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Fwd: Active & Green: IISD is 'Gold'en, Take on Jack Frost, Winter Cycling Celebration
by Beth McKechnie 28 Jan '14

28 Jan '14

Hope you enjoy the latest issue of Active & Green! If you would like to subscribe directly or check out past issues, you can do so here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/active-green/> . cheers, Beth Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.<http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a183a3f55cc&id=530a28a91d…> *Looking to add some GOLD to your workplace?* Request resources<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a…>on cycling, carpooling, commuting surveys and tracking progress, among others. Book a presentation<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>on green commuting options and creating a commuter friendly workplace. Become a Commuting Ambassador! Sign up today for a FREE training session<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a…> : *1) Commuting Tools and Hands-On Training *(Wed, Feb. 26th, 1-4:30pm) *2) Baseline Commuting Surveys *(Wed, Mar. 12th, 12-1:30pm) *3) Behaviour Change *(Wed, Mar. 26th, 1-4:30pm) ------------------------------ *Upcoming Events* *Snow Trek*<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…> *Feb. 2 - Harbourview* Feb. 9 - Living Prairie The Jack Frost Challenge<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…> *February 8-14* *Winter Walk Day <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a…> Saturday, February 8* *International Winter Cycling Congress <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>* *February 12-14* *A Moveable Feast: Cycling Tour of Restaurants <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…> Thurs, Feb. 13, 4:45-8:00pm* *Winter Bike to Work Day <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…> Friday, February 14* *F <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>amily Winter Cycling Celebration <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a…> Friday, Feb. 14, 4-7pm* *Commuter Challenge <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…> June 1-7, 2014* ------------------------------ *Mark your calendar! Rapid Transit Stage 2 - Open Houses* Set aside an hour on *February 24 or 25* to attend the public open houses for Stage 2 of the Southwest Rapid Transitway<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>in Winnipeg. This leg will run from Pembina and Jubilee to the U of M and the football stadium. Stay tuned for more details on our website<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…> . ------------------------------ *What's up with the Ped/Bike Strategies?* Looks like it will be at least another month or two before Public Open Houses will be held for the Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>. Word has it the City and consultants are busy drafting what will be presented. Stay tuned for updates<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>through our regular Green Action Centre newsletter, which comes out every three weeks. ------------------------------ *'Walkmobile' claims equal space for pedestrians* Austrian engineer Hermann Knoflaccher demonstrates in his 'walkmobile'<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a…>how much space a pedestrian would take if they were in a car. Pictures truly speak a thousand words. (Photo courtesy of Dr. G. Emberger) ------------------------------ *Carpooling stories* When a group of ACU employees started sharing a ride to work, they gained more than convenience and extra savings. Most importantly, they became fast friends. Read their full story here<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…> . ------------------------------ *Share Active & Green* Like what you read? Share with your friends and family. Show your support: become a member<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a…>or make a donation<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…> to Green Action Centre. Thanks! *[image: Twitter] <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a…> [image: Facebook] <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a…>* *IISD is 'GOLD'en* Imagine working in a place where 87% of staff take the bus (thanks to an EcoPass discounted bus pass program), where secure bike parking and showers are available when you arrive, where work-from-home options and compressed work weeks are normal, and where taxi vouchers are available if you need to get home in a hurry. The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) has turned this ideal into a reality. IISD was awarded the 2013 GOLD Commuter Friendly Workplace Award<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a…> by Green Action Centre at a staff celebration held in December. Congratulations, IISD! ------------------------------ *Take on Jack Frost Feb 8-14* Stay active this winter! Sign up your friends, family, co-workers and classmates to glide, swish, pedal and crunch your way to 130 km of fresh air, fun and 'cool' prizes. Register<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>your team of five today, then get ready to take the Bougeons en hiver: Jack Frost Challenge<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>from February 8 to 14. ------------------------------ Back on Track If one of your New Year's Resolutions involved getting a little more active or adding more green to your life, Green Action Centre might have what you're looking for. Sign up you and your friends for the Jack Frost Challenge<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>. Survey<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>your co-workers on how they get to work and how they'd like to get to work with better infrastructure and policies. Become a Commuting Ambassador<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>at your workplace by taking one of our free upcoming training sessions. Or subscribe to Green Action Centre's general e-newsletter<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>and receive practical tips on greener living and environmental issues in Manitoba. ------------------------------ *Winter Cycling Celebration* It's all about getting on your bike in Winnipeg from Feb 12-14th (and beyond). Start with the 2nd International Winter Cycling Congress<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…> being held in our fair city. Really, where better to hold a winter conference? (Oulu, Finland, took the honour last year.) Follow that up Thursday evening with A Moveable Feast cycling tour<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>of restaurants in the heart of the city. Continue riding the next morning for Winter Bike to Work Day<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>. Then top it off with an entire family celebration of winter cycling at The Forks<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…> Friday afternoon, co-hosted by our very own Active and Safe Routes to School program staff here at Green Action Centre and the good folks at MEC. Whew! That's a lot of cycling. ------------------------------ *Bendy buses a big hit* Had a chance to try out one of the new 'bendy' buses yet? Winnipeg Transit introduced the 60-foot articulated buses on January 13th on the St Vital Express Route #54. A full 20 feet longer than regular buses, these behemoths can accommodate 40% more passengers. Seeing is believing -- the inside of the bus seems to go on forever. For extra fun, choose the swing seat in the middle! Our mailing address is: Green Action Centre 3-303 Portage Ave. Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2B4 Canada Add us to your address book<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage1.com/vcard?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a183a3f…> Copyright (C) 2014 Green Action Centre All rights reserved. Forward<http://us2.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a183a3f55cc&id=530…>this email to a friend Update your profile<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/profile?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a183a3…> [image: Email Marketing Powered by MailChimp]<http://www.mailchimp.com/monkey-rewards/?utm_source=freemium_newsletter&utm…>

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(no subject)
by Dave Elmore 28 Jan '14

28 Jan '14

Hard to believe but apparently true http://www.sfgate.com/news/crime/article/Cyclist-Driver-didn-t-see-me-stuck- in-windshield-5161867.php#photo-5753097 Cyclist: Driver didn't see me stuck in windshield Updated 6:41 am, Friday, January 24, 2014 Steven Gove of Manitowoc, Wis., talks about how lucky he was to escape serious injury after he was stuck in the windshield of a moving car, Monday, Jan 20, 2014. Gove says he was struck Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014 night while riding his three-wheeled bicycle. Gove says he was wearing an overcoat with a reflective vest and he had front and rear flashers on. He says he's not sure why the driver didn't see him. Photo: Sue Pischke, AP MANITOWOC, Wis. (AP) - A Wisconsin man who became lodged in the windshield of a car that struck him said he turned to the driver and said, "Hello, I'm the guy you hit on the bicycle." The driver did not respond, but continued on, running a stop sign and hitting another vehicle before he arrived home, the cyclist, Steven Gove <http://www.sfgate.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=news%2Fc rime&search=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22Steven+Gove%22> , told HTR Media about the Saturday incident (http://htrne.ws/1bI58jh ). The man finally noticed Gove when he stopped the car outside his home. "He looked at me and said 'Who are you? What are you doing in the car?'" Gove said. "He started freaking out: 'I'm going to jail, I'm going to jail.'" The man then locked the car doors and went into his home. Gove, whose body had gone most of the way through the windshield, then pulled his knees and feet into the car. "I righted myself and got out," he said. "I unlocked the passenger's side door and started walking down the street." A witness had called police, who found Gove as he was walking and took him to a hospital. Doctors removed glass from Gove's eyes and treated him for other cuts to the head and leg. The driver, a 20-year-old Manitowoc man, was found at the home and treated at a hospital for a serious cut to the hand. He hadn't been formally charged as of Tuesday morning, but he was facing several preliminary charges, including suspicion of drunken driving, suspicion of hit-and-run causing injury and suspicion of failing to render aid. Gove, a 56-year-old newspaper carrier, was shocked that the driver didn't see him on his three-wheeled delivery bike. "I was wearing my blue overcoat with my neon reflective vest," said Gove. "I had my front and rear flashers on. I have no idea why he didn't see me." A 50-year-old Green Bay man died in a similar accident in 2007. Steven Warrichaiet <http://www.sfgate.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=news%2Fc rime&search=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22Steven+Warrichaiet%22> was sentenced to 15 years in prison for hitting Tyrone Ware, driving home with Ware's body lodged in the windshield and leaving Ware in the garage while Warrichaiet went inside and fell asleep on the couch. An autopsy showed Ware died instantly of spinal injuries.

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WFP: Crosswalk cams eyed (Jan.25'14) & Metro Winnipeg: Wpg Police to study ped cameras (Jan.27'14)
by Beth McKechnie 27 Jan '14

27 Jan '14

Crosswalk cams eyed Chief accepts proposal from councillor on concept By: Aldo Santin *http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/crosswalk-cams-eyed-241935001.html <http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/crosswalk-cams-eyed-241935001.html>* WINNIPEG police will examine the feasibility of installing photo-radar-like cameras and other safety measures at pedestrian corridors. "We have to be open to look at anything that would improve safety for our citizens," Chief Devon Clunis said. The Winnipeg Police Board met Friday morning and agreed to the proposal from Coun. Ross Eadie to study measures to bring motorists into compliance with traffic laws. "Bad motorists are doing this all the time," Eadie (Mynarski) said. "They're blowing through pedestrian corridors because they know they can and they know it's against the law." The board instructed the WPS to look at all aspects of installing cameras, including possible locations, costs and benefits. The report will be brought back in 60 days. The WPS will also consider adopting other measures that will improve pedestrian safety and bring motorists into compliance. Eadie said he's pleased with the board's response and the willingness of Clunis to look into the issue. "This is an issue of police enforcement," Eadie said, adding he believes the most violations are occurring on busy regional routes, including Main Street and Pembina Highway. In Manitoba, motorists who fail to stop for a pedestrian at a pedestrian corridor face a fine of $175.30. Motorists can also be fined an additional $143.75 for passing another vehicle stopped for a pedestrian. Washington, D.C., is the only major municipality in North America with pedestrian cameras, having installed them in November at 16 crosswalks near schools and recreation centres. Clunis told the board installing similar cameras would likely require the approval of the province. Clunis said the WPS had already been looking at the issue of pedestrian safety and driver violations but was not prepared to release any results before a comprehensive report is brought back to the board. "In principle, it sounds like an excellent idea but... you have to look at the practicality of implementing it," Clunis said. aldo.santin(a)freepress.mb.ca Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 25, 2014 B4 * * * * * Winnipeg police to study proposed pedestrian corridor cameras http://metronews.ca/news/winnipeg/920848/winnipeg-police-to-study-proposed-… A report on the feasibility of red-light-type cameras at pedestrian corridors will be delivered in 60 days, said Winnipeg Police Chief Devon Clunis. “I’m looking at the impetus behind this, it’s about safety,” said Clunis following Friday’s Winnipeg Police Board meeting. Coun. Ross Eadie (Mynarski) said the cameras are necessary because drivers are blowing through the crossings. As to how big the problem is, Clunis said the police’s admin will be checking their stats. “We need to go back and look, ‘OK, is this really a primary concern?,’” he added. “Certainly we know that at pedestrian corridors people have been killed in the past, and one death is one too many, but is it a very serious problem? We need to go back and look at that.” Coun. Scott Fielding (St. James-Brooklands), who chairs the police board and is known for his opposition to the photo radar program, said he’ll reserve his judgment until the police report is delivered. “My concern with the photo radar program in the past that it has been more about revenue than it has been about safety,” said Fielding. “(But) from my point of view, I think it doesn’t hurt to listen to ideas.” Should the pedestrian corridors cameras idea garner support, Chief Clunis said any implementation would require changes to provincial legislation.

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The City of Calgary - Bicycle Program Yearbook
by Beth McKechnie 25 Jan '14

25 Jan '14

The Bicycle Program Yearbook<http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation/TP/Documents/cycling/cycle-yearbook.pdf> is a new tool to help measure, track and report progress on The City’s effort to improve conditions for cycling. The City of Calgary is one of only a few cities world-wide to have published this type of document, also known as a Bicycle Account. Bicycle Accounts are a recommended practice of the League of American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly Community Program. The Yearbook includes the most recent information on: - The many ways that bicyclists are counted - Tracking the number of bikeways built over the last decade - Photos and descriptions of new bikeway projects - Collision and safety trends - Summary of education and encouragement efforts A snapshot of bicycle data in the Yearbook<http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation/TP/Pages/Cycling/The-Bicycle-Program-Y…>

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Montreal Gazette: Bixi files for bankruptcy protection (Jan20'14)
by Beth McKechnie 22 Jan '14

22 Jan '14

[Sad news! Hopefully there's a solution to be found.] Bixi files for bankruptcy protection Service will roll in Montreal this year, Coderre says BY ANDY RIGA, GAZETTE TRANSPORTATION REPORTER JANUARY 20, 2014 http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Bixi+files+bankruptcy+protection/94… MONTREAL — Bixi was not supposed to cost them a cent but Montreal taxpayers could be on the hook for tens of millions of dollars, the city admitted Monday. The bike-sharing service's debt is almost $50 million. Citing Bixi's "grim financial portrait," Mayor Denis Coderre announced he had forced the city-controlled non-profit company to enter bankruptcy protection. Though he wants Bixi out of the international bike-sharing business, Coderre said he would like to see Bixi continue to roll in Montreal. "We will have Bixi in Montreal this summer," he said, noting many users have purchased memberships. Keeping Bixi operating in the city in 2014 could cost taxpayers a further $1.5 million. Coderre was less definitive about whether Montrealers will have access to bike-sharing beyond 2014. Bixi is unable to neither "meet its financial obligations nor find a viable short-term solution," Coderre said. That was causing "uncertainty regarding the possible recovery of the sums injected by the city." Bixi owes the city $31.6 million on a $37-million city loan. Montreal also guaranteed a line of credit on which Bixi owes $6.4 million. That means Montreal taxpayers could be stuck with a $38-million bill, though the city hopes a sale of the international part of the business will cut that amount. Bixi also owes its suppliers $9 million. In total, then, Bixi's total debt is at least $47 million. Bixi is also embroiled in multimillion-dollar lawsuits with a former software supplier. Montreal's auditor general had warned the city about Bixi's precarious situation. In September, Jacques Bergeron expressed "serious doubts about Bixi's ability to continue operations." At the time, the city denied Bixi was on the brink of bankruptcy. Bixi has operated Montreal's popular bike-sharing service since May 2009. Though backed by the city, the company has refused to make public basic information about its operations. For example, Bixi's 2012 financial statements have yet to be disclosed. For 2013, all Bixi would say is that it had 41,000 Montreal members and that it operated with a deficit of about $4.5 million. Coderre, who took power in November, promised his administration will "keep Montrealers informed about any new developments regarding Bixi." The mayor said "if Bixi can be saved," it is through bankruptcy protection, which will allow Bixi to restructure and give it time to sell its international arm. But Coderre admitted previous attempts to sell off that part of the business have failed. On Monday, he disclosed that for the second time, a potential buyer walked away from a deal after taking a closer look at Bixi's books. Under former mayor Gérald Tremblay's plan, devised in 2007, the sale of the Bixi system to other cities would completely finance bike-share operations in Montreal. It did not work out that way. Bixi was stymied by legal disputes, software glitches, upgrade delays and, most recently, by New York City and Chicago withholding payments, claiming Bixi was not fulfilling its end of the bargain. Since 2012, Bixi has been in a legal dispute with 8D Technologies, the Montreal firm that provided the software for initial Bixi stations. The dispute arose after 8D refused to sell all the rights to the software. Bixi hired a company to build software to replace 8D's in future systems. That software, initially plagued with bugs, is now used by several cities. The latest problems involve back-end software under development by Bixi. It is used by cities to track and analyze usage, among other things. Bixi admits it has been late in providing promised updates, angering New York and Chicago. Bixi chief executive Michel Philibert said Chicago owes Bixi $2.6 million. New York City owes $3 million. In addition, Alta Bicycle Share, the company that operates New York's service, has told Bixi it wants $11 million in damages for software delays. Such disputes are common in business. But Coderre said a city should not be involved in commercial enterprises. He called the international expansion "a mistake." The city "embarked on commercial operations that it should not have been involved in. ... It is not up to taxpayers to assume the financial risk involving a business plan." The opposition at city hall backed Coderre's move. Projet Montréal leader Richard Bergeron said when the dust settles, the system could end up costing taxpayers $25 million or more. He blamed wrong-headed decisions by the Tremblay administration, which shovelled money into Bixi to create an innovative system that would sell internationally. Instead, it should have focused on developing a basic, inexpensive system for Montreal. Bergeron said Montreal's transit authority, the Société de transport de Montréal, has already drawn up a contract that would see it take over Bixi's Montreal operations, though it wants nothing to do with the service's debt. Whether the STM or a private company runs the system, "Bixi will be in the streets in 2014 and there's no reason why it shouldn't be on the streets in 2015, 2016 and so on," Bergeron said. But "it will be a public service, as it should have been from the very beginning." That means an annual city subsidy, which Bergeron estimated would range from $1.5 million to $2 million. "That is not too much for such a service, with more or less 2 million trips a year," he said. "If you pay $1.5 million for 2 million trips, it's 75 cents per trip. That's perfectly acceptable and affordable." Bergeron compared Bixi to public transit: Bixi users pay a fee but not the full cost. The bankruptcy protection process gives Bixi an initial 30 days to restructure. That period can be extended for up to six months, the city said. Bixi employees 66 people. "No job losses are expected at this time," the city said. *BIXI BY THE NUMBERS* *$31.6 million:* Amount Bixi still owes the city of Montreal on $37-million loan. *$6.4 million:* Bixi line of credit, guaranteed by Montreal taxpayers. *$1.5 million:* Estimated amount it could cost the city to ensure Bixi service operates in Montreal this year. *$4.5 million: *Bixi's estimated deficit for 2013 (financial results have not been made public). *$9 million:* Amount Bixi owes to suppliers. *$3 million:* Overdue amount owed by New York City to Bixi. *$11 million:* Amount that Alta Bicycle Share, the company that operates New York's bike-share service, has told Bixi it wants in damages for software delays. *$2.3 million:* Overdue amount owed by Chicago to Bixi. That city, too, is unhappy with software delays. *37,000:* Number of Bixi bikes in operation around the world. *15:* Number of cities that have adopted Bixi, including London and New York. *5,000:* Number of Bixis on Montreal streets in 2013 <ariga(a)montrealgazette.com> <ariga(a)montrealgazette.com><ariga(a)montrealgazette.com><ariga(a)montrealgazette.com><ariga(a)montrealgazette.com><ariga(a)montrealgazette.com><ariga(a)montrealgazette.com> ariga(a)montrealgazette.com © Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette BY ANDY RIGA, GAZETTE TRANSPORTATION REPORTER JANUARY 20, 2014

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Alternative signage on London Underground
by Jackie Avent (ASRTS) 22 Jan '14

22 Jan '14

Someone hacked the London Underground signage... If you need a morning smile to warm your bones, here's some persuasion... http://prosign.tumblr.com/post/33766157596/someone-has-made-fake-london-und… Enjoy! Jackie -- *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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List of Bike Share Programs Around the World
by Anders Swanson 21 Jan '14

21 Jan '14

*[ One more. Further to the two recent postings on bike sharing... Companies come and go all the time. Even banks. For anyone looking for a bit more context on the bankruptcy of one bike sharing company, consider the fact that there are now more than 535 the public bike sharing systems around the world and more opening every day. The amount since 2008 has more than doubled. See the link below, for example. Even more interestingly, bike share programs around the world are now starting to stay open all winter, see recent stories in New York, Denver and Chicago. - Anders ]* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bicycle_sharing_systems

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Guide to using policy to create bicycle friendly communities
by Beth McKechnie 21 Jan '14

21 Jan '14

Stumbled across this policy guide for bicycling that (at an initial glance) looks useful (US document). http://changelabsolutions.org/sites/default/files/Getting_the_Wheels_Rollin… cheers, Beth

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Toronto Star editorial: Urban sprawl is sickening, as well as ugly
by Beth McKechnie 20 Jan '14

20 Jan '14

Urban sprawl is sickening, as well as ugly: Editorial Urban sprawl is sickening, say researchers at Toronto’s St. Michael’s Hospital, who found obesity and diabetes higher in suburban areas that discourage walking. http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2014/01/19/urban_sprawl_is_sicken… Published on Sun Jan 19 2014 Urban sprawl is ugly, inefficient and bad for the environment. It’s also – quite literally – sickening. The unhealthiness of spread-out, car-dependant neighbourhoods is clearly spelled out in a new study by St. Michael’s Hospital researchers. Urban planners, municipal leaders and city residents would be wise to pay close attention. Scientists from the hospital’s Centre for Research on Inner City Health found risk of obesity and diabetes was elevated<http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/01/15/more_obesity_diabetes_in_less_wa…>by as much as 33 per cent in suburban areas of Toronto with poor “walkability.” Simply put, the layout of a neighbourhood has a big impact on the health of the people who live in it. The findings were published this past week<http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0085295> in the online journal PLOS One. Older, downtown areas are more walking-friendly because they’re divided into shorter city blocks. There’s a higher population density, so residents aren’t as spread out. And there are more places to go (such as stores and services) within walking distance. In contrast, many outlying Toronto neighbourhoods don’t even have sidewalks. Furthermore, in contrast to sedentary suburbanites, people in walkable communities don’t just stroll more often, they also cycle and use public transit more frequently and are significantly less likely to drive. All that translates into solid health benefits. It’s important to note that other factors, beyond walkable neighbourhoods, do affect risk of obesity. Affluence and ethic origin play a big role too. And it’s possible that walking-friendly neighbourhoods don’t so much inspire residents to use their legs as attract people who were walkers in the first place. None of that should deter city planners and urban activists from pushing to cut sprawl and create walkable communities. Canada is facing an obesity epidemic. And rather than throw up their hands and lament that there’s not much that can be done, policy-makers can play an active role by promoting neighbourhoods specifically designed as healthier places to live. An emphasis on creating fewer single-family homes, and more multi-unit residential buildings, is fundamental. So are zoning initiatives aimed at developing more easy-to-walk-to mixed use areas, expanded public transit lines, and bicycle paths. Sidewalks would be nice, too. Discouraging driving and broadening opportunities for strolling, cycling, and using public transit don’t constitute a “war against the car,” as Mayor Rob Ford calls it, but part of a battle for better health. Urban sprawl is the real foe. And a determined effort is required in order to defeat it.

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Fwd: Four Reasons Protected Bike Lanes Mean Business
by Beth McKechnie 16 Jan '14

16 Jan '14

Friend - It's easy to see that we're living in a changing country. The economy is rebounding after the biggest slowdown since the Great Depression. Americans are moving to cities in record numbers. And more and more people want to be in places where bicycling is easy and comfortable. City leaders and businesses are taking note of these trends. In response, they have discovered an unexpected tool to create opportunities in growing downtown economies: the protected bike lane. In our new report with PeopleForBikes, 15 business leaders explain how protected bike lanes benefit their companies. We break down the latest research to find out how these new lanes make an impact. Keep scrolling for a summary of the four biggest findings -- and click here to read the full report.<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001i4M3sOZNJUy-puZDH0qUeSY2pqfGe9zfyQusMWYJQZSq…> <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001i4M3sOZNJUy-puZDH0qUeSY2pqfGe9zfyQusMWYJQZSq…> *1. Americans - especially young people - are driving less and biking more.* Employers say their headhunters get a competitive edge by locating in areas with great biking networks, so savvy companies are locating near protected bike lanes to attract and keep Millennials and Gen X-ers. *2. Americans are flocking to urban areas, congesting city streets and creating market demand for solutions that increase street flow without adding gridlock. * Studies show that homes near bicycle infrastructure appreciate in value more than equivalent houses away from bike lanes. *3. With health care costs at an all-time high, companies are scrambling to get more employees exercising regularly. * Newsflash: healthcare is expensive. Companies benefit when more employees find it pleasant to bike to the office, because workers who exercise regularly are less expensive to insure. *4. In shopping districts, the most valuable customers are those who stop by often. * People who shop by bike tend to buy less in a single visit, but stop by more often. When space is at a high premium, these regulars make for great customers. To learn more, check out the report: Protected Bike Lanes Mean Business<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001i4M3sOZNJUy-puZDH0qUeSY2pqfGe9zfyQusMWYJQZSq…> . If you like what you see, will you help us spread the word by sharing it?<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001i4M3sOZNJUy-puZDH0qUeSY2pqfGe9zfyQusMWYJQZSq…> <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001i4M3sOZNJUy-puZDH0qUeSY2pqfGe9zfyQusMWYJQZSq…> <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001i4M3sOZNJUy-puZDH0qUeSY2pqfGe9zfyQusMWYJQZSq…> Thanks -- happy riding, walking, and transit-taking, Mary Lauran Hall Communications Director Alliance for Biking & Walking <http://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=un&m=001fVXok0jsw3t7yu4AtMBC1w%3D%3…> <http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp?cc=TEM_Basic_209> This email was sent to beth(a)greenactioncentre.ca by info(a)peoplepoweredmovement.org | Update Profile/Email Address<http://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=oo&m=001fVXok0jsw3t7yu4AtMBC1w%3D%3…> | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe<http://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=un&m=001fVXok0jsw3t7yu4AtMBC1w%3D%3…>™ | Privacy Policy <http://ui.constantcontact.com/roving/CCPrivacyPolicy.jsp>. Alliance for Biking & Walking | PO Box 65150 | Washington | DC | 20035

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