- AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

WFP: Walk to store keeps weight down: study (Apr.7'09)
by Beth McKechnie 07 Apr '09

07 Apr '09

Canada News Walk to store keeps weight down: study By: Joanne Hatherly VICTORIA -- Want to lose weight? Try moving closer to a grocery store. A new study from the University of B.C. shows people who live within a kilometre of a grocery store are half as likely to be overweight, compared to those living in neighbourhoods without grocery stores. The study shows that old-style urban planning that mixes retail with residential zones gets people out of their cars, onto the sidewalks, and helps them keep their weight down. And if one grocery store is good, two or more is even better, the report released Monday showed. Researchers found that every additional store within a kilometre translated into an 11 per cent reduction in the likelihood of being overweight. "People have to access food," said study author Lawrence Frank. "It's a marker for other commercial uses, as well, so it's not just grocery stores that matter." The research found that people walked more often when they lived in neighbourhoods with good street lighting, continuous sidewalks and a variety of shops, services, schools, parks and workplaces within walking distance. The study also linked body mass to urban design, showing that people who live in suburb-style neighbourhoods that force them to drive to the store makes them more likely to be overweight. -- Canwest News Service

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Sharrows webinar - Wed, Apr. 15, 2-3 p.m., EcoCentre
by Beth McKechnie 06 Apr '09

06 Apr '09

Resource Conservation Manitoba invites you to... SHARED ROADWAY MARKINGS (SHARROWS) WEBINAR Date: Wed, April 15th Time: 2-3 p.m. CST Location: EcoCentre Boardroom (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave) In a one-hour webinar, Mike Sallaberry, a registered [U.S.] traffic engineer, will discuss the Shared Roadway Marking, or "Sharrow." The sharrow has been accepted in the California MUTCD [Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices] and proposed for inclusion in the next MUTCD; it is becoming a popular addition to a bicycle engineer/planner's toolbox. Mike will provide information about placing and installing the marking on a variety of street types, and will present findings of the San Francisco-sponsored experiment, showing what the marking was and was not able to accomplish. Mike will also provide examples of less-obvious situations where sharrows can be used to address design challenges where other markings, signage, facilities, etc. are inappropriate or insufficient. The Sharrows webinar is part of the Professional Development webinar series , co-hosted by the National Center for Bicycling & Walking (NCBW), the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP), and Cullbridge Communications. Please RSVP as space is limited. cheers, Beth Green Commuting Initiatives Resource Conservation Manitoba (204) 925-3772 www.resourceconservation.mb.ca www.LivingGreenLivingWell.ca

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Jane's Walk 2009 - Lead a walk in your neighbourhood!
by Beth McKechnie 06 Apr '09

06 Apr '09

Jane's Walk Winnipeg - May 2 & 3, 2009 Winnipeg's first year (2008) was a huge success! Over 500 people came out for the 13 walks that were offered in Winnipeg - in spite of snow on the second day! Nationally, over six thousand people took part in Jane's Walk 2008, wandering through 141 neighbourhoods in eleven Canadian cities - Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Guelph, London, Toronto, Thornbury, Ottawa, Charlottetown and Halifax plus Salt Lake City Utah. Be part of Jane's Walk 2009 ! This series of neighbourhood strolls, given and taken for free on the first weekend of May, offers an insider's take on this city's vibrant and fascinating neighbourhoods. The walks showcase great Winnipeg neighbourhoods in a new and exciting manner while celebrating the legacy of urban activist and writer Jane Jacobs. Jane's Walk is an exceptional opportunity for Winnipeggers to discover their city - both places they think they know well and places they want to explore. We welcome you to lead a walk as part of this event - in a Winnipeg neighbourhood that you're involved with or where you live, work or play. We already have 8+ walks confirmed with more in the hopper, ranging in neighbourhoods from the West End to Transcona to Gilbert Park to St. Boniface and more. Find out more at: http://www.wolseleypost.mb.ca/janeswalk09invite.pdf Please forward to any friends, family, colleagues or distant acquaintances that you think might be interested. Thank you from the Jane's Walk 2009 volunteer organizers! (Apologies for any cross postings.) Beth, Joel & Jino

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WFP: Winnipeggers race toward sustainability & Symposium on Sustainability (Apr.4'09)
by Beth McKechnie 06 Apr '09

06 Apr '09

Winnipeg Free Press Winnipeggers race toward sustainabilityStaff Writer A sustainability symposium to be held by Mayor Sam Katz later this month will coincide with a green-themed race that will take participants all over downtown Winnipeg. Sprinting Towards Sustainability: An Amazing Race Adventure will let up to 10 teams of two people cycle, walk or run around the course in a bid to win two bicycles worth $600 each. After finishing off five mystery sustainability tasks, participants can check out an eco-pavilion at The Forks Market, where activities will include a composting demonstration, vehicles on display and green prize giveaways. Registration for Katz's Symposium on Sustainability kicks off Monday at 9 a.m. The city says people who want to take part should call early, as the attendance is capped at 100. To sign up, call 986-7367 or visit www.winnipeg.ca/MayorsSymposium. The day-long symposium is happening Saturday, April 25 at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, 300 Memorial Blvd., from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It's aimed at launching a year-long process to come up with a new official 25-year plan for the City of Winnipeg. The plan would be a successor to Plan Winnipeg, the city's long-term blueprint for land-use and planning. Participants will share their views, take part in round-table discussions and hear from a panel of experts at the symposium. The mayor's environmental reputation took a hit in recent months, with the chair and most members of his environmental advisory committee quitting in February over what they said was a lack of political clout and money. Katz revived the panel later that month and put Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt in charge.

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Activate your Commute - TWO in motion @ the Library Sessions!
by Deanna Betteridge 03 Apr '09

03 Apr '09

Hello, Can you please assist Winnipeg in motion by publicizing the following FREE events and forwarding this information on to your networks? Deanna ******************************************************************************* in motion @ the Library - TWO different dates - TWO different locations! Activate your Commute - to work, school and around your neighbourhood. Tonnes of great ideas on ways that you and your family can get from point A to point B by human powered physical activity! Join Winnipeg in motion, Resource Conservation Manitoba, Olympia Cycle & Ski and the Winnipeg Public Libraries this month for two great in motion @ the Library sessions. Join in the discussion on how walking and cycling to work, school and in and around your neighbourhood is the perfect way to incorporate regular physical activity into your busy schedule. Learn how to stay safe while walking and cycling in Winnipeg and tips to choose the best route for you - safe & scenic or safe & direct. Come and check out the latest equipment to make getting around easier and more enjoyable. TWO SESSIONS TO CHOOSE FROM: Session 1 Activate your Commute - to work, school and around your neighbourhood Friday, April 17, from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. Jessie Klassen of Resource Conservation Manitoba and Scot Miller of Olympia Cycle & Ski Carol Shield Auditorium on the second floor of the Millennium Library (251 Donald Street) Session 2 Activate your Commute - to work, school and around your neighbourhood Saturday, April 25, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Deanna Betteridge & Kristine Hayward of Winnipeg in motion Louis Riel Library (1168 Dakota St.) Admission is FREE of charge and registration is NOT required. For more information contact Winnipeg in motion at 940-3648 or visit http://www.winnipeginmotion.ca/resources/in_motion_library. Unable to attend? Visit winnipeginmotion.ca for some commuting tips & ideas. Please pass this information on to your co-workers, family and friends. ******************************************************************************* Activate your Commute - to work, school and around your neighbourhood is part of "in motion Fridays", a series of monthly workshops that promote physical activity for better health. The in motion @ the Library series is sponsored by Winnipeg in motion and the Millennium Library. For a complete list of workshops, visit http://www.winnipeginmotion.ca/resources/in_motion_library or http://wpl.winnipeg.ca/library/. See you at the Library! ** Sign-up to receive Winnipeg in motion email updates www.winnipeginmotion.ca/signup/ ** ------------------------------------------------------------- Deanna Betteridge, M.Sc. in motion Coordinator 2 - 189 Evanson St. Winnipeg, Manitoba R3G 0N9 204-940-3264 (w) 204-232-3297 (c) 204-940-8409 (f) E-mail: dbetteridge(a)wrha.mb.ca Web site: www.winnipeginmotion.ca This email and/or any documents in this transmission is intended for the addressee(s) only and may contain legally privileged or confidential information. Any unauthorized use, disclosure, distribution, copying or dissemination is strictly prohibited. If you receive this transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately and return the original. Ce courriel et tout document dans cette transmission est destiné à la personne ou aux personnes à qui il est adressé. Il peut contenir des informations privilégiées ou confidentielles. Toute utilisation, divulgation, distribution, copie, ou diffusion non autorisée est strictement défendue. Si vous n'êtes pas le destinataire de ce message, veuillez en informer l'expéditeur immédiatement et lui remettre l'original.

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National Survey of Bicyclist and Pedestrian Attitudes and Behavior (U.S.)
by Beth McKechnie 02 Apr '09

02 Apr '09

[I'm not sure if this report dated August 2008 has already been circulated but just in case...] National Survey of Bicyclist and Pedestrian Attitudes and Behavior This report presents findings from the National Survey of Bicyclist and Pedestrian Attitudes and Behavior, jointly sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) and administered by The Gallup Organization. The goals of the survey were to ascertain the scope and magnitude of bicycle and pedestrian activity and the public's behavior and attitudes regarding bicycling and walking. Summary report: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/staticfiles/DOT/NHTSA/Traffic%20Injury%20Control/A… For the Findings and Methods reports, go to: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/template.MAXIMIZE/menuitem.3d620… cheers, Beth Green Commuting Initiatives Resource Conservation Manitoba www.resourceconservation.mb.ca www.LivingGreenLivingWell.ca

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Dutch study: Bike commuters can save employers 27 million euros in absenteeism
by Beth McKechnie 02 Apr '09

02 Apr '09

[Snipped from The National Center for Bicycling & Walking's newsletter CenterLines, Issue 224, April 1'09] BIKE COMMUTERS CAN SAVE EMPLOYERS 27M EUROS IN ABSENTEEISM According to a Jan. 26th TNO article, "Employees who cycle regularly to work are less frequently ill, with on average more than one day per year less absenteeism than colleagues who do not cycle to work. If employers in the Netherlands were to encourage employees to cycle to work more, annual savings could reach 27 million euros." Download the 2-page summary at: http://www.tno.nl/downloads/reduced_sickness_absence_kvl_l_09_02_978Em_laag… -cheers, Beth Green Commuting Initiatives Resource Conservation Manitoba www.resourceconservation.mb.ca www.LivingGreenLivingWell.ca

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New resource: A Resident's Guide to Creating Safe and Walkable Communities (U.S.)
by Beth McKechnie 02 Apr '09

02 Apr '09

[Snipped from: http://www.walkinginfo.org/library/details.cfm?id=4163] A Resident's Guide to Creating Safe and Walkable Communities includes information, ideas, success stories, and resources to help neighborhood residents learn about issues that affect walking conditions; find ways to address or prevent these problems; and promote pedestrian safety. The Guide also contains fact sheets, worksheets, and sample materials that can be distributed or adapted to meet the needs of a community. The guide contains 5 major sections: 1.. Chapter 1: How can I identify problems with walking conditions in my neighborhood? 2.. Chapter 2: Who can help me make my neighborhood a safer place to walk? 3.. Chapter 3: How can the safety of my neighborhood be improved? 4.. Chapter 4: I need more information! 5.. Resource Materials Download the entire guide or sections at: http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/ped/ped_walkguide/ cheers, Beth Green Commuting Initiatives Resource Conservation Manitoba www.resourceconservation.mb.ca www.LivingGreenLivingWell.ca

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BRT and Bicycle Lanes
by David Wieser 31 Mar '09

31 Mar '09

This is another terrific streetfilm that was just added. This film is about the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in Curitiba, Brazil. http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/curitibas-brt/ They talk about the use of bike lanes in that they omitted them in the original design and are now incorporating bicycles in the planning of new BRT lines. Perhaps the City of Winnipeg should pay attention to Curitiba's city planners and ensure an Active Transportation corridor is included in the entire route out to the U of Manitoba. David Wieser

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CBC News: Transit use associated with better fitness, say Canadian Researchers (Mar.27'09)
by Beth McKechnie 30 Mar '09

30 Mar '09

Transit use associated with better fitness, say Canadian researchers http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/03/27/transit.html Last Updated: Friday, March 27, 2009 | 11:12 AM ET People who use public transit are three times more likely to meet fitness guidelines than those who don't, say researchers at the University of British Columbia. That conclusion comes from an examination of telephone travel surveys from metropolitan Atlanta, Ga., showing transit riders met requirements by walking to and from stops. Researchers used the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada's suggested daily minimum of physical activity of 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day, five days a week. The survey also suggests the more people drove their cars, the less likely they were to get their 30 minutes of daily physical activity. "The idea of needing to go to the gym to get your daily dose of exercise is a misperception," associate professor Lawrence Frank, who teaches community and regional planning, said in a release. "These short walks throughout our day are historically how we have gotten our activity. "Unfortunately, we've engineered this activity out of our daily lives." The report, published in the current Journal of Public Health Policy, does not examine motivation, but its authors suggest some possibilities. "Whether these results may be caused by transit users' preference for an active lifestyle, travel constraints, or choice of residential location warrants further analysis," they write. The researchers conclude that making transit incentives more broadly available may produce indirect health benefits by getting people walking, even if it's just in short bouts. The survey was based on interviews with 18,326 people who were asked to keep diaries of their modes of travel over the course of two consecutive days in 2001 and 2002.

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