I was not familiar with this particular city -- check out the video that explains how auto use is discouraged (many auto trips take longer than cycling trips) which results in high bicycle mode split. Can you imagine such policies enacted here?
http://www.cityclock.org/groningen-nowhere-will-find-cyclists/
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>
[Hello folks, these proved surprisingly popular last year. This is a chance
for individuals, bike shops, design firms, etc to hold a meeting, do a
presentation and engage the public. Share your knowledge, ideas and
expertise. See the info from Stephanie below. - Anders]
*Ciclovia*
Sunday, September 7, 2014, 11:00am - 6:00pm
In its sixth year, the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, in conjunction with many
stakeholders and sponsors, will put on this FREE eco-friendly,
healthy-lifestyles festival and active transportation initiative that will
see both north and south sides of Broadway closed from Osborne to Edmonton
St (and a car-free curb lane extending from Edmonton St Main St). Some of
the many activities include a Bike Zone, Farmers’ Market, Kids’ Zone, Food
Truck Wars, Wine & Beer Festival, Live Music, Fitness Stage and Soap Box
Derby. This festival area is a highlight in what will be a network of
car-free streets from Assiniboine Park all the way to The Forks on Sunday,
September 7! For more information, please visit Manyfest.ca.
*Please also let me know if you are interested (or can pass on some names
of folks who may be) in doing a cycling related** seminar at Ciclovia this
year*. We are looking for 15-20min long seminars, that will take place
casually in a little living room on the grassed Broadway median by Edmonton
St (comfy chairs, coffee and discussion). Please let me if you are willing
and what times might be best for you (between noon-6pm)!
Thanks,
*Stephanie Voyce*
Manager, Placemaking, Cleanliness & Transportation
*Downtown *
*Winnipeg BIZ *204.958.4621 office
204.958.4630 fax
Visit our website at www.downtownwinnipegbiz.com!
Interesting Sunday reading; http://www.cbc.ca/m/news/#!/content/1.2717129/
[Anecdotal remarks. All around us, we can see harbingers of what is coming
in future - which we can capitalize on or hinder, depending on our
approach. Consider the new bike rental store up at the Forks. Consider
the Fringe bringing a boost in the number of people walking and cycling
downtown - already filling every bike rack in sight. Consider the
importance of good signage and infrastructure for to those people
-especially all the out-of-towners who either already chose to come here or
who would - and consider what would happen if all folks knew that a week at
the fringe meant a week cycling between venues and exploring the
city. Consider the fact that in their closing remarks, one particular group
of Columbian performance artists performing at the fringe mentioned
"exploring Winnipeg by bicycle" as the main thing they would miss. Consider
the potential of bicycle tourism as a social lubricant for just that one
event and multiply that by every comic convention, Canada
Day concert, football game, local street festival, German who wants to
visit Canada and see both prairies and boreal forest,
Winnipegger/Grandparent who wants their children (and esp.
their children's children) to choose to visit Winnipeg on summer
break... or perhaps just you and your family on any plain-old beautiful
Sunday afternoon choosing to invest in an a locally-made ice cream cone
instead of Netflix. Ironically, perhaps, even CBC inadvertantly
underestimates the potential: there is one typo in the article; the figure
for the money spent annually in Europe should read 64 billion, with a
'B', not million. See:
http://www.eurovelo.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Economic-Benefits-of-Cyc…
In
short, we would be very wise to do better. Someone else tell Travel
Manitoba and Tourism Winnipeg and the respective roads departments. I have
been a "professional bike tourist" for so long lately, perhaps i am
biased. -Anders]
FHWA releases Bicycle Safer Journey
The Federal Highway Administration released Bicycle Safer Journey, a new
tool to educate teens and children about safe bicycling behaviors.
Bicycle Safer Journey is a free, online education tool designed to help
educators, parents, and others who care about bicycle safety to get the
conversation started with children and youth.
The modules provide the information and education needed to help children
and teens become safer bicyclists. The resource consists of three videos —
one for each of three age groups: 5-9, 10-14, and 15-18 — accompanied by a
quiz or discussion and an educator’s resource library. The tool can be used
as an introduction to bicycle safety skills or to augment a comprehensive
curriculum. The age-appropriate videos, which are available in English and
Spanish, address picking the safest places to bicycle and the importance of
being alert.
Bicycle Safer Journey is the second part of FHWA’s effort to better inform
children and teens about safe non-motorized travel. FHWA released Pedestrian
Safer Journey
<http://cts.vresp.com/c/?UNCHighwaySafetyRese/b502bf8f42/a153a5784b/d905b42c…>
in
2013 to offer similar educational tools directed toward walking.
To access Bicycle Safer Journey, go to
www.pedbikeinfo.org/bicyclesaferjourney
<http://cts.vresp.com/c/?UNCHighwaySafetyRese/b502bf8f42/a153a5784b/f99cfc27…>
.
It's from the UK but I suspect that the percentages indicated would be
similar here. 82% of parents wanting cycling skills as part of the
curriculum!
http://www.bikebiz.com/index.php/news/read/40-adults-lack-basic-bike-mainten
ance-skills/016667
40% adults would struggle to fix a bicycle tyre puncture
Large swathes of the population lack basic bike maintenance skills, claims
research
In a survey of 4,500 adults, 41 per cent admitted a lack of basic bike
maintenance skills such as puncture repair or adjusting brakes.
The survey, run for Halfords, also found that 15 per cent have little cycle
safety knowledge. Echoing previous reports, the survey found a good
proportion - 33 per cent - believed cycling safety should be covered in
schools, with over 80 per cent arguing it should be added to the National
Curriculum.
A third of parents (33%) claimed their children's schools do not offer
Bikeability.
Halfords community and CSR manager Emma Thomas said: "Our research shows
there is a real knowledge gap when it comes to cycling safety and
maintenance. Halfords has helped almost 45,000 children learn the basics
over the past year and through in school, school holiday and community
workshops we're helping as many children as possible stay safe on their
bikes, but there are still too many cyclists without proper knowledge of
cycling safety."
Halfords colleagues taught 12,000 children from 455 stores about bike
maintenance and safety at free Gear Up! workshops held in June, and 2,000
Cubs attended in-store bike workshops as part of their cyclists activity
badge. In addition more than 30,000 children have taken part in Halfords
free kids bike clubs, with 10,000 attending last Easter holidays - double
the number on the previous year.
Thomas added: "We're so proud that, since the Halfords workshops began in
June, we've taught 12,000 school children about bike maintenance and safety,
a key part of kids becoming confident on their bikes. Our research shows 82%
of parents want cycling safety added to the National Curriculum - and the
fact that thousands of children have benefited from the Gear Up! bike
workshops shows how important cycling education is."
Walk-friendly Hamilton pilots 30 kmh zone
Posted on July 21, 2014
<http://greencommunitiescanada.org/walk-friendly-hamilton-pilots-30-kmh-zone/>
<http://greencommunitiescanada.org/walk-friendly-hamilton-pilots-30-kmh-zone/>
*The City of Hamilton has been designated a Silver WALK Friendly community
in 2013 for its commitment to walkability and pedestrian safety. Tanya
Stuart, Canada Walks Communications Facilitator, outlines some highlights
from Hamilton’s application**.*
*http://greencommunitiescanada.org/walk-friendly-hamilton-pilots-30-kmh-zone/
<http://greencommunitiescanada.org/walk-friendly-hamilton-pilots-30-kmh-zone/>
*
Hamilton has developed a city-wide plan to address the needs and interests
of pedestrians – the Pedestrian Mobility Plan. The plan establishes a
20-year framework, to 2031, to provide pedestrian environments that are
safe, attractive, and accessible to community institutions, employment and
retail services, thereby increasing the opportunity for walking as a mode
of transportation. The plan also recognizes that a commitment to and
investment in active transportation improves community health and economic
vitality.
Hamilton is harnessing the power of social media to engage residents in
active transportation. The City launched a free mobile transportation app,
Travelwise, designed to get residents to where they need to go using
sustainable transportation.
The app provides instant access to information on getting around by
transit, walking, cycling, carpooling, car share and taxi.
Hamilton is also piloting a traffic calming project. A 30 kmh speed limit
has been introduced in a neighbourhood of about 5,200 residents. The
project will be monitored to assess its impact on pedestrians, cyclists,
and the overall well-being of residents.
GCC’s WALK Friendly designation recognizes municipalities for their
commitment to making their communities safe, easy, and enjoyable places to
walk. To participate, municipalities complete an online application
<http://walkfriendly.ca/> that benchmarks where they stand on more than 200
walkability indicators. Indicators include sidewalk policies, safe
crossings, attractive public places, and citizen engagement, with a
particular focus on Planning and the five Es: Engineering, Education,
Encouragement, Enforcement, and Evaluation.
Intake is now open for the next round of WALK Friendly Ontario
applications. Deadline is 30 September 2014.
Came across this link on LinkedIn; it would be nice to see something like this here in Winnipeg one day (maybe by the U of M ;-) )
http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2014/jul/14/bike-lanes-bridge-copenhagen-…
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>
