AT-Network January 2021

at-network@lists.umanitoba.ca

3 participants
21 discussions

Webinar: Building Better Bike Friendly Communities Jan. 14

by Beth McKechnie

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Lauren Gabuzzi <lauren(a)downtownithaca.com> Date: Fri, Jan 8, 2021 at 3:38 PM Subject: [Transp-tdm] Webinar: Building Better Bike Friendly Communities Jan. 14 You are invited to join GO ITHACA for the Building Better Bike Friendly Communities Webinar on Thursday, January 14th from 12-1:30 pm EST. Registration is required. To Register Click Here <https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJItcO6urT4iE9K6afdxbpmwHuwnFmV-JIcD>. Feel free to eat your lunch while the presenters wow you with important ways to make our community (buildings, buildings, campus and more) bike-friendly! *Agenda* *Roughly 90-minute Webinar * Introduction Presentation Q&A *Presentations by * Bike Walk Tompkins: Hector Chang Bikes for All / Bikes Make Life Better: David L. Allen American League of Cyclists: Amelia Neptune *Our presenters will cover several topics including* Bike Walk Tompkins' Bicycling for Everyone Action Plan, American League of Cyclists' Bike Friendly Business program, Bike Friendly Community Program, and Bike Friendly University Program & Bike Back to Work strategy and Better Bike Infrastructure. Please make sure to register and send this invite to anyone you feel is interested in building better biking communities. We look forward to seeing you there! Best wishes, The GO ITHACA team Lauren Gabuzzi She/Her/Hers Downtown Ithaca Alliance TDM Program Manager Goithaca.org Cell: (607) 391-1389

3 years, 3 months

FW: TAC Learning Program | Upcoming Webinar

by Zdan, Terry (MI)

From: TAC-ATC Communications <secretariat(a)tac-atc.ca> Sent: January-11-21 9:14 AM To: Zdan, Terry (MI) <Terry.Zdan(a)gov.mb.ca> Subject: TAC Learning Program | Upcoming Webinar [Image] LEARNING PROGRAM | UPCOMING WEBINAR [Image] Safety Performance of Bicycle Infrastructure in Canada Tuesday, February 2 1:00-2:00 PM ET FREE The growth of cycling in Canada is spurring the development of infrastructure intended to better serve the safety and mobility needs of cyclists. This webinar will provide an overview of TAC’s new publication<https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBQDPDzUpg…> on the safety performance of bicycle infrastructure in Canada, including key findings related to: * The safety performance of different bicycle facility types * The factors that affect observed and perceived safety * Related data and knowledge gaps The webinar will also present a bicycle facility selection flowchart developed through this project. [Rounded Rectangle: More Info & Register] [Facebook]<https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBQDPDzUpg…> [Twitter]<https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBQDPDzUpg…> [LinkedIn]<https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBQDPDzUpg…> TAC © 2021 www.tac-atc.ca<https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBQDPDzUpg…> UNSUBSCRIBE<https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBQDPDzUpg…> Transportation Association of Canada 401-1111 Prince of Wales Drive, Ottawa, ON K2C 3T2 613-736-1350 | secretariat(a)tac-atc.ca<https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBQDPDzUpg…>

3 years, 3 months

Automobile Dependency: An Unequal Burden

by Beth McKechnie

*Todd Litman of the Victoria Transport Policy Institute analyses the unfair burden an auto-dependent transportation system places on lower income households, especially in the face of any disruption (such as a pandemic). Here's a sample:* https://www.planetizen.com/blogs/111535-automobile-dependency-unequal-burden <https://www.planetizen.com/blogs/111535-automobile-dependency-unequal-burden> Described differently, typical lower-income households can afford housing expenses (rent or mortgage) *or* vehicle expenses, but not both, and owning two vehicles is financially stressful for most households. Of course, many households own more vehicles and spend more on transportation than is considered affordable. This leaves them vulnerable to financial shocks, such as a vehicle failure, traffic collision, or reduced income, which explains why so many families must drive to food banks or require other types of financial assistance. For vulnerable households, a small vehicle problem can turn into a major financial and legal crisis. For example, a high-interest car loan for an unreliable vehicle, a vehicle crash, being caught driving unlicensed or uninsured, or an unpaid traffic citation can quickly expand to a morass of debt, injury, unemployment, legal strife, and sometimes jail. Default rates on high-risk, high-interest auto loans are increasing, leaving many low-income households with no vehicles, no money, and no credit. <https://www.planetizen.com/blogs/111535-automobile-dependency-unequal-burden> Ten Common Policies that Increase Automobile Dependency and Sprawl 1. Transportation planning that favors traffic speed over other goals (affordability, public health, social equity, community livability, environmental protection, etc.). 2. Roadway design that gives little consideration to walking, bicycling and public transit travel demands. 3. Zoning codes that limit density and compact housing types, such as townhouses and apartments. 4. Development policies that favor urban expansion over compact infill. 5. Parking minimums which mandate abundant parking supply. 6. Public facilities (schools, post offices, courts, etc.) located to maximize automobile access. 7. Dedicated roadway funding, which favors roadway spending over investments in other modes. 8. Fuel production subsidies and low fuel taxes. 9. Transportation planning that undercounts, overlooks and undervalues non-auto travel. 10. Travel models that ignore induced travel impacts, which exaggerates roadway expansion benefits. cheers, Beth -- Beth McKechnie (she/her) *| *Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> *We are located on Treaty 1 Territory and the homeland of the Métis Nation. The water we drink comes from Shoal Lake First Nation. * Green Action Centre is your green living hub Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://www.gomanitoba.ca>

3 years, 3 months

Free online course: Transforming Urban Mobility

by Beth McKechnie

Part 1: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/introducing-sustainable-urban-mobility Part 2: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/components-of-sustainable-urban-mobility -- Beth McKechnie (she/her) *| *Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> *We are located on Treaty 1 Territory and the homeland of the Métis Nation. The water we drink comes from Shoal Lake First Nation. * Green Action Centre is your green living hub Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://www.gomanitoba.ca>

3 years, 3 months

Sorry, Boys. The First Profitable Micromobility Company Was Veo, Not Lime

by Beth McKechnie

*Great quote from CEO and founder of Veo micromobility service provider: * I guess you can say, we are the anti-Tech bro company in the Tech Broiest of industries. And that was always intentional because our roots are in the Midwest, not Silicon Valley. I co-founded Veo because I truly believe shared micromobility can provide a vital sustainable transportation service to communities. Learn more: https://veo-mobility.medium.com/sorry-boys-the-first-profitable-micromobili… -- Beth McKechnie (she/her) *| *Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> *We are located on Treaty 1 Territory and the homeland of the Métis Nation. The water we drink comes from Shoal Lake First Nation. * Green Action Centre is your green living hub Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://www.gomanitoba.ca>

3 years, 3 months

Mobility Justice and Open/Slow Streets

by Beth McKechnie

Compelling article given criticisms and concerns that Winnipeg's Open Streets program does not extend to inner city and low income neighbourhoods: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-06/the-swift-disruptive-ris… cheers, Beth -- Beth McKechnie (she/her) *| *Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> *We are located on Treaty 1 Territory and the homeland of the Métis Nation. The water we drink comes from Shoal Lake First Nation. * Green Action Centre is your green living hub Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://www.gomanitoba.ca>

3 years, 3 months

WFP Analysis: Health restrictions redefine city spaces (Jan6'21)

by Beth McKechnie

Health restrictions redefine city spaces https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/health-restrictions-rede… WILL the COVID-19 pandemic prompt a shift to healthier cities that focus on wellness rather than functional and economic concerns? This is a hypothesis that seems to be supported by several researchers around the world. In many ways, containment and physical distancing measures have contributed to an increased recognition of the importance of public space as a gathering place and key tools for meeting people’s basic needs. Urban residents are more aware of the important role of this space as a living environment essential to their physical and psychological well-being. Forced isolation and social distancing during the pandemic have exacerbated solitude and anxiety for part of our population. Numerous studies show that loneliness is linked to major health issues, including depression, heart problems and reduced life expectancy. In recent decades, individualism, neo-liberal public policies and new technologies had already contributed to this isolation. Online shopping has gone so far as to deprive us of the micro-interactions that sometimes represented our only daily social contacts. Many Montrealers in forced isolation were able to appreciate the qualities of the city’s urban space by using their balconies, front yards and alleyways, which enabled them to maintain certain close contacts and exchanges with neighbours while respecting physical distancing. From conversations from one balcony to the other to picnics at a distance between neighbours in the alley, the domestic environment has been able to broaden, thanks to increased human contact. Public spaces, especially parks, have also proven to be essential for socialization, especially for young people. Access to nature, wide-open spaces and sports and leisure facilities has emerged as a vital need, with both individual and collective benefits. Walking, one of the only forms of exercise accessible to many people, has made it possible to escape from confinement with exposure to fresh air and sunshine. The pandemic has shown the advantages of converting some major streets into pedestrian walkways, even temporarily, and the need for wider sidewalks. It has also demonstrated the importance of large linear parks, such as the very popular Promenade Champlain in Quebec City and the banks of the Lachine Canal in Montreal. Cities around the world have realized the importance of maximizing access to public space. Throughout containment, there have been a variety of creative and low-cost initiatives to make urban spaces safe and suitable. In this, the pandemic may have caused an unintended casualty: the motorist’s view of the city. The new health context has provoked a collective awareness of the excessive space devoted to the automobile and the interest in putting this space at the service of people. There has been a significant increase in pedestrian and shared-use streets and more bicycle lanes. In Rotterdam, cars are banned from some major arteries after 4 p.m. so that pedestrians can use them. In Oakland, Calif., streets are being transformed into “slow streets” — mixed-use areas where cars are tolerated but no longer have priority. A paved access in Montreal’s Lafontaine Park is now devoted to bicycles. The transformation of on street parking into temporary café patios — a common phenomenon in Montreal over the past decade — has multiplied around the world. The commercial success of pedestrianized streets throughout Montreal has ensured the survival of small businesses, bars and restaurants. Artistic practices have multiplied, whether they be music, theatre, dance or multimedia projections, allowing artists to showcase themselves and earn a few cents. Other aspects of urban design could be affected by the pandemic, due to the risks of transmission. The slower rate of contagion in outdoor spaces means that it is safer to shop on a commercial street and in a public market than in a hermetically sealed shopping mall or large air-conditioned area. Buildings will also have to be redesigned to offer more natural ventilation and outdoor spaces, be they individual or communal. These could take the form of rooftop terraces, courtyards and balconies. In the city, common spaces and facilities such as bus shelters, sidewalks, pedestrian crossings and rest areas will have to be redesigned in a sustainable way. Some temporary reallocations of car space may well become permanent after the end of the pandemic. There is already increased use of active transportation, which can have a positive long-term effect on urban congestion and public health. Many cities are rethinking their entire urban mobility system. Paris is already planning to remove 72 per cent of on street parking spaces to make more space for bicycles. The pandemic will thus have accelerated already emerging trends toward a healthier, more humane and active city, creating new habits that may outlive it. Paradoxically, COVID-19 may also have long-term public-health benefits, promoting a more active, self-reliant and supportive population. *Anne-Marie Broudehoux is director of graduate programs at the Université du Québec à Montréal’s school of design. * *This article has been edited for length; the full version can be seen at winnipegfreepress.com or theconversation.com/ca.*

3 years, 3 months

WFP Sou'wester: Community survey results are in (Jan4'21)

by Beth McKechnie

Community survey results are in https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/souwester/forum/Community… During the summer, my staff and I created a community needs assessment survey and sent it out to all Fort Garry constituents. We received approximately 100 responses from folks in Fort Garry. Thank you to those who completed the survey. This valuable input will allow me to better represent the constituency and I want to share some common themes that we heard about in your responses. First, I want to take a moment to celebrate the diversity within our constituency. Many respondents have lived in Fort Garry for well over a decade, while others have recently moved here. In recent years, demographics have changed rapidly as more young families, newcomers, and students have arrived in the constituency. I am so proud to represent such a diverse community, and I am committed to representing the diverse needs of our constituency in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. *A common theme in the feedback was the need for increased active transportation infrastructure in Fort Garry. We heard from many folks who want to see more sidewalks, bike lanes, and improvements to road safety to increase safety for pedestrians. During the pandemic, getting outside in the community has been so important for the mental and physical health of Manitobans. I applauded the City of Winnipeg for closing many different streets during the summer to promote active transportation, and I continue to advocate for extended closures of these streets so that Fort Garry residents can continue to enjoy the outdoors safely in our community.* *We also heard from Fort Garry residents that there is a strong desire for better public transportation options and improved access to basic needs like groceries and other essential services.* I understand that ensuring access to transportation and essential services is more important than ever. As we move forward, I will continue to advocate for improvements that will make Fort Garry more accessible, healthy, and vibrant. While this edition of our community survey has since closed, we always welcome your feedback and ideas to improve life for everyone in the constituency. You can call or email my office at mark.wasyliw(a)yourmanitoba.ca or 204-421-4241. I wish you a safe and happy new year! [image: Mark Wasyliw] *Mark Wasyliw* *Fort Garry constituency report* Mark Wasyliw is the NDP MLA for Fort Garry.

3 years, 3 months

CBC: Ice bikes and new skating trail introduced at Calgary's Bowness Park

by Beth McKechnie

Like a regular bicycle on a sled platform, they 'are a safe, stable alternative to skating' https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/bowness-park-calgary-ice-bikes-trail…

3 years, 3 months

WFP: City’s slushy sidewalks make for serpentine strolls (Jan5'21)

by Beth McKechnie

Mild, windy weather turns freshly cleared paths into slippery, wet obstacle courses City’s slushy sidewalks make for serpentine strolls https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/slushy-sidewalks-make-for-serpentin… MAKING use of some Winnipeg sidewalks right now requires some fancy footwork to stay out of the unseasonably slushy morass. The recent mild spell has made the prospect of a fresh-air stroll appealing to many pandemic-forced shut-ins, but it’s important to watch your step. Michael Cantor, the city’s manager of streets maintenance, said that even though the sidewalks were cleared of a recent snowfall by Sunday evening, navigation may still prove challenging, partly due to wind and mild weather that quickly messed up freshly cleaned paths. “It’s usually (due to) blown-in (snow). And… when temperatures go up, the packed snow that was there got a little slushy,” said Cantor. “In conditions like that, it’s difficult for wheelchair users, so when we get calls and we inspect (these places) and we see some trouble areas, we replow them.” Residents made their concerns known across social-media platforms. Abnormally warm conditions, which saw Winnipeg’s temperature rise just above the freezing mark Monday, means hard-frozen snow that would typically offer an even walking surface has softened into slick, treacherous little mounds of slush. “We plow to a compacted snow condition, not bare pavement all the time.… (If) you have two centimetres of compacted snow, you can walk on it when it’s -10 C. But when it becomes 1 C, it could become slushy and then it’s harder to pass,” said Cantor. He urged Winnipeggers who see trouble spots to call 311 to report them. While some Winnipeggers criticized the city for slush piles along the edges of some roads, Cantor said the city’s snow-clearing policy doesn’t require it to deal with residential streets yet. The policy calls for residential street clearing when an inspection deems the routes impassable, which may (but is not guaranteed to) occur after at least 10 cm of snow falls. Since climate change is expected to trigger an increasing number of unseasonably warm winter days, some Winnipeggers are urging the city to explore new winter street-grooming options. “As the climate changes and these freeze-thaw periods are something we see a lot more of… I think it is something the city needs to think about,” said Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg. “Instead of having that solid, sort of packed snow base (these conditions create) this slushy mound. It takes a lot more energy to move around in.” Cohoe said he’d like the city to consider making travel easier for pedestrians and cyclists on sidewalks and pathways, possibly through clearing efforts aimed at slush removal. Lindsey Wilson, the chairman of the Island Lakes Residents’ Group, said he believes the city has done a good job plowing sidewalks, but he hopes more will be done to combat the ice that can make sidewalks slick after freezing rainfall, especially just before and after winter. “It becomes hard to walk and there’s a ton of people walking these days,” he said. The city does appear set to study ways to make sidewalks and active transportation routes less dangerous during winter. Coun. Matt Allard (St. Boniface) raised a successful motion at Monday’s Riel community committee meeting that would direct city staff to study how best to make such paths less slippery. The motion asks the public service to study the health costs of slips and falls on those routes and report on ways to make them safer, which could be tested via pilot projects. “I’m looking to ask the public service for a higher level of service. I think that we’re doing the best we can with available resources. But, certainly, we could do better if we were to allocate more resources,” said Allard, the chairman of council’s public works committee. The study requires the approval of council’s public works committee. Allard said he wants the report to consider increasing sand and salt treatments to add traction, acquiring new snow- and ice-control equipment and possible changes to snow-clearing schedules. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

3 years, 3 months

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AT-Network January 2021