From: Sarah Prowse <sprowse(a)wrha.mb.ca>
Date: Thu, 10 May 2018 20:38:35 +0000
Here is a great article
<https://ecf.com/sites/ecf.com/files/The%20Global%20Goals_internet.pdf> on
how cycling is and can deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals. You
may have seen it already (released to UN in 2015) but I thought it worth
sharing.
Sarah Prowse
Healthy Public Policy Specialist
2nd floor - 490 Hargrave Street
Winnipeg, MB R3A 0X7
Telephone 204 801 3255
Fax 204 940-2690
Email sprowse(a)wrha.mb.ca
Bike racks are available in front of the building at the corner of Hargrave
and McDermot.
Plan your Winnipeg Transit trip: http://winnipegtransit.com/en/navigo
* Bike valet coming to whiteout party *
* Cops confident Jets fans won’t drink and cycle*
https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/bike-valet-planned-for-whiteout-str…
THE whiteout street party is adding a bicycle valet, giving Jets fans the
option of active transportation.
But while the bike valet promotes a greener way to get to the game and
street party, it also raises the risk of a different kind of impaired
driver: cyclists.
“Whether you’re driving a car, or riding a bike, or any other mode of
transportation, we have always tried to make sure that we are sending the
safe message... ‘to celebrate, but celebrate responsibly,’” Economic
Development Winnipeg spokesman Matt Schaubroeck said in an interview on
Monday.
“That being said, we trust Winnipeggers — they’ve been great so far,
keeping everything at a good, solid energetic level without going over that
line, in terms of drunk driving, drunk cycling.”
According to the Winnipeg Police Service, drinking and driving only applies
to motorized vehicles.
Yet, bicycles are vehicles on the road and cyclists must abide by the rules
of the road. Cyclists under the influence pose a safety risk to themselves,
pedestrians and other drivers.
While it doesn’t happen often, cyclists can be charged with driving under
the influence.
Bicycle Valet Winnipeg will be, as the name suggests, running the whiteout
party valet. Project manager Stephanie Chow said on Monday they usually
don’t see many drunk cyclists, but it does happen. Chow used Canada Day and
Nuit Blanche, an all-night art exhibition, as two examples.
“The people that really know and plan to use the valet and know that it’s
there, are people that really just want to commute to make it easy on
themselves,” Chow said, adding they deal mostly with families.
The valet, which will be located in the lot behind Cityplace on the corner
of Donald Street and St. Mary’s Ave., works similarly to a coat check. The
valet accepts any non-motorized vehicles and its accessories, but doesn’t
provide locks. By using the valet, cyclists agree to the terms of service,
which includes picking up your bike within 30 minutes after the party
finishes. Bikes left longer are subject to a late fee of $50.
Chow said the fee is meant to act as a deterrent for people to not leave
their bikes.
“I would really encourage people not to drink and cycle, and I am kind of
prepared to have some bikes with me at the end of the night, if that’s
required,” Chow said.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have had a bike valet of their own since they
were still playing in Canad Inns Stadium on Maroons Road in Polo Park.
Blue Bombers director of security Kelly Keith said it’s not unusual to see
at least two or three bicycles left in their valet because their respective
owners were intoxicated.
That said, according to the Blue Bombers website, the average attendance at
Bombers home games in 2017 was about 27,400 and, of course, you need a
ticket to get in. The Jets whiteout party alone was expanded to allow about
35,000 people past the gates for free. And that doesn’t include the 15,000
inside Bell MTS Place who can also take advantage of the valet.
Chow said the volunteers at her valet are usually able to tell who’s
impaired by talking to the cyclist, or if they see the cyclist is having
trouble with their motor skills. Outside of that, there’s no way to truly
tell who’s impaired.
Chow said she’ll have a better sense of the issue today, but may inquire
about partnering with police.
Cycling under the influence of alcohol is not an offence under the Criminal
Code, but police said it does violate a section of the Highway Traffic Act.
If someone was found guilty of violating that section, they could face a
fine ranging from $672 to $2,000 and/or imprisonment for one year maximum.
nicholas.frew(a)freepress.mb.ca