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CBC: Why these advocates hope COVID-19 could lead to a more walkable, bikeable Winnipeg (May3'20)
by Beth McKechnie 04 May '20

04 May '20

COVID-19 has cut car traffic and made Winnipeg more bike-friendly — but will impacts last when lockdown lifts? https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-pedestrian-cyclist-covid-1… Strolling down any of Winnipeg's traffic-free streets over the past several days has been a "beautiful experience," in the eyes of Patrick Krawec. "You're seeing lots of people, lots of smiles, lots of children, lots of play," said Krawec, the executive director of the Winnipeg Repair Education and Cycling Hub, or WRENCH. Traffic restrictions from the City of Winnipeg on a handful of streets across the city <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/city-winnipeg-more-active-transport…> has turned them into physical distancing-friendly pedestrian and cycling paths for residents cooped up thanks to COVID-19. Temporary traffic restrictions on four streets were announced in April, with five more set to join on Tuesday, limiting vehicle traffic to one block, so people and families can walk and ride — while distancing — outside. "It is a very elegant, simple solution," Krawec said. "No costs, tons of savings and it was led by the people." Across the country, other cities have made similar moves, from a ban on cars <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/stanley-park-vancouver-phys…> in Vancouver's Stanley Park to reduced traffic lanes <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/biking-naheed-nenshi-covid-coronavir…> to make room for cyclists on some Calgary streets. Around the world, expansive, kilometres-long networks have sprung up in cities like New York, Paris, Lima and Bogota. Those, alongside tanking oil prices, have prompted some observers to wonder if COVID-19 could be a nail in the coffin of the car <https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200429-are-we-witnessing-the-death-of-…> . "It was like flicking a switch, and it achieved so many goals of community wellness," Krawec said of the changes he saw on closed streets in Winnipeg. "In a time of isolation, it has really brought people together, although they're staying apart." As Manitoba starts reopening Monday and restrictions roll back, Krawec and other advocates are hopeful the change in how Winnipeggers use and view their streets won't fade away. 'Reconnecting with nature' Cities across Canada and around the world have seen drops in traffic since the pandemic began <https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/satellite-images-no2-smog-gta-vancouver-1.…>, with wide swaths of the population staying home thanks to shutdowns and physical distancing measures. In Winnipeg, the traffic measurement company TomTom has recorded a congestion drop of 21 to 34 per cent <https://www.tomtom.com/en_gb/traffic-index/winnipeg-traffic/> during peak rush hour every day over the past week. Emptied streets combined with the need for physical distancing have thrown a sudden spotlight on decades of traffic-centred urban planning strategies, said Anders Swanson, executive director of the Winnipeg Trails Association. "You very quickly realize how the space has been allocated, as soon as you're walking down a 1.5 metre-wide sidewalk towards somebody [and] you're afraid of having them breathe on you," said Swanson on the phone from Finland, where he was stuck due to the pandemic. "You very quickly realize that you don't have anywhere to go to, except for this giant, wide street, which is right there and empty." Robin Cox, a professor of disaster and emergency management at Royal Roads University in Victoria, says that realization is being accompanied around the world by a greater value placed on getting outside. "We are witnessing in many areas, particularly urban environments, people … reconnecting with the value of nature to them and to their lives, as other aspects of their lives get more constrained," said Cox, who is also the director of the Resilience by Design Research Innovation Lab. The devastating global impacts of the pandemic have exposed or amplified fault lines in many sectors, she said — from social inequities on health outcomes to the fragility of global supply chains for food and medical supplies. It's also sparked a greater focus on health, particularly in how underlying conditions can influence the way individuals experience the disease, said Lawrence Frank, a professor in the school of population and public health at the University of British Columbia. Staying active can help prevent some of those pre-existing conditions, such as heart and lung disease, he said. "Myself and others have been doing lots of studies showing that active transportation contributes significantly to the reduction of chronic disease, reduces health-care costs," said Frank, who teaches sustainable transportation and health and runs the school's health and community design lab. When it comes to fighting chronic disease in general, and COVID-19 in particular, he said, "we think that investing in active transportation is, really, probably one of the best things we can do in the near- and long-term." Building back from crisis Global drops in traffic and air travel have been accompanied by a reduction in observed emissions. In late February, CO2 emissions in China dropped by 25 per cent <https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/covid-19-coronavirus-climate-carbon-emis…> after the country locked down entire cities and shut factories, highways and airports. The pandemic is now expected by some to lead to the biggest single-year CO2 emissions drop since the Second World War, according to the World Meteorological Organization. That group predicted COVID-19 would lead to a global drop of roughly six per cent by the end of this year. Scientists around the world have been clear these temporary drops won't make a dent <https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/covid19-co2-emissions-1.5521271> in long-standing climate issues. "We need to understand that the climate crisis is a health-care crisis that will impact, and has already impacted, health," Cox said. "And if this isn't a warning siren for that, then I'm not sure of what is." It's hard to say for sure whether temporary interventions like a few closed streets will translate to long-term policy change, said Cox. But hallmarks of communities that have faced disaster and come back better include slow, purposeful rebuilding, she said, along with early community engagement. Crises disrupt the "normal," she said, and should be followed by questions about what wasn't working. "We tend to be a reactive culture, whether it's health care or economics or whatever. And what we're seeing [about] that reactive culture is that it doesn't serve us well." 'Dipping one toe in the water' In Winnipeg, Swanson said he wants to see leaders do more for cyclists and pedestrians. Across Canada, he characterizes the policy moves made so far as focused on recreation, rather than transportation. "Most of the cities I've seen in Canada kind of made that same mistake, of only dipping one toe in the water — and Winnipeg, too," he said. Opening only a few streets at a time creates a destination, making it harder for people to stay distanced, he said. The Winnipeg Trails Association he heads is calling on the city to create an emergency cycling network and curbside lane dedications in its OpenStreets 2020 plan <https://www.winnipegtrails.ca/openstreets2020/>, to give more Winnipeggers access to trails to give commuters options as the economy reopens. Winnipeg Transit is reducing bus service and laying off 253 full- and part-time drivers <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-layoffs-transit-covid-19-1…> because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and city officials said last month ridership dropped 72 per cent compared to the same timeframe in 2019. "When you have an entire transportation system shut down in the middle of an emergency … you would think that you'd want to have some kind of serious backup plan in place," Swanson said. A spokesperson for the City of Winnipeg said in an emailed statement the city is collecting data on the current routes to track usage. "The city will re-evaluate at the end of May to determine if the designations need to be extended," he wrote. Like Krawec, he's hopeful the pandemic will leave a long-lasting shift in how Winnipeggers see their streets. "We've known that people want to walk and bike a lot more than they can, but they just feel concerned about traffic, basically," he said. "It becomes a kind of a vicious circle, and all of a sudden, that vicious circle got broken."

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Webinar: Dynamic Streets, Curbs, and Sidewalks in COVID-19
by Beth McKechnie 01 May '20

01 May '20

Join us next week for our upcoming webinar on dynamic streets, curbs, and sidewalks during the COVID-19 pandemic. WEBINAR Dynamic Streets, Curbs, and Sidewalks in COVID-19 May 7, 2020 from 2:00pm - 2:30pm ET <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> Previous plans to expand bike networks and more space for pedestrians are being fast-tracked as stay-at-home orders for COVID-19 demand more room for people to adequately practice social distancing while remaining active and making trips for essential goods and services. As cities move quickly, it is important for them to have tools to rapidly create these new policies and communicate them easily to mobility operators and the public. Cities across the world, from Oakland to Denver to Milan to Paris, are moving to free up more space for pedestrians and cyclists, often by accelerating existing plans. This webinar will discuss how cities are taking action and how new digital tools can support more dynamic management of their streets, curbs, and sidewalks. *Speakers:* *Rodney Stiles,* *Head of Policy, Populus* *Paul Lewis,** Vice President of Policy and Finance, Eno Center for Transportation* May 2020 07 REGISTER <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> *Connect with us and don't miss out on other great resources!* [image: Facebook] <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> Facebook <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> [image: Twitter] <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> Twitter <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> [image: VIEW UPCOMING WEBINARS] <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> VIEW UPCOMING WEBINARS <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> *Copyright © 2020 Eno Center for Transportation, All rights reserved.* You are receiving this email because you opted in to our email list. *Our mailing address is:* Eno Center for Transportation 1629 K St. NW Ste 200 Washington, DC 20006

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Stanley Park vehicles ban a ‘tremendous success,’ says park board GM
by Beth McKechnie 30 Apr '20

30 Apr '20

Making Stanley Park car free has been a “tremendous success” in transforming people’s experience of the park, according to the general manager of the Vancouver Park Board. Malcolm Bromley said Tuesday that the board is learning from its move to limit the seawall to people on foot, move cyclists onto Stanley Park Drive, and ban cars in the park. The change came into effect <https://vancouver.ca/news-calendar/park-board-to-close-stanley-park-to-vehi…> on April 8. “People have really loved it,” said Bromley. “It put a lot more people in a safe environment to cycle. It’s been transformational, really, for the experience of the park.” Any move to either create permanent car-free sections of set aside car-free days has to be measured against ensuring people can get to and from amenities such as restaurants at Prospect Point and Ferguson Point, he said. “Cycling has taught us something about how the park sounds and feels when it’s quiet,” Bromley said. “You notice more birds. It smells different. It feels different. It’s a very interesting experiment we’re doing in the name of the pandemic, and it’s teaching us some things.” Bromley said staff is collecting data on the number of cyclists on the roadway and pedestrians on the seawall and will be reporting back to the board about how to promote active transportation around the park. https://theprovince.com/news/local-news/covid-19-stanley-park-vehicles-ban-…

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Oregon drops use of 85th percentile for speed limits, adopts new rules
by Beth McKechnie 30 Apr '20

30 Apr '20

BikePortland.org reported on May 1st, traffic engineers in OR will no longer rely on an outdated and dangerous method for setting speed limits. Thanks to new rules adopted by the OR Transportation Commission last month ( https://bit.ly/2WndcT1 <https://pps.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a95a1ee6&id=…> , https://bit.ly/2YfI5ez <https://pps.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a95a1ee6&id=…>), the process for designating speeds has changed dramatically and now goes way beyond the traditional 85 percentile method, which said limits should be set at or under the speed at which 85% of drivers are currently driving. The new rule, which applies to all public roads except interstate freeways, adds many new factors into the decision-making process. When setting speeds, engineers will now have statutory guidance to consider dense urban contexts, presence of foot and bicycle traffic, demographics of road users, crash rate, public input, and other new factors. The adopted rule also introduces a fiftieth percentile rule along with new functional street classifications such as "urban mix," "urban core," and "suburban fringe" that allow engineers to further tune their analysis. It has also codified a list of recommended speeds for those new classifications. https://bit.ly/3cVKMG8 <https://pps.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a95a1ee6&id=…>

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Making Safe Space for Cycling in 10 Days - A guide to temporary bike lanes
by Beth McKechnie 30 Apr '20

30 Apr '20

Berlin proves it is possible to build cycle infrastructure in 10 days The district of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg in Berlin stepped up to the challenge, building several temporary facilities in just 10 days and ensuring citizens could travel safely by bike while maintain recommended distances. Mobycon supported Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg in the development of these measures and were asked by the district to produce this guidebook: Making Safe Space for Cycling in 10 Day - A guide to temporary bike lanes from Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, Berlin <https://mobycon.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e2460a960f276acd64d34db3…>. This guide provides a good foundation for planning safe, temporary infrastructure that can be implemented almost immediately in towns and cities that do not currently offer enough space for cyclists. It serves as inspiration to cities worldwide that want to do something, but don’t know how to start.

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Portland launches 100-mile ‘Slow Streets Safe Streets’ COVID-19 response effort
by Beth McKechnie 29 Apr '20

29 Apr '20

The Portland Bureau of Transportation has revealed a plan to adapt the streets to the COVID-19 crisis. “The new strategy will repurpose streets, including closing them to car traffic, to make it easier and safer for Portlanders to practice physical distancing as the city recovers,” reads a statement just released by PBOT by way of Commissioner Chloe Eudaly. PBOT is proposing a series of steps and measured improvements for *neighborhood greenways, busy streets, and business districts*. The bureau will focus its initial efforts on areas of the city with the most pressing safety needs. https://bikeportland.org/2020/04/28/portland-launches-100-mile-slow-streets… -- 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/> 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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Human Transit & Walkable Cities book sale | Webinar on Advocating For and Creating Effective Transit
by Beth McKechnie 29 Apr '20

29 Apr '20

Since 1984, we've been providing people like you solutions to inspire change. View this email in your browser <https://mailchi.mp/7d7bb2ebef7d/we-want-to-help-you-change-the-world?e=c148…> <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> Thanks for joining Jeff Speck and Jarrett Walker's 1/17/20 webinar hosted by Smart Growth Network and the Maryland Department of Planning. The full recording is posted for your reference <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…>. The books on which this webinar was based, *Walkable City Rules* <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> and *Human Transit* <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…>, can be invaluable resources as you look to apply these principles in your communities. You can grab the paperbacks or e-books for 30% off. [image: Human Transit by Jarrett Walker | An Island Press book] <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> *Human Transit* ------------------------------ "*Human Transit* <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…>... presents itself as a sort of Public Transportation for Dummies, explaining in abstract, but remarkably clear, terms the logic that governs public transit systems and the choices—some technical, some ethical—that transit planners and operators make." — California Planning & Development Report *$25.90 *$37.00 <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> [image: Walkable City Rules by Jeff Speck | An Island Press book] <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> *Walkable City Rules* ------------------------------ "Cities are the future of the human race, and Jeff Speck knows how to make them work." —David Owen, staff writer at *The New Yorker* *$21.00 *$30.00 <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> [image: Advocating for and Creating Effective Public Transit] <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> FREE WEBINAR | THURS., MAY 7 • 1:00-2:30 PM EDT Advocating for and Creating Effective Public Transit Having greater access to transit is vital for the functioning of safe, equitable, and environmentally friendly cities. But what makes for effective transit? How do you advocate for it? And how can cities utilize buses to create fast, frequent and reliable service? Join the Maryland Department of Planning and the Smart Growth Network as Christof Spieler <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…>, author of *Trains, Buses, People* <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…>, and Steven Higashide <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…>, author of *Better Buses, Better Cities* <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…>, explain how to make better use of our current transit systems in clear ways for decision-makers, philanthropists, activists, and public agency leaders. *Participants of the live webinar are eligible for 1.5 AICP CM credits.* Register <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> [image: Person holding a newspaper with outstretched arms.] <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> *INSPIRE CHANGE WITH US* Island Press is proud to publish books by Jeff Speck and Jarrett Walker as well as many other authors. We believe knowledge is power—the power to imagine a better future and find ways to get us there. And we have been doing that since 1984. As an attendee of the webinar, we invite you to stay in our community. Our newsletter will keep you informed of the latest ideas from thought leaders creating solutions to our world's complex issues. 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Bicyclist Facility Preferences and Effects on Increasing Bicycle Trips | Blurbs New | Blurbs | Main
by Zdan, Terry (MI) 28 Apr '20

28 Apr '20

http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/180560.aspx Happy Trails Terry Zdan

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Milan Limits Cars As Italian Cities Hope To Make Lockdown Environmental Changes Permanent
by Beth McKechnie 28 Apr '20

28 Apr '20

Milan Limits Cars As Italian Cities Hope To Make Lockdown Environmental Changes Permanent https://www.forbes.com/sites/rebeccahughes/2020/04/23/milan-limits-cars-as-… Cities in Italy have been recording cleaner air and significantly reduced pollution under coronavirus lockdown, and now plans are being made to maintain these environmental changes as life begins to return to normal. Milan in northwestern Italy has gone from chaos and traffic jams to silent streets in a few weeks under COVID-19 lockdown. Traffic congestion has fallen 30-75% and polluting nitrogen dioxide dropped 24% in March compared with the previous four weeks, according to the European Environment Agency. When lockdown begins to lift, Milan’s authorities have announced that the city will be introducing one of the most ambitious schemes in Europe to reduce traffic congestion in the center. “We are in an emergency and for phase two we must organize ourselves so all those who have to move to make the city work, do it in the safest way for them and to prevent contagion,” Marco Granelli, a deputy mayor for Milan, said in a statement. To avoid using crowded subways and buses, the city hopes to boost the use of bicycles and electric scooters so that residents won’t resort to using their cars. “We worked for years to reduce car use,” said Granelli. “If everybody drives a car, there is no space for people, there is no space to move, there is no space for commercial activities outside the shops.” Over the summer, 35 km of streets will be transformed to cater for cyclists and pedestrians. The *Strade Aperte* (open roads) plan will reallocate road space by introducing temporary low-cost cycle lanes and widened pavements. The new scheme will also see 30 kph speed limits and pedestrian and cyclist priority streets. As Rome prepares for phase two of the coronavirus emergency, it too is looking to switch to eco-friendly transportation. Mayor Virginia Raggi is promoting the use of bicycles and electric scooters to get around the city saying, “otherwise, we will be invaded by traffic, a prospect we must avoid.” In an interview with Radio Cusano Campus, Raggi explained: “We are working to privilege transport by bike and other ‘soft’ modes like scooters.” To help keep levels of pollution and traffic low, the city will see the creation of new cycle lanes. Raggi also stated that she had asked the government to “reopen bicycle shops quickly” and that she was “pushing to provide incentives for purchasing electric bikes.” Residents of Venice are also breathing cleaner air as polluting cruise ships are no longer docking in the city. The canals are still and in some places the water has become clearer as motorboat traffic has reduced. Many would like to see environmental measures imposed, such as resident Diana Vandeville who has started a petition <https://www.change.org/p/rinascita-di-venezia-post-covid-19?recruiter=18870…> calling for change. “Before the coronavirus lockdown, I could smell the pollution as I walked around,” says Vandeville. Vandeville’s petition proposes stricter controls on motorboat speed in order to reduce wake pollution, which damages building foundations and harms the lagoon eco-system by stirring up the sea and canal beds. Her petition also calls for switching to electric or hybrid engines and using biofuel. Italy is due to commence phase two of the coronavirus lockdown plan on May 4. The government has announced that some businesses and industries will be allowed to restart production in a bid to boost the crippled economy. Throughout May there will be gradual reopenings of clothes shops and restaurants for a takeaway service, although details are still to be released by premier Giuseppe Conte. Although the number of new cases of COVID-19 rose on Wednesday, the country is hoping that with adequate safety measures, some sense of normal life can tentatively resume.

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WFP: Active transportation group urges city to block traffic in some curb lanes (Apr25'20)
by Beth McKechnie 25 Apr '20

25 Apr '20

*Active transportation group urges city to block traffic in some curb lanes * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/coronavirus/active-transportation… THE city is being asked to block off curb lanes to vehicle traffic on many normally busy streets to clear more space for pedestrians and cyclists during the COVID-19 pandemic. Winnipeg Trails Association wants the city to give people using active transportation nearly exclusive 24-7 access to some stretches of key streets and lanes [map attached]. The organization said that should cause little disruption, since the traffic volume has dropped significantly. “Now there’s very little excuse to not (do this). Vehicle traffic is extremely low,” said Anders Swanson, the association’s executive director. Swanson said the need for biking and walking space will grow as Winnipeg Transit begins to reduce services after seeing its ridership plummet. The reduced frequency of buses could lead some to use other options, he said. “We need a comprehensive (transportation) network that works for everybody,” he said. The association suggests that buses be allowed to pick up and drop off passengers in the affected curb lanes, but not travel through them. Swanson is lobbying for the lanes to be placed on key stretches of St. Mary’s Road, Osborne Street, Pembina Highway, Jefferson Avenue and Burrows Avenue, among many other typically well-used routes. The association also wants the city to reduce residential street speed limits and add traffic-calming measures near homes. Council’s public works chairperson said he’s discussed the association’s request with city staff but no decision has been made. “Before we go forward with something, we want to make sure to get it right,” said Coun. Matt Allard (St. Boniface). The city will add some extra travel space for bikes and foot traffic in early May, limiting vehicle travel to one block between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily on five new routes. Allard said this will help ensure people can stay two metres apart, as health officials recommend. “This is a perfectly acceptable way to get your exercise while maintaining physical distancing requirements,” he said. Newly designated routes will be in place from May 5 until May 29 on Assiniboine Avenue (from Bedson Street to Westwood Drive), Churchill Drive (from Hay Street to Jubilee Avenue), Egerton Road (from Bank Avenue to Morier Avenue), Kildonan Drive (from both Helmsdale Avenue to Rossmere Crescent and Larchdale Crescent to Irving Place) and Kilkenny Drive (from Burgess Avenue to Patricia Avenue and Kings Drive.) The city will also extend previously announced bicycle/active-transportation routes to May 29. Drivers will also see the road-construction season kick off next month, with about 200 planned projects. Meanwhile, the city is cancelling its spring giveaway weekend for residents to lay out items marked “free” at the curb for others to collect; it had been scheduled May 9-10. COVID-19 is spread by droplets that leave a person’s mouth when they cough or sneeze, which could fall on the “free” items and then infect someone picking them up, said Jason Shaw, Winnipeg’s assistant chief of emergency management. Shaw said he’s also concerned Winnipeggers would roam through neighbourhoods in search of free items, despite being urged to stay home as much as possible. “The giveaway weekend encourages a lot of people to get out and about,” he said. Winnipeggers also won’t be able to collect free city-made compost any time soon, since social distancing has created delays at the 4R depots. Instead, that program has been indefinitely postponed. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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City expanding temporary bicycle/active transportation routes effective May 5 to May 29
by Beth McKechnie 24 Apr '20

24 Apr '20

City expanding temporary bicycle/active transportation routes effective May 5 to May 29 Released: 9:00 a.m. Winnipeg, MB – In an effort to assist with social distancing requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic, the City is further extending its annual bicycle and active transportation route schedule and expanding the temporary routes to include five new streets. “As the global pandemic continues to have an effect on our residents, I’m pleased to see an expansion of active transportation routes that can better facilitate physical distancing,” said Mayor Brian Bowman. “With ever-evolving circumstances related to COVID-19, the City is once again demonstrating its willingness and ability to innovate.” “It’s important that we provide Winnipeggers with safe spaces they can use to keep active while practicing social distancing,” said Councillor Matt Allard, Chairperson of the Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works. “I’m pleased that we were able to expand upon active transportation routes to give residents even more options to enjoy the outdoors as the weather begins to warm up this spring.” The following four streets in Winnipeg are currently designated as bicycle/active transportation routes, and will be extended until Friday, May 29, 2020: - Lyndale Drive - Cromwell Street to Gauvin Street - Scotia Street - Anderson Avenue (at St. Cross Street) to Armstrong Avenue - Wellington Crescent - Academy Road (at Wellington Crescent) to Guelph Street - Wolseley Avenue - Raglan Road to Maryland Street Winnipeggers are invited to take advantage of these additional 5 designated routes from Tuesday, May 5 until Friday, May 29, 2020: - Assiniboine Avenue - Bedson Street to Westwood Drive - Churchill Drive - Hay Street to Jubilee Avenue - Egerton Road - Bank Avenue to Morier Avenue - Kildonan Drive - Helmsdale Avenue to Rossmere Crescent & Larchdale Crescent to Irving Place - Kilkenny Drive - Burgess Avenue to Patricia Avenue and Kings Drive These designated routes limit motor vehicle traffic to one block throughout the designated area. The routes will be in place daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The City will re-evaluate at the end of May to determine if the designations need to be extended. Signs are posted on all approach roadways as notification that motorists are entering a bicycle/active transportation route. Signs are also posted at the end of the routes advising motorists that they are leaving the bicycle/active transportation route. It is important to note that these roads are not closed. Cyclists and pedestrians are reminded to use caution and continue to follow the rules of the road.

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WFP: City looking to close more streets to vehicles (Apr23'20)
by Beth McKechnie 23 Apr '20

23 Apr '20

City looking to close more streets to vehicles https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/coronavirus/city-to-close-six-mor… THE city is looking to expand its street closures to make space for people who want to get outside as the weather warms without fighting vehicle traffic. Coun. Matt Allard said as many as six streets are being prepared for similar restrictions to the ones imposed on four others earlier this month, which limit motor vehicle travel to one block between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. The infrastructure renewal and public works committee met Tuesday, where Allard (St. Boniface), chairman of the committee, said closures on Egerton Road, Churchill Drive, Kildonan Drive, Kilkenny Drive, Assiniboine Avenue and Glenwood Crescent are under consideration. Ryan Palmquist, a spokesman for Allard, said in an email the committee’s goal is to have the restrictions in place in the next two weeks and that the streets were chosen because of their similarities to Lyndale Drive, Scotia Street, Wellington Crescent and Wolseley Avenue, which are under the same restrictions 12 hours per day. The city plans to collect data on the restrictions in the future, Palmquist said.

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Open Streets Winnipeg proposal
by Anders Swanson 22 Apr '20

22 Apr '20

AT-Network: Winnipeg Trails has been working on developing a comprehensive response to emerging mobility concerns in this pandemic. We are supporting the efforts that have been announced thus far by the city of Winnipeg, and monitoring the emergence of the Open Streets movement across North America. With serious mobility issues looming regardless of the length of lockdown, we are hoping to advance the conversation and are seeking your input and help. Please see this and look for the links to offer feedback: https://www.winnipegtrails.ca/openstreets2020/ If you are inclined to share, please do so widely. Here are links to Twitter <https://twitter.com/WinnipegTrails/status/1252976273430896641>, Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/WinnipegTrails/posts/2905469946203199?__xts__%5B0%…> and Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/p/B_SrDn-AhKK/>. Anders WTA

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Upcoming webinars on Quick Build Networks (including Minneapolis)
by Beth McKechnie 22 Apr '20

22 Apr '20

*Webinar Announcement* Upcoming Webinars on Quick Build Networks *Quick Build Networks for All (Part 1) Tuesday, May 19, 2020* 1:00-2:30 pm Eastern Time Register Here <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> *Quick Build Networks for All (Part 2) Wednesday, May 20, 2020* 1:00-2:30 pm Eastern Time Register Here <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> Cities across the US are planning and prioritizing low-stress networks that support bicycling and walking, working to integrate active travel into their transportation system. This two-part webinar series will profile the experiences of several cities – Houston, Minneapolis, and San Jose – as they start turning their plans into action. Using rapid deployment and quick-build techniques, these cities are delivering multimodal facilities to support safety and comfort and broader community goals. Learn about their experiences with community engagement and maintenance, integrating equity, universal design, micromobility, and a host of other factors. Part I will explain the value of Quick Build approaches and highlight examples from around the globe, and feature a detailed case study from Houston. Part II will dive deeper into examples from Minneapolis and San Jose. Panelists include representatives from Toole Design; Harris County, TX; Minneapolis, MN; and San Jose, CA. ------------------------------ PBIC offers free, public webinars approximately every month. To register for upcoming webinars and to access archived presentations, please visit www.pedbikeinfo.org/webinars <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> . Follow the PBIC on Twitter <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> and Facebook <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> and join the discussion [image: https://twitter.com/pedbikeinfo?lang=en] <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> [image: https://www.facebook.com/pedbikeinfo] <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> [image: http://www.pedbikeinfo.org/index.cfm] <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> ------------------------------ Since its inception in 1999, PBIC's mission has been to improve the quality of life in communities through the increase of safe walking and bicycling as a viable means of transportation and physical activity. The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center is maintained by the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center with funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. ------------------------------ Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center 730 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Suite 300 Chapel Hill, NC 27599 Add us to your address book <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/vcard?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e453ab5d&…> Phone: 1.888.823.3977 Fax: 919.962.8710 www.pedbikeinfo.org <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> View this email in your browser <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…>

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Milan announces ambitious scheme to reduce car use after lockdown
by Beth McKechnie 21 Apr '20

21 Apr '20

Milan is to introduce one of Europe’s most ambitious schemes reallocating street space from cars to cycling and walking, in response to the coronavirus crisis. The city has announced that 35km (22 miles) of streets will be transformed over the summer, with a rapid, experimental citywide expansion of cycling and walking space to protect residents as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/21/milan-seeks-to-prevent-post-c…

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WFP Editorial: Time to park cars outside parks (Apr20'20)
by Beth McKechnie 20 Apr '20

20 Apr '20

*Time to park cars outside parks * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/coronavirus/time-to-park-cars-out… AS the pandemic grinds on and confinement in our homes becomes bleak at times, Winnipeg’s abundant green spaces offer a therapeutic escape. It’s unfortunate motorized vehicles are allowed to intrude. A temporary ban on cars, trucks and motorcycles from city parks would go a long way toward helping pedestrians enjoy outings while still keeping the required physical distance. Pedestrians in parks could use the full width of the the roadways to keep a safe space from each other. Vancouver did it with Stanley Park on April 8, banning vehicles from its world-class park so pedestrians can walk on roads and enjoy the tonic of the natural world while remaining distanced from other people. Minneapolis-St. Paul has banned vehicle traffic from three of its parkways. Portland, Ore., has closed 10 of its parks to cars and trucks. Similar sensible measures are underway in U.S. cities including Cleveland, Philadelphia and Denver. Like all urban centres struggling to contain COVID-19, these cities banned vehicles from green spaces because of two pragmatic realities: 1) it’s physically and mentally healthy for people to enjoy the rejuvenating effects of nature as a break from being cooped up under stressful circumstances; and 2) city parks can accommodate a lot of people safely, with everyone heeding physical distancing guidelines, as long as vehicles are removed so pedestrians have room to spread out. Personally, the need to bar vehicles from Winnipeg parks was clear last weekend when my wife and I, in dire need of fresh air and exercise, walked the two-kilometre loop around Kildonan Park, the green-space jewel in north Winnipeg. The main walking path is a rind of the roadway’s edge, only one metre wide, so walkers are separated from traffic only by lines painted on asphalt. The vehicle traffic is often bumperto- bumper, so close that walkers could literally touch moving vehicles. With pedestrians at Kildonan Park squeezed into such narrow paths, we couldn’t adhere to the physical distancing guidelines as we met and passed other pedestrians. The vehicles also marred our walk in other ways. The constant din of vehicle engines erased the soothing sounds of birds and the wind blowing through branches. The smell of exhaust fumes overpowered the delicate scents of grass and tree foliage springing into new life. I’m told some pedestrians who use Assiniboine Park feel the same way. If vehicles were barred, people in search of a pandemic panacea would be better able to appreciate the sights, sounds and smells of the natural world. Some of our area’s most precious green spaces have been closed or changed by COVID-19 restrictions. The showcase gathering at Birds Hill Provincial Park, the Winnipeg Folk Festival, was cancelled on Tuesday, but the park itself remains open for people who want trees to massage their minds (although washroom facilities at Birds Hill remain closed). Unfortunately, Fort Whyte Alive is completely closed (perhaps the geese are wondering when the humans will flock back). Winnipeg is fortunate to have more than 1,200 neighbourhood, community and regional parks, and this pandemic crisis is a time when they are needed more than ever. Banning vehicles from parks to allow pedestrians room to roam is the natural next step after the city decided earlier this month to designate four streets in Winnipeg as bicycle/active transportation routes. Sections of Lyndale Drive, Scotia Street, Wellington Crescent and Wolseley Avenue have been largely freed from vehicles, so the space is free and clear for pedestrians, joggers and cyclists. Winnipeg’s green spaces have long been urban treasures that greatly enhance the quality of life by providing mini-oases amid the buildings, concrete roads and parking lots. That said, the trees that tower over Winnipeg’s green spaces have had a tough time in recent years, battered by the triple assault of Dutch elm disease, the emerald ash borer and a freak ice story in October that damaged or destroyed tens of thousands of trees. The mayor had planned a planting spree called the Million Tree Challenge to restore the giant sentinels, but now the roles can be reversed. Trees can restore us. Plenty of evidence shows connecting with nature can refresh our brains, relieve tension and brighten grim moods. These healing properties are particularly appealing to the many Winnipeggers whose lives have been disrupted by pandemic measures and might make one feel a bit stir-crazy after weeks of sitting at home and watching the walls. Winter-weary Manitobans traditionally have a zealous appreciation for spring and summer, but our usual methods of enjoying the warmer weather — cottages, camping, restaurant patios, picnics and festivals — have been cancelled, prohibited or declared inadvisable. City green spaces remain open, however, and if vehicles are banned from entry, our parks offer the breathing space we need to recuperate before returning to our residences to resume our submission to the necessary discipline of confinement. carl.degurse(a)freepress.mb.ca *Carl DeGurse is a member of the Free Press editorial board.*

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East London council to block cars to protect cyclists and pedestrians from speeding drivers during pandemic
by Beth McKechnie 16 Apr '20

16 Apr '20

[*It seems the propensity to speed with the lower traffic volumes reaches far and wide*.] East London council to block cars to protect cyclists and pedestrians from speeding drivers during pandemic An east London council could be the first in the UK to cut rat running traffic on neighbourhood streets in a bid to ease pressure on its parks and pavements, as part of emergency plans to help people walk and cycle safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. https://road.cc/content/news/emergency-measures-stop-rat-running-drivers-an… A Hackney councillor has “crowdsourced” potential locations from residents on social media, and the council is in the process of creating a shortlist - but they are 100% planning to “filter” a number of residential streets to protect people from a growing number of speeding drivers on the borough’s roads. The council will use low-cost planters and bollards on selected streets to allow walking and cycling through trips, and access to key workers and emergency vehicles, but preventing people driving through – a process known as filtering. According to the government, traffic levels on London’s main roads have dropped by 63% during the crisis. Hackney Councillor, Jon Burke, said: “By creating those temporary liveable, healthy streets we could also be reducing pressure on some of our green spaces, as we approach some of the warmer months. If we heavily restrict the vehicles on the public highway people will be able to walk in the middle of the road safely, while socially distancing.” Burke wants to “use this as a teachable moment to see what’s possible around road closures”. He said: “We haven’t got weeks to deliver it, we need to deliver it now, because this crisis is happening now,” he says. The council will treat the changes like an “ongoing event” during the crisis, and after the restrictions on movement are lifted they will ask residents if they want the changes made more permanent. “I think we can create healthy urban environments in this moment. We might realise, with the support of the public, which might be able to stay afterwards, when we return,” he says. “This is in inflection point in our future, we are running around making sure vulnerable people have enough food but we aren’t doing something about the 40,000 people that are dying each year because of air pollution.” Although other councils may be quietly considering similar measures, Cllr Burke is the first politician in the UK to announce any action so far. Temporary cycle lanes on main roads won’t be part of Hackney’s plans, however, due to concerns over emergency vehicle access. There are also concerns over increased levels of speeding during the crisis. Cllr Burke says on 30mph roads across London, average speeds are now 37mph. “We have noticed a significant up-tick in speeding on our 20mph roads,” he says. “The kinds of speeds we usually see at night when the roads are empty, we are now seeing in the day.” He says while “the responsible drivers have heeded the government advice”, many of those still driving are behaving badly. Burke argues there is a case to “heavily fine and remove licenses of those individuals”. The council will create a shortlist of locations on Monday, and a final decision will need approval from the cabinet and Hackney mayor. Cllr Burke says they will have the final list on 20 April. Burke adds: “I think we have just got to throw stuff up against the wall and see what sticks, adding there is a risk that otherwise, “by the time we have got around to doing this the crisis will be over and we will be back to business as usual.” London’s walking and cycling commissioner, Will Norman, says there are no citywide plans to implement emergency cycle lanes during the crisis. Norman said: “The Mayor and the Government’s clear message is that Londoners should stay at home to save lives. Our continued investment in walking and cycling over the past four years is making it easier and safer for critical workers to get to where they need to be and we’ve ensured that NHS staff, care workers and the police can use our Santander Cycles hire bikes free of charge.” “Any temporary cycle lanes on TfL’s road network would not be effective at keeping people safe without major changes to junctions. These changes would need to be installed by a significant number of on-site workers and the Mayor has made it clear that construction workers – including those who were constructing new cycleways - should not be travelling at this time.” He adds road traffic has halved, making it easier to take advantage of quieter streets to cycle. “We would remind drivers that breaking the speed limit is dangerous and especially reckless during this time of national crisis. Robust action will be taken against drivers who put themselves and others at risk.”

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Cycling Industries of Europe - online conference
by Anders Swanson 16 Apr '20

16 Apr '20

Coming up April 28th, if interested. Full agenda: https://cyclingindustries.com/fileadmin/user_upload/CIE_2020_Summit_Draft_A… Registration here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cycling-industries-europe-2020-summit-registra… [Anders note: Cycling is booming in many places worldwide. Beyond staying on top of the future of the cycling industry in crazy times, this esoteric event may be of particular general interest to some due to the keynote from the Deloitte global head of research and technology. Sharing this here as a unique chance to get a very specific view of what the future holds. Also you may appreciate Philippe Crist as moderator, and the panel featuring a few interesting MEPs who'll be looking at it from a EU-level strategic perspective. I'm personally interested to learn more about Karima Delli, a young French Green MEP, daughter of Algerian immigrants and younger than me who was tapped to lead the Volkswagen emissions scandal inquiry and now chairs the EU's transport and tourism committee.] <https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cycling-industries-europe-2020-summit-registra…> This event is *free.* Stay healthy. -a

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WFP: Waverley West speed-limit cut given red light (Apr16'20)
by Beth McKechnie 16 Apr '20

16 Apr '20

Waverley West speed-limit cut given red light https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/waverley-west-speed-limit-cut-shelv… A PROPOSED three-year pilot project to reduce the speed limit on residential streets in Waverley West is set to be put in park. The councillor for the area, Janice Lukes, said she will tell councillors on the public works committee on Monday to put aside her motion for now. The proposal involved reducing the speed limit to 30 km/h. Lukes said it makes no sense to implement that when people are staying home and children are away from school because of the fight against COVID-19. “With Waverley West only having three or four specific entrances into it, I thought, ‘Let’s try for a pilot project on speeds here,’” she said on Wednesday. “We have a lot of speeding cars, but in light of the pandemic, what is most needed now is seeing more streets open for cycling and pedestrian access. Is (the pilot project) important now? No. There are other things the public works department could do, including identifying which streets can be closed.” The idea was to drop the speed limit on residential streets in Bridgwater Forest, Bridgwater Lakes, Bridgwater Trails, Bridgwater Town Centre, South Pointe and Prairie Pointe. Coun. Matt Allard, chairman of the committee, said it makes sense to delay the pilot project. “We do have a residential, citywide, street report coming… in June,” Allard said. “Not all roads are created equal in Winnipeg. We have priority one, two, three streets, we have streets with different engineering, we have high-speed streets (and) residential streets. I think all of this needs to be considered and there needs to be a response that makes sense citywide.”

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WFP: Enjoying the great outdoors during the COVID-19 era (Apr15'20)
by Beth McKechnie 15 Apr '20

15 Apr '20

Enjoying the great outdoors during the COVID-19 era https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/health/enjoying-the-gr… IN times of high anxiety and uncertainty, many people turn to physical activity as a means of stress relief. With gym closures and the city’s parks a little too crowded to keep a safe physical distance, many people are turning to the city streets to get their fitness fix by walking, running, biking and even — depending on snowfall — skiing. Though the April weather is unpredictable, here are five places Winnipeggers are getting a breath of fresh air right now, and you can join them — just make sure to stay at least two metres apart. *Harte Trail, Charleswood* Ridge Romanshin, 23, is an apprentice stage manager in Winnipeg’s temporarily closed theatre scene. To keep himself busy, he’s been going for plenty of walks in his neighbourhood of Charleswood, which boasts a semi-rural atmosphere full of trails and places to walk. Though Romanshin admits that some of the sidewalks are still icy — he’s been walking on the roads instead — he does have one favourite place: Harte Trail. The 6.5-kilometre walkway is part of the Trans Canada Trail and, according to Romanshin, is in decent shape for this time of year. “There are some pretty icy patches but it seems to be melting quickly,” he says. “The gravel is starting to show.” *Wellington Crescent* “My running route is the Wellington-Wolseley loop,” says Jack Maier. “I live about a block away from Wellington Crescent in North River Heights, so that’s where I start.” The route has served 22-year-old Maier well for the past three years, but spring weather and increasingly large numbers of people outside initially made it trickier than usual for Maier to maintain a safe distance and stay dry. “The sidewalks are soaked right now,” he says, “especially the central walking path on Wellington, which has basically turned to mud. Your options are running on the road or trying to leap and sidestep over the puddles.” Just a few days after Maier took to running on the road to stay dry, the city opened the seasonal Sunday and holiday bike routes to cyclists and pedestrians seven days a week, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. The four roadway closures are Wellington Crescent between Academy Road and Guelph Street; Lyndale Drive between Cromwell Street and Gauvin Street; Scotia Street between Anderson Avenue and Armstrong Avenue; and Wolseley Avenue between Raglan Road and Maryland Street. Motor vehicles are restricted to one block of travel on these routes. *Central sidewalks* For people living in Winnipeg’s central neighbourhoods, the best trails seem to be the ones right outside the front door: sidewalks. While many folks in suburban areas report a higher number of pedestrians than usual, Charlene Van Buekenhout, who lives in the West End, has noticed the opposite. “The sidewalks are slushy, icy nightmares,” says Van Buekenhout, “but there haven’t been many people out.” Van Buekenhout has even noticed one huge positive: “People have been waving to us from inside their houses, which never happens,” she says. “That’s been a nice development.” Pedestrian activity in the West End, Downtown and the Exchange District is light, so if you live in one of these neighbourhoods, there’s a good chance physical distancing won’t be a problem. *La Barriere Park* “The sidewalks suck,” says Dolores Rintoul, “but the streets being virtually free of vehicles means we can walk on the road in a lot of cases.” Rintoul joins the ranks of many other pedestrians who have found sidewalks too icy, too wet or too narrow and have instead taken to walking on the road… but her partner goes one step further. “My partner goes for a ski by the river every couple of days, or to La Barriere Park.” While skiing may be out of the question now that the snow has mostly melted, Rintoul says that La Barrière Park — located south of Winnipeg in Ritchot — has plenty of room (and 2.9 km of trails) to safely move around and get some vitamin D. *Bike riding, anywhere* “The average city sidewalk is 1.5 metres (wide), and the recommended amount of space that individuals must have between them is a minimum of two metres,” says Mel Marginet of the Green Action Centre. “To ensure Winnipeggers are safe when walking and biking, the city must act quickly to reallocate road space.” While Winnipeggers wait for additional safe spaces to walk, there’s no better time to start cycling now that traffic has been reduced, and many bike shops in the city, such as Natural Cycle at 91 Albert St. in the Exchange, are still open as of Monday morning to help with all of your cycling needs. A complete list of bike routes in Winnipeg is available at wfp.to/bikeroutes frances.koncan(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @franceskoncan

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Fwd: Community engagement, but digital
by Mark Cohoe 14 Apr '20

14 Apr '20

This might be interesting as a number of projects moving forward (Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies update, Transportation Master Plan update, Leila Ave, University Crescent) may need to look into virtual engagement opportunities. Mark Cohoe Executive Director Bike Winnipeg t: 204-894-6540 e: mark(a)bikewinnipeg.ca ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: The Form-Based Codes Institute at Smart Growth America < info(a)formbasedcodes.org> Date: Tue, Apr 14, 2020 at 12:48 PM Subject: Community engagement, but digital To: <mark.e.cohoe(a)gmail.com> Problems viewing this message? Read it online. <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=d7XL7jbGMG%2Fz%2…> [image: Form-Based Codes Institute, a program of Smart Growth America] <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=QzlAuTvkcH7gx%2F…> <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=hjSbJlHDlMvjZLR0…> When in-peron engagement isn't possible A webinar series on virtual tools and techniques for community engagement How can community leaders continue to engage stakeholders and other members of the public in important local decisions when staying safe means staying home? The Form-Based Codes Institute at Smart Growth America and MSU National Charrette Institute <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=P3wGuos2ULwaobNL…> are partnering to deliver a series of three webinars to provide local leaders, developers and advocates with tools and examples for staying in touch, sharing ideas, and getting interactive feedback to keep critical decisions moving forward. Many of these techniques, while essential in this time of separation, have the potential to engage new, hard-to-reach segments of the community, and will be useful, even beyond this current crisis. Join us for the webinar and see how you can stay in touch and keep the wheels turning! *WEBINAR #1: Charrettes go virtual: Missoula, Montana hosts an online charrette to advance a community vision* <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=9TW%2Bo7DN%2Bsw3…> <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=EKeTfrlyZx5jZHKK…> Join us on April 28 when charrette organizers, Dover, Kohl and Partners <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=soonoVmHauB7o1q3…> (DKP), and local planners from Missoula, Montana describe how they successfully pivoted a long-planned community visioning effort for the Mullan Area Master Plan <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=8O13XtiNEyPjuCIe…> to a fully virtual format, designed to simulate the interactive and interpersonal experience of the “live” charrette. This new approach, created by DKP, uses a variety of online tools to generate thoughtful, place-sensitive solutions using high-quality design and urban planning best practices. Webinar speakers will share how the virtual charrette was structured, how the city prepared, the outcomes, and the pros and cons of using this virtual format. Webinar presenters include: - *Jason King*, AICP, CNU-A, Principal, Vice President, Project and Charrette Manager, Dover, Kohl & Partners - *Bill Lennertz*, Lead Trainer for NCI - *Tom Zavitz*, AICP, City of Missoula, Development Services Plan to join us for future webinars in the series when we will discuss other tools and strategies for virtual online community engagement. Announcement to come soon! This webinar <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=PXQ99mjCBdLMhx24…> has been approved for 1.0 continuing education hours by the AIA, and 1.0 certificate maintenance credits by AICP, and 1.0 professional development hour by ASLA (LA CES). Looking for more webinars? FBCI offers dozens of special topic webinars targeted to a range of audiences. Take advantage of reduced fees to maximize your social distance learning! <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=xQQ%2BuLY%2FpjeZ…> Top: Illustration and possible development scenario for the Hiawatha Farm Square Neighborhood in Missoula, MT (Image: Dover, Kohl & Partners) [image: Follow FBCI on Twitter] <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=Iqeosz%2BMwGplFM…> [image: Become a fan of SGA on Facebook] <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=%2BmhQf7UQvA%2Fi…> Know someone who might like receiving news from FBCI? Signing up is easy <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=7IT0qFbQzs9P9%2B…>. You have received this email from the Form-Based Codes Institute, a program of Smart Growth America. Click here to manage your subscription or unsubscribe <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=ezsyWReE%2BkQE6L…> .

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Pop-up bike lanes help with coronavirus physical distancing in Germany
by Beth McKechnie 13 Apr '20

13 Apr '20

*Thanks to Lawrence Bird for the share...* Pop-up bike lanes help with coronavirus physical distancing in Germany Road markings redrawn after cyclists demand more space to comply with Covid-19 rules https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/13/pop-up-bike-lanes-help-with-c… German cities are redrawing road markings to create “pop-up” cycle lanes for the duration of the Covid-19 lockdown, as cyclists demand more space to physically distance on their commutes to work. Local authorities in the Kreuzberg district of Berlin trialled a temporary widening of two cycle lanes on 27 March, arguing it would help cyclists keep the required 1.5-metre distance apart while car traffic was down owing to Germany’s coronavirus restrictions. On Friday, the council declared the pilot scheme a success because it had improved cycling safety while not hindering traffic. An expansion of the scheme on further roads in Kreuzberg, as well as in the Schöneberg and Tempelhof districts, is planned for the coming weeks. The council said it had used removable tape and mobile signs to mark out the expanded lanes, which can be removed when the current restrictions on movement are lifted. Residents in 133 other German cities have formally submitted applications for similar pop-up bike lanes to their local authorities on the back of a campaign by Environmental Action Germany <https://www.theguardian.com/world/germany> (DUH), an environmental NGO. The campaign group cites new research <https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/07/climate/air-pollution-coronavirus-covid.…> linking air pollution to higher coronavirus death rates as an argument for redrawing infrastructure across the country. “The coronavirus is showing us that clean air is an indispensable asset,” said DUH’s chair, Jürgen Resch. “It is now especially important to temporarily make it more important for people to move safely on their bikes. This will help improve air quality, enables exercise in fresh air while keeping a safe distance and avoids unnecessary accidents.” Proponents of the scheme cite the Colombian capital, Bogotá, as the example to emulate, where the mayor, Claudia López, opened up nearly 72 miles (117km) of new bike routes in mid-March in the hope of reducing congestion and person-to-person contact. In Berlin, opposition politicians from the pro-business Free Democratic party have described the pop-up cycle lane plans as an “unnecessary provocation” by the bike lobby, saying they will have little practical use. German states have encouraged the use of bicycles in spite of the current restrictions, under which gatherings of more than two people are banned, with exceptions for families. “The use of a bicycle allows citizens to meet the requirements for minimising contact,” a spokesperson for the transport ministry in Thuringia told the German news agency dpa. In Germany, bike repair shops are currently exempt from state-ordered closures because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Three federal states, Berlin, Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, have also allowed bike vendors to stay open.

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WFP Editorial: Reduced vehicle traffic creates opportunity (Apr13'20)
by Beth McKechnie 13 Apr '20

13 Apr '20

Reduced vehicle traffic creates opportunity https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/reduced-vehicle-traffi… THE city has extended seasonal limitations of motor-vehicle traffic on certain streets, including Wolseley Avenue, Wellington Crescent, Lyndale Drive and Scotia Street. Motorists will be limited to one block from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays, allowing the streets to be used by cyclists and pedestrians. It’s a good idea, with vehicle traffic down due to business and school closures and many people staying in place and working from their homes rather than commuting. The decrease has had an effect: Manitoba Public Insurance processed 4,108 fewer claims last month than in the same period in 2019, a direct result of fewer vehicles being on the road. That’s a lot of damage and injury being avoided. Now, with vehicle traffic reduced and more people out for walks or bike rides as other entertainment and exercise options are shuttered, it raises an interesting question: what do we want to use our streets for? In the neighbourhoods where the newly-extended traffic limitations have opened up long stretches for safe walking and cycling, Winnipeggers are being given an opportunity to find out. Maintaining safe social distancing on sidewalks can be a challenge when one of the few options still available to people during this period of restricted activity is going for a walk or a run. Crowded sidewalks don’t allow for two metres of distance when passing whether one is walking, jogging or using a wheelchair. Some pedestrians take advantage of additional space on the less-traveled streets. But safe distances must be maintained, even when cyclists are added to the mix. Cars take up the greatest amount of space, and in Winnipeg’s traffic flow, the vast majority of motor vehicles in motion have only one occupant. If we could trade some of those single-occupant cars and trucks for bicycles, we would suddenly find there is a whole lot more space for everyone. In addition to the reduction in injuries from motor-vehicle collisions, there are also obvious exercise-related health benefits to having more space for walking, riding and other non-motorized pursuits. Skeptics may point out that once physical distancing and self-isolation requirements are relaxed, all those cars will be back on the road. The likelihood of that is high, since our city is largely designed with motor-vehicle traffic in mind, and other factors such as winter snow and ice can make cycling a challenge for some. But why not consider this brief respite from rat-race traffic a trial run? With fewer cars on the streets, we might learn some unexpected lessons about using them in different ways. In addition to the obvious appeal of a reduction in motor-vehicle accidents, there’s also the benefit of getting to know our neighbourhoods better, including where our local businesses are and what they have to offer. It’s easier to stop and look in the window when you’re not zooming past at the motor-vehicle speed limit or looking for parking. Such benefits extend beyond the specific streets where vehicle traffic is being temporarily restricted, which might prompt one to wonder why we aren’t using more of our infrastructure in different ways. Perhaps it’s time to consider adding protected bike lanes to more of Winnipeg’s streets. As we experience new options for walking and biking, some might be inclined to conclude that motor vehicle traffic doesn’t have to return to what it was pre-pandemic. We’ve been given a chance to try out a healthier, greener approach to getting around, and many of us just might prefer it.

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CBC: Are physical distancing measures giving bikes a new lease on life? (Apr12'20)
by Beth McKechnie 12 Apr '20

12 Apr '20

Are physical distancing measures giving bikes a new lease on life? https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/what-on-earth-newsletter-cycling-covid-1… To slow the spread of coronavirus, we've had to physically distance ourselves from others, which has meant a lot of lifestyle changes, including the way we get around. Getting into an enclosed bus or train with other passengers — or even a taxi or ride-hailing service with a driver — is no longer a recommended option. To make matters worse, many transit agencies are cutting back service. Yet many people still have to get to work and medical appointments. Meanwhile, we're being told to stay home as much as possible, but also to get fresh air and exercise (while gyms are closed). An influx of park visitors — many of whom weren't physically distant enough from each other — has caused governments to close parking lots at national, provincial and local parks. The solution to this conundrum? In many cases, it's getting on a bike. New Yorkers have already done this in droves, with *bike shops reporting double the sales* <https://gothamist.com/news/bike-shop-business-booming-covid-19-takes-new-yo…> they normally get at this time of year. Meanwhile, *bike repair shops in the U.K* <https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/24/uk-bicycle-shops-and-repairer…>. also say business is booming. In Canada, so many people are cycling in cities like Winnipeg and *Calgary* <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/biking-naheed-nenshi-covid-coronavir…> that the municipalities are closing some lanes and roads to vehicles to give cyclists (and pedestrians) more space. Meanwhile, bike shops remain open as many provincial governments have recognized them as an essential service. Brian Pincott, executive director of Vélo Canada Bikes, a group that promotes cycling and advocates for infrastructure to make the activity safer, said that kind of government support is welcome. He noted that many urban, lower-income people don't have other good transportation options right now. "So it is also a matter of equity to be able to have the appropriate infrastructure in place for people to actually go about their day-to-day [lives]," he said. The COVID-19 pandemic has inadvertently improved cycling conditions by taking a lot of automobiles off the road. Pincott said the car-centric design of our cities often discourages people from taking a two-wheeler. "Now that there are a lot fewer cars on the road, more and more people are seeing that cycling is a viable choice," he said. "It's a great family activity." But will the boost in cycling last after the pandemic is over and physical distancing measures are lifted? Pincott thinks it depends on whether governments continue to make it safer and easier for people to ride their bikes. He thinks this is a great opportunity for cities to create space for it. In the meantime, he hopes as the weather gets warmer, people will take advantage of the "perfect time" to get on their bikes. "It's impossible not to be happy when you're getting around on your bike," he said. "And God knows we need a little bit of happiness." — *Emily Chung*

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Simple centerline hardening can increase pedestrians safety
by Beth McKechnie 11 Apr '20

11 Apr '20

*[Thanks to Terry Zdan for the share]* IIHS study finds simple centerline hardening can make left turns safer for pedestrians <https://www.greencarcongress.com/2020/04/20200410-iihs.html> Bollards and rubber curbs that prevent drivers from cutting across intersections at a diagonal can make streets safer for pedestrians, according <https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/simple-infrastructure-changes-make-left-tu…> to a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Such “centerline hardening” forces drivers to turn more slowly at close to a right angle by blocking the diagonal path through the crosswalk. In Washington, D.C., the infrastructure changes reduced the number of times drivers had to swerve or brake suddenly or pedestrians had to dodge out of the way by 70%, said IIHS Senior Research Transportation Engineer Wen Hu, the author of the paper. The calming infrastructure also resulted in a reduction in average left-turn speeds and decreased the odds that drivers made the turn at speeds exceeding 15 mph.

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FW: FYI Men pose more risk to other road users than women
by Charles Feaver 08 Apr '20

08 Apr '20

While the headline references gender, vehicle type is also relevant and the interaction between gender and vehicle type particularly so. Men pose more risk to other road users than women Greater gender equity in road transport jobs might help lessen risks Date: April 6, 2020 Source: BMJ Summary: Men pose more risk to other road users than women do and they are more likely to drive more dangerous vehicles, reveals the first study of its kind, published online in the journal Injury Prevention. The findings prompt the researchers to suggest that greater gender equity in road transport jobs, overall, might help lessen these risks. Road safety analysis has traditionally focused on an individual's injury risk from their own use of a particular type of transport rather than the risk that might be posed to others. To try and plug this knowledge gap, the researchers drew on four sets of official data for England for the period 2005-15: police injury statistics (Stats19); Road Traffic Statistics; National Travel Survey data; and Office for National Statistics population/gender figures. They used the data to analyse the risks posed to other road users from bicycles, cars and taxis, vans, buses, lorries and motorbikes per billion vehicle kilometres travelled, and categorised by road type -- major and minor roads in urban and rural areas -- and gender. In terms of absolute numbers, cars and taxis were associated with most (two-thirds) of fatalities to other road users. But a comparison of fatalities per distance travelled shows that other vehicles might be even more dangerous. Lorries were associated with one in six deaths to other road users: each km driven was associated with more than five times the number of such deaths than each km driven in a car. There was a similarly high death toll for buses per km driven. Despite their small size, motorbikes also put other road users at high risk. Each km driven was associated with around 2.5 times more deaths to other parties than was each km driven in a car. In urban areas, most of those deaths -- 173 over the entire study period -- were pedestrians. Policy-makers should ensure that measures to discourage car use don't inadvertently encourage a shift to motorbike transport, suggest the researchers. At the other end of the scale, cycling seems relatively safe for others: it was associated with fewer deaths to other parties per km ridden than all the other types of transport, with just one other death per billion km cycled. Analysis of the data by gender showed that men posed a significantly higher risk to other road users for five of the six vehicle types studied. For cars and vans, the risk posed by male drivers was double that posed by women per km driven, rising to four times higher for lorry drivers, and more than 10 times higher for motorbike riders. In a linked podcast, lead researcher Dr Rachel Aldred, points out that driving jobs tend to be male dominated, citing the high death toll to other road users associated with lorries, 95% of which are driven by men. While lorries in general are dangerous vehicles, male lorry drivers pose a particularly high risk compared to female lorry drivers, she adds. "Greater gender equity would have a positive impact on these injuries," she suggests, adding that: "Policy-makers should be looking to measure the risk posed to others, and how to reduce it." The researchers conclude: "We suggest policy-makers consider policies to increase gender balance in occupations that substantially involve driving, given the greater likelihood that other road users will be killed if men rather than women are driving or riding." _____ Story Source: <https://www.bmj.com/company/newsroom/men-pose-more-risk-to-other-road-users…> Materials provided by <http://www.bmj.com/> BMJ. Note: Content may be edited for style and length. _____ Journal Reference: 1. Rachel Aldred, Rob Johnson, Christopher Jackson, James Woodcock. How does mode of travel affect risks posed to other road users? An analysis of English road fatality data, incorporating gender and road type. Injury Prevention, 2020; injuryprev-2019-043534

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WFP: Vehicle restrictions to remain in place until start of May (Apr7'20)
by Beth McKechnie 07 Apr '20

07 Apr '20

Vehicle restrictions to remain in place until start of May https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/coronavirus/city-imposes-half-day… THE return of sunny weather came just in time for new motor-vehicle limits starting today in hopes of making it easier for people getting out of the house to safely maintain social distancing. As of Monday, Lyndale Drive, Scotia Street, Wellington Crescent and Wolseley Avenue will limit motor-vehicle traffic daily to one block from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The new restrictions, originally announced by City of Winnipeg emergency operations manager Jason Shaw on March 31, is an expansion of designated bicycle and active transportation routes that are in place on Sundays and holidays from June to September. Signage warning motorists of the restrictions began going up on Scotia Street Monday, which saw its own share of walkers, some of whom took to the roads. Derek Dexter, a Luxton resident, called the restrictions “a great idea.” “My wife and I actually thought of it about two days before the city implemented it,” he said. “In the summer this is always closed on Sundays, so people are used to using it as a bike path and a walking path.” While he said he had seen “the odd group” still mingling, the neighbourhood seemed to have picked up the message of physical distancing. “For the most part, I’ve seen people changing sides of the street and jumping from the sidewalk to the street to keep their distance,” he said. He said he hoped the restrictions would expand beyond a few Winnipeg streets. “I think they could implement this on other streets in the city as well, just to give you that space to walk,” he said. “We often find we’re walking and trying to zig-zag from one side to the other to keep that social distancing, and if the whole street is closed down it just makes that easier.” Shaw said in the original announcement that expanding routes eventually was not off the table. “We need to balance this approach out to make sure that it works first, and we know these routes are familiar,” he said. Andrea Janzen, a school psychologist out for a walk on her lunch break, said that familiarity would likely mean the restrictions wouldn’t affect the traffic activity on the street. “I don’t know what the people feel like who live here on this particular street,” she said. “This street doesn’t get a lot of traffic anyways, I don’t know that it will really change a lot.” However, she said she hopes it sends a message to drivers. “I’m going to walk this street regardless, whether there’s a road blockade or not,” she said. “I think it’s probably just good for people who are out driving who are not from the area to be aware that they need to be more cautious.” Jane Casey, an instructor at the University of Manitoba, said she hadn’t heard about the blockades going up but was used to them in the neighbourhood. “If people can walk down the middle of the road, and be able to have that comfortable distance, that would be a good thing,” she said. The restrictions will be in place until the beginning of May, when they’ll be re-evaluated and possibly extended. malak.abas(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: malakabas_

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WFP Analysis: Rethinking infrastructure after the pandemic (Apr6'20)
by Beth McKechnie 06 Apr '20

06 Apr '20

Rethinking infrastructure after the pandemic https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/coronavirus/rethinking-infrastruc… IN our desperate battle to slow the spread of the coronavirus, almost four billion people, half the world’s population, are living under stay-at- home orders. In a rare united effort, governments, industry and citizens alike are working together to combat a common global enemy. The scale and speed of societal change left in its wake would have been unthinkable only a few weeks ago. As we move through and out of this fight, the power of this new social cohesion presents us with an opportunity to boldly rebuild a country that is more economically resilient, environmentally sustainable, socially just and physically healthier. Cities will be at the front lines of this opportunity, and rethinking the way we move around them will be fundamental to these goals. We have suddenly learned the importance of physical distancing, and with more people out walking, we are also learning how little pedestrian space there actually is in our cities. Across the world, streets are being closed to cars, as cities scramble to create temporary public space for people to access sunlight and fresh air while maintaining safe distances from each other. As the increased need for easily accessible space to walk and ride a bike becomes more permanent, so will these solutions. With everyone at home, increased pedestrian and cycling space is important for exercise and public health, but as time goes on, it will become increasingly vital for connectivity, to access employment, education and recreation. The coronavirus pandemic will likely have long-term impacts on transit use, and we must find a way to replace that mobility. In Winnipeg, people take a combined 170,000 trips every day on the bus. The social, environmental and economic impact of losing any part of that could be devastating. Creating infrastructure that allows people to safely walk and bike to access their daily needs can be a big part of the response. Winnipeg is well prepared to quickly implement a bold new mobility plan. The city’s 20-year Pedestrian and Cycling Strategy provides a visionary blueprint which, if implemented, would respond to many of our immediate needs, and make Winnipeg an active-transportation leader in North America as we move forward. The design includes 80 kilometres of protected bike lanes crossing every neighbourhood in the city, including a 13-lane downtown grid, as well as hundreds of kilometres of new sidewalks, sidewalk widening and renewal, and off-street pathways. The plan also includes several active transportation bridges. With typical construction costs being 80 to 90 per cent less than a vehicle bridge, they could affordably introduce a new network of connectivity between Winnipeg’s divided neighbourhoods. Strategically located bridges could provide easy walking and cycling access to greenspace between communities — for example, connecting St. Vital Park to Pembina Highway, or Kildonan Park to Henderson Highway. With well-located pedestrian bridges, shops on Wolseley’s Westminster Avenue could be a nine-minute walk from the shops on Academy Road; the Osborne strip could be a seven-minute walk from Norwood Flats, or a 10-minute walk to the restaurants on Sherbrook Street. The estimated cost to build the entire 20-year plan is pegged at $330 million, which sounds daunting, but within the scope of current and future federal stimulus initiatives, doing it all at once is bold but not unrealistic. Rebuilding our economy after the pandemic will be critical, and active transportation construction has proven to be one of the best infrastructure investments possible, in terms of job creation and economic return. A comprehensive study at the University of Massachusetts showed that because they use more labour and fewer materials, and the materials they do use are more often locally produced, bicycle infrastructure projects can create up to 11.4 jobs for every $1 million invested — 46 per cent more than car-only road projects, with pedestrian-only projects falling somewhere in-between. A comprehensive active-transportation network could be implemented quickly on a temporary basis, following the Pedestrian and Cycling Strategy, and then transitioned to permanent as the pandemic slows and economic stimulus is prioritized. Reduced driving would lower greenhouse-gas emissions and air pollution, a potential carrier of airborne viruses, and improve physical health, which can strengthen immune systems and reduce pre-existing conditions. The coronavirus pandemic is a stark warning that we are part of a delicate, interwoven ecosystem, and if we push it too hard, it breaks. Our response requires both immediate solutions, and preparation for a long fight. We must also consider future pandemics and, most importantly, this must be a wake-up call to finally address the looming climate crisis, before it becomes a similar global emergency. Governments can work together now to make active transportation an important part of the solution across Canada, helping to get us through this crisis today and helping to meet our economic, environmental and public-health needs in the world we build when it is over. *Brent Bellamy is creative director at Number Ten Architectural Group.*

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NZ encourages (and funds) tactical urbanism
by Beth McKechnie 06 Apr '20

06 Apr '20

Covid-19 is having a significant impact on our transport systems and services. The Innovating Streets programme can make a contribution by providing councils with an opportunity to adapt their streets to better support active and safe transport needs, while following official advice about people movement. https://www.nzta.govt.nz/roads-and-rail/innovating-streets/about/pilot-fund/

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WFP: No way to cross Portage and Main (Apr5'20)
by Beth McKechnie 05 Apr '20

05 Apr '20

*City closes downtown skywalks, underground concourse due to COVID-19 pandemic* * No way to cross Portage and Main * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/coronavirus/no-way-to-cross-porta… CROSSING the street at Portage and Main just became an even bigger obstacle. As of Friday evening, the city shut the doors to the entire downtown overhead walkway system, along with the underground concourse at Portage and Main until further notice as a health precaution due to COVID-19. To make it to the other side of the windy intersection, pedestrians will be required to locate the nearest street level crossing. People voiced their opinions on social media over the weekend, with a common argument being everyone should be staying home anyway so the added restrictions at Portage and Main is a non-issue. Brent Bellamy, a senior design architect for Number Ten Architectural Group, couldn’t disagree more. “We may be in a crisis situation, but people still need to access medical appointments, fill prescriptions, buy groceries, get exercise, air and sunlight,” Bellamy said. “Many are still working in essential services. Many of these people need to catch the bus, or walk to their employment. We have very deliberately made the choice that even when the 70,000 workers and 25,000 students are not downtown, the 17,000 people who live there must cross the city’s central intersection by going underground. If we are going to live with that choice we must ensure that option is available to everyone, always, first and foremost for those with mobility challenges, because the alternatives are unrealistic and quite honestly shameful in a modern city like ours.” Forcing people to go outside and walk an extra block or two to get to a crosswalk might not be a major inconvenience for some, but for seniors and people with disabilities, it can make a simple errand difficult, especially with this week’s snowfall. With the snow buildup and the construction going on outside the office building at 201 Portage Ave., it’d be nearly impossible for someone in a wheelchair to navigate around the building and for people to stay six feet apart. “When you actually look at how far it is just to cross the street ‘one block over,’ it is the equivalent of walking between two and four-and-half lengths of a football field, depending on which direction you are coming from,” Bellamy said. “If you are in a wheelchair, or a senior, or just about anyone actually, that is an unreasonable distance.” Bellamy adds these obstacles are nothing new. Even when the skywalk and underground are open, it isn’t easy for people to get around. “The intersection being inaccessible right now is news because it is caused by a pandemic, but the fact that it is inaccessible is the reality almost more often than not. The ramps inside the concourse have been closed for the last month because the roof is leaking across them. Before that, one of the elevators was broken and took months to repair. Before that, the sprinkler system in the concourse burst and an elevator was closed off. Every day after business hours and on weekends, the elevators in the office buildings required to access the concourse are closed. Every single day,” Bellamy said. “If we are going to force people in a wheelchair to use four elevators and two ramps to get across the street, they should at least work.” The barriers at Portage and Main have been the great debate in town for years. Oly Backstrom, the president and CEO of SCE LifeWorks, said issues like this one wouldn’t exist if people would simply be allowed to cross the street. But to him, bringing light to the city’s recent decision goes much further than making another point as to why the barriers should be gone. “I don’t want to get bogged down in that specific issue because Portage and Main is a bit of a lightning rod. But to me, it’s symbolic of how society views accessibility, and even how people are viewing accessibility issues during this pandemic,” said Backstrom, who asked his Twitter followers to remember the current scenario the next time there’s a Portage and Main debate. “Some comments and responses to my original tweet seem to indicate that ‘Buddy, there’s a pandemic going on. Why are you tweeting about this?’ Kind of implying that concerns around accessibility should take a back seat to the pandemic. (The pandemic) has got us all sick with worry, but my argument would be the stakes are even higher during emergencies like this pandemic when it comes to accessibility.” In the 2018 civic election, opening up Portage and Main was put to a vote. The answer was a resounding “no” with 65 per cent of voters wanting to leave the downtown hub as is. “The people most impacted by the barriers, whether it be people with disabilities, or people who live downtown, for the most part, were pretty clear about how they felt about opening it up,” Backstrom said. “But it was put to a vote for all Winnipeggers, including those who are not directly impacted by that negatively on a day-to-day basis. So, I look forward to the day when a leader reassesses and makes the right decision and makes Portage and Main accessible.” taylor.allen(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @TaylorAllen31

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Eco-Counter webinar: Using bike data
by Beth McKechnie 02 Apr '20

02 Apr '20

*Eco-Counter Webinar Invite, April 2020* View this email in your browser <https://info.eco-compteur.com/e/685233/alk-about-data-693113-e-UNIQID/39xcn…]> *Taking the conference virtual - join us for a webinar!* As many of you know, last month's National Bike Summit <https://info.eco-compteur.com/e/685233/summit/39xcq/78701155?h=m36sN4VvgxH0…> in Arlington, Virginia, was cancelled due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. The conference, however, has gone virtual! We were supposed to host a *breakout session on applying bike data* during the second day of the conference. The good news is that this session will now happen as a *webinar - free and open to anyone!* *So you have bike data, now what?* *Tuesday April 7th, 2020 - 3-4PM (ET)* Click here to register for the free webinar <https://info.eco-compteur.com/e/685233/register-2632832675602503435/39xcs/7…> *About the webinar:* >From automated counters to GPS trace data, demographic surveys to crash statistics, data plays an increasingly pivotal role in cycling planning. What can transportation professionals, researchers and advocates actually do with all of that data? Where is a good place to start? What are some quick wins? During this data session, learn from industry experts, advocates and practitioners about ways in which bike data can be leveraged in order to achieve meaningful, tangible changes in your community. We look forward to seeing you there! [image: Facebook] <https://info.eco-compteur.com/e/685233/EcoCounter-/39xcv/78701155?h=m36sN4V…> [image: Twitter] <https://info.eco-compteur.com/e/685233/Eco-Counter/39xcx/78701155?h=m36sN4V…> [image: Website] <https://info.eco-compteur.com/e/685233/2020-04-02/39xcz/78701155?h=m36sN4Vv…> Copyright © 2020 Eco-Counter. 3981 Saint-Laurent Blvd, Suite 604 | Montreal, QC | H2W 1Y5 Office: 1-514-849-9779 | Toll Free: 1-866-518-4404

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Metro Vancouver State of Cycling Report
by Beth McKechnie 02 Apr '20

02 Apr '20

>From HUB Cycling: We recently released our State of Cycling report <https://bikehub.ca/research/the-state-of-cycling-in-metro-vancouver> on Metro Vancouver in BC, which comprises 23 Jurisdictions/municipalities. This report was developed in partnership for our regional transportation authority, TransLink. The report looks at cycling rates, safety, gender balance, supportive policies, network change, accessibility of safe routes and more for each area. Some highlights: - The report classifies every bike facility (over 15K GIS segments) across all 23 municipalities by level of comfort ranging between comfortable for most, some, few or very few - A bicycle type classification system was developed with input from all member municipalities, TransLink and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (similar to a DOT), providing the framework to classify each facility type - 46% of the network is comfortable for most people, and 65% of people live within 400m of a comfortable bikeway - The length of the bikeway network has nearly tripled in 10 years from 1,700 km (2009) to 4,600 km (2019) - This is meant to be a benchmarking report, allowing us to measure progress against this baseline with each new iteration

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WFP: Sunday bike routes open daily next week (Apr1'20)
by Beth McKechnie 01 Apr '20

01 Apr '20

Sunday bike routes open daily next week SEASONAL Sunday and holiday bike routes will open to cyclists and pedestrians seven days a week as part of the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The four city roadways typically reserved for bicycle traffic and active transportation use on Sundays and holidays throughout the summer will have limited motor vehicle traffic beginning April 6. Lyndale Drive, between Cromwell Street and Gauvin Street; Scotia Street, between Anderson Avenue and Armstrong Avenue; Wellington Crescent, between Academy Road and Guelph Street; and Wolseley Avenue, between Raglan Road and Maryland Street will be restricted to through-traffic daily between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Signs will be posted on all approach roadways and exits to notify motorists they are entering and exiting an active transportation route and vehicle traffic is limited to one block throughout the designated area. While traffic volumes are lowered, the city is reminding cyclists and pedestrians that roads are not closed and to use caution and follow the rules of the road. The expanded active transportation route schedule is in effect until May 3. The public’s adherence to physical-distancing recommendations to maintain two metres of separation between individuals on these routes will be monitored by the city officials. City-owned athletic fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, ball diamonds and skate parks will remain closed until further notice, in accordance with the provincial public health order to limit gatherings of people to no more than 10 individuals. Community centres are also being told to discourage programming on their properties.

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WFP: BLUE line brings rapid transit to southwest
by Beth McKechnie 31 Mar '20

31 Mar '20

*BLUE line brings rapid transit to southwest* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/souwester/BLUE-line-bring… Starting April 12, a dedicated 11-kilometre transitway will open in the southwest, giving bus riders a faster, easier commute. BLUE is a new rapid transit line that will provide frequent, reliable, high-speed service between Winnipeg’s downtown, the University of Manitoba and St. Norbert, according to Adam Budowski, a transit planner with Winnipeg Transit. The idea of rapid transit was first introduced in Winnipeg in the 1970s, with city council acting on it in the early 2000s when a task force was established. The first stage was opened in 2012 with the 3.6 km-long rapid transitway running from Queen Elizabeth Way to Jubilee Avenue. Planning for stage two of the transitway began in 2012, with most of the construction completed by the end of 2019. "A big piece of this has been route planning," Budowski said. "We started developing route plans for the transitway about two years ago and started doing public engagement in the spring of 2019." Transit "hollowed out" a retired bus, equipped it with poster boards and drove this Ideas in Motion bus to transit hubs and community events to catch people during their daily activities, according to Budowski. They also received responses via email, for a total of around 1,000 responses. "We’ve designed a high frequency line in a well-planned area, with 14 new community feeder routes. People can wait at heated shelters which also feature digital displays for real-time bus information. The transitway is designed to move large numbers of people to where they want to go, quickly and in a way that avoids congestion on Pembina Highway," Budowski said, adding that there will still be buses running on Pembina for those needing local transportation. The City of Winnipeg has been working on weekends to change the bus route signs in the southwest. The transit stops now feature a blue sign showing the new route numbers, and an orange, temporary sign showing the old route numbers. "We want people to know that their current bus is still coming, and get them used to the new routes that will launch April 12," he said, adding there are around 1,500 bus stop signs being changed. Funding for the BLUE line included $163.8 million from the City of Winnipeg, $93.3 million from the province and $163.3 million from the federal government.The BLUE line will feature 28 new articulated buses, which can carry around 100 passengers each. Each bus will feature a front rack that can carry two bikes. There will also be bike lockers at each station and bike racks. "The buses will run approximately every four to five minutes during rush hour," Budowski said. Passengers will be able to park their cars and hop onboard a bus, thanks to more than 1,000 park and ride spots installed at Seel Station and Clarence Station. The parking spots are available for special events at attractions along the BLUE Rapid Transit Line, including Investors Group Field, and are provided free of charge for anyone using Transit services. For those interested in active transportation, such as biking or walking, a protected and accessible path runs the full length of the transitway, connecting to existing active routes. It will be illuminated at night to enhance safety and visibility. Winnipeg Transit mailed information brochures to 75,000 households in the southwest, as well as putting up information signs at 86 bus stations in the downtown regarding route changes. For more information on the BLUE transitway and route changes, see winnipegtransit.com/en/service/blue-rapid-transit/ To start planning bus routes, use the Navigo Trip Planner at winnipegtransit.com/en/navigo and type in April 12 as the date you want to make a trip.

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WFP: Active transportation changes seen as part of virus response (Mar31'20)
by Beth McKechnie 31 Mar '20

31 Mar '20

Active transportation changes seen as part of virus response https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/active-transportation-changes-seen-… BARRICADES for seasonal Sunday and holiday road closures could go up early this year to make space for pedestrians and cyclists struggling to keep their distance as Winnipeggers head outdoors amid the COVID-19 crisis. A spokesman for the City of Winnipeg said Monday that officials are considering whether to provide pedestrians access to roadways and enhanced active transportation routes as physical distancing becomes a challenge on sidewalks in some communities. “There’s just no way possible in areas where there is density on beautiful days that we can maintain the physical distance,” Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverley West) said. “We didn’t have a wicked winter, but we want to get outside, the sun is shining, the snow is melting.” Lukes says she’s formally asked the mayor’s office and the city’s interim chief administrative officer to implement road or lane closures for people to get outside and maintain the two metres of distance between individuals recommended by public health officials. “We’ve got thousands and thousands of kilometres of roadway in the city, the traffic volumes are down: take to the streets, take to the residential roads,” she said. The city did not accommodate a request for an interview Monday but said in an email that more information on road closures and pedestrian access will be released this week. City owned playgrounds, recreation centres and picnic shelters have been closed as part of the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but parks remain open at this time. On Friday, Mayor Brian Bowman said city officials are reviewing what outdoor recreation options can be made available to the public. “We’re trying collectively as governments to ensure that while we’re telling people to get outside and social distance, we’re not shrinking the available public spaces that they can spread out,” he said. Over the weekend, the City of Calgary closed vehicular lanes alongside popular pedestrian corridors to traffic in anticipation of people heading outdoors to take advantage of warm weather. The locations of the temporary closures were not promoted to avoid crowds of people congregating at select spots. Each May, the city restricts through-traffic on four roads on Sunday and holidays and give cyclists priority. The restrictions are in place for Lyndale Drive, Wolseley Avenue, Scotia Street and Wellington Crescent from Academy Road to Guelph Street. “We’ve already got a framework, let’s put it in play seven days a week for now,” Lukes said. “The thing is, people are going to go outside whether you want them to or not. So we need to make it safe for them and we need to reinforce social distancing.” Winnipeg Trails executive director Anders Swanson said enhancing the city’s overall active transportation network throughout the duration of the COVID-19 response will be critical to ensure the safe movement of people across the city. “If you have to take half the people off the bus to maintain physical distancing for the next however many months, we’re going to need some sort of system,” Swanson said. “We’ve been calling for this for decades, but this is a life changing moment,” Swanson said. “The space is there and it would be not just impractical to not rededicate that space to people so that they can move, but it would be rude to not do that now.” Separated and dedicated lanes for pedestrians and cyclists, addressing “mode gaps,” and speed limit changes should all be considered as quickly as possible, he said. “The simplest message is to stay home if you can,” Swanson said. “We’re not trying to say the most important thing is for everyone to go out for a jog. “But what we’re voicing is the concern that when you make rules to recognize walking and cycling is very competitive with a transit trip, if necessary, given the right infrastructure,” he said. danielle.dasilva(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Today: Virtual Cycling conference with great speakers - Digital Worldbike
by Anders Swanson 31 Mar '20

31 Mar '20

Good morning, Apologies for the late notice, but there is a conference with some terrific speakers happening today from 1-6pm Central European time. Organized pre-pandemic, its perfect timing for a virtual conference on a topic that offers a rare glimmer of hope. You can see the program here (skip to section 3 for the urbanism/transport stuff): https://twitter.com/DigiWorldBike/status/1244897866046484480 You can register here, free, to enter the virtual conference: https://t.co/k1BFYPvSC7?amp=1 Or check out the a live stream: https://t.co/yEDKeBfYXi?amp=1 As I send this, Marco te Brömmelstroet (fietsprofessor and head of the urban cycling institute at the University of Amsterdam) is talking about the language of mobility. Again, apologies for the short notice. Enjoy! Anders

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BBC News: Climate change: vision for future UK transport
by Charles F 29 Mar '20

29 Mar '20

UK transport minister says it's time to reduce car - driving...How do we get Canada/ manitoba | Winnipeg leadership to adopt this direction sooner rather than later?Climate change: 'Gob-smacking' vision for future UK transport - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52064509* Disclaimer *The BBC is not responsible for the content of this email, and anything written in this email does not necessarily reflect the BBC's views or opinions. Please note that neither the email address nor name of the sender have been verified.Sent from my phone.

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CROW Design Manual - free webinars (Urban Cycling Institute)
by Beth McKechnie 28 Mar '20

28 Mar '20

The CROW 'Design Manual for Bicycle Traffic' is widely regarded by experts as the best bikeway engineering guide in the world. In the coming weeks, the Urban Cycling Institute will offer a series of free webinars, each focused on one chapter of the book. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-17vjmIkwG8

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WFP: UMSU votes yes on U-Pass
by Beth McKechnie 28 Mar '20

28 Mar '20

*VOTES YES ON U-PASS * THE University of Manitoba Students’ Union says Winnipeg Transit’s U-Pass program will continue at the school. The UMSU board of directors has voted in favour to “save” the U-Pass program, at an increased rate of $200/full-time student per term, up from $136.25/term — a hike the City of Winnipeg said is needed to cover costs.

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Globe & Mail: Coronavirus is reshaping the way we get around cities (Mar25'20)
by Beth McKechnie 26 Mar '20

26 Mar '20

Coronavirus is reshaping the way we get around cities https://www.theglobeandmail.com/drive/mobility/article-coronavirus-is-resha… The rising need for social distancing has been changing how we get around cities – and whether we get around at all. Right now, schools and some businesses are closed and more people are working from home to try to slow the COVID-19 outbreak. That means less traffic and fewer people taking transit. “There’s a huge reduction in traffic and urban personal travel,” says Lawrence Frank, a professor of public health at the University of British Columbia (UBC). In some places, the need to keep space between us is leading to a push, at least temporarily, for more active ways to get around. *Bogota, for instance, added 76 kilometres of temporary bike lanes to its 550-km bike network.* *“They took some of their transit lanes and gave them to cyclists – this is a smart idea and their weather allows it,” says Ahmed El-Geneidy, a professor at McGill University’s School of Public Planning. “When you cycle, you’re distanced from other people.”* *If the crisis continues for a longer period of time, El-Geneidy says he expects Canadian cities, including Toronto and Montreal, to look into temporarily adding more bike lanes.* “If you’re not sick, you can take a walk around the block – you can take a bicycle ride as long as you’re staying away from people,” El-Geneidy says. “I’m not an expert in public health, but if we have congestion on cycling routes, then it’s useless.” LONG-TERM CHANGES? But what happens after all this is finally over and we don’t need to keep two metres away from each other? “It will change something – what it will change, I don’t know for sure,” El-Geneidy says. “It can be a good time now to try biking and walking, and maybe in some places, we could see a return to more corner stores that people can walk to because people don’t want to take their cars or transit.” Although, it’s also possible that the roads could be more crowded, at least temporarily, with individual vehicles than ever because some people will be spooked off public transit. “Transit is not bad – we cannot allow this to be used to say that we shouldn’t be taking collective forms of transportation,” UBC’s Frank says. “That’s ridiculous. This is a short, unprecedented situation and we had time to react in advance.” REDUCTION IN POLLUTION? In China and Italy <https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/covid-19-air-pollution-1.5501810>, one side-effect of people staying home because of COVID-19 is a drastic reduction in air pollution, Frank says. According to the most recent Global Burden of Disease study, an estimated 3.4 million people worldwide died prematurely because of outdoor air pollution in 2017. During the lockdown, Frank expects China and Italy to see a drop in deaths from chronic diseases that are caused or worsened by pollution. “This shows us that how we get around has a dramatic effect on pollution,” Frank says. “We’re monitoring COVID-19 and it’s terrifying, but at the same time, it might be that more lives were saved because of the reduction in vehicle use and air pollution.” When these temporary restrictions end, this could be used as an opportunity for governments to change how we get around cities. They could invest more in transit, electrification and active transportation, including cycling , e-scooters and e-bikes, Frank says. That would mean more urban density instead of increasing sprawl out to the suburbs, Frank says. People who get around by walking or cycling instead of solely in vehicles are, generally. healthier overall. “You want to design a transportation system and lay out your cities so that there’s less vulnerability should something like this happen again,” Frank says. “We’d have to think past a contagious epidemic and make cities more conducive to biking and walking. It could have an incredible impact on chronic disease.”

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TOMORROW: Webinar on Public Health & Transportation
by Beth McKechnie 23 Mar '20

23 Mar '20

******************************************************** Caution: This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. ******************************************************** Join us on tomorrow at 2pm ET to discuss ways urban planners can collaborate with transportation and public health professionals. WEBINAR Urban Planning, Transportation, and Public Health Collaborations March 24, 2020 from 2:00pm - 2:30pm ET <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> *Join us TOMORROW at 2pm ET for the latest webinar in our series! If you haven't registered yet, be sure to save your spot as space is limited. After the immediate response to the COVID-19 pandemic has occurred, there are ways transportation agencies could benefit from better collaboration with public health agencies in the future. *This webinar will describe several ways in which urban planners are working with data sources and colleagues in public health and healthcare. Case studies show how collaboration is being used to improve planners’ ability to make data-driven decisions, measure the outcomes of a program that expands transit access, and broaden their understanding of how well the built environment and transportation access are helping to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of residents. This webinar will inform planners, DOTs, and researchers of existing resources that can be used in new ways. *Speakers:* *Renee Autumn Ray,* *Strategy and Innovation Leader, Conduent Transportation* *Alice Grossman, Ph.D,* *Senior Policy Analyst, Eno Center for Transportation* March 2020 24 REGISTER <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> *Connect with us and don't miss out on other great resources!* [image: Facebook] <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> Facebook <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> [image: Twitter] <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> Twitter <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> [image: VIEW UPCOMING WEBINARS] <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> VIEW UPCOMING WEBINARS <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> *Copyright © 2020 Eno Center for Transportation, All rights reserved.* You are receiving this email because you opted in to our email list. *Our mailing address is:* Eno Center for Transportation 1629 K St. NW Ste 200 Washington, DC 20006

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WFP: The Unicycle Guy relishes being the most noticeable commuter on the road (Mar21'20)
by Beth McKechnie 21 Mar '20

21 Mar '20

******************************************************** Caution: This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. ******************************************************** The Unicycle Guy relishes being the most noticeable commuter on the road ‘A WEIRD KIND OF FAMOUS’ https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/a-weird-kind-of-famous-568977702.ht… EACH morning, to get to work, most of the city climbs into sedans or minivans, a fair number sit on the bus, some bike, others who live close enough to do so walk — every trip moves along with the flow of traffic, and every commuter somewhat disappears into the thrum of urban movement. Not Daniel Voth. For one thing, he’s deceptively gangly, standing six-foot-three, often towering over the people he meets. And then, there’s that thing he’s sitting on to get to work every winter morning: a 36-inch high unicycle, decked out in neon green decals, in case you weren’t already staring. He wants you to stare. He dares you to smile. He loves your attention. “I call myself Dan, but people can call me the Unicycle Guy,” he says. So we will. The Unicycle Guy lives in an apartment on Garry Street, with his cat Jam Jams and five unicycles, a collection he’s been accruing for nearly three years. Every morning, around 8 a.m., he descends, wheel in the air, passing tenants who know him if not by name, then by his mode of transport. He started riding a unicycle three years ago, when he saw a man riding one along the Assiniboine Park walking bridge. The Unicycle Guy, who was then strictly a Car Man, was intrigued. The next day, he called every bike shop in the city, and bought the cheapest ’cycle he could find. His mother, Debbie-Lee Olfert, is no unicyclist herself — she says she can barely ride a bike. But she was not surprised to find out her son was picking up such a peculiar talent. “He is the most quirky person you’re going to meet,” she says. “And as the mother of grown-ass men, you stop telling them what to do and hope they make choices that aren't illegal, immoral, or life-threatening,” she says. “I say have fun, be safe, be smart.” At the time a Charleswood resident, the Unicycle Guy was determined to learn. He wouldn’t stop practising that first day until he could reach the bottom of the driveway without bailing, and soon enough, he could. “The origin to my interest is that riding a unicycle has always seemed like an impossible task, and I always liked the idea of doing something often perceived as undoable,” he says before a commute one March morning. “I always describe this as the easiest thing to learn that looks the hardest to do.” The Unicycle Guy isn’t wrong: from a distance, and up close, it seems like every moment not spent falling is a miracle, but ultimately, the pursuit of one-wheeled balance is one grounded in patience and trust. When talking about the unicycle, the Unicycle Guy takes on a somewhat spiritual tone: if you will it, you can ride. Soon after he got down the driveway, he aimed higher, and further: he wanted to ride to work. So, last summer, he sold his rattly car, forwent his $100 per month parking expenses, and rode away. The commute was 20 minutes by car, and though Google Maps doesn’t have a unicycle option, it took about an hour from Point A to Point B, an office on Market Avenue. In the summer, the ride was smooth, if not slightly scary. The unicycle shared lanes with its two- and four-wheeled brethren harmoniously, aside from a few heckles from the seatbelted population. Some passersby rolled down their windows to sing circus music — da da dada dada da da dada. The Unicycle Guy was unperturbed. In fact, he was delighted. He started riding his unicycle in even more unconventional ways. To the arena, he lugged his hockey bag. While eating sushi with chopsticks, he pedaled around. Jam Jams has joined him for a ride here and there. “I’m trying to stick out like a sore thumb, because I think the image is funny,” he says. “The looks I’ve gotten — I get a kick out of it.” Later in the year, he moved to Garry Street, where his daily commute shortened to 15 minutes, but the amount of recognition he’s received expanded ten-fold. A woman waiting with her children for the school bus says her kids look forward to seeing him every day. A bus driver on Waterfront Drive waves to him daily. On Broadway, one woman says she’s begun to text friends whenever she sees him roll by. “My friends in the Exchange speak of a unicycle guy,” she says. “He’s sort of a weird kind of famous.” His route shifts, but on this day, he darts across Main, and at the Via Rail station, makes a sharp left turn. As cars sit and wait, jammed bumper to bumper to bumper, the Unicycle Guy floats above it, zooming past a stationary Kia Soul and an idling Volkswagen Golf at nearly 20 kilometres per hour. Soon, he arrives at work, storing his wheel at his desk. This summer, he plans to ride to Kenora on his unicycle to raise money for charities of his choosing; he’s starting to figure out which now. Upon hearing those plans, his mom was once again unsurprised. “It’s such an absurd thing, but if it’s what he wants to do, I am not going to talk him out of it,” she says, adding that she’s proud he’s cut down his carbon footprint. As for riding to work in the winter, “All the power to him,” she laughs. “I always tell people, if I die or get hurt on the way to Kenora, I accept it,” the Unicycle Guy says, taking a serious turn. “But if I’m not doing the things that I enjoy in life, then what am I doing?” “I could just stay at home all day every day and not go out into the world, but if something’s going to happen, something is going to happen doing what I love,” he says. “I don’t walk anywhere unless I have to.” ben.waldman(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Study (US): Most car owners wish they didn't have to drive
by Beth McKechnie 20 Mar '20

20 Mar '20

Most people who get behind the wheel every day don’t want to be there. More than half of drivers wish they had another option for getting around besides their cars, according to a new poll from Data for Progress <http://filesforprogress.org/memos/gnd-for-transit-polling.pdf> — a startling revelation that busts the stubborn myth that most Americans simply *prefer *driving to greener modes of transportation. In fact, the survey suggests that when we put cars at the center of our planning decisions, we’re not truly serving the will of the people. Read article: https://usa.streetsblog.org/2020/03/19/study-most-car-owners-wish-they-didn…

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EOI for bikeshare/e-bikeshare in Winnipeg
by Patman, David 19 Mar '20

19 Mar '20

City of Winnipeg has released an EOI looking for firms operating bikeshare and e-bikeshare systems. https://www.merx4.merx.com/mbgov/solicitations/open-bids/Bicycle-and-E-Bicy… David Patman, P.Eng. Manager - Transportation Public Works City of Winnipeg Sent from my iPhone

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BMJ: People who cycle to work have higher rick of injury but benefits offset this risk (Mar11'20)
by Beth McKechnie 18 Mar '20

18 Mar '20

Commuters who cycle to work are at higher risk of injury compared to those who walk to work, use a car or take public transport. The findings are released today in a study by the University of Glasgow and published in the *British Medical Journal (BMJ)*. Overall, commuting exclusively by bicycle was associated with a 45% higher risk of injury that required a visit to hospital, and cycling commuters were also at a 3.4 fold higher risk of injury where the cause was listed as a transport accident. The risk of injury was higher still in those that cycled longer distances to work. However, the researchers found that the risk of injury is counterbalanced by the lower risk of cancers, heart disease and deaths seen in cycling commuters. Senior author of the study, Dr Paul Welsh, from the University of Glasgow, said: “We know there is a perception that cycling in commuter traffic is dangerous, and that this perception may be putting people off actively commuting by bike to work. “Now, as a result of this research, we can to some extent quantify the risk associated with this form of commuting. If 1000 people incorporate cycling into their commute for 10 years we would expect 26 more injuries, but 15 fewer cancers, 4 fewer heart disease events, and three fewer deaths. So, the benefits offset the risks, and this should be encouraging, but more needs to done to make commuter cycling safe.” https://www.gla.ac.uk/news/headline_714428_en.html

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A Surge in Biking to Avoid Crowded Trains in N.Y.C.
by Beth McKechnie 16 Mar '20

16 Mar '20

A growing wave of New Yorkers are embracing cycling to get to work and around the city as their regular subway and bus commutes have suddenly become fraught with potential perils, from possibly virus-tainted surfaces to strangers sneezing and coughing on fellow passengers. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/14/nyregion/coronavirus-nyc-bike-commute.ht…

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AT Webinar: Implementing Bicycle Infrastructure Quickly in Edmonton & Bellingham (March 18th, 2-3pm)
by Beth McKechnie 16 Mar '20

16 Mar '20

Please join Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg for a group viewing of the monthly APBP webinar in the EcoCentre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/uncategorized/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-o…> boardroom. This will be followed by discussion for those who wish to stay. Will be interesting to hear what Edmonton is doing! * * * * * Implementing Bicycle Infrastructure Quickly in Edmonton & Bellingham *Wed, March 18th | 2:00-3:00 PM* Presenters: - Chris Comeau, Public Works Engineering, Bellingham, WA - Daniel Harman Vriend, City of Edmonton - Olga Messinis, City of Edmonton -- 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/> 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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MP Andy Fillmore to lead National AT strategy development
by Beth McKechnie 11 Mar '20

11 Mar '20

Minister of Infrastructure and Communities has tasked Andy Fillmore (MP, Halifax) with leading the development of a national active transportation strategy. https://twitter.com/AndyFillmoreHFX/status/1237726425840594944

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Get Moving on Climate | Friday, March 13th
by Beth McKechnie 11 Mar '20

11 Mar '20

This Friday! Register here <https://www.eventbrite.com/e/get-moving-on-climate-a-transportation-event-t…> [image: CAT-Get_Moving_On_Climate-Event-Poster-FIN-683x1024.jpg]

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New Bicycle Registry Established by Portage la Prairie RCMP
by Ian Wassink 10 Mar '20

10 Mar '20

First announced December 15, 2019. The Portage la Prairie RCMP is rolling out a new initiative to help return stolen bikes to their owners. Cst. James Cameron is heading up the program. "I'm a new member to the RCMP, arriving in Portage la Prairie in June of this year," says Cst. Cameron. "During my time here, I saw an opportunity in the community to assist in recovering stolen and lost bicycles. RCMP have responded to over 50 calls of theft of bicycles this year alone." He says you can get your registration card at the detachment and it doesn't take much of your time. The information on the card is entered into a database and they will contact you if your lost bike is found. "The service is free and could assist in getting you your bicycles returned to you," says Cst. Cameron. "I hope that you take part in it, and we encourage that all members of the community that own bicycles to participate." https://www.portageonline.com/local/sign-up-for-the-rcmp-s-bicycle-registry… More info: The RCMP in Portage recently established a bicycle registry. This is voluntary and will assist in recovering stolen, missing, abandoned bicycles to owners. Serial numbers are crucial. RCMP will work with Portage Fire Department to enhance returning bikes to owners. Process to Register a Bike: Person submits Portage la Prairie RCMP Bicycle Registry business card with bike info to RCMP station. Additional info can be added on the back of the card, ex: owner name and address, unique features of bike. RCMP local detachment maintains a database (Excel spreadsheet) with above information. RCMP is open to enhancing this initiative as it rolls out to the public. Bicycle Registry cards are available at Two Tired Boys, The Greasy Chain, and RCMP detachment. It is not mandatory that a bicycle be entered into this registry at point of sale, however, The Greasy Chain will endeavor to do this as much as possible on sold and repaired bicycles. Process to be established for The Greasy Chain.

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WFP: Self-driving cars focus of bill (Mar5'20)
by Beth McKechnie 05 Mar '20

05 Mar '20

Self-driving cars focus of bill THE provincial government has introduced legislation to set the ground rules for the testing of self-driving vehicles in Manitoba. Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler said the proposed Vehicle Technology Testing Act (Bill 23) would create a framework to enable examination of automated vehicles. “It is something that industry has asked for, that they be allowed to test on our roads,” he said of vehicle manufacturers. “They would like to have some kind of structure put in place.” Schuler said the province has considered the move for more than two years. He said following passage of the bill, the government would develop regulations and a permitting system in consultation with stakeholders. “By enabling developers to safely test emerging vehicle technologies on provincial roadways, we are supporting Manitoba’s large agricultural, trucking, heavy-vehicle manufacturing and technology development sectors,” Schuler said. Companies would have to obtain special insurance coverage, he said. “We are not going to ask Manitoba ratepayers at MPI to cover off, should something happen.” — Larry Kusch

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Montreal pulls the plug on e-scooters
by Beth McKechnie 04 Mar '20

04 Mar '20

The Montreal Gazette reported Bird and Lime e-scooters were popular, but compliance with helmet and parking rules was poor. E-Scooters may have had their problems, but they have a huge potential because the average trip on the scooters was just 1.5 kilometers (1 mi), and in 2019, 25% of the trips were linked to public transit. More than 50,000 riders took more than 200,000 trips in 3 months. The city's executive committee recently outlawed self-service rental vehicles following a pilot last summer that saw the vehicles deployed in various locations across the city. While the system called for the scooters to be returned to designated areas after their use, in many cases users simply left them on streets and sidewalks when they were done. Police also issued more than 300 tickets to users who ignored the city regulation requiring they wear a helmet while riding the scooters. https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/montreal-pulls-the-plug-on-e-sc…

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Upcoming Webinars: Health-in-all Policies Approach for Municipalities | Public Health Collaborations with Municipalities
by Beth McKechnie 04 Mar '20

04 Mar '20

Hi everyone, Here are a couple of free webinars that might be of interest to watch from the comfort of your desk: Health in All Policies: The importance and impact of a health-in-all-policies approach for municipalities <https://cc.readytalk.com/registration/#/?meeting=hd41ls8eu2ch&campaign=hitk…> (Friday, March 13th) *Public Health Sector - Collaborating with Municipalities <http://www.ncchpp.ca/182/presentations.ccnpps?id_article=2033>* (Tues, March 31st) 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/> 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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WFP: City to boost street construction standards (Mar4'20)
by Beth McKechnie 04 Mar '20

04 Mar '20

*City lays down plan for tougher roads * * New construction rules geared to more durability* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/city-to-boast-street-construction-s… WINNIPEG is adding new road construction rules with an eye to making its streets last longer. The changes should allow concrete construction to last 25 per cent longer and add 15 per cent to the lifespan of asphalt, said Brad Neirinck, City of Winnipeg engineering manager, noting local construction standards have lagged behind those of other Canadian cities. “We’re behind the times. We’re trying to move our specifications up to match what other jurisdictions are doing and improve our life cycle,” he said Tuesday. The new standards would ensure a higher quality of limestone, gravel and concrete are used to build certain roads, which would be stiffer and offer better drainage, helping them hold up better, said Ahmed Shalaby, a civil engineer who works with the city. “The improvement in performance is actually quite significant. Some of these materials can be twice as good as what we were using previously,” Shalaby told reporters. “It will drain faster, it will be stronger, it will have fewer cracks.” During Tuesday’s public works committee meeting, Shalaby warned councillors Winnipeg’s previous road standards were “in a way, obsolete.” The higher standards should also prevent some streets from requiring repairs every five or 10 years, he said. Developers at the meeting raised a series of concerns, including the spectre of increased costs and sending more rejected road materials to the landfill. Other issues about the new material rules could make it difficult for contractors to budget for work, said Chris Lorenc, president of the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association. “We don’t know the extent to which it’s going to be subject to rejection… That creates risk, uncertainty and a potential spike in prices,” he said. However, city council’s public works chairman expects the changes will finally address citizen complaints that local roads haven’t been built to last. “We needed to get with the times and join other jurisdictions in building roads that are going to be built better and last longer,” said Coun. Matt Allard (St. Boniface). Despite industry concerns, it’s not clear if the change would actually increase construction project costs, Allard said. Even though the city would require that higher-quality materials be used, projects may also use smaller amounts of them, he said. “We need to go into the field and apply it to know exactly how much it’s going to cost,” Allard said. After hearing multiple presentations from concerned members of the construction industry, city staff said two key compromises should help address any potential issues: the higher standard for construction work will be implemented this year on contracts and subjected to ongoing review by a working group with industry members, and developers of some private-sector projects will be exempt from the new rules until 2021. In October, the city’s public service is expected to provide an update on how the new standard works out. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Webinar on cycling in suburban communities
by Orly Linovski 02 Mar '20

02 Mar '20

FYI Webinar: Incubating Cycling in Suburban Canadian Communities Wednesday, March 4th | 1:00 – 2:00 PM EST Learn how to incubate cycling through a community bike hub approach and tap into the cycling potential that exists for short bike trips in suburban environments, where cycling rates remain stubbornly low. TCAT’s approach can be used as a framework to increasing cycling in suburban communities across Canada. Safe infrastructure is a key enabler to more cycling, but it can be difficult to champion in places where a cycling culture doesn’t yet exist. A community bike hub can help to jump-start the process. Discover how unlikely partnerships and a targeted approach can grow cycling, and dig into the potential that exists within your own community. Link to register: incubatingsuburbancycling.eventbrite.ca<https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/webinar-incubating-cycling-in-suburban-canadian…> https://www.tcat.ca/webinar-incubating-cycling-in-suburban-canadian-communi… -------------------------------- Orly Linovski, Ph.D. (RPP, MCIP) Assistant Professor, Department of City Planning University of Manitoba 204-474-6424 / orly.linovski(a)umanitoba.ca<mailto:orly.linovski@umanitoba.ca> http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~linovsko/

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HAPPY CITIES – The Shape of Neighbourhoods and Well-being With Hazel Borys
by Beth McKechnie 28 Feb '20

28 Feb '20

*From:* Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba [mailto:lgnews@leg.gov.mb.ca] *Sent:* Tuesday, February 25, 2020 10:48 AM *Subject:* HAPPY CITIES – The Shape of Neighbourhoods and Well-being With Hazel Borys [image: Office of the Lieutenant Governor] *News Release* February 25, 2020 *HAPPY CITIES The Shape of Neighbourhoods and Well-being With Hazel Borys* *- - -* *Next Presentation in the Lieutenant-Governor’s Conversations & Celebrations Series of Free Public Events Celebrating Manitoba’s Ceremonial Home* Lt.-Gov. Janice C. Filmon invites Manitobans to join her in engaging in Conversations and Celebrations – a monthly gathering of fascinating and entertaining people from across this great province. Lt.-Gov. Filmon developed this initiative to honour the 135th birthday of Government House during 2018. Based on the overwhelming success of these monthly free public events, the program continues throughout 2020. *The next event will be Tuesday, March 10 at Government House. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.* March’s guest speaker is Hazel Borys, president and CEO of PlaceMakers. With city planning firms operating in Canada and the United States, Borys and her team are passionate about advancing the resilience conversation, and the belief that diverse, character-rich neighbourhoods can actually make us happier. She guides governments around the world through policy and land use law reforms – allowing walkable, mixed-use, compact places to develop by right – and helps developers design and enable liveable, loveable places. In her presentation, Borys will share some of the benefits that cities and provinces can enjoy in supporting these sorts of urban forms, and what Manitobans can do to strengthen our connection to each other and this place we call home. Members of the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra will provide entertainment at the close of the program. In her role as lieutenant-governor, as well as in her private life, Lt.-Gov. Filmon embraces the role of community connector. Her vision for Conversations and Celebrations is to continue to find meaningful ways to bring Manitobans together to learn, and celebrate unique talents, abilities and perspectives by embracing the rich diversity of this province and its people. “I am thrilled with how Manitobans have embraced this initiative and we have lots of great presentations planned throughout Manitoba’s 150th anniversary year,” said Lt.-Gov. Filmon. “People are leaving Government House at the end of the evening with their hearts and minds full, eyes wide open to the great things happening in our province and beyond, and inspired to make a difference.” Events will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. most often on the second Tuesday of each month. *Those wishing to attend must register in advance with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor by calling 204-945-2753. * Registration is now open. There is no cost to attend. - 30 - Media Inquiries Only: Kate Gameiro, 204-945-2752 *Please be advised that this email account is not monitored for inquiries or followup questions. Ce compte de courriel n’est pas surveillé et vous ne recevrez pas de réponse à vos demandes d’information ou questions.*

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Motor vehicle use is unhealthy
by Charles F 17 Feb '20

17 Feb '20

Clever study demonstrates that car ownership reduces physical activity and affects health, especially for older people. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/article-does-owning… When will the car Industry face Censure like the tobacco industry?Sent from my phone.

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AT Webinar: Street Typologies - An organizing framework for more walkable, bikeable streets (Feb 19th, 2pm, EcoCentre)
by Beth McKechnie 13 Feb '20

13 Feb '20

Please join Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg for a group viewing of the monthly APBP webinar in the EcoCentre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/uncategorized/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-o…> boardroom. This will be followed by discussion for those who wish to stay. * * * * * Street Typologies: An organizing framework for more walkable, bikeable streets *Wed, Feb 19th, 2:00 PM * Many cities transportation goals have shifted in recent years – becoming more multimodal, safety-focused, and equitable. While cities transportation goals have changed, many still rely on the Federal Functional Classification System, which prioritizes vehicle mobility and access, as the main framework for organizing, designing, and managing their streets. Recognizing this dissonance, cities are developing new street typology systems that better align their approach to streets with overall transportation goals. This presentation will share strategies used in Des Moines, IA and Phoenix, AZ to develop new street typologies that align with existing and future land use and create more walkable, bikeable streets. Presenters - Alex Hanson, Sam Schwartz Consulting - Brian Fellows, City of Phoenix - Jeff Wiggins, City of Des Moines

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WFP: Transit expansion outside city explored (Feb8'20)
by Beth McKechnie 08 Feb '20

08 Feb '20

*Study to probe bus service to bedroom communities* * Transit expansion outside city explored * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/city-to-study-linking-bedroom-commu… Winnipeg will study the idea of creating new links to bus service for those commuting into the city, possibly through large park-and-ride locations. City hall is working on a new transportation master plan and will review regional transportation as one piece of that effort. It will explore the ways many neighbouring communities — including Stonewall, Selkirk, St. Andrews, Springfield, Headingley and Rosser — might benefit from better links to Winnipeg Transit. "The question is, when they arrive at the city boundary, is there a way to shift their mode, get them out of their cars and perhaps on to our transit system?" said Alex Regiec, city master plan project manager. In addition to possible park-and-ride sites at the city’s boundaries, a consultant will be tasked to explore options to create an inter-governmental regional transportation body, add public transit links between the city and region, and provide advice on active transportation. The consultant must also figure out how much that would cost. Regiec said creating more regional access to Winnipeg Transit could help the city in a few key ways. "The benefits of a park-and-ride program… would be to reduce the amount of single-occupant automobiles on the road, which reduces the wear and tear on our infrastructure. It also gives people an opportunity to find a more economical way to travel within the City of Winnipeg, and it’s also a benefit to our transit system (by) encouraging ridership," he said. The broader transportation master plan is expected in June 2021, which will also weigh in on how infrastructure can be added to support cars, buses and bikes over the next 30 years, as well as the best options to move goods. Regiec said a series of consultant contracts to support the master plan will have a combined cost of about $1 million. He said those contracts should be awarded by early March. While the review is slated to explore extensions of public transit past the Perimeter Highway, the project manager for Winnipeg Transit’s master plan said Transit has not received any formal proposal to do that. "We don’t have the authority to operate transit outside city limits unless we were to operate as a contractor to another municipality," said Kevin Sturgeon. Selkirk Mayor Larry Johannson said he expects new transportation options between Winnipeg and his community would be well-used: "I think if a bus service was predictable, it was efficient, if it was cost-efficient… I truly believe that it could be successful." Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverley West) welcomed the effort to explore regional transportation planning. "When I’m on Pembina Highway and I see a continuous stream of vehicles coming in (each with) one person, one person, one person — (I think) for sure there is a way that we can change this... (We) need to start moving in that direction," she said. The councillor said she believes partnerships and funding from senior governments would be required to successfully implement a regional transportation plan. "This is not something the city can do on its own," Lukes said. Coun. Scott Gillingham, finance committee chairman, said the review’s cost estimates will be a key factor to determine what regional transportation infrastructure the city could actually afford to implement. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Walking, cycling and public transport remain greener mobility options than e-scooters or ridehailing
by Beth McKechnie 06 Feb '20

06 Feb '20

A new report by the European Environment Agency (EEA) finds that, taken together with public transport, walking and cycling for short city journeys provide the greatest benefits for both human health and the environment in urban areas. The introduction and rapid uptake of app-based vehicle sharing schemes can also have benefits. However, the report points to studies which show that their impact on the environment is not always positive. E-scooter sharing schemes especially appear to attract users that would have otherwise walked or used public transport. While the use of shared e-scooters generates few direct environmental impacts, their green credentials can be questioned by the substantial negative impacts associated to their materials, their manufacturing and their frequent collection for recharging purposes. Similarly, studies show that ride-hailing apps such as Uber or Lyft do little to reduce emissions or congestion and actually draw people away from public transport. The transport and environment report ‘The first and last mile — the key to sustainable urban transport <https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/the-first-and-last-mile/>’ assesses how green and sustainable ‘first and last mile’ transport options such as bicycles, scooters or other means of short-distance travel can transform mobility systems in cities. The report also assesses how innovative urban freight and inner city delivery services, including the use of delivery drones, can make urban freight transport more sustainable. Full article: https://www.greencarcongress.com/2020/02/20200204-eea.html

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WFP: One less bump on path to traffic-calming measures (Feb5'20)
by Beth McKechnie 05 Feb '20

05 Feb '20

*One less bump on path to traffic-calming measures * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/city-committee-hopes-reducing-obsta… IT could soon be a little easier to get a speed bump or other traffic-calming measures installed in your neighbourhood. City council’s public works committee approved a new process on Tuesday, after being informed the current method has a low success rate. The proposed policy still requires full council approval. Under the current system, a Winnipegger must persuade at least 70 per cent of homeowners affected by the desired speed bump to sign a petition in support of the change. The new system would reduce that threshold to 25 per cent. While any proposal would still have to satisfy strict engineering requirements to get the green light, city transportation manager David Patman expects the new process will make requests more successful. “We know traffic calming is one of those issues that’s growing in importance. More and more people want to look at traffic calming in their neighbourhoods,” Patman said. “We still want to see that there’s some buy-in, some local support for a project before it goes forward but (the 25 per cent requirement is) a lot less onerous than requiring 70 per cent.” The new process would allow requests to be made by a citizen, 311 inquiry, city councillor or staff. The public service would then screen the proposed site’s speed limits, traffic volume and other factors to ensure they are conducive to the change. Projects that pass that hurdle would be prioritized based on a site’s collision history, traffic volumes and safety concerns. The top priorities would then proceed to a design and public engagement process to determine which type of traffic-calming tool could work best. Finally, a speed bump or other recommended traffic-calming measure could either be tested as a pilot project or permanently implemented. That new process is expected to consider a greater variety of options to slow down traffic, since only speed bumps were considered in the past. Patman said final traffic-calming solutions could now also include speed tables, curb extensions, traffic circles, road-narrowing and other road treatments. “Our new process opens up a big menu of different options for traffic calming,” he said. Patman said each individual project would still require council approval. Coun. Matt Allard (St. Boniface), who chairs the public works committee, said he hopes council will support the changes. Allard noted dozens of Winnipeggers did secure 70 per cent of their neighbours’ signatures to push for a speed bump under the current system only to learn the proposed site didn’t meet city requirements. For example, the city would only add speed bumps on residential streets that don’t also serve as a transit route, a snow route or a residential collector street. A minimum number of vehicles also needed to be seen exceeding the speed limit to qualify the site for a speed bump. As a result, few traffic-calming requests were granted between 2015 and 2018. During that period, 32 of 156 requests for local streets met the 70 per cent petition threshold but none were implemented because the areas weren’t deemed suitable. For back lanes, 14 requests were filed but only two were granted. Allard said he expects simplifying the process could pave the way for more requests. “I think this is going to result in more demand for traffic calming in neighbourhoods,” he said. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Safe Speeds Open House (Feb 6th)
by Beth McKechnie 30 Jan '20

30 Jan '20

Safe Speeds Open House Thursday February 6 5pm - 7pm Yellow Dog, 386 Donald St 30km/h is the only safe speed limit when people are biking, walking, and driving on the same roads. Drop by to talk with local experts, and community leaders from Safe Speeds WPG. Ask questions, share ideas, and learn how this can work for Winnipeg. Drop in - have a beverage - have a chat Letters to City Council will be available to sign, if you want to demonstrate support. We will hand deliver them for you! https://www.facebook.com/events/2205577959750156/ ----- Thanks! *Denae Penner *(she/her/hers) Active and Safe Routes to School, Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> 204-925-3777 ext. 114 | 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, MB *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/>. Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/GreenActionCentre/> | Twitter <https://twitter.com/greenactionctr> | Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/greenactioncentre/> | LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-action-centre/>

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WFP: Residents have say on Wolseley-downtown plan (Jan30'20)
by Beth McKechnie 30 Jan '20

30 Jan '20

Residents have say on Wolseley-downtown plan https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/residents-have-say-on-wolseley-down… A SWARM of Wolseleyites, West Enders, and other Winnipeggers descended on a Wednesday night open house to give feedback on the latest iteration of the Wolseley to Downtown Walk Bike Project — an ambitious plan that promises to transform areatransportation. The event packed the lecture hall at Westminster United Church, with a line of attendees snaking out the door and down the street. Chris Baker, an active transportation co-ordinator with the City of Winnipeg public works department, said the plans, maps, graphics and information on display to the public represented the recommended design for the project, following two previous rounds of public engagement. “But that being said, we’re here to collect meaningful feedback from the public and have meaningful conversations,” Baker said. “So once we collate all this, the online survey and tonight’s feedback, there’s still an opportunity to change the design, make some refinements. If we missed something, or missed the mark, we’ll be able to refine the design and make it the best it can be, and the most palatable for the most people.” Canora Street resident Chris Brown showed up with three pages of detailed notes outlining his concerns about how the plan intends to deal with rush-hour motorists who cut through Wolseley by converting sections of Westminster and Wolseley avenues into westbound, one-way streets. “What everyone I’ve heard say is: leave Westminster alone,” Brown said, explaining the plan will inadvertently shunt shortcutters onto his residential street. James Plett, who lives in West Broadway, was also concerned about the impact of proposed one-way streets in his neighbourhood. “My work location is never in the same location, so sometimes I need to go east and head down to Osborne (Street). And if the one-way is put in, that means I would have to go west onto Broadway, which is already a backed-up street. And this will definitelycause more people to start using Broadway.” Luanne Karn said she took part in previous phases of the consultations, in a successful effort to prevent a Transit bus from being run on Home Street. “It was both a good public engagement process, but also very negative in that it just came out of the blue at us,” she said. “I’m also concerned that they haven’t addressed the issue of cut-through traffic very well.” Marianne Cerelli, chairwoman of the Wolseley Residents Association, said she had some misgivings about the way public consultations had been done. Her group is holding a community meeting to discuss the plan, Feb. 10 at the Westminster Housing Co-op. “But all of that said, I think most people support active transportation,” said Cerelli. “They support having a bike corridor, they want people to be safe on their bicycles, they want people to be safer walking, they want to reduce the speed and the cut-throughs through the neighbourhood. “But the high-interventionist nature of the proposal has caught people off-guard, so I think they need to bring people along a little bit better, through a better engagement process.” Baker stressed the plan is still open to adjustment. An online survey on the project remains open until Feb. 9. solomon.israel(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @sol_israel

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FYI security risks for e-scooters and riders
by Zdan, Terry (MI) 28 Jan '20

28 Jan '20

UTSA researchers review security risks for e-scooters and riders<https://www.greencarcongress.com/2020/01/20200128-usta.html> 28 January 2020<https://www.greencarcongress.com/2020/01/20200128-usta.html> Researchers at the University of Texas San Antonio have published<https://www.utsa.edu/today/2020/01/story/escooter-hacking.html> a review of the security and privacy risks posed by e-scooters and their related software services and applications. We were already investigating the risks posed by these micromobility vehicles to pedestrians' safety. During that study, we also realized that besides significant safety concerns, this new transportation paradigm brings forth new cybersecurity and privacy risks as well. -Murtuza Jadliwala, an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science, who led this study According to the review, which will appear in the proceedings of the 2nd ACM Workshop on Automotive and Aerial Vehicle Security (AutoSec 2020<http://www.codaspy.org/2020/AutoSec2020/index.html>), hackers can cause a series of attacks, including eavesdropping on users and even spoof GPS systems to direct riders to unintended locations. Vendors of e-scooters can suffer denial-of-service attacks and data leaks. <https://bioage.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c4fbe53ef0240a4e0cc6e200d-popup> HAPPY TRAILS Terry Zdan, BA MEDes

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WFP: Crosswalk collision leaves man in hospital (Jan23'20)
by Beth McKechnie 23 Jan '20

23 Jan '20

*Crosswalk collision leaves man in hospital * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/crosswalk-collisions-continue-after… FOR the second time in as many months, a pedestrian was hit by a car near a crosswalk on Ness Avenue Wednesday. The crosswalk collisions follow a year that saw the highest number of pedestrian deaths ever in the province. And the city is already looking to see if improvements need to be made at one of the crossings, according to a city councillor. Brian Smiley, a spokesman for Manitoba Public Insurance, confirmed on Wednesday that 17 Manitoba pedestrians — nine in Winnipeg, three in other urban centres and five in rural areas — died after being hit by vehicles in 2019. Until last year, the most pedestrian deaths in a single year in this province was 16 in 2007, Smiley said. “Both pedestrians and motorists are entitled to use the roadways. It’s hoped both groups are safety aware and act accordingly. One death is too many,” he said. According to MPI statistics, on average about 12 pedestrians are killed by vehicles in the province. About half of them are killed at an intersection, while one in 10 deaths occur while they are walking on the road or crossing between intersections. On Wednesday, a man was hit by a car in the Sturgeon Heights area at about 6:30 a.m. The man was rushed from the site in front of Sturgeon Heights Collegiate in critical condition, but later was upgraded to stable, police said. The stretch of Ness Avenue was closed following the accident, but reopened later in the morning. Last month, two teenaged pedestrians were struck by a car as they walked across the street at the crosswalk at Ness Avenue at Woodlawn Street. The teens were taken to hospital in unstable condition, but later upgraded to stable. Area Coun. Scott Gillingham (St. James-Brooklands-Weston) said on Wednesday he will look further into how the latest collision occurred. The city is already exploring whether the crossing where the teens were injured needs to be upgraded with eye-level, flashing LED lights, Gillingham said. That type of system was installed at the crosswalk on St. Anne’s Road in the wake of a 2018 collision where an eight-year-old child was struck and killed while crossing the busy street at Varennes Avenue. “They’ve been installed at a handful of locations,” he said. “The department is looking to see if that is an appropriate place to put them. Now I will be looking into this one to try to understand the events surrounding this collision. “Unfortunately, it is another reminder that motorists really need to be aware while they are driving and that they are driving to conditions, and for pedestrians to always be aware of the vehicles around them.” kevin.rollason(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Webinar: Understanding How Women Travel
by Beth McKechnie 21 Jan '20

21 Jan '20

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: "Zdan, Terry (MI)" <Terry.Zdan(a)gov.mb.ca> Date: Tue, 21 Jan 2020 14:06:51 +0000 FYI traveling on the intercity trains in Japan – there are “women only “ designated cars. WEBINAR Understanding How Women Travel January 28, 2020 from 3:00pm - 3:30pm ET <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> What are the needs and experiences of women traversing LA County? LA County Metro recently released a report, “Understanding How Women Travel,” in a first-of-its-kind effort to answer this question. Developing from Metro’s Women and Girls Governing Council, this study aimed to collect data and offer findings that can help improve women’s safety and comfort on transit and attract and retain women to the Metro system. To ensure a comprehensive approach that captured the diverse needs and experiences of women in LA County, the project team deployed an innovative, mixed-methods approach to capture quantitative data as well as qualitative data from hard-to-reach rider populations including women experiencing homelessness, women immigrants, and women with disabilities. In this webinar, panelists will discuss the origin of the project, the methods used, and the key findings from the study. *Speakers:* * Chelsea Richer, **Associate, Fehr & Peers* *Claudia Galicia, **Senior Manager, Transportation Planning at LA Metro* *Meghna Khanna, **Senior Director, Countywide Planning & Development at LA Metro* *Alice Grossman, **Policy Analyst, Eno Center for Transportation* *January 2020* *28* *REGISTER* <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> *Connect with us and don't miss out on other great resources!* [image: Facebook] <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> *Facebook* <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> [image: Twitter] <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> *Twitter* <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> [image: VIEW UPCOMING WEBINARS] <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> *VIEW UPCOMING WEBINARS* <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> *Copyright © 2020 Eno Center for Transportation, All rights reserved.* You are receiving this email because you opted in to our email list. *Our mailing address is:* Eno Center for Transportation 1629 K St. NW Ste 200 Washington, DC 20006 Add us to your address book <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/vcard?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff96&id=d…> Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/profile?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff96&id…> or unsubscribe from this list <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> .

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WFP: Speed limit reduced on Marion, Goulet (Jan20'20)
by Beth McKechnie 20 Jan '20

20 Jan '20

Pedestrian safety, business development cited as reasons for change Speed limit reduced on Marion, Goulet https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/permanent-speed-reductions-for-sect… TRAFFIC on two major streets in St. Boniface will have to slow down starting today and the councillor for the area calls that a sign of progress. “Marion and Goulet are not freeways through the heart of St. Boniface,” said Coun. Matt Allard in a statement. The speed limit on Marion and Goulet between St. Mary’s Road and Youville Street has been reduced to 50 km/h, from 60 km/h. Allard said the speed reduction is needed to make the area safer for pedestrians and promote development. “It has long been a goal of the St. Boniface community... to grow Marion and Goulet into the neighbourhood main streets they can be, and indeed once were,” Allard said. “The (60 km/h) speed limit is a barrier to the realization of that goal.” The streets, which have a mix of businesses and restaurants, are near St. Boniface Hospital and other community resources. Allard and the local business improvement zone have wanted to reduce the speed limit for years. In 2017, Allard launched his bid to change the speed limit, and St. Boniface neighbourhood associations passed resolutions in its favour. The motion failed. At the time, the provincial Highway Traffic Board had jurisdiction over municipal speed limits, and it ruled against the reduction. After lobbying by the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, the province passed the Traffic and Transportation Modernization Act, which eliminated the Highway Traffic Board and gave municipalities control over speed limits. The act came into effect in March 2019. Marion and Goulet are the first major Winnipeg streets to have their speed limits reduced under the new protocol. ben.waldman(a)freepress.mb.ca

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NTSB calls for action to curb spike in bicycle fatalities
by Wendy Chapman 17 Jan '20

17 Jan '20

Hi Beth, Please share with the network. Wendy Chapman Injury Prevention Coordinator Injury Prevention Program Winnipeg Regional Health Authority 2nd - 490 Hargrave Street Winnipeg, Manitoba R3A 0X7 Phone: (204) 391-0949 Scent Free Facility - visitors are asked to refrain from wearing perfumes/colognes/heavy-scented lotions/oils 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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New research: Data Mining to Improve Planning for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety
by Beth McKechnie 14 Jan '20

14 Jan '20

*Thanks to Terry Zdan for the share...* *Data Mining to Improve Planning for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety* https://www.vtti.vt.edu/utc/safe-d/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/01-003_Final-… *Abstract* Between 2009 and 2016, the number of pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities saw a marked trend upward. Taken together, the overall percentage of pedestrian and bicycle crashes now accounts for 18% of total roadway fatalities, up from 13% only a decade ago. Technological advancements in transportation have created unique opportunities to explore and investigate new sources of data for the purpose of improving safety planning. This study investigated data from multiple sources, including automated pedestrian and bicycle counters, video cameras, crash databases, and GPS/mobile applications, to inform bicycle and pedestrian safety improvements. Data mining techniques, a new sampling strategy, and automated video processing methods were adopted to demonstrate a holistic approach that can be applied to identify facilities with highest need of improvement. To estimate pedestrian and bicyclist counts at intersections, exposure models were developed incorporating explanatory variables from a broad spectrum of data sources. Intersection-related crashes and estimated exposure were used to quantify risk, enabling identification of high-risk signalized intersections for walking and bicycling. The modeling framework and data sources used in this study will be beneficial in conducting future analyses for other facility types, such as roadway segments, and also at more aggregate levels, such as traffic analysis zones. *Conclusions and Recommendations* While statistics show an increasing trend in using eco-friendly modes of travel, such as walking and bicycling, historical crash data shows a growing trend in road crash victims involving pedestrians and bicyclists. Utilizing multiple data sources, such as automated pedestrian and bicycle counters and video cameras, this study estimated pedestrian and bicyclist exposure and identified signalized intersections with the highest risk for walking and bicycling within the city of San Diego, California. A sampling strategy was used to identify a representative sample of intersections to collect short-term video data by applying cluster analysis and stratified sampling. A vision-based monitoring system was developed to automatically detect, track, and count pedestrians and bicyclists at the selected intersections. Situations where high-quality videos were used, a sufficient number of pedestrians and bicyclists were annotated, pedestrians and bicyclists were not too far from the camera, did not cross the intersection in groups, and good lighting was present, led to a high counting accuracy of 95%. Utilizing permanent counters, an extrapolation and a novel matching method were employed to estimate yearly counts that were used for estimating exposure by direct demand models. Exposure analysis identified transportation network, population, traffic generator, and land use variables as statistically significant in estimating pedestrian and bicyclist volume. Accounting for exposure as a normalization factor and considering other factors, such as frequency of victims and crash severity, in quantifying risk had a significant impact on the selection of high-risk intersections; not all intersections with the highest number of pedestrian and bicyclist victims were identified as high-risk. In addition, the variables were found to be influential at multiple buffer areas and showed differences across pedestrian and bicycle activity. The results underscored the importance of location and community in characterizing non-motorized demand, and targeted improvements to encourage non-motorized activities. The modeling framework and data sources used in this study will be beneficial in conducting future analyses for other facility types, such as roadway segments, and also at more aggregate levels, such as traffic analysis zones. The approach is also beneficial to public agencies, as it can help quantify the risk of walking and bicycling at intersections, which in turn can aid in the development of procedures to identify high-risk facilities and prioritize them for countermeasure implementation. It should be pointed out that safety performance functions were not considered in this study, and thus potential future work might focus on how a combination of risk quantification and performance functions can assess safety. Since crashes are rare events, the identification of high-risk facilities will be lengthy, and a potential future direction is to proactively assess safety by discovering near-crash situations in video analysis. This would enable researchers and practitioners to quantify risk and evaluate safety in a much shorter period of time. -- 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/> 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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FREE webinar: Jeff Speck and Jarrett Walker Explore Lessons Learned from Walkable City and Human Transit
by Beth McKechnie 14 Jan '20

14 Jan '20

*Please note we are circulating this as information in case you want to view this free APBP webinar on your own. We are not able to host a group viewing at the EcoCentre. Sounds interesting!* January 17 at Noon-1:30pm Free Island Press Webinar: New Discoveries and New Work: Jeff Speck and Jarrett Walker Explore Lessons Learned from Walkable City and Human Transit Register here <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001H6HvCU7VhjCB7du_g-BVhmC-pEj1Sn96i6vLpzvHQEwc…> Walkable City and Human Transit, both published in 2012, are two of the most important planning books of the past decade. A lot has happened since 2012, however, and authors Jeff Speck and Jarrett Walker have had ample opportunities since then to put their ideas to work, evaluate the outcomes and refine their positions. Join the Smart Growth Network and the Maryland Department of Planning at noon on Friday, January 17th, as they share their recent insights, projects on the boards, and take part in what promises to be a lively conversation with each other and webinar participants. Have your questions ready! -- 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/> 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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Webinar: Active Transportation Planning Through Health in All Policies (Wed, Jan 15th, 2pm)
by Beth McKechnie 10 Jan '20

10 Jan '20

Please join Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg for a group viewing of the monthly APBP webinar in the EcoCentre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/uncategorized/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-o…> boardroom. This will be followed by discussion for those who wish to stay. * * * * * Wed, Jan 15th, 2-3pm Active Transportation Planning Through Health in All Policies Public health and planning professionals working together to advance active transportation goals is not a new idea, but has become increasingly more popular as both professions have seen the value in partnership. This webinar will focus on a Health in All Policies approach to active transportation planning through data collection, prioritization, and cross-sector collaboration. Health in All Policies is a collaborative approach to improve the health of all people by incorporating health considerations into non-health decision-making sectors and policy areas. Presenters: Alison Redenz, Marion County Public Health Department Logan Lane, Health by Design Jodi Raymond, Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health

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New research: Improving protected bike lanes through intersections and strategies to improve accuracy of ped/bike counts
by Beth McKechnie 10 Jan '20

10 Jan '20

*(Thanks to Terry Zdan for the share)* *New Report Highlights Ways to Improve Safety of Protected Bike Lanes at Intersections* The * Transportation Research and Education Center* at *Portland State University* published a report <https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMjUsInVy…> that offers suggestions on extending protected bike lanes through intersections. Protected bike lanes are becoming increasingly common around the United States, yet there is little guidance for how to extend the protected lanes through one of their most dangerous links: the intersection. Led by Chris Monsere and Nathan McNeil of Portland State University in collaboration with Toole Design Group, the latest report from the National Institute of Transportation and Communities (NITC) offers contextual guidance for designing intersections that are comfortable for cyclists. *Strategies to Develop Accuracy Checks for Bike and Pedestrian Count Data* The * Transportation Research and Education Center* at *Portland State University* published a study <https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMjYsInVy…> that highlights methods to improve the accuracy of bicycle and pedestrian traffic monitoring data. The research provides a practical method to verify bicycle and pedestrian traffic counts and improve data review efficiency. The results of the research will help planners better estimate bicycling and walking to inform policy and decision making. -- 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/> 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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Scooter startup Lime is laying off 14 percent of its workers and exiting 12 markets
by Beth McKechnie 10 Jan '20

10 Jan '20

Scooter startup Lime is laying off 14 percent of its workers and exiting 12 markets https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/9/21058589/lime-scooter-layoff-shuting-down… -- 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/> 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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WFP: Councillor blasts city after accidentally walking into traffic (Jan9'20)
by Beth McKechnie 09 Jan '20

09 Jan '20

*Councillor blasts city after accidentally walking into traffic * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/councillor-blasts-city-after-accide… A WINNIPEG councillor got a scare Wednesday when he accidentally walked into oncoming traffic, coming off a downtown sidewalk that was recently narrowed by the public service. Coun. Ross Eadie (Mynarski), who is blind, was walking north from a media interview at Portage Avenue and Main Street, towards city hall around 7:30 a.m. When he passed around Main and Bannatyne Avenue — a strip that had part of its sidewalk narrowed this fall to accommodate a new loading zone — Eadie said he accidentally stepped off the sidewalk and into the road. The councillor said he was met with honks from drivers passing by, and one motorist stopped to direct him back to the sidewalk. “I just thought you know, ‘What a stupid setup.’ It makes it very difficult, especially in the winter. In the summer, there would be more identifiable markings at my cane-tip level that would have given me a cue as to where I was. But when you feel snow and stuff, it’s a different situation,” Eadie said. Afterward, the councillor blasted off an angry email to the directors of public works and planning, property and development (an email he mentioned would have contained more “F sharps” had he not been more relaxed thanks to a recent trip to Mexico). “Please remember to consult with stakeholders before running off half-prepared for the outcomes of changing our right-of-ways!” Eadie wrote in all caps. “I want to live a long accessible life as independently as possible. I don’t need anymore disabilities, thank you very much!” The narrowing of the sidewalk in question drew scrutiny last year, as it shrunk from 4.9 metres wide to 2.2 metres with little public consultation. The pavement was pared back to make way for a new loading zone in front of the School of Contemporary Dancers at 211 Bannatyne Ave, to help make room for student drop-offs after the loading zone to the west side of the building was replaced with a bike lane. Ken Allen, a communications officer with public works, said the transportation planning division has to balance pedestrian, cyclist and motorists’ interests when designing downtown right-of-ways. The juggling act “sometimes involves making compromises to achieve an acceptable solution for all users,” he said by email. Allen emphasized the new path still meets Winnipeg’s downtown accessibility standards, which legally require a 1.5-metre sidewalk. He said the street changes at the site included concrete pavement, curb and sidewalk repairs; construction of new curb ramps and asphalt overlay; and installation of detectable warning tiles at the intersection near 211 Bannatyne. Eadie said he was grateful there weren’t more cars on the road at the time of the incident, but doesn’t know if the public service could improve anything about the accessibility of the strip. On a later trip back to the area with the Free Press, Eadie couldn’t pinpoint the exact spot where he wandered into the road, but explained he must have come off the sidewalk — which is fairly low to street level — and into the loading zone, due to lack of traffic noises so early in the morning. jessica.botelho(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @_jessbu

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Langford bike shop sells first bamboo bike on Vancouver Island
by Beth McKechnie 09 Jan '20

09 Jan '20

Green Man Bikes is the first shop on [Vancouver] Island to offer bamboo bikes, which come directly from Boomers, a company in Ghana. Boomers produces bamboo bicycle frames for mountain bikes, city bikes, road bikes, and electric bikes. They source their bamboo from sustainable forests in Ghana and provide employment in many rural communities. A Boomers bamboo bike has “a zero carbon footprint, is lighter than steel … and isn’t fragile like carbon fibre,” according to the Boomers website. Full article & video: https://www.saanichnews.com/business/langford-bike-shop-sells-first-bamboo-… -- 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/> 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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WFP: Wolseley traffic-calming plan touted for cyclists (Jan8'20)
by Beth McKechnie 08 Jan '20

08 Jan '20

*Wolseley traffic-calming plan touted for cyclists * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/city-unveils-wolseley-to-downtown-b… DOWNTOWN residents can expect more one-way streets, protected bike lanes and traffic-calming measures if the city’s proposal for active transportation in and around Wolseley and the core gets the green light. Following more than a year of public consultations, the City of Winnipeg has made public its plans for the “Wolseley to Downtown Walk Bike Project.” The blueprint aims to close gaps in the area’s pedestrian and cycling network, while increasing safety and convenience for all commuters. It suggests making sections of major arteries, including Westminster and Wolseley avenues, one-way to prevent short-cutting that backs up traffic on surrounding residential streets. Also on the table are more right-on-red light restrictions, speed humps, and raised bike lanes and crosswalks. “Everybody has a right to get where they want to get to and you hope you can go as quickly as you can, regardless of your mode of transportation,” said Greg MacPherson, executive director of the West Broadway Community Organization. “I think they’ve done a good job of trying to balance convenience and safety, and the overall hope for a greener approach to transportation in this area.” MacPherson said the community has been pushing for changes to the flow of traffic in the area for years, since a large chunk of residents don’t own vehicles. He typically commutes on foot, although he also bikes and owns a car. While 70 per cent of the city’s population drives to work, the latest census data indicates only 37 per cent of residents in West Broadway rely on cars as a go-to mode of transportation. About 32 per cent take the bus, 20 per cent walk, and nine per cent bike to work. Wolseley resident Nicholas Douville, 38, bikes to work every day — rain or shine, summer breeze or windchill. He submitted some of the 11,000 comments the city received during phases 1 and 2 of the project. Douville said his main concern is Maryland Street gets so backed-up during rush hour motorists try to sneak through residential roads and create traffic jams, which can put cyclists in danger due to increased traffic in areas with no bike lanes. To avoid short-cutting, the city has proposed a westbound one-way traffic stretch between Maryland and Chestnut streets. As for other one-way sections, the city has proposed restrictions for eastbound traffic along Westminster, as well as Young and Balmoral streets west of Langside Street. “If there was a bike lane that could be cleared (on Westminster) and kept up, that would be the greatest thing, because I wouldn’t have to worry about driving straight along with cars,” said Santiago Lasko, a 16-year-old student who commutes to and from high school in the West End. A protected bike lane could stretch along Westminster, starting at Chestnut in the west, to Young and Balmoral streets and Granite Way until Osborne Street in the east, as per the plan. Mark Doucet, the study’s project manager and a transportation facilities planning engineer with public works, reiterated the intent of the study is to balance all commuter interests. Members of the public are invited to provide feedback online. The city is also holding an open house for in-person consultations at Westminster United Church on Jan. 29, 6-8 p.m. maggie.macintosh(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @macintoshmaggie

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Oregon becomes 4th state with "Stop as Yield" law for cyclists
by Beth McKechnie 07 Jan '20

07 Jan '20

*(Thanks to Terry Zdan for the share)* *Stop as Yield Law* Starting on January 1st a new law went into effect making Oregon the fourth state with a "Stop as Yield" law for people riding bikes (Idaho, Delaware, & Arkansas being the other three). Also known as the "Idaho Stop" after the law that was first passed there in 1982, this new law allows people on bikes to approach an intersection with a stop sign at a "slow speed" and if it is clear (no other person with potential right-of-way present) then they may proceed through the intersection without coming to a complete stop. If there is a pedestrian or other vehicle that has the right-of-way then the person on the bike is *still required to stop*. Different from the Idaho law there is no provision to treat a red traffic signal as a stop sign (except a flashing red light used at stop controlled intersections). This section from Idaho, which allows people riding bikes to treat a red traffic signal as a stop sign, was added in 2006 but was not considered for the Oregon bill. It's important to remember that this "Stop as Yield" law still requires people riding bikes to STOP if a pedestrian, a person in a car, or another road user may have the right-of-way at the intersection. Be courteous, take your turn, and be safe. If you've approached the intersection with care and it's safe and clear you can keep that momentum going and roll on through! For more information on how the law came to be read this post on BikePortland.org: "*How Oregon Got Idaho Stop* <https://eugene-or.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b0fe6c4eda5f68f34c6ec9…> "

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Oslo closing in on Vision Zero goal with no pedestrian or cyclist deaths in 2019
by Beth McKechnie 07 Jan '20

07 Jan '20

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Gary R. Cremeens <grc22(a)cornell.edu> Date: Tue, Jan 7, 2020 at 11:12 AM Oslo, Norway is getting closer to achieving a Vision Zero goal, with zero pedestrian or cyclist deaths last year. The city's lone traffic death occurred when a driver ran his car into a fence this summer — a decline from five traffic fatalities in 2018, according to Norwegian news outlet Aftenposten. The *Road Safety Annual Report 2019 <https://www.itf-oecd.org/sites/default/files/docs/irtad-road-safety-annual-…>*, recently released by the International Transport Forum, examines 41 countries' performance and repeatedly cites Norway's progress. The country nearly halved traffic deaths between 2010 and 2017, dropping from 208 to 107. Shareable Links (Same Info as above) · https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/oslo-vision-zero-pedestrian-cyclist-de… · https://www.facebook.com/CornellUniversityTransportationServices/posts/2899… · https://twitter.com/GaryCremeens/status/1214568097211977728 · https://www.linkedin.com/posts/gcremeens_oslo-closing-in-on-vision-zero-goa… Thank you, Gary Cremeens <https://www.linkedin.com/in/gcremeens> | Cornell University Transportation & Delivery Services <https://goo.gl/maps/G14w8nFzcaS2> Projects Associate II

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FI Road User Understanding of Bicycle Signal Faces on Traffic Signals
by Zdan, Terry (MI) 07 Jan '20

07 Jan '20

[http://www.trb.org/Resource.ashx?sn=cover_nchrp_wod_273] [http://www.trb.org/Resource.ashx?sn=viewthispdf]<http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/nchrp/nchrp_wod_273.pdf> [http://www.trb.org/Resource.ashx?sn=sponsorbeta]<http://www.trb.org/main/blurbs/180122.aspx> [http://www.trb.org/Resource.ashx?sn=buythisbook]<https://www.mytrb.org/Store/Product.aspx?ID=> Road User Understanding of Bicycle Signal Faces on Traffic Signals http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/nchrp/nchrp_wod_273.pdf 180122 Road User Understanding of Bicycle Signal Faces on Traffic Signals Prior to 2013, the use of bicycle-specific signals in the U.S. was limited to a few jurisdictions. However, in recent years, the number of installations has grown rapidly. This research identified more than 500 intersections using bicycle signals in a variety of contexts. Despite the recent approval and practice, the TRB National Cooperative Highway Research Program's NCHRP Web-Only Document 273: Road User Understanding of Bicycle Signal Faces on Traffic Signals explores the questions that remain regarding road-user understanding of bicycle signals. The objective of this research was to summarize and synthesize the U.S. experience with bicycle signal installations to identify any remaining gaps in understanding road-user comprehension and compliance with bicycle signals that could be effectively addressed through further research. E-Newsletter Type: Recently Released TRB Publications<http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs.aspx?fields=ENewsletterType|Recently%20Relea…> TRB Publication Type: NCHRP Web-Only Document<http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs.aspx?fields=PublicationType|NCHRP%20Web-Only…> HAPPY NEW YEAR IT will be EYE POPPING [8E11B49] Terry Zdan, BA MEDes

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WFP: Oslo holds key to making Winnipeg safer (Jan4'20)
by Beth McKechnie 04 Jan '20

04 Jan '20

*Oslo holds key to making Winnipeg safer * * Norway’s capital bans cars in certain areas* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/oslo-holds-key-to-making-winnipeg-s… BRENT Bellamy has long called for more bike paths and pedestrian-friendly streets to make Winnipeg safer by reducing the number of fatal collisions. That’s why it wasn’t surprising for the senior design architect with Number Ten Architectural Group (who also writes a column in the Winnipeg Free Press) to take to social media Friday, pointing out different civic policies created different results in 2019. In Winnipeg, two cyclists and 13 pedestrians were killed on city streets; in similarly-sized Oslo, zero such fatalities were recorded. There was one angle Bellamy didn’t tweet about: he could easily have been the third cyclist killed, when an inattentive SUV driver collided with him at Wellington Crescent and Academy Road in early December. “I was so lucky,” he said Friday. “(The driver) was turning and looking for an opening, and I was yelling at him but he plowed into me. “He hit me just behind the seat. I have a Dutch bike, so I sit upright, and it was just like a tablecloth being pulled out — the bike was hit and I was left on the pavement in the same position.” Such an incident would likely not have happened had he been cycling in the Norwegian capital instead of Winnipeg, he said. One of the biggest reasons: Oslo has banned cars in certain areas of the city. As well, Oslo has replaced almost all of its downtown parking spots with lanes for bicycles, benches to sit on, small parks to congregate in, greenery, and dropped speed limits to 30 km/h. “The biggest difference between the two cities is just political will — they just decided to do it and they did it,” Bellamy said. “I was there five years ago, and they had no bike lanes and they have hills — it’s not a great place to bike — but they just decided, ‘Let’s do it.’ Traffic was getting worse there, just like here. We have 15,000 more cars on the road every year. Oslo was the same,” he said. “They decided they could build expensive, big roads or they could ban cars, build 15 kilometres of bike trails each year, and expand public transit — and it has worked.” Bellamy pointed to a tweet by Anders Hartmann, who works on policies for walking, cycling and road safety in Oslo, which had information on the number of road deaths in the city. Hartmann, after noting, “This makes me happy,” pointed to a graph that shows road deaths in Oslo, now with a population of 673,000, has not only been going down since 1975 (41), but has dramatically fallen since about 2007. Hartmann also noted the only fatality in traffic last year involved a driver who died after a car struck a railing at a light rail station. No children died in a traffic-related death in Norway in 2019. Still, Hartmann posted it doesn’t mean Oslo had reached Vision Zero, a global traffic project aimed at having no fatalities or serious injuries caused by vehicles. It began in Sweden in 1997, and the City of Winnipeg has since adopted it. “While we are making great progress, there is still a way to go to consistently keep deaths at zero for all road users,” he said. Marc Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg, said the Nordic countries and the Netherlands are at the forefront of Vision Zero, and he would like to see Winnipeg follow their lead. “The numbers show if you use that pathway, the results are there,” Cohoe said. “The numbers of people killed in a collision over there is miniscule compared to the numbers in North America. Losing 13 or 15 people on our streets isn’t acceptable. Why do we accept it on our roads, but we wouldn’t in the workplace? I’m hoping we can do more with the city’s transportation master plan this year. “Over there, they say five minutes of inconvenience isn’t worth the lives we are losing — we will still get around. And they have buy-in from the general population.” kevin.rollason(a)freepress.mb.ca

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New snow-clearing method allows Montreal cyclists to 'really see the asphalt'
by Beth McKechnie 21 Dec '19

21 Dec '19

*New snow-clearing method allows Montreal cyclists to 'really see the asphalt'* *Pilot project in Plateau-Mont-Royal and Ville-Marie involves sweeping pavement, spreading snow-melting brine* https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/plateau-mont-royal-bike-paths-snow-… It was so cold Thursday morning that parts of Magali Bebronne's bicycle froze, but the determined Montreal year-round bike commuter got her bicycle rolling and hit the road. To her surprise, she found the 20-minute ride through the Plateau-Mont-Royal easier than usual, despite the recent snow accumulation. That's because the borough is testing a new way of keeping its bike paths clean — a two-step process that uses street-sweepers to clear the pavement before coating the path with a special snow-melting brine. "When I rode on the Rachel bike path yesterday, I really noticed the surface was a lot clearer than it had ever been," said Bebronne, a program manager with the cycling advocacy group Vélo Québec "When you're riding on a bike, just a few centimetres of snow can really make it difficult to ride. Conditions that work for cars don't work for bikes." But with these new techniques the borough is testing, "you can really see the asphalt," she said. That's why her organization has been pushing the city to get more of such equipment out on the road. The method has already been tested in Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie, and now Ville-Marie is giving it a shot, along with the Plateau. The sweepers can be deployed when the accumulated snowfall is about five centimetres or less. Tractors towing tanks filled with a calcium chloride solution then spread the solution onto the paths. The brine coats the asphalt and makes it easier to clean after the next storm. While this method could be used on sidewalks, it's not as effective on concrete, because asphalt's dark colour absorbs heat and melts the snow faster. 'If you plow it, they will come' The results on the bike paths have left everybody smiling, so far. Blue-collar workers have had no problems implementing the technique, and cyclists have been giving positive feedback, said Coun. Marianne Giguère, who is the city's executive committee member in charge of active transportation. "With all the climate changes that we have — having very cold, and then very warm, and the cold and snow and rain and everything — we need to adjust our old methods," she said. "The cyclists are quite happy," said Giguère, a councillor in the Plateau's De Lorimier district and a long-time voice for cyclists. Keeping bike paths clear in the winter is a sure way to encourage people to bike to work or school all year round, she said. "If you plow it, they will come," said Giguère. She said the number of winter cyclists is estimated to have doubled since more effort has been put into keeping bike paths clear. "In Montreal, the popularity of winter biking has risen a lot every year." Boroughs are always looking for new ways to keep streets, sidewalks and bike paths clear of ice and snow, she said — comparing notes at the end of the season on new methods they've tried. Officials also attend annual winter cycling conferences that bring municipal representatives of wintry cities around the world to share ideas. Cyclists pedalling no matter the cold Even when temperatures plummeted to bone-chilling levels by Thursday evening, cyclists were pedalling up and down Rachel Street East's protected bike path. Vélo Québec's headquarters is on Rachel Street, and Bebronne said she'd seen a mother with her two young daughters all out biking earlier in the day. When the path is clear, she said, people are more inclined to cycle, no matter how frigid the temperature. - Montreal's new 'proactive' snow-clearing plan comes without big budget boost <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/montreal-snow-removal-operations-20…> She, too, has seen a substantial increase in the number of cyclists using the bike path as the city improves snow-clearing techniques on bike paths. Now, she said, it's time to adopt tried-and-tested methods throughout the city. "Maybe not every borough would have to invest in such equipment, but maybe it's time to imagine that such equipment could be shared between boroughs," Bebronne said. "One piece of equipment could go over the bike path of a few central boroughs."

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WFP Editorial: Winnipeg hasn’t arrived as a cycling city (Dec19'19)
by Beth McKechnie 19 Dec '19

19 Dec '19

EDITORIAL *Winnipeg hasn’t arrived as a cycling city * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/winnipeg-hasnt-arrived… WINNIPEG has long been known as a city that prioritizes cars. So, you’d be forgiven if your reaction was “Huh?” earlier this month when a list from online real estate brokerage Redfin ranked Winnipeg in the top 10 Canadian cities for biking. This ranking is best taken with a grain of road salt, however. Our city’s score, 61, puts us at “bikeable.” We have a good way to go before we could be considered “very bikeable” (70 to 89 points) or a “biker’s paradise” (90 to 100). Victoria, B.C., topped the list with a score of 80. For a city to rank above 90, its citizens must be able to run daily errands or commute to work via bike. Access to bike lanes, road connectivity and hilliness are all factors in the bikeability score. So, we have flatness going for us. Winnipeg’s bike-lane infrastructure, meanwhile, leaves a lot to be desired. It’s a slipshod patchwork of unprotected sharrows with few protected lanes, many of which come to abrupt ends. A lack of connectivity creates a chicken-and-egg scenario: cyclists are likely to avoid lanes that are frustrating to use, and then motorists complain that the bike lanes aren’t being used. And, as we’ve seen in the Exchange District — held up as a positive example of urban density — business owners are annoyed with what they call piecemeal development in the area, including bike lanes. Our winter-city climate is often cited as reason to not invest in cycling infrastructure, especially the kind geared toward commuter cycling. But Minneapolis, routinely ranked the most bikeable city in the U.S., has a climate similar to ours. Average highs are a few degrees warmer in the Twin Cities than in Winnipeg, but its placement on the globe means it is just as susceptible to deep-freezing arctic air masses and snowstorms as its neighbour to the north. The average annual snowfall total in the Twin Cities is 115.1 cm, one centimetre more than Winnipeg’s annual total. They’ve figured it out. Why can’t we? Bike Winnipeg’s co-chairwoman Liz Shearer told the Free Press that the lack of a fully connected cycling grid keeps Winnipeg from being a bikeability leader. But that’s only part of what’s holding us back. Beyond the accessible bike lanes, weather and terrain, a place’s “bike-friendliness” should consider the attitudes of drivers toward cyclists. Winnipeg’s bikeability score of 61 is tied with that of Toronto, a city in which 41 cyclists were killed or seriously injured in 2018. Is that really “bikeable”? An Australian study published this year found that around half of non-cyclists viewed cyclists as “less than fully human,” and that “dehumanization measures were significantly correlated with aggression toward cyclists.” It’s not a stretch to say Winnipeg can be a rather cyclist-hostile city. Yes, there are bad cyclists and bad drivers, to acknowledge another common argument. But a bike does not become lethal weapon the way a 2,000-kilogram car travelling at 60 km/h does. To become a truly bikeable city that actually merits being on a top-10 list is a noble goal. Cycling is good for our increasingly sedentary bodies and good for our environment. But getting there will involve more than building protected lanes and more cyclists embracing our designation as a winter city the way cyclists in Nordic countries have. It will also involve an attitude adjustment that extends across the broader community.

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WFP: City gives frosty reception to reopened bridge over troubled water (Dec17'19)
by Beth McKechnie 17 Dec '19

17 Dec '19

*City gives frosty reception to reopened bridge over troubled water* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/city-gives-frosty-reception-to-reop… Plus CBC coverage: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/men-cleared-ice-omands-creek-bridge… THERE’S not much love at city hall for the two residents who did what the entire public works department was unable to: reopen the Omand’s Creek footbridge. Brad Hignell and Chris Beauvilain spent three hours Saturday morning clearing ice from the footbridge — a key link in the active transportation network which connects Wolseley to River Heights and Assiniboine Park — which the City of Winnipeg had closed for safety concerns after an unusual late fall flood and freeze-up. While area residents may be grateful for not having to make a long cold walk or bike ride detour, the city was not impressed. “What the residents did at the Omand’s Creek footbridge, though well-intentioned, did not mitigate the public safety risk that existed at this location, as it went beyond simply clearing ice off the bridge surface,” a city spokeswoman said Monday in an email to the Free Press. “Opening and closing bridge structures can only be done by professional engineers; the residents who ultimately cleared and reopened the bridge had no way of knowing whether the structure was sound. Luckily, an inspection by our bridge engineers (Monday) morning confirmed that the bridge had not sustained any structural damage due to the ice nor subsequent unsanctioned clearing.” Despite what Hignell and Beauvilain had accomplished with a bit of sweat and hard work, the spokeswoman said conditions in the area had been simply unsafe for crews to access with their equipment. “Fluctuating water levels through late October and November caused overland flooding that formed thick, hazardous ice that — for weeks — expanded and contracted on, underneath and around the bridge,” she said. “This posed potential for damage to the bridge structure, which we were unable to inspect until the ice was cleared — a simple task in and of itself, but one the city decided not to undertake due to other, less easily mitigated hazards in the area. “When the ice formed, expanded, and contracted on the pathways, it created a two-layered system of thick, uneven surface that made the trail incredibly steep and unstable and also left a sharp drop-off leading onto the bridge. The risk of taking machinery down these pathways to adequately clear them and lay enough sand to create traction outweighed opening the area to foot and bike traffic through the winter.” City hall thus erected barricades, and forced those who used the route on foot and bike to take a long, windy detour, until Hignell and his friend (both of whom had studied engineering at university) grabbed a couple of picks, bars, shovels and a bucket of gravel. Ward Coun. Cindy Gilroy did not respond to questions on the bridge. Coun. Sherri Rollins, chairwoman of council’s protection, community services and parks committee, said she understood the two men’s frustration but said city hall opted to side with caution when safety is at stake. “Sometimes things are closed for reasons. Whether it’s high river levels, and this is a reality this year, where there’s a lot of paths and skating (closed) that isn’t about budgetary cutbacks, it’s about safety,” Rollins said. “I don’t want Winnipeggers to be confused by that.” Coun. Matt Allard, chairman of the public works committee, echoed that stance. “City staff did their job, and made a judgment call using the available information to ensure public safety,” he said in an email statement. Ironically, the public works department had envisioned such a scenario, and had proposed replacing the bridge in 2010 with one with greater river clearance. It dropped the idea in the face of overwhelming opposition from local residents. The civic spokeswoman said while the footbridge is structurally sound and safe to cross, the same can’t be said for the pathway on either side. Crews and heavy equipment were in the area Monday. “We urge anyone who chooses to use the pathway to please exercise caution and be aware of the steep incline and decline, as well as the uneven terrain,” the spokeswoman said. Anders Swanson, executive director of Winnipeg Trails Association, said the public works department appears to have done a good job keeping other parts of the active transportation network cleared this winter. “I don’t know why they gave up on the bridge,” Swanson said, adding the bike and pedestrian paths continue to be treated in a second-class fashion. “If there was a sewer line break or a big pothole in the middle of Portage Avenue, it wouldn’t be acceptable to stretch snow fencing across it and walk away.” — with files from Danielle DaSilva aldo.santin(a)freepress.mb.ca

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WFP: Driver charged with death at crosswalk (Dec14'19)
by Beth McKechnie 14 Dec '19

14 Dec '19

*Driver charged with death at crosswalk * * Police allege novice motorist not supervised* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/driver-charged-in-crosswalk-death-o… A 31-year-old Winnipeg woman charged in connection with a collision at a crosswalk in March, in which a child was killed, was allegedly a novice driver who should not have been driving without supervision, police say. On Friday, Winnipeg police announced that Highway Traffic Act charges have been laid against the unidentified driver in connection with the March 18 incident that killed a four-year-old girl and injured her mother. Genet Bruk and her daughter Galila were struck at the crosswalk at Isabel Street and Alexander Avenue, on their way to Dufferin School to meet her six-year-old son at lunch time. Galila later died in hospital and her mother is still recovering from her injuries, a family friend said Friday. The charges related to the collision include careless driving causing death, careless driving causing bodily harm, disobeying a traffic device and operating a vehicle as a novice driver without a supervising driver. The driver was released on an appearance notice, Winnipeg police said in a press release. It stated the Highway Traffic Act charges were laid at the direction of the Crown. The most serious charges — careless driving causing death and bodily harm — have a maximum penalty of up to two years in prison. It defines careless driving as driving “without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the highway.” Had the driver been charged under the Criminal Code of Canada, the penalties would have been much harsher and required the Crown to prove the driver was criminally negligent and driving in a way that’s a “marked and substantial departure from the standard of a reasonable driver.” “That would be driving with wanton disregard — so poorly and badly in a way nobody could possibly expect for someone to operate a vehicle,” said criminal defence lawyer Scott Newman, who has no connection to the case. “The Highway Traffic Act has a lower burden of proof.” Hearing that the driver has been charged nine months after the fatal collision was news to Dorota Blumczynksa, a friend of Galila’s mother and the executive director of IRCOM Isabel, where the Eritrean family has lived since arriving in Canada last January. “If there was a mistake made or inadequate training, or someone was not supposed to be driving, should a person be held to account for their actions? Absolutely,” said Blumczynska, who doesn’t know anything about the accused. “Nothing will bring Galila back, but it’s for the safety of others.” The child’s mother, Genet Bruk, now uses a wheelchair outside the home and a walker inside the home and is receiving physiotherapy, said Blumczynska, who’s had tea at the home several times and cries with the woman every visit. “She’s got a very, very long road to physical recovery. She hopes to walk again independently.” Emotionally and spiritually, she and her husband are coping, Blumczynska said. “They have found an enormous amount of comfort in their faith. They believe their daughter was called to be at God’s side. They’re able to make sense of their world in that way and come to some peace with this tragedy.” She hopes that news of the charges being laid may act as a deterrent and prevent more fatalities. “None of the children who witnessed that accident, none of my colleagues who accompanied the (victims) to hospital or saw Galila’s lifeless body will ever be the same,” she said. “I think it’s important to understand we are accountable to one another and responsible for one another.” carol.sanders(a)freepress.mb.ca

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WFP: Omand’s Creek footbridge closed till spring due to ice (Dec14'19)
by Beth McKechnie 14 Dec '19

14 Dec '19

*Omand’s Creek footbridge closed till spring due to ice * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/hazardous-ice-closes-omands-creek-f… A well-used footbridge in Wolseley, considered an integral part of the active transportation network, will be closed until late spring. City crews blocked access to the footbridge over Omand’s Creek last week, after late-November flooding submerged the structure and froze into thick, hazardous ice, public works spokeswoman Julie Dooley said. “It’s completely iced over, so it’s just not safe for people to walk over it,” she said. Every spring, the bridge is flooded when the Assiniboine River spills into the creek and submerges parts of Omand Park in Wolseley. Latefall flooding, however, is uncommon. Dooley said the crossing had been under ice for a few weeks before it was closed, and creek levels have since returned to normal. There’s no indication the structural integrity of the bridge has been affected, she said, yet the city won’t make an effort to restore public access this winter. “We appreciate the inconvenience of the closure but want to ensure all park users stay safe. Pedestrians can still access the other side of the bridge by rerouting down Raglan Street to Portage Avenue,” she said. Anders Swanson, executive director of Winnipeg Trails Association, said the closure is an example of deficiencies in the city’s maintenance of active transportation networks. “That bridge and the detour is indicative of a number of gaps in the city where we need things to be designed to accommodate all users, all year long,” Swanson said. The path through Omand Park is popular with cyclists, runners and pedestrians who use the footbridge to cross Omand’s Creek while out for walks with their dogs, running the popular Wolseley- Wellington loop or travelling between the Polo Park area and downtown. Without access to the crossing, people are choosing instead to traverse the heaved ice of the frozen creek, or head north on Raglan Street to Portage Avenue, and south again to the parkway to get to their destination, and neither option is ideal, Swanson said. “It really points to the fact that what are your alternatives? And when you have a city with the bare minimum of connectivity, every little piece counts,” he said. The bridge is also part of the North Assiniboine Parkway, which ties into the city’s planned active transportation network on Empress Street, part of a $22.83-million rehabilitation project of Empress Street and the overpass. It’s also a critical alternative to cycling on Portage Avenue, Swanson said. Given the importance of the bridge to the active transportation network, and the frequent flooding of the creek, more political attention could be paid to improving infrastructure in Omand Park, Swanson said. Raising the bridge to avoid chronic flooding would be a good starting point. danielle.dasilva(a)freepress.mb.ca

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AT Webinar: Education and Encouragement - Bringing the Right People Together (Dec18th, 2-3pm)
by Beth McKechnie 12 Dec '19

12 Dec '19

Please join Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg for a group viewing of the monthly APBP webinar in the EcoCentre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/uncategorized/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-o…> boardroom. This will be followed by discussion for those who wish to stay. * * * * * Education and Encouragement: Bringing the Right People Together December 18 at 2:00pm What really changes a person’s behavior? How can agencies and activists help inform appropriate behavior on our streets and pathways? When new infrastructure or operations are introduced, how can we ensure that users understand intentions and exhibit safe operation? How do we best utilize the resources of agency staff and advocacy resources to help this process? We'll examine the effectiveness of Education and Encouragement, and how to broaden the tent of who’s involved in the "soft" E's.

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CBC: Canmore will charge for downtown parking to keep bus service fare free (Dec8'19)
by Beth McKechnie 11 Dec '19

11 Dec '19

Canmore will charge for downtown parking to keep bus service fare free Parking downtown will cost $6 a day on weekdays starting summer 2020 ttps:// www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/canmore-parking-1.5388552 The Town of Canmore is hoping to alleviate congestion and fund its transit service by charging parking fees. Town council approved the change on Tuesday, which will affect those parking between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays, starting summer 2020. Parking downtown will cost $6 a day, or between $1 and $1.50 per hour to park, depending on whether or not it's peak season. Residents who live in the area will be able to register for permits. Mayor John Borrowman said while the move has been controversial, he's urging residents to wait and see how it plays out. "Parking has never been free. It's always been a cost that has been borne by the local taxpayer: the cost of providing that infrastructure and maintaining it," he said. "With paid parking and those paid parking revenues going toward our transit fares, our visitors are helping to pay for those costs, rather than 100 per cent of them coming from local residents." The money is earmarked for Canmore's local transit service, Roam, which is fare-free. Borrowman hopes the parking fees might alleviate congestion — which has been an increasing problem in the Bow Valley. "I hear from residents that they simply don't come downtown anymore because it's too busy. I am anticipating that through this program, we'll find that residents start coming back into the downtown because it is easier and it's less congested," he said. Banff is also considering introducing parking fees.

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WFP: Winnipeg pedals into Top 10 (Dec9'19)
by Beth McKechnie 09 Dec '19

09 Dec '19

*Fully linked grid would move city higher up Canadian list* *Winnipeg pedals into Top 10 * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/winnipeg-pedals-in-at-no-9-56596… ASK a random Canadian about Winnipeg’s reputation, and they’re more likely to mention the cold or crime than cycling. But new rankings from online real estate brokerage Redfin put Winnipeg squarely in the Top 10 Canadian cities for biking, tied with Toronto and Richmond, B.C. The rankings don’t qualify Winnipeg as a “biker’s paradise” (for cities with a score of 90 and above) or even “very bikeable” (70 to 89 points). But Winnipeg’s 61-point score earns a modest “bikeable” status in Redfin’s view, a category for cities with “some bike infrastructure.” Redfin’s bike-score ratings are similar to its proprietary walk scores and transit scores, which are often mentioned on real estate listings. (The company acquired Walk Score in 2014. Winnipeg’s average Walk Score is just 53, while Toronto has a Walk Score of 71.) The company’s inaugural Canadian bike-friendliness ranking covered roughly 100 cities, Redfin’s lead economist, Taylor Marr, said. “We know from our years of experience that people really value walkability. They also value being close to transit increasingly... But also people really value bikeability, not only for the health benefits but also for the cost savings,” said Marr, who commutes by bike in his home city of Seattle. The bike-score rankings evaluated cities across four criteria — topography, cycling infrastructure such as bike lanes, the number of bikeable destinations and the share of the population that commutes by bicycle. Liz Shearer, co-chairwoman of cycling advocacy group Bike Winnipeg, said bike ridership is on the increase in Winnipeg, “and as infrastructure is built, so is ridership... When people feel safer, they ride more often, which shouldn’t come as a surprise.” But Winnipeg’s lack of a fully connected cycling grid keeps Manitoba’s capital from being a true leader in bikeability, she said. Shearer is concerned about the future of the 20-year active transportation strategy Winnipeg passed in 2015, saying the plan is being underfunded by the city. “We’ve gotten international recognition for this cycling and pedestrian plan, but words without action is just a dream,” Shearer said. “So if we’re not enacting and funding this type of plan properly, we’ll never reach its full potential.” The chilling spectre of Winnipeg winters is frequently invoked in public discourse around the city’s need for cycling infrastructure. Redfin’s Marr said the company’s scoring model didn’t account for weather directly, although the share of bike commuters serves as an indirect proxy, especially in North America. “(You) often see somewhat of a correlation in terms of places that are more weather-friendly for biking do have higher shares of people biking. What is really odd, though, is that you don’t necessarily see that relationship very strongly on an international scale,” he said, citing the cold weather cycling paradise of Copenhagen. Winnipeggers tend to wear their cold weather credentials as a “badge of honour,” Bike Winnipeg’s Shearer said. “So it’s surprising when I hear that people think we’re not able to embrace (winter cycling) as part of our lifestyles, and I do think that it is because there is a lack of infrastructure so that people can feel safe and protected,” she said. “If we were to be able to make cycling a safe and convenient option year-round, then the only barrier we’d have to face in taking our bikes out on a winter’s day is the same battle we already face every day that we leave our homes as Winnipeggers.” Shearer encouraged Winnipeggers to try winter cycling if they haven’t before, suggesting a test ride on a route that’s protected from traffic. “I don’t want anyone to feel like they’re pressured into trying something that makes them feel unsafe, but I would encourage people to try something new, and to see what routes are available to them — and if there isn’t a safe route to get them from A to B, who should they talk to, to make that happen?” Victoria led Redfin’s bike-friendliness rankings with a score of 80, followed by Vancouver (79) and Montreal (73). Redfin rates Minneapolis as the most bikeable city in the U.S., with a score of 84 points. solomon.israel(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @sol_israel

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WFP: Slower speeds urged after pedestrian injuries (Dec6'19)
by Beth McKechnie 06 Dec '19

06 Dec '19

*Slower speeds urged after pedestrian injuries * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/slower-speeds-urged-after-pedestria… HOPES for a safer, more pedestrian- friendly Winnipeg drew about five dozen people to the Old Grace Housing Co-op on Thursday night to hear local advocacy group Safe Speeds Winnipeg make its case for lower speed limits. Clayton Rudy, presenter and Safe Speeds Winnipeg member, said the organization was founded after “so many incidents where people have been injured or killed” on Winnipeg’s roads. “And that sparked a grassroots group to form to discuss the problem and explore some of the solutions.” Safe Speed Winnipeg’s key goal is convincing the city to reduce the default speed for Winnipeg roads from 50 kilometres an hour to 30 km/h unless otherwise posted. Back lane speed limits would be cut from 30 km/h to 15 km/h under the proposed policy. “Because there are thousands and thousands of kilometres of roads in the city, rather than going block-by-block through the whole city to see what needs to be lowered, the position of Safe Speeds Winnipeg is that the default should be lowered and then the city can raise the speed limits, or keep them as is in the case of higher-speed roads,” said Rudy, a private-sector transportation engineer whose presentation to the town hall focused on the science of pedestrian safety. “But it’s far more efficient and effective, to improve safety on the streets, to have a low default and then raise where it’s appropriate to do so.” Safe Speeds Winnipeg was among a number of groups that pushed Winnipeg’s public works committee to lower speed limits this past summer, after the provincial government allowed Manitoba municipalities to set speed limits on their own. Rudy said that effort didn’t succeed, although the public service has been assigned to study the matter. “Because of the amount of people and the frequency with which they’re injured or killed on the roads, it’s an urgent decision to make, and there’s no real need to wait for more reports and more studies to make that decision that the default should be lowered,” Rudy said in an interview before the town hall. Fellow presenter and Safe Speeds Winnipeg member Sylvia Buchholz believes the city’s willingness to at least reconsider speed limits is promising. “It’s a hard topic, right? People feel so passionate about it, but judging just by the tragedies that we’re reading in the news more and more, I think this is gaining public support,” she told the Free Press ahead of the event. In her presentation, Buchholz highlighted that her group’s proposal wouldn’t mean speeds would be limited to 30 km/h across the entire city, saying the policy would mostly affect residential areas. Cutting speed limits sounds like a good idea to attendee Allison Penner, a Wolseley resident who attended the meeting with her partner and nearly two-year-old son. She thinks improved infrastructure such as crosswalks and speed bumps would also help calm traffic in her neighbourhood. “Our kid is getting a little bit older, he’s going to be starting school in a couple years,” Penner said. “And we live right on Westminster, so we see how the traffic kind of just whips through, and it feels really unsafe.” Fellow meeting attendee Donald Swanson said he’s almost been hit by cars while crossing Portage Avenue, and also expressed concern about traffic on Sherburn Street where he lives. “On Sherburn Street, there’s a lot of kids, and they’re always playing in the front and people are whipping up and down,” he said. Coun. Scott Gillingham represents Winnipeg’s St. James ward, where two teenagers were injured Wednesday morning after being struck by a car at Ness Avenue and Woodlawn Street. He said he couldn’t attend the Thursday town hall but was open to the idea of reducing speed limits in residential neighbourhoods. “I don’t know if I support 30, but I’m certainly open to looking at something lower than 50 km/h on residential streets,” he said. MLA Lisa Naylor attended the event in her Wolseley constituency, and said pedestrian safety was an issue she heard about frequently while door knocking during the recent provincial election campaign. “The presentation tonight was really well done,” Naylor said. “I think they’re talking about a change across the entire city. I don’t feel like I have enough information to have an opinion on that, but I certainly think we would benefit by some lower speed limits in some areas of this neighbourhood, for sure.” solomon.israel(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @sol_israel

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Distance driven per person still down from maximum in 2004 (US)
by Beth McKechnie 04 Dec '19

04 Dec '19

Would be interesting to see similar breakdown for Canada. The US numbers are trending upward but still below the max in 2004. See full article (with charts!) here: https://www.greencarcongress.com/2019/12/distance-driven-per-person-is-stil… - An increase of 40.9% from 1984 to 2004 (from 6,612 miles to 9,314 miles). - A decrease of 9.0% from 2004 to 2013 (from 9,314 miles to 8,472 miles). - An increase of 4.5% from 2013 to 2018 (from 8,472 miles to 8,855 miles). [image: Untitled] <https://bioage.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c4fbe53ef0240a4a4239b200c-pi>

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Request for Proposal for Professional Consulting Services for Winnipeg Area Transportation Master Plan - Core Framework Study
by Mark Cohoe 04 Dec '19

04 Dec '19

Sorry, that last email got sent before I wanted. The city has released an RFP <https://www.winnipeg.ca/matmgt/bidopp.asp#1243-2019>( https://www.winnipeg.ca/matmgt/bidopp.asp#1243-2019) for the Core Framework Study of its Transportation Master Plan. Project Milestones Task Milestone Date Project Work Plan February 16, 2020 Background, Existing Conditions, Challenges & Future Options August 31, 2020 Transportation Modelling of Future Options October 30, 2020 White Paper outlining key findings November 30, 2020 Development of Draft TMP Core Framework Study January 29, 2021 Development of Cost Estimates, Benefit / Cost Analysis February 26, 2021 Final TMP Core Framework Report March 31, 2021 Final Transportation Master Plan By others by (June 30, 2021 ) Mark Cohoe Executive Director Bike Winnipeg t: 204-894-6540 e: mark(a)bikewinnipeg.ca

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Request for Proposal for Professional Consulting Services for Winnipeg Area Transportation Master Plan - Core Framework Study
by Mark Cohoe 03 Dec '19

03 Dec '19

The city has posted an RFP for the Transportation Master Plan. Project Milestones: Task Milestone Date Project Work Plan February 16, 2020 Background, Existing Conditions, Challenges & Future Options August 31, 2020 Transportation Modelling of Future OptionsOctober 30, 2020 White Paper outlining key findings November 30, 2020Development of Draft TMP Core Framework Study January 29, 2021 Development of Cost Estimates, Benefit / Cost Analysis February 26, 2021 Final TMP Core Framework Report March 31, 2021 Final Transportation Master Plan By others by (June 30, 2021 )

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WFP: Bike-building marathon brings community together to help children in need (Dec2'19)
by Beth McKechnie 02 Dec '19

02 Dec '19

*Putting the pedal to the metal * * Bike-building marathon brings community together to help children in need* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/putting-the-pedal-to-the-metal-5656… STAFF and volunteers at a community bicycle repair shop are aiming to make Christmas special for hundreds of children by giving them the gift of cycling. The WRENCH (Winnipeg Repair Education and Cycling Hub), an organization dedicated to making bicycles and cycling accessible to everyone, is holding its ninth annual Cycle of Giving event on Dec. 7. The 24-hour event will bring volunteer mechanics together to build more than 350 bicycles that will be distributed to children in need. The bike-building marathon takes place at the Orioles Community Centre at 448 Burnell St. Longtime WRENCH volunteer Robert Schulz Sr. looks forward to volunteering at Cycle of Giving each year. For Schulz, it’s an opportunity to do something meaningful with his two children, Robert Jr., 14, and Chanel, 11. “This whole Cycle of Giving has allowed me to be a good dad… by spending time with (my children) and interacting with them doing the same activity,” Schulz says. “It’s drawn us closer together in a lot of ways.” A dedicated cyclist, Schulz is proud to say that each bicycle his family owns has been built at the WRENCH. His children are avid cyclists, something Schulz has encouraged because it contributes to environmental sustainability. Schulz is a teacher at École Luxton School, an elementary school in the North End. He works with a small class that’s typically made up of about eight boys, and his volunteerism at the WRENCH has influenced his work in the classroom. Each year, Schulz’s students build bicycles for themselves. They also build an additional bicycle that is gifted to a student they have never met. “It’s a magical day here at Luxton when the bikes are given out,” Schulz says. “What a great way to teach empathy, humility and sustainability.” Like Schulz, Kim Segal is looking forward to this year’s Cycle of Giving. Each year, the self-employed massage therapist tries to spend as many hours at the event as possible. “You meet so many different people from all walks of life,” Segal says. “I love the fact that at the WRENCH, everybody is equal.” Watching the pile of finished bikes grow during Cycle of Giving is exciting, she adds. “It’s emotional when you think of all the people that are benefiting from this. I can’t think of many things I have been involved with where it’s such an incredibly good feeling of giving back.” In addition to volunteer bike mechanics, Cycle of Giving relies on volunteer bike cleaners, card makers, food servers and site crew who help set up, maintain and tear down the workshop. Anyone interested in volunteering can visit thewrench.ca/cycle-ofgiving- 2019 for details. In conjunction with the event, the WRENCH is raising $30,000 for its year-round programming, says Patrick Krawec, the organization’s managing director. People can donate at thewrench.ca. Donations of children’s bicycles and parts are also welcome. Cycle of Giving is a joyful celebration for those who participate, Krawec says, adding that the gift of a bicycle can help the recipient imagine a better tomorrow. “The impact of these bicycles in the community cannot be overstated,” he says.

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New Online Snow-Clearing Portal Launches (Nov30'19)
by Beth McKechnie 01 Dec '19

01 Dec '19

WINNIPEG - A new online portal was launched today, designed to make accessing snow clearing information easier for Winnipeggers. Winnipeg.ca/snow <https://winnipeg.ca/publicworks/snow/default.stm> includes winter parking ban information, a comprehensive FAQ, and – most notably – a new snow clearing status map for major snow plowing operations. Residents can now check on crews’ progress during major plowing operations and residential plowing operations by searching an address and viewing the percentage completed. During a major plowing operation, residents will be able to search an address, and view the percentage completed by geographic area for Priority 1 and 2 streets, as well as sidewalks and pathways. During a residential plowing operation, residents will be able to search an address, and view the percentage completed by snow zone. Residents can also view street priority by searching an address on our street priority map, in addition to viewing snow routes on a searchable map. The new resource also features information about the new winter maintenance improvements for identified Active Transportation (AT) priority routes that will be implemented city-wide, including a searchable map displaying the routes. Under this new system, identified priority AT routes will be cleared within 36 hours after three or more centimeters of snowfall. Prioritization occurred as part of a greater maintenance strategy developed over the last few years in consultation with various active transportation user groups; it supports making daily walking and cycling more convenient and accessible year-round travel modes for people of all ages and abilities. https://www.manitobapost.com/winnipeg-news/new-online-snow-clearing-portal-…

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Global News: Exchange District business owners fed up over ‘piecemeal’ development in the area (Nov29'19)
by Beth McKechnie 30 Nov '19

30 Nov '19

Exchange District business owners fed up over ‘piecemeal’ development in the area https://globalnews.ca/news/6234378/exchange-district-business-owners-fed-up… A group of Exchange District business owners are calling for a moratorium on development in the area, telling the city there needs to be a better plan in place for things like bike lanes, parking, and loading zones in the neighbourhood before work starts up again. The group, which includes former Blue Bomber and Shawarma Khan restaurant owner Obby Khan, say recent changes made to the streets — in particular new bike lanes that have taken over parking spots and loading zones — have been bad for business. Khan says many are reporting a 20 to 30 per cent drop in business and he’s personally lost “six figures” since losing street parking across from his McDermot Avenue restaurant two years ago. “What are we trying to do? Are we trying to create a community or are we trying to create one way roads to get people out of the downtown core?” he said. “Do we want to make active transport or do we want to throw bike lanes in the middle of busy streets and get people out of the downtown core — What is the plan? What is the vision? “Us as business owners are feeling the squeeze right now without this plan.” Khan, along with the owners of King + Bannatyne and Bodegoes, canvassed the Exchange, getting signatures from a total of 67 local business-owners who echo their concerns. In a letter presented to Winnipeg’s mayor and council last week, the group calls for an end to “one-off interventions around parking, transportation, construction or development” in the Exchange until a comprehensive plan is created. They also want parking prices to drop from $3.50 to $2.50 in the area and to see recent street changes reversed. Khan stresses the group is not opposed to active transportation — in fact they welcome it — but want to see a plan put forward and more consultation with area businesses before work is done “We love the bike lanes, we are pro active transportation,” he said. “What we are not pro for is the design, implementation and roll-out without any real consultation of business and how the bike lanes were executed. What was the plan? What was the vision? Or did you just throw bike lanes down? “Stop doing piecemeal, stop putting in a loading zone here, stop putting in a light here or back-in parking here — what is the whole vision for the Exchange?” Khan said the group has gotten a good response from the city, and Mayor Brian Bowman said he is listening to the group’s concerns. “I appreciate the dialogue,” Bowman said Friday, telling 680 CJOB he’s working with business owners and the Exchange District BIZ to find solutions. “There’s been a lot of investments made in the downtown, including the Exchange, over the last few years and obviously we want to make sure that we’re doing our best to ensure that the businesses are as successful as possible. “We have some more work to do… finding the right balance is obviously key” In the meantime, Khan says if nothing changes, some businesses — including his — may look at leaving the Exchange District. “Everything needs to be looked at together to come up with a solution,” he said. “The Exchange is a vibrant, fun, beautiful area — we need to come up with a plan with the city, with urban designers, with residents, with business owners to make this work for everyone.”

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WFP: Exchange District businesses petition city for master plan (Nov29'19)
by Beth McKechnie 29 Nov '19

29 Nov '19

*Issues with** parking, transportation, construction, development brought forward* *Exchange District businesses petition city for master plan * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/exchange-district-business-owners-p… DOZENS of Exchange District business owners frustrated with bike lanes popping up, loading zones taken away, and rising street parking rates have signed a petition asking the City of Winnipeg to hit the brakes. The group of 67 is asking the city put in place a moratorium on any more changes for parking, transportation, construction or development before a comprehensive plan is put into place for the area, and following full consultation. As well, they are asking for pay parking to be rolled back to 2017 rates and the city to commit to “immediately modify the recent, radical, physical street changes” by looking at impact on businesses, traffic circulation, parking, and safety concerns. Ibrahim (Obby) Khan, one of the leaders of the petition and owner of Shawarma Khan restaurants, said Thursday he has seen business drop at his Exchange District location about 20 per cent in the past two years. “It’s almost a six-figure loss,” Khan said. “We’re all local businesses which have put our passion and money on the line in the city and we need city council to help us... We need to get back to having a master plan for the area.” The businesses to sign the petition include: Toad Hall Toys, Pan Am Boxing, King and Bannatyne, Warehouse Artworks, Mayberry Fine Art, King’s Head, Deer + Almond, Into the Music and Parlour Coffee. At a civic committee meeting earlier this week, Khan was even more blunt about the changes outside the doors of his restaurant. “I feel betrayed,” he told city councillors on the innovation and economic development committee. “I feel hurt and I put so much into my store and it is dying a slow death. “You said you wanted to revitalize our downtown core, and we feel though you have turned your backs on us.” Khan said area businesses are fully supportive of bike lanes, but there should have been an overall plan for the area before they were put in. “No rights on reds because of bike lanes implemented on these lanes,” he said. “I love the idea of bike lanes, but the rollout, design, implementation... is a catastrophe — it is killing businesses. “Was there thought put in to how it’s going to affect the business owners?” Former Winnipeg mayor Glen Murray, who lives, works and owns a business in the downtown, said he signed the petition because he believes the city needs an updated plan for the Exchange District. “I’m a 12-months-of-the-year cyclist,” Murray said. “We do want bicycling infrastructure in the area. But we need to have it better designed and organized... We are asking the mayor and council to put up a planning group. “Right now, it really looks like an evacuation plan there.” David Pensato, executive director of the Exchange District Business Improvement Zone, said the owners group is also concerned about the price of street parking in the area. Currently, the price set by the Winnipeg Parking Authority is $3.50 per hour in a large portion of the Exchange, but the city is looking at hiking it further. “It’s not supposed to be for revenue,” he said. Jeremy Davis, a spokesman for Mayor Brian Bowman, said the mayor has received the group’s letter and petition. “Mayor Bowman has met with area businesses and the Exchange District BIZ to discuss their concerns,” Davis said. “The mayor will continue to be actively engaged with the Exchange District BIZ to find solutions that can be acted upon for everyone’s benefit.” kevin.rollason(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Measuring transportation success by improving people's access to jobs and services
by Beth McKechnie 27 Nov '19

27 Nov '19

*An excellent blog series from Transportation from America on how we currently measure the success of our road networks (i.e. vehicle speed) and how we should be measuring them (access to destinations, such as jobs and services). * MAKING ACCESS THE FOCUS OF TRANSPORTATION Catch up on a week spent focusing on "connecting people to jobs and services" The concept of measuring transportation success by improving people's access to opportunities <http://t4america.org/platform/>—not vehicle speed—is often hard for people to wrap their heads around. Especially because we have been wrongly conditioned to believe that being able to drive fast equals a transportation system that works. That's why we spent last week unpacking our third principle <http://t4america.org/platform/> for transportation investment, connecting people to jobs and services. Here's what we discussed: *(1) Success is getting people where they need to go: *For decades, transportation departments have been measuring the wrong thing: vehicle speed. Instead of measuring the speed of a car, we should measure the success of our transportation system by how many jobs and services people can access safely, quickly and affordably. Read more on our blog > > <http://t4america.org/2019/11/19/its-time-to-define-transportation-success-b…> *(2) How bad metrics lead to even worse decisions: *When the top priority of our transportation investments is moving cars as fast as possible, the end product is streets that are wildly unsafe. This focus on vehicle speed and throughput is the result of outdated metrics that utterly fail to produce a transportation system that connects people to what they need every day. Read more on our blog > > <http://t4america.org/2019/11/18/destination-access-week-how-bad-metrics-lea…> *(3) To improve equity, we need to measure what matters: *Our current process for deciding which transportation projects to build only considers vehicles—entirely ignoring people walking, biking, or taking transit. This ignores the impacts on everyone not using a car, particularly low-income persons, people of color, and older adults. Read more on our blog > > <http://t4america.org/2019/11/20/to-connect-people-to-jobs-and-services-we-n…> *(4) How does measuring access actually work? *Our colleagues at the State Smart Transportation Initative explain how this new practice of measuring access (called "destination access" by academics and policy wonks) works in real life, and where and how is it already being used. Read more on our blog > > <http://t4america.org/2019/11/20/connecting-people-to-jobs-and-services-week…> *5) Rethinking shared mobility:* Be it a new mode, like dockless e-scooters, or a mode as fundamental as walking—all transportation decisions must focus on connecting people to jobs and services. The New Urban Mobility Alliance's Madlyn McAuilffe writes about how shared mobility technologies can focus on achieving this goal. Read more on our blog > > <http://t4america.org/2019/11/21/connecting-people-to-jobs-and-services-week…> *(6) The legislative path forward: *Local governments, states, and metropolitan planning organizations need support from the federal government to undertake this new approach of measuring people's access to jobs and services. It’s high time for Congress to make robust travel data and analysis tools available to transportation agencies. Read more on the blog > > <http://t4america.org/2019/11/21/connecting-people-to-jobs-and-services-week…> *(7) Why Des Moines wants Congress to step up:* The Des Moines Area MPO wants to fund projects that improve access the most. But—like most MPOs and local governments across the country—its budget for the technology that makes this possible is small. It’s time for Congress to help local communities invest in the right projects. Read more on the blog > > <http://The%20Des%20Moines%20Area%20MPO%20wants%20to%20make%20a%20shift%20to…> *(8) What happens when Jarrett Walker takes over your Twitter: *Who better to explain how far we've deviated from transportation's purpose—to connect people to opportunity—and how to get back on track than transit planner Jarrett Walker? Walker and his team are famous for helping cities across the world align their land use with transit goals. Check out the tweet highlights on our blog > > <http://t4america.org/2019/11/25/jarrett-walker-twitter-takeover/>

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Toronto Star: Most peds and cyclists killed or seriously injured in Toronto hit in daylight, with clear visibility (Nov26'19)
by Beth McKechnie 27 Nov '19

27 Nov '19

*Amid arm-band backlash, police data shows most pedestrians and cyclists killed or seriously injured in Toronto are hit in daylight, with clear visibility* https://www.thestar.com/amp/news/gta/2019/11/26/amid-arm-band-backlash-poli… A weekend event where seniors were given fluorescent arm bands to help protect them from getting hit by cars has sparked a fierce backlash from safe streets advocates who say the measure amounts to “victim blaming.” Toronto Coun. James Pasternak was the latest to cross advocates on Monday after he tweeted that high-visibility clothing or reflective gear is “a key part” of keeping everyone — including pedestrians, construction workers, cyclists and crossing guards — safe. Toronto police investigate the scene of an Oct. 13 crash in which two pedestrians and a baby in a stroller were struck at the intersection of Pharmacy Avenue and Ellesmere Road shortly before 11 a.m. The driver fled the scene, police said. (Rene Johnston / Toronto Star) That comment has prompted nearly 300 outraged responses <https://twitter.com/PasternakTO/status/1199016505343651841?s=20> from people who say asking pedestrians to wear reflective gear is at best a distraction from the city’s efforts to reduce traffic deaths. Several noted that a crossing guard <https://www.therecord.com/news-story/9734496-waterloo-crossing-guard-struck…> wearing a bright yellow and orange reflective vest was recently hit during daylight hours in Waterloo, and referenced recent crashes in which drivers plowed into (very visible) buildings. <https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2019/11/22/driver-arrested-after-15-cars-h…> “Wearing high visibility gear to protect yourself from negligent and reckless drivers is like asking people to wear fire-retardant pyjamas to bed just in case there’s a fire because someone was irresponsible with fire codes & safety,” said one typical response from Dale Thompson <https://twitter.com/daleethompson/status/1199349959826513920?s=20>. “In other words: This isn’t a pedestrian issue,” he wrote. The arm bands are supposed to make pedestrians, especially seniors who are the ones more likely to be hit, more visible to drivers. According to Toronto police data, most pedestrians and cyclists who are killed or seriously injured on city streets are hit by drivers in daylight hours with good visibility. Between 2007 and 2018, a majority — 1,413 in total — of killed or seriously injured pedestrians and cyclists were hit in daylight with clear visibility, the conditions in which an arm band would be unlikely to make a difference. Those conditions account for 51 per cent of the 2,741 pedestrians and cyclists have been killed or seriously injured over that period. The other 1,328 were hit under other conditions, from dusk to dawn, or in rainy, snowy, fogging or otherwise unclear visibility. Police and Coun. Cynthia Lai handed out hundreds of the armbands to seniors at Scarborough’s Woodside Square Mall on Saturday, part of an event in which officers shared safety tips like the importance of making eye contact with approaching drivers. Lai later defended the event to the Star saying everyone has a shared responsibility for road safety. This kind of effort is “textbook victim-blaming” that contributes to “misinformation” that pedestrians somehow contribute to their own deaths, said road safety advocate Jessica Spieker, a spokesperson for advocacy groups Friends and Families for Safe Streets. “To distribute arm bands to seniors flagrantly flies in the face of all of the evidence about road safety,” she said, adding that drivers and infrastructure are at fault he “vast majority” of the time. According to a city report on the same police data prepared as part of the city’s Vision Zero plan to reduce traffic deaths <https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/ie/bgrd/backgroundfile-134993.pdf>, aggressive and distracted driving contribute to a majority — 52 per cent — of all crashes that cause a death or serious injury on Toronto streets. Spieker said she is frustrated with the “agonizingly slow” progress on making streets safer under the city’s plan. Ahead of police board meetings last week, Toronto police <https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2019/11/21/toronto-police-board-reinstates…> pointed to how crashes have spiked as traffic enforcement has fallen over the last six years. Police pointed to a sharp decline in provincial tickets arguing that the board should reinstate a dedicated traffic enforcement squad, something it agreed to do on Thursday. Separate statistics also presented to the board show Toronto police charged fewer drivers with a criminal traffic offence in 2018 than in any year since the city’s amalgamation in 1998 <https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2019/11/22/even-as-collisions-rise-toronto…>. Toronto police Deputy Chief Peter Yuen also defended the arm band giveaway, saying Sunday it was planned as part of Pedestrian Safety Month for seniors, who are disproportionately hit. “Visibility is a key contributing factor in many pedestrian, road and traffic incidents,” he wrote in an email.“We’ll continue to do all we can to protect our communities and eliminate deaths and injuries on our roads.” Speaking to CBC Radio’s “Metro Morning” on Tuesday, Councillor Pasternak expanded on his reasoning for supporting giving out the armbands, telling host Matt Galloway that the main focus of Vision Zero is to get cars to slow down and making roadways safer, but there’s also a “public education” aspect. “And that’s why we’re encouraging people to, when they’re crossing, to make eye contact with vehicles as they stop, to put away the cellphone and look up as they’re crossing, wear bright clothing, and of course for all traffic to stop.” Pasternak, councillor for Ward 6 —York Centre, also chairs the Infrastructure and Environment Committee which oversees the city’s Vision Zero road safety plan. He rejects the idea that the arm bands are victim-blaming. “No one’s forcing anyone to take it,” he said. “Nobody’s playing blame here.” Insisting that Vision Zero is working, Pasternak admitted there’s “mayhem” on the roads. “And I don’t like using the word lawlessness, but to some degree people are totally disregarding signalized intersections, stop signs, speed limits, it’s a major problem,” he added. The World Health Organization, he noted, does encourage <https://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/publications/road_traffic/ma…> educating pedestrians about the importance of wearing light-coloured clothing and reflective materials. “If we can save one life by reflective clothing or reflective gear I think it’s worth it,” he added. Traffic deaths have not significantly declined in the city since council first adopted the Vision Zero plan in 2016, and both collisions and pedestrian deaths hit a high for recent data last year. Based on the Star’s count, 34 pedestrians have been killed in Toronto so far this year. *With files from Ed Tubb* *May Warren is a breaking news reporter based in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @maywarren11 <https://twitter.com/maywarren11>*

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TAC Latent Demand for Active Transportation - Practitioner Survey (closes Nov 22)
by Beth McKechnie 21 Nov '19

21 Nov '19

*From:* Ronauq Sabharwal <Ronauq.Sabharwal(a)cima.ca> Good morning, The *TAC Transportation Planning and Research Standing Committee* is undertaking the project: *Methods for Estimating Latent Demand for Active Transportation*. Thank you to those who have already completed the survey. A reminder that the deadline is this Friday, November 22. The survey takes approximately ~15 minutes to complete. Your input will greatly help in understanding the existing research and develop various methodologies to estimate latent demand for active transportation and their benefits and dis-benefits. If you are an employee in the public sector: The Jurisdictional Survey Link <https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.surve…> *If you are an active transportation practitioner working in academia, consulting or advocacy: The Practitioner Survey Link <https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.surve…>* Please see more information regarding the survey below. Thank you so much for your time and if you have any questions, please contact me. Regards, Ronauq Sabharwal ------------------------------ *RONAUQ SABHARWAL, *MEngCEM Traffic Analyst / Transportation – Traffic Engineering *T* 905-695-1005 ext. 5744 *F* 905-695-0525 500–5935 Airport Road, Mississauga, ON L4V 1W5 CANADA <http://www.cima.ca/> ------------------------------ Do you really need to print this email? Let's protect the environment! CONFIDENTIALITY WARNING This e-mail is confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately and delete it in its entirety.

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Fwd: SafeSpeedsWPG: We're on the gram and we're having a Town Hall!
by Dave Elmore 19 Nov '19

19 Nov '19

Please see the information below on a town hall planned for December 5th hosted by SafeSpeedsWPG and the Wolseley Residents Association. Thanks Dave o _ ( \ _ (X)\ /(X) Hi everyone! Please note, SafeSpeedsWPG and the Wolseley Residents Association are hosting a Town Hall with Green Action Centre on December 5th, 7 - 8:30pm at Old Grace Housing Co-op on Arlington Ave. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join the conversation about what safe residential speeds can do for people and communities. We hope you'll attend and bring friends and family. As well, SafeSpeedsWPG is now on Instagram! Please follow us @safespeedswpg if you're on this platform and let others know. For Instagram content, we are asking people to share their stories with us: "what does a safe residential speed limit in your community mean to you?" Please email me your stories with a photo or two and we will share your stories on our page. As well, please send friends and family to *www.safespeedswpg.com <http://www.safespeedswpg.com> *- there, they can click on "Share your story" for instructions on how to share their experiences and photos on our Instagram page. Hope to see you at our Town Hall and have a great holiday season!

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