AT-Network November 2014

at-network@lists.umanitoba.ca

4 participants
11 discussions

Portage Daily Graphic: bicycle co-op program inspired after agent of change attempts to launch one for Mission Possibilities (Nov.27'14)

by Beth McKechnie

Bicycle co-op program inspired after agent of change attempts to launch one for Mission Possibilities By Johnna Ruocco <http://www.portagedailygraphic.com/author/johnna-ruocco>, The Graphic Thursday, November 27, 2014 http://www.portagedailygraphic.com/2014/11/27/bicycle-co-op-program-inspire… A new active transportation program may be seen soon in Portage la Prairie — and all because of an unsuccessful attempt at launching one for Mission Possibilities. Guy Moffat was thrilled about the opportunity to be an agent of change in the Portage la Prairie and District Chamber of Commerce and PCRC initiative Mission Possibilities, which saw nine members of the community receive $100 with 30 days to make a positive change in the community. It wasn’t until the chamber and PCRC gave him all the details that he began to get nervous. “Because of my personality, I want to make a really big change, and how can I get that accomplished with $100. So it was just running through all the endless ideas out there and trying to narrow it down that was a little nervewracking at the beginning,” Moffat said. His first thought was an idea he’s had for awhile through the active transportation committee. “The idea is to have a co-operative bicycle program where we have bicycles that are free for use that are left in the community in public areas,” he said. “If someone needs to borrow a bicycle they can borrow it and we just ask that they return it to a public area so someone else will be able to use it.” Moffat tried to think of ways he could use $100 to launch the program and spoke with Fire Chief Phil Carpenter to see is there were any bicycles in need of a lot of repairs that wouldn’t make it to the Portage Firefighters’ annual bike auction. “Fortunately for him, unfortunately for me, there was nothing in there that fit that criteria,” Moffat said. As time trickled away Moffat put out a call on social media looking to see if anyone had a bicycle sitting in their garage they didn’t want anymore. “However, time was crunching down and the idea was to have the program completed within the 30 days, so I would not have enough time to collect all the bicycles, do whatever repairs need to be done, get them branded and get the program together and get it launched,” he said. “Then I was very stuck and after a little bit more reflection, I had the idea to offer to match dollar for dollar any donation that someone in my community wanted to make to either active transportation or to the Portage parks committee.” He arranged through the City of Portage la Prairie to provide tax receipts for donations of $20 or more to the two committees and then he offered up the donation match to two of his communities: RBC and the Rotary Club. “Ultimately my goal at that point was to turn $100 into $200 and instead I turned the $100 into $225 because people ended up donating more,” Moffat said. And while he thought he had hit a dead end with the bicycle program, a couple of people caught wind of his original idea and have come forward and donated bicycles to him. “On top of the $225 (donation) that I was able to make to those committees, at the present time I have four bicycles donated already, I have a place to store them, I’ve started talking to public art... to get students to paint the bikes so that they’re very noticeable,” Moffat said. There is also a tentative donation for $100 for the program to put signage on the bikes in the middle frame, which would outline the program. “Because of the agent of change program that the PCRC and the chamber ran, not only was I able to do the original program and get the donation made, there’s also the spinoff of this other program that will be launching in the spring.” It was an honour to have been chosen to participate in Mission Possibilities, Moffat said, and it gave him a lot of pride to participate in the pilot. “I really, really hope this continues to live on. I was extremely impressed at all of the works all of the agents of change did and what the PCRC and the chamber were able to accomplish with $1,000 injected into the community. You can’t buy much for $1,000 nowadays, and I believe the return on that investment was massive.” johnna.ruocco(a)sunmedia.ca

9 years, 4 months

AT Webinar: Rapid Implementation and Pilot Projects (Protected Bike Lanes), Wed, Dec 3, 2-3pm, EcoCentre

by Beth McKechnie

Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg invite you to join us for a local viewing of the following APBP and Green Lane Project webinar on "Rapid Implementation and Pilot Projects" for protected bike lanes (cycle tracks). The webinar viewing takes place in the EcoCentre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> boardroom (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave) and will be followed by group discussion of local applications. RSVPs appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! cheers, Beth * * * * * Rapid Implementation and Pilot Projects (Protected Bike Lanes) *Wednesday, December 3rd, 2:00-3:00 p.m., EcoCentre Boardroom* *Key takeaways*: • Identify key factors for success in rapid implementation • Recognize when a pilot project is the right tool for rapid implementation • Describe best practices for effective pilot projects *Description*: The concept of rapid implementation upends the usual order of the planning process—design, engage, execute—to put projects on the ground quickly, then refine design based on public input and actual usage. In this webinar, presenters from Austin and Memphis discuss key factors for success and the role of pilot projects in rapid implementation of protected bike lanes. In this session, learn how the cities of Austin and Memphis have evolved a replicable process for getting projects on the ground quickly. Specific factors conducive to rapid implementation of new facilities are considered, including capacity, resources, process and public outreach. Pilot projects are a tool for rapid implementation, and communities have learned some sharp lessons about what works—and what doesn’t. Hear about the evolution of pilot projects in Memphis, including considerations for planning and implementation to maximize community acceptance. Read about pilot projects here: ‘Ready, fire, aim’: How to make a great protected bike lane pilot project <http://www.peopleforbikes.org/blog/entry/ready-fire-aim-how-to-make-a-great…> *Presenters*: Annick Beaudet, Capital Planning Consultant, City of Austin Kyle Wagenschutz, Bikeway/Pedestrian Coordinator, Memphis Urban Area MPO

9 years, 4 months

WFP Analysis: The war on cars - Oklahoma City shows people, autos can live together (Nov21'14)

by Beth McKechnie

The war on carsOklahoma City shows people, autos can live together By: Steve Lafleur http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/the-war-on-cars-283455161… There are two types of people in Canadian cities: people who hate cars, and people who hate cyclists. Or so the perception goes. While it is true many cities have seen bitter electoral feuds over bike lanes and urban sprawl, they are driven more by perception than reality. Drivers, pedestrians and cyclists can co-exist, and making life easier for the latter two groups doesn't have to come at the expense of the former. Canadian cities have much to learn from an unlikely place: Oklahoma City, Okla., -- also known as the City That Lost a Million Pounds. Many drivers think of cycling as a hobby for under-employed hipsters. Cyclists often think of drivers as people who are too lazy to get out of their cars. Pedestrians are often ignored. Despite these rigid identities, humans are multi-modal creatures. Everyone is a pedestrian sometimes, and most people also drive, cycle or use public transportation. While drivers often think of non-drivers as an opposing group, they are generally people at different stages of their days or lives. Urban cyclists often go on to become suburban drivers. Suburban drivers often go on to be urban transit users. These identities are fluid, shaped by urban design, personal circumstances and preferences -- which often evolve. Oklahoma City shows how these preferences can be tweaked. It would be tough to come up with a more stereotypical car city than OKC. Most of the city's growth occurred after the age of mass automobile ownership, so they haven't got the type of large, dense urban core that most large cities have. As the city boomed, built entirely around auto commuting, they skimped on active transportation infrastructure such as sidewalks. That choice came back to haunt the city. When Mick Cornett became mayor of Oklahoma City in 2004, the city was accustomed to appearing on the type of lists that cities want to be on. The city was one of the most affordable and most prosperous. But then the city appeared on a less flattering list: America's fattest cities. Being a heavy-set man himself, Cornett decided to use his own personal struggle to help mobilize his community into healthier lifestyle choices. On New Year's Eve 2007, Cornett challenged the city's residents to lose a collective one million pounds -- which they did by 2012, with some help from the 42 pounds shed by the mayor. That year, Oklahoma City was named the 23rd healthiest community in American by Men's Fitness magazine. Part of the success was no doubt driven by the inspiration of Cornett's personal story. The mayor was making the rounds of national talk shows, extolling the virtues of healthy living. But part was due to the fact the city raised $777 million to create infrastructure to give people alternatives to driving to each and every destination. Some of the expenditures were of questionable value. The city is currently building a $129 million streetcar line, despite the growing consensus streetcars do little to improve urban mobility. They also allocated $252 million to a convention centre, which is tertiary at best to fostering walkability. Some of the expenditures were more obviously beneficial. The city is building a 70-acre park downtown to give residents some valuable green space in the urban core. More importantly, the city added 600 kilometres of new sidewalks. While that doesn't mean that people have necessarily started commuting from the suburbs by foot, it does make it easier to walk rather than drive to the convenience store, or to just leisurely stroll around the block without fear of being hit by a car. The city also added 160 km of jogging and biking trails, and has invested in fitness facilities ranging from kayaking to school gyms. Perhaps the most important lesson from Oklahoma City is that providing more active transportation options does not require a war on cars. The initiative was spearheaded by a suburban Republican mayor, and heavily supported by the business community. It wasn't framed as us versus them. As we've seen in Toronto, for example, an adversarial relationship between drivers and cyclists can eliminate the desire for mutual accommodation. Allowing the discussion over bike lanes and improved pedestrian infrastructure to be dominated by emotion can cloud decision making. The question shouldn't be whether to, but how to build bike lanes and improve walkability. Recognizing drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians aren't opposing factions is an important starting point. We all need to share the streets, whether on two wheels or four. *Steve Lafleur is the assistant research director for the Frontier Centre for Public Policy.* Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 21, 2014 A13

9 years, 4 months

Wave goodbye to the two-car family

by Beth McKechnie

Wave goodbye to the two-car family Phil LeBeau <http://www.cnbc.com/id/15838076> | @Lebeaucarnews <http://twitter.com/Lebeaucarnews> Tuesday, 18 Nov 2014 Imagine the typical American family. Odds are your vision includes a home with two kids, as well as two or more cars. But according to a new study by KPMG, that image is becoming a less common reality. As a growing number of consumers participate in car sharing, wait longer to buy their first vehicle and move to the suburbs, KPMG predicts that in about 25 years, fewer than half of U.S. households will own more than one vehicle. Read whole article: http://www.cnbc.com/id/102193080

9 years, 4 months

Regional co-operation to create a bicycle highway

by Patman, David

http://www.citylab.com/commute/2014/11/how-the-danish-cooperated-to-build-a… Would like to see a similar thing done in Manitoba to provide bike connectivity throughout the Capital Region. David Patman, P. Eng. Transit Planner Winnipeg Transit | Service Development Division 421 Osborne Street | Winnipeg, Manitoba R3L 2A2 P: 204-986-5737 | dpatman(a)winnipeg.ca<mailto:dpatman@winnipeg.ca>

9 years, 4 months

You're Invited: Open House at the U of M on Traffic Engineering and Children's Mobility (November 24, 26 & 27)

by Anders Swanson

Hi, Want to come see some exciting new research into children's mobility happening right here in Winnipeg? As part of their 4th year transportation engineering training, in a course led by Dr. Jeannette Montufar in partnership with Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> and the City of Winnipeg <http://winnipeg.ca/publicworks/MajorProjects/ActiveTransportation/>, 68 local civil engineering students are assessing 17 local schools across 3 school divisions, looking for ways to make it easier, safer and more convenient to bike, walk or roll to school. The Engineering students have had a semester to research, study, consult and analyze - and they are ready to share some of their findings. The project is also serving as a demonstration of the value our just-released CounterPoint <http://counterpointapp.org/> traffic counting app and, excitingly, a testing hotbed for our second software tool - this one designed to revolutionize origin destination analysis (using Hands Up attendance time "How did you Get Here?" surveys and, ultimately, enlisting the help of kids everywhere). *Come see for yourself. * *Where: * University of Manitoba Engineering Building Atrium See map. <https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Engineering+Atrium/@49.8081537,-97.1332878…> *Dates/Times(Drop-In): * Monday, Nov. 24, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Winnipeg School Division (Group 13 – 17) Wednesday, Nov. 26, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Louis Riel School Division (Group 8 – 12) Thursday, Nov. 27, 10:00 to 11:15 a.m. Pembina Trails School Division (Group 1 – 7) Kindly, Anders Swanson on behalf of the project team

9 years, 4 months

Green Action Centre job posting: Workplace Commuter Options Coordinator

by Jessie Klassen

PLEASE SHARE WIDELY, THANKS! *Green Action Centre seeks Workplace Commuter Options Coordinator* Green Action Centre is looking for an independent, energetic, flexible and organized individual to fill a position within our Workplace Commuter Options team. Working collaboratively with other Workplace Commuter Options and Green Action Centre staff, the Program Coordinator assists with the delivery of the WCO program, engaging with businesses, employees and community organizations to make active and green transportation options both appealing and within reach. Apply by Sunday, November 30th. Find full job posting here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/about/jobs/>.

9 years, 5 months

Fwd: Announcing: The Cycle of Giving 2014!

by Anders Swanson

[ Another event FYI. This is my favourite event to take part in, ever. Guaranteed good time. If you know how to repair a bike, polish a bike, test ride a bike, donate a bike, cook a pizza, make a christmas card, wash a dish, play music, listen to music or all around be merry, be there. You won't regret it. - Anders] ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: The WRENCH <cog(a)thewrench.ca> Date: Thu, Nov 13, 2014 at 9:39 PM Subject: Announcing: The Cycle of Giving 2014! To: Anders Swanson <andersswanson(a)gmail.com> <http://thewrench.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6238a8c152cbe3f4aa1ed1ab…> ------------------------------ December 6th and 7th 12pm to 12pm The Orioles Community Centre 448 Burnell St. <http://thewrench.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6238a8c152cbe3f4aa1ed1ab…> ------------------------------ *Cycle of Giving* 24 Hour Bike Building Marathon is bringing together volunteers to build over 270 bicycles for Winnipeg children in need. With your generous support we aim to raise over $15,000 to support free bicycle programming in Winnipeg. >From *noon on Saturday December 6th to noon on Sunday December 7th* the Orioles community centre will be transformed into a magical workshop where salvaged and donated bicycles are turned into dreams come true. ------------------------------ *You can support the Cycle of Giving:* Donate <http://thewrench.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6238a8c152cbe3f4aa1ed1ab…> - Volunteer <http://thewrench.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6238a8c152cbe3f4aa1ed1ab…> - Share on Facebook <http://thewrench.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6238a8c152cbe3f4aa1ed1ab…> ------------------------------ This holiday season let's make bicycle dreams come true! *Our mailing address is:* The Wrench 1057 Logan Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3G 0A1 Canada Add us to your address book <http://thewrench.us9.list-manage.com/vcard?u=6238a8c152cbe3f4aa1ed1abd&id=0…> unsubscribe from this list <http://thewrench.us9.list-manage1.com/unsubscribe?u=6238a8c152cbe3f4aa1ed1a…> update subscription preferences <http://thewrench.us9.list-manage2.com/profile?u=6238a8c152cbe3f4aa1ed1abd&i…> [image: Email Marketing Powered by MailChimp] <http://www.mailchimp.com/monkey-rewards/?utm_source=freemium_newsletter&utm…>

9 years, 5 months

AT Webinar: E-bikes, Electric Assist Bikes and Transportation Policy, 2-3pm, Wed, Nov19th, EcoCentre

by Beth McKechnie

Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg invite you to join us for a local viewing of the following APBP webinar: E-bikes, Electric Assist Bikes and Transportation Policy. The webinar viewing takes place in the EcoCentre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> boardroom (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave) and will be followed by group discussion of local applications. RSVPs appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! cheers, Beth * * * * * E-bikes, Electric Assist bikes and Transportation Policy *Wednesday, November 19th, 2:00-3:00 p.m., EcoCentre Boardroom* *Key takeaways* • Develop an understanding of types and definitions of e-bikes, including U.S. federal guidance and regulation • Understand the range and variation of existing North American regulations, and the ramifications for adoption and use of e-bikes • Explore Boulder’s Electric Bike Pilot Project, including models for testing and evaluation *Description* As electric assist bikes become more prevalent, cities must figure out how to integrate these devices into existing transportation networks. This webinar will help you to understand the spectrum of options and get the grounding you need to introduce this topic to your community’s stakeholders. John MacArthur, the Sustainable Transportation Program Manager for TREC at Portland State University, explains the definition and classifications of electric assist bikes, discusses the speed differential of these devices, and provides a review of current North American regulations. Marni Ratzel, Senior Transportation Manager at the City of Boulder, presents the background and results of Boulder’s Electric Bike Pilot Project, which has temporarily allowed the use of e-bikes on paved multiuse paths. The project provides an outstanding model for testing e-bike use, integrating public concerns into regulations, and evaluating results. *Presenters* *John MacArthur* is the Sustainable Transportation Program Manager for the Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University. He is active in research related to sustainable transportation, particularly in the areas of transportation electrification, climate adaptation, and the relationship between transportation and public health. John is focused on exploring how technology can get more people biking and biking more often in more safe ways. Before joining the OTREC staff, he was the Sustainable Transportation Coordinator for HDR Inc. and worked on Oregon's OTIA III State Bridge Delivery Program, replacing or retrofitting over 200 state bridges. He has worked for 18 years in the environmental and sustainability field. He earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Lehigh University and a M.S. in Environmental Health Sciences from the University of Michigan, School of Public Health. *Marni Ratzel* is a senior transportation planner with the City of Boulder, Colorado. Her primary responsibilities are focused on bicycle and pedestrian transportation planning, utilizing a comprehensive approach comprised of the Five Es, which she will briefly discuss in her presentation today, to increase biking and walking trips in Boulder. A regular bus and bicycle commuter, Marni encourages others to integrate bicycling and walking into their daily routine as fun, viable and efficient transportation modes. She received her master's degree in City and Regional Planning from Rutgers University in 1994 and has served city government as a planner in the transportation field for over 19 years.

9 years, 5 months

TOD summit on Nov 17th

by Anders Swanson

Hi AT-Network, If there was one thing that was repeated often at Walk21 Sydney, it was the importance of density and transit to promote walking as mode of transportation. In that spirit, I wanted to make sure you got an invitation to this very interesting event being put on the the BIZ on Monday. There is are in-depth discussions and presentation during the day and a public event in the evening. See below. Anders We hope you and/or your colleagues would consider joining us! * See the attached invitation for the roundtable event. Please also see attached invitation for the evening public forum.* Special thanks to our sponsors: Delta BOMA Jairo Viafara Special thanks to our planning partners: The City of Winnipeg Winnipeg Transit Economic Development Winnipeg Exchange District BIZ Dillon Consulting Green Action Center *TOD SUMMIT AGENDA, NOVEMBER 17th* 9-10AM Mayor Gives Greetings (Mr. Brian Bowman) Introduction to TOD (BIZ Representatives & other speakers) 10:30AM-12PM Break off to 3 discussion groups 12-1PM Lunch break 1-3PM Discussion groups continue, followed by a summary and question period 3-4PM Drinks with TOD 6-8PM Public and Downtown BIZ Member Forum · Three international speakers are showcased followed by a panel discussion · Key points from afternoon session are brought forward Best regards, Stephanie Voyce Manager: Placemaking, Cleanliness & Transportation Downtown Winnipeg BIZ 204-958-4621 office 204-958-4630 fax

9 years, 5 months

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AT-Network November 2014