- AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

Walkability is good for business
by Jackie Avent (ASRTS) 27 May '14

27 May '14

Good blog post from Green Communities Canada... http://www.greencommunitiescanada.org/blog/ -- *Jackie Avent* | Active and Safe Routes to School Green Action Centre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Avenue* | *(204) 925-3773 *|* Find us here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>

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Kickoff the Commuter Challenge! Thurs, 11am, Disraeli AT Bridge
by Beth McKechnie 27 May '14

27 May '14

*Join us for sunshine and fun when we kickoff the 15th Annual Commuter Challenge!* *11am, Thursday, May 29th* *Disrael AT Bridge (south side @ Rover Ave)* Let's ensure that Manitoba continues to have the highest percentage of participation of all provinces and that Winnipeg wins the national Commuter Challenge title once again! In the spirit of the Commuter Challenge<http://greenactioncentre.ca/event/2014-commuter-challenge/>, we invite you to arrive to the media launch by bike, bus, on foot, rollerblading, carpooling, canoeing, or any other active and green way to get around. Hope to see you there! cheers, Beth <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>

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Sustainable Mobility & Healthy Communities Summit: Nov 30th-Dec 3rd
by Jessie Klassen 26 May '14

26 May '14

(This has been an excellent conference in past years. If you plan to be near Toronto at the end of November, the focus for 2014 is on health and transportation.) *Save the Date! * The pioneering ACT Canada *Sustainable Mobility & Healthy Communities Summit will be held November 30th to December 3rd, 2014 *at the Hilton Markham Suites Hotel. With hotel suite rates of only $139 CAD/night and easy direct flight access to the Toronto Pearson Airport this conference is not only affordable – it is strategically targeting the most critical issues facing our communities today. Research and practical experience in the health, transportation and planning fields has made an indisputable case for the connection between the built environment and health. This Summit is a *call to action* to achieve a shift in how we plan communities and the movement of people from auto-dependent communities to communities that not only support efficient vehicle travel but also puts an emphasis on walking, cycling, ridesharing and taking public transit. An increase in active and sustainable transportation is critical to addressing the magnitude of the health challenge affecting North America. Conditions such as obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes have been rapidly rising and a significant percentage of these diseases are preventable through increased physical activity. The ACT summit calls on transportation and health professionals, from Ontario, Canada, USA and internationally, to come together and collaborate on multi-disciplinary solutions to built environment challenges that will increase the accessibility and use of active and sustainable travel modes. Plan to attend to be part of this trail-blazing event! Our Call for Presentations will be released shortly and all Summit news will be posted at www.ACTCanada.com *ACT Canada* 613-226-9845 *Summit(a)ACTCanada.com <Summit(a)ACTCanada.com>* www.ACTCanada.com <http://www.actcanada.com/> *Connect with ACT Canada:* [image: cid:image002.jpg@01CE56E2.8BE373A0] <https://twitter.com/ACTCanada> [image: cid:image003.jpg@01CE56E2.8BE373A0]<http://www.linkedin.com/company/3098941?trk=vsrp_companies_res_name> [image: cid:image004.jpg@01CE56E2.8BE373A0]<https://www.facebook.com/pages/ACT-Canada/68980019569> [image: cid:image005.jpg@01CE56E2.8BE373A0]<https://plus.google.com/111714074517087148654/posts> [image: 13-09-2010 3-20-36 PM signature] *Jessie Klassen* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre<http://www.greenactioncentre.ca>| Find us here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Avenue* | *(204) 925-3772 Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>

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WFP No Accident - Part 7 (final): Proceeding with caution - We surveyed mayoral contenders about their plans to make streets safer (May24'14)
by Beth McKechnie 24 May '14

24 May '14

Proceeding with caution We surveyed mayoral contenders about their plans to make streets safer NO ACCIDENT SERIESBy: Mary Agnes Welch Part 7 (final) - http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/proceeding-with-caution-260507861.ht… [Find the whole series here: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/no-accident/]

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Transit investments drive positive change
by Beth McKechnie 23 May '14

23 May '14

Interesting article on transit investments from the David Suzuki Foundation. Thanks to Jessica Jacques for sharing! http://www.davidsuzuki.org/blogs/science-matters/2014/05/transit-investment… *From:* David Suzuki Foundation [mailto:subscribers@davidsuzuki.org] *Sent:* May-23-14 9:17 AM Transit investments drive positive change What makes a city great? Among other things, great cities welcome ethnic diversity, support and foster the arts, have access to venture capital to spur entrepreneurship and innovation and benefit from healthy environments that provide clean air and water. New York City is a driver of global finance and a hotbed of arts and culture. It's also known for green spaces, like Central Park and the award-winning High Line <http://go.davidsuzuki.org/s0Uh0410zD0I0V0E6U00N0U>. San Francisco is celebrated for its narrow streets, compact lots and historic buildings. These contribute to the city's old-world charm, but they're also the building blocks of a more sustainable, pedestrian-friendly urban form <http://go.davidsuzuki.org/DVV600J0UDz00h01400U0NE> that reduces the need for cars. The world's leading cities also owe their success to government investments in transit systems that move residents safely and affordably using a range of solutions, from light rail and subways to bus rapid transit networks. The latter include state-of-the-art fast vehicles that run in lanes separated from traffic. The City of Markham, north of Toronto, is building an impressive BRT network with rapid transit corridors<http://go.davidsuzuki.org/K00E6VD004hW0KNzU0100U0>for a fleet of modern and comfortable fast buses. Transit-oriented cities have better air quality with lower greenhouse gas emissions and benefit from reduced traffic congestion with shorter commuting times. Evidence even shows people in cities with a range of transportation options, like Vancouver, are less sedentary, get more exercise and are happier and healthier<http://go.davidsuzuki.org/ND00XVEN0001UhU0L060z04>as a result. There's growing recognition that prioritizing transit is crucial to moving a region forward. Since the 1970s, Curitiba, Brazil, a city of 1.9 million, has invested billions in its bus rapid transit network<http://go.davidsuzuki.org/f00hN040zY001D0EV0UMU06>. There, public transportation is fully integrated into planning decisions. High-density hubs with shopping centres and office buildings are located within walking distance of transit stations and commuters have access to a fleet of more than 2,000 modern, low-emission buses, servicing 390 routes that crisscross the city and connect it to surrounding communities. Eighty-five percent of Curitiba's residents use the BRT system<http://go.davidsuzuki.org/VzDN000Nh10U000V46EUZ00>, which has reduced car trips by a whopping 27 million a year. But you don't have to travel far to see how transit investments can improve residents' lives. In his book, Arrival City<http://go.davidsuzuki.org/P00000NV4D0U060i0zPU1E0>, Globe and Mail columnist Doug Saunders argues that easy access to transit, among other factors, is one reason Toronto's Thorncliffe Park<http://go.davidsuzuki.org/HV0000E00UQziU6041D001N>has avoided many social problems that plague similar inner-city neighbourhoods. Though most are recent immigrants, half speak a first language other than English and many are poor, Thorncliffe Park residents integrate well into Canadian society, and many enter the urban middle-class within a generation. Saunders believes this is in part because the neighbourhood is well connected to Toronto's downtown, with bus and subway routes, and easy access to schools, employment and other opportunities. Transit facilitates social and economic links to the core of the city and helps residents overcome the physical isolation that plagues many communities. Politicians are starting to recognize transit's importance<http://go.davidsuzuki.org/WV01R0D64020UNU00E0zi00>to the economic, social and environmental health of Canadian cities. It's even become a major issue in the Ontario election<http://go.davidsuzuki.org/e00z3U00000DVi0E61S4U0N>. Premier Kathleen Wynne committed $29 billion over 10 years in the recent budget to expand transit networks in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area and other regions of the province, but the budget failed to pass. Other parties have committed to funding improved transit if they're elected, but all of them need to step up with concrete details and credible plans to ensure dedicated and sustained funding. More problematic is the reluctance of the major political parties in Ontario to consider new revenue tools<http://go.davidsuzuki.org/M00U0E0zVi61N00T40UD040>, such as modest increases in the gas tax or regional sales tax. Polls show most residents support increases in taxes and fees to improve transit<http://go.davidsuzuki.org/Y0N6i0U0U00Ez0004DV05U1>, and two expert panels studying the issue have recommended fiscal solutions such as these. Transit investments are a catalyst for change. They reduce barriers that strangle economic productivity and improve the well-being of commuters who would otherwise be stalled in gridlock. It's time to put people ahead of politics and support dedicated transportation investments in Ontario and other provinces. Doing so will transform the way our communities move and generate numerous other benefits. Effective transit and transportation solutions can spur economic productivity, protect the environment and improve quality of life. It's time to get moving. *By David Suzuki with contributions from Faisal Moola, Director General, Ontario and Northern Canada *

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WFP - No Accident Part 6: Bumps in the road - Simple intersection fixes available (May23'14)
by Beth McKechnie 23 May '14

23 May '14

Bumps in the roadSimple intersection fixes available, but lack of cash and fear of backlash keep them from gaining traction <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/> NO ACCIDENT SERIESBy: Mary Agnes Welch Part 6: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/no-accident/Bumps-in-the-road-2603… * * * * * Summary of links for No Accident series: No Accident - Part 5: Enforcement http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/the-burden-of-proof-260221091.html No Accident - Part 4: Slow zones http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/no-accident/in-the-slow-zone-26006… No Accident - Part 3: Bike lanes http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/fear--pedalling-259898271.html No Accident - Part 2: New York City's vision http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Caution--Safer-roads-ahead-25… No Accident - Part 1: The Problem http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/crash-consequences-259487791.html

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WFP - No Accident Part 5: The burden of proof (May22'14)
by Beth McKechnie 23 May '14

23 May '14

The burden of proof For police, investigating and charging dangerous drivers is a tricky and frustrating process By: Mary Agnes Welch <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/> No Accident - Part 5: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/the-burden-of-proof-260221091.html * * * * * In case you missed the earlier articles: No Accident - Part 4: Slow zones http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/no-accident/in-the-slow-zone-26006… No Accident - Part 3: Bike lanes http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/fear--pedalling-259898271.html No Accident - Part 2: New York City's vision http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Caution--Safer-roads-ahead-25… No Accident - Part 1: The Problem http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/crash-consequences-259487791.html

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WFP - No Accident Part 4: In the slow zone - NYC has embraced speed reduction (May21'14)
by Beth McKechnie 21 May '14

21 May '14

In the slow zone NYC has embraced speed reduction, but experts question whether it would work here By: Mary Agnes Welch No Accident - Part 4: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/no-accident/in-the-slow-zone-26006… * * * * * In case you missed the first 3 parts: No Accident - Part 3: Bike lanes http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/fear--pedalling-259898271.html No Accident - Part 2: New York City's vision http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Caution--Safer-roads-ahead-25… No Accident - Part 1: The Problem http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/crash-consequences-259487791.html

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The Atlantic: Fire Departments Are Standing in the Way of Good Street Design
by Patman, David 20 May '14

20 May '14

This is a common issue throughout North America... pitting walkability vs. design standards for fire engines. http://www.citylab.com/politics/2014/05/fire-departments-are-standing-in-th… David Patman, P. Eng. Transit Planner Winnipeg Transit | Service Development Division 421 Osborne Street | Winnipeg, Manitoba R3L 2A2 P: 204-986-5737 | dpatman(a)winnipeg.ca<mailto:dpatman@winnipeg.ca>

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Canadian kids need to be active throughout the day, in every way
by Jackie Avent 20 May '14

20 May '14

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Canadian kids need to be active throughout the day, in every way Green Action Centre supports global findings in the 2014 Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth Winnipeg, Manitoba; MAY 20, 2014 – Green Action Centre supports the 2014 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth, released today by Active Healthy Kids Canada and its strategic partners, ParticipACTION and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute – Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group (HALO). For the first time, the Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card looked at how Canadian child and youth physical activity stacks up against 14 other countries and reveals Canada is among the top countries for having well-developed physical activity infrastructure and programs, but trails at the back of the global pack for overall physical activity levels. In Canada, we have successfully built sophisticated infrastructure and programs to support kids’ activity, but this alone is not enough to add up to an active population. The global comparisons highlight a need in Canada to examine our own culture of convenience. “Our society values efficiency—we build more, do more and impose more structure—but perhaps this approach is somewhat misguided when it comes to getting kids more active,” says Dr. Mark Tremblay, Chief Scientific Officer, Active Healthy Kids Canada. “A child’s day is so structured that there is no room for free play or walking or biking to school. Having plenty of local playgrounds is important, but what if they never get used? To increase daily physical activity levels for all kids, we must encourage a mix of opportunities, such as organized sport, active play and active transportation.” Jackie Avent, Coordinator of Manitoba’s Active and Safe Routes to School Program agrees. “Walking and wheeling to and from school is a great way for kids to incorporate physical activity into their day while having fun with friends, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from motorized vehicles and exploring their neighbourhood. School Travel Planning is an important way to learn about what schools and parents need to foster this behavior.” “Overall, child and youth physical activity levels remain alarmingly low—the Report Card tells us that only five per cent of five- to 17-year-olds are meeting the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines,” says Elio Antunes, President and CEO, ParticipACTION. “That’s why we need to encourage a wider variety of opportunities to improve the grade on kids’ physical activity levels, and in some cases we need to step back and do less. Many parents see active transportation and active play as inconvenient or unsafe, which results in kids spending their free time indoors being sedentary. In fact, these are great, cost-efficient ways to get kids moving more.” New Zealand and Mozambique lead the pack with “B” grades in Overall Physical Activity. The global comparisons reveal that New Zealand seems to have found success in providing a balance of opportunities for organized activities and active play, with most kids saying they spend an average of 78 minutes per day in free play. And, in Mozambique, where the majority of the population lives in rural environments, high physical activity levels consist largely of transport and domestic chores. “Considered in a global context, Canada is a developed country, but it might be fair to say Canada is overdeveloped when it comes to its physical activity infrastructure and programs for children and youth,” says Jennifer Cowie Bonne, CEO, Active Healthy Kids Canada. “Canada will never reap the benefits of our well-developed policies, programs and places unless we relax our grasp and give our kids room to move. Parents and families, policymakers, schools and community leaders must work together to make it easier for our kids to make the active choice, more often.” More on the global comparisons For its 10th anniversary Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth, Active Healthy Kids Canada brought research teams from 15 countries across five continents together to establish and compare grades, and seek solutions to the worldwide childhood inactivity crisis. Countries that participated in the international comparison process, based on the Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card framework, included: Australia, Canada, Colombia, England, Finland, Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Mozambique, New Zealand, Nigeria, Scotland, South Africa and the United States. The results of the global comparisons and Canada’s Report Card were shared with 700 international delegates at the first-ever Global Summit on the Physical Activity of Children, hosted by Active Healthy Kids Canada on May 19 to 22 in Toronto. Among the ten grades assigned to Canada, key grades and comparisons include: • “D-” for Overall Physical Activity – Mozambique and New Zealand lead with a B, and Scotland lags with an F. • “C+” in Organized Sport Participation – New Zealand leads with a B and Mozambique lags with an F. • “B+” in Community & the Built Environment – Australia leads with an A-, and Mexico and Mozambique lag with an F. • “D” in Active Transportation – Finland, Kenya, Mozambique and Nigeria lead with a B, and United States lags with an F. • “F” in Sedentary Behaviours – Ghana and Kenya lead with a B, and Scotland, South Africa and Nigeria also received an F. • “C+” in School – England leads with an A- and Colombia lags with an F. Full copies of the short-form and long-form Report Card, plus free presentations, articles and media materials can be found at www.activehealthykids.ca. GreenAction Centre is a non-profit, non-governmental organization focused on greener living at home, at work, at school and in the community. We share a greener, better living message through the delivery of community programs, events, education and policy work. -30- For more information or to arrange an interview please contact: Jackie Avent Active and Safe Routes to School Program Coordinator Green Action Centre 3rd Floor, 303 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3B 2B4 204-475-1327 (cell) jackie(a)greenactioncentre.ca -- Jackie Avent | Active and Safe Routes to School Green Action Centre 3rd floor, 303 Portage Avenue | (204) 925-3773 | Find us here Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member

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