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City of Winnipeg 2013 AT Action Plan Released
by Mark Cohoe 29 Apr '13

29 Apr '13

The City of Winnipeg has released it's 2013 AT Action Plan, which will go before the public works committee on April 30th. You can view the AT Action Plan here <http://winnipeg.ca/CLKDMIS/ViewDoc.asp?DocId=12663&SectionId=&InitUrl=>. http://winnipeg.ca/CLKDMIS/ViewDoc.asp?DocId=12663&SectionId=&InitUrl= Mark Cohoe

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Pembina Highway
by Anders Swanson 27 Apr '13

27 Apr '13

[can't please 'em all...this from a cyclist capable/willing to so 30km/hr regularly...-AS] http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/bicycle-corridors-clumsy-… ________________ Bicycle corridors clumsy Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 27, 2013 A17 No one was more enthused than I when the bicycle corridors along Pembina Highway were announced. After years of white-knuckle, adrenaline-fuelled bicycle commutes between my home in Wildwood Park and the University of Manitoba, I was overjoyed to learn the city was finally responding to pleas for greater bike safety. Yes, it was only a short one-kilometre stretch, a drop in the bucket for those travelling from the downtown area; and yes, it still left the perilous Bishop Grandin overpass unprotected, which I can never cross without recalling the moment I was struck by a car there six years ago. But it was encouraging to know alternative transportation along this important thoroughfare is an investment priority for the city. Once the corridors were complete, however, my joy was diminished and indeed almost crushed altogether, for I discovered the bike lanes had been shunted onto sidewalks around the bus stops. I can only assume the rationale for this unusual design is to prevent forcing passengers to load the bus by crossing a bike lane. Cyclists and buses, however, have been sharing the curb lane for as long as they have coexisted, and must continue to do so everywhere else in the city (and in every other city I have cycled). When I am cycling down Pembina at 30 km/h, the last thing I want to do is divert my course abruptly up a ramp, onto the sidewalk for several metres and then back down again. It's dangerous to me and it's dangerous to pedestrians. I find it hard to believe anyone who has cycled along Pembina Highway during rush hour would suggest such a clumsy design. There are several obvious problems. First, these ramps have become effective collectors of snow, ice, gravel and mud and will certainly become deep puddles once the melt begins in earnest. Second, most people waiting for the bus will stand precisely on the path on which we are now supposed to cycle. I know this from personal experience because I rode the bus for years before becoming a bicycle commuter. But I also know this because my recent attempts to take this detour often require calling out to warn the bus passengers I am coming, then slamming on my brakes and swerving while people attempt to scramble out of my way. It's not really their fault, because this is a natural place to stand and there is no signage to indicate this is a bike lane. Furthermore, if one is placidly waiting for a bus, why should it be necessary to worry about high-speed, pedal-powered vehicles careening through the waiting area? Finally, the curb-lane shoulders have been eliminated from the bus-stop areas, meaning when I choose to remain on the road to avoid crashing through the bus crowd, I must once again jockey for position with cars and trucks, except now there is no buffer zone and I am directly in their lane. In the short weeks the paths have been rideable, I have endured abuse from startled pedestrians and honks from indignant motorists. Suddenly, there's no place for the cyclist... again! The paradoxical and unfortunate result of this bizarre situation is driving down this stretch of Pembina is now more dangerous than ever. So I return to my earlier statement of appreciation that the city is taking commuter cycling seriously. Winnipeg is far behind other cities in Canada and around the world in this regard, and this is a welcome first step toward encouraging greater fitness and reducing automotive emissions. Unfortunately, this initial attempt is awkward at best and dangerous at worst and will do little to enhance safety for cyclists, motorists and pedestrians along this stretch of Pembina. I dearly hope future improvements are attended by more careful forethought so I and my children can cycle without fear to our chosen destinations around the city. Scott Kroeker is a professor of chemistry at the University of Manitoba.

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WFP Editorial: A safer cycling option (Apr.26'13)
by Beth McKechnie 26 Apr '13

26 Apr '13

A safer cycling option http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/a-safer-cycling-option-… It is entirely understandable that a cyclist in Winnipeg would choose to ride three feet -- about a metre -- from the curb, dodging refuse, rubble, potholes and crevices that tend to amass at the edges of streets. But the Highway Traffic Act requires cyclists to ride as close to the curb as "practicable," which inevitably puts them in conflict with motorists, many of whom regard bicycles as an inconvenience at best. A better, safer option is needed. The Selinger government is considering changing the highway act to give more room to cyclists and greater separation between them and vehicles. Cycling advocates want Manitoba to adopt Quebec's law that gives bike riders a full lane, requiring passing motorists to move into the left lane unless there's sufficient room in the same lane. At present, Manitoba law says only that motorists must pass on the left of cyclists "at a safe distance." Quebec's law puts greater responsibility on drivers. Motorists who bemoan cyclists impeding their commute will not welcome this. And a careful study of traffic flow on busy urban roads will have to be modelled to prepare for such a change. Vigorous public education would be needed for the cultural shift it would signal for the drivers who now exercise right of "weight." But a pursuit of policy that encourages cycling is long past due. Bicycle commuting is healthy, cheap and easy on the environment, and delivers substantial societal benefits. Such a policy shift won't happen any time soon relying upon infrastructure projects alone: Winnipeg's record $20-million investment in 2010 produced relatively few dedicated bike lanes and significant grievance and political backlash. It made meagre progress in encouraging people to leave the car at home. The faster way to promote cycling is to write strong, clear rules that entitle cyclists and motorists to their right of way while enforcing their responsibilities on the road. Motorists will have to slow down when cyclists are ahead of them -- perhaps leave home a little earlier -- and proceed with more caution when passing. That, however, promotes mutual respect between cyclists and motorists, which can only make for safer streets. *Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 26, 2013 A10*

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Video - Pembina@Chevrier buffered bike lane to U of M/Stadium via Southwood
by Anders Swanson 25 Apr '13

25 Apr '13

For all you Taylor swift fans, Bomber fans, summer PHD students or a combination of all three (perhaps?)... *VIDEO: *http://vimeo.com/64786226 Pembina @ Chevrier to Investors Group Stadium first-person perspective...2X speed. Feel free to share. This was taken yesterday. In it, you can see how the buffered bike lane functions and can see how the innovative bus stop details work. It also shows an interim access point to the old golf course off D'Arcy. Note that this represents a "before" or "interim" video, and you will see that some of the finer details on Pembina - like detectable paving stones and proper maintenance - or smooth direct access through the old golf course - are still in the works. (The construction of the bike lane was nearing completion in November last year before a big snowfall....The U of M is still finalizing its interim access work plan through the recently opened Southwood Lands.) I am sharing this video because there is now a viable separated alternative to Pembina HWY for those wishing to cycle to the U of M. Folks can try it now. For me, it is already a HUGE improvement to the jockeying, buzzing and squishing that used to go on in this section. Soon I suspect that it will be even better. Wayfinding for this route is still be a bit tricky, so carefully note the linkage using the Ten Thousand Villages entrance and the left turn technique on Plaza, for example. It may take a trip or two for the uninitiated to know where exactly to go, so hopefully this video will help. Note that from Pembina @ Chevrier north (not shown in video), there is a winding, but pleasant alternative to Pembina in the adjacent neigbourhood for those coming from points to the Northeast. It goes from Riverside near Jubilee and the BRT pathway to Chevrier/Pembina. See last year's Winnipeg Cycling Map<http://www.winnipeg.ca/publicworks/MajorProjects/ActiveTransportation/maps_…>for more info on that section for now. I will take another video when some of the finishing touches have been made for comparison's sake. Regards, Anders BTW...this may perhaps be misleadingly labeled as a "before" video. Really it should probably say "in progress". If anyone has an actual "before" video of this section, I would LOVE to see it. I am kicking myself for not doing so.

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Walk to School Manitoba! Our new video is ready!
by Shoni Litinsky 25 Apr '13

25 Apr '13

Hi Everyone, Thought I would share our new Active and Safe Routes to School video with all of you. If you can post it on your websites, put it in your newsletters, share it with your co-workers I would be so grateful! This was probably my funnest day at work so far - covered in sparkles, glue, and feathers from head to toe! See it here: https://vimeo.com/56783631 Big thanks to the budding movie stars from the Walk on Wednesday's club at Woodlawn Elementary School in Steinbach, MB. These kids created all of their own artwork and spent the day walking outside with us. Also thank you to Assiniboine Credit Union for supporting the production of this video and to Chris Paetkau and Trevor Gill for creating it. -- *Shoni Litinsky* | Active and Safe Routes to School Green Action Centre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Avenue* | *(204) 925-3773 Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/memberships/> Find us here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/>

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WFP: Buffer zone for cyclists mulled - Province may require motorists to move over (Apr.25'13)
by Beth McKechnie 25 Apr '13

25 Apr '13

Buffer zone for cyclists mulled Province may require motorists to move over By: Bruce Owen http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/buffer-zone-for-cyclists-mulled-2046… The province is looking at amending its traffic laws to specify how much space motorists must give cyclists when passing them on the street. Bike Winnipeg says the Highway Traffic Act is too vague and drivers should give cyclists at least one metre or pass them using the next lane over. It's a move Nova Scotia, Quebec and almost two dozen U.S. states have adopted to make urban cycling safer and so drivers know how much room to give a cyclist. Ontario and B.C. are also being lobbied to amend their highway traffic laws in this regard. The changes are coming as the cycling lobby becomes more organized and more people take up cycling to get to work and for exercise. Local Government Minister Ron Lemieux, who's responsible for the active-transportation file, said the province is studying a safe-cycling amendment to the Highway Traffic Act. "When you have a buffer (space), aside from the respect issue, it's so common-sense," Lemieux said. "When you have a buffer, or a protective barrier between traffic and cyclists, that tells people it's the law to respect each other, and here's the boundary. I think for most Manitobans, they would say this makes a lot of sense." Lemieux said the change is just one of several ideas being considered to improve cycling safety and infrastructure in the city and province. The government also plans to conduct a media campaign in June on cycling safety. The buffer idea was raised by advocacy group Bike Winnipeg, formerly Bike to the Future. Dave Elmore, Bike Winnipeg's director of safety and education, said the Highway Traffic Act now leaves it up to each driver to decide what's a safe distance to pass a cyclist. "The lack of any true definition makes this not only unenforceable, but also leaves it up to the judgment of drivers," Elmore said. "Unfortunately, some drivers interpret this as meaning that as long as they can squeeze by without hitting the cyclists, that it is safe." Bike Winnipeg points to Quebec's traffic laws, which say no driver may pass a bicycle within the same traffic lane unless there is sufficient space to do it safely. "As cyclists, we would like to see this practice using the adjacent lane encouraged for all passing situations," Elmore said. Cyclists are lobbying Manitoba Public Insurance to teach new drivers to give cyclists more room when passing. Co-chairman Tom McMahon said the group has appeared before the Public Utilities Board to ask it to get MPI to revise its driver's handbook. McMahon said a diagram in the handbook (on page 74) essentially says it's OK to pass cyclists in the same lane. "That little diagram is physically impossible, but it's in the driver's handbook," McMahon said. "If they were to draw it to scale, this can't happen. The car would be running over you if you're the cyclist. It pretends to show that it's possible to squeeze by a cyclist in an ordinary lane." Elmore said the Highway Traffic Act says cyclists must ride "as close as practicable" to the edge of the road, not an easy task at the best of times, given road and traffic conditions. "Once again, there is no specific distance, and so it is up to the cyclists as to how far they ride from the edge. The Winnipeg Police Service has long contended that they make the decision as to what is 'practicable' even though it is the cyclists balancing on two wheels that has to avoid hazards, potholes and debris on the edge of the road." Elmore said he teaches cyclists to ride a minimum of one metre from the edge to avoid hazards along the curb or edge while adding to their visibility to motorists. "It also provides them with a metre safety buffer to their right should they have to manoeuvre around obstacles or avoid a motorist that passes them too closely," he said. "By riding a metre from the curb, motorists most often will provide the cyclist with a reasonable passing distance, since travel lanes in our city are rarely wide enough to safely accommodate both a cyclist and a passing motor vehicle." Bike Winnipeg is currently working on a bus advertising campaign it hopes will tell drivers the importance of both passing space and a cyclist's position on the road. bruce.owen(a)freepress.mb.ca *The current law* MANITOBA'S Highway Traffic Act says: 114(1) a driver overtaking another vehicle or bicycle proceeding in the same direction (a) shall pass to the left thereof at a safe distance; and (b) shall not return to the right side of the highway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle or bicycle. *Bike safety quiz*: http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=bike-helmet-safety-quiz *Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 25, 2013 A3*

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Jane's Walk 2013 - May 4 & 5
by Beth McKechnie 24 Apr '13

24 Apr '13

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE *7th Annual Jane's Walk celebrates diversity and vibrancy of neighbourhoods across Winnipeg * WINNIPEG Tuesday April 23, 2012 – On Saturday May 4th and Sunday May 5th the seventh annual Jane's Walk is strolling into town. This year, Winnipeggers can choose from over a dozen guided walks across the city presented in an innovative and uniquely neighbourly fashion. Jane's Walk celebrates the ideas and legacy of Jane Jacobs — a celebrated urbanist and activist whose writings championed a fresh, community-based approach to building walkable and vibrant cities. Free walking tours are held on the first weekend of May each year are led by locals who want to create a space for residents to talk about what matters to them in the places they live and work. The first Jane's Walk was organized in Toronto seven years ago and it has since spread to cities across Canada, the United States, and worldwide. Participating in Jane's Walk is simple: local community members with a passion for urban issues and local history volunteer to organize a walking tour in their neighbourhood exploring an interesting aspect of the lived urban experience. Jane's Walks are about community conversations. The public is encouraged to contribute to the urban conversation by asking questions and sharing their passion and knowledge with other Jane's Walk participants. Walks are either an hour or an hour and a half long and take place throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday. Some walks confirmed for this year include: - Back by popular demand: blogger and journalist Rob Galston takes walkers on a tour of his beloved neighbourhood in Village Urbanism: Explorations in North Point Douglas<http://janeswalk.net/index.php/walks/canada/winnipeg/village-urbanism-explo…> - Get to know the area around the new Neechi Commons with the building’s architect in The Edge Condition: Main Street between the Disraeli and Neechi Commons<http://janeswalk.net/index.php/walks/canada/winnipeg/edge-condition-main-st…> by Wins Bridgman - A favourite guide every year, Jino Distasio explores Riverview: Beer, Bears and Boxing and Roller Coaster Ride through Time<http://janeswalk.net/index.php/walks/canada/winnipeg/riverview-beer-bears-b…> - Researcher Abigail Auld explores how the Hudson’s Bay company left an indelible mark on our city in WPGxHBC - A Company’s influence on the City<http://janeswalk.net/index.php/walks/canada/winnipeg/wpgxhbc-companys-influ…> - Sandy Gessler examines a forgotten area that played a major role in the 1919 strike in Victoria Park: Invisible Memories and Lost Meaning<http://janeswalk.net/index.php/walks/canada/winnipeg/victoria-park-invisibl…> - In Broadway Modern<http://janeswalk.net/index.php/walks/canada/winnipeg/broadway-modern/>, Susan Algie from the Winnipeg Architecture Foundation celebrates and discusses the abundance of modernist architecture on Broadway Avenue - Find out about The Communities, the Campus & the Re-Generation<http://janeswalk.net/index.php/walks/canada/winnipeg/communities-campus-re-…> with University of Manitoba Campus Planner Michelle Richard and Winnipeg Trails Association/community resident Janice Lukes - David Connors makes us ask What if there was an alternative to riding your bike on McPhillips? [forthcoming] A complete list of walks with starting times and meeting locations is published on www.janeswalk.net. Be sure to also visit our Facebook Event<https://www.facebook.com/events/528987633810342/>page and share with your network. -30- For more information: Matt Carreau Jane's Walk Winnipeg City Organizer mgcarreau(a)gmail.com (204) 430-5686

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Active travelers are competitive customers, research report indicates
by Beth McKechnie 23 Apr '13

23 Apr '13

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Terry Zdan <tjzdan50(a)gmail.com> Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2013 08:47:21 -0500 Subject: Active travelers are competitive customers, research report indicates * Active travelers are competitive customers, research report indicates<http://otrec.us/news/entry/active_travelers_are_competitive_customers_study…> * Efforts to promote active transportation often come up against concerns, from business owners, that any shift away from automobile use will mean fewer customers or less revenue. In fact, new OTREC research indicates that, for the most part, how much people spend has little to do with what transportation mode they use. An OTREC final report, "Consumer Behavior and Travel Mode Choices," does highlight some key differences between transportation modes. People arriving by bus, bike or on foot average more trips per month to convenience stores, supermarkets, drinking establishments and restaurants than do people arriving by car. Read more...<http://otrec.us/news/entry/active_travelers_are_competitive_customers_study…> *http://otrec.us/project/411* <http://otrec.us/project/411> -- Terry Zdan 126 Duncan Norrie Drive Wpg MB R3P 2J9 CANADA tjzdan50(a)gmail.com <tjzdan(a)gmasil.com>

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WFP: Cyclists, cars, and cops don't mix (Apr.20'13)
by Beth McKechnie 20 Apr '13

20 Apr '13

Cyclists, cars, and cops don't mix The cautionary tale of Cyril and Moe By: Gordon Sinclair Jr. <gordon.sinclair(a)freepress.mb.ca> http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/cyclists-cars-and-cops-dont-mix-2038… I suppose you could call this a cautionary tale. But it's more than that. You might also call it an ugly example of the guerilla road war between motorists and cyclists that usually heats up with the spring weather. But it's more than that, too. For a year now, I've been tracking the case of the pair I'll call Cyril the Cyclist and Moe the Motorist. The story begins on the chilly morning of April 18, 2012, when both were on their way to work, headed north with the early-morning airport traffic on Century Street. That's when the altercation happened. According to a police report I would wait 11 months to finally see, a cruiser was dispatched at 7:46 a.m. that Wednesday. Two days later, in an email to the Free Press, the cyclist, then 23, would describe what happened from his perspective. Cyril wrote that he had strayed about a metre away from the east curb because of puddles and potholes, and that several vehicles passed him without issue until the driver of a minivan, upset at the cyclist who was blocking the lane, "laid on his horn and flew past me, leaving inches between my left shoulder and his mirror." It was Moe the Motorist, a man who appeared to be at least two decades older than Cyril. "I made eye contact with the driver and gave him a dirty look," Cyril wrote. "He had already begun to hastily roll his window down and started to shout at me." The usual back-and-forth name-calling ensued, followed by Moe reaching out his open window and punching Cyril in the left eye. And then speeding off. Cyril managed to get the licenceplate number and called 911. When the two officers responded, Cyril told them he wanted to press charges for assault. He said police responded by saying something along the lines of "we may just give him a traffic ticket for imprudent driving." Later, after interviewing the driver, police called Cyril at work. The victim and the accused were about to change roles. Moe the Motorist didn't deny striking the cyclist in face, but he claimed Cyril initiated it all by starting the screaming match and then spitting on him. Cyril would deny he spit on Moe. That left police to try to defuse the incident by telling Cyril the assaults were "very minor in nature" and no one should be charged. Again Cyril insisted the driver shouldn't get away with hitting him. Police cautioned him that he may be charged with assault, too, but Cyril wouldn't back down. Later that afternoon, after consulting their sergeant, police arrested Cyril at work and charged him with assault and a highway traffic offence for straying too far from the curb. Two days later, Cyril would write this: "The whole situation left me feeling intimidated, confused, embarrassed and quite fearful of both this driver and the authorities in place to protect a person in my situation." I don't know how Moe the Motorist felt, but I can guess. Lucky. Why did police charge Cyril for allegedly spitting on Moe, when Moe admitted to punching Cyril? Basically, they chose to believe Moe's version and believe he acted in self-defence. More specifically, they offered four reasons in their report: Cyril confronted Moe; Cyril initiated a verbal argument with Moe; Cyril spat on Moe, causing Moe to defend himself; Moe immediately drove away, removing himself from the situation. Jay Prober, the lawyer Cyril hired to defend him, argues punching someone in those alleged circumstances is excessive, and a law professor I spoke with agrees. At the very least, in Prober's opinion, if Cyril was charged, Moe also should have been. Then let a judge decide who's telling the truth. But a case like this was never destined to end in court. The Crown diverted it to mediation, where it was resolved late last summer despite the absence of Moe the Motorist, who passed on the opportunity to apologize to Cyril for punching him, the way Moe apologized to police at the time. This week, on the anniversary of the incident that made Cyril fearful to ride his bike this winter, he is out an estimated $2,000 in lawyer's fees and lost wages. And he's still traumatized. Cyril the Cyclist has learned to better control his feelings about the drivers who show no understanding or respect for bike riders. But sadly, he says he has also learned something else from this cautionary tale. That his biggest mistake was calling police. *gordon.sinclair(a)freepress.mb.ca* *Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 20, 2013 B1*

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Local Bike Helmet video
by Beth McKechnie 20 Apr '13

20 Apr '13

Check out the new local video<https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=b6r3f7M_XOY>on bike helmets from the Province: Also keep in mind that the new law<http://www.gov.mb.ca/healthyliving/hlp/bikesafety/#bike>takes effect on May 1st in Manitoba that makes it compulsory for cyclists under the age of 18 to wear a suitable helmet while cycling. cheers, Beth

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