AT-Network July 2016

at-network@lists.umanitoba.ca

3 participants
14 discussions

AT webinar: Performance Measures to Evaluate Street Design, Wed, July 20, 2-3pm

by Beth McKechnie

Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg invite you to join us for a local viewing of the APBP webinar: Performance Measures to Evaluate Street Design – New and Established Practices. 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 * * * * * *Performance Measures to Evaluate Street Design – New and Established Practices* *Wednesday, July 20 | 2-3pm CDT* *Speaker*: Peter Koonce, City of Portland Bureau of Transportation Peter Koonce of the Portland Bureau of Transportation will explore performance measures that are used in all contexts (urban, suburban, rural) and how traditional analysis practices are biased against making more effective walking and cycling. Three case studies will highlight the applicability of these measures and provide examples for how the measure was communicated to the public.

7 years, 9 months

The Metro: Cycling to work a learning experience (Jul13'16)

by Beth McKechnie

Cycling to work a learning experience By: Scott Gillingham http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/metro/Cycling-to-work-a-le… Last week I cycled to work. Now I realize that many residents of St. James bike to work every day, some even do so year-round. So while perhaps mildly commendable, my announcement is hardly newsworthy. But there were practical reasons that prompted me to pedal the 35-minute morning commute from Silver Heights to City Hall. First, cycling is good exercise. As a city councillor, many hours in my days are spent sitting in meetings or working at my desk. Cycling to the office is a great workout that combats the sedentary hours to come at the office. Second, our family currently has more drivers than vehicles. The rest of the family’s schedule on that day necessitated that I get around on two wheels or take Winnipeg Transit. After checking the weather forecast that morning, I chose my bike. Third, and perhaps most importantly in my role as councillor, biking to work afforded me the opportunity to experience the cycling routes between St. James and downtown. The City of Winnipeg has a master plan for active transportation that includes key cycling corridors. This plan is regularly reviewed with an aim to improve and build upon these routes where necessary. The ultimate goal is to encourage more people to cycle or walk by providing infrastructure dedicated to those activities. This will reduce traffic congestion and foster a healthier lifestyle. My morning trek from Silver Heights included Portage Avenue, the foot bridge to Assiniboine Park, Wellington Cres, Sherbrook, Ellice and King to City Hall. I felt safe along the route and experienced very limited interaction with automobiles for most of the way. I chose a different way home: King, Ellice, St. Matthews, the Yellow Ribbon Trail, and Sharp to my house. The late afternoon route did not feel as safe and even included a close call with a truck. The experience impressed upon me the importance of dedicated routes, protected where possible. I learned three lessons that day: First, I need a softer bike seat. Second, a cyclist needs to check the forecast for the entire day, not just the morning forecast. On my ride home the heavens opened near Polo Park. I think I wrung a cup of water out of my socks. Third, there are gaps in the current cycling routes between St. James and downtown. I am focused on closing those gaps in the coming years, especially connecting St. Matthews and the Yellow Ribbon Trail. I recently met with the City’s active transportation co-ordinator to discuss plans to improve the cycling route on St. Matthews and build an extension on the Yellow Ribbon Trail to close the gap. I will be advocating for the necessary funding in the 2017 budget. I welcome your ideas and observations, especially from those of you who regularly cycle in and around the ward. Contact me at scottgillingham(a)winnipeg.ca or 204-986-5848.

7 years, 10 months

Improving safety for cyclists (as we've done for vehicle occupants)

by Beth McKechnie

Powerful argument from Anne Lusk that it's time to pay the same attention to protecting cyclists as has been done for vehicle occupants, i.e. cars and roads have been designed to protect motorists anticipating there will be driver error. cheers, Beth ----- From: "Lusk, Anne" <annelusk(a)hsph.harvard.edu> To: "members(a)lists.apbp.org" <members(a)lists.apbp.org> Date: Sun, 10 Jul 2016 15:30:58 +0000 Subject: [apbp] Washington Post article that mentions building bike facilities using the public health method Dear All, Though I know I am quoted in this article, I still thought to send it to you because of the mention of applying the public health method to designing bike facilities. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/meet-the-two-wheel… A bike lane was recently painted in Cambridge in which the individual bicyclist is responsible for watching ahead and seeing the great neck down and the obstruction in the pathway of the bike lane (raised concrete air duct for a nearby park and fountain). Vehicles now are much safer for the vehicle occupants because the design of the vehicle has been built to protect the occupant - roll bars, higher head rests, more crash proofing on the sides, smaller windows, etc.). Instead of blaming the individual vehicle operator for a driver error (driving while intoxicated, sleepy, etc.) the vehicle has been designed for the populations, knowing there will be individual errors. Thus, the car now better protects the driver who might be intoxicated or sleepy. With the bicycle environment, we still insist that the bicyclist, who has no crumple zone, has to be fully responsible for any action they take, any action that someone takes against them, or any obstruction (a car being parked in a bike lane, a driver swerving into a bike lane, or a concrete barrier in a bike lane). https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/07/08/cambridge-bike-lane-design-get… CDC mentions the greatly improved safety of vehicle occupants in their web site about the History of the Public Health Approach (on the below web site, click on “Public Health Functions Project” lists as the 10 essential services of public health <http://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/temp/pilots-201208/pilot1/online/ph-approach/p…> ) but there is no mention of greatly improved safety of bicyclists. http://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/temp/pilots-201208/pilot1/online/ph-approach/s… Just as we improved safety for vehicle occupants, it is time to be equally protective of bicyclists. We need to apply the public health approach to designing bike facilities instead of saying a crash was the bicyclists fault (they were at the intersection and didn’t know the tractor trailer flatbed turning radius, they were in a bike lane and didn’t know the tractor trailer in the far left lane would turn right and cut across the other lane, they didn’t know the driver of the parked car would exit then - the list goes on but all you know this list). Thanks, Anne

7 years, 10 months

SW Rapid Transitway - Public Information Session (July 19, 4-7pm)

by Beth McKechnie

Invitation to Attend a Public Information Session: *Southwest Rapid Transitway (Stage 2)* *July 19, 2016 4:00pm-7:00pm Canad Inns Fort Garry (1824 Pembina)* On behalf of the City of Winnipeg, you’re invited to attend a public information session for the Southwest Rapid Transitway (Stage 2) Project. The project is comprised of significant infrastructure components in the southwest quadrant of the city, including: the Southwest Rapid Transitway (Stage 2); the addition of pedestrian and cycling infrastructure adjacent to the Transitway, through the Pembina Underpass, and into the Southwood lands; the renewal and expansion of the Pembina Underpass; and connections to the University of Manitoba and Investors Group Field. The project improvements will allow citizens to move in a more sustainable and integrated manner. Construction of the Southwest Rapid Transitway (Stage 2) Project is scheduled to begin in summer 2016, with completion expected in late 2019. Transit operations on the new Transitway are expected to begin in April 2020. You are invited to meet with members of the project team to learn more. *Public Information Session Details:* *Date* *Event* *Time* *Location* July 19, 2016 Information Session 4:00pm-7:00pm Canad Inns – Fort Garry 1824 Pembina Highway, Winnipeg Ambassador F Room (lower level) -- *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 green living hub Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/>

7 years, 10 months

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AT-Network July 2016