- AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

This week, cycling events, global and local
by Anders Swanson 09 Feb '21

09 Feb '21

A few special events coming up for your interest: *THURS FEB.11 AND FRIDAY 12 - eGlobal Winter Cycling Congress* Two short jam packed days of unique presentations and fascinating discussions, with post event social activities in a virtual Finnish bar. The Winnipeg connection includes Councillor Sherri Rollins sharing political wisdom and ideas and the story of learning to ride a bicycle only a few months ago. She will be sharing a stage with Oboi Olatunji, the founder of Slow Roll Chicago who visited Winnipeg for Bike Bike a few years ago (along with Sarah Goodyear from the War on Cars podcast from NYC and Lisa Bender, the President of City Council in Minneapolis to talk about the role of enforcement post in a BLM era and ways of making winter cycling both normal and inclusive. As conference director, I get the honour of moderating a session with MP Andy Fillmore, head of Canada's new AT strategy, Bronwen Thornton, head of international pedestrian design and land use network, Walk21 and Dr.Peter Newman, an award-winning sustainability and urban design expert who is a lead author for transport at the IPCC. So many other great speakers! Local engineering firm Sandbox is a sponsor and helping to support Winnipeg Trails' assistance with project management and communications. It is truly a global team effort, with teams from Boston, Montreal, Helsinki, Masstricht and more combining to pick up the pieces from the usually in-person conference sites that had to be cancelled due to you-know-what. We hope you can join. Student registration is only 5EUR. Regular conference registration is just 20EUR with a membership to the Winter Cycling Federation. Viva la Bike Boom. Register now: WinterCycling.org *Friday Feb.12 WinterBikeALoopza (Winter Bike to Work Day COVID 19 Edition) *With so many people worldwide working from home or unemployed, this year is different. People are committing to ride, like usual, but encouraged to do loops of their own neighbourhoods. Sign up online, and check the maps. The School Loops team will be adding all kinds from Winnipeg this week. Rememberm we started this event, Winnipeg, its up to you to finish it. ;) Join us. WinterBikeToWorkDay.org *Wednesday Feb.24th *- *LAUNCH of Women in Cycling Network. T*his is partially organized by Angela van der Kloof, whom some of you may remember from the Kickstand sessions that Janice Lukes and I organized with Michael Colville Andersen almost a decade ago or from the 2014 Winter cycling Congress here in Winnipeg. anders

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Cycling for Sustainable Cities
by Beth McKechnie 09 Feb '21

09 Feb '21

Cycling for Sustainable Cities MIT Press just published “Cycling for Sustainable Cities," co-edited by Ralph Buehler and John Pucher. In addition to its up-to-date analysis of cycling trends and policies, the book provides practical lessons for making cycling safe, practical, and convenient for almost everyone and for most trip purposes. The 21 book chapters feature contributions by authors from around the world who are experts in both cycling and their respective professional fields of urban planning, public policy, public health, transportation, and engineering. Following the introduction, chapters 2-15 explore topics such as the health benefits of cycling; cycling safety; cycling facilities, programs, and project evaluation; the special cycling needs and preferences of women, children, and older adults; and social justice in cycling decision-making, policies, and infrastructure. Chapters 15-19 examine these same topics in the context of specific countries and cities in Europe, North America, Latin America, and Asia. Chapter 20 explores the importance of cycling advocacy. Finally, Chapter 21 proposes specific strategies for policy implementation and summarizes the main lessons for increasing cycling and making it safer and more convenient for daily travel. More info: https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/cycling-sustainable-cities

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New Healthy Communities Initiative
by Beth McKechnie 08 Feb '21

08 Feb '21

View this email in your browser <https://mailchi.mp/880cities.org/880-cities-takes-part-in-a-new-healthy-com…> 8 80 Cities takes part in a new Health Communities Initiative 8 80 Cities is excited to be teaming up with Community Foundations of Canada and other partners to fund projects through the Healthy Communities Initiative <https://880cities.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=49b51d71f0a96500f24124…> . Register to join Community Foundations of Canada on February 9th, 2021 at 1PM EST <https://880cities.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=49b51d71f0a96500f24124…> for a special announcement and panel event focused on transforming public spaces to respond to COVID-19. This event is an opportunity to learn more about Initiative, a new $31 million investment from the Government of Canada to support communities as they adapt public spaces for the new realities of the pandemic. Join the Healthy Communities Initiative partners and a set of fantastic panelists including Parliamentary Secretary Andy Fillmore for a candid conversation on public spaces and COVID-19. From equity-based placemaking and public safety to community development and resilience, you’ll hear from leading place-makers, activists and thinkers who will explore what’s working, what’s not, and what’s next for community-led solutions across Canada. It will also be an opportunity to learn more about the forthcoming Healthy Communities Initiative. This event will take place in French and English with ASL and LSQ interpretation. A recording of the event will also be made available if you are unable to attend live. 8 80 Cities will be in touch again later this week to share more information on how you and your organization can participate in the Healthy Communities Initiative. [image: Twitter] <https://880cities.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=49b51d71f0a96500f24124…> [image: Facebook] <https://880cities.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=49b51d71f0a96500f24124…> [image: Website] <https://880cities.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=49b51d71f0a96500f24124…> *Copyright © 2020. 8 80 Cities. All rights reserved.* *Our mailing address is:* 372 - 401 Richmond Street West Toronto, M5V 3A8 Canada

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WFP: Winnipeg Trails breaks ground on more than 30 ski and walking loops in city neighbourhoods (Feb8'21)
by Beth McKechnie 08 Feb '21

08 Feb '21

Winnipeg Trails breaks ground on more than 30 cross-country ski and walking loops in city neighbourhoods MAKING TRAILS, MAKING CONNECTIONS https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/making-trails-making-connections-57… WINNIPEG’S winter sport enthusiasts have more places to go for a ski, snowshoe or hike now that Winnipeg Trails has broken ground on more than 30 cross-country ski and walking loops in neighbourhoods around the city. “One of the most beautiful things about winter is the new trails that it opens up for people,” said executive director Anders Swanson. “It basically creates bridges all over the city on a temporary basis. So it inspired us to see what we could do about increasing access to trails, at least for the winter, in places close to people’s homes.” Planning for the extra trails began in July as Winnipeg Trails started thinking about what a second wave of COVID-19 cases and lockdown rules would mean for Winnipeggers this winter. “The idea ultimately comes from the need for human beings to connect, and it turns out one of the few places we can do that has been outside,” Swanson said. “We are in the business of community-building more than anything else. We do that by connecting people with safe and comfortable ways to be outside and to move so that we can see each other face to face.” More than 30 sites are underway in neighbourhoods such as St. Boniface, Dufferin, Garden City and Tuxedo. Dozens more approved by the city are still to come. “The whole point of this project was to make sure there was some winter fun near you for Winnipeggers; there are sites in every neighbourhood basically,” Swanson said. The trails are built and maintained by a team of volunteers, Swanson said. The crew can make three or four trails a day, and the sites come with benches and sculptures — built of snow, of course — for visitors to use to put on skis or sit for a cup of cocoa. The trails are made by a machine Swanson describes as the “Swiss army knife of trail building.” It looks like a snowmobile cut in half, he said, and can be fitted with different attachments to carve out ski trails or pack snow for walking and biking. The broader Winterpeg project is designed to “spark a little joy” in the city, Swanson said. For those who may not be into skiing, there are opportunities to walk, bike, snowshoe, build snowmen or ice candles, among activities showcased on the organization’s website. For those who want to try skiing for the first time, Winterpeg will offer a mobile ski library to take free ski rentals and guides to loops around the city. “It goes hand in hand with Winterpeg and building the trails,” said Jenny Sawatzky, who runs the Icicle Garden, a gear library that has ski and snowshoe rentals. “People who maybe don’t have access to a car or can’t afford it, show up and try some skis out.” Though the Icicle Garden, based out of the Bicycle Garden storefront on Sherbrook Street, has been in operation all season, the new mobile option is intended to run events and encourage access to winter sports for all Winnipeggers. Sawatzky said the gear library has been a huge success. The storefront has been busy every day, she said, and has had an influx of donations of both money and winter gear. “Everybody has been very grateful that we opened. Feedback has been positive every time,” Sawatzky said. “Everyone’s been fairly generous.” That ski library has been a major source of funding for the trail program: donations for rentals are funneled into the trail-making efforts. The Winterpeg team has received funding from the federal EcoCanada internship program and the City of Winnipeg’s wellness fund. Swanson noted city councillors have roundly supported the trail-building effort, and helped secure the $5,000 in municipal funding. Swanson said the team at Winnipeg Trails and Winterpeg would love to see the entire city connected with ski and walking trails — and bike paths for the warmer seasons — so residents can enjoy time outside with ease year-round. “There are some places where the people in the area already might have skis… and there are some areas in the city, for example, with a lot of newcomers to Canada from countries that may not have long winters, and they’re not as used to it,” said Swanson. “We’re not expecting those to be as popular right away, but it’s one of the reasons why we’re bringing the mobile ski library out, so people get a chance to try.” Swanson said his favourite part is the opportunity to watch people discover the joy of skiing. julia-simone.rutgers(a)freepress.mb.ca <julia-simone.rutgers(a)freepress.mb.ca> Twitter: @jsrutgers

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WFP: Bundle up and get active with Jack Frost Challenge
by Beth McKechnie 07 Feb '21

07 Feb '21

Bundle up and get active with Jack Frost Challenge KRIS Kuzdub will be taking extra care while bundling up before heading outside this week as the forecasted high for today is pegged at -25 C and with the wind chill considered it could feel colder than -40 C at times. Today also marks the start of Winnipeg’s Green Action Centre’s Jack Frost Challenge. All week, teams and individuals will be competing against one another to log the most outdoor, active kilometres. Kuzdub, the Green Action Centre’s sustainable transportation co-ordinator, says maybe it would have been nice if the challenge landed during one of the more moderate weather weeks, but she thinks the encouragement to get out the door might be needed now more than ever — even if it’s just for a quick walk around the block. “Manitobans are tough, we can do it. Just bundle up,” Kuzdub told the Free Press. After activities outside, participants log onto the website and track their kilometres. There are participation prizes, as well as prizes for the most kilometres logged by a team and by an individual. A reminder to readers that Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued an extreme cold warning for all of Manitoba and notes in this week’s forecasts that frostbite is possible within minutes if the proper precautions aren’t taken and skin is exposed. Kuzdub said unlike other commuter challenges hosted by the centre, people don’t need to be travelling long distances, simply getting outside and making a snowman and using your smartphone to count your steps will do. “People need this this year, myself included,” Kuzdub said. In 2020, the Jack Frost Challenge had 1,400 individuals registered to compete and more than 220 teams. This year, as the competition marks its 10th anniversary, more than a thousand individuals have signed up with more than 400 teams registered. Linda Loewen lives in North Kildonan and has signed up for the group competition for the first time this year. She registered with two friends and a friend of a friend. They won’t be trying any of the currently trendy outdoor activities such as fat biking or cross-country skiing, instead, they’ll be sticking to the basics and walking as much as they can. Loewen says she wasn’t much of a walker before, but since the pandemic began she’s found peace and beauty in just walking around her neighbourhood and down the river paths. “It made me appreciate it more than I probably would have in the past,” Loewen said She’s particularly fallen in love with Fraser’s Grove Park and has made it a ritual to walk past it every time she is on her way home. “I’ve seen the seasons pass. I started walking when there was still ice and snow then watched as the river melted… That’s my quiet, peaceful meditative time.” Loewen signed up for the Jack Frost Challenge because despite the peace walking has offered her in the last year, she’s struggled to get moving again since the holidays. “We just need to get outside because we’ve been so cooped up and people are feeling that. People might just need that little extra push,” Kuzdub said. She also hopes the challenge has some of the lasting effects it aims for every year, such as helping people appreciate the time outside, and maybe learn that biking to work or walking to the grocery store wasn’t as much of a chore as they’d built it up to be in their minds. In order to show the impact, the Green Action Centre tracks the cumulative kilometres moved and travelled by participants. In 2020, it was a total of 28,497 km, and if the same distance were covered in a car, it would have created approximately 6,348 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, their estimates show. It demonstrates that every climate action matters, Kuzdub said, and it also burns calories and is fun — so there’s really no downside. The competition runs from today to Feb. 13 and people can still register at greenactioncentre.ca/jackfrostchallenge. sarah.lawrynuik(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @SarahLawrynuik

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Safety of Bicycle Infrastructure in Canada | TAC webinar slides
by Beth McKechnie 03 Feb '21

03 Feb '21

Hi everyone, In case you missed it yesterday, TAC hosted an interesting webinar on the safety of bicycle infrastructure in Canada presented by Dr. Jeannette Montufar of MORR Consulting in Winnipeg. Here are the slides for reference. If a recording link is provided, I will circulate later. 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>

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What We Learned from Tracking Cycling Deaths for a Year
by Beth McKechnie 01 Feb '21

01 Feb '21

Deaths by Road Type The most dangerous place to be a cyclist, however, was on an arterial road, which we defined as a busy, multilane thoroughfare with traffic signals at intersections and speeds limits exceeding 30 miles per hour. Arterials accounted for 65 percent of the fatal crashes in our database. We saw that poorly designed intersections along these roads presented serious hazards for cyclists. While many had multiple lanes for cars, they had none for bikes. Furthermore, many had speed limits as high as 45 miles per hour. (Speed limits have been increasing in many parts of the country.) And numerous intersections on arterials allow vehicles to turn right on a red light, or have several turning lanes, which makes it much more likely that a driver won’t see a cyclist while they are turning. BikeMaps.org executive director Karen Laberee adds that cars making unprotected left turns—those with no dedicated left-turn light—are especially hazardous, because a driver may be watching for other cars coming in the opposite direction but not for cyclists or pedestrians. “A left turn is a particularly challenging maneuver cognitively <https://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/the-cure-for-killer-cars/> for a driver—there’s a lot going on for them to process,” Laberee says. One solution is to restrict concurrent movement, with separate light cycles for left-turning vehicles, vehicles driving straight, and pedestrians and cyclists, she says. That way, only vehicles or pedestrians are going through the intersection at one time. Full article: https://www.outsideonline.com/2420196/what-we-learned-tracking-cycling-deat…

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WFP: New Flyer in automated bus driver’s seat (Jan30'21)
by Beth McKechnie 30 Jan '21

30 Jan '21

AV pilot project running in U.S. rapid transit corridor NFI in automated bus driver’s seat https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/nfi-in-automated-bus-drivers-sea… ON Friday, NFI Group officially launched North America’s first fully operational automated transit bus, once again staking its claim as the industry leader. The bus maker has been working for more than a year with Maryland-based Robotic Research LLC to fit out its Xcelsior battery-electric model with all the technology that allows it to navigate autonomously through city streets as well as expertly dock three inches from the curb and deploy accessibility ramps for passengers. The bus is currently operating in a pilot project with the Connecticut Department of Transportation on the CTFastrak, a dedicated nine-mile-long bus rapid transit corridor that runs between downtown Hartford and downtown New Britain. The bus uses sensors, radar, LIDAR (sometimes referred to as laser radar) and cameras to create a 360-degree digital 3D modelling of the environment. It can digitally communicate with other vehicles and infrastructure like traffic lights and the technology will work day or night and with or without satellite GPS. It has integrated so-called advanced driver-assistance systems achieving level four certification with the Society of Automotive Engineers. In a virtual presentation on Friday, Chris Stoddart, president of New Flyer, referenced recent comments made by General Motors CEO Mary Barra, about creating a world with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion. “I could not have said it better myself,” he said. “What we are unveiling today will help fulfil that vision.” Industry proponents believe autonomous vehicles will reduce accidents — 94 per cent of the most serious ones are caused by human error — reduce travel time and be more efficient because of reduced maintenance. While New Flyer currently has its hands full managing delayed orders and a disrupted order book caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the company hopes to be fully on top of automated bus technology when the time comes. Company officials were clear that regulations are a long way from catching up to autonomous technology which is not currently able to be deployed in public transit on shared roadways except in controlled environments like the one in Connecticut. But Stoddart said, “In the coming decades we anticipate fleets of automated buses improving road safety and potentially improving commute times, increasing energy efficiency and reducing congestion.” But before that becomes a reality, North American cities have to make some significant commitments to getting people out of their cars and redesigning streets. “First of all, cities need to dedicate resources to urban redesign,” said Jennifer McNeill, New Flyer’s vice president of sales and marketing. “Cities have to dedicate laneways for buses. Transit buses have to be privileged over, or in tandem with, vehicles. Once that starts to happen, AV (autonomous vehicles) can happen.” In a panel discussion with industry experts at NFI Group’s virtual investor day held earlier this month, Josipa Petrunic, the president and CEO of the Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium, said although there has been plenty of talk and development of autonomous vehicle technology, it won’t happen until a couple of things take place. “Cities (need to) dedicate time and effort to urban redesign,” she said. “And the second thing that has to happen is that cities have to set a gold standard or target for why they’re deploying AV shuttles or buses. And the target has to be: move more people and kill cars. It has to be that. If it’s anything else, there’s no point in deploying AV technology.” New Flyer has already started the process of encouraging cities in that direction. In March it’s holding a free virtual session on workforce development and training related to the Xcelsior autonomous vehicle. martin.cash(a)freepress.mb.ca

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WFP: Councillor takes aim at surface parking lots (Jan27'21)
by Beth McKechnie 27 Jan '21

27 Jan '21

*Councillor takes aim at surface parking lots * * Allard wants council to have more say in how land used* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/councillor-takes-aim-at-surface-par… A WINNIPEG councillor is calling for the city to find ways to prevent street-level parking lots from being set up after commercial and industrial buildings get torn down. “I’m looking at ways to essentially curb this and ensure we end up with at least a say, as a council, on how much of our urban form is surface parking lots, as opposed to buildings,” said St. Boniface Coun. Matt Allard. “Buildings… generate more property values and lead to a more sustainable city than a city full of surface parking lots, which I think Winnipeg has a lot of.” Since commercial and industrial demolitions that lack new building permits aren’t subject to a public hearing process, despite the fact similar applications for residential homes require such as hearing, Allard said the city should try to increase oversight. If Allard’s motion is approved by council’s property and development committee, a public service report will check out how other cities address the issue. The councillor said he was inspired to take action after a commercial building at 384 Tache Ave. was torn down in 2018 and replaced with a surface parking lot. Allard said his new motion isn’t meant to criticize the owners of that particular lot, but aims to see council get more control over future property changes. “It just brought forward the policy issue that commercial buildings can go down, industrial buildings can go down and there’s no public hearing. (With) residential, you do have that public hearing and, in some cases, the area councillor and the community committee can turn them down and the end result is you have a building and not a surface parking lot,” said Allard. While some Winnipeg drivers might find them convenient, Allard said he believes surface parking lots aren’t the best use of space, since they prevent density and impede the city’s climate change goals. “The more surface parking lots there are, the more Winnipeggers will be choosing the single-passenger vehicle trip (to reach their destinations),” said Allard. Winnipegger Stephane Dorge said he believes that while some surface parking lots may be required, the city should address an “excessive” amount of them in and around downtown. “I definitely think there’s a better use of land than surface parking… To me, it creates dead zones instead of having neighbourhood activity or resources or storefronts that residents could access,” said Dorge. The city has attempted to reduce the number of downtown surface parking lots for several years. As of 2018, 150 surface parking lots took up about 20 per cent of Winnipeg’s downtown real estate. A development permit is required to legally set up a surface parking lot in Winnipeg. Land owners who skip that step can face an enforcement process, the city noted in an emailed statement. If the property and development committee approves Allard’s motion next month, the report would be expected in four months. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb <joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca>.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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Ridar Systems partners with HERE Technologies to detect bicycles and motorcycles more accurately - Green Car Congress
by Terry Zdan 27 Jan '21

27 Jan '21

https://www.greencarcongress.com/2021/01/20210127-ridar.html

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