June 2020 - AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

WFP: City scraps plan for one-way traffic on West Broadway streets (Jun25'20)
by Beth McKechnie 25 Jun '20

25 Jun '20

*City scraps plan for one-way traffic on West Broadway streets* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/city-scraps-plans-for-one-way-traff… THE city has scratched an idea to make two major West Broadway streets into one-way roads as it prepares to begin construction of a bike path in the area next year. In an email sent Tuesday to area residents, the city says it decided to keep vehicular traffic in both directions on Westminster Avenue, Balmoral Street, and Granite Way, from Langside Street to Osborne Street. Residents, parents of children at Balmoral Hall School, and members of the Granite Curling Club opposed one-way traffic. “You told us the project design balances the safety and needs of all road users in some ways, but that you were very concerned with some aspects — particularly one-way streets and their potential to increase traffic and decrease safety along some residential streets,” the email says. The city says it has decided to build a two-way protected bike lane on the east side of Balmoral Street and Young Street, instead of a bike path on either side of the street. However, to fit it in with vehicular traffic, it will reduce the width of the bike lane to 1.5 metres from 1.8 metres, and require the removal of six loading stalls on Westminster in front of Balmoral Hall. The design includes the addition of stop signs on Balmoral Street at Granite Way and the loss of 15 parking spaces on Granite Way. The city said it expects to have a detailed design contract by the end of the summer, with construction expected to begin next year. But, because of low traffic volume connected with the shutdown of nonessential businesses for weeks to slow the spread of COVID-19, the city has decided to hold off on the final design of the rest of the planned bike path along Westminster, from Langside Street to Chestnut Street in Wolseley, until September.

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WFP: Councillors urge city to boost safety by improving markings (Jun25'20)
by Beth McKechnie 25 Jun '20

25 Jun '20

Councillors urge city to boost safety by improving markings Faded paint lines not street smart https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/paint-by-numbers-councillors-push-f… WINNIPEG drivers have likely all faced the challenge: you want to stay in your lane but you’re not sure where it is. Snow-clearing, road sand and other Manitoba weather realities strip away paint that marks lanes, leaving just a few flecks of colour or blank pavement. It can take many weeks for city crews to repaint those lines each year. Two councillors are pushing for changes to that process, which they hope will make streets safer. Coun. Shawn Nason (Transcona) is calling on the city administration to provide options to “improve the permanency of lane markings,” in a motion set to be debated at the July 7 meeting of the public works committee. Nason said the current faded markings are barely, or not at all, visible, which could make motorists and cyclists more likely to compete for the same space. “This creates an unsafe situation, and we need to do a better job to ensure (that) there are properly marked trails on our roadways. Then the motoring public can (stay in) their proper lane,” he said. He believes the longevity of the paint is key to addressing the issue. “We need some permanency on our line-painting, that’s not just put down and washed away a few weeks or months later — something that can stay on the road over the winters,” said Nason. The City of Winnipeg website describes road markings as “an important, but often overlooked, safety feature... Painted lines keep traffic in lanes and serve as guide posts for passing, safety, crosswalks and stopping areas.” In 2013, a KPMG public works review offered recommendations for Winnipeg to improve its road markings, which the consultant found were often missing. “Reliance on a single, in-house crew that takes up to 34 weeks to remark the city’s streets implies that many roads are left unmarked for much of this time,” the report notes. KPMG suggested Winnipeg consider the use of longer-lasting paint, try out new technology, and possibly contract out work to address the problem. Meanwhile, Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverley West) said she’d like to see the city prioritize lane painting so intersections that have the most collisions get painted first. Lukes said she lobbies for new paint at the intersection of Kenaston and Mc-Gillivray boulevards each year, then waits weeks or months to see the work completed. “It’s still not painted and it’s (late) June. Last year, it was the middle of August,” said Lukes. “Personally, I just think high-collision intersections should be (the top) priority at all times.” A total of 1,352 crashes took place at Kenaston-McGillivray between 2015 and 2019, the most at any intersection, Manitoba Public Insurance figures show. Leila Avenue and McPhillips Street had the second-highest number of crashes (1,191). Lukes said high-crash locations tend to have crosswalks and may also offer bicycle lanes, so making their lane markers more visible would make all road users safer. She plans to soon raise her own motion for the city to paint its Top 10 highest-collision intersections before any other roads each year. The city’s website notes it still uses one lane-liner machine that paints about 1,000 kilometres of roadway lines and edges, including 1,061 intersections. In a written statement, city spokeswoman Julie Horbal Dooley said the complete process takes about 35 weeks, which isn’t finished some years due to weather and resource issues. The work itself is growing, Horbal Dooley said. “The number of lane markings in the city is increasing at a rapid pace as we add active transportation routes to the network and… some regional streets are remarked up to three times a year.” The statement noted paint options that are more durable have a “cost-prohibitive nature.” Horbal Dooley also noted the public works department does prioritize some repainting for sites that need it most and intersections that have the most traffic. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: Segway personal transporter hitting brakes on production
by Beth McKechnie 24 Jun '20

24 Jun '20

Segway personal transporter hitting brakes on production SEGWAY, which boldly claimed its two-wheeled personal transporter would revolutionize the way people get around, is ending production of its namesake vehicle. The Segway PT, popular with tourists and police officers but perhaps better known for its high-profile crashes, will be retired on July 15, the company said in a statement. “Within its first decade, the Segway PT became a staple in security and law enforcement, viewed as an effective and efficient personal vehicle,” said Judy Cai, Segway president, in a statement, noting that in the past decade it gained popularity with vacationers in major cities in North America, Europe, Asia, South America, and the Middle East. But the Segway, which carries a standing passenger on a wide platform, accounted for less than 1.5 per cent of the company’s revenue last year. The company said 21 employees will be laid off, another 12 employees will stay on for two months to a year and five will remain at the Bedford, New Hampshire facility. “This decision was not made lightly, and while the current global pandemic did impact sales and production, it was not a deciding factor in our decision,” Cai said. The transportation revolution that inventor Dean Kamen envisioned when he founded the company in 1999 never took off. The Segway’s original price tag of around US$5,000 was a hurdle for many customers. It also was challenging to ride because the rider had to be balanced at a specific angle for the vehicle to move forward. If the rider’s weight shifted too much in any direction, it could easily spin out of control and throw the rider off. They were banned in some cities because users could easily lose control if they were not balanced properly. “What did they think the market was when they built this, when they designed it?” asked Maryann Keller, principal at Maryann Keller & Associates. “My impression was they were talking about this as personal mobility. How could you think that something this large and expensive would be personal mobility?” Segway’s popularity may have peaked in early 2009 with the release of the Kevin James comedy Paul Blart: Mall Cop, where the titular Blart patrols a fictional mall on a Segway. Ten months after buying the company in 2009, British self-made millionaire Jim Heselden died after the Segway he was riding careened off a 30-foot cliff not far from his country estate north of London. He was 62 years old. In 2003, then president George W. Bush avoided injury after tumbling off a Segway at his parents’ summer home in Kennebunkport, Maine. A cameraman riding a Segway ran over Usain Bolt in 2015 as the Jamaican sprinter did a victory lap after winning a 200-metre race in Beijing. Bolt wasn’t injured and later joked about the incident. In 2017, Segway got into the scooter business, just as the light, inexpensive and easy-to-ride two-wheelers took over urban streets. Riders took 38.5 million trips on shared electric scooters in 2018, according to the National Association of City Transportation Officials. Segway’s foray into lightweight scooters may have been a sign that its original PT’s days were numbered. “It was probably over-hyped before it was launched, and when it was launched, it was like, this is not going to work on city sidewalks,” Keller said. — The Associated Press

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Federation of Cdn Municipalities: COVID-19 Street Rebalancing Guide
by Beth McKechnie 23 Jun '20

23 Jun '20

[*Shared by Brian Patterson of Urban Systems on the TDM listserv]* Earlier today, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) released a new *COVID-19 Street Rebalancing Guide *to help cities effectively modify urban streets to support safe commuting, commerce and exercise. The *COVID-19 Street Rebalancing Guide* is a product of FCM's The Urban Project <https://theurbanproject.ca/>, which convenes a wide spectrum of voices to tackle urban challenges across Canada. The guide itself flows from weeks of engagement with city officials and thought leaders from across Canada. The guide is designed for decision makers and practitioners alike. With case studies from around the world, it offers strategies and practical guidance on rebalancing streets through three phases of COVID-19 response-from immediate to longer term. It explores installations ranging from bike lanes and curbside queuing areas to temporary patios and parklets. The guide was developed for FCM by Urban Systems. *FCM Press Release:* covid.fcm.ca/news/... <https://covid.fcm.ca/news/new-guide-helps-cities-rebalance-streets-amid-pan…> *Download the Guide: *theurbanproject.ca/events/covid-19-and-mobility ------------------------------ Brian Patterson Active Transportation Practice Leader Urban Systems Ltd. Vancouver BC (604) 235-1701 bpatterson(a)urbansystems.ca

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Free webinar: NTSB Bicycle Safety Report (June 24th)
by Beth McKechnie 23 Jun '20

23 Jun '20

Upcoming Free APBP Webinar: A Discussion of the NTSB Bicycle Safety Report June 24 at 3:00pm EDT Register Here <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001ngQtQNNXaYJOFwiJb6fT4Gc9OBGxAi833CZ1DBHW1P8_…> The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its full report on bicyclist safety in December 2019: Bicyclist Safety on US Roadways: Crash Risks and Countermeasures, *the agency’s first report on bicyclist safety in 47 years*. Most of the report focuses on what federal agencies can do to improve the safety of people who bike. Join APBP and NTSB for this free webinar where NTSB's Member Homendy will discuss the full report. Moderated by APBP Board member and Policy Committee Chair, Conor Semler.

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WFP: Cyclist struck by SUV on bike route calls for increased safety measures (Jun23'20)
by Beth McKechnie 23 Jun '20

23 Jun '20

Cyclist struck by SUV on bike route calls for increased safety measures https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/cyclist-struck-by-suv-on-bike-route… JESSE HAJER was on his way home from his son’s physically distanced birthday party late Saturday afternoon, biking down the Wolseley Avenue active transportation route with four young children, when he was struck by an impatient driver in a sport-utility vehicle. He was keeping an eye out for the group of six- and seven-year-old kids, he said, crossing through the intersection at Clifton Street, when an SUV approached from behind, honking at the group to hurry along. Hajer signalled to the driver to wait but the car accelerated, appearing to try to squeeze between Hajer and the curb, and hit Hajer from behind. “It wasn’t going super fast or anything but it was enough,” Hajer said in an interview Monday, noting that he wasn’t seriously injured but was hit hard enough to damage the car. The incident comes amid ongoing debate about the nine temporary active transportation routes the City of Winnipeg set up at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage physical activity and alternative transportation options during isolation, introducing the question of road safety for those pedestrians and cyclists taking to the road. Hajer said he and his family are supporters of the active transportation road in their neighbourhood, and want to see the city take measures to make the routes appear more permanent, encouraging motorists to slow down and follow the rules. “I’m a huge fan of these routes; they’ve been just a breath of fresh air literally and figuratively in this challenging time,” Hajer said. “It’s stressful, families are super stressed out and they need options like this to get outside.” So far, motorists have been limited to one block of travel between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on the routes, seven days a week. Hajer said he would like to see the city commit to traffic calming measures to make the routes more secure, including more frequent barriers to emphasize the rules, or larger and more attractive barriers such as planters. He’d also like to see the one block driving rules extended to 24 hours a day, speed limits reduced to 30 km/h on the residential roads and more educational signage outlining consequences for breaking the rules. Many of those initiatives have been echoed in recent months by cyclists and active transportation advocates such as Anders Swanson, executive director of Winnipeg Trails, who has petitioned the city to extend and expand the open street project. Assuring safety on those routes, he said, is about making cars feel as though they are guests on the road, rather than the road’s intended user. “From Day 1 we should have been working on a plan to make these feel more like pedestrian and cycling spaces, and that can include everything from picnic tables to flower planters to warm and welcoming signage,” Swanson said Monday. “A barricade with a chloroplast board feels like a temporary waiting room set up in the lobby. It doesn’t feel like we’re going to take this opportunity to make the city better and make it so people can make themselves better and heal themselves.” Reducing speed limits, beautifying streets and increasing education about the routes are easy first steps the city can take to more pedestrian and cycling-friendly streets, Swanson said. From there, he’d like to see the city invest in making those streets permanent and expanding the network into as many neighbourhoods as possible. “Our concern is that we’ve only got a toe in the water here, we keep extending them for a measly few weeks, there’s been no firm commitment to turn this into a network that reaches everybody in the city, and when you do that then you’re not mobilizing your department to do the things it needs to do because it’s a half measure,” he added. For its part, the city has no clear plans to enforce safety measures on the routes. A spokeswoman for the Public Works department said in an email Monday that “all modes of road users are reminded to be mindful of others and share the road, and to be aware of their surroundings at all times,” adding that the city is “counting on Winnipeggers to do their part and obey posted signage, and — for the most part — (has) seen them comply.” The city said permanent routes would be enforced “as per the governing bylaws,” but would not indicate whether it has used any disciplinary measures to enforce the rules thus far. julia-simone.rutgers(a)freepress.mb.ca

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This isn't the first time bicycles have been the hottest machines on the market
by Beth McKechnie 22 Jun '20

22 Jun '20

How bicycles transformed our world: Coronavirus has sparked a two-wheeled transport boom in many parts of the globe. But this isn't the first time bicycles have been the hottest machines on the market https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/2020/06/how-bicycles-transformed…

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Toronto Star: COVID-19 and transit - What we think we know may be wrong (Jun18''20)
by Beth McKechnie 22 Jun '20

22 Jun '20

*COVID-19 and transit: What we think we know may be wrong * https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/06/18/covid-19-and-transit-what-we-th… According to everything we know about COVID-19 <https://www.thestar.com/coronavirus.html>, public transit seems like a perfect breeding ground for the disease. During normal times, a functioning transit system requires thousands of people to crowd together in an enclosed space, spend several minutes breathing the same air, and then spread back out into their workplaces and communities carrying whatever they picked up on board with them. Combined with economic shutdowns prompted by the pandemic, the fear of contracting the virus on subways and buses has helped decimate ridership on systems, creating revenue crises that pose an existential threat to transit operators around the world. The effects could be long-lasting. In Toronto, where ridership has dropped to as low as 14 per cent of pre-pandemic levels and the TTC is losing about $21 million a week, one in 10 riders say they won’t take transit again even as provincial authorities deem it safe to reopen the economy, according to a recent survey <https://www.ttc.ca/About_the_TTC/Commission_reports_and_information/Commiss…> commissioned by the agency. But is transit as dangerous a vector as it appears? Recent international data show a lack of confirmed cases connected to transit use that is striking even when taking ridership declines into account. Some experts say this can be explained by gaps in contact tracing methodologies, but others argue the risk of transmission on public transportation may not be as severe as initially feared. “There’s so much that we don’t know about the coronavirus and how it spreads. But we’ve seen enough new evidence to suggest that public transportation hasn’t been the super-spreader that many have assumed,” Janette Sadik-Khan, the influential former New York City transportation commissioner and current principal at the Bloomberg Associates, said in an email. She cited a study in France that determined none of 150 COVID-19 infection clusters identified in Paris from early May to early June originated on the city’s transit network. She also pointed to Japan, a country that has experienced only about 17,000 COVID-19 cases, despite having one of the world’s busiest rail networks. Canada has now recorded more than 100,000 cases. Figures like those present a sharp contrast to the conclusions of a study by an MIT economics professor <http://web.mit.edu/jeffrey/harris/HarrisJE_WP2_COVID19_NYC_24-Apr-2020.pdf> that was widely circulated in the early days of in the crisis. It warned the subway network “was a major disseminator — if not the principal transmission vehicle — of coronavirus infection” in New York City. The study’s methodology and conclusions have been widely criticized, not least because in New York infection rates have been lower in subway-rich Manhattan than in transit-poor boroughs like Staten Island. But Sadik-Khan said its findings and similar proclamations early in the pandemic “scared people and may hold them back from returning to transit.” For transit agencies now plunged into financial crisis, “this fear of transit may ultimately be more damaging than the potential threat of riding it,” she said. Conclusive evidence linking COVID-19 transmission to transit use appears to be rare in Canada. As of June 12, 65 TTC employees out of a staff of more than 15,000 had tested positive for the virus <http://www.ttc.ca/Riding_the_TTC/Safety_and_Security/Case_update.jsp>. But it’s not known whether they contracted the infection on the job. Toronto Public Health hasn’t traced any of the city’s more than 13,500 COVID-19 cases to public transit. However, TPH spokesperson Dr. Vinita Dubey cautioned that doesn’t necessarily indicate that infections aren’t occurring in settings like the TTC. Because the virus has a 14-day incubation period and can be spread by people who aren’t exhibiting symptoms, “it is difficult to determine exactly where someone acquired their infection,” she said. The picture is similar in other Canadian jurisdictions. Public health authorities overseeing Edmonton, Calgary, Montreal, and Ottawa all told the Star this week that no cases in those cities had been linked to transit. A spokeperson for Vancouver Coastal Health said “we don’t comment on specific cases,” but the agency “hasn’t had need for any public notification to transit users.” Tom McMillan, a spokesperson for Alberta Health, said the agency “has not identified any cases to date where transit is considered the source of exposure.” But the agency is drafting guidelines for operators like Calgary Transit and Edmonton Transit Services to keep riders and workers safe. Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Toronto and Toronto General Hospital, said he wasn’t surprised by the lack of cases linked to transit. Even in jurisdictions where transit operators haven’t made safety measures like mask use mandatory for riders, Bogoch said passengers appear to be taking it upon themselves to take precautions like wearing face coverings, washing their hands, and keeping their distance from one another, which has likely helped to reduce the spread. Wearing a mask will become mandatory on the TTC as of July 2, with exceptions for young children and people with medical conditions. Some commentators have speculated transmission on transit hasn’t occurred at high rates because unlike in settings like bars where patrons risk spreading the infection in airborne droplets by talking close to one another, transit riders largely don’t speak to other passengers. And while transit vehicles are enclosed spaces, their doors open regularly, circulating the air. Bogoch said it’s possible such factors have mitigated the spread of the virus, but their effects are difficult to quantify. He argued what’s more important is the infection rate of the societies in which transit systems operate, which he said bodes well for Toronto. Even though the city lags behind the rest of Ontario in reducing caseloads, it still has a rate of about 400 per 100,000 people, according to Ontario Public Health data <https://files.ontario.ca/moh-covid-19-report-en-2020-06-18.pdf>. By comparison, New York state’s rate is about 2,000 per 100,000 people, according to data compiled by the New York Times. The “general low burden of infection” in Toronto, coupled with measures such as mask use, make transit in the city a “low risk” environment, Bogoch said. He cautioned that doesn’t mean the probability of transmission on transit is nonexistent, especially as the province continues to open up and more people return to the system. “We’re going to have outbreaks in the GTA, and certainly someone’s going to be infected by this virus on a bus or on a subway,” he said. Dr. Colin Furness, an epidemiologist and assistant professor at the Faculty of Information at the University of Toronto, warned the lack of evidence connecting infections to public transit can’t be taken as proof the virus isn’t being spread there, and instead could be attributed to blind spots in contact tracing. He said chains of infection are more easily recreated in homes, workplaces, and other settings where people know each other and can be identified after they come in contact with someone who has the virus. Accurately determining the rate of transmission on transit would be “enormously difficult” because “people don’t live on public transit, people don’t know each other on public transit,” Furness said. Until there is conclusive proof the virus isn’t spreading on transportation networks, Furness warned any assertions that systems are safe would be overly optimistic. “It’s going to be pretty hard for me to come to the conclusion that buses and subways and streetcars aren’t risky,” he said. “A responsible person is going to say, look, if we’re not sure, we should not downplay the risk … So yes, it’s too early to jump for joy.” TTC spokesperson Stuart Green said it was up to Toronto Public Health to determine how safe the transit system is, but the TTC agrees with the health authority’s position that “the TTC remains a safe system.” Green said the TTC is “certainly aware of examples from around the world that suggest there are no links between mass transit ridership and viral spread,” but “we are not taking that for granted.” He said “as the city reopens and ridership returns, we will take all steps possible to continue to protect the health and safety of everyone in our system.” In addition to mandating mask use, the TTC is also cleaning its vehicles several times a day, deploying additional vehicles to busy bus routes to decrease crowding, and is readying crowd management plans for subway stations. While there remains uncertainty about exactly how risky it is to ride, passengers will continue to have real fear about taking transit while the virus remains a threat, and the TTC will need to address those anxieties to coax customers back. “We absolutely understand that perception matters for our customers and employees,” Green said. “We want them not only to feel safe, but to actually be safe.”

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CTV: Proposed active transportation route extension passed by executive policy committee (Jun19'20)
by Beth McKechnie 20 Jun '20

20 Jun '20

https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/proposed-active-transportation-route-extension-… WINNIPEG -- A motion to keep Winnipeg active transportation routes open until September was passed by the mayor’s inner circle on Thursday, and is now in the hands of city council. The executive policy committee voted unanimously on Thursday to support a measure to extend the end of the active transportation routes until September 7, 2020. The active transportation routes are located in these locations: - Lyndale Drive from Cromwell to Gauvin Street; - Scotia Street from Anderson (at Cross Street) to Armstrong Avenues; - Wellington Crescent from Academy Road (at Wellington) to Guelph Street; - Wolseley Avenue from Raglan Road to Maryland Street; - Assiniboine Avenue from Bedson Street to Westwood Drive; - Churchill Drive from Hay Street to Jubilee Avenue; - Egerton Road from Bank to Morier Avenues; - Kildonan Drive from Helmsdale Avenue to Rossmere Crescent; - Larchdale Crescent to Irving Place; and - Kilkenny Drive from Burgess to Patricia Avenues and Kings Drive. On these active transportation routes, traffic is confined to one block through the area from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The city expanded the use of the routes to help with physical distancing requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the motion filed during the meeting, the routes have been popular with city residents and cyclists. If no extension was sought, the routes would end on July 6. The extension will be discussed at the next city council meeting on June 26.

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Fwd: Register for the 2020 TAC Conference & Exhibition!
by Mark Cohoe 18 Jun '20

18 Jun '20

With this conference going online, and thus more affordable, it might be of interest to a few more people and organizations. I'm definitely going to give it some thought. Mark Cohoe Executive Director Bike Winnipeg t: 204-894-6540 e: mark(a)bikewinnipeg.ca ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: TAC-ATC Communications <secretariat(a)tac-atc.ca> Date: Thu, Jun 18, 2020 at 12:49 PM Subject: Register for the 2020 TAC Conference & Exhibition! To: Additional Recipient <mark.e.cohoe(a)gmail.com> [image: Image] * Register for the 2020 TAC Conference & Exhibition! * [image: Image] *As a TAC customer, you might not have heard the announcement <https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBUosN5o8b…> that the 2020 TAC Conference & Exhibition won't be held in Vancouver this fall. *Instead, you can *join over 500 thought leaders and influencers* from municipalities, provincial/territorial transport departments, academia, and the private sector at the * 2020 TAC Conference & Exhibition <https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBUosN5o8b…>, now with live programming ONLINE, September 21 to October 8!* *Register by August 17 for Early Bird rates* <https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBUosN5o8b…> * $225 TAC members | $275 regular | Free for students* This low-cost registration makes attending the TAC Conference & Exhibition easier than ever! * When you register, you get: * - access to *3 Featured Events (1 per week)* on topics including *The Journey to Safer Roads* and the impacts of COVID-19 on transportation in Canada - access to the full technical program <https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBUosN5o8b…> of more than *40+ sessions across 16 tracks*, showcasing the work and experience of *150+ presenters* - to learn about and make contact with *leading transportation suppliers and services*. Visit their Partner Profiles, message or video chat with representatives, or attend or view Partner Demos - the choice to attend all of these events via *live web-conference* to participate interactively, including in Q&A sessions, *OR watch the event recordings* after they're over. Access to recordings and the conference event portal continues until March 2021 - to *network, message or video chat* with other participants, presenters and corporate partners Don't miss the opportunity to keep in touch with your peers, and learn about new and evolving practices and challenges in transportation! *Learn More & Register* <https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBUosN5o8b…> Finally, if your company is interested in participating in #TACconf as a corporate partner, it's not too late to get involved. *Learn about Corporate Partnership* <https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBUosN5o8b…> *Thank you to our Premier Plus partners* [image: Image] <https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBS-2FlneO…> [image: Image] <https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBZu4Ne8aZ…> [image: Image] <https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBepwU9tJi…> [image: Image] <https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBRCuniL84…> [image: Image] <https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBRcI6EaAJ…> [image: Facebook] <https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBaw9DX0kw…> [image: Twitter] <https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBfqnDLTJy…> [image: LinkedIn] <https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBaEKzYTL8…> TAC © 2020 www.tac-atc.ca <https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=2LEIirtkw1-2BsjXHPJCzkH2D1t9b…> UNSUBSCRIBE *Transportation Association of Canada* *401-1111 Prince of Wales Drive, Ottawa, ON K2C 3T2* *613-736-1350 secretariat(a)tac-atc.ca <secretariat(a)tac-atc.ca>*

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Minneapolis and Saint Paul lowering speed limits to support safety
by Beth McKechnie 17 Jun '20

17 Jun '20

https://www.visionzerompls.com/speedlimit-s On March 12, The Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul announced plans to lower speed limits to support safer streets. Slower speeds on local streets make travel safer for everyone no matter how you get around. New speed limits will be: - 20 mph for local residential streets; - 25 mph for larger, arterial city-owned streets; and - 30-plus mph for a few city-owned streets. - Per Minnesota law, cities do not have authority to change speed limits on county and MnDOT roads. Speed limits on these streets in Minneapolis and Saint Paul will not change. - Map (see link) shows what the speed limits will be on individual streets Staff from both cities will begin in March to install or change more than 1,000 speed limit signs on city-owned streets in the coming months. New, lower 25 mph speed limits on individual streets will go into effect as soon as they are signed. Once the busier streets are signed, the cities will then install “gateway signs” at entry points in both cities, indicating the citywide speed limit is 20 mph unless otherwise posted. Once the gateway signs are installed, the 20 mph speed limit on local residential streets will be in effect. The cities will generally not be posting 20 mph signs on local residential streets. The cities expect the sign installation to be completed by this fall. Full details: https://www.visionzerompls.com/speedlimit-s

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Please take this commute survey!
by Beth McKechnie 16 Jun '20

16 Jun '20

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Jessica Roberts <jessicaroberts(a)altaplanning.com> Date: Tue, Jun 16, 2020 at 12:28 PM Hi all, our friends at the Center for Advanced Hindsight (CAH) are running a study to learn more about the *impact of message framing on commute choices, *including how COVID-19 concerns affect that. Having just taken the study, I can tell you that the results of this study will be *very* helpful to us as TDM practitioners. CAH will share the results with us. Would you please take the survey yourself, and also share with any lists you have access to? It's great for TDM professionals to reply, but it's even better if all your 'ordinary' commuters can reply. The goal is to get 900 replies so CAH has statistically significant replies. *Researchers at Duke University are exploring Commute choices. Please take this short 5 minute survey to tell us about your commuting preferences.* *Click here to answer the confidential survey. * *https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7Vfu246mlMra7hb <https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7Vfu246mlMra7hb>* Thank you very much! -Jessica *JESSICA ROBERTS* *Pronouns: she/her * *Principal + Programs Manager | Alta Planning + Design, Inc.* *d. 503.200.3272 | o. 503-230-9862* *Working remotely. Contact me at 503-752-4144.* 711 SE Grand Avenue, Portland, OR 97214 altaplanning.com *Creating active, healthy communities*

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[SUSPICIOUS MESSAGE] Webinar: Walkability and Health: Building Strong, Vibrant and Resilient Communities – Part 2: Street Design and Placemaking (June 25)
by Beth McKechnie 15 Jun '20

15 Jun '20

===== UofM Email Security Notice - SUSPICIOUS MESSAGE ===== The message below may be a potential threat. It may trick victims into clicking a link and downloading malware. Do not open suspicious links. If you do not know the sender or cannot verify the integrity of the message, please do not respond or click on links in the message. Depending on the security settings, clickable URLs may have been modified to provide additional security. Please contact the Service Desk if you have any questions. (204) 474-8600 ==== Original Email Body Follows ==== ------------ Suspicious threat disclaimer ends here ------------ Part 1 recorded webinar: http://secure-web.cisco.com/14D-YVL4WOxnn0O4Kq2DG00mlLuRwLNCQEkgCN0NWxDnTFh… ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Maryland Department of Planning <michael.bayer1(a)maryland.gov> Date: Mon, Jun 15, 2020 at 8:34 AM You don't want to miss Part 2 with Dan Burden and Mark Fenton UPCOMING FREE WEBINAR <http://secure-web.cisco.com/1NDdfcouZ4v7l3nWt05RIkFIKnk-xgBYnoGd20ul-A60YKo…> Walkability and Health: Building Strong, Vibrant and Resilient Communities Part 2: Street Design and Placemaking Thursday, June 25, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. EDT Participants of the live webinar are eligible for 1.5 AICP CM credits. Join the Maryland Department of Planning and the Smart Growth Network at 1 p.m. Thursday, June 25, for the second part of a series on the connection between walkable communities and public health. Dan Burden, Mark Fenton and Danielle Schaeffner of Blue Zones return to examine the details of street designs and places that work for all. Learn important design features that will help the nation become more focused on people, to be more inclusive, to repair mistakes made to public streets built in the past. Find out more and register for this free webinar via the link below. Register For Walkability and Health: Building Strong, Vibrant and Resilient Communities – Part 2: Street Design and Placemaking <http://secure-web.cisco.com/1NDdfcouZ4v7l3nWt05RIkFIKnk-xgBYnoGd20ul-A60YKo…> Smart Growth Information Clearinghouse | 410-767-4943 | SmartGrowth.org The Smart Growth Information Clearinghouse is a project of the Smart Growth Network and is partially funded by the U.S. EPA, Office of Community Revitalization and managed by the Maryland Department of Planning. Maryland Department of Planning | 301 W. Preston Street, 11th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21201 Sent by michael.bayer1(a)maryland.gov in collaboration with [image: Trusted Email from Constant Contact - Try it FREE today.] <http://secure-web.cisco.com/11s2YyN4vEouei3AJwY9K7v-FPNGmQf_EtQUUSV-svbCrXL…> Try email marketing for free today! <http://secure-web.cisco.com/11s2YyN4vEouei3AJwY9K7v-FPNGmQf_EtQUUSV-svbCrXL…>

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Transportation issues are social justice issues
by Beth McKechnie 11 Jun '20

11 Jun '20

*The Bicycle as a Vehicle of Protest* https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/the-bicycle-as-a-vehicle…

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Toronto expands bike share network as it looks to give residents more ways to get around during pandemic (Jun9'20)
by Beth McKechnie 11 Jun '20

11 Jun '20

Toronto expands bike share network as it looks to give residents more ways to get around during pandemic https://www.cp24.com/toronto-expands-bike-share-network-as-it-looks-to-give… Toronto is adding 1,850 new bicycles and 160 new stations to its existing bike-sharing network as it continues to look to new ways to help residents get around during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mayor John Tory announced the expansion during a news conference in Nathan Phillips Square on Tuesday morning, noting that the initiative will help provide more residents “with safe alternatives to get moving” in the era of COVID-19. The expansion will see the geographic area covered by Bike Share Toronto’s network double to 200 square kilometres and will also include the creation of pilot areas in North York and Scarborough that will each feature up to eight new stations. The total cost of the overall expansion is $11.25 million with nine million of that coming from the province as part of a previously announced commitment. “Residents are looking for different and yet safe ways to get around the city and as we continue to respond to the pandemic and make our plans for the post-pandemic period residents want to go outside, they want to be active and they want to have those transportation alternatives. It is our job to make that happen,” Tory told reporters in making that announcement. Bike Share Toronto charges members an annual fee and then allows them to check out bicycles for 30-minute increments from any of its stations. While the network was largely limited to the downtown core when the city took over the service from its bankrupt owners back in 2013 it has grown considerably since then and will now cover 20 of the 25 wards in the city. It will also feature 6,850 bikes spread across 625 stations. As recently as 2016, there were only about 1,000 bikes spread across 80 stations. “A big part of expansion is ensuring that all corners of this city will have access to bike share,” Tory said. “It will mean that people can use the bikes to come all the way down to the core if they choose to do so or they can use it as well to get to places within their own neighbourhoods.” The expansion of Bike Share Toronto comes as the city accelerates work on 40 kilometres of new bikes lanes as part of its wider response to COVID-19. The city has also been closing select major arteries to vehicular traffic on the weekends in order to give pedestrians and cyclists more space. “As the economy starts to reopen and people want to get out to their mom and pop shops and support their local businesses, active transportation is going to be a critical way to do that,” Beaches-East York Coun. Brad Bradford said during Tuesday’s press conference. “This is a 21st century approach and I think it is the perfect approach for the moment we are in right now.”

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Walk/Bike/Places 2020 is going online
by Beth McKechnie 11 Jun '20

11 Jun '20

We are moving the conference online for 2020. Display problems? View this in a browser. <https://mailchi.mp/b1938b061c5e/walk-bike-places-2020-1641846?e=8577dd457f> <https://walkbikeplaces.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a…> Walk/Bike/Places 2020 Is Going Online We hope this conference update finds you safe and healthy. Our New York City based team and local Indianapolis partners have been working long and hard behind the scenes on our plans for Walk/Bike/Places 2020, so that we could bring you the best and safest event in response to the effects that COVID-19 has had on you and on us. Today, we are pleased to share that Walk/Bike/Places 2020 will now be presented *online* <https://walkbikeplaces.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a…>. This change in format allows our current program to continue, despite the personal, professional, and financial uncertainties facing so many people that will continue in the months ahead. <https://walkbikeplaces.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a…> Biking and walking has been the mobility preference in many cities during COVID-19, as seen here in the empty streets of NYC. Updates on the Conference Program We will be sticking to our conference theme of *Implementation**—*a theme which has become even more relevant at this moment in time. This online gathering provides us with a time to step back and explore some of the incredible (and imperfect) work taking place right now in the realms of active transportation, public space and public health. Our program will still include *dozens of breakout sessions*, spread across the four-day event, and as a bonus, participants will have access to *view all sessions on their own time* for many months after the event. In response to the impact that COVID-19 has had on us all personally and professionally, we look forward to serving as a platform for *shared experiences, lessons learned, and practical solutions* that will be helpful to you for years to come. In the face of such hard times, we find some hope in knowing that our work will soon be more important than ever as we face challenges, new and old, like recovery, resilience, and inequality in our communities. We hope you will join us, and we look forward to sharing this new experience with you. ------------------------------ Articles & Resources Below are a few links to articles and resources that capture some of what is on our minds at this moment. We expect that these topics will fuel many of the conversations we have at this year's online event: - In our host city *Indianapolis*, a group of artists are turning plain plywood planks on downtown businesses into works of art (Nuvo <https://walkbikeplaces.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a…> ) - A new guide to adapting streets for pandemic response and recovery ( NACTO <https://walkbikeplaces.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a…> ) - A manifesto on how to create and protect places that recognize, affirm, and amplify Black agency, discourse, and thought (BlackSpace <https://walkbikeplaces.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a…> ) - Watch Oakland's open streets in action (StreetsBlogNYC <https://walkbikeplaces.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a…> ) - An article on how designers can work toward justice in alignment with the Movement for Black Lives (CityLab <https://walkbikeplaces.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a…> ) - A call to remake our sense of place post-COVID-19 (The Conversation <https://walkbikeplaces.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a…> ) - Recovery will happen in public space (Project for Public Spaces <https://walkbikeplaces.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a…> ) ------------------------------ Sponsorship & Exhibitors Interested in sponsoring Walk/Bike/Places 2020? Conference sponsorship is the perfect way to support the biking, walking, and placemaking movement. Learn more. <https://walkbikeplaces.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a…> Please reach out to us to learn more about the many ways you can participate at program(a)walkbikeplaces.org <program(a)walkbikeplaces.org?subject=Exhibition%20and%20Sponsorship> ------------------------------ * Learn more about our conference at* *walkbikeplaces.org* <https://walkbikeplaces.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a…> *Any questions?* *contact us at program(a)walkbikeplaces.org <program(a)walkbikeplaces.org?subject=Sponsorship%20for%20W%2FB%2FP%20Indy%20in%202020>* ------------------------------ *Hosted By* [image: Project for Public Spaces] <https://walkbikeplaces.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a…> *Co-presenters* [image: Indianapolis] <https://walkbikeplaces.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a…> [image: Spark Placemaking] <https://walkbikeplaces.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a…> [image: APBP] <https://walkbikeplaces.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a…> *Program Partners* [image: America Walks] <https://walkbikeplaces.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a…> *Impact Sponsor* [image: People for Bikes] <https://walkbikeplaces.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a…> *Supporting Sponsor* [image: DERO] <https://walkbikeplaces.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a…> *Contributing Sponsor* [image: sportworks] <https://walkbikeplaces.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a…> [image: Toole Design] <https://walkbikeplaces.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a…> [image: eco counter] <https://walkbikeplaces.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a…> [image: Saris Infrastructure] <https://walkbikeplaces.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a…> [image: Facebook] <https://walkbikeplaces.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a…> [image: Twitter] <https://walkbikeplaces.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a…> [image: Instagram] <https://walkbikeplaces.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a…> [image: LinkedIn] <https://walkbikeplaces.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a…> *Copyright © 2020 Project for Public Spaces, PPS, All rights reserved.* You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website to receive updates about Walk/Bike/Places. *Our mailing address is:* Project for Public Spaces, PPS 740 Broadway, 11th Fl New York, NY 10003 Add us to your address book <https://walkbikeplaces.us2.list-manage.com/vcard?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a95a1ee…>

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The Headliner: Inmates learn skills in bike shop (Jun10'20)
by Beth McKechnie 10 Jun '20

10 Jun '20

Gearing up for success Inmates learn skills in bike shop https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/headliner/Gearing-up-for-… A broken bike abandoned at the Brady Road Landfill may look like a piece of junk, but it could make a big difference in at least one person’s life. Sheryl Reid-Corrales, Headingley Correctional Centre’s Winding River Community unit manager, said that bike could become one of the 2,000 bikes repaired by inmates and donated to The WRENCH (Winnipeg Repair Education and Cycling Hub) to distribute to community groups serving immigrant and other Winnipeg residents in need. “We go and get the bikes from the Brady Road Landfill,” Reid-Corrales said. By repairing bikes, inmates learn valuable job skills as part of an addiction program offered at the special unit, which houses up to 150 men. Winding River is based on the model of Guthrie House Therapeutic Centre at Nanaimo Correctional Centre in British Columbia, she said. It is a self-contained unit that offers counselling and behavioural modelling to keep inmates fighting addictions out of the main prison system. “We’re an addiction program with a positive environment,” Reid-Corrales said. Two correctional officers oversee the bike shop, teaching inmates to repair bikes. Reid-Corrales said 16 inmates at a time work for a half-day, and the other part of their day is devoted to counselling and programs supporting their desire to kick an addiction to alcohol and/or drugs. “It takes a year for them to go through the program,” she said. “Working in the bike shop is a practice run for when they get out (of prison). In the bike shop, they are treated like an employee.” This puts the onus on inmates to show up on time and call in if they are sick and unable to come to work. Reid-Corrales said giving inmates personal responsibility for their success or failure in the bike shop and Winding River program is important. “They’re learning confidence.” She said working on bikes, especially children’s bikes, leads inmates to reflect on their own families and how their actions that brought them into Headingley Correctional Centre impacted their loved ones and others in the community. For example, they might have stolen bikes to sell for profit and purchase substances. “It’s important that they give back to the community,” Reid-Corrales said The WRENCH recently gave away 320 bikes repaired by Winding River inmates. Reid-Corrales said the inmates also make bike seats that are available at The WRENCH’s office at 1057 Logan Ave. in Winnipeg.

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WFP - Future of AT routes
by Kristine Hayward 10 Jun '20

10 Jun '20

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/coronavirus/future-of-city-active… Kristine Hayward Physical Activity Promotion Coordinator Winnipeg Regional Health Authority 2nd floor - 490 Hargrave Street Winnipeg, MB R3A 0X7 Telephone 204 232-7546 Fax 204 940-2690 Email khayward(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 Metred street parking and pay lots in the area - please note designated loading zones and spots requiring a disability permit. Follow Winnipeg in motion on Twitter - @wpginmotion<https://twitter.com/search?q=wpginmotion&src=typd> Check out our videos on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/user/Winnipeginmotion Scent Free Facility - visitors are asked to refrain from wearing perfumes/colognes/heavy-scented lotions/oils This email and/or any documents in this transmission is intended for the addressee(s) only and may contain legally privileged or confidential information. Any unauthorized use, disclosure, distribution, copying or dissemination is strictly prohibited. If you receive this transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately and return the original. Ce courriel et tout document dans cette transmission est destiné à la personne ou aux personnes à qui il est adressé. Il peut contenir des informations privilégiées ou confidentielles. Toute utilisation, divulgation, distribution, copie, ou diffusion non autorisée est strictement défendue. Si vous n'êtes pas le destinataire de ce message, veuillez en informer l'expéditeur immédiatement et lui remettre l'original.

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CBC: Extending Winnipeg active transportation routes until fall gains support but has critics (Jun9'20)
by Beth McKechnie 09 Jun '20

09 Jun '20

*Extending Winnipeg active transportation routes until fall gains support but has critics* Calls to tweak location of routes, change hours and provide better communications on closures https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-active-transportation-rout… A push to extend the temporary closure of nine Winnipeg streets to vehicle traffic got plenty of support Tuesday, while others want city council to slow down and examine what's already in place. The nine streets were closed earlier this spring to provide active transportation options to residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Vehicle traffic is limited to one block from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the routes, seven days a week. The temporary closures are set to end on July 6, but on Tuesday, the city's infrastructure and public works committee heard from several councillors and a dozen delegations about extending the closures for another two months. St. Boniface Coun. Matt Allard has a motion that would extend the active transportation routes until the September long weekend. "The majority of people I have heard from in my ward supports keeping them open," Allard said on Tuesday. Several councillors appeared in front of the committee in full support of the motion, but others say changes should be made before the life of the routes is extended. Mynarski Coun. Ross Eadie says he has "no real problem" with the routes, one of which — Scotia Street — is in his ward. But he did inject a note of caution about the interaction between pedestrians, cyclists and drivers on the routes. "There is tension on all sides," Eadie said, adding the restrictions bring out the "aggressive nature" in people while attempting to share the road. Assiniboine may not be right fit for route The councillor for Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood says there was little advance notice to residents when five more routes were added <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/city-winnipeg-more-active-transport…> in early May to the four that had opened up in April <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/city-winnipeg-active-transportation…> . "There was no information given to residents.… It was just done," Kevin Klein told the committee. Assiniboine Avenue from Bedson Street to Westwood Drive, which is in Klein's ward, was among the routes added in May. He says there are six bus stops on the street and no proper signage was put in place to explain the changes to residents. Klein says perhaps the route could remain closed to vehicles on the weekends or evenings, but whatever happens with the motion to extend the routes until the fall, residents and the local councillors should be consulted first. Westwood resident Darlene Van Ruiten agreed with Klein on both the concerns about the bus stops on the route, and the lack of consultation. "There wasn't any time to speak to residents that this was coming," Van Ruiten told the committee. She says the barricades on the street have created a potential danger, as transit buses attempt to manoeuvre around them. The Green Action Centre appeared in support of extending the routes beyond the current nine streets, urging councillors to follow the lead of other cities around the world. "Create a pop-up network routes accessible by foot and bikes," urged the Green Action Centre's Mel Marginet. After hearing from some councillors and delegations, Allard allowed there may be a need to tweak some routes. "I want to acknowledge there have been a number of concerns raised by residents and councillors," Allard said. Allard believes the motion going to council has the flexibility in it to allow area councillors to adapt the routes in each ward. The infrastructure and public works committee is expected to vote on Allard's motion later Tuesday. It also has to pass executive policy committee before a full vote of city council.

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WFP: Future of city active transportation routes draws debate (Jun10'20)
by Beth McKechnie 09 Jun '20

09 Jun '20

Future of city active transportation routes draws debate https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/future-of-city-active-transp… Some Winnipeggers fear a route restricting vehicle access to make more room for pedestrians and cyclists has created new safety concerns. The city introduced nine active transportation routes as an option for socially distanced exercise during the COVID-19 pandemic, where vehicle traffic is limited to one block from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. While that was slated to end July 6, city council is now considering a motion that would keep the paths open to Sept. 7. Coun. Kevin Klein (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood) opposed the extension, however, after the Assiniboine Avenue route (from Bedson Street to Westwood Drive) triggered complaints. "There’s buses and there’s a lot of turns and dips on that road, so it’s difficult to see pedestrians and cyclists," Klein said Tuesday, noting there are also multiple bus stops along Assiniboine. "It creates a diversion of traffic that’s not expected in the community." The councillor said the vehicle restrictions also fuel notable traffic increases in a nearby back lane, as drivers search for alternative routes. "Right now, it’s creating division among the street, it’s creating issues. I don’t want to see a child get hit in the back lane because a ball went out of their yard (and they weren’t expecting the traffic)," he said. Klein said some of his constituents do support the AT route. However, he urged city staff to conduct consultations to determine if other nearby alternatives may be better suited to active transportation. He said each ward councillor should be invited to provide input on route placement before any extension occurs. If that doesn’t happen, council could also consider restricting the vehicle limits to Saturdays, Sundays and weekday evening hours. Darlene Van Ruiten, a resident of the ward, told the committee she’s also concerned about heavy bus traffic forced to move around the route’s barricades. "The barricade causes this bus, this full-sized bus, to go (switch lanes) to make those corners… It causes a potential danger to either hit a car or a child that’s not paying attention," said Van Ruiten. On Tuesday, the public works committee voted to support the extensions, which means the AT access for sections of Lyndale Drive, Scotia Street, Wellington Crescent, Wolseley Avenue, Assiniboine Avenue, Churchill Drive, Egerton Road, Kildonan Drive and Kilkenny Drive will be extended. Coun. Matt Allard (St. Boniface), committee chairman, noted the motion does call for all councillors to be consulted to see if any changes to the routes are required. Allard said that should ensure ward concerns can be addressed without AT routes getting shut down to do so. "By design, this motion is meant to include the area councillor," he said, adding he’s heard plenty of support for the route extension. By late Tuesday afternoon, more than 8,000 Winnipeggers had signed an online Winnipeg Trails Association petition to support the extension and call for more permanent AT routes. The public works committee also heard clear support from many delegates at Tuesday’s meeting. "A small inconvenience for some folks to limit their driving to a block during designated hours in exchange for all of the benefits of movement and fresh air is an incredibly simple trade-off for the city to champion," said Mel Marginet of the Green Action Centre. Marginet said the routes must be expanded, however, since many Winnipeggers live too far from the current ones to easily access them. If council approves the changes as proposed, the city’s public service would also study the addition of permanent, year-round active transportation routes. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: Building active transportation routes on a tight budget possible, councillor says (Jun9'20)
by Beth McKechnie 08 Jun '20

08 Jun '20

Building active transportation routes on a tight budget possible, councillor says https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/building-active-transportation-rout… As more residents make biking and walking an essential part of their day through the coronavirus pandemic, one city councillor says supporting active transportation might not necessitate big-budget investments. "The nine active transportation corridors we’ve opened, we were able to do that with very small financial implications, so perhaps there’s ways of expanding active transportation in the city without spending a whole lot of money," Coun. Matt Allard said. "Part of it is investment, but part of it is what do we want to do as a city? How do we want to use the spaces that we have?" Allard’s remarks came Monday as city officials cut the ribbon on the latest multimillion dollar piece of infrastructure built with pedestrians and cyclists in mind. The new $2.5-million underpass connecting Niakwa Trail to Des Meurons Street beneath Fermor Avenue saw plenty of people jogging, cycling and walking past news crews gathered Monday morning to cover the opening. The pathway, located about midway between St. Anne’s Road and Archibald Street, and not far from the Windsor Park Golf Course and St. Vital Outdoor Pool, was part of the city’s $29.6-million Fermor Avenue reconstruction project. The underpass allows easier access to active transportation corridors connecting to downtown from southeast Winnipeg. "This brings us a step closer to the dream, which is a completely connected separated network from the road," said Allard (St. Boniface), who is chair of the city’s infrastructure renewal and public works committee. "I’m cycling much more since being elected to city council and understanding the value of these facilities, but as the father of an 11-year-old girl, I can tell you protected facilities are essential to get people to make the choice to use their bicycles and active transportation — to make the switch." In April, the city extended four Sunday and holiday bike routes to allow for pedestrians and cyclists to use the routes seven days a week with vehicle traffic restricted to one block between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., as part of its COVID-19 response. Five additional residential streets were added in the following weeks, with vehicle restrictions in place until July 6. Allard said use of these active transportation corridors has been significant and, overall, more people are choosing to leave their vehicles at home or find alternatives to using the bus. "With COVID-19 we’ve seen some trends and one trend that we expect, and are actually encouraging, is bus ridership is down," Allard said. "We’re asking people to ride the bus only if they have to… that’s a big part of the mode shift in Winnipeg." The standing policy committee on infrastructure renewal and public works will vote Tuesday on a motion to extend the initiative to Sept. 7. The motion also calls on the public service to report on the results of the program and the feasibility of establishing permanent year-round active transportation routes. A petition by Trails Winnipeg to keep the routes in place had received more than 7,800 signatures by Monday afternoon. "In terms of a culture change, I think that’s just happening now," Allard said. "It’s going to have an impact on what the public demands of city hall." St. Vital Coun. Brian Mayes, whose ward residents will also benefit from the Fermor Avenue underpass, said he wants to see the city upgrade existing, well-used active transportation infrastructure and assets. "I’ve been on this campaign to upgrade all these running tracks across the city and we could fix some of those up pretty cheaply, and we haven’t," Mayes said. "So we should have a balancing act here. "I think we should keep building and cycling walking paths but also we’ve got some old running and walking infrastructure; people can use those and we need to put some money into that, too." danielle.dasilva(a)freepress.mb.ca

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WFP Editorial: Extend active-transportation routes (Jun8'20)
by Beth McKechnie 08 Jun '20

08 Jun '20

Extend active-transportation routes https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/extend-active-transpor… AS Winnipeggers adjust to the new normal in the age of COVID-19 — whatever that may be — there is opportunity to change how roads are used in the future. Sections of multiple streets were designated as active transportation routes early in the wave of changes brought by physical-distancing recommendations. Motorized traffic was restricted to one block along parts of Lyndale Drive, Scotia Street, Wellington Crescent, Wolseley Avenue, Assiniboine Avenue, Churchill Drive, Egerton Road, Kildonan Drive and Kilkenny Drive. Some of these routes, such as Wolseley Avenue, already had such restrictions in place — but only on weekends and only during summer months. City council extended the initial period of the closures to July 6. A motion by Coun. Sherri Rollins, seconded by Brian Mayes, would extend the designation to Sept. 7. The Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works is scheduled to vote on it June 9. As more people who were working from home return to commuting in some form, there may be more pressure on the city to again allow motorized traffic on these streets. But the new normal need not be the car-centric normal that dominated Winnipeg previously. With a usually busy Manitoba summer suddenly emptied by multiple event cancellations, more people now find the time to dust off their bicycles or don a sturdy pair of walking shoes. These people will get a nod of approval from their doctors because, when it comes to preventative health, active living is an effective prescription. The risk of being exposed to COVID-19 is currently low, but the means by which it spreads remain the same. Joggers, cyclists, roller-skaters — anyone using the roads to get a bit of exercise — still need space to maintain distancing, and such space can be provided by allowing some or all of these road areas to be used for active transportation. It’s a timely topic because the city is already working on a long-term active transportation network. Community consultations are ongoing as to where bike routes and dedicated paths should go. Other Canadian cities have experimented with temporary barriers to add such lanes to city streets, to see whether people will eschew their vehicles and take to their bikes. Creating such spaces here, as the city has done, presents an opportunity to see how Winnipeggers would use active transportation. Some areas may not prove popular with enough commuters, or residents, to justify making permanent changes to the infrastructure. This is something the city should collect information on, and something Winnipeggers should tell their councillor about. What kind of city do we want to live in when we’re through the COVID-19 pandemic? It’s time for active transportation to be more than an afterthought in Winnipeg. The pandemic offers a rare opportunity to try expanded, and healthier, ways to use pavement.

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Portage la Prairie Active Transportation Committee to Host Bike Week
by Beth McKechnie 08 Jun '20

08 Jun '20

Transportation Committee to Host Bike Week <https://portageonline.com/local/transportation-committee-to-host-bike-week> https://portageonline.com/local/transportation-committee-to-host-bike-week The Portage la Prairie Active Transportation Committee is bringing back Bike Week for the sixth annual year. The Committee has a full week of bike-related events for you to take part in from June 15-21. Chair of the Bike Week Committee Heather Bruce says their most popular event, the Cookie Ride, has been altered because of the pandemic. "This year, it's going to be a freezie ride so we can hand out freezies, and we will hand other things out as well. It's very popular because it makes families get out after supper to go for a bike ride. That's part of what we're trying to do, encourage people to get out and about." Other activities planned for Bike Week include Bike & Yoga, bike trails, and a public art bike tour. Bruce says they've taken safety into mind when planning the activities. "Because we're outside the social distancing thing will be easy, and we're on bikes. For instance, our Grub Crawl is on Thursday this year. Last year, we went to three different places and had something small to eat at each place. This year, we're only having it at Cafe on Prince." The Transportation Committee strives to hold the event as a way to showcase Portage's many biking paths and bring awareness to active transportation. Bruce says Bike Week has a new event this year, the Bike Jam. "Even the route is kept a secret right until the last minute. There will likely be music blaring. It's just a nice slow-moving ride throughout the city, and people are encouraged to ride in costume, or decorate their bikes." Bruce wants you to get outside and enjoy the Manitoba summer. "We know that during COVID, there's been a lot of talk about people's mental health, so bike week fits in getting people outside, active and in the fresh air with other people, but socially distant." You can keep up to date with Bike Week on their Facebook Page. <https://www.facebook.com/activetransportationplap>

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CBC: Bike lanes installed on urgent basis across Canada during COVID-19 pandemic (Jun7'20)
by Beth McKechnie 08 Jun '20

08 Jun '20

Bike lanes installed on urgent basis across Canada during COVID-19 pandemic Commuters nervous to take public transit hop on bikes; driving not an option for many https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/bike-lanes-covid-pandemic-canada-1.5598164 Been meaning for years to bicycle to work, as a way to improve your fitness and save money on gas and parking? Now is your chance. Municipal governments across Canada are moving quickly to create clearly marked bicycle lanes in order for people to travel safely through cities. A number of city councils have approved road closures, either partial or complete, as an emergency alternative to public transit. Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Kitchener, Toronto, Montreal and Moncton have all recently extended their cycling networks, according to Vélo Canada Bikes, a national advocacy group for cycling. "We're doing a lot of work that was meant to be spread out over a few years in a few weeks," said Toronto mayor John Tory said in an interview. "It's going to keep people safer, because it's going to give people an alternative to the transit system, where they're still a bit anxious." The World Health Organization has issued guidelines <http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/health-emergencies/coronavirus-cov…> on how to get around during the COVID outbreak, which include "whenever feasible, consider riding bicycles or walking" to help with physical distancing and physical activity. Safe transit for essential workers But many of the bike lane extensions introduced in Canada during the pandemic are are temporary, marked with portable stanchions. Permanent bike lanes typically involve lengthy public consultations with merchants and residents, a process that isn't feasible given the urgent need for transportation options right now. Toronto-based urban planner Jennifer Keesmaat said transportation alternatives are critical as many workplaces begin to reopen. As well, essential service workers need to get to their places of employment. "In the absence of having a vaccine and being unable to pack everybody on transit the way we have in the past, cycling is a viable option," said Keesmaat, Toronto's former city planner. "It's simply impossible for everybody who takes transit to get into a car, and secondly, it's not affordable," she said. "A lot of people don't have access to a car or can't afford one." Keesmaat hopes the new bike lanes will become permanent. She is the chief architect of the 2020 Declaration for Resilience in Canadian Cities <https://www.2020declaration.ca/>, a statement signed by 100 well-known Canadians calling on political leaders to use the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to "kickstart" a move toward more accessible, equitable, and sustainable cities. The list of 20 priorities on the declaration includes protected bike lanes. Cities such as Amsterdam and Copenhagen have long boasted a cycling culture, with crowds of citizens pedalling along cycling routes around the city. Since the pandemic began, New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Milan and Bogota and others have shifted street space away from cars, to add pathways for bikes and pedestrians. Friction with motorists The Canadian Automobile Association supports proper cycling infrastructure, according to spokesperson Ian Jack. "The more people on bikes and on transit, the fewer people there are on the road," he said. "There will be less congestion." But Jack also believes that the cycling lanes work especially well right now, with fewer Canadians driving due to the lockdown. "These temporary lanes have been fine because there's been so little vehicular traffic, it hasn't been an issue," he said. "It's going to become one as more and more people start to go back to work." Then there's the issue of insurance. "If the breadwinner of the family is on their bicycle, they only have their home insurance and that doesn't cover them fully," Melissa De Genova, a city councillor in Vancouver. "They wouldn't be covered the same way as with vehicle insurance if there was an accident." How long will the lanes last? Even so, many proponents of cycling hope that the new extended cycling routes will be made permanent. They point to health benefits, as well as the environmental impact, noting Canada's commitment to the Paris Agreement on climate change. No one can say at this point how long the bike lane extensions will be left in place, due to the unpredictable course of the pandemic. Nor is it clear how many Canadians will be eager to bundle up to ride their bike to work once winter sets in. Montreal typically sees just 20 per cent of its cycling population on its bike network in February. "You need to get a bit prepared," Keesmaat said. "But we get prepared to get into our cars too. We buy windshield fluid, we make sure we have a scraper in our car, we change our tires. You can change the tires on your bike as well, and buy proper clothing." Kimberley Nelson of Vélo Canada Bikes believes cyclists will need to put pressure on political leaders in order for the temporary extension to be made permanent. "We really need to come together and push those communities that are doing it now as a temporary measure, to say 'hey, look how much better this street works when everybody is included'," she said. A national strategy Early in March, Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna appointed Halifax MP Andy Fillmore to head up a new National Active Transportation Strategy. He said although many of the strategy's goals are long term, the government is also looking to amend and update its 12-year, $180-billion Infrastructure Plan to acknowledge "the realities" of COVID-19. That will include a greater focus on cycling. "We already had money set aside for active transportation," Fillmore said. "But not by intention, maybe by oversight, you had to squint to see it. There wasn't a particular line item for it." Fillmore, who worked as an urban planner prior to his political career, said the plan will be updated to highlight investments that support communities in their recovery from the pandemic. He believes COVID-19's impact on transportation will boost awareness of the need for more safe cycling routes, and accelerate Canadian cities towards more sustainable practices. "If we're looking for silver linings, I think we've found one," Fillmore said.

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[SUSPICIOUS MESSAGE] Free Webinar Thursday, June 11: Walkability and Health: Building Strong, Vibrant and Resilient Communities – Part 1: Tools and Techniques
by Beth McKechnie 08 Jun '20

08 Jun '20

===== UofM Email Security Notice - SUSPICIOUS MESSAGE ===== The message below may be a potential threat. It may trick victims into clicking a link and downloading malware. Do not open suspicious links. If you do not know the sender or cannot verify the integrity of the message, please do not respond or click on links in the message. Depending on the security settings, clickable URLs may have been modified to provide additional security. Please contact the Service Desk if you have any questions. (204) 474-8600 ==== Original Email Body Follows ==== ------------ Suspicious threat disclaimer ends here ------------ You don't want to miss this. FREE WEBINAR THURSDAY <http://secure-web.cisco.com/1jZnXdTVTsnfywk6FHpAozKVOrV03SGtyyZHHY3WFuluNHK…> Walkability and Health: Building Strong, Vibrant and Resilient Communities – Part 1: Tools and Techniques Thursday, June 11, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. EDT Participants of the live webinar are eligible for 1.5 AICP CM credits. The connection between walkable communities and public health was already at the center of planning discussion in many communities before the Covid-19 pandemic prompted many cities to close public streets for pedestrian use. This webinar features Dan Burden and Mark Fenton of Blue Zones, two of the nation’s leading walkability experts. Find out more and register for this free webinar via the link below. Register For Walkability and Health: Building Strong, Vibrant and Resilient Communities – Part 1: Tools and Techniques <http://secure-web.cisco.com/1jZnXdTVTsnfywk6FHpAozKVOrV03SGtyyZHHY3WFuluNHK…> Smart Growth Information Clearinghouse | 410-767-4943 | SmartGrowth.org The Smart Growth Information Clearinghouse is a project of the Smart Growth Network and is partially funded by the U.S. EPA, Office of Community Revitalization and managed by the Maryland Department of Planning. Maryland Department of Planning | 301 W. Preston Street, 11th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21201 Sent by michael.bayer1(a)maryland.gov in collaboration with [image: Trusted Email from Constant Contact - Try it FREE today.] <http://secure-web.cisco.com/18-saP7zcmFYyAh26auVaPbxyV3dULxMR-U9QnyI8aqxtz0…> Try email marketing for free today! <http://secure-web.cisco.com/18-saP7zcmFYyAh26auVaPbxyV3dULxMR-U9QnyI8aqxtz0…>

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CDC revise awful COVID-19 commuting recommendations, but they’re still not great
by Beth McKechnie 05 Jun '20

05 Jun '20

CDC Revise Awful COVID-19 Commuting Recommendations, But They’re Still Not Great https://usa.streetsblog.org/2020/06/04/cdc-revise-awful-covid-19-commuting-… The Centers for Disease Control is no longer recommending that employers incentivize their workers to commute by car alone as businesses reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the agency’s revised guidelines still don’t do enough to protect workers from the novel coronavirus — *or *the myriad public health threats posed by our unsafe transportation network. The original version of the agency’s workplace safety recommendations encouraged employers to offer workers who use public transportation “incentives to use forms of transportation that minimize close contact with others, such as offering reimbursement for parking for commuting to work alone or single-occupancy rides.” The CDC have now amended the recommendation as follows <https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/businesse…> : For employees who commute to work using public transportation or ride sharing, consider offering the following support: - If feasible, offer employees incentives to use forms of transportation that minimize close contact with others (e.g., biking, walking, driving or riding by car either alone or with household members). - Ask employees to follow the CDC guidance on how to protect yourself when using transportation <https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/using-transport…> . - Allow employees to shift their hours so they can commute during less busy times. - Ask employees to wash their hands <https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html> as soon as possible after their trip. The minor tweak came after major backlash from media outlets like Streetsblog <https://usa.streetsblog.org/2020/05/29/feds-seek-incentives-to-encourage-dr…> and leading transportation organizations like the National Association of City Transportation Officials, the American Public Transportation Association, and Smart Growth America. ... But even the new-and-improved guidelines still don’t adequately address the safety needs of vulnerable road users — or the inequities disproportionately faced by people who are black, brown, and/or poor. For one, the CDC still encourage employers to provide financial incentives *for every mode except transit use* — despite emerging evidence from East Asian countries like Korea <https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/05/08/subways-trains-buses-are-si…> and Japan <https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/05/japan-ends-its-covid-19-state-emerg…> that transit might still be safe during the pandemic, especially if networks undertake proper protocols, like frequent vehicle cleanings and supplying passengers with masks. The advisement threatens to starve transit networks further when fare collections are already at historic lows, rendering transit agencies unable to provide adequate service to the riders who have no choice but to remain. Low-income workers with long commutes, who generally cannot afford cars *or *get to work via active transportation modes, disproportionately rely on transit. <https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/06/long-commutes-are-awfu…> Providing employer-based financial incentives to bike or walk is great, but it won’t do much good if the many safety barriers to active transportation that walkers and bikers still face are not addressed. Of course, workplace leaders alone can’t fix those, but they can do their part, by leveraging their influence as a business community with government officials to support policies to end police harassment, brutality and killing — a significant barrier to the mobility of BIPOC <https://chi.streetsblog.org/2020/06/03/police-have-always-limited-black-peo…> — and implement Vision Zero <http://visionzero.org/> policies, programs and infrastructure.

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City of Nelson BC offers low interest financing for residents to purchase commuting bikes
by Beth McKechnie 05 Jun '20

05 Jun '20

*City of Nelson rolls out E-bike Program to residents* http://thenelsondaily.com/news/city-nelson-rolls-out-e-bike-program-residen… In a media release Wednesday, the City of Nelson said on June 1, 2020, Council approved the roll out of a city-wide E-bike Program for residents with the goal of promoting active transportation, community wellbeing and reducing GHG emissions. *The City of Nelson said the program will provide low interest financing for Nelson homeowners who would like to purchase a commuter bike including electric bikes, do-it-yourself conversion kits and non-electric bikes with the loan applied monthly on the homeowner’s Nelson Hydro electric bill and repaid over the term of the loan.* *The City said the maximum loan amount will be $8,000 per household, which can support the purchase of more than one bike. Participants will be able to choose an amortization period of two or five years, with an interest rate of 3.5% (subject to change each year).* “Council is pleased with the development of this new e-bike program and we hope it provides the incentive and tools folks need to be able to purchase a commuter bike,” said Nelson Mayor Dooley in the media release. “By increasing the use of bikes in Nelson, we can reduce carbon emissions and pollution in our community. There is also increased benefits to having fewer vehicles on the road and more parking capacity downtown for visitors and retail customers.” The City said the program will be available to City of Nelson residents who own their own home. Program participants are encouraged to purchase locally and support the Nelson economy. The program provides an affordable option for making the transition to active transportation. Users may see added benefits of more time outdoors and increased fitness levels. The City said there are some administrative steps that must be done before the E-Bike Program is officially in place. It is anticipated that this will be completed by mid to late July. Once the bylaw is adopted, Nelson residents can go online and apply for financing. The application process will include a short survey to collect information on the program. In the interim we encourage you to go visit our local bike shops, do your research and be ready to participate in this exciting new initiative. Learn More: The E-Bike program aligns with the Province’s active transportation strategy titled “Move. Commute. Connect.”, that aims to build a cleaner greener future for all British Columbians by: - Doubling the percentage of trips taken with active transportation by 2030. - Providing incentives that encourage safe active transportation for all ages and abilities. - Helping communities build integrated and accessible active transportation systems. - Working with communities to create policies and plans that enable and support complete active transportation networks.

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WFP: Riverbank erosion concerns drive Wellington Crescent rehab (Jun4'20)
by Beth McKechnie 04 Jun '20

04 Jun '20

Riverbank erosion concerns drive Wellington Crescent rehab https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/riverbank-erosion-will-force-city-t… A portion of the Wellington Crescent parkway will be dug up and moved south in anticipation of the pavement eventually slipping into the river. Come winter, crews are scheduled to begin an estimated $9.6-million project to rebuild the roadway between Fulham Avenue and Grenfell Boulevard. The project will also include a kilometre-long riverbank stabilization effort to slow failures along the southern bank of the Assiniboine River. “We’ve had one failure and, thankfully, it was not a large, widespread failure,” said Cam Ward, a project manager in the city’s public works department. “If we didn’t do anything, eventually you would see relatively large riverbank failures progressing away from the riverbank and impacting City of Winnipeg assets.” Ward said city officials have been monitoring the portion of riverbank just before the entrance to Assiniboine Park since 2015. The year following, the paved pathway looping through trees along the river started to crack and in 2017 the riverbank failed, forcing a closure of the area. The city has released plans to rehabilitate the area and a preliminary design for the relocation of Wellington Crescent. The project will include placing riprap stone to reinforce the bank, shear keys to slow sliding, moving pathways and the removal and replanting of trees. Relocating Wellington Crescent south instead of shoring up the riverbank was a more economical decision and fit within the council-approved project budget, Ward said. The project cost would have increased to $15.5 million to build the retaining wall necessary to safely accommodate the 8,700 cars that use the existing road on a daily basis. Before relocating the street, which would reduce setbacks for homes on the crescent, area councillor Kevin Klein said the city ought to give more consideration to a proposal to close or limit the road to vehicles and turn it into an active transportation corridor. “Those trees are priceless and moving the road closer to the homes is not going to eliminate the problem forever,” Klein said. “The residents have all told me... they’d prefer the road be closed. “The residents are disappointed that the city is not listening to them and they’re very angry that the neighbourhood has not been included in any official engagement.” The city has consulted residents adjacent to the project area, however. “You have to stabilize the riverbank, we know that,” Klein said. “I believe it’s reasonable to close that and make it a path like they suggested.” Traffic studies conducted by the city ruled out closing the road after noting the diverted traffic would overwhelm adjacent streets. While a pathway requires less investment than a roadway to protect it from riverbank instability, overall cost savings would be negligible due to work required to relocate underground assets and add needed traffic infrastructure, Ward said. The city has launched an online portal to collect public feedback on the project and preferred roadway alignment. Two webinars will also be held on June 9. More information can be found at engage.winnipeg.ca. Construction is expected to be complete by October 2021. danielle.dasilva(a)freepress.mb.ca

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AT planning for marginalized communities
by Orly Linovski 03 Jun '20

03 Jun '20

Good article on AT planning for marginalized communities https://theconversation.com/poor-and-black-invisible-cyclists-need-to-be-pa… -------------------------------- Orly Linovski, Ph.D. (RPP, MCIP) Assistant Professor, Department of City Planning University of Manitoba 204-474-6424 / orly.linovski(a)umanitoba.ca<mailto:orly.linovski@umanitoba.ca> http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~linovsko/

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APTA urges CDC to reconsider guidance on commuting alone by car
by Beth McKechnie 02 Jun '20

02 Jun '20

*APTA urges CDC to reconsider guidance on commuting alone by car* https://transportationtodaynews.com/news/18349-apta-urges-cdc-to-reconsider… The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is encouraging the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reconsider its recent guidance encouraging commuting alone by car. APTA said the stance is misguided, would hamper the nation’s economic recovery, and demonstrates a lack of understanding of how people of all incomes get around their communities. “For many individuals, the cost of owning and commuting by car is not financially viable and out of reach,” APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas said. “The guidance also doesn’t consider the congestion created by millions of cars stuck in traffic. Gridlock and polluted skies are not the mobility future we want emerging from this crisis.” Skoutelas said the position also ignores the role public transportation has played during the pandemic as a lifeline in getting essential workers to hospitals, pharmacies, and grocery stores and the measures public transit agencies have taken to safeguard riders and employees. “In addition, the guidance is confusing and runs counter to past guidance provided to public transit agencies and riders and what has been provided on air travel,” Skoutelas concluded. “We urge the CDC to work with APTA and the public transit industry to further develop appropriate safeguards. The current crisis has underscored that each entity involved in public transit – the transit agencies; the riders; business and elected officials – has a responsibility and role to play in ensuring the safety and vitality of our communities moving forward.”

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WFP Analysis: Keep roads closed for cyclists and pedestrians (Jun2'20)
by Beth McKechnie 02 Jun '20

02 Jun '20

Keep roads closed for cyclists and pedestrians https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/embrace-active-transport… I run a communications and executive advisory firm; since mid-March, our clients have scrambled to navigate the grand mess caused by the COVID-19 crisis, racing to keep pace with the needs of employees and customers while trying to plan for whatever the pandemic brings next. Right now the biggest anxiety for many organizations — at least those in relatively stable sectors — isn’t about Zoom calls or work-from-home policies. It’s fear of missing the moment. As much as COVID-19 presents challenges, it also presents opportunity, and no leader wants their organization left behind once the dust finally clears. Smart companies are already scouring for opportunities, leveraging whatever data they can gather. Not to do so is to risk being outpaced by competitors who had better foresight and the courage to act. For businesses, COVID- 19 proves the old hockey aphorism: you need to skate to where the puck is going. Governments must have the same mindset. No one has a COVID-19 crystal ball, but in some instances the ground shift brought on by the coronavirus has revealed policy opportunities with such clarity that they now seem obvious. Take, as one important local example, the temporary extension of active-transportation routes along nine of Winnipeg’s most scenic streets. This extension should be made permanent, at least from spring through fall — not only because Winnipeg families are embracing these routes in enormous numbers, but because the health and economic rationale makes an indefinite expansion objectively compelling. Things that are easy, cheap and pay a big dividend are things we should be pursuing. Consider four reasons: 1. Current levels of physical activity are stubbornly low, which translates into enormous, avoidable health spending and reduced business productivity. Federal data show just two in 10 Canadian adults meets Canada’s physical activity guidelines. Among kids, it’s one in 10. Health-care spending in Canada is already wildly unsustainable. The Conference Board of Canada has noted provinces are now spending up to half of all revenues on health care, making clear that better disease prevention efforts and wellness promotion — such as helping people become and stay active — are the only sane and financially sustainable options. Right now we have throngs of people engaging in pro-health behaviours, walking and cycling on safe, scenic, accessible streets. Bike stores are sold out as people discover (or rediscover) the simple pleasure of gliding along a quiet street. As any change-management expert will tell you, when the wind is in your favour you don’t start rowing against it. Winnipeg should be looking to embrace and build on this natural momentum toward greater physical activity, not interrupt it. Policy change rarely becomes easier. 2. Macro trends tell us a significant portion of the workforce will be working from home for the foreseeable future, and perhaps forever. This raises an immediate need for accessible places for exercise and recreation close to where people live. Making local active-transportation routes permanent is a profoundly simple, low-cost means to help meet this need. The financial benefits to business are clear. Study after study demonstrates a link between exercise and increased productivity. 3. Mental-health needs are soaring in the wake of COVID-19. Major mental-health organizations are already warning of an “echo pandemic,” which will translate into enormous social and economic costs. Greater walking and cycling options are far from a panacea, but the correlation between physical activity, time spent outdoors among trees and mental health is well-documented. 4. We risk surrendering our competitive edge to other cities. Across Canada, cities are already moving to rapidly expand their post-COVID-19 walking and cycling networks, often for the reasons above. These quality-of-life factors are a key part of the formula for what makes a city competitive, and they’re part of the draw for the highly educated, high-earning-potential, entrepreneurial talent we desperately need to retain. Other cities are moving forward right now. Winnipeg will be leapfrogged if we let the opportunity pass us by. It’s been a joy over these past few weeks to see local streets full of families enjoying our amazing city together. But the policy decision to keep this important momentum going is about more than a pleasant bike ride. It’s about simple economics. *David Leibl is founder of OnCallComms.com, a Winnipeg-based communications and executive advisory firm.*

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Economist article on the bicycle as the "Little Queen of deconfinement"
by Charles Feaver 01 Jun '20

01 Jun '20

Attached Some snippets: Whereas the coronavirus has been disastrous for most forms of human endeavour, cyclists have never had it so good. Lockdowns have brought blissfully empty roads, which have been a boon to even the most reluctant pedaller. Residents of big cities have been feverishly reimagining their lives on a saddle, rather than behind the wheel. This is cycling’s moment, and it could have profound long-term implications for transport policy. … Early in the pandemic governments latched on to cycling as a healthy way for people to move around safely, exercise and keep reasonably sane. Thus in most American states, for instance, cycle-repair shops were allowed to stay open as essential businesses. Italy’s government offers 60% reimbursements, up to a maximum of €500 ($545), to any city-dweller buying a bicycle, or indeed any sort of motorised two-wheeler. City leaders, from Bogotá to Berlin, have helped by turning over their tarmac, or bits of it at least, exclusively to bikes. Milan converted 35km of its roads into cycle lanes and the Big Apple 100 miles (160km) for the use of both pedestrians and cyclists. Oakland, California, closed 119km of road to cars. Cycling has thus become easier, and safer. Now Western governments are seizing on cycling’s big moment to try to make such temporary measures permanent. Because social distancing is likely to endure for months, or even years, public transport won’t return to normal soon; it may never do so. So the bike will remain an essential tool in many countries’ strategies to taper their lockdowns. As the French environment minister, Elisabeth Borne, put it, “the bicycle is the little queen of deconfinement”; poetry in motion. Paris has been preparing 650km of cycleways to help the city gradually open up. Politicians hope to persuade people of the virtues of cycling beyond the end of this particular crisis. Cycling has well-advertised, longer-term gains: less pollution and a healthier population. The gains from having fewer cars and lorries on the road are already evident. Global carbon-dioxide emissions in early April fell by 17% compared with the mean 2019 levels, according to a study in Nature Climate Change, and “changes to surface transport” made the largest contribution to the reduction. National and city governments are fizzing with new, or revamped, schemes. Grant Shapps, Britain’s transport minister, in a speech on May 9th , promised to make “a ‘once in a generation’ change to the way people travel in Britain.” He announced a £2bn investment in more cycling infrastructure and better pavements. Manchester has plans for the country’s “most comprehensive” integrated walking and cycling network. France wants to spend €20m to subsidise cycle training and more parking spaces for bikes. Bologna is bringing forward its plan for a Bicipolitana, 493km of cycle lanes, from 2030 to later this year, when 60% of it should be finished. Seattle plans to shut 20 miles of streets to most cars permanently. But a two-wheel revolution cannot be taken for granted. Cycling novices in the northern hemisphere have been lucky to enjoy most of the lockdown in fine spring weather; just wait for winter. And some evidence indicates that many people are yearning to get back in their cars, also handy as lockdowns end but social-distancing rules remain. In China, for instance, one survey concluded that the proportion of people who want to use a car would surge from 34% to 66% after lockdown ends; the same survey showed that more Chinese were now keen on buying a car. Other surveys suggest huge drop-offs in enthusiasm for trains and buses. … A country’s legal framework can encourage cycling too. Most European countries, with the notable exceptions of Britain and Ireland, have presumed-liability laws, under which the burden of proof in any collision between a motorist and a cyclist is borne by the driver. Proponents, such as Road Share, a British lobby group, argue that countries with these laws, like Denmark and Germany, enjoy much more, and much safer, cycling than those without, because they encourage motorists to be more cautious. But turning cities like London or New York into so many Copenhagens will be less of a sprint, more several Tours de France. In the Danish capital over 60% of commuters cycle to work (or study). The figure is in the low single digits in most American cities. But at least for now cyclists around the world can demand more of their governments, knowing they have a tailwind of public goodwill. <https://s100.copyright.com/AppDispatchServlet?publisherName=economist&publi…> Charles Feaver 11 Harvard Ave Winnipeg R3M 0J6 204.293.6332

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Making Space: Biking out of a Pandemic and the Return to School (June 10th webinar)
by Beth McKechnie 01 Jun '20

01 Jun '20

Share the Road and The Centre for Active Transportation [in Ontario] have been co-hosting a series of webinars on rebalancing streets during the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery. *The next webinar is on **June 10th at [1pm CST]. * Jessica Roberts leads Alta's programming group out of Portland. Her presentation will focus on what we can be doing to support, encourage and incentivize sustainable mobility. Isooda Niroomand is a School Travel Planner with Green Communities Canada. She will speak specifically to the issue of returning to school. After brief presentations, Jamie Stuckless and Nancy Smith Lea will join the others to explore what we should be doing now, and what we should be planning for, related to walking and cycling, as we emerge from the pandemic. *Registration for "Making Space: Biking out of a Pandemic" *is available here: *sharetheroad.ca/webinars* <http://sharetheroad.ca/webinars>. ------------------------------ Kate Whitfield Alta Planning + Design Ottawa ON (613) 858-2122 ------------------------------

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