March 2015 - AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

Light up your bike
by Zdan, Terry (MIT) 28 Mar '15

28 Mar '15

‎http://mashable.com/2015/03/28/volvo-lights-up-nighttime-cyclists/ Happy trails Terry Zdan MIT 2042273724 Terry.Zdan(a)gov.mb.ca

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Spin - inspired by the story of Annie "Londonderry" Kopchovsky
by Beth McKechnie 28 Mar '15

28 Mar '15

Mark your calendars to pick up tickets for Prairie Theatre Exchange <http://www.pte.mb.ca/database/files/library/Season_at_a_Glance_website.pdf>'s presentation of "Spin" by Evalyn Parry <http://www.thecollectionagency.ca/evalyn%E2%80%88parry/> running Jan 13-31, 2016. Annie was recently featured by Momentum Mag as one of three women who changed the course of history on bicycles <http://momentummag.com/three-women-changed-course-history-bicycle/>. SPIN Created and Performed by *evalyn parry* Directed by *Ruth Madoc-Jones* Innovative, award-winning Toronto artist evalyn parry takes her audience on an uncommon theatrical and musical journey in* SPIN*, her tour-de-force performance celebrating the Bicycle as muse, musical instrument and agent of social change. Inspired in part by the incredible true tale of Annie Londonderry – the first woman to ride around the world on a bicycle in 1894 – parry spins a web of stories which travel from 19th century women’s emancipation to 21st century consumer culture, peeling back layers of history to ultimately reveal a profoundly contemporary and personal heart to her performance. parry’s “co-star” is a vintage bicycle: suspended in a mechanic’s stand on stage and connected to a variety of electronic effects pedals, the bike is played – from fenders to spokes to bells – by percussionist *Brad Hart*, conjuring an astonishing and unique sonic accompaniment to parry’s songs and monologues. Projections by award-winning designer *Beth Kates* add a captivating visual layer to *SPIN*, which sold out the run of its premiere in Toronto in 2011. “part theatre, part musical gig, part spoken word poetry and part documentary … whatever it is, it is brilliant” –*Toronto Star*

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Job Posting: Active Transportation Coordinator, City of Winnipeg
by Beth McKechnie 27 Mar '15

27 Mar '15

Hello everyone: You may have heard that Kevin Nixon, the City's AT Coordinator, is retiring shortly. We are very sorry to see him go! Here's the job posting – please share widely! thanks, Beth * * * * * ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION COORDINATOR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Posting #: 112240 Under the general direction of the Transportation Facilities Planning Engineer, this position implements programs that are critical to the successful management of the transportation network and the position is expected to excel in communications, team building and project management in a multi-task and multi-disciplinary environment. This position shall be responsible for encouraging and implementing Active Transportation projects and coordinating related interdepartmental activities. A significant responsibility of this position is the implementation and coordination of programs, education, promotion and funding activities including the preparation of reports to the Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works. This individual fulfills a facilitation/coordination role with community groups and various City Departments. The position is responsible for the supervision of two technical/support positions and also administers the work of the Active Transportation Advisory Committee. As the Active Transportation Coordinator you will be: - Implementing the City's Active Transportation Strategies and Policies. - Chairing meetings with and administers the Active Transportation Advisory Committee. - Encouraging innovation and seeking partnerships in funding and supporting Active Transportation facilities and programs. - Assessing and recommending the incorporation of Active Transportation facilities in all transportation projects. - Administering the Active Transportation Capital Budget Program. Your experience includes: - A Community College Diploma in a related discipline such as Urban Planning or Environmental Studies. - Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering or Urban Planning would be considered an asset. - Minimum of three (3) years of prior related work experience. - Indepth knowledge of City of Winnipeg Active Transportation Policy. - Knowledge of cycling and pedestrian best practices and policies. - Proven ability in public speaking; dealing with the public and stewardship groups. - Demonstrated application of transportation planning methods. - Demonstrated current research related to policies and design guidelines in the area of Active Transportation. Requirements: - Possess and maintain a valid Manitoba class 5 Driver's License. If YOU are interested in this exciting opportunity, please apply online at winnipeg.ca/hr quoting Posting No. 112240, Active Transportation Coordinator position by 4:30 p.m., Monday, April 13, 2015. The salary range for this position is $2,669.48 to $3,585.65 biweekly. We have great benefits and competitive salaries, and we are committed to ongoing learning and career development! For more information on this opportunity and other careers within the City, visit: winnipeg.ca/hr/. WE SEEK DIVERSITY IN OUR WORKPLACE. ABORIGINAL PERSONS, WOMEN, VISIBLE MINORITIES, AND PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY ARE ENCOURAGED TO SELF-DECLARE. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. #LI-POST Posting and to apply online: http://www.winnipeg.ca/resumeol/peoplesoft/job_req.asp?req=112240

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The economics of bike lanes vs car parking - compilation.
by Laura Donatelli 24 Mar '15

24 Mar '15

Not sure if this has already been shared, but if not, it's quite interesting. http://www.citylab.com/cityfixer/2015/03/the-complete-business-case-for-con…

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Artist Talks with Erika Lincoln, Victoria Scott and Scott Kildall
by Beth McKechnie 24 Mar '15

24 Mar '15

You may recall hearing about this collaboration of an artist with the City's climate change office. Could be a really interesting presentation. Please share widely! http://plugin.org/events/201503/artist-talks-erika-lincoln-victoria-scott-a… *From:* Plug In ICA [mailto:info@plugin.org] *Sent:* March 19, 2015 1:45 PM *To:* erika(a)lincolnlab.net *Subject:* Artist Talks with Erika Lincoln, Victoria Scott and Scott Kildall [image: Plug In ICA bulletin] Artist Talks with Erika Lincoln, Victoria Scott and Scott Kildall March 26, 2015 - 7pm to 8:30pm Plug In ICA | 460 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, Canada Plug In ICA is pleased to host *Erika Lincoln* on *Thursday, March 26th* as she introduces the scope of her residency with the Climate Change Ofﬁce at the City of Winnipeg Planning, Property & Development Department. Erika Lincoln was selected as the Artist-in-Residence with the City of Winnipeg through the Winnipeg Arts Council Public Art Program. Collaborating with the Planning Department’s Ofﬁce of Climate Change, Lincoln’s project augments public engagement opportunities for citizens of Winnipeg to learn more about climate change and the city. The Reﬁll Project, <https://refillproject.wordpress.com/about/> featuring Victoria Scott and Scott Kildall, will be the ﬁrst in a series of events organized by the Lincoln. For this presentation, each artist will speak about their individual art practices as well as introduce The Reﬁll Project <https://refillproject.wordpress.com/about/>, a public workshop on data visualization and mapping happening Friday, March 27, 6 – 9 pm and Saturday, March 28, 12 – 5 pm at VideoPool Studio, 300 – 100 Arthur Street. San Francisco-based artists Victoria Scott and Scott Kildall have been invited by Erika Lincoln to speak about the Reﬁll Project which addresses the 2013 closing of the Freshwater Institute Library in Winnipeg. Victoria Scott and Scott Kildall’s collaborative art practice in data visualization and public intervention helps engage citizens with their cities. More information on the artists and this project can be found at The REFILL Blog. <https://refillproject.wordpress.com/about/> The Winnipeg Arts Council Public Art Program’s Artist-in-Residence Program integrates artists and their ideas into City facilities to engage citizens in civic processes through art. Plug In ICA gratefully acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Manitoba Arts Council and Winnipeg Arts Council as well as our generous donors, dedicated members and hardworking volunteers. For general information please contact: info(a)plugin.org. For media inquiries please contact: Janique Vigier at janique(a)plugin.org or by telephone at (204) 942-104 ext 27. Share this on: Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=http://www.plugin.org/events/201503/art…> | Twitter <http://www.twitter.com/home?status=Currently%20reading%20http://www.plugin.…> Become a member of Plug In ICA <http://plugin.org/news/200902/become-member-plug-in-ica> Visit our web shop <http://plugin.org/shop> *Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art* Unit 1 - 460 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 0E8 Canada View the online version <http://www.plugin.org/events/201503/artist-talks-erika-lincoln-victoria-sco…> | Unsubscribe from this bulletin <http://plugin.org/newsletter/confirm/remove/2d54bd5d0b654t4>

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WFP: From parking spot to 'parklets' (Mar.21'15)
by Beth McKechnie 22 Mar '15

22 Mar '15

From parking spot to 'parklets' By: Emily Badger http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/world/from-parking-spot-to-parklets-297114… Conventional wisdom says businesses need parking spots. If would-be customers can't pull up out front, how will they come inside? This is a powerful idea, and it invariably animates the opposition any time cities threaten to redesign roadways, replacing parking spots with bus lanes, cycle tracks, bike racks or wider sidewalks. Remove parking, the argument goes, and business will wither. The reality, though, is more complicated. Consider one illustration: For the last few years, Philadelphia has converted a handful of parking spots in front of neighbourhood businesses into temporary "parklets" no bigger than the space that might fit one or two cars (these tiny interventions are now popular in a lot of cities). Records from adjacent businesses show sales went up about 20 per cent immediately after the parks were installed, relative to right beforehand. The data come from a recent study by the University City District, a neighbourhood development organization in Philadelphia that sent interns out in the spring and summer of 2013 to exhaustively record what happened after a half-dozen of these tiny parks were placed. Most of them included tables, planters and bike racks that created something in between a new public park and an outdoor extension to nearby cafés and sandwich shops. The result: a lot more people packed into these spaces than could ever be accommodated by a single car. Outside a taco shop, as many as 150 people used a space over the course of the day that was only about 240 square feet in size. The seats were packed outside the café in early afternoon and an ice cream shop in the evening. Not all of these people were spending money at these nearby businesses (that's a good sign -- it means people recognized they could treat these spaces as public parks and not private outdoor restaurants). But the sales data shared by these businesses suggest the extra foot traffic -- and the outdoor attraction -- was a boon for business, even when it came at the expense of a little parking. The takeaway here isn't we should turn parking spaces everywhere into public parks. This idea wouldn't work in a lot of other contexts (you're a lot more likely to need your car on the way out of an IKEA than a coffee shop, for one thing). But it illustrates a parking spot isn't always the best use of roadside real estate, although we often treat it as such. And it adds a little more evidence to the growing economic case for deploying our streets differently, for use by more than cars. Other research suggests cyclists may actually spend more than drivers at some kinds of businesses because it's easier for them to pop in often and unplanned. And there are some signs that bike-share docks boost business nearby, too. -- The Washington Post Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 21, 2015 D5

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AT webinar slides: Pedestrian and Bicycle Counting Programs
by Beth McKechnie 18 Mar '15

18 Mar '15

Hi everyone, Thought others – beyond those who attended today's APBP webinar on Pedestrian and Bicycle Counting Programs – might be interested in the attached slides and additional links and info. cheers, Beth -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://canadahelps.org/>

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WFP Herald: Browaty stirs up emotions with "bike tunnel" ad (Mar.16'15)
by Beth McKechnie 18 Mar '15

18 Mar '15

Browaty stirs up emotions with “bike tunnel” ad By: Sheldon Birnie http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/herald/Browaty-stirs-up-em… Plans to include an active transportation link and emergency corridor beneath an elevated interchange at Highway 59 and the Perimeter Highway have come under fire from one Winnipeg city councillor. But Manitoba government and RM of East St. Paul officials say Browaty is being alarmist. Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan) took out a full page ad in last week’s issue of* The Herald* calling on premier Greg Selinger not to "waste $$$ on (a) bike tunnel." "Originally proposed as a simple active transportation bridge over the Perimeter Highway by the NDP during the 2011 provincial election," Browaty’s statement reads, "the revised proposal is calling for an elaborate tunnel, costing $10’s (sic) of millions of dollars and routing thousands of vehicles daily onto residential streets in North Kildonan and East St. Paul." "The money could be better spent," Browaty told* The Herald*, saying he believes upgrades to Lagimodiere Boulevard and Henderson Highway are more deserving of public investment. Lance Vigfusson, assistant deputy minister of Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation, and Shelley Hart, mayor of East St. Paul, both said Browaty made incorrect and misleading statements in his ad and subsequent press release. "For one, this is not a tunnel," Hart told *The Herald*. "It’s a level-grade crossing. The new cloverleaf (interchange) will be above it." Vigfusson explained that, in order to deliver on the 2011 promise of an active transportation connection "there were two options" when designing that link into plans for the upgraded interchange at the Perimeter and Highway 59. "One option was up and over the Perimeter," Vigfusson said. "The other was taking the Perimeter up and over, making the active transportation corridor as a through path, not a tunnel." After consulting with trucking industry representatives, the province determined that a bridge over the Perimeter which could accommodate large, oversize loads would be the more difficult of the two options. "We would have had to build with at least seven metres of clearance," he said. As a result, he explained, the overpass would have been "approximately nine metres above the ground," making it impractical for active transportation. Keeping the active transportation corridor at grade was the option selected. As a result of Browaty’s ad, some North Kildonan residents have expressed concern that the proposed transportation link will increase traffic in the residential area along Raleigh Street and Gateway Road south of the perimeter. "This’ll increase traffic flow," said Ross Campbell, who lives near the intersection of Gateway and Knowles Avenue. "Traffic will in turn create problems in residential areas. All in all, I do not believe the province or East St. Paul put any thought into it." Vigfusson stressed that the active transportation corridor will not create additional traffic headaches as it won’t be open to commuter traffic. It will be made wide enough to accommodate emergency vehicles, which would access it via a gated system. Vigfusson did say that, if the city of Winnipeg and the RM of East St. Paul decide to open the corridor to regular vehicle traffic in the future, the costs to upgrade would be minimized. "We designed this (interchange) to last for 75 years," he explained. "If ever East St. Paul and the city want to convert it down the line, it would cost a fraction of overall cost to do it now, rather than retrograde." Vigfusson said he believes Browaty’s estimate of thousands of vehicles "that number is highly exaggerated." "From where we’re standing, we applaud the province’s foresight," East St. Paul mayor Hart said. Longtime East St. Paul resident Gary Alderson agreed. "The option of going with a two-lane underpass is probably, if you look down the road, a good idea," Alderson told *The Herald*. "To me, this is good planning. Sure, it’ll cost residents here a few million bucks, and it’ll cost the province. But that’s inevitable if you’re going to do something like this." The province is now awaiting final proposals for the Highway 101/59 interchange as part of the competitive process. Vigfusson said a proposal should be selected by June and hopes to see construction begin at the end of summer. He expects the project to take three to four years to complete. "We have a lot of bridges and lanes to build," he said. "And a lot of dirt to move." *Facebook.com/TheHeraldWPGTwitter: @heraldWPG*

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AT Webinar Reminder: Pedestrian and Bicycle Counting Programs, Wed, Mar 18, 2-3:30, EcoCentre
by Beth McKechnie 17 Mar '15

17 Mar '15

*Friendly reminder about tomorrow's webinar...* Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg invite you to join us for a local viewing of the following APBP webinar: *Pedestrian and Bicycle Counting Programs. * Interesting to see that the presenters include a couple of Canadians (from Ottawa and Montreal). The webinar viewing takes place in the EcoCentre 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 ** * * * ** Pedestrian and Bicycle Counting Programs *Wednesday, Mar. 18th, 2-3:30pm, EcoCentre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Boardroom* Key learning objectives: 1. Review state of the practice for bicycle and pedestrian data collection, with reference to NCHRP Report 797 2. Recognize the elements of effective bicycle and pedestrian counting programs 3. Understand the methodology and policy implications of Ottawa’s bicycle count program 4. Explore the Trail Modeling and Assessment Platform (T-MAP) *Description*: Consistent and standardized data collection techniques are the building blocks for establishing reliable performance measures to document usage, need, and return on investment in bicycle and pedestrian facilities. This 90-minute webinar provides practitioners with a comprehensive introduction to concepts, examples of current practice, and discussion of policy implications of data collection programs. The session agenda includes: - An overview of NCHRP Report 797: Guidebook on Pedestrian and Bicycle Volume Data Collection and the state of the practice - A case study from the City of Ottawa that describes a methodology for measuring trends accurately over the long term and developing correction factors for short-term or seasonal influences - Guidelines for setting up a robust counting program, with reference to the 2013 FHWA Traffic Monitoring Guide; including techniques for estimating Annual Average Daily Bicyclists and Pedestrians (AADB / AADP) - An explanation of the Trail Modeling and Assessment Platform (T-MAP), the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s new tool to measure and model trail use for project prioritization and impact assessment. *Presenters*: - Tony Hull - Zlatko Krstlic, P. Eng., Transportation Planner, City of Ottawa - Tracy Hadden Loh, Ph.D., Director of Research, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy - Luis F. Miranda-Moren, Ph.D., Associate Professor, McGill University - Krista Nordback, Ph.D., P.E., Postdoctoral Research Associate, TREC, Portland State University

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Metro Article: Perimeter Crossing
by Anders Swanson 14 Mar '15

14 Mar '15

http://metronews.ca/news/winnipeg/1312192/perimeter-tunnel-crossing-near-hi…

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WFP L2E: Crossing for cyclists crucial (Mar14'15)
by Beth McKechnie 14 Mar '15

14 Mar '15

*Crossing for cyclists crucial* http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/letters-marc… Coun. Jeff Browaty's assertion that safety will be compromised by the construction of a through-pass on the Northeast Pioneers Greenway right-of-way turns reason on its head (Perimeter plan 'poorly conceived': Browaty, March 12). As a restricted-access roadway, the Perimeter Highway acts as a major barrier between regionally important recreational facilities such as the Gateway Recreation Centre, Bunn's Creek Trail, the Skylight Complex, Chief Peguis Trail pathways, Kilcona Park, the East St. Paul Recreation Complex and the Red River Floodway trail to Birds Hill Park. Without this much-needed crossing, people wanting to ride their bikes to these and other destinations on either side of the Perimeter would be forced to cross the Perimeter on Highway 59 through the planned interchange. They would be required to run a gauntlet of long, high-speed merge lanes serving up to 900 vehicles per hour. This is the approach Coun. Browaty favours, but it represents a very real safety concern that is completely unacceptable. Bike Winnipeg and our allies have been working so hard to see a safe, convenient crossing of the Perimeter Highway included in the interchange project. Mark Cohoe Executive director, Bike Winnipeg *** While Coun. Jeff Browaty's desire to protect his constituents is admirable, his assertions the province is moving forward without consultation on a plan that will funnel 30,000 cars onto the streets of north Winnipeg is simply incorrect. Consultations were held as part of the design/tender process and resulted in a plan to build a full cloverleaf interchange with an active-transportation corridor at ground level that will connect Winnipeg with Birds Hill Park. The raised Perimeter Highway not only provides a ground-level corridor for active transportation, but will create a gated corridor that can be used by emergency vehicles only. The corridor will not be opened to the public, and Coun. Browaty's concern the design will result in 30,000 vehicles moving through northeast Winnipeg is unfounded. It is also incorrect to infer the province is opening this corridor without municipal participation. Last fall, we heard loud and clear from the trucking industry, the active-transportation community and East St. Paul residents. Our engineers have also told us the chosen option requires a similar investment compared with building the Perimeter Highway as a level highway with a long and high bridge for active transportation. The obvious choice was to take the option that guaranteed emergency services for area residents, allowed for economic growth and was favoured by our active transportation users. If Coun. Browaty would like to better understand this project, we would be happy to give him a briefing. Ron Kostyshyn Minister, Transportation and Infrastructure

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WFP: Browaty still fearful of Perimeter plans (Mar.14'15)
by Beth McKechnie 14 Mar '15

14 Mar '15

Browaty still fearful of Perimeter plans By: Aldo Santin http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/browaty-still-fearful-of-perimeter-p… North Kildonan Coun. Jeff Browaty said he still has concerns over a proposed at-grade corridor across the north Perimeter Highway, despite assurances by the province it won't be used as a public roadway. Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Ron Kostyshyn told the Free Press Friday there are no immediate plans to allow traffic on the new corridor that will link both sides of Raleigh Street in East St. Paul. Kostyshyn said the corridor is being designed for active-transportation uses that can accommodate emergency vehicles when the situation arises. "The corridor will not be opened to the public, and Coun. Browaty's concern that the design will result in 30,000 vehicles moving through northeast Winnipeg is unfounded," Kostyshyn said. Browaty went public with his concerns over the corridor earlier this week, saying it would result in a massive influx of traffic into north Winnipeg and the residential streets of North Kildonan. The Selinger government promised in the 2011 campaign to construct an elevated active-transportation bridge across the north Perimeter -- part of its plans for a cloverleaf at the Perimeter and Highway 59 -- linking the Pioneers Greenway pathway that runs through East and North Kildonan with a similar pathway in East St. Paul and on to Birds Hill Park. Browaty said those plans suddenly changed in the fall, to an underpass open to traffic linking Raleigh Street on both sides of the north Perimeter Highway. Kostyshyn said the corridor has been designed to accommodate an expansion for vehicular traffic, but added that would only occur "if both municipalities wish to pursue that option in the future." Browaty said the province did not consult with Winnipeg when it recently changed its plans for the corridor, adding he's not reassured the NDP government will consult the city when the time comes to allow traffic on the corridor. "Those (provincial) assurances aside, I still believe there are better ways to spend the money than what the province is planning to do," Browaty said. Browaty said traffic studies done by East St. Paul found 30,000 vehicles a day would use the new corridor by 2030 if opened to regular traffic, adding Winnipeg's residential streets in that area aren't designed to handle that kind of load. The province hasn't disclosed the cost of the proposed corridor, but a spokeswoman said it's estimated to be the same as the active-transportation bridge originally proposed for the crossing. She added it was concluded the at-grade corridor was the better option. aldo.santin(a)freepress.mb.ca Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 14, 2015 A14

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New Video: Paradise on The Prairies (starring Portage and Main)
by Anders Swanson 13 Mar '15

13 Mar '15

*1.* *I made a new video. Its special. I think you'll really like it. * *[video] Paradise On the Prairies <https://vimeo.com/121991829>* Grab a coffee and enjoy. I don't think you'll be disappointed. It starts with a little handdrawn 3-D animation of Portage and Main with protected bike lanes and then takes you on a journey to see what I see. Takes a few minutes to watch the whole thing. Just might change the way you see Winnipeg. If you like it, please share it on Twitter <https://twitter.com/SwansonAnders/status/576481125473902593> with anyone who wants to see it happen (or is in a position to...). *2. Inspired? * That video is also my submission to the Winnipeg Capital Budget process. (That's why it's exactly 10 minutes.) You can have your say too. If you are in Winnipeg, consider signing up to speak in delegation on Monday (PW) or Tuesday (EPC) to share your enthusiasm for a complete bike network asap with our politicians. The clerks to talk to are Destiny Watt, dwatt(a)winnipeg.ca and Carlos Gameiro cgameiro(a)winnipeg.ca, respectively. Send them an email asap. Have a great weekend. Thanks, Anders Swanson P.S. For all those of you who chipped in to get me that camera, this one is for especially you. Thanks so much again.

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AT Webinars: Bicycle Friendly Communities (Tues) & Pedestrian and Bicycle Counting Programs (Wed)
by Beth McKechnie 13 Mar '15

13 Mar '15

Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg invite you to join us for a local viewing of the following webinars (details on each follow below): *1) Bicycle Friendly Communities (Tools of Change <http://webinars.cullbridge.com/>) - Tues, Mar 17th, 11am-noon* *2) Pedestrian and Bicycle Counting Programs (APBP <http://www.apbp.org/>) - Wed, Mar 18th, 2-3:30pm* These webinar viewings take 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 * * * * * 1) Bicycle Friendly Communities *Tuesday, Mar. 17th, 11am-Noon, EcoCentre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Boardroom* The BFC Program is a positive, upstream, results-oriented program designed to get municipal decision makers thinking about how all of their programs around cycling work complementary to one another, and how those programs can be synergistically improved. It provides recognition for the hard work done by municipal staff, the leadership displayed by municipal politicians and the partnerships developed with local cycling organizations. It gives communities that apply both a measure of where they are and a roadmap into the future, using a feedback system that has been developed and refined with input from stakeholders from all areas of transportation issues. *Presented by:* Justin Jones, Manager, Bicycle Friendly Communities, Share the Road Cycling Coalition (Canada), and Bill Nesper, Manager, Bicycle Friendly Communities, League of American Bicyclists (USA) 2) Pedestrian and Bicycle Counting Programs *Wednesday, Mar. 18th, 2-3:30pm, EcoCentre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Boardroom* Key learning objectives: 1. Review state of the practice for bicycle and pedestrian data collection, with reference to NCHRP Report 797 2. Recognize the elements of effective bicycle and pedestrian counting programs 3. Understand the methodology and policy implications of Ottawa’s bicycle count program 4. Explore the Trail Modeling and Assessment Platform (T-MAP) *Description*: Consistent and standardized data collection techniques are the building blocks for establishing reliable performance measures to document usage, need, and return on investment in bicycle and pedestrian facilities. This 90-minute webinar provides practitioners with a comprehensive introduction to concepts, examples of current practice, and discussion of policy implications of data collection programs. The session agenda includes: - An overview of NCHRP Report 797: Guidebook on Pedestrian and Bicycle Volume Data Collection and the state of the practice - A case study from the City of Ottawa that describes a methodology for measuring trends accurately over the long term and developing correction factors for short-term or seasonal influences - Guidelines for setting up a robust counting program, with reference to the 2013 FHWA Traffic Monitoring Guide; including techniques for estimating Annual Average Daily Bicyclists and Pedestrians (AADB / AADP) - An explanation of the Trail Modeling and Assessment Platform (T-MAP), the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s new tool to measure and model trail use for project prioritization and impact assessment. *Presenters*: - Tony Hull - Zlatko Krstlic, P. Eng., Transportation Planner, City of Ottawa - Tracy Hadden Loh, Ph.D., Director of Research, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy - Luis F. Miranda-Moren, Ph.D., Associate Professor, McGill University - Krista Nordback, Ph.D., P.E., Postdoctoral Research Associate, TREC, Portland State University -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://canadahelps.org/>

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Survey identifies obstacles for 'interested but concerned' group
by Beth McKechnie 13 Mar '15

13 Mar '15

A new national survey in the US interviewed 9,376 adults who would like to bike more but are being held back for various reasons ("interested but concerned" group). http://www.peopleforbikes.org/blog/entry/here-are-the-first-ever-national-f… Here are 5 highlights (though it's worth checking into the details): 1. One-third of people who want to bike more are dissatisfied with existing bike infrastructure. 2. Bicycle ownership is a major barrier to riding, especially among poorer households. 3. Fear of being personally targeted is a major barrier to riders of colour. 4. The western US is much better at the bike + transit combo. 5. Every single demographic group wants protected bike lanes. Each of these sound pretty applicable to Winnipeg as well. cheers, Beth -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://canadahelps.org/>

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Five Quick Facts: North East Pioneers Greenway Crossing of the Perimeter to Birds Hill
by Anders Swanson 12 Mar '15

12 Mar '15

*[In light of a recent newspaper ad <http://bikewinnipeg.ca/2015/03/11/councilor-browaty-opposes-key-tunnel/#sth…> "relabeling" a very exciting, long anticipated and much safer bicycle/pedestrian crossing of the Perimeter, I thought I'd share a couple bits of factual information with the folks on this list. IMO, the issue here is of a new road being wrapped up with a bike/pedestrian crossing unnecessarily. That, however, is part of a** separate debate about urban sprawl and car access. The **key thing to remember is that is a project was intended originally for bikes and pedestrians for a reason. It fixes a very important safety and connectivity issue - and, as a whole, this project represents a critical part of one of the coolest transportation and recreation and tourism legacies for Winnipeg. We owe it to this spectacular project to set the record straight - and to make sure the many politicians who champion it hear our support. - Anders ] * 1. *Here is a relevant video <https://vimeo.com/121954361>.* Note that there is a perfectly safe, and perfectly beautiful bike "tunnel" near the start of the video which I filmed while in Davis, California - which also happens to have the US' highest bicycle modal share. Take a moment to watch/feel what such crossings feel like. Its is near the beginning. Then stick around to see what is possible on a bike once you reach the North East Pioneers Greenway, cross the perimeter and beyond. (It is also a teaser from a longer film I am putting together for the Capital Budget process, but the timing couldn't be better.) *2. For a better "safety" perspective*, have a look at a real photo taken of the current crossing <https://www.facebook.com/771955042888044/photos/pcb.772032826213599/7720312…> . *3. Here is a map I made (again) of the bicycle/pedestrian underpasses in Oulu, Finland with help of my colleague Pekka Tahkola. <https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z-6EAXpUkKw4.kWjIpHHg4PTQ&msa=0&ll=6…>* *Yep, that's 291 of them. *It is my opinion, and that of the current and former bicycle coordinators/engineers of this remarkable Finnish city, that it is precisely these underpasses that make Oulu one of the highest winter cycling cities in the world. Instilling "fear" about a bike underpass is simply speaking to the root of fear - ignorance. *4.* *This is about local travel by bike and on foot.* Although the stuff above is nice and certain to attract tourists and tons of summertime recreational users, any bicycle and pedestrian planner/engineer will tell you that the current options - Henderson and Lagimodiere - are much too far away to be useful to people on foot or on bikes. Destination are within sight. This explains why so many already use it <https://www.facebook.com/771955042888044/photos/pcb.772032826213599/7720312…> even though it is sketchy to do so. It also explains why the Premier, local politicians and community members banded together to champion it as a good idea. *There are thousands of people either currently traveling or wanting to travel daily on bikes and on foot between North Kildonan and East St.Paul. *Don't forget about them. For the same reason people want to build more roads, you have an equal number, if not greater, who just want to walk/ride there. It is a matter of the choices we provide. I have been to the area a few times, and each time I have seen young kids dart across the roadway. There are numerous amenities just inside the perimeter that people in East St.Paul want to get to. Including the kids on the way to soccer fields, friends, and swimming pool. The clearest one-time example of latent demand from inside Winnipeg is probably the hundreds of festival goers who ride to the Folk Fest ride every year from the Forks <https://www.facebook.com/771955042888044/photos/pcb.772032826213599/7720308…>. That ride expands every year. In order to do it, we need a police escort on the highway when the crossing itself is just a few meters away from the end of the spectacular North East Pioneers Greenway. All we need is a safe crossing. *5. It is 2015. It is probably time to focus on bike/ped facilities.* Why? There is no real traffic emergency. That "emergency" has been around for decades and it just keeps growing. There is no reason to put off building bicycle or pedestrian infrastructure. Why? The issue is systematic. If you chase potholes and temporarily build new access roads to fix "traffic congestion" and "wear and tear", you end up with a pile of bandaids and no cure. On a project level, every principle of transportation demand management out there suggests that you can simply limit some options to encourage the options. So, build the bike stuff first. See how it goes. All of this is very clearly a basic symptom of sprawl. At some point, something has to give. This crossing is a wonderful idea - and is meant for bikes, people on foot, strollers, scooters, wheelchairs, etc. Build it and they will come. Build roads, they fill with cars. Build bike paths, they fill with bikes. It's that simple.

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Compelling data from slow roads in Edinburgh
by Beth McKechnie 11 Mar '15

11 Mar '15

Inspiring news from Scotland that expands on snippets we heard before. A worthwhile (and quick) read: http://nextcity.org/daily/entry/slow-speed-limits-cities-edinburgh-20mph cheers, Beth -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://canadahelps.org/>

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Real estate values 37% higher in walkable urban places
by Beth McKechnie 11 Mar '15

11 Mar '15

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Chris Leinberger, LOCUS <info(a)smartgrowthamerica.org> Date: Wed, Mar 11, 2015 at 11:07 AM Subject: The Boston WalkUP Wake-Up Call To: beth(a)greenactioncentre.ca Beth— <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=qxvEsi9FZXygXqt4…>Metropolitan Boston is poised to be one of the most walkable metro areas in the country. This is one of the exciting findings of *The WalkUP Wake-Up Call: Boston <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=Ji2WIFag8iRZGY6o…>*, a new report unveiled in Boston today at LOCUS’s first-ever New England Leadership Summit. The new research defines—for the first time—the form and function of all land use in metropolitan Boston’s 3,100 square miles, identifying 57 regionally significant walkable urban places (or “WalkUPs”) in metro Boston and ranking them based on economic performance and social equity performance. Looking ahead to future opportunities, the report also identifies emerging and potential WalkUPs where new development could go. Real estate values in WalkUPs are 37% higher across all product types than drivable sub-urban development. And public revenues are also substantially higher in these areas: On a per acre basis, walkable urban development generates 12 times the tax revenues as drivable sub-urban. [image: Read More] <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=zbW8U8slq5S0JfrT…> [image: Share this on Twitter] <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=Awq53tH1hT4IG5II…> [image: Share this on Facebook] <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=xHhoLbXAQr2s5Jt%…> While the economic outlook for WalkUPs is strong, this drive towards a more walkable future in Boston is not without its concerns. Proximity to transit for households and employers remains a challenge, and the affordability of walkable urban places in Boston will shrink over time as they become more and more popular. As a beacon to other cities, it’s our hope that Boston’s major shift to walkable development will help reshape the way developers approach urban design and planning, regulation, financing and construction nationwide and inspire us to rethink the way we manage our investments in the built environment. Read the full report to learn more <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=QYlWrPdMiTPROZgZ…> . Sincerely, Chris Leinberger, President of LOCUS, Smart Growth America [image: Become a fan on Facebook] <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=0%2BJ2zc6hmJIAFc…> [image: Follow us on Twitter] <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=DNGmDANlykbro3GV…> You have received this email from Smart Growth America. Click here to manage your subscription or unsubscribe <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=MzPSMJAqX7dUwVLw…> .

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Metro News: Making commuting fun - What Winnipeg can learn from the River Trail
by Beth McKechnie 10 Mar '15

10 Mar '15

Making commuting fun: What Winnipeg can learn from the Red River Mutual Trail http://metronews.ca/voices/your-ride-winnipeg/1307883/making-commuting-fun-… Perhaps the greatest transportation system in Winnipeg shut down yesterday. Within weeks, any proof of its existence will be wiped out. But, no worries; it will be back again in about 10 months. The Red River Mutual Trail — or just “the river trail” to most people — hosted its final skaters, skiers, cyclists and pedestrians of the season on the weekend. And while many people might not consider it a true transportation system — after all, there’s not a huge market for commuters between the St. Vital Bridge and The Forks — it does provide a few lessons in how to modify our approach to driving, busing and biking to make them more appealing activities. Make it fun: When you think about it, using the river trail is actually a bit of a pain. You have to make your way down to a specific stretch of the river, squat on a rickety bench to put your skates on, then lug your shoes and boots along for the trip. If you want to stop to do anything along the way, then you have to reverse the process. Yet tens of thousands of people make the trek every winter with smiles on their faces, because it’s fun. So how do you replicate that experience on a regular commute? Synchronizing traffic lights and ensuring speed limits are consistent makes driving more enjoyable. Cruising along rapid transit lines is more fun than being stuck on regular roads. Wi-Fi on buses would be a cool feature, and buying some double-decker models like Ottawa recently did would make transit a whole lot more charming. And how about turning water buses into something more than just a tourist attraction? Keep uses separated: It’s somewhat amusing that the best example of a complete street in Winnipeg takes place on a frozen river, but the river trail is a great example of how keeping uses separate works well for everyone. Skaters, pedestrians and skiers are all travelling the same route, but they each have their own space. It’s an efficient way to build the network, and it helps prevent accidents. We should be able to enjoy the same safety and efficiency on our roads, with separate lanes for cars, buses, bikes and pedestrians. Give us something to look at: Of course the river trail wouldn’t be nearly as interesting if it wasn’t for the warming huts. The varied designs and colours bring life to what could be a desolate stretch of frozen water. In the same way, the city’s funding of public art and enhanced infrastructure can make it a more joyous experience to get around town. Sure, you can build another utilitarian bridge that takes you from one side of a river to the other, or you can invest in something like the Esplanade Riel that takes you much further than that. So while our civic leaders put their skates away for another season, let’s hope they turn their attention to how we can make our daily commute a little more like cruising the river trail. *Colin Fast is a communications specialist and freelance journalist in Winnipeg. Out of guilt, he avoided looking directly at his unused bike while writing this column. Find him @policyfrog on Twitter.*

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Advocacy and the future of cycling
by Dave Elmore 05 Mar '15

05 Mar '15

http://www.thecoast.ca/halifax/advocacy-and-the-future-of-cycling/Content?oi d=4559880 Advocacy and the future of cycling One of the greatest misconceptions about the various types of dedicated bicycle infrastructure is that they only serve a minority of the population-that they're pet projects for bicyclists. The reality is that whether you're left or right leaning, urban or suburban, rich or poor, bikes are simply one of the most accessible and efficient forms of urban mobility. While they mean much more than that to some people, at the heart of the matter is our fundamental right to choose how we move and make our way through life. Just like sidewalks, bike lanes and cycle tracks serve all road users by providing a clearly marked space for a specific user group and, in turn, adding to the safety and predictability of the roadway. That safety and predictability, in particular when reliably networked, means more riders from all walks of life. Not only do bike facilities make visible the fact that cycling is a viable way to move around the city and demonstrate the commitment on the part of municipal governments to encourage travel by bike, these facilities help many who might otherwise be too nervous to ride add two-wheeled travel to their transportation options. In fact, their addition to urban roadways - networked and physically separated cycle tracks in particular-is the single most important factor in the growth of ridership. According to the first multi-city academic study of U.S. protected bike lanes (2014), "When protected bike lanes are added to a street, bike traffic rises-by an average of 75 percent in their first year alone, for the eight projects studied." And building this type of infrastructure to accommodate bike traffic is cheap too. "One thing I like to remind my business-minded friends and colleagues about," says April Economides, president of Green Octopus Consulting, "is that bicycling is more tax-payer-friendly than driving. Bicycle infrastructure is considerably cheaper to construct than car infrastructure, the most famous example being that Portland, Oregon's outstanding 300-mile [482 km] bike network completed through year 2008 cost the same amount as one mile [1.6 km] of freeway." But we still have a long way to go to meaningfully integrate bicycles into our urban planning and traffic systems, build real public support and understanding regarding their value, and grow the percentage of the population using bikes for transportation. As per a 2013 OECD study on cycling safety, "The traffic system does not typically account for the specific characteristics of cyclists and bicycles...Though cycling is an important component of urban mobility, cyclists are often seen as intruders in the road system." Intruders, eh? The days when the bicycle was the only vehicle (other than horse drawn carriages) on the road seem to be long forgotten. But rest assured, bikes are too important a part of the solution to urban congestion to be ignored. People need to move and bikes get the job done.

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March 19 - South St. Vital Active Transportation Public Engagement Workshop
by Jackie Avent 05 Mar '15

05 Mar '15

Good evening! Please join us for and spread the word to your networks about an upcoming public engagement workshop on active transportation to be held *Thursday, March 19th 2015 from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm at the United Church in Meadowood.* Do you live in the South St. Vital community? Please join us for an information night to look at local level active transportation issues in your neighbourhood <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/southstvital/>. *Thursday, March 196:30pm – 8:30pmThe United Church in Meadowood1111 Dakota Street* Green Action Centre will be sharing the results <http://greenactioncentre.ca/living-green-living-well/innovative-pilot-proje…> of the Active School Travel Engineering Plans that have been created for *H.S. Paul, Ecole St. Germain, Samuel Burland, Ecole George McDowell and Highbury Schools* . We will also begin the discussion around key transportation issues for walking and cycling in your community. Children are more than welcome to attend and encouraged to participate, though please know there is no childcare provided. RSVP’s to shoni(at)greenactioncentre.ca or (204) 925-3773 are appreciated so we can be sure to order enough tasty treats. Walk, Bike, Bus, or Sled to the event to be entered for an exciting door prize! Can’t make the date on March 19th? Please take a few minutes to fill out a quick survey <https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/stvital>! -- *Jackie Avent* | Active and Safe Routes to School Green Action Centre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Avenue* | *(204) 925-3773 *|* Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://canadahelps.org/>

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Aspiring [teen] urban planner making waves
by Jackie Avent 05 Mar '15

05 Mar '15

Most 15-year-olds don’t spend their spare time studying walkability and public housing. Dylan Gentile is not most 15-year-olds. http://www.citylab.com/politics/2015/03/this-aspiring-urban-planner-is-maki… -- *Jackie Avent* | Active and Safe Routes to School Green Action Centre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Avenue* | *(204) 925-3773 *|* Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://canadahelps.org/>

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Concert fundraiser to help build bike cage at WAEC
by Beth McKechnie 04 Mar '15

04 Mar '15

Please share widely...

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Traffic pollution tied to slower cognition in schoolchildren
by Beth McKechnie 04 Mar '15

04 Mar '15

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Terry Zdan <tjzdan50(a)gmail.com> Subject: Re: [At-network] Slower Speed Limits Give Cities a New Attitude About Biking, Walking, Breathing http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/traffic-pollution-tied-to-slower-cognition-in… Traffic pollution tied to slower cognition in schoolchildren Take pollution into account when selecting sites for new schools, researchers say CBC News <http://www.cbc.ca/news/cbc-news-online-news-staff-list-1.1294364> Posted: Mar 03, 2015 2:22 PM ET Last Updated: Mar 03, 2015 9:59 PM ET Children who attend school in heavy traffic areas may show slower cognitive development and lower memory test scores, Spanish researchers have found. About 21,000 premature deaths are attributed to air pollution in Canada each year, according to the Canadian Medical Association. The detrimental effects of air pollution on cardiovascular health and on the lungs are well documented and now researchers are looking at its effects on the brain. To that end, Dr. Jordi Sunyer and his colleagues from the Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology in Barcelona measured three aspects of memory and attentiveness in more than 2,700 primary school children every three months over 12 months. "What was surprising for us is among our children, we see very robust, consistent effects," Sunyer said Tuesday from Rome. The associations between slower cognitive development and higher levels of air pollutants remained after the researchers took factors such as parents’ education, commuting time, smoking in the home and green spaces at school into account. The researchers measured air pollutants from traffic twice, in the school courtyard and inside the classroom for schools with high and low traffic-related air pollution. Pollutants from burning fossil fuels, carbon, nitrogen dioxide and ultrafine particles were measured. For example, working memory improved 7.4 per cent among children in highly polluted schools compared with 11.5 per cent among those in less polluted schools. Sunyer called on politicians to understand and act on how air pollution can be harmful to the developing brains of children, given that one of the cognitive measures studied is a good predictor of learning achievement. The study builds on experiments in animal models and smaller human studies, Sunyer said. But the only way to prove a link between air pollution and poorer cognition would be to remove the cause and see if the effect improves. Stop idling The findings have important implications for Canadian children, said environmental health Prof. Ryan Allen of Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C. His research team has found more than one-third of public elementary schools in Canadian cities are located within 200 metres of a highway or major road, a distance where he said traffic-related air pollutants are significantly elevated. "The best long-term strategy is to reduce the amount of pollution that is produced in the first place," Allen said in an email. "We should also take environmental pollution into account when selecting sites for new schools. For example, legislation in California prevents the construction of new schools within 150 metres of a freeway." For existing schools, Allen suggested locating playgrounds as far from traffic as possible, moving air intakes for ventilation systems away from traffic and using enhanced air filtration. University of Toronto chemistry Prof. Greg Evans studies sources of air pollution, how people get exposed and health outcomes. For Evans, it's too early for parents to worry about how close schools are to roads. "What we can do, which really doesn't need more evidence, is try to reduce the traffic emissions and that is done most simply by removing some of the highest emitting vehicles on the roadway," Evans said. "Secondly, for parents who are worried about this, I'd encourage them to stop idling in front of schools." While Canadian cities generally have good air quality, a 2013 commentary published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal estimated 54 per cent of the population live in areas with high exposure. Evans said the levels of traffic air pollutants measured in Spain are quite comparable to those in most Canadian cities. Sunyer would like to see more children walk to school <http://www.cbc.ca/1.2648059>, adults walk to work and more rides on public transit to mitigate the traffic problem. The study was funded by the European Research Council. With files from CBC's Christine Birak

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Slower Speed Limits Give Cities a New Attitude About Biking, Walking, Breathing
by Dave Elmore 04 Mar '15

04 Mar '15

http://nextcity.org/daily/entry/slow-speed-limits-cities-edinburgh-20mph Slower Speed Limits Give Cities a New Attitude About Biking, Walking, Breathing As more U.S. cities embrace the Vision Zero <http://nextcity.org/daily/entry/seattle-new-speed-limit> approach to curtailing traffic and ensuring pedestrian safety, theres plenty of compelling data in favor of slow roads coming out of Edinburgh, Scotland. The numbers show how lower speed limits can change drivers attitudes about bicyclists and even let city-dwellers breathe a bit easier thanks to air quality improvement. The easy-to-love capital city is rolling out a plan <http://edinburghcouncilmaps.info/LocalViewExt/Sites/20mphConsultation/> to cap the speed limit at 20 mph across 80 percent of its roads, including the entirety of its dense downtown. Key arterial roads will retain their speeds of 30 and 40 mph. After three years of planning, public engagement and pilot projects, as well as advocacy by Living Streets <http://www.livingstreets.org.uk/scotland> and 20 <http://www.20splentyforus.org.uk/> s Plenty For Us, the new strategy is explicitly about encouraging people to bike or walk, rather than drive. Crucial details about cost and enforcement will come in an implementation report that is due in March. But what is certain is that change will begin to be phased in later this year. It is expected to be complete by the end of the 2017/18 fiscal year. The last sweeping change <http://www.scotsman.com/news/slowing-traffic-gives-us-a-bit-more-breathing- space-1-3694827> in Scotlands speed policy dates back more than 80 years, when it adopted 30 mph as its limit in 1934; before then, there were no restrictions on driving speed. At the time, there were about 2.5 million cars on British roads. Today, there are 31.5 million. The greater traffic density calls for a new road strategy. Between 2009 and 2013, there was an average of 2,842 bike and pedestrian casualties in Edinburgh, or about 22 percent of the Scottish total. Traveling at excess speed caused 13 percent of all reported accidents, and 20 percent of fatal ones. While the risk of fatal injury for pedestrians is only 1 percent when the vehicle is traveling at 20 mph, it jumps up to over 30 percent when the speed is 40 mph. Slow roads are a meaningful intervention here. Down south, Portsmouth became the first city in England to put 20 mph limits in place over most of its streets, and even though it didnt include traffic calming features as part of the plan, it still saw a drop in accidents and casualties. Pilot projects in Edinburgh revealed <http://www.planetizen.com/node/71374> that the number of people who believed cycling to be unsafe fell from 26 percent to 18 percent. The number of young children riding bikes to school tripled, while, among older kids, the rate of bike-riding to school went from 3 percent to 22 percent. Scotlands council of Fife, which is home to St. Andrews, stands out as a slow roads pioneer. In 2003, its leadership adopted a 20 mph initiative that eventually encompassed nearly all urban residential streets. Ten years after the fact, an evaluation of the program is pending, but early indicators suggest that the policy had a tangible impact traffic has indeed slowed and there is generally a very good level of support for it, although few are fans of speed cushions or bumps. Easing down the rush of traffic neatly connects to the newly energized effort <http://www.gallowaygazette.co.uk/news/local-headlines/mcleod-urges-people-t o-contribute-to-new-strategy-on-air-pollution-1-3665444> to clean up air pollution in Scotland. Even as the country has steadily reduced emissions since 1990, it still has a tendency to break <http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/scotland-breaks-european-air-quali ty-standards--pollution-has-become-a-public-health-crisis-9970813.html> European air quality standards. Environmental groups connect this to serious public health problems that cost the National Health Service £2 billion annually. In January, Scotland adopted <http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2015/01/3287> a low emission strategy for sustainable growth and an increased quality of life. Emilia Hanna, the air pollution campaigner for Friends of the Earth Scotland, told <http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-30798323> the BBC that traffic fumes in urban areas are a leading cause of poor air quality, meaning that the new speed restrictions can be part of a larger evolution. One of the biggest barriers to walking and cycling is fear of speeding traffic, so 20 mph zones, if accompanied by greater investment in active travel infrastructure, could transform how people move around the city, she said. Importantly, the <http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/news/new-guidance-20-mph-limits-release d> good practice guide developed for Edinburgh by Transport Scotland points to how pollution has a disproportionate effect on disadvantaged communities, suggesting that slower traffic can reduce health inequities. Edinburghs move also syncs with the Scottish governments 2010 Cycling Action Plan, which aimed for 10 percent of all journeys to be taken by bike by 2020. When the plan was updated <http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/report/j0002-00.htm> in 2013, urban areas were encouraged to introduce more 20 mph streets. The citys pro-active shift to slow roads is inspiring its neighbors. Residents of Glasgow, Scotlands most populous city, have recently committed <http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/glasgow-city-council-continues -add-4985126> to capping speeds at 20 mph for all residential roads, but residents are petitioning <http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/call-20mph-speed-limit-glas gow-157557> their council to expand the policy to commercial districts. These lower speeds encourage more considerate driving, leading to safer streets for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists, they argue. Likewise, a councilor in Dundee is introducing <http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/dundee/city-council-ready-to-debate- dundee-20mph-limits-1.842632> a 20 mph proposal, suggesting that Edinburghs best practices can also work for the nations fourth largest city. And speed cameras are looking like they will become more popular <http://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/a9-speed-cameras-may-cover-more-key- scottish-roads-1-3693496> across the board in Scotland, bringing greater awareness and transparency to road safety. One important point that Transport Scotland makes in its slow roads report is that reducing speed limits are not a shortcut to complete streets. They should not be set in isolation, but should be considered as part of a range of other measures to manage speeds, improve safety and meet other objectives, including the encouragement of active travel, it says. Enforcement is, of course, an immediately pressing point. Not everybody is happy about the pending slowdown in Edinburgh. A procession of black taxi cabs demonstrated <http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/taxis-to-protest-over- edinburgh-s-20mph-limits-1-3697432> recently, pointedly trying to bring traffic to a standstill. Drivers are concerned that the slow road plan will backfire, causing more rather than less congestion, disinclining people to take taxis. The city councils transport convener, Lesley Hinds, has said before <http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-28970224> that she understands that public consultation at each step is essential in moving toward a culture change in the capital. To make the 20 mph speed limit workable, and not just a philosophical point, the council plans to focus on signage and road paint, as well as calming measures like pedestrian islands. Speed bumps will not be used on any main streets served by the bus system. The most recent public poll of Edinburgh residents showed <http://www.localgov.co.uk/Edinburgh-unveils-20mph-speed-limit-map/37905> that 60 percent supported the 20 mph limit. And much of the opposition is fueled by misconceptions <http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/news/article/1743/busting_the_myths_around_edin burghs_20mph_roll-out> , including the concern that it will be a blanket rollout or that it will hurt commercial districts. For his part, Stuart Hay, head of Living Streets, has his eye on the prize. If this encourages more people to be active, it could have the biggest impact on public health since the smoking ban, he wrote <http://www.scotsman.com/news/slowing-traffic-gives-us-a-bit-more-breathing- space-1-3694827> in The Scotsman.

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