AT-Network September 2013

at-network@lists.umanitoba.ca

10 participants
31 discussions

CBC: Crosswalk lost in redesign of Pembina Highway and Plaza Drive (Sept.18'13)

by Beth McKechnie

I definitely share the concerns stated below -- coming off the cycle track on Pembina Hwy, we did a jug-handle turn (Copenhagen left<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRGTW06ZgO8>) at this intersection to cross Pembina at Plaza on our way to U of M. Seemed much simpler and safer than trying to move across three lanes of traffic to turn left from Pembina. We discovered the lights wouldn't turn green for us unless a motorist on our side was also going across. So on the next trip, we hit the pedestrian button on the north side of the intersection before turning into the vehicle lane and positioned ourselves to cross Pembina. That only resulted in triggering the pedestrian walk sign to light up on the north side of the intersection. Only then did we realize that there was no pedestrian crossing on the south side of the Pembina/Plaza intersection. This seems to force cyclists to cross on the north side of the intersection as a pedestrian, then cross again as a ped on the south side in order to turn left and continue cycling along Plaza. That seems unduly onerous, non-intuitive and confusing for people coming off the cycle track. Initially, I thought it was great that this buffered bike lane landed at an intersection with lights but unfortunately it turns out not to be convenient for either people on foot or on bikes. If I'm missing something here, please send me a note. Thanks! -Beth * * * * * Revamped Winnipeg intersection is dangerous, says woman Crosswalk lost in redesign of Pembina Highway and Plaza Drive intersection CBC News <http://www.cbc.ca/news/credit.html> Posted: Sep 18, 2013 6:10 PM CT http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/revamped-winnipeg-intersection-is-da… A south Winnipeg woman says the busy intersection near her home has become confusing and dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists since it was redesigned last year. Dorothy Peters says she's had to be a de facto crossing guard at the intersection of Pembina Highway and Plaza Drive lately, stopping people from crossing the street where a crosswalk used to be. "No crosswalk!" she shouts at someone about to walk across the street on Wednesday, while she waits for a transit bus at the stop on the other side. "They could be be hit and killed," she said. Peters said the intersection has been "basically chaos" since September 2012, when the city finished making changes to it. With the redesign, pedestrians lost one of two crosswalks on Pembina at Plaza. But Peters said people still try to walk in the non-existent crosswalk, putting themselves at risk of being struck by oncoming traffic. "I saw this light facing this way, so I thought I could cross this way," said Vivian Krywy, a pedestrian who was redirected by Peters. "It is very confusing, especially to older people," she added. Peters has also been talking to cyclists at the intersection, namely those who shift gears from the bike lane to the sidewalk. River Heights-Fort Garry Coun. John Orlikow says traffic engineers are looking into concerns related to the intersection. "We send it forward to the engineers to reassess it, if there's anything we can do to make it a little bit safer and a little more clear," Orlikow said.

10 years, 7 months

WFP: Revamp for bylaw amendment over cyclists, parade permits (Sept.18'13)

by Beth McKechnie

Revamp for bylaw amendment over cyclists, parade permits http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/revamp-for-bylaw-amendment-over-cycl… A proposed amendment to the traffic bylaw to allow cyclists to get a parade permit will be sent back to civic administration for review after concerns were raised the change would make it illegal for large groups of cyclists to train or ride on city streets. "The amendment needs a little wordsmithing," said Coun. Scott Fielding, chairman of the protection and community services committee, which endorsed the amendment last week. The committee was told last week Winnipeg police technically could not issue parade permits to cycling groups because the bylaw only recognizes pedestrians and motorized vehicles to participate in parades. The committee was told the amendment merely added cyclists to the list of those eligible to obtain a police-escorted parade permit. However, alarm bells were raised within the cycling community, who feared the wording of the amendment would make it illegal for groups of 10 or more cyclists to go on recreational or training rides without a parade permit. "The intent was never to stop people from enjoying the use of their bicycles," Fielding (St. James-Brooklands) said. Fielding credited the intervention of Couns. Jenny Gerbasi (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry) and Dan Vandal (St. Boniface) and the cycling community for alerting civic staff to the unintended implication of the proposed amendment. Gerbasi said senior WPS executives realized the amendment wording could be interpreted in a manner that was never intended, adding it was the police who recommended it be withdrawn and rewritten. Deputy police chief Art Stannard said last week the amendment had a humorous origin: A couple of years ago a group of naked cyclists wanted a police-escorted parade permit and that's when police discovered the shortcomings of the bylaw. *Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 18, 2013 B2*

10 years, 7 months

Fwd:The Human Scale Film at Cinematheque

by Cyndi Otfinowski

HI, I rarely send things, but I thought this film, The Human Scale at the Cinemathèque, might be interesting to some, especially the panel discussion afterwards on urban planning. Cheers, Cyndi Otfinowski Begin forwarded message: > From: "Winnipeg Film Group" <info(a)winnipegfilmgroup.com> > Date: September 17, 2013 11:28:26 AM MDT (CA) > To: "Cyndi & Rafael Otfinowski" <cotfinowski(a)gmail.com> > Subject: Now Playing at Cinematheque > > See Issue Online Cinematheque Website > > > Unsubscribe > > > Architecture+Film is an ongoing series which focus on architecture > and design, co-presented by the Winnipeg Architecture Foundation - a > charitable organization dedicated to advancing the awareness and > appreciation of Winnipeg's built environment through public > education. http://www.winnipegarchitecture.ca/ > > > > Advance tickets available online > > Thu Sep 19 at 9:00 PM > Fri Sep 20 at 7:00 PM > > DIR. ANDREAS DALSGAARD | 2012 | DENMARK | 77 MIN > (Danish with English subtitles) > > Jan Gehl, architect and urban visionary, believes that we know more > about creating good habitat for mountain gorillas than we do about > designing cities that function well for Homo sapiens. This > compelling film explores the work that Jan and his team have been > doing around the world. The many smart, sleepless, and frustrated > urban planners profiled in the film talk passionately about the ways > in which a human scaled city makes for richness, spontaneity, and > engagement within communities. > > Juxtaposed against the organic small-scale model is the spectre of > the coming giga-city. Bleak, sterile, composed of neon towers, > flyovers, and endless streams of traffic, this dystopian future is > funded by the World Bank and promoted by politicians and speculators > whose vision of modernity is a city entirely privatized and largely > designed for cars. > > Panel discussion following the Sept 20 screening featuring: > Christian Cassidy, writer and researcher for the West End Dumplings > blog This was Manitoba and Peg Downtown Places > Bob Somers, Landscape Architect at Scatliff+Miller+Murray > Steve Cohlmeyer, Architect and Urban Designer, Cohlmeyer Associates > Brent Bellamy, Senior Design Architect at Number Ten Architectural > Group as well as columnist for the Winnipeg Free Press > Robyn Robertson, architectural intern at aodbt architecture and a > founding member of Saskatchewan's Open: design collaborative > > The Human Scale is generously sponsored by Lafarge and the Winnipeg > Architecture Foundation. The film is being shown as part of the > Winnipeg Design Festival > > > > > Upcoming Films > > > > THE MANOR > Wed Sep 18 at 7:00 PM > Thu Sep 19 at 7:00 PM > Sat Sep 21 at 7:00 PM > Sun Sep 22 at 2:00 PM > Thu Sep 26 at 7:00 PM > An astonishingly intimate and rarely seen portrait of a family > facing the consequences of their livelihood running a strip club and > the demons that come along with it. > View details > > > > > > TINY FURNITURE > Fri Sep 20 at 9:00 PM > Sat Sep 21 at 9:00 PM > Sun Sep 22 at 7:00 PM > Thu Sep 26 at 9:00 PM > Lena Dunham's knockout second feature Tiny Furniture won a jury > prize at SXSW and wowed critics and audiences, which eventually lead > to her creation of the HBO series Girls. > View details > > > > > > Cinematheque News > > > > TOP 3 OF 2013 - voted by YOU! > Missed the chance to see a film we've already screened? Wishing that > we would bring in a particular film? Tell us what you'd like to see > and we will screen the top 3 film as voted by you in early December! > View details > > > > > > Cinematheque What's Playing Calendar Buy Tickets & Passes Find Us > Donate > > > > > This email newsletter was sent to you because your email is on the > Winnipeg Film Group's Cinematheque mailing list. If you no longer > want to receive these emails, you may unsubscribe. > > >

10 years, 7 months

Fwd: GREAT NEWS ON THE BICYCLE TRAFFIC BYLAW ISSUE!

by Beth McKechnie

Great news from Councillor Gerbasi... ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Gerbasi, Jenny <JGerbasi(a)winnipeg.ca> Date: Tue, Sep 17, 2013 at 11:46 AM Subject: GREAT NEWS ON THE BICYCLE TRAFFIC BYLAW ISSUE! Dear Friends, ** I just spoke with the Acting head of the Winnipeg Police service and he let me know that they will be pulling the Traffic Bylaw item off of the EPC agenda and sending it back for review to be part of a larger more detailed review that Public Works is doing of the traffic bylaw.**** ** ** In other words, the bylaw is not going ahead as planned and they will work to address the concerns raised about the wording of the bylaw. So groups of 10 or more cyclists do not have to worry about receiving fines..**** ** ** Cheers!!!**** ** ** Jenny**** ** ** ** ** ** ** Jenny Gerbasi Councillor, Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry Phone: (204)986 5878 Fax: (204) 986 5636 jgerbasi(a)winnipeg.ca **** If you wish to sign up for my e-newsletter and receive occasional updates of city hall happenings please go to my web site: www.jennygerbasi.ca . You can also follow me on twitter @JennyGerbasi or join my Councillor Jenny Gerbasi page on Facebook. **** Dear Friends,**** ** ** I am writing in follow-up to the concerned raised about the changes to the Traffic Bylaw that EPC is considering tomorrow.**** ** ** I am advocating strongly to get the traffic bylaw matter referred back to the Standing Policy Committee …and then to staff to be reconsidered and address the issue raised of fines for bikes in groups of 10 or more.**** ** ** It is my understanding that the intention of the bylaw change is to allow parade permits for large bike events for groups that wanted to have a police escort and that a change was made in the definition to include bikes in the bylaw. This was something some councilors and groups were advocating for. However…the change in definition which now includes cyclists in the traffic bylaw allows any group of cyclists of 10 or more to be a finable offence if they DON”T have a permit …which is not what was intended at all. This is a problem as numerous community activities could result in fines…things like family or group rides, Downtown BIZ cycling tours and much more.**** I expect that this problem is an unintentional side effect of the change in definition …It is better to take more time and do this right…than have it done speedily.**** So I will be advocating to have this referred back and have this addressed.* *** ** ** EPC meets on this tomorrow and hopefully they will be receptive to revisiting this. I will be contacting EPC members ahead of the meeting and I know a number of citizens are scheduled to attend. I am not able to be there tomorrow in person as am speaking at a community event…but will be following this issue closely.**** ** ** Most sincerely, Jenny**** ** ** Jenny Gerbasi ****

10 years, 7 months

WFP: Parade permits for cyclists around corner (Sept.17'13)

by Beth McKechnie

Pasted below this article is additional information from David Sanders and who to contact if you wish to speak to the amendment at tomorrow morning's EPC meeting. There appears to be a difference in interpretation between the Winnipeg Free Press's reporting below that this change would *allow* cyclists to obtain a parade permit if they so wished vs. the concern that it will be enforced by police as *required* by any group of 10 or more cyclists (i.e. organized or spontaneous group rides, even a gathering of friends travelling by bike from place to place). The wording of the amendment could more clearly stipulate that it is intended to allow cyclists who wish to apply for a parade permit to do so. (See suggested rewording in attached submission by David Sanders.) Note that there's a meeting tonight at 7 pm at Mondragon (91 Albert St) to discuss potential response strategies for those who are interested. * * * * * Parade permits for cyclists around corner http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/parade-permits-for-cyclists-around-c… THE City of Winnipeg is poised to change its traffic rules to allow cyclists to obtain a parade permit, but some cyclists are already up in arms. On Wednesday, council's executive policy committee is considering an amendment to the traffic bylaw that would allow 10 or more bike riders to obtain a parade permit. Right now, cyclists can't obtain parade permits because it's illegal to ride side-by-side. "A number of bicycle groups apply for parade permits each year with the intent of operating in a parade fashion with a police escort," reads the report to council. This amendment, however, has sparked fears police could use the amendment to crack down on groups of cyclists. Winnipeg lawyer David Sanders, who represented members of a Critical Mass ride, issued a statement Sunday warning of $1,000 fines to anyone who rides in a group of 10 or more. *Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 17, 2013 A2* ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: *David Sanders* <westhawk41(a)yahoo.ca> Date: Sun, Sep 15, 2013 at 3:10 PM Hi all: If any of the old email addresses work, hope you are all doing well. If you want to be able to cycle in *groups of 10 or more people* on Winnipeg streets without a parade permit issued by the Chief of Police 48 hours before, without facing *fines of up to $1,000 each*, you may want to check this out. On Wednesday, September 18, Executive Policy Committee will be asked to approve the recommendation of the Standing Policy Committee on Protection and Community Services, that the City of Winnipeg Traffic By-law 1573/77 be amended to restrict cyclists in that manner. Attached is a copy of the last minute submission I sent to the Committee last week, to no avail. And it appears the press didn't pick it up. You will find the EPC agenda and the Standing Policy Committee minutes on the City's Decision-Making System website, with the text of the amendment, the half-truth of the Administration's recommendation, and By-law 1573/77 itself, which describes the stringent requirements for holding a "parade" and provides for fines of up to $1,000 for violating those requirements. If you have trouble accessing the pdf's with Google, try Google Chrome or Moxilla Firefox. You may wish to notify others who might find this undesirable, and encourage them to contact Carlos Gameiro at cgameiro(a)winnipeg.ca if they wish to register to speak to the amendment at EPC on Wednesday morning. Regards, David Sanders

10 years, 7 months

WFP: Truckers slam bid to ban rigs [on Provencher] (Sept.13'13)

by Beth McKechnie

Great to see Councillor Vandal working to make Provencher more pedestrian and bike friendly! Truckers slam bid to ban rigsBarring trucks from Provencher costly, lacks vision: industry By: Kevin Rollason http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/truckers-slam-bid-to-ban-rigs-223585… <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/memberships/> Truckers are grinding their gears over a move by the city to explore the possibility of banning trucks from Provencher Boulevard and Portage and Main. The Manitoba Trucking Association is upset the civic infrastructure renewal and public works committee wants the administration to study the pros and cons of a ban and report back in 90 days after Coun. Dan Vandal, the committee's chairman, asked for the report. Terry Shaw, the MTA's general manager, wants to hit the brakes on the issue because he says the problem for truckers is actually larger than the possibility of being banned on two major streets in Winnipeg. "The congestion and growth of Winnipeg is far outstripping the ability of the infrastructure -- we don't have a transportation vision 2013 let alone 2040," Shaw said. "Instead of piecemeal moves like banning trucks from Provencher and Portage and Main, let's step back and see what do we need for everyone and then put together the vision that captures it all. "You are not making the trucks go away -- you are just putting them elsewhere." Shaw said the road bed on Provencher was constructed to take into account it was a truck route. About 27,000 vehicles per day drive on Provencher. Shaw worries what could happen next if trucks were banned from those two areas. "Osborne, Corydon and Academy are all lovely areas and they are all truck routes. Trucks should always have access to the areas they need access to. "Six hundred trucks is only five per cent of the traffic on Provencher -- it is a small percentage of the traffic." Shaw said the association has already calculated that, based on the city's statistics of 600 trucks on Provencher during an average 11-hour period, it would cost Winnipeg industries $600,000 to ban trucks due to longer driving distances. But Vandal is not backing down on the issue. On Tuesday, Vandal said the issue was "a no-brainer." On Thursday, Vandal said "I am concerned about both Provencher and Portage and Main and The Forks in between. "I simply think we need to encourage a more pedestrian environment down the entire corridor... as we fast approach 2014, tractor-trailers and semi-trailers should not be at Portage and Main and Provencher Boulevard by extension." Matt Allard, president of the Old St. Boniface Residents' Association, said area residents have been pushing the issue for years. "We endorse the motion to ask the administration to ban truck traffic on Provencher," Allard said. "Generally this issue comes up at almost all of our residents' meetings. "It's not something we are doing on a whim." Allard said Provencher is changing with more coffee shops and outdoor cafes on the street and they want to encourage other traffic rather than trucks. "With the new pedestrian bridge and the new human rights museum, there's really a feeling we do want a Provencher more amenable to cyclists, pedestrians and coffee shops." Ahmed Shalaby, head of the University of Manitoba's department of civil engineering, said truck routes are built to a higher standard than residential streets, but not much different than other busy roads. Shalaby said the idea of banning trucks from areas of the city is not new because it has been done in other metropolitan areas in North America. "In the end, you have to provide access to goods and services and activity. You are moving trucks from one road to the next." kevin.rollason(a)freepress.mb.ca Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 13, 2013 B1

10 years, 7 months

PUB denies BW intervention on Road Safety

by feaver＠mymts.net

The Manitoba Public Utilities Board has refused Bike Winnipeg's application for joint intervention with the Manitoba Consumers' Association of Canada at the MPI hearing. Working with pro bono lawyer James Benson, a small group of BW volunteers put a lot of time into preparing for the MPI hearing, which the PUB had indicated would include a significant focus on promoting safety on Manitoba roads. We initially proposed participating as full interveners and introducing expert testimony on safe driving near cyclists and on communicating effectively with the driving public. MPI objected to allowing us to participate as full interveners, and the PUB rejected our application, suggesting we could collaborate with one of the other interveners. We worked with the Manitoba Consumers' Association of Canada (CAC MB) to be joint interveners with them, MPI objected again, and PUB released a decision yesterday denying our application. BW wanted our lawyer to represent us at the portion of the hearing which covered road safety programs, present our final argument after all the evidence has been heard, and be compensated for this work as are the other lawyers at the hearing. That is what has been denied. We can make public presentations at the start of the hearing, like we did last year, but that's all. We see this as a sign of the PUB backing off in its demands for more effective road safety programs. MPI argues that ""Road safety, as a general issue, has a marginal impact on the rates set by the Board..". We believe that is because their multi-million dollar road safety programs are ineffective. MPI says on the record that their ads are successful if they create the perception to the public that they are encouraging road safety. BW proposed to bring in expertise to show how effective advertisers use communications to successfully change behaviour, but that was deemed by the PUB to be "too narrow". Bottom line; Cyclists (and pedestrians) are getting killed and injured on our roads. BW has to find a different way to increase provincial agencies' accountability on road safety. - Source: <http://bikewinnipeg.ca/2013/09/13/mpi-pub-refuse-bw-intervention-road-safet y/#sthash.YmkDye2N.FvBbpZMj.dpuf> http://bikewinnipeg.ca/2013/09/13/mpi-pub-refuse-bw-intervention-road-safety /#sthash.YmkDye2N.FvBbpZMj.dpuf

10 years, 7 months

AT Webinar: Integrating Spatial Data to Develop Community Priorities, 2-3pm, Wed, Sept.18th, EcoCentre

by Beth McKechnie

<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/memberships/>Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg invite you to join us for a local viewing of the following APBP webinar at the EcoCentre (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave). This will be followed by group discussion of local applications.* *Detailed description provided below. *Wednesday, Sept. 18th | 2:00-3:00 p.m.* RSVPs are appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! cheers, Beth (204) 925-3772 * * * * * ** Integrating Spatial Data to Develop Community Priorities Learn how collaborative mapping can be a planning tool for regional networks. This webinar will feature examples of using map data to help multiple, adjacent jurisdictions create long-term plans for prioritizing improvements. One of the case study projects used map data to tell a story that brought the wider community into the planning process.

10 years, 7 months

TOD EVENT CANCELLATION

by Beth McKechnie

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Stephanie Voyce <stephanie(a)downtownwinnipegbiz.com> Date: Wed, Sep 11, 2013 at 7:57 PM Subject: TOD EVENT CANCELLATION Good evening, We regret to inform you that this week's conference - Ideas for Action on Transit Oriented Development, organized by Via Fara Transportation Policy and Planning Consulting, has been cancelled. The forum, scheduled for September 12 from 7pm-9pm at Portage Place, will also not be taking place. Our sincere apologies for the inconvenience this may cause. We hope to be able to engage you in the future with another forum on this topic. Please don't hesitate to be in contact with us if you have any questions or comments. Best regards, Stephanie Voyce Project Manager, Image & Transportation Downtown Winnipeg BIZ 204.958.4621 office 204.958.4630 fax Visit our website at www.downtownwinnipegbiz.com!

10 years, 7 months

Webinar: How to build a culture of walking in your community or province

by Jackie Avent (ASRTS)

Please see below for a webinar opportunity. Please pass on to your networks. ** ** ** ** Hi everyone!**** ** ** We are hosting a webinar on Sept. 19th and I was wondering if you could help us spread the word!**** ** ** Thanks so much,**** Christa**** ** ** ** ** ** ** *Want to know how to build a culture of walking in your community or province? * Join us on *Thursday,* *September 19th from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. EST* for *Part I* of our Walking series. **** Kate Hall from Green Communities Canada, Elaine Shelton from Heart and Stroke Foundation (Nova Scotia), Graham Matsalla from Alberta Health Services, and Dr. Ron Wilson from the BC Medical Association will provide an overview of the initiatives that are making walking more prominent in four different provinces across Canada.**** *Part II* of our series will take place on *Thursday, September 26th from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. EST* and will provide the opportunity to delve deeper and help you implement similar initiatives. This will also provide an opportunity to share the work that you are doing related to walking. Registration for Part II will be limited to 25 ParticipACTION Network participants to facilitate discussion and sharing.**** To register for the September webinar on walking, please email * forum(a)participACTION.com <%20forum(a)participACTION.com>* by September 17, 2013 to reserve your spot.**** ** ** [image: cid:image002.jpg@01CEAE43.C81F7630]**** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** *Christa Costas-Bradstreet* Relationship Manager/ Gestionnaire des relations**** * * *ParticipACTION***** Phone/ Téléphone: 416.913.1397**** Main Line/Ligne principale: 416.913-1511**** 77 Bloor St. W. Suite 1205/ *77*, rue Bloor ouest, bureau 1205 **** Toronto, On. M5S 1M2**** www.participACTION.com <http://www.participaction.com/>**** ** ** ** ** [image: SDIC bilingual signature 2013] <http://sportsday.cbc.ca/>**** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

10 years, 7 months

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AT-Network September 2013