied for $75 million in federal funding,
Katz said he believes the city will be successful with its application to
the federal government, and discussions are ongoing with the province.
jen.skerritt(a)freepress.mb.ca
-- State of the city: Mayor Sam Katz will deliver his annual State of the
City address this Friday at a Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce-sponsored
luncheon at the Winnipeg Convention Centre. On Wednesday, Katz would not
say if he plans to make any announcements during this year's speech.
*Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 7, 2013 B3*
*Green Action Centre seeks Executive Director*
Green Action Centre is a non-profit, non-government hub for sustainable
solutions based in Winnipeg but serving all of Manitoba. We are a
registered charity governed by an elected community board, with a
committed, resourceful, and collaborative staff. We promote greener living
through environmental education and encourage practical green solutions for
communities, homeowners, workplaces and schools.
A pioneer in sustainable living, green commuting, composting, waste
reduction, and energy policy in Manitoba, you may have met us as Resource
Conservation Manitoba (before we changed our name in September 2010). We
facilitate change, supported by donations from individuals, fees for
service, grants from foundations and governments, as well as sponsorships.
Our Executive Director is an authentic leader – dedicated and passionate
towards ensuring a supportive, non-hierarchical and dynamic workplace along
with effective community leadership. Having an open-minded, team-based
approach, our engaged Executive Director works with staff, the Board,
members, volunteers and the public to continuously build an imaginative,
inclusive, and forward-thinking organization.
Our Executive Director mirrors the environmental caring of our members. Our
organization walks the talk of ecological sustainability and social justice
and, through outreach to the community, advocates the shared values needed
to help move society towards sustainability. Persistent, creative, and
diverse programming and fund-raising strategies that reflect our commitment
to honesty and integrity are pivotal to the success of Green Action Centre.
Further details about this challenging opportunity, including
responsibilities, remuneration and application process, are available in a
PDF here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Green-Action-Centre-…>
Deadline for applications is *Tuesday April 2 at 12 noon CDT*.
Please circulate widely.
--
*Masha Giller*
Green Action Centre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/> | Active and Safe Routes
to School
3rd floor, 303 Portage Avenue* | *(204) 925-3779
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/>
[stumbled on this post by Mikael Colville-Andersen...including thoughts on
the Pembina bike lane, snow clearing, how Winnipeg is faring compared to
other cities and more..]
Read the whole thing here:
http://www.copenhagenize.com/2013/03/win-win-winnipeg.html
Pedals power green dream
By: Chris Rose
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/pedals-power-green-dream-…
VANCOUVER -- Maybe it's all that cleansing water from too many rain storms,
but this city at the bottom of the Coast Mountains and on the edge of the
Pacific Ocean has always been a bit of a dreamer.
The latest dream of Vancouver, the birthplace of the international
environmental group Greenpeace, is to become the "greenest city in the
world" by 2020, a plan that increasingly incorporates the use of low-tech
wind-in-your-helmet bicycle power to encourage residents to take back the
streets by turning off their car engines.
Conor Murphy, a 49-year-old Vancouver teacher who commutes year-round to
and from work on his bicycle, is living proof that getting out of the car
makes him, and the city he enjoys as he pedals about, have a lower carbon
footprint.
"I have always been attracted to the idea of wheeling around the city on my
bike. However, before the development of bike lanes in Vancouver, it was
difficult to commute in the city without ending up on major arterial roads.
I would arrive at work spitting mad and shaken by what seemed like a daily
brush with death," said Murphy, who used to attach a trailer to his bike so
that his young daughter could ride along with him at a gloriously
greenhouse-gas-emissions-free pace.
"Now I ride my bike on quiet tree-lined streets with little car traffic and
other like minded pedal pushers. The community of cyclists is growing
rapidly. There is a zen quality to the self-propelled life style."
Vancouver's modern-day love affair with bikes began in 1993 when it
established the city's first local street bike route and four years later
when the first dedicated bike lane went into effect. This interconnected
network of bike lanes, routes and paths now totals approximately 250
kilometres and city plans call for an even larger, more extensive network.
Cars, carbon and congestion are bad, the city has decided, and bikes are a
very high-profile signal that the unfettered age of the automobile, at
least in Vancouver, may well have reached its peak. Indeed, data collected
by the regional transit authority indicates about 72,000 bike trips
occurred daily in Vancouver in 2011, up 35 per cent from 2008.
But not everybody appreciates this civic foray into the biking world. Car
enthusiasts who shake with road rage at having to slow down for two-wheel
traffic complain that bike riders don't obey traffic signs and the
expanding network of bike lanes makes movement more difficult for
automobiles. Downtown merchants moan that bike lanes interfere with car
parking and result in fewer sales.
Despite those concerns, Vancouver is pressing ahead with its laudable plans
to encourage as much bike riding as possible. After all, it's not as if
bicycling can't become a major, and affordable, healthy urban pastime: just
think of those moving armies of bike riders in Amsterdam or Copenhagen, all
with rosy cheeks and mostly low blood pressure.
Bike commuters like Murphy speak enthusiastically of cycling as a triple
win -- a quiet part of their day that gives them exercise, often allows
them to travel as fast as cars and buses confined to clogged traffic
corridors, and the chance to be a free-wheeling kid again out exploring a
world far away from stress.
There are other benefits, too. Aging baby boomers who just can't bear to go
to an expensive gym, with its soulless punishment camp ethic, don't need to
feel guilty as being a committed bike commuter neatly lets them off the
health fitness hook. And, like all exercise, the more you bike, the more
you want to bike. It's also free.
Vancouver Coun. Geoff Meggs, a long-time biking aficionado, believes
cycling is critical to improving transportation in the city.
"It's one of the solutions," Meggs said. "We can't put new roads and
highways into Vancouver."
The city wants to see bike traffic reach 10 per cent of all transportation
trips by 2020, he said, adding safe infrastructure, especially separated
bike lanes, is necessary to attain that goal.
"Cycling is one of the critical choices people are going to be glad to have
down the road."
The city's website boasts that while Vancouverites already reside in the
most liveable city in the world, the community proportionately uses, and
wastes, far too many of Earth's diminishing resources.
To that end, the city has come up with a 10-part 2020 action plan to
address three major issues -- carbon, waste and ecosystems. As a way of
eliminating fossil fuel dependence and unclogging many of the city's
rush-hour-blocked roadways, more biking, walking and public transit usage
are a major part of the city's plan.
That plan notes Vancouver is aiming for more than 50 per cent of all trips
to be taken by bike, foot and public transit. This would, it is hoped, help
reduce the average distance driven per resident by 20 per cent from 2007
levels.
For all those who say Vancouver's moderate-weather bicycle revolution could
never happen on the Prairies or other parts of Canada that have to fight
with snow, ice and other brutish winter hurdles, Clinton Cuddington begs to
differ.
As a starving University of Manitoba student taking an undergraduate degree
in architecture, Cuddington was known for riding his bike in Winnipeg year
round -- complete with a ski mask, goggles and a big hat.
"It was the only way I travelled," he remembers. "I often had icicles
coming down my nose. I wore this total World War Two getup as I pounded to
school every day."
Cuddington, 45, added Vancouver's plan to use biking to help make it the
greenest city in the world is a noble cause. "We've got to get people out
of cars, that's for certain."
Chris Rose is the Winnipeg Free Press West Coast correspondent.
*Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 2, 2013 J1*
U.S. DOT to Challenge AASHTO Supremacy on Bike/Ped Safety Standards
by Tanya Snyder <http://dc.streetsblog.org/author/tanya-snyder/> | Thursday,
February 28, 2013
http://dc.streetsblog.org/2013/02/28/u-s-dot-to-challenge-aashto-supremacy-…
For years, the federal government has adopted roadway guidelines that fall
far short of what’s needed — and what’s possible — to protect cyclists and
pedestrians. By “playing it safe” and sticking with old-school engineering,
U.S. DOT allowed streets to be unsafe for these vulnerable road users.
But that could be changing. The bike-friendliest transportation secretary
the country has ever seen told state transportation officials yesterday at
AASHTO’s annual Washington conference that U.S. DOT was getting into the
business of issuing its own design standards, instead of simply accepting
the AASHTO guidelines.
Normally, the Federal Highway Administration points
people<http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/programadmin/standards.cfm>to AASHTO’s
Green
Book <https://bookstore.transportation.org/collection_detail.aspx?id=110>,
the organization’s design guide for highways and streets — and indeed, the
agency is still directing people to the *2001 edition* of the Green Book.
Cycling advocates have long
criticized<http://dc.streetsblog.org/2012/06/19/aashto-adds-designs-to-bikeway-guide-b…>the
AASHTO guide, and the FHWA’s adherence to it, since even the most
recent version doesn’t incorporate the latest thinking in bicycle and
pedestrian safety treatments.
In FHWA’s new round of rule-making, DOT will set its own bicycle and
pedestrian safety standards for the first time. The agency will “highlight
bicycle and pedestrian safety as a priority,” LaHood said. (You can watch
his entire speech on AASHTO’s online TV
channel<http://www.transportationtv.org/Pages/default.aspx?VideoId=306>
.)
FHWA will rely heavily on input from AASHTO but also signaled that it would
work with others to incorporate the full spectrum of bike/ped design best
practices.
The National Association of City Transportation Officials publishes its
own, much more cutting-edge, design
guide<http://dc.streetsblog.org/2011/03/09/new-bikeway-design-guide-could-bring-s…>for
bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. No one at U.S. DOT reached out
to NACTO in advance of the AASHTO speech, but NACTO spokesperson Ron
Thaniel said they have a “close working relationship with Secretary LaHood”
and “look forward to working with him” on the new standards.
LaHood noted that he would be meeting with cyclists next week at the
National Bike Summit here in Washington and that he would work with them on
ways to improve infrastructure “to make biking and walking opportunities as
safe as they possibly can be.”
But it was wise of him to make his announcement at AASHTO, not at the Bike
Summit. He seems to be trying to bring AASHTO into the fold of a movement
to embrace more innovative bikeway designs. “I’m asking [the cycling
community] for their help but I’m asking you to be helpful also,” he told
the state officials. “I know that most of you want to build the
21st century infrastructure that your communities need to be competitive.
The problem is we don’t have modern-day roadway standards to help us bring
these ideas to life.”
It’s a big step for U.S. DOT to craft its own bicycle and pedestrian safety
standards, and it’s especially positive that the move started under a
secretary that sees biking and walking as equal to
driving<http://dc.streetsblog.org/2010/05/28/cyclists-laud-lahoods-bike-ped-advocac…>
in
the transportation world. “We know that people are cycling more and walking
more, and that pedestrian and cycling safety has to be a priority,” he told
the audience at AASHTO yesterday. “We must ensure that our streets, bridges
and highways are safe whether we’re in a car or on a bike.”
Below are LaHood’s remarks, in full:
Our job is never done. We can always do better, and that’s especially true
when it comes to bicyclist and pedestrian safety.
I’m going to meet with cyclists — their meeting is here in Washington next
week, and we’re going to continue to work with the cycling community on
promoting bicycle and pedestrian safety through public education, such as
encouraging bike riders to wear a helmet, and through improved
infrastructure in more livable communities that make biking and walking
opportunities as safe as they possibly can be.
We need your help in this. We know that people are cycling more and walking
more and that pedestrian and cycling safety has to be a priority. We must
ensure that our streets, bridges and highways are safe, whether we’re in a
car or on a bike.
So I’m asking them for their help but I’m asking you to be helpful also. I
know that most of you want to build the 21st century infrastructure that
your communities need to be competitive. The problem is we don’t have
modern-day roadway standards to help us bring these ideas to life.
Today, I’m proud to tell you that DOT is looking to create a standard guide
for how we will build modern streets that work for everyone who depends on
them.
As we begin work on this, we’re going to look at the AASHTO bike guide —
and other, similar types of assistance — to help us build streets, bridges
and highways that keep all travelers as safe as possible.
We’re going to build from your ideas in order to highlight bicycle and
pedestrian safety as a priority. And we’re going to work with you as we
create this critical safety resource.
Businesses and travelers alike are looking to us to build modern
infrastructure that not only meets their changing demands, but is safe as
well. We must work together to meet the growing demand for bicycle and
pedestrian infrastructure and to make these transportation options safe for
more Americans.
*Tanya Snyder became Streetsblog's Capitol Hill editor in September 2010
after covering Congress for Pacifica and public radio. She lives car-free
in a transit-oriented and bike-friendly neighborhood of Washington, DC. *
It may seem a bit early for this however if anyone if putting out spring
newsletters etc please consider promoting these courses offered through the
City's Leisure Guide:
City Cycling for Beginners
<http://www.leisureonline.ca/eConnect/Activities/ActivitiesDetails.asp?aid=7
215> : Do you want to ride your bike more often but just don't feel safe? Do
you want to teach your kids how to cycle safely? Can-Bike certified
instructors from Bike to the Future will help you build both the knowledge
and confidence to start riding on the streets and trails in Winnipeg.
Saturday May 4, 2013 - 12:00 to 4:00 PM - Fort Rouge Leisure Centre
http://www.leisureonline.ca/eConnect/Activities/ActivitiesCourseDetails.asp?
cid=456906&LanguageId=1&LanguageIndex=1&SCheck=420583712&SDT=41336.715277777
8
City Cycling for Commuters: Would you like to start commuting but are
uncomfortable on busier streets? Are you already commuting, but want to
learn the cycling skills that will allow you to ride safely in heavier
traffic? Certified Can-Bike instructors from Bike to the Future will help
you build the skills and knowledge to ride confidently in traffic.
Saturday May 4, 2013 - 12:00 to 4:00 PM - Auditorium-St. James Civic Centre
http://www.leisureonline.ca/eConnect/Activities/ActivitiesCourseDetails.asp?
cid=456905&LanguageId=1&LanguageIndex=1&SCheck=420583716&SDT=41336.716157407
4
Thanks
Dave
o
_ ( \ _
(X)\ /(X)
I want to share an initiatives I helped organize last week that I found
very interesting -
Spring Tune Up for Mature Drivers - held in at the Richmond Kings Community
Center on Thursday, February 28th
In light of the ongoing 'car vs cyclist' challenges we hear about almost
daily, Bike Walk and Roll coordinators* thought we would focus on trying to
educate south end Winnipeg DRIVERS.
CAA in partnership with MPI / Safety Services delivers a BRILLIANT 'Mature
Drivers' education session and we thought we would partner to bring
education to Fort Richmond (see attached flyer). The session is FREE to
anyone - regardless if you're 55+ - and really does an excellent job of
highlighting cycling and pedestrian challenges / rules as related to vehicle
drivers ( I sat through a presentation last November to check it out).
Bike Walk and Roll Coordinators invited CAA to present this workshop in the
community of Fort Richmond.
Through advertising and emails we ended up having 200 people register for
the session last week! Yes - 200 ! Kevin Lunn (and I) spoke about walking
and cycling and sharing the road at the beginning of the session - we handed
out TIPS for drivers AND cyclists (2 pages attached)
We had an ADDITIONAL 80 register but couldn't accommodate so we are holding
another session on:
Spring Tune Up for Mature Drivers
April 17th
10:00 am
Fort Garry Evangelical Mennonite Church <http://www.fortgarryemc.ca/>
http://www.fortgarryemc.ca/
602 Pasadena Ave (Fort Richmond)
The questions folks had on cycling / walking were good questions - REALLY
amplifying to me - the importance of holding this session. The presenter
knew her stuff inside and out. I know this is only a small fraction of
drivers we are helping to educated in the south of Winnipeg - but - I think
it is a great start. The media went delirious over it - this isn't the
first time the course has been offered by CAA - but - I think it tweak
media's interest for a variety of reason (our car / cyclist challenges /
older driver news in Ontario / etc.)
MEDIA:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/story/2013/02/28/mb-driving-seniors-c
ourse-mpi-winnipeg.html
http://www.globalwinnipeg.com/video/evening+news++feb+28/video.html?v=233955
8636#evening+news
12 minutes into the video
http://metronews.ca/news/winnipeg/578527/mature-winnipeg-drivers-gear-up-on-
road-safety/ (in both Friday and Saturday editions)
CJOB in the morning of the 28th
CBC Radio - Up to Speed / Larry Updike in the afternoon of the 28th
Full article / photo to be in this Wednesday's Sou'Wester
*Bike Walk and Roll - Pilot Project in Fort Richmond - University Heights
The Green Action Centre is coordinating a project which is putting the 'AT'
magnifying glass on the communities of Fort Richmond and University Heights.
Through the support of many partners
<http://activetransportation.ca/canada/manitoba/winnipeg/fort-richmond/commu
nity-support/> - and a variety of initiatives - we are looking to improve
walking, cycling and wheelchair conditions in these two communities. There
is lots happening in this area with U of M / Southwood Lands / Stadium
arrival / AT on Pembina Hwy / studies on gondolas & bridges over Red River /
Active Living Centre construction / etc. with a lot of these initiatives
focusing on active transportation.
Thanks
Janice Lukes
Community Active Transportation Coordinator
Bike Walk & Roll - Fort Richmond University Heights Project
<http://www.FortRichmondAT.ca> www.FortRichmondAT.ca
c/o <http://greenactioncentre.ca/> Green Action Centre
204.952.4222