- AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

AT Webinar: How Rapid Transformation Delivers Bike-Friendly Streets, 2-3pm, Wed, July 29, EcoCentre
by Beth McKechnie 23 Jul '15

23 Jul '15

Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg invite you to join us for a local viewing of the APBP and Green Lane Project webinar: *How Rapid Transformation Delivers Bike-Friendly Urban Streets*. The webinar viewing takes place in the EcoCentre boardroom (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave) and will be followed by group discussion of local applications. RSVPs appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! cheers, Beth ** * * * ** How Rapid Transformation Delivers Bike-Friendly Urban Streets *Wednesday, July 29th, 2-3pm, EcoCentre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Boardroom* Explore how the concept and practice of rapid implementation is evolving and has altered the way cities develop and deliver urban street projects. This webinar previews a new report from PeopleForBikes on the institutionalization of real-time transportation programs and shows how the techniques are becoming embedded as normal practice within city governments. A developing project delivery technique is transforming the way cities put new bicycle facilities on the ground. Presently identified with pilot projects and rapid implementation, real-time transportation programs are progressing rapidly from outlier status to status quo. PeopleForBike’s research indicates that no two cities have established and evolved these programs in quite the same way, suggesting that the technique is flexible and easily adaptable. The report also delves into the role of leadership and different scenarios for selling the approach. This webinar reviews the origins of rapid implementation and discusses institutional settings, relationships with other parts of transportation, planning and public works departments, the process of project development, relationship to capital programs, and emerging issues. Speakers from Pittsburgh and Seattle provide insight based on their cities’ experience. *Speakers:* - Dongho Chang, City of Seattle - Jon Orcutt, PeopleForBikes - Kristin Saunders, City of Pittsburgh

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CBC: Helmet camera catches close call between Winnipeg cyclist and bus
by Beth McKechnie 23 Jul '15

23 Jul '15

Helmet camera catches close call between Winnipeg cyclist and bus A close call caught on camera between a Winnipeg cyclist and bus has a cycling instructor calling for the bus driver to be fired. "It was definitely scary," said Al Paul, who captured the incident on a camera mounted on his helmet. Paul said the near hit happened at about 7:10 am Monday morning when he was commuting by bike to his downtown job. *Full article and video*: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/helmet-camera-catches-close-call-bet…

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Rossland BC drops speed limit to 30km/h
by Beth McKechnie 23 Jul '15

23 Jul '15

Rossland, B.C. Speed Limit Dropped To 30 Km/H http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/07/22/rossland-bc-speed-limit_n_7852790.h… A southeastern city in B.C. is bucking the trend to raise speed limits and is actually slowing traffic down to 30 km/h. The city of Rossland, B.C. <http://www.rossland.ca/new-speed-policy-rossland> announced the local speed limit change last week. Maximum speeds in the city are dropping to 30 km/h, with schools zones and narrow streets at 20 km/h and drop-off areas at 15 km/h. The changes are in response to years of public safety concerns, as well as part of the traffic calming effort in the area, according to a city news release. "Council took a look at it, and we decided that yeah, 30 kilometres an hour is plenty fast <http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/rossland-speed-limit-drops-t…>," Rossland Mayor Kathy Moore told CBC Radio. It's also meant to encourage people to walk or ride bikes more often. Despite the slower pace, the city said nearly everyone will be able to reach a main provincial highway within three minutes of leaving their home. Last summer, the provincial government raised the speed limit on some highways <http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/07/02/highway-speed-limit-bc_n_5552447.ht…> to 120 km/h from 110.

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Metro: Winnipeg's new pedestrian and cycling strategy, by the numbers
by Beth McKechnie 14 Jul '15

14 Jul '15

Winnipeg’s new pedestrian and cycling strategy, by the numbers By Colin Fast <http://metronews.ca/author/cfast/> http://metronews.ca/voices/your-ride-winnipeg/1425450/winnipegs-new-pedestr… As council prepares for its final (God willing) debate over the city’s new pedestrian and cycling strategy on Wednesday, it’s a good time to look at some of the key numbers surrounding this initiative: *— $334 million. *That’s the total price tag for the strategy. While it sounds like a lot, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, that‘s spread out over 20 years to build multi-use paths, greenways, protected bike lanes, sidewalks and pedestrian bridges all over town. And second, that funding might never actually materialize, as city council would have to approve capital funding for active transportation projects every single year based on what money is available in the budget. And while opponents say that’s too much to spend on bike paths, here’s another number to keep in mind … *— Five billion.* That’s what the city’s Transportation Master Plan will cost in the next 20 years. And that’s not for fixing existing infrastructure — that’s for new roads, bridges, underpasses and rapid transit lines. So that means walking and cycling projects only account for about 6.7 per cent of the total transportation wish list, which is a lot lower than … *— Nine per cent.* That’s the current share of Winnipeggers who use walking or cycling as their primary form of transportation each morning, according to that very same Transportation Master Plan. So it appears the city isn’t proposing to spend “too much” on active transportation, but actually not enough. The problem gets even worse when you consider this statistic … *— Forty-seven per cent.* That’s the percentage of Winnipeggers who said in a phone survey they would cycle more often if the city built more separated bike lanes. That’s right, this strategy wasn’t just created by a cabal of consultants and cycling elitists on Twitter, but actual scientific polling was done to figure out whether people were interested in biking and walking more. Speaking of walking … *— Fifty-three per cent.* That’s the share of people who said they would walk more often if the city filled in the gaps in the cycling network. And if the city actually goes ahead with this plan, maybe they could walk to one of … 3,800 new construction and engineering jobs. According to a University of Massachusetts study, cycling projects create 11.4 local jobs for every $1 million spent, while pedestrian projects create about 10 jobs for the same amount of money. Multiplied by $334 million, that’s a lot of additional employment and economic activity. Interestingly, the same study said road projects only generate 7.8 jobs for every $1 million. And if all that’s not enough to convince councillors, then here’s one last figure for them: 142 years. That’s how long it has taken for Winnipeg to finally come up with a comprehensive plan to get more people walking and biking. It’s time to get this city moving. *Colin Fast is a communications specialist and freelance journalist in Winnipeg. Out of guilt, he avoided looking directly at his unused bike while writing this column. Find him @policyfrog on Twitter.*

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Playing, with fire: How much risk should we expose our kids to?
by Beth McKechnie 14 Jul '15

14 Jul '15

Letting children slip the leash and engage in risky outdoor play offers huge benefits to physical, emotional and social health, says Mariana Brussoni, an assistant professor at the University of British Columbia’s school of population and public health. Brussoni is lead author of a review of play research published last week in the *International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25023135>*. Overprotective parenting and tediously safe playgrounds contribute to a decline in rough-and-tumble play and a generation of sedentary children. The report concludes: “There is a need for action to slow or reverse the trend in order to promote and preserve children’s health.” http://www.macleans.ca/society/life/playing-with-fire-how-much-risk-should-…

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New reports: Active Cities and State of Walking Movement in Canada
by Beth McKechnie 13 Jul '15

13 Jul '15

Thanks to Jaymi Derrett for sharing the following two new reports: *Designed to Move: Active Cities* A new report, *Designed to Move: Active Cities* <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001sSzFkjCHriLo0e2HUsB-iMemcooqSuaq3xztKCiOEPKs…>, is a blueprint for city leaders in creating an active city, regardless of city size or location. The report shows that cities with physically active populations are not only more economically competitive - they also benefit from increased productivity, improved school performance, higher property values, and improved health and well-being. *State of the Walking Movement in Canada* The State of the Walking Movement in Canada: Survey Summary Report <file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/State-of-Walking-in-Canada-Survey-Summary-Report_final_2015.pdf> is the presentation of findings collected from The State of the Walking Movement in Canada Survey. The survey investigated the practices, resources, and needs of groups and organizations across Canada that promote walking and plan for walkability. Acquiring this information is of timely importance due to the increasing reliance on the private automobile, and increasing rates of chronic illness throughout the country, to which walking can combat. cheers, Beth -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://canadahelps.org/>

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AT Webinar: Health in All Policies, Wed, July 15th, 2-3:15pm, EcoCentre
by Beth McKechnie 13 Jul '15

13 Jul '15

Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg invite you to join us for a local viewing of the APBP webinar: *Health in All Policies*. The presentations will include how this approach can increase prioritization of active transportation and explore different tools for quantifying the health benefits of bicycle and pedestrian projects. The webinar viewing takes place in the EcoCentre boardroom (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave) and will be followed by group discussion of local applications. RSVPs appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! cheers, Beth ** * * * ** Health in All Policies *Wednesday, July 15th, 2-3:15pm, EcoCentre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Boardroom* *Learning objectives: * - Define Health in All Policies - Describe model policies and tools to implement the HiAP approach to active transportation - Identify and understand analytical tools for evaluating the health benefits of nonmotorized transportation investments Health in All Policies provides a way for policymakers – at all levels and across all agencies – to systematically consider health in their policy development efforts. With local government facing tremendous budget constraints, HiAP offers a cost-effective approach that focuses on improving existing programs, policies and projects (rather than creating new programs that require additional funding). Learn how adopting a Health in All Policies approach can result in enhanced collaboration between agencies and increase prioritization of active transportation. California's unique statewide, multi-agency Health in All Policies Task Force is in the vanguard of this new planning approach. Speakers describe how the task force has promoted a coordinated approach to statewide active transportation initiatives, explain how to replicate the HiAP approach in any community, and review a toolkit of model policies to establish Health in All Policies at the local level. The session also identifies and explores different tools for quantifying the health benefits of bicycle and pedestrian projects. *Presenters:* - Sean Co, Toole Design Group - Meredith Lee, California Department of Public Health - Dr. Sandra Whitehead, National Association of County and City Health Officials - Heather Wooten, ChangeLab Solutions

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EPC Wednesday
by Anders Swanson 06 Jul '15

06 Jul '15

The latest post on winnipegtrails.ca http://www.winnipegtrails.ca/another-opportunity-to-have-a-say-epc-wednesda… ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A SAY: EPC WEDNESDAY JULY 8TH PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLING STRATEGIES There is one more opportunity to speak about the cycling and walking strategies at committee before they are sent to council for adoption. The strategies are appearing in front of the Executive Policy Committee on Wednesday, July 8th: West Committee Room Council Building, City Hall, 510 Main Street 9:00am Here is the agenda <http://clkapps.winnipeg.ca/dmis/ViewDoc.asp?DocId=14504&SectionId=&InitUrl=>. (look for bullet 4 in the public works committee report section). *If you wish to register to speak (We urge you to come out and express your views: Whether you speak for or against, please consider attending. It is always valuable to exercise your democratic right to speak. You can register to speak by emailing the committee clerk, Carlos Gameiro, at CGameiro[a]winnipeg.ca <http://winnipeg.ca>. Note: If you are working that day or otherwise too busy to attend, note that you can also send a letter to the above email and have it included in the register and officially submitted to the committee. * To recap: We have been following this closely and are very much looking forward to Winnipeg having vision for cycling and walking. While this is far from the last time to give input (all recommendations and projects in the strategies are subject to extensive consultation and further research and approval), we look forward to – for the first time – operating in a city with an official mandate that takes walking and cycling (and scooters, wheelchairs, skateboards and strollers) seriously. [image: NortheastPioneersGreeway1] You can read all about the pedestrian and cycling strategies here. <http://www.winnipeg.ca/publicworks/MajorProjects/ActiveTransportation/WalkB…> Since 2003, Winnipeg Trails has been working with you to create a connected network of trails and protected bicycle facilities throughout Winnipeg, for everyone. All of our partners, including the City of Winnipeg, the Province of Mantioba, NGOs, stewardship groups, firms, private businesses and clubs have begun to envision walking and cycling for what it is: extremely important to the fabric of our city. Until now, we have often helped target connectivity based on when/if funding was available, sought expertise and network planning where we could find it and built trails where space could be found. In general, without an official plan, you do the best you can with what you have. Our vast network of skilled and knowledgeable individuals and groups have done tremendous things, but we all recognized we were ready for the next step. At our most recent strategic planning session, there was unanimous consent on two things: the need for more connectivity and the importance of these cycling and walking strategies. We are not alone. Cities across Canada have been developing walking and biking plans in haste. We need one too. And we need ours to be on the leading edge. There are incredible advantages to walking and cycling seriously – not the least of which is that it offers mode choice and improves the efficiency all other modes of transportation – including bussing and driving. Cities are also in competition with each other – for investment, for tourists, for innovation, for taxpayers. It is very important to recognize that liveability is an extremely important metric for businesses looking to locate and stay. Keeping ones skilled workforce, and youth, is critical. Investing in walking and cycling means investing in a city that is modern, vibrant and forward-thinking. When it comes to transportation, it can be quite simple: give people a choice, make it equitable, make it inexpensive, make it easy, make it good for the environment, make it cool, make it healthy and make it fun. Win, win, win, win, win, win, win. [image: OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA] The best cycling and walking environments are created when they are treated as an essential service like any other part of the transportation system. In 2010, Winnipeg finally began to live up to its potential and spent more per capita on cycling and walking than almost anywhere else in the world. Cycling numbers jumped in the years thereafter and sparked a bike boom that we are still seeing growing today. So many people are out walking on key trails that they are nearly shoulder to shoulder in busy times. Much can be accomplished with stakeholder input and councillor guidance, but it was recognized that Winnipeg needed a long term vision based on community, councillor *and* professional input (for the same underlying reasons that automobiles and transit networks require a long term plan).. Soon after 2010, as part of the Our Winnipeg, Winnipeg released a master transportation plan for automobiles and buses. One of its key recommendations was the development of separate walking and cycling strategies (presumably there wasn’t enough time/budget to do the extensive consultations and work required to address these modes properly at the time). This process (the development of the cycling and walking strategies) began a couple years after the larger transportation master plan was finished and adopted. Consultants were hired, it was briefly cancelled, then reinstated due to popular demand and, ploddingly, the process began to move forward. The report received input in numerous ways. Strategically located open houses were advertised broadly. Thousands of Winnipeggers took the time to fill out exhaustive surveys. Comprehensive and impartial telephone polls reached hundreds of random people who might not have taken the time to respond to surveys or attend open houses. The results of the random polling confirmed what we suspected all along – trails and protected bike lanes are popular, walking is important, and people want safe and connected trails in order to feel comfortable exploring the city they love. It also determined that there is a vast pool of “interested but concerned” people who are simply awaiting investment in safe infrastructure. They may not read the paper, or show up at trails meetings, but if you build it, they said they’d come. As the Winnipeg Trails Association, we have seen it in action. Representatives from Winnipeg trails joined a large and diverse group of stakeholders from numerous different communities and causes including environmental, cycling, seniors, real estate and development, business, Universal Design and Accessibility, who were honoured to sit on the Stakeholder Advisory committee for two years as these strategies were developed. As the consultants did their work, Winnipeg Trails representatives were asked to give approximately 16 hours of their time each to sit on various review committees, attend large stakeholder workshops and raise awareness of the open houses. They offered their non-binding input and feedback, giving the consultants valuable insight. In a rare development, even young children were consulted in the preparation of this plan. A special workshop was developed locally just for them, where internationally-respected planners joined WTA, local NGOs and school children themselves to do their own version of the walking and cycling consultations – in a language they could understand. For once, even those under 16 we’re included in discussions on changes that affect them. They were, understandably, all for more trails. [image: YRibbon1] Most recently, a review of the consultation work <http://www.cbc.ca/m/touch/canada/manitoba/story/1.3081263> determined that the consultation met international best practices for community consultation – and confirmed what senior officials were saying – that all cycling and walking projects done as part of the plan would have built-in and extensive consultation as part of the design process. The upside of recent media stories is that they too have drummed up a high level of interest. We are now at the point where almost no one in Winnipeg remains unaware of this exciting issue! Nonetheless, the fact remains that roads in Winnipeg are still missing sidewalks, our trails are too-often sparse in key areas and disconnected, and many of our bike paths simply end. Demand is far outpacing supply and we need to catch up. It is time to move forward. a message from Anders Swanson Coordinator, Winnipeg Trails Association

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Protected bike lanes across Canada
by Anders Swanson 29 Jun '15

29 Jun '15

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/editors-picks/out-of-harms-way-310…

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WFP: Sno job for citizens? City to consider requiring residents to keep sidewalks shovelled (Jun24'15)
by Beth McKechnie 24 Jun '15

24 Jun '15

Snow job for citizens?City to consider requiring residents to keep sidewalks shovelled http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/snow-job-for-citizens-3094641… The burden of clearing snow from city sidewalks may soon fall onto the shovels of Winnipeg homeowners. Residential walks are currently cleared of snow by the city, but support is growing at city hall to follow the practice of most other Canadian cities, which force homeowners to shovel the city's walks and fine those who refuse. "We typically look at it annually during the budgeting process," said Brad Sacher, director of public works, adding the city spends hundreds of thousands of dollars every winter clearing sidewalks. "We're asked to look at what kind of efficiencies we can find, and this one sticks out like a sore thumb because so many other cities do it this way." Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of the public works committee, said if Sacher doesn't raise the issue in a pending cost-benefit analysis of snow clearing, she will make sure it becomes part of the public debate. "We should put the facts on the table about what it costs," Lukes (St. Norbert) said. "We're one of the very few cities that do it." The issue surfaced after it was discovered it was included as part of a 20-year pedestrian and cycling strategy. Buried in the 344-page report was a recommendation the city end its practice of clearing residential sidewalks and instead require homeowners to do it and fine those who don't. Residential sidewalks "should become the responsibility of every owner or occupant of any building abutting the public sidewalk," the recommendation in the pedestrian and cycling strategy report states. "These sidewalks should be cleared within 24 hours of end of snowfall and should be shovelled to bare pavement... "Penalties should be imposed on residents who fail to clear their sidewalk." Public works acknowledges some people -- particularly seniors and those with mobility issues -- may not be able to clear their own sidewalks in winter, and recommends initiatives to assist those individuals, including a "snow angels" program -- neighbours and volunteers who shovel works for those physically unable. Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt told the committee the recommendations on sidewalk snow clearing should be removed from the strategy document, but the committee accepted the report in its entirety and it now heads to council for consideration. In addition to sidewalk snow clearing, city streets are cleared down to the bare pavement, from curb to curb. There was a public uproar when a consulting firm reviewed the public works department operations and said city hall could save money if it didn't clear the streets from curb to curb. The suggestion was never adopted. Sacher said the sidewalk snow-clearing issue found its way into the strategy document after it was raised by residents during the public consultation process. Sacher said some residents said they'd prefer to shovel the walk in front of their homes instead of waiting for city crews to do the work a week after a snowstorm. aldo.santin(a)freepress.mb.ca *Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 24, 2015 B1* JUST TO BE CLEAR... WINNIPEG isn't the first Canadian city to consider DIY snow clearing for public sidewalks. The Ontario cities of Hamilton, Kitchener, Waterloo and Windsor have all left residents responsible for sidewalk snow clearing. Here are six other cities that have also gone that way: - *Vancouver:* Residents and business owners are expected to clear sidewalks by 10 a.m. the day after every snowfall, seven days a week. The city encourages residents to adopt the sidewalks of neighbouring seniors or people with mobility issues and keep them clear all winter long. Failure to keep walks adjacent to residential homes can lead to fines of $250 per offence, while apartment blocks and business can incur fines ranging from $750 to $2,000. - *Calgary: *Since 1974, property owners in Calgary have been responsible for clearing the sidewalks adjacent to their properties within 24 hours of snow or ice accumulating. The city has also been promoting a Snow Angels campaign for more than 10 years, encouraging able-bodied residents to help seniors and others in need by adopting sidewalks to clear. Residents nominate their Snow Angels annually for special recognition letters from the mayor, and Snow Angels are given free parking passes from the Calgary Parking Authority. If property owners don't clear their sidewalks within 24 hours, the city gives them notices to shovel and scrape their walks within an allotted period of time. Fines vary based on the length of sidewalks and the amount of snow and ice accumulated. - *Edmonton: *A community standards bylaw requires property owners shovel their adjacent walkways -- sidewalks and driveways -- within 48 hours of a snowfall. Those who violate the bylaw are given one warning notice per season before being issued a ticket. Tickets are $100, and if a contractor has to be sent to remove snow, the property owner will be invoiced again separately. The city recommends residents sprinkle salt or gravel on the ground to give pedestrians traction and provides free boxes of sand at community drop points for citizens to use. - *Regina: *The City of Regina also provides sand to help residents keep their walks safe. Regina requires downtown businesses to clear their walks within 24 hours of a snowfall, while businesses, apartments and vacant lots outside downtown are given 48 hours to clear the snow. - *Saskatoon:* Residents are required to clear their private walks within 48 hours of a snowfall, while some commercial properties are only given 24 hours. When reports of uncleared sidewalks are filed to the City of Saskatoon, a bylaw inspector investigates and doles out 48-hour warnings to residents. Those who don't clear adequately can expect fines ranging from $100 to $2,000, depending on the severity and number of infractions. - *Toronto: *City crews clean the snow and ice from much of Toronto but aren't able to do so in core areas. Residents and business owners in the city's core are asked to clear adjacent walkways within 12 hours of every snowfall. Violating the bylaw can result in a $100 fine, with $25 surcharges. People needing snow-clearing help in Toronto's core can submit special requests to the city. *-- Jessica Botelho-Urbanski*

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WFP: Lukes eyes 30 km/h speed limit for residential streets & Crossing guard fed up with reckless drivers (Jun24'15)
by Beth McKechnie 24 Jun '15

24 Jun '15

Lukes eyes 30 km/h speed limit for residential streets http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/lukes-eyes-30-kmh-speed-limit-for--r… DO you like driving 30 km/h in school zones? How about on all residential streets? Coun. Janice Lukes, the public works chairwoman, wants Winnipeg to consider reducing all residential street speed limits to 30 km/h. The lower limit would not apply to regional streets, which are major routes such as Main Street or Portage Avenue. Lukes wants a pilot project in Fort Richmond, which is in her St. Norbert ward, but approval would have to come from the province first. "That solves all of our problems with cycling, walking, to have a limited speeding amount for vehicles," she said. One idea she has is to piggyback off the work of former Daniel McIntyre councillor Harvey Smith, who attempted to lower residential street speed limits to 40 km/h from 50 km/h in 2012. The motion was defeated by the public works committee in 2013 after an administrative report recommended against it. Earlier this week, a community committee in Toronto voted in favour of reducing the speed limits in some residential areas to 30 km/h. A report by Toronto's city staff said it could increase safety for residents and increase the number of residents using active transportation, but would be costly and might not work with every local road. Lukes said she would be open to investigating reducing the speed limit on weekends or at certain times of the day. "It is absolutely something in my tenure I will be looking at," she said. "I know (Fort Richmond) has five or six schools in an area, parks, so there is nothing wrong with piloting a project to see what happens." *-- Kristin Annable* Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 24, 2015 0 * * * * * Crossing guard fed up with reckless driversPosting licence plate numbers on Facebook http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/crossing-guard-fed-up-with-reckless-… A Winnipeg crossing guard hopes to shame bad drivers into better behaviour by posting their licence plate numbers on social media. Cecile Desjarlais has worked at a busy intersection in the West End since last fall, helping adults and children from a nearby school cross the street. Desjarlais says she's blown away by the number of close calls she's encountered with drivers, seeing kids almost hit by cars. On Monday, she said she had three narrow misses with vehicles. "I was in my intersection in the middle of the road with my vest on and my flag out, trying to get some kids across," Desjarlais said Tuesday. "Out come two vehicles, one after the other, and they passed on the inside of me, thankfully, so I was able to protect the kids." Thirty seconds later, another car nearly hit her and pedestrians again, she said. "There was even a closer call two weeks before where a child was just stepping off the curb... and somebody cut in the outside lane and hit the flag right out of my hand," Desjarlais said. "(Drivers) are being inattentive, they're late possibly for an appointment or work, or they just don't care." Fed up, Desjarlais decided to create a Facebook group where she plans to list the licence plate numbers of reckless drivers she sees. She will also be reporting the numbers to Winnipeg police, she said. Desjarlais talked to police about the issue and they said it's all right for her to post the plate numbers online. Police told her they will also be following up on all the numbers she reports. The Facebook group, Crossing Guards Wall of Shame, had 118 members subscribed after one day. Desjarlais said she will be the only person in the group posting licence plate numbers, so she can ensure they are authentic. One group member who hopes to help is Maurice Grégoire, the president of Teknisult Enterprises Ltd., which manufactures video cameras for school buses. Grégoire said he wants to help Desjarlais by giving her a wearable hat-camera that will shoot video and audio. That way, she won't have to take her eyes off the children to write down licence plate numbers in a notebook, he said. "It's all about advocacy for student safety," he said. "Whatever resources I have that she can use, go for it." Desjarlais hopes the Facebook group will raise awareness among drivers and, consequentially, make for safer commutes to school. "The drivers need to be aware that the crossing guards are out there. We're not out there just to cause havoc with traffic or anything. We're just trying to get people across the street safely," Desjarlais said. "How would they feel if they were running late or on the way to work and they were to hit me or a child? They're not going to get to their destination any quicker if that was to happen." jessica.botelho-urbanski(a)freepress.mb.ca *Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 24, 2015 0*

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WFP: Council to vote on bike route barricades & Progress on cycling routes (Jun24'15)
by Beth McKechnie 24 Jun '15

24 Jun '15

Council to vote on bike route barricades http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/council-to-vote-on-bike-route-barric… A civic committee has given the green light to reinstate barricades along the city's Sunday/holiday bike routes. At Tuesday's public works committee meeting, councillors voted unanimously in favour of bringing back the barricades, which helped warn motorists the roadways were for local traffic only. The motion to reinstate the barricades must still be approved by council. The barricades were removed this year and replaced with signs at the intersections that read, "Motor vehicle travel limited to one block, 8:00-20:00, Sundays and holidays." However, the removal of the barricades was met with displeasure from councillors whose wards are within these routes. River Heights-Fort Garry Coun. John Orlikow and Daniel McIntyre Coun. Cindy Gilroy voiced their approval of the motion from the city centre community committee, which called for the barricades to return along the four designated streets. Lyndale Drive, Scotia Street, Wellington Crescent and Wolseley Avenue are considered cycling paths from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays and statutory holidays from mid-May to mid-October. Orlikow said since the barricades were removed, his Sundays have been filled with emails and phone calls from his constituents, who say motorists are not reading the signs. Gilroy, who is also on the public works committee, echoed these concerns stating at the meeting, "it is just not working," now that the barricades are gone. The barricades were removed this year after a recommendation from the public works department, which saw it as a way to save money. Public works director Brad Sacher told a civic committee last July that it cost the department $35,000 a year to have staff put up and take down the barricades on the four routes every Sunday during the cycling season. Progress on cycling routes A 20-year strategy for constructing a network of pedestrian and cycling paths across Winnipeg is heading back to city council for approval. The pedestrian and cycling strategy was endorsed Tuesday -- for the second time -- by the public works committee. Couns. Russ Wyatt (Transcona) and Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan) told the committee they were concerned that area residents weren't notified about the impacts the strategy will have when specific streets are identified as routes. They also said the maps in the report contained errors. But the report was unanimously adopted without changes after a senior administrator said the strategy is a long-term guide that will be subject to council and public approval before any component is implemented. Brad Sacher, director of public works, said annual action plans will contain detailed routes and costs and they will be subject to public consultation and council approval. Sacher said the strategy included maps to demonstrate where gaps exist in existing pedestrian and cycling routes and where new routes should go but they're not set in stone. Coun. Janice Lukes said councillors and residents will determine the details of routes on an annual basis. Questions about the public consultation process of the study were resolved when the new office of public engagement reviewed what the strategy authors had done and said the methods were adequate and complied with industry best practices. *-- Aldo Santin, Kristin Annable* Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 24, 2015 B3

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road cycling the new golf for business networking
by Terry Zdan 22 Jun '15

22 Jun '15

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/road-cycling-the-new-golf-for-busines… -- Terry Zdan 126 Duncan Norrie Drive Wpg MB R3P 2J9 CANADA tjzdan50(a)gmail.com <tjzdan(a)gmasil.com>

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VeloCity report back: Love to Ride software
by Anders Swanson 22 Jun '15

22 Jun '15

[I met with Thomas, the creator of this program in Nantes. He heard I was behind Winter Bike to Work Day and wanted to chat. I found this system to be very interesting, sophisticated and graphically beautiful. Its essentially a platform for companies and individuals to get started, challenge each other and share their experiences cycling. It doesn't appear to really be aimed at a "normalized cycling culture" but it may have its uses, particularly in places like Canda or the UK or Australia with dismal numbers that already do stuff like Bike to Work Week or Commuter Challenge to get people talking. It certainly seems to be catching on all over the place. It takes the basic concept of the above, injects some digital steroids, and tosses in strong social media muscle to make it spread widely. It costs $ to implement, but the costs seem fair for what you get. The sponsorship component is handled deftly. It may be worth considering brining this to Winnipeg, or replacing certain IT aspects of what we already do with their system. . . esp. considering the number of cities/countries that are signing on. At the very least, I am going to look into how perhaps we might be able to do this nationally for Bike Day in Canada Next Year. If any of this interests you, talk to me. - Anders] >From Thomas: Hey Anders, It was great to meet you at Velo-City. Here is some more information for you and your colleagues to look at re Love to Ride. Our Partner facing site - www.lovetoride.org A short 2 min Animation on Love to Ride - https://challengeforchange.wistia.com/medias/7jckx9l8kz <https://challengeforchange.wistia.com/medias/7jckx9l8kz> A short 5 min TEDx Talk I gave - http://getmorepeoplecycling.com/2014/07/09/thomas-speaks-at-tedx-atlanta/ <http://getmorepeoplecycling.com/2014/07/09/thomas-speaks-at-tedx-atlanta/> A couple of example sites: UK – www.lovetoride.net/uk Sydney, Australia - www.lovetoride.net/sydney <http://www.lovetoride.net/sydney> Please feel free to pass this email on to any partners you work with who might also be interested in learning about Love to Ride. A skype call in the next few weeks could be a good option. Cheers, Thomas -- Thomas Stokell Executive Director Love to Ride US: +1 (310) 9067897 Skype: thomasstokell thomas(a)lovetoride.org www.linkedin.com/in/thomasstokell www.lovetoride.org

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CBC: Your smartphone might help you build a better city
by Beth McKechnie 22 Jun '15

22 Jun '15

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Terry Zdan <tjzdan50(a)gmail.com> Cc: "at-network(a)lists.umanitoba.ca" <at-network(a)lists.umanitoba.ca> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2015 09:13:43 -0500 http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/your-smartphone-might-help-you-build-a-be… -- Terry Zdan 126 Duncan Norrie Drive Wpg MB R3P 2J9 CANADA tjzdan50(a)gmail.com <tjzdan(a)gmasil.com>

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Report from Office of Public Engagement
by Anders Swanson 20 Jun '15

20 Jun '15

Onward. "...consultation completed was adequate & utilized industry best practices.." http://t.co/9xV0dzZj9g http://t.co/bLiTo0ujzg https://twitter.com/swansonanders/status/611994774120235008

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Trail Audit posiiton with Trails Manitoba
by Beth McKechnie 19 Jun '15

19 Jun '15

*Trail Auditor* Does getting paid to cycle 1500 km this summer across our fair province sound like an amazing experience to you? Trails Manitoba is looking for a Trail Auditor to assess the condition of the Trans Canada Trail in Manitoba from its western point from the Saskatchewan border to High Lake, near Falcon Lake to the east. Applicants must be physically fit, own a well-maintained mountain bike, have vehicle support, attention to detail and strong written and verbal skills (as an audit report must be submitted). Experience with gps is an asset, but training will be provided. This is an honorarium position of $3000, plus all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and per diem to cover hotel/accom. GPS and trail orientation knowledge is an asset, but training will be provided. Please view a detailed job description at trailsmanitoba.ca. Interested applicants forward their resumes in confidence (with 2 references) to executive_director(a)trailsmanitoba.ca *by June 30, 2015*. http://trailsmanitoba.ca/2015/06/trail-auditor-position/

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5 key lessons from Europe's Vision Zero success
by Beth McKechnie 17 Jun '15

17 Jun '15

*5 key lessons from Europe's Vision Zero success* Early learnings from Stockholm, Rotterdam and Berlin's versions of Vision Zero: 1) Managing speeds — and speed differentials — is a top priority 2) After speed, street design is key 3) Engineering efforts have taken priority over education and enforcement 4) Private sector buy-in strengthens efforts 5) What’s next? Vision Zero 2.0 Read full story: http://usa.streetsblog.org/2015/06/10/five-key-lessons-from-europes-vision-… cheers, Beth -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://canadahelps.org/>

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AT Webinar Reminder: First Mile / Last Mile Connections to Transit, Wed, June 17, 2-3pm, EcoCentre
by Beth McKechnie 16 Jun '15

16 Jun '15

*** Friendly reminder regarding tomorrow afternoon's webinar *** Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg invite you to join us for a local viewing of the APBP webinar: *First Mile / Last Mile Connections to Transit.* The webinar viewing takes place in the EcoCentre boardroom (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave) and will be followed by group discussion of local applications. RSVPs appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! cheers, Beth ** * * * ** First Mile / Last Mile Connections to Transit *Wednesday, June 17th, 2-3pm, EcoCentre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Boardroom* This webinar features the work of two leading transit agencies in the vanguard of policy development and implementation for connecting transit to pedestrian and bicycle networks. Presenters from Translink (Vancouver, B.C.) and TriMet (Portland, Ore.) discuss their agency's approach to prioritizing connections for people walking and bicycling. Learn about the research and cost/benefit analysis Translink has done to make the case for increased investment in walking and cycling facilities, and how TriMet approaches pedestrian and bicycle network access and prioritizes improvements. *Presenters:* - Alan Letho, Director of Planning and Policy, TriMet - Lyle Walker, Senior Planner, TransLink -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://canadahelps.org/>

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The WRENCH is seeking a new Executive Director
by Dave Elmore 15 Jun '15

15 Jun '15

Please circulate: http://thewrench.ca/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/WRENCH-ED-posting-2 015.pdf Employment Opportunity: Executive Director The WRENCH is a non-profit organization that strives to make bikes and knowledge of bicycle repair and maintenance assessable to the public by: .Providing programming, education and resources for community members, groups and organizations .Supporting and promoting bicycle use within the city .Supporting new and existing community bike shops Through collaboration with community groups, schools, municipal representatives and individuals, The WRENCH: .Provides access to cycling programming for youth groups, community organizations, agencies and schools .Supports and increases the number and skill level of school and community mechanics and volunteers .Empowers youth and other community members through mentorship, t raining, building confidence and self-esteem .Reduces waste by refurbishing and recycling bicycles and bicycle parts The WRENCH is seeking an Executive Director to provide organizational leadership and financial planning and management of The WRENCH. Job Description Leadership .Participate with the Board in developing astrategic plan to guide the organization. .Identify, assess and inform the Board of internal and external issues that affect the organization. .Foster effective team work between the Board and the Executive Director, and between the Executive Director and other employees. .Act as a spokesperson for the organization, subject to the Board's direction. .Represent the organization at community activities to enhance the organization's community profile. Financial planning and management .Work with staff and Board to prepare a comprehensive budget. .Coordinate all aspects of fundraising, including developing foundation proposals, securing donations and sponsorship, fundraising events, and donor recognition. .Ensure that sound bookkeeping and accounting procedures are followed. .Administer the funds of the organization according to the approved budget and monitor the monthly cash flow of the organization. .Provide the Board with comprehensive, regular reports on the revenues and expenditures of the organization, including a monthly financial analysis. Operational and program planning and management .Develop operational plans that work towards the strategic direction of the organization. .Oversee the planning, implementation and evaluation of the organization's programs and services. .Ensure that the organization's operation meets the expectations of the Board, funders and clients. .Oversee the efficient and effective operation of the organization. .Draft policies and procedures for the Board, review existing policies and procedures and recommend appropriate changes. .Support the Board by preparing meeting agendas and supporting materials. .Deliver a monthly report to the Board, giving the status of each area of responsibility. Human resources planning and management .Determine staffing requirements for management of the organization and delivery of programs. .Establish a positive, healthy and safe work environment in accordance with all appropriate legislation and regulations. .Implement a performance management process for all staff, which includes an annual performance review. Community relations and advocacy .Communicate with stakeholders to keep them informed of the organization's work and to identify changes in the community served by the organization. .Establish good working relationships and collaborative arrangements with community groups, schools, youth groups, cycling groups, funders, and media and other organizations to help achieve the organization's goals. Qualifications .Ability to self direct, prioritize and meet deadlines .Excellent interpersonal communication and conflict management skills .Experience working with non-profit/community organizations and boards .Project management from conceptual design to final assessment .Proven experience in non -profit fundraising and grant writing .Familiarity with community bike shops and other local cycling organizations .Awareness and sensitivity to issues of marginalization (sexism, racism, classism) and cultural diversity .Understanding of community economic development principles .Experience working with Aboriginal and newcomer communities .Experience working with youth and knowledge of community based youth serving organizations .Experience building consensus within and between organizations The successful candidate will be required to complete a child abuse registry check and a criminal record check. Application deadline: Monday, June 22, 2015 Start Date: ASAP Please submit resume and cover letter to The WRENCH Hiring Committee by email to: info(a)thewrench.ca

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AT Webinar: First Mile / Last Mile Connections to Transit, Wed, June 17, 2-3pm, EcoCentre
by Beth McKechnie 11 Jun '15

11 Jun '15

Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg invite you to join us for a local viewing of the APBP webinar: *First Mile / Last Mile Connections to Transit.* The webinar viewing takes place in the EcoCentre boardroom (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave) and will be followed by group discussion of local applications. RSVPs appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! cheers, Beth ** * * * ** First Mile / Last Mile Connections to Transit *Wednesday, June 17th, 2-3pm, EcoCentre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Boardroom* This webinar features the work of two leading transit agencies in the vanguard of policy development and implementation for connecting transit to pedestrian and bicycle networks. Presenters from Translink (Vancouver, B.C.) and TriMet (Portland, Ore.) discuss their agency's approach to prioritizing connections for people walking and bicycling. Learn about the research and cost/benefit analysis Translink has done to make the case for increased investment in walking and cycling facilities, and how TriMet approaches pedestrian and bicycle network access and prioritizes improvements. *Presenters:* - Alan Letho, Director of Planning and Policy, TriMet - Lyle Walker, Senior Planner, TransLink

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First ever bike Week in Portage la Prairie
by Beth McKechnie 10 Jun '15

10 Jun '15

Portage gets ready to get active By Johnna Ruocco <http://www.portagedailygraphic.com/author/johnna-ruocco>, The Graphic Tuesday, June 9, 2015 10:07:34 CDT AM http://www.portagedailygraphic.com/2015/06/09/portage-gets-ready-to-get-act… Several local organizations are teaming up to hold the first ever Bike Week Portage from June 13-19. The Active Transportation Group, Portage Community Revitalization Corporation, Portage la Prairie Regional Library, Portage la Prairie Public Art, Junk Yard Dogs and the City of Portage la Prairie are partners in the inaugural bike week. The official kickoff will be held on June 13 at the library. There will be many activities on the agenda including a bike rodeo at 10 a.m., which is hosted by the library and the RCMP. The event will continue at the PCRC parking lot with face-painting, a bicycle decoration contest and a vintage bicycle display from local cyclists at 11 a.m. Then, at 12 p.m., Mayor Irvine Ferris will officially proclaim the week to be Bike Week Portage. There will also be a free barbecue and the group is hoping Portagers will help them set a city record for the most number of bikes in one place. The next event will be on June 15. Yvette Cuthbert will be guiding a free public art bicycle tour, starting at the main entrance of the PCU Centre at 7 p.m. A historical building tour will be held the following day, June 16. This tour is also free and will be hosted by Derrick McCutcheon. The tour meets at Off the Top at 230 Saskatchewan Ave. E. at 7 p.m. On June 18 there will be a ride through some of the paths throughout the city. The ride will take place beginning at 7 p.m. and meeting between the PCU Centre and Splash Island. It is open to all skill and experience levels and will be no longer than one hour. Also on June 18 will be Bike Week Portage Presents: the Travelling Meal. Rain or shine, this tour aims to celebrate physical activity, clean environment and healthy living by riding bikes through Portage and stopping along the way to enjoy a light meal. The start time is 6 p.m. meeting at the Portage Mall. The first stop will be Tornado’s for salad or an appetizer, then Cafe on Prince for an entree, then to Horfrost for dessert. Tickets are limited and are $30 per person and can be purchased at the PCRC office or by calling Dan at 204-239-2979. The deadline for tickets is June 16. For more information, contact Dianna at 204-871-6735 or dneufeld(a)southernhealth.ca. Bike Week Portage wraps up on June 19 with the active transportation group promoting everyone in the community to bike to school or work. There will be rest stops set up for people to take a break or get some water. The rest stop locations will be at Crescent Road and Wilkinson Crescent, Crescent Road and Royal Road, the RBC on Saskatchewan Avenue, 3rd Street NE and 4th Avenue NE, and at 8th Street NW and Fisher Avenue W. johnna.ruocco(a)sunmedia.ca

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ParticipACTION's 2015 Report Card - AT grade for Canadian Children and Youth
by Shoni Madden 09 Jun '15

09 Jun '15

Thought some of you would be interested to see the report card on Canadian Phyiscal Activity for Children and Youth. In Active Transportation, Canada got a D - based on lack of children that walk or cycle to school (0%-20%) A key stat I took from this was that " *Canadian children are eight times more likely to die as a passenger in a motor vehicle than from being hit by a vehicle when outside on foot or on a bike.*" 52-54 *Active Transportation Recommendations included:* » School travel planning interventions should be implemented at a larger scale. » School board transport policies need to recognize and consider ways to support active forms of travel such as walking and cycling, rather than serving as purely a “bussing” policy. » Policy-makers should pay careful attention to areas with known safety risks in which a greater percentage of children engage in active transportation. Such policies may include lower speed limits, greater provision of sidewalks and bike lanes, traffic calming and crossing guards near schools. » Novel initiatives to encourage active transportation among children living in suburban and rural areas are needed. While school may be located too far away to enable active transportation for the entire trip, walking may still be promoted for part of the journey. The ParticipACTION Report Card (formerly the Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card) provides a comprehensive assessment of the current state of physical activity for children and youth in Canada. For the first time, the Report Card takes a stand on play in nature and the outdoors—with its risks—and includes a *Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play*. The main message of the report card is that kids move more and sit less when they play outdoors, and have some freedom to roam and take risks. The following materials are available on ParticipACTION’s website <http://zc1.maillist-manage.com/click.zc?od=11287eca4835f4&repDgs=1454299662…> : Ø A Highlight Report <http://zc1.maillist-manage.com/click.zc?od=11287eca4835f4&repDgs=1454299662…> which summarizes the 2015 cover story, indicators and grades. Ø A Full Report <http://zc1.maillist-manage.com/click.zc?od=11287eca4835f4&repDgs=1454299662…> which includes background on our methodology and process, in-depth analyses, summaries of key research, charts and figures and complete references. Ø Communications tools <http://zc1.maillist-manage.com/click.zc?od=11287eca4835f4&repDgs=1454299662…> to support the dissemination of the Report Card findings in presentations, social media, on websites and in newsletters. Thanks, -- *Shoni Madden* | Active and Safe Routes to School Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3779 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://canadahelps.org/> * Please note that my regular office hours are Tuesdays/Thursdays. I will respond to your communication at this time.

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FW: Bike Week
by Dave Elmore 09 Jun '15

09 Jun '15

We are riding to City Hall today (June 9th) from The Forks to announce all of the exciting Bike Week news. Please join us in your best work attire! Meet Under the Canopy at The Forks at 12:15 PM, Announcement at 1:00 PM Bike Week Winnipeg is a celebration of people riding bicycles. Whether you're racing, commuting, keeping fit, or just out for a Sunday ride, Bike Week Winnipeg is for you because it's for everyone. This year, Bike Week Winnipeg will take place from June 13-19, 2015 and will feature a wide variety of bicycle-related events for all types of riders. Our weeklong celebration will kick-off with a pancake breakfast at the University of Winnipeg on Monday, June 15 and - as always - will wrap up with our Half Pints Bikes and BBQ Party at The Forks on Friday, June 19. For more information and a full listing of Bike Week Winnipeg events, visit <http://www.bikeweekwinnipeg.com/> bikeweekwinnipeg.com We look forward to riding with you, Andraea Sartison Bike Week Event Coordinator PLEASE FORWARD THIS EMAIL AS PROMOTION WITHIN YOUR COMMUNITY

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Fwd: 2015 City of Winnipeg Access Awards
by Anders Swanson 09 Jun '15

09 Jun '15

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: *Sobkowicz, Chris* <csobkowicz(a)winnipeg.ca> Date: Monday, June 8, 2015 Subject: RE: 2015 City of Winnipeg Access Awards To: "Sobkowicz, Chris" <csobkowicz(a)winnipeg.ca> Hello Everyone: Just a quick reminder that there is only one week to our deadline of June 15th for submissions for the 2015 City of Winnipeg Access Awards. Please feel free to pass this information along to all your associates. I have attached a copy of the 2015 Access Awards Fillable form, along with the categories and criteria for each award. I have also attached a copy of the 2014 Award Winners selected at our event at the MET Entertainment Centre last year. This was a memorable gala event, which has now set the bar of proper recognition to those who use Universal Design as a major focus in the scope of their projects. You are also invited to visit our archive of award winners over the years by visiting our website at www.aacwinnipeg.mb.ca Please help us recognize those architects, engineers, designers, landscape architects, and owners who have successfully achieved the concepts of access for everyone. Take a moment to fill out a nomination form *or *send this information along to your associates and friends to do likewise. Nomination Deadline is Monday June 15, 2015 *Chris Sobkowicz* Coordinator City of Winnipeg Access Advisory Committee 204 986-8345 www.aacwinnipeg.mb.ca

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WFP: Police considering using barricades to keep drivers off Sunday cycling routes (Jun5'15)
by Beth McKechnie 08 Jun '15

08 Jun '15

Police considering using barricades to keep drivers off Sunday cycling routes http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/Police-considering-using-barricades-… With new rules for summer bike routes confusing some drivers, bringing back barricades makes good sense for city police, Winnipeg Police Service Chief Devon Clunis said Friday. A bylaw implemented last summer allows police to ticket drivers who travel more than one block on the Sunday and holiday bike routes, which are no longer barricaded. Instead, posted signs restrict vehicle traffic to one block. Drivers who break the bylaw face a fine of $90.22. Police have been out warning drivers on the four designated streets - Lyndale Drive, Scotia Street, Wellington Crescent and Wolseley Avenue - which are considered cycling paths from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays and statutory holidays from mid-May until mid-October. But drivers still aren’t getting the message, Clunis said Friday. "From a police perspective right now, certainly it’s not our intent that we just want to be out there ticketing after ticketing after ticketing. I wish people would get the message." Reinstalling bike-route barricades would simplify officers’ duties, he said, and he’d like to find out why they were removed in favour of new signs. "As a citizen, I can understand why seeing a physical barrier would certainly be far more obvious than a sign," he said. "Would the barricades actually make our job as a police service easier? Absolutely." Removing the barricades was recommended by the public works department, which saw the new Sunday cycling rules as a way to save money. Public works director Brad Sacher told a civic committee last July that it cost the department $35,000 a year to have staff put up and take down the barricades on the four routes every Sunday during the cycling season. With the new signs, Sacher said it was no longer necessary to place the barricades. Sacher recommended that an extensive public education campaign be conducted to make motorists aware of the new bylaw.

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WFP CanStar Weeklies: Buffered bike lanes extended on Pembina (Jun2'15)
by Beth McKechnie 08 Jun '15

08 Jun '15

Buffered bike lanes extended on Pembina By: Richard Kamchen - Community Correspondent http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/souwester/correspondent/Bu… Road resurfacing and rehabilitation is continuing its southward expansion down Pembina Highway and will feature bicycle routes. "The University of Manitoba is the second most-commuted-to destination in the City of Winnipeg by people on bikes, in buses and in cars," says acting deputy mayor Janice Lukes, city councillor for St. Norbert ward. The motivation behind the ongoing roadwork is tied to the city’s efforts to expand rapid transit to the Fort Garry campus. "The U of M is growing and expanding, they’re redeveloping the Southwood Golf Course there, and the south end is growing tremendously. So we’re looking at all forms of transportation," Lukes says. The approximately four-month project, which is part of Winnipeg’s Public Works Department’s regional street renewal program, is budgeted at $4.45 million. It began May 12 and, weather permitting, is anticipated to be completed Aug. 28. Construction is occurring on southbound Pembina from Bairdmore Boulevard North Leg to Kirkbridge Drive; and northbound from Killarney Avenue to Dalhousie Drive. The renewal project will include new bike lanes, pavement widening, curb and sidewalk renewal, bus stop upgrades, and boulevard upgrading where required. Asphalt resurfacing will follow to improve drainage and rideability. Street medians are being narrowed to widen the roads in order to accommodate a 1.5 metre buffered bike lane. No additional vehicle travel lanes will be constructed. The bike lanes will mirror the design of the buffered bike lanes on Pembina from University Crescent to Markham Road. During non-winter months, cyclists will be separated from traffic by plastic bollards, which are essentially tall white dividers that alert drivers to the bike lanes next to them. The bus stops will feature bike boarding platforms and are also to be constructed using a design similar to the bus stops on Pembina from University Crescent to Markham. The boulevards on Pembina from Kirkbridge to Bairdmore will be re-seeded. Pembina Highway will remain open to traffic and access to all businesses and residential premises will be maintained. Lukes says she wishes to see the project expand farther south in the future. "I’m hoping the following year it goes right to the Perimeter." *Richard Kamchen is a community correspondent for Fort Richmond.*

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WFP: Risky ride along Osborne - Cyclists vie for space with drivers in one of city's busiest corridors (Jun8'15)
by Beth McKechnie 08 Jun '15

08 Jun '15

Risky ride along OsborneCyclists vie for space with drivers in one of city's busiest corridors By: Kristin Annable http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/risky-ride-along-osborne-306448641.h… Osborne Village represents the trifecta of danger for cyclists: a high volume of traffic, a narrow road and an underpass. Last month, the Free Press asked cyclists to submit the trouble spots they encounter as they navigate the streets. After hundreds of submissions, Osborne Street from the bridge to the CN underpass proved to be one of the top areas. Many cyclists said there is just no room for them. [image: A paramedic picks up a helmet after a cyclist was hit near Osborne Street and Jessie Avenue in 2012.] <http://media.winnipegfreepress.com/images/120323_PEDESTRIAN_01_155119.jpg> TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES A paramedic picks up a helmet after a cyclist was hit near Osborne Street and Jessie Avenue in 2012. Photo Store <http://store.winnipegfreepress.com/photostore/photo-search/?keyword=A+param…> [image: trevor hagan / winnipeg free press There�s a welcome bike lane on the Osborne Street Bridge heading south from downtown, but it ends abruptly at the foot of the bridge.] <http://media.winnipegfreepress.com/images/6835742.jpg> trevor hagan / winnipeg free press There�s a welcome bike lane on the Osborne Street Bridge heading south from downtown, but it ends abruptly at the foot of the bridge. There is some notice paid to cyclists on the stretch. The Osborne Street Bridge has a designated bicycle lane, and just north of the bridge is a crossing for cyclists to get to the Assiniboine River. Meanwhile, the Osborne rapid-transit station offers bicycle lockers for cyclists to lock up their bike and commute to work. However, Free Press readers said the path from the bridge to the station is perilous. The journey begins at the bridge, the only spot in this stretch with a painted bike lane, which as one cyclist pointed out, "the lane suddenly ends at the lights on Osborne and Roslyn (Road)." "I have been almost side-swiped several times as the (drivers) have not been used to noticing me and suddenly we are to share a lane." The alternative is to swerve onto the sidewalk, which is illegal and can result in a $113 fine for an adult cyclist. As the cyclist continues south, they reach an increasingly narrow street, and as one reader pointed out, "parking on Osborne Street means cyclists are expected to constantly merge in and out of the curb lane, with cars frequently travelling above the 50 km/h limit." As they reach Confusion Corner and the Osborne underpass, they head towards an area that sees thousands of cars pass through daily. Despite extensive lobbying by groups such as the Winnipeg Trails Association and Bike to the Future in 2009, there is no dedicated lane at the underpass. "(That) forces cyclists to use Osborne, south of Confusion Corner, which is way too busy for safe cycling," said another cyclist. One reader described a typical morning commute, which is more difficult when Osborne gets backed up to the north. "I've seen plenty of cyclists attempt to squeeze through in very dangerous ways. The alternative is to take the pedestrian path under the bridge, but that is also very narrow, and a bike can only just squeeze by a pedestrian." Kevin Nixon, who is the city's co-ordinator of active transportation, said it would be expensive to incorporate infrastructure for cyclists on a narrow, busy road such as Osborne Street. It would require the widening of the street towards the underpass. A fact planners learned the hard way when they had to backtrack on a promise to build a bike lane on the Osborne Street CN Rail underpass, after realizing it would have meant rebuilding the entire bridge to accommodate it. The city has identified Osborne Village as one of the top spots for cycling accidents. Its 20-year cycling strategy labels Osborne Street a "multi-modal corridor" where cyclists must share space with a high number of vehicles, transit and pedestrians. The strategy calls Osborne Street an "existing bicycle facility." Approval of the cycling strategy is on hold as the city consults with Winnipeggers about it. Readers can head to winnipegfreepress.com to watch Mark Cohoe, the executive director of Bike Winnipeg, show first-hand the difficulty of cycling Osborne Street. Next Monday, the Free Press will examine the barriers to cycling the main route to St. Vital. kristin.annable(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Bike Week media launch and suit ride
by Dave Elmore 07 Jun '15

07 Jun '15

This Tuesday Bike Week 2015 will have our media launch. We are also having a "Suit Ride" to the launch. The suit ride starts at 12:30 pm from the canopy at the Forks. The launch starts at 1:00 pm and we need as many people on their bikes as possible. It's a great opportunity to show our new mayor (who will be speaking at the launch) how important bikes are. Get dressed in your best and join us for a ride or just drop by for the launch. Bike Week starts on Saturday the 13th and we will also be having our 2nd annual free pancake breakfast on Monday the 15th kick things off. Check out all the great activities planned for Bike Week at http://www.bikeweekwinnipeg.com/about/events-schedule/.

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Maker Community Embraces Urban Biking
by David Pensato 04 Jun '15

04 Jun '15

Make Magazine is the top resource for the maker and DIY community (think people who are into 3D printers, CNC machines, soldering and/or robotics. This article is where the Maker/Urban Cyclist venn diagram intersect: >From Kickstarter to Collaboration, Taking Urban Biking to the Next Level http://makezine.com/2015/06/04/kickstarter-collaboration-taking-urban-bikin…

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Velo-city
by Anders Swanson 04 Jun '15

04 Jun '15

Please find below a link to a daily roundup of presentations here at Velocity 2016 in Nantes. Proud to present a couple made-in-winnipeg transportation planning solutions from Green Action Centre, as well as represent the Winter Cycling Federation as we prepare for Minneapolis 2016. You can follow me on twitter for some salient points (@SwansonAnders or @counterpointapp). Also note, the exhibitors booths here are expansive and has just about everything in terms of the latest bike parking, bike share, gis analysis tools, encouragement programs, etc. If there is anything you are burning to learn about or a catalogue you'd like to have brought back to Winnipeg, let me know and I'll do my best to look into it for you. Kindly, Anders ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: *ECF Newsletter* <noreply(a)ecf.com> Date: Thursday, June 4, 2015 Subject: Velo-city Roundup Day 2: Opening Plenary, COP21, Bike Parade and more! To: andersswanson(a)gmail.com This is the ECF Newsletter dedicated to the Velo-city Conference 2015 in Nantes. These are the highlights from the second day. Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser <http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=b0c3ff3f53e4c6a8be5677245&id=73377cf329…> . *It is Velo-city 2015 and here comes our second news round-up from the conference in Nantes, France!* To keep you up-to-date on all the most relevant news from the world’s largest cycling convention, we will be sending you one edition with daily highlights each day for the rest of the week. This is a news digest – click the ‘more’ links if you’re looking to follow the event more closely. You can also find more information on our special Live website <http://ecf.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b0c3ff3f53e4c6a8be5677245&id=5…> and, naturally, on social media. Here is a selection of what’s been happening on the second day at #velocity15: - We are all future makers <#14dbd2e6d3e516d4_mctoc1> - Opening Plenary - Cycling towards COP21 <#14dbd2e6d3e516d4_mctoc2> - Infrastructure: Innovation, Parking Solutions and Attractive Design <#14dbd2e6d3e516d4_mctoc3> - Bike Parade <#14dbd2e6d3e516d4_mctoc4> - Velo-city Nantes Industry Day <#14dbd2e6d3e516d4_mctoc5> - Change the Rules! Promoting Cycling with More or Less Regulation <#14dbd2e6d3e516d4_mctoc6> We are all future makers Velo-city 2015, the world’s biggest cycling conference, kicks off in Nantes, France with a wide-ranging programme that covers all cycling related topics from cycling infrastructure to cycling culture. This event gathers over 1500 delegates from more than 60 countries to discuss the future of cycling setting a new record in terms of participation. Read more <http://ecf.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b0c3ff3f53e4c6a8be5677245&id=6…> *Opening Plenary - Cycling towards COP21* Velo-city 2015 Nantes is a major event leading up to the COP 21, to be held in Paris in December. Nantes, European Green Capital 2013, has gained recognition for its ongoing commitment to sustainable development and in particular its pro-cycling policy. The Opening Plenary of the 23rd Velo-city conference welcomed over 1500 delegates from all over the world. Read more <http://ecf.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=b0c3ff3f53e4c6a8be5677245&id=…> *Infrastructure: Innovation, Parking Solutions and Attractive Design * What type of design could make cycling infrastructure attractive for cyclists? What bike parking facilities have been proved effective? What kind of innovative infrastructure elements are leading to the future? Several sessions on Velo-city Day 2 tried to provide answers for these questions. Read more <http://ecf.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b0c3ff3f53e4c6a8be5677245&id=6…> *Bike Parade* What’s so special about Velo-city? The answer is… the traditional “bike parade” which brought together 7.000 people for a festive bike ride though the city of Nantes. Read more <http://ecf.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=b0c3ff3f53e4c6a8be5677245&id=…> Velo-city Nantes Industry Day The second day of the Velo-city was full of industry-related sessions and networking events which can all be found in the Velo-city Industry Day Programme <http://ecf.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=b0c3ff3f53e4c6a8be5677245&id=…> put together by ECF. The link between cycling industry and advocacy is stronger than ever and success in one field benefits the other creating positive synergy in advancing cycling. Read more <http://ecf.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b0c3ff3f53e4c6a8be5677245&id=a…> Change the Rules! Promoting Cycling with More or Less Regulation Through orientation and guidance on behaviour and practice, regulation can undoubtedly play a decisive role in travel mode shift. What does pro-cycling regulation entail? More regulation, or less? The discussion highlighted various examples and addressed the changes that are necessary to make more attractive than cars. Read more <http://ecf.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b0c3ff3f53e4c6a8be5677245&id=0…> More... Visit out live page <http://ecf.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b0c3ff3f53e4c6a8be5677245&id=9…> Check out photos on flickr <http://ecf.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b0c3ff3f53e4c6a8be5677245&id=e…> Connect via facebook <http://ecf.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b0c3ff3f53e4c6a8be5677245&id=9…> or twitter <http://ecf.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b0c3ff3f53e4c6a8be5677245&id=2…> follow on Twitter <https://www.twitter.com/EuCyclistsFed/> | friend on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/626614349> | forward to a friend <http://us2.forward-to-friend2.com/forward?u=b0c3ff3f53e4c6a8be5677245&id=73…> *Copyright © 2015 European Cyclists' Federation, All rights reserved.* You receive this email because you are part of our mailing list "ECF Website Sign up" *Our mailing address is:* European Cyclists' Federation Rue Franklin 28 Brussels 1000 Belgium Add us to your address book <http://ecf.us2.list-manage.com/vcard?u=b0c3ff3f53e4c6a8be5677245&id=c6a2e6c…> unsubscribe from this list <http://ecf.us2.list-manage2.com/unsubscribe?u=b0c3ff3f53e4c6a8be5677245&id=…> | update subscription preferences <http://ecf.us2.list-manage1.com/profile?u=b0c3ff3f53e4c6a8be5677245&id=c6a2…>

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Quebec cycle tourists spend more, stay longer, visit more often
by Beth McKechnie 03 Jun '15

03 Jun '15

*STUDY: QUEBEC CYCLE TOURISTS SPEND MORE, STAY LONGER, VISIT MORE OFTEN * Cycle tourists spend more, take frequent trips and travel for longer periods of time than the typical leisure tourist. And because they schedule their trips as early as June and as late as September, cycle tourists are helping to extend Quebec’s tourist season. These are some of the highlights of a study released by UQAM’s Transat Chair in Tourism. (Study Highlights: http://bit.ly/1Jkrl8s <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Ge_2-y9_Cuk0bgJ2Einl1w1ntGWEDlko0SxuwqciTG8k…> )

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Copenhagenize: The 20 Most Bike-Friendly Cities on the Planet
by Beth McKechnie 03 Jun '15

03 Jun '15

For your reading pleasure from Copenhagenize: The 20 Most Bike-Friendly Cities on the Planet http://www.wired.com/2015/06/copenhagenize-worlds-most-bike-friendly-cities/ Spoiler alert: Winnipeg's not on it but Montreal and Minneapolis are. cheers, Beth -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://canadahelps.org/>

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Parklets: Measuring impact on sidewalk vitality and neighbourhood businesses
by Beth McKechnie 02 Jun '15

02 Jun '15

Interesting study on parklets from University City District of Philadelphia: *"The Case for Parklets: Measuring the Impact on Sidewalk Vitality and Neighbourhood Businesses"* http://www.universitycity.org/sites/default/files/documents/The%20Case%20fo… Couple of key points that jumped out at me: *Parklets are not just for patrons.* A common concern is that Parklets may be interpreted by potential users as private space intended only for patrons of the adjacent businesses. In fact though, Parklets attracted a large number of non-patron users, with the busiest Parklets attracting the most non-patrons. *Parklet installation coincided with a substantial boost in sales*. The majority of host businesses were able to provide sales data for the one to two weeks preceding and following the installation of their adjacent Parklets2. Among them, the sales impact of the Parklets was substantial: following the introduction of the Parklets, sales were up by an average of 20% (the number of transactions increased by an average of 17% at the two businesses reporting that additional statistic). Several of the reporting businesses had been in operation for less than one year, so it was not possible to compare the year over year change in sales. Based on the typical increase in sales, a new Parklet is likely to pay for itself after just one to two seasons, particularly when multiple businesses benefit from its presence and can share in the cost -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://canadahelps.org/>

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Webinar Reminder: Talking Biking - Language that Defuses Bike Backlashes, Wed, June 3, 2-3pm, EcoCentre
by Beth McKechnie 02 Jun '15

02 Jun '15

*Just a friendly reminder about tomorrow afternoon's webinar...* Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg invite you to join us for a local viewing of the APBP webinar: *Talking Biking - Language that Defuses Bike Backlashes (Protected Lanes #3).* The webinar viewing takes place in the EcoCentre boardroom (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave) and will be followed by group discussion of local applications. If you can't join us, please note that this is a free webinar, so you can register to view it on your own <https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1992998232325245954> or watch the recording at a later date. It will be posted a few days later on apbp.org <http://www.apbp.org/?page=Free_Webinars>. RSVPs appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! cheers, Beth ** * * * ** Talking Biking: Language that Defuses Bike Backlashes (Protected Lanes #3) *Wednesday, June 3rd, 2-3pm, EcoCentre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Boardroom* Words shape thoughts. Two skilled communicators from cities that have successfully overcome intense backlashes against bicycle infrastructure will share their tactics and experiences and take your questions. Featuring: - Cathy Tuttle, Executive Director of Seattle Neighborhood Greenways, and - Doug Gordon of BrooklynSpoke.com, in conversation with - PeopleForBikes staff writer Michael Andersen. -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://canadahelps.org/>

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WFP: We're No. 4 (in large Canadian cities) and that's OK (Jun2'15)
by Beth McKechnie 02 Jun '15

02 Jun '15

[Note reference to transit and cycling below, highlighted in yellow.] We're No. 4 (in large Canadian cities) and that's OK By: Kevin Rollason <http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/biographies/305362361.html> http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/were-no-4-in-large-canadian-cities-a… WINNIPEG may have slipped a few spots overall on MoneySense magazine's annual list of the best places to live in Canada, but in terms of big cities, it has gone up a notch in the rankings. And for organizations that promote Winnipeg, that is the key finding. MoneySense, a personal finance magazine, lists Winnipeg as the 24th-best place to live in Canada in 2015 -- a drop from 19th last year, and continuing the city's fall from 16th in 2013, and 10th in 2012. But in terms of the survey's 15 large Canadian cities, Winnipeg jumped up to fourth place from fifth, surpassing Edmonton, which plunged to 33rd from eighth overall in 2014. The centres ahead of Winnipeg are Ottawa, Quebec City and Calgary. Marina James, the CEO of Economic Development Winnipeg Inc., said she believes the large city ranking is the more relevant ranking for Winnipeg. "I'm so pleased we moved from fifth to fourth in big cities," James said Monday. "As an economic development agency we will promote that... I do believe any time we are in the top list it is very valuable for Winnipeg." The annual list puts small-sized Boucherville, Que., as number 1 of 209 Canadian cities to live in, edging out Ottawa. Brandon, in 26th place, is the next Manitoba entry after Winnipeg on the list, climbing up from 42nd. Other listed Manitoba communities are Steinbach at 149 (down from 85), Selkirk at 155 (the first time it has appeared on MoneySense's list), Portage la Prairie at 170 (down from 144) and Thompson at 177 (down from 121). Mark Brown, the author of the article, said Winnipeg mainly dropped down in the rankings because other cities popped up. "If another city has improvements, Winnipeg might be just as good as last year, but you can lose ground," he said. Brown said Winnipeg has several things going for it, including a population growth slightly higher than the national average, good access to health care and public transit, and ease in getting around on bicycle or foot. "You are 30th best for public transit -- that's positive," he said. "And two per cent of your population takes a bicycle to work -- that's really good and puts you 27th in the country." Brown said several Alberta cities have dropped because the massive influx in their populations in recent years have left them struggling to provide public services such as accessible health care. Loren Remillard of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce said in itself a drop to 24th place from 19th is not bad news. "Overall, this is more a case of small and medium-sized cities rocketing up the survey," Remillard said. "These aren't the communities Winnipeg is competing against for community investment... we didn't drop so much as smaller cities (went) up. "Being fourth bodes well for Winnipeg." kevin.rollason(a)freepress.mb.ca *Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 2, 2015 A2*

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Fwd: Pedi-Cab Drivers for The Forks
by Anders Swanson 01 Jun '15

01 Jun '15

I have done this before. It's a lot of fun. But my pedicab days are over. Passing along for anyone interested. I hear the $ can be pretty good. See below ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Darren Downey <Darren.Downey(a)tf-np.ca> Date: Mon, Jun 1, 2015 at 6:04 PM Subject: Pedi-Cab Drivers for The Forks To: "andersswanson(a)gmail.com" <andersswanson(a)gmail.com> Hi Anders, Please see the attached job opportunity at The Forks. You may know some bike enthusiastic people interested in this position. Please share with whomever. Thanks *Darren Downey, CAPP* *Manager, Business Operations and Parking* *The Forks North Portage* *259 - 393 Portage Avenue* *Winnipeg, MB R3B 3H6* *t: 204-987-4381 <204-987-4381>* *f: 204-942-5216 <204-942-5216>*

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Job posting: Pedicab Drivers for The Forks
by Beth McKechnie 01 Jun '15

01 Jun '15

Hi everyone, The Forks is hiring 4-6 weekend pedicab drivers (riders?) this summer. Please share widely. thanks, Beth -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://canadahelps.org/>

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WFP: The concrete canvas - A look at how the city paints Winnipeg's streets (May30'15)
by Beth McKechnie 01 Jun '15

01 Jun '15

THE CONCRETE CANVASA LOOK AT HOW THE CITY PAINTS WINNIPEG'S STREETS by Kristen Annable http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/featured/The-concrete-canvas-30547… The roads of Winnipeg take a beating every winter, from the layers of sand to the scrapping of snowplows. Then, when the snow melts away, an empty canvas is revealed, one where lane markings have been scrubbed clean. Figuring out where one lane ends and the next begins is Winnipeg’s own version of the video game *Frogger*. Eventually a team of city workers makes its way across Winnipeg and paints over the faded lines, creating a motorist’s masterpiece, where each lane, intersection and bike route is clearly marked. Then winter arrives, erasing their hard work. Come spring, they are back it again. The Free Press set out to examine this annual ritual, by meeting the crews behind the scenes and examining the reality of why Winnipeg’s lane markings disappear. And raising the question: is there not a better way? The short answer? Yes. The long answer? It’s a lot more complex. The nuts and bolts The city is responsible for painting about 1,000 kilometres of road and 1,061 intersections every year, usually once in the spring and again in the fall. Heavy-volume roads such as Main Street or Portage Avenue are often painted three times a year. Winnipeg’s disappearing lane markings are just another product of our harsh winter climate, explains the city’s superintendent of traffic services. Wes Delaney, who has devoted most of his professional life to organizing lane-painting in some capacity, probably understands the science that goes into painting roads and highways better than most Manitobans. "Our climate here sucks for painting. We have a short window to get all this done by November and then, of course, the snow hits and the sanders are out — that is the worst thing for the road paint: the sand," he says. "It is sandpaper grinding it off all winter long, until there is nothing left and then the plows come out and rip it all up." [image: The city paints more than 1,000 kilometres of road each year, going through 66,700 litres of paint.] <http://media.winnipegfreepress.com/images/30d8_road8.jpg> TYLER WALSH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The city paints more than 1,000 kilometres of road each year, going through 66,700 litres of paint. Also, the snow-clearing practice of scraping right to the concrete plays a role, he explains. Like most cities in North America, Winnipeg uses a quick-dry alkyd paint, and what it lacks in durability, it makes up for in low price. With the current technology and a crew of three workers, the city can do about 10 kilometres an hour, at a cost of about 38 cents a metre for the paint. It has an annual budget of about $1.1 million and goes through 66,700 litres of paint. The city tried to experiment with latex paint, which is slightly cheaper and what the province typically uses for its highways; however, the constant criss-crossing traffic created a mess of the roads, Delaney says. The city has one truck devoted to the task. It operates throughout the spring and summer, four days a week, once it gets warm enough for the paint to stick. Since May 4, city crews have been out in full force, beginning with priority routes such as high-traffic parts of Main Street or Pembina Highway and bridges such as Provencher. Next up are the Priority 2 roads, including Henderson Highway and the downtown core, before the rest of the city’s major and minor roads are tackled. It takes the crew until June just to finish the Priority 1 roads. Three times between May 4 and November, Winnipeggers will see the crew back at Main Street and other high-traffic stretches, painting them again and again, in hopes the lines will survive the winter. [image: A truck speeds down Regent Avenue, painting lane markers en route.] <http://media.winnipegfreepress.com/images/150506-STREET_PAINTER1_1920.jpg> PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS A truck speeds down Regent Avenue, painting lane markers en route. The crew At first glance, it looks as if only one worker, driving a large truck with two paint guns attached, is responsible for marking Winnipeg’s streets. But it takes more precision and manpower than that. The driver is more like an air-traffic controller to the two "pilots" who are hidden in the back compartment and who make sure the solid lines are painted solid, the dotted lines are dotted and the yellow paint goes where it should go. They are the artists of the roads you drive every day. And some, such as Frank Warenko, have been around for a decade, repainting the same streets every year, sometimes two or three times. "Ten years too long — the grey is starting to come from onto the road and into the hair," the veteran lane-liner operator jokes, one eye focused on the live camera in front of him, letting him know what is ahead. Warenko eases through the job of painting a stretch of Pembina Highway, paint throttle in hand, listening through his headset as the crew chief warns him of shifts in the road up ahead. The truck uses a laser to line up with existing lanes, allowing the crew to put down a fresh new coat, with colour, thickness and length based partially on their institutional knowledge and partially on the warnings of the crew chief. Only a foot separates Warenko and his lane-painting partner Bruce Evans in the cramped back cab, where the large computer system takes up most of the space. <http://media.winnipegfreepress.com/images/150506-STREET_PAINTER2_1920.jpg> PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS "It is all automatic; we have three computers and everything is set by it and you adjust it by values and measures," Warenko says. The truck travels about 20 kilometres an hour, as Corey Bakker, the driver and crew chief, warns Warenko and Evans of upcoming changes, such as a switch from a dotted to solid line. Warenko then turns to his computer in front of him and chooses from multiple options — dotted, yellow, bus lanes, bike paths or double lines — with the turn of dial. Meanwhile, their live cameras can switch from viewing the road ahead or to looking behind at the completed work. Bakker has the lane painter’s bible, a detailed book that can tell him at a glance what colour to use, whether it is a regular lane, a bike lane or a specialty turning lane. It is his job to relay the information to the crews in the back, to make sure the concrete canvas is painted properly. Once it’s the proper road temperature — the paint guns won’t even fire until it’s in the range — and they have reached the right spot in the road, Bakker radios to Warenko that the magic is about to begin. "Now," Warenko says, partially to himself, but also to Evans and Bakker. The system is similar to the way the city’s sanding trucks work, but in this case, it monitors paint and bead levels. [image: Denis Bouchard paints road lines on University Crescent near the Investors Group Field.] <http://media.winnipegfreepress.com/images/150525_LINE_PAINTING013_193.jpg> BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Denis Bouchard paints road lines on University Crescent near the Investors Group Field. Time-delayed glass beads are released after the paint comes out. This gives Winnipeg’s roads their reflective quality — crucial for nighttime visibility. Winnipeg goes through more than 4,000 kilograms of these beads in a year. The paint truck is the only one the city owns and Warenko, Bakker, Evans and Delaney dream of the day the city invests in a second machine. At over $500,000, it is an expensive investment, but a wise one, Delaney says. "We could just get into the city and do a lot of places all at once," he says. "We could have one crew in one area, and one doing the other." A second truck would also cut down on the number of complaints he receives, because it would take less time after the spring melt to get the job done. It takes the crews about 24 weeks to complete the entire process, including eight to 10 weeks just to paint the city’s intersections. A better way? It costs the city $1,100 per kilometre of road it paints every year, a number that will continue to climb as Winnipeg grows. Some cities, such as Calgary and Saskatoon, are experimenting with more durable markings, tape and inlaid thermoplastic that will survive winter’s sand and snow to remain on roads for years at a time. However, the cost difference is astronomical, Delaney says. Saskatoon set out to find just how astronomical the difference is between painting annually versus choosing a durable option that can last five or 10 years. Using a 10-year estimate, the city determined it would cost at least double for a 10-year inlaid thermoplastic or five-year plastic durable marking, compared with painting each year. 'The big advantage is from a safety perspective. Drivers can clearly delineate between the lines, year-round.' — Angela Gardiner, on more durable line markings <http://www.twitter.com/share?text=%27The+big+advantage+is+from+a+safety+per…> Despite that, the city decided to double its durable-paint budget to $500,000 and is doing 27 kilometres of durable five-or 10-year marking this year, targeting its arterial roads. Angela Gardiner, manager of Saskatoon’s transportation branch, says it was not a hard decision — because you can’t put a price on increasing residents’ safety. "The big advantage is from a safety perspective. Drivers can clearly delineate between the lines, year-round," she says. "It is difficult to put a cost on a collision; there is a definitely a benefit to continue to expand." The city will be focusing on various roads and freeway entrances, but it must factor in the city’s road-repair plan, too, because it makes little sense to put a five-year marking on a road that is going to be torn up, she says. "It is a bit of a puzzle putting all this together," Gardiner says. The year-round safety benefits, compared with less disruption to traffic each year, all make switching away from paint an easy-sounding solution, other than the money factor, Delaney says. "It is in the millions, I have never even thought it out yet. But it would astronomical," he says. "If we had the budget to do that, we would definitely do it." It is not just the price per kilometre, but also the intense labour costs involved with either going with a tape or thermoplastic. It would require either several new, expensive trucks or having crews shut down entire sections of roads while they apply the tape manually. In a 2013 trial, a three-kilometre stretch of Pembina Highway south of Bishop Grandin Boulevard was lined with 3M tape, a durable marking that can last about five to seven years. It is holding up well, so far. However, it took about four days to lay down the tape, versus the 20 minutes it would take to paint the same section. The city plans to extend this stretch of 3M tape by a further one to three kilometres this summer. [image: Crews from the City of Winnipeg and Promark Line Painting attended a demonstration by Ennis-Flint, a traffic safety solutions company ,as they applied a green methyl methacrylate (MMA) or durable pavement marking to highlight the bicycle path along Pembina Highway.] <http://media.winnipegfreepress.com/images/150526-ROAD-PAINT-01_193196.jpg> MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Crews from the City of Winnipeg and Promark Line Painting attended a demonstration by Ennis-Flint, a traffic safety solutions company ,as they applied a green methyl methacrylate (MMA) or durable pavement marking to highlight the bicycle path along Pembina Highway. Also, about one kilometre on Pembina Highway, north of Bishop Grandin, is being tested with methyl methacrylate (MMA) paint, a more durable paint similar to the epoxy paint used by Calgary that lasts five years. This week, crews returned to Pembina Highway to further test using MMA by painting a 20-foot green bike path marker near Chancellor Drive. The cost? About $1,000. Eventually, the hope is to use the MMA paint on bicycle lanes downtown, Delaney says. The MMA paint is highly visible — about eight times the reflectiveness of regular paint — and provides added traction for bike tires. "We are going to test it for the summer to see how it pans out and holds up." If the budget allowed for it, Delaney says he would "love" to see heavily travelled roads such as Main Street outfitted with 3M tape. "It’d be great, especially because it is new concrete along Main Street, so the paint really doesn’t stick," Delaney says. "It is always there for you. That is what you want — it is there in spring, summer, winter." In cities where there is less snow, such as Hamilton, road paint tends to last longer, but officials there are still keeping an eye on a more practical solution. Kris Jacobson, Hamilton’s superintendent of traffic operations, says there is a knowledge gap when it comes to installing and maintaining durable markings in a cost-effective manner. "We are beginning to see that the costs are starting to come in line. (But) is the technology advancing to the point where it does make sense to do this? Pricing, expertise with the equipment is starting to get there," he says. "Probably in the next couple of years, we will see a shift and it will become more cost effective." A spokeswoman for CAA Manitoba says they are supportive of using more durable paint, so drivers are better able to "follow the rules of the road." "It could help cut down on driver frustration, confusion and preventable accidents," Liz Kulyk says. "This may mean a larger upfront investment, but if it means lines are visible all year and don’t have to be repainted as often, it’s something CAA would support." Coun. Janice Lukes, the chairwoman for the city’s public works committee, agrees the stretch of her ward on Pembina Highway looks great and is much better for motorists. However, the St. Norbert councillor believes Winnipeggers want to see their roads repaired before the city spends the money on durable paint. Once the city gets a better handle on its infrastructure deficit, she fully supports moving towards more durable markings on the arterial roads. "You give a person a choice: do you want a nicely painted road or do you want a road that actually functions? You are going to want a road that functions," she says. "Right now, where this city is at with infrastructure, I would hazard to say that having functional roads, not full of potholes, is more important than inlaid paint on the road." kristin.annable(a)freepress.mb.ca

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AT Webinar: Talking Biking - Language that Defuses Bike Backlashes, Wed, June 3, 2-3pm, EcoCentre
by Beth McKechnie 29 May '15

29 May '15

Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg invite you to join us for a local viewing of the APBP webinar: *Talking Biking - Language that Defuses Bike Backlashes (Protected Lanes #3).* The webinar viewing takes place in the EcoCentre boardroom (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave) and will be followed by group discussion of local applications. If you can't join us, please note that this is a free webinar, so you can register to view it on your own <https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1992998232325245954> or watch the recording at a later date. It will be posted a few days later on apbp.org <http://www.apbp.org/?page=Free_Webinars>. RSVPs appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! cheers, Beth ** * * * ** Talking Biking: Language that Defuses Bike Backlashes (Protected Lanes #3) *Wednesday, June 3rd, 2-3pm, EcoCentre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Boardroom* Words shape thoughts. Two skilled communicators from cities that have successfully overcome intense backlashes against bicycle infrastructure will share their tactics and experiences and take your questions. Featuring: - Cathy Tuttle, Executive Director of Seattle Neighborhood Greenways, and - Doug Gordon of BrooklynSpoke.com, in conversation with - PeopleForBikes staff writer Michael Andersen.

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Active & Green: Commuting with kids, Hit the trails, Commuter Challenge
by Beth McKechnie 28 May '15

28 May '15

In case you haven't seen it, here's the latest issue of Active & Green. If you'd like to subscribe or see back issues, here you go <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/active-green/>. Or please share with your networks: http://eepurl.com/bnrUqX Tucked into one of the stories is a recent popular blog post on avoiding helmet hair <http://greenactioncentre.ca/living-green-living-well/oh-no-helmet-hair/>. thanks, Beth Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. <http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a183a3f55cc&id=936a2c1984…> *A better way to go* Want to improve commuter options at your workplace? We can help <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…> . <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…> ------------------------------ Are you registered? It's time for the Commuter Challenge! May 31 to June 6. Be sure that your workplace is registered and that you are signed up as an employee. There are awesome prizes <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…> to be won. Visit our website for full details <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a…>. ------------------------------ *7 excuses not to ride your bike* There are many great reasons to try cycling to work <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>. But you may have some concerns or barriers that seem insurmountable. Check out 7 common barriers <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a…> (and how to overcome them). ------------------------------ *Commuting with kids: Panel discussion* Do you want to try an active or green commute, but feel limited because you also need to transport your children? Join us for a lunchtime panel discussion during Bike Week on Commuting With Kids <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>. Hear from folks who face the same hurdles as you, and get some hints and tips to incorporate active transportation into your lifestyle! Lunch hour, Thursday, June 18th, at the Millennium Library. Full details here <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a…>. ------------------------------ *Share your cycling concerns* Is there a stretch of your bike commute that you find is poorly designed or dangerous? Tell the Free Press about it. They are collecting data and mapping troublesome areas. Check it out <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a…> and contribute! ------------------------------ *Upcoming Events* *Bike to School Month & Clean Air Day* <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a…> May 4 - June 3 *Commuter Challenge* <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a…> May 31 - June 6 *Clean Air Day On The Bridge* <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…> 7-9am, Wednesday, June 3 *Bike Week Winnipeg* <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…> June 13 - 19 *Commuting With Kids: Panel* <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…> Noon-1pm, Thursday, June 18 ------------------------------ Like what you read? Check out some back issues <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a…> . *Winnipeg Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies* The strategies, which await approval from City Council, will help guide development over the next two decades, making it easier and more comfortable for all ages and abilities to walk and bike in the city. Here are our Top 10 Reasons <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…> for Council to officially adopt the plan! *Hit the trails running* Green Action Centre employees are once again taking part in the David Suzuki 30x30 Challenge <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>. For the month of May, this challenge encourages individuals to get outdoors for 30 minutes every day. Follow #30x30Challenge, #natureiscalling and #greenaction on Twitter. Staffer Mel Marginet shares why she ditched the treadmill to hit the trails <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a…> ! *Carpool = sustainable too* If walking, cycling or taking the bus doesn't work for you, how about carpooling? It's easy to do but there are a few guidelines to help ensure you have a good experience. Check out our carpooling tips <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a…> [pdf] such as how to find a partner and setting expectations. Equally important is figuring out a fair cost sharing arrangement <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a…>. Not convinced it will work for you? Check out this story <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a…> of one car pool adventure that was so successful, the co-workers involved decided to buy a van together! *"Back door, please!"* If you've ridden the bus in Winnipeg, you've probably heard it. Possibly numerous times a ride. The panicked rider who can't open the back door and is afraid of being swept to the next stop. "Back door, please. BACK DOOR!" To help, we've put together this post <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a…>on all of the exiting options and ranked them from best to worst. Give it a read, and recommend it to new transit users. *See you on the bridge* Stop in at our tent on Wednesday, June 3, for Clean Air Day on the Bridge <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>! We'll be out on the Legislative grounds, just north of the Osborne Bridge. Bring your travel mug for some coffee, get some quick tune-ups done on your bike, and grab a tasty treat from Tall Grass Prairie <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>. Yum. We'll be there from 7:00-9:00 AM, as part of Commuter Challenge <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a…> week. You are receiving this email because you are an Active & Green subscriber. Our mailing address is: Green Action Centre 3-303 Portage Ave. Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2B4 Canada Copyright (C) 2015 Green Action Centre All rights reserved. Forward <http://us2.forward-to-friend1.com/forward?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a183a3f55cc&id=93…> this email to a friend Update your profile <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage2.com/profile?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a183a…> [image: Email Marketing Powered by MailChimp] <http://www.mailchimp.com/monkey-rewards/?utm_source=freemium_newsletter&utm…> -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://canadahelps.org/>

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2 minutes of awesome
by Stacy Matwick 28 May '15

28 May '15

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Please Share
by David Pensato 28 May '15

28 May '15

http://bikeandeat.ca #BikeToOscarsWPG “The owner of Oscar’s Deli worries the protected bike lane will eat up precious parking spots his customers use when coming by for lunch.” According to the CBC, Larry Brown is concerned about a loss of business if Winnipeg beefs up its cycling infrastructure. We get it. Small businesses walk a fine line, and the restaurant business in particular works on really thin margins. And sure, the bike advocates and new urbanists can point to studies and experiences from other cities that claim he shouldn’t have anything to worry about, but at the end of the day, Larry Brown is the guy who has to make sure his staff stay employed. It’s Oscar’s Deli that stands to lose. We believe that biking is good for business, so let’s prove it. Let’s show Winnipeg’s small business owners how much can be gained by becoming more bike friendly. Let’s bike to Oscar’s and grab a bite. Not all at once— 2000 cyclists showing up at lunch wouldn’t be helpful. Here’s what we’d like to try instead. If you ride a bike, we’d like you to Bike to Oscar’s Deli in Winnipeg between May 31st and June 13 for breakfast or lunch with a few friends. Be sure to take a picture and share it on social media with #BikeToOscarsWPG. And when you get there, let them know that you love them, and be sure to tell everyone you know about it too. Seriously, there aren’t many places left in Winnipeg that can make a proper Ruben. We support Oscar’s, and we support good bike infrastructure. It’s not us and them. It’s us and us.

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TOMORROW: Join us for the Commuter Challenge Launch (there's food!)
by Beth McKechnie 27 May '15

27 May '15

We hope you will join us at The Forks tomorrow for the Commuter Challenge media launch. Refreshments will be served! *Time: 11:00-11:30am * *Date: Thursday, May 28th* *Where: The Forks (see map below)* No spoiler alert here: We encourage you to arrive on foot, by bike, transit or carpool. -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://canadahelps.org/>

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Full cost of your commute
by Beth McKechnie 27 May '15

27 May '15

An interesting data journalism project on the full cost of commuting from Metro Vancouver. Get the full details here <http://movingforward.discoursemedia.org/costofcommute/>.

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CBC: Winnipeg tries out bright green strips for safer bike lanes
by Shoni Madden 26 May '15

26 May '15

Great to see the city trying these green strips! http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-tries-out-bright-green-stri… The City of Winnipeg is trying out bright green "anti-skid" strips to boost visibility and safety along bicycle lanes. City crews were out on Tuesday applying the "durable pavement marking" to two tiny sections of the bike lane on Pembina Highway. The idea is to alert cyclists and motorists to high-risk areas where there might be a greater risk of collisions. But it doesn't come cheap. "We are applying this product to two small 14-metre (45-foot) sections," the city's communications officer, Lisa Fraser, said in an email. "Total cost about $2,000 for material and labour." The product applied by the crews is called Mmax green and it is undoubtedly eye-catching. It contains aluminum dioxide to make it anti-skid and is rolled on to create texture. The notion is that the material should last more than five years, making it more cost-effective than the taping now used on bike lanes. City council this month approved a 20-year plan to enhance pedestrian corridors and crossings and connect the city in a network of bike paths, but the plan was subject to further examination after objections, particularly from downtown entrepreneurs who fear the system will eat up rare parking spots near their establishments. - Office of Public Engagement to review $334M Winnipeg bike lane project <http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/office-of-public-engagement-to-revie…> The city says the current bicycle network encompasses nearly 400 km of facilities in various forms. equal to roughly 8% of Winnipeg's 3,100 km of streets and roads, and comparable in scope to other mid-sized cities in the Canadian prairies and U.S. midwest. [image: Inline image 1] -- *Shoni Madden* | Active and Safe Routes to School Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3779 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://canadahelps.org/> * Please note that my regular office hours are Tuesdays/Thursdays. I will respond to your communication at this time.

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FW: PACM POSITION DESCRIPTION, please circulate
by Kristine Hayward 26 May '15

26 May '15

Please find attached the position description for the PACM coordinator position. Please share widely. Kristine Hayward Physical Activity Promotion/in motion Coordinator Winnipeg Regional Health Authority 2nd floor - 490 Hargrave Street Winnipeg, MB R3A 0X7 Cell 204 232-7546 Fax 204 940-2690 Email khayward(a)wrha.mb.ca Bike racks are available in front of the building at the corner of Hargrave and McDermot. Plan your Winnipeg Transit trip: http://winnipegtransit.com/en/navigo Follow Winnipeg in motion on Twitter - @wpginmotion Check out our videos on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/user/Winnipeginmotion 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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PBIC hosting webinar on economic value of nonmotorized transportation
by Beth McKechnie 26 May '15

26 May '15

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Terry Zdan <tjzdan50(a)gmail.com> To: AT network <AT-Network(a)lists.umanitoba.ca>, Anders Swanson < andersswanson(a)gmail.com>, Mark Cohoe <mcohoe(a)casch.com> Date: Tue, 26 May 2015 07:51:58 -0500 Subject: webinar on economic value of nonmotorized transportation AnnouncementsPBIC hosting webinar on economic value of nonmotorized transportation PBIC will hold a webinar on June 4 on how to evaluate the economic benefits of investing in nonmotorized transportation. The webinar is based on FHWA's recent recport: "Evaluating the Economic Benefits of Nonmotorized Transportation," whie documents several economic benefits of these investments and provides a resources for communities who are interested in measuring the economic impact of future projects. You can access the report at: http://www.pedbikeinfo.org/data/library/details.cfm?id=4926. Presenters include Erica Simmons, with the John A Volpe Transportation Systems Center; Sean Quinn, from New York City's Department of Transportation; and Greg Lindsey, from the University of Minnesota. See http://www.pedbikeinfo.org/training/webinars_PBIC_LC_060415.cfm for more information on the webinar and how to register -- Terry Zdan 126 Duncan Norrie Drive Wpg MB R3P 2J9 CANADA tjzdan50(a)gmail.com <tjzdan(a)gmasil.com>

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#BikeToOscarsWPG
by David Pensato 25 May '15

25 May '15

I threw an idea out on Twitter today suggesting that Winnipeg’s cyclists might make a concerted effort to frequent Oscar’s Deli in the next two weeks (partly here: https://twitter.com/pensato/status/601736342511357952 and here: https://twitter.com/pensato/status/601758737448075264). There seems to be some appetite (pardon the pun) to this approach. I think it would serve two purposes: Creatively reinforce the message that accommodating cyclists is good for business. Create a sense of goodwill and (2b?) present the bike-commuter community as the opposite of an angry, belligerent mob. For it to work, we would need some (loose) planning and some public promotion. I don’t think it would take much more than spreading the hashtag above and some mechanism for coordination of (self-organized) groups of cyclists together with a way of communicating that they have come to eat as goodwill ambassadors. If there’s enough interest, I’d be happy to work with one or two people on making this work. So. Are you interested? Anyone willing to help if there is enough interest?

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Kevin Nixon's Retirement Celebration
by Beth McKechnie 25 May '15

25 May '15

Join us to celebrate Kevin Nixon's retirement as AT Coordinator for the City of Winnipeg. Come say thanks to Kevin for his dedicated commitment over the past 8 years to improve walking and cycling in Winnipeg. hope to see you there! Beth -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://canadahelps.org/>

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Sunday street closure signs & letter to residents
by Beth McKechnie 25 May '15

25 May '15

For interest, here are samples of the signage from Scotia Street. Notably, those (irritating) signs reminding cyclists that motorists have the right to use the street have been removed in place of these signs. Also attached is the letter that was sent to residents regarding the Sunday street closures. cheers, Beth -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://canadahelps.org/>

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WFP: Sunday drivers get warning (May25'15) plus photos & letter to residents
by Beth McKechnie 25 May '15

25 May '15

Sunday drivers get warningIn future, tickets will be issued to motorists violating ban By: Jessica Botelho-Urbanski http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/sunday-drivers-get-warning-304884591… Motorists on four Winnipeg streets got off with verbal warnings Sunday, but hefty fines loom for those who drive too far on them on restricted days. A traffic bylaw introduced by the city last August will result in more action in the coming weeks as police begin to ticket those who drive more than one block on Wellington Crescent, Lyndale Drive, Wolseley Avenue and Scotia Street on Sundays and holidays. >From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., those streets are meant to be enjoyed by cyclists and pedestrians with reduced traffic, Const. Jason Michalyshen said Sunday. The dates are fixed, with the restrictions occurring annually from the Sunday preceding Victoria Day to Thanksgiving, including all Sundays and statutory holidays between those dates, regardless of weather. Drivers face a fine of $190.80 for driving more than the allotted one block through the bike routes. There were previously barricades up on the four streets, reminding drivers that roadways were for "local traffic only" on Sundays and holidays. The barricades were removed this year and replaced with white signs at intersections, which read, "Motor vehicle travel limited to one block, 8:00-20:00, Sundays and holidays." "I think over time there was a lot of confusion as to what those barricades meant," Michalyshen said. "We have to realize there are people who live in this community and who have to gain access to their homes and so forth. But also, there are roadways like Wellington Crescent, Lyndale, Wolseley and Scotia, that are streets that people really like to enjoy on those Sundays and holidays, with reduced traffic and a little bit more tranquillity." Wellington Crescent was teeming with cyclists, joggers and pedestrians Sunday as police began their soft launch of the new bylaw program. Two officers stopped nearly 300 vehicles driving down Wellington at Oxford Street, alerting them to the Sunday road rules still in place, regardless of the lack of barricades. All got off with a verbal warning. Chris Frayer was stopped by the traffic unit Sunday and said he didn't know there were new signs replacing the barricades. "I don't know what the problem would be with barricades going up, honestly. It's a pretty profound reminder that you're not supposed to be doing this," he said. Frayer said he is in favour of the Sunday and holiday street closures, but could see police's traffic ticketing being misinterpreted. "They're just going to get criticized as a cash grab, too, when they start cracking down on it, like another revenue generator," Frayer said. "They have to really balance the public message." Laura Lazo and John Markham were walking their dog on Wellington Crescent when they saw police stopping vehicles. They've lived on Montrose Street for 15 years and don't usually see this much action. "Sometimes there will be someone going maybe more than a block, but it's really slow, so it's not a problem. But every now and then, there's someone who's really cruising down," Markham said. "I remember one time somebody swearing at me because I was riding my bike on a Sunday on the street," Lazo said. "For me, this (bylaw) is an asset for Winnipeg." Not having the barricades in place to warn drivers of wrongdoing will take some getting used to, police and pedestrians realize. But having a clear-cut bylaw in place will help police respond to infractions fairly, said Michalyshen. "By getting rid of that ambiguity, we have a little more teeth with respect to what we can do with that particular driver," said Michalyshen. "Every situation is different, but again, this isn't about ticketing. This isn't about handing out a (hand) full of tickets. It's about changing behaviours." *Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 25, 2015 0*

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WFP: Plan would redefine downtown - Pedestrians and cyclists key to urban renewal (May25'15)
by Beth McKechnie 25 May '15

25 May '15

Plan would redefine downtownPedestrians and cyclists key to urban renewal On Architecture By: Brent Bellamy <http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/columnists/128193938.html> http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/columnists/plan-would-redefine-dow… Most mid-sized North American cities have struggled to maintain a healthy downtown retail market. Winnipeg is no different. Shops that once lined Portage Avenue have been replaced by government offices and for lease signs. Longtime anchors such as Eaton's and Holt Renfrew are now only a memory and The Bay is withering away like a fruit clinging to a branch in late autumn. The city's sprawling suburbs are served by big-box stores floating in oceans of asphalt parking. The shape of the city has changed and so have our shopping habits. In the late 1980s, Portage Place mall was constructed as a last-ditch effort to out suburb the suburbs, but it has struggled almost since the day it opened. Even with downtown's large surface parking lots and 35,000 stalls, it is unlikely there will ever be enough parking to compete with the convenience of suburban shopping. Portage Place has demonstrated that even connected to a large, heated parkade, downtown retail struggles as a commuter destination. The perception remains, however, that urban restaurants, services and retailers must cater to drive-up customers to be successful. This issue came into the spotlight two weeks ago as Winnipeg's new bike-and-pedestrian strategy was being presented to city council. Responding to the proposed plan, Coun. Russ Wyatt (Transcona) wrote a letter to downtown business owners, warning them 13 new protected bike lanes to be built over the next 20 years may lead to a loss of some of the city's 2,000 on-street parking stalls. While this is likely true, the notion the success of downtown retail is tied to the availability of parking is one that will likely have to change if businesses are to find long-term success. Almost exclusively, North American cities with prosperous retail cores are those with a dense residential neighbourhood at their centre. One of the few proven models to establish urban commercial viability is to create an active, diverse, pedestrian-oriented neighbourhood that supports the shops as a local market and focuses on growing foot traffic above commuter vehicle traffic. Understanding this and other benefits of a strong downtown population has led to a concentrated effort to attract new residents to Winnipeg's city centre over the last decade. Many excellent initiatives have found success, with 1,800 new residential units being built in that time and 1,650 more currently under construction or being planned. With 17,000 residents, there are more people living downtown today than ever. Despite these gains, almost all of those residential units has been built with government help, through residential development and heritage grants or tax-increment financing programs. To maintain growth in the downtown, the economics of real estate development must be self-supporting. Lower demand means rental and condominium sale prices do not yet match higher construction costs, requiring government assistance to bridge the financial gap. To increase market demand and balance the development equation, the focus of urban renewal must not only concentrate on increasing the population, but on building a neighbourhood that offers the amenities that make urban living a unique and attractive option. The fundamental quality of life incentive to attract urban residents is the ability to connect to amenities such as school or work, restaurants, grocery stores, shopping and services, without the use of a vehicle. Transforming downtown into a walkable city centre that focuses on the pedestrian and cyclist experience first is the most important investment Winnipeg can make to promote an urban lifestyle different from the suburbs. It is an important concept in the creation of a downtown community with a self-sustaining real estate market that will in turn support a prosperous central retail sector. The bike-and-pedestrian strategy will directly respond to this idea by vastly improving Winnipeg's non-vehicular mobility downtown. It will build strong bridges between the islands of existing residential development in the city centre, creating a cohesive multi-modal circulation network that allows residents to easily access amenities across the core area. Few initiatives could be more transformational for the quality of urban living in Winnipeg than implementing a plan to prioritize the pedestrian and cycling experience. The proposed bicycle network is based on a city-wide 'hub and spoke' concept. Almost 80 kilometres of protected bicycle lanes will establish a series of radial arteries along key corridors that connect the central city to a comprehensive set of neighbourhood greenways and off-street paths. The entire system comes with a projected cost similar to that of a single roadway project such as building an underpass on Waverley Street or the widening of Kenaston Boulevard. The vast network of protected bike lanes planned for downtown would cost only $7 million if implemented today. Winnipeg is not alone in fearing the loss of on-street parking and it's affect on downtown business. The debate happens in almost every city when bike-lane plans first emerge. Winnipeg has the advantage of being able to learn from those who have already implemented such plans. From Portland to Vancouver, Toronto, Seattle, Fort Worth, Texas, and Memphis, the economic impact has been studied over and over again. Each time, a similar conclusion is reached: Losing parking to bike lanes has little negative impact on local business and in many cases, improves it. Studies found cyclists spend more than drivers and visit more often. The addition of bike lanes to a street also has a calming effect on traffic, which attracts even more people. It is often found downtown streets with bike lanes become the most successful commercial corridors, commanding the highest property values. After 60 years of designing a city overwhelmingly for the needs of the automobile, the progressive ideas in the bike-and-pedestrian strategy will finally begin to put people first. It is a visionary plan that, if implemented, would redefine the city and instantly make Winnipeg an active-transportation leader in North America. The plan will unify Winnipeg's large and disconnected city centre, improve the quality of life for downtown residents and be a strong catalyst in the establishment of a connected, self-sufficient urban community that is a permanent and local pedestrian market for the businesses that will inevitably lose the parking-convenience war against their suburban competition. Brent Bellamy is senior design architect for Number Ten Architectural Group. bbellamy(a)numberten.com *Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 25, 2015 B4*

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WFP: 'Use it or lose it' money rule hurts city - cycling and pedestrian infrastructure (May23'15)
by Beth McKechnie 25 May '15

25 May '15

‘Use it or lose it’ money rule hurts city By: Bartley Kives <http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/columnists/33841564.html> http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/columnists/Use-it-or-lose-it-money… To opponents of new downtown bike lanes, any expansion of Winnipeg’s cycling and pedestrian infrastructure will push cars off the road, force toddlers to work in salt mines and hasten the coming of the Apocalypse to the point where it’d be unwise to purchase T-bills that mature in more than 90 days. OK, so maybe no one’s actually talking about child slavery or the end of the world, but the hyperbolic chatter about the supposed evils of bike lanes is getting tough to tolerate. This is not just because most North American cities are becoming more like their European counterparts in trying to make movement easier for commuter cyclists. It’s also not just because of the positive economic results of improving pedestrian streetscapes in built-up urban areas. Rather, anti-bike baloney is tough to take because the creation of new bicycle lanes does little to hinder motorists, at least where parking-protected bike lanes are concerned. When the City of Winnipeg moved over a lane of parking on Sherbrook Street in West Broadway, there was initial skepticism. The resulting improvement to the streetscape, however, turned out to be dramatic, as pedestrians now wait for buses on the new transit islands and business has thrived on both side of the road. This demonstrates how people can be drawn to streets designed for human beings as well as cars. The motor-vehicle capacity of Sherbrook Street was barely affected. Now, the city has drawn up plans to create more parking-protected lanes on inner-city streets. These are cheaper and easier to create than building bike lanes that are completely separate from roads. So where, you may ask, is the opposition coming from? The answer lies with previous city mistakes when it comes to creating cycling infrastructure. Opponents of commuter cycling are justified in criticizing the way the city rolled out a $21-million infrastructure upgrade in 2010, when there wasn’t enough time or city staff to properly plan, tender and build an unprecedented package of new lanes for cyclists and pedestrians. The problem at the time, however, had nothing to do with the imagined evils of cycling infrastructure. Rather, it had everything to do with the flawed federal pot of infrastructure money known as the Building Canada Fund. In theory, money from this kitty flows when three levels of government — Ottawa, the province and the city — all agree on the importance of a project. In reality, Ottawa shows up with a pile of money and tells the city and the province they can use it or lose it. As a result, projects go ahead before they’re ready, as panicky municipal politicians hastily sign on the dotted line in fear of losing out on the latest morsel of federal money. The 2010 upgrade turned out to be a mess because the city didn’t have the capacity to implement it. There were no qualified staff on hand because of a previous decision to eliminate dozens of middle managers for the ironic sake of finding efficiencies. But hey, when Ottawa offers money, you take it, right? As a recent scathing audit demonstrated, a similar stupidity was at work with Waverley West arterial roads, which had an original price tag of $55 million. After the project ballooned to $70 million, council demanded to know why. Auditors said the original estimate was so rough, there was no way the city could have predicted the final cost and got lucky it only rose to $70 million. Why would the city proceed with a project without knowing what it would cost? The answer, again, is the Building Canada Fund. Ottawa came to the city looking for a "shovel-ready" project. The Waverley West plan, nowhere near shovel-ready, was identified in vote-rich southwest Winnipeg. So ahead it went, in a format where the city wound up paying for all of the additional costs because the deal locked in the federal and provincial contributions at the outset. Following the Waverley West cost overrun, few Winnipeggers are demanding an end to the expansion of the city’s regional road network. It’s telling that a small but vocal anti-bike contingent wants to put the brakes on new bike lanes and that’s about it. What all Winnipeggers should demand is more freedom for the city to build whatever it needs to build, free of provincial and federal interference. Roads aren’t evil and bike lanes aren’t evil. Politicians who try to use infrastructure money to buy votes are the villains here. bartley.kives(a)freepress.mb.ca

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What to do if you're hit by a car.
by Stacy Matwick 23 May '15

23 May '15

What to do if you're hit by a car while riding your bike | | | | | | | | | | | What to do if you're hit by a car while riding your bikeHere are five things you should do if you’re ever unlucky enough to be hit. And a shining example of what not to do. | | | | View on grist.org | Preview by Yahoo | | | | |

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from: David Wieser
by David Wieser 23 May '15

23 May '15

Good evening at http://zbiorniki.net/lose.php?fill=tdryq76aur7c0bud davidwieser(a)gmail.com Sent from my iPhone

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Southwest Transitway Project - Public Information Session
by Beth McKechnie 22 May '15

22 May '15

[image: Inline image 1] -- *Brendan Salakoh, MCIP, MScPl* *Dillon Consulting Limited* 1558 Willson Place Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 0Y4 T - 204.453.2301 ext. 4060 F - 204.452.4412 BSalakoh(a)dillon.ca www.dillon.ca P *Please consider the environment before printing this email.*

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Article on bike share equity
by Patman, David 21 May '15

21 May '15

Some ideas to consider should we ever have a bikeshare program in Winnipeg. http://www.vox.com/2015/5/15/8608567/bike-share-wealth-race

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FWHA releases Separated Bike Lane Planning and Design Guide
by Mark Cohoe 20 May '15

20 May '15

Some big news south of the border. The US Federal Highways Administration has just released the 148 page Separated Bike Lane Planning and Design Guide. From the Green Lanes project blog <http://www.peopleforbikes.org/blog/entry/the-feds-jump-on-board-protected-b…>. The FHWA guidance released Tuesday <http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian/publications/separat…> is the result of two years of research <http://www.peopleforbikes.org/blog/entry/at-last-feds-move-toward-a-green-l…> into numerous modern protected bike lanes around the country, in consultation with a team of national experts. "Separated bike lanes have great potential to fill needs in creating low-stress bicycle networks," the FHWA document says, citing last year's study <http://www.peopleforbikes.org/blog/entry/the-first-major-academic-study-of-…> by the National Institute for Transportation and Communities. "Many potential cyclists (including children and the elderly) may avoid on-street cycling if no physical separation from vehicular traffic is provided." Among the many useful images and ideas in the 148-page document <http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian/publications/separat…> is this spectrum of comfortable bike lanes, starting with bike infrastructure that will be useful to the smallest number of people and continuing into the more broadly appealing categories: Mark

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AT Webinar Reminder: Law enforcement strategies to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety, Wed, May 20, 2-3pm, EcoCentre
by Beth McKechnie 19 May '15

19 May '15

*** Friendly reminder re tomorrow afternoon's APBP webinar *** Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg invite you to join us for a local viewing of the APBP webinar: *Law Enforcement Strategies to Improve Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety**. * The webinar viewing takes place in the EcoCentre boardroom (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave) and will be followed by group discussion of local applications. RSVPs appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! cheers, Beth ** * * * ** Law Enforcement Strategies to Improve Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety *Wednesday, May 20th, 2-3pm, EcoCentre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Boardroom* Effective law enforcement is a key factor in ensuring that pedestrians and cyclists have safe, equitable access to the public right-of-way. Attend this webinar to learn about law enforcement programs that raise awareness of traffic safety, shape behavior, and improve safety for vulnerable users. This session focuses on three approaches to law enforcement: 1. Seattle’s data-driven SeaStat program, a collaboration between Seattle’s DOT and Police Department that identifies hot spots and dangerous behavior through collision record analysis and speed and traffic volume data. 2. Seattle’s School Zone Safety Photo Enforcement Program, which measures success by the reduction in speeds and violations. Revenue from the speed cameras goes into safety improvements around schools. 3. Behavior change brought about by programs focused on education and positive interactions between law enforcement officers, motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. *Presenters*: - Jim Curtin, City of Seattle Department of Transportation - Brian Dougherty, City of Seattle Department of Transportation - Major Jim Russell, Deputy Chief of Police, Florida State University Police Department -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://canadahelps.org/>

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WFP Editorial: A cycling city is good for business (May16'15)
by Beth McKechnie 16 May '15

16 May '15

Editorials <http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials>A cycling city is good for business http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/a-cycling-city-is-good-… Winnipeg's city councillors should get mobile, get on a bike and tool around a bit. Maybe cycle to work on any given day. They might have an epiphany of sorts -- and then get on with the job of turning Winnipeg into a city that welcomes cyclists -- instead of falling prey to urban myths about bike lanes endangering downtown businesses. What else besides simple ignorance could explain Mayor Brian Bowman's decision this week to delay the vote on adopting Winnipeg's pedestrian and cycling strategy? The strategy is a long-identified pillar in the city's active transportation plan. There were numerous community consultations, one last year at the Manitoba Hydro headquarters on Portage Avenue, where the public and interested parties -- downtown businesses -- were asked to feed into the city's vision. Now Coun. Russ Wyatt says downtown businesses were blindsided, caught entirely without consultation. His target is the matrix of protected bicycle lanes proposed for downtown. It will steal precious parking spots, he believes. First of all, cycling lanes and on-street parking are not mutually exclusive. Sherbrook Street's protected bike lane is just one example how the two can coexist. Second, downtown Winnipeg doesn't have a parking problem -- a truism often cited as a symptom of downtown's real challenge, which is to attract people to its streets and shops outside of standard work hours. This city has an embarrassingly excess amount of surface parking, with rates so cheap they are the envy of motorists in other major Canadian cities. The proposed protected bike lanes are the priority of the pedestrian and cycling strategy made public this week. The planning document is written to launch more formal consultation and then design of a future pedestrian/cycling network. Rough estimates are it would cost $330 million to build the active transportation projects over the next two decades. But for a couple of million dollars to be spent this year, none of that cash has been found or approved. This plan, though, does give hope that Winnipeg may finally evolve from its car culture to one with streets, bridges and major corridors designed for people. Winnipeg's pedestrian and cycling strategy document shows what can be done. It also shows there's a lot of work ahead. Some of the proposed routes mysteriously end mid-street, starting up again a couple of kilometres on. Most of the strategy favours bike lanes that share the road, a drawback especially in winter. There's talk in the report of some 16 new river or rail crossings for cyclists and pedestrians. Major routes, such as Main, Portage and Pembina, will continue to be big obstacles for cyclists, with a possibility of future study on them. Right now, Winnipeg says it has more than 300 kilometres of cycling and bike/pedestrian routes. Most of this is in trails and paths and in narrow, painted curb lanes for cyclists, where they still must compete for space on busy streets. By comparison, Minneapolis, regarded as the best city in North America for cyclists, has about 200 kilometres of on-street protected bike lanes alone, and 150 kilometres of trails. Another 80 kilometres are to be added by 2020. People move to Minneapolis specifically because it makes cycling an infrastructure priority. The cycling routes are regarded as a boon to businesses and merchants. Downtown business should embrace this strategy. The payback of ceding ground to bicycles goes beyond the dividends to cyclists and health budgets. Cycling routes encourage people to get out, explore and enjoy their cities. That's something Winnipeg needs, and the downtown could desperately use. *Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 16, 2015 A14*

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Don't put the brakes on bikes in downtown
by Dave Elmore 16 May '15

16 May '15

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/dont-brake-on-bikes-in-dow ntown-303983971.html Don't brake on bikes in downtown But having a clear pathway is necessary By: Stefano Grande The Downtown Winnipeg BIZ supports the city's active-transportation blueprint. Now it's time to proceed to the next step: consulting with the downtown community. Many of us have travelled to other cities to see first-hand how downtowns are benefiting from increased bike lanes, which encourage cyclists to visit their downtowns and to frequent businesses. An increase in cycling is a trend that is taking over North America and the marketplace. More residents are discovering their neighbourhoods by bicycle, hanging out at their local pubs and cafés. Office workers are commuting downtown from the inner city or even as far as the suburbs. Tourists are renting bicycles to explore unique destinations. The need for more cycling amenities and infrastructure is being driven by these people as part of an emerging trend. Many cities have done it wrong and have made every imaginable mistake. Inadequate education for the public and stakeholders, or a rush to roll out cycling infrastructure without paying attention to the details and the needs of property owners and business owners -- these foreseeable challenges could be mitigated if we put community first. Some downtowns have eliminated on-street parking hastily to facilitate the creation of bike lanes, with little regard to understanding that on-street parking is the lifeblood of our storefront retailers, restaurants and shop owners. Realities such as the need for loading zones, deliveries, accessibility for people in wheelchairs and other mobility challenges, and dozens more issues are often not properly taken into consideration. In these cities, you will find staunch opposition, and rightfully so. The rush to roll out cycling lanes without proper process, thought, foresight and consultation, can lead to tensions among the community, extra costs to address the issues after the fact, and in some cases, negative economic impact. But some cities are doing it right. A city we can all relate to is Minneapolis. Their residents have a love for cycling and biking lanes. One evening when I was there, I saw thousands of cyclists strolling downtown, milling about, and gobbling up every inch of space found on hundreds of bike racks installed by the city and businesses. They were there for restaurants, cafés, live art and theatre performance and to just hang out. There is no doubt in my mind the City of Minneapolis has foresight. As their downtown has developed and evolved, they have wanted to accommodate the cycling community and by working hand in hand with their stakeholders -- their efforts are working. Through proper planning, education, listening to the needs and concerns of the community, Minneapolis is seen as the best practice approach in the world when adopting more cycling amenities and infrastructure. Winnipeg is perhaps where Minneapolis was 10 years ago -- with increased development activity, from more classrooms, to more condos and apartments, and the growing office workers and more visitors coming to the MTS Centre and the sports, hospitality, and entertainment district (SHED). Do we want to have safer bike lanes for those working, living and coming to the downtown in a balanced and well-thought-out manner? The Downtown BIZ believes so. Rolling out the cycling strategy in an incremental, engaging and planned process with the downtown community is imperative. Businesses can create reasons for people to jump on their bikes to hang out downtown, so it's not just about adding bike lanes. It's about taking into consideration how bike parking is going to be accommodated at key locations. It's about allowing businesses on bike-lane streets to allow for advertising signage and banners, more outdoor seating, or reduced on-site parking requirements to help businesses attract more customers. Some other downtowns have also integrated the rollout of cycling lanes with marketing and branding efforts so different streets become well-recognized destination corridors. In some cities, changing traffic flows to better accommodate the flow of cars and bikes collectively are acted on. In other cities, limiting cycling lanes to the times of busiest activity works well, too. As our city has now provided its vision and recommendations for development of the pedestrian and cycling strategies, it has clearly stated that the plan will evolve based on the next step to further involve community and drill down on the feasibility and designs. This is the next step, and we need to get this right. Much trust will need to be placed in the hands of the city, even if the process takes longer than anticipated. It's easy to focus on the failures of other cities or to debate about the next steps, and hold them up as examples and excuses of not to do anything. We have done that with rapid transit for decades. We are now catching up. These are the cities young people are not gravitating toward to stay, learn, work and live. It's much harder to move forward collectively with the community, and learning from best practice, learning by listening to each other, minimizing the issues and maximizing the opportunities, making decisive decisions and creating a city for everyone. Stefano Grande is the executive director of the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ. Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 16, 2015 A15

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Bike Winnipeg Response to Russ Wyatt's Recent Claims
by Mark Cohoe 15 May '15

15 May '15

Hi, You may have seen some of Russ Wyatt's accusations about limited public consultation and early access/undue influence on the part of Bike Winnipeg (http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/columnists/Russ-Wyatt-proves-to-be…). You can view our response at our webiste (http://bikewinnipeg.ca/2015/05/14/russ-wyatts-antics-nothing-more-than-fear…) or on our Facebook site (facebook.com/BikeWinnipeg). Please feel free to share widely. Here is the letter to the editor we submitted to the FP I told you the day would work out ok! Cheers, Mark Wyatt’s Antics Nothing More Than Fear Mongering Russ Wyatt claims the Pedestrian & Cycling Strategies are flawed because of a lack of consultations, alleging that advocacy groups like Bike Winnipeg have undue influence at city hall (we wish!). Like the rest of the public, we first saw the completed strategies (and proposed cycling network) on May 1^st . That’s not to say we and the rest of the city didn’t have plenty of time to review and comment on the strategies. 18 months of public consultations on the strategies culminated in three open houses in April 2014. The consultation process engaged over 3,000 people. Bike Winnipeg and hundreds of other Winnipeggers took advantage of that time to comment on the draft network and recommendations. We were pleased to see those contributions reflected in the documents released May 1^st . Wyatt’s so-called evidence that Bike Winnipeg had prior access to the strategies is an email we sent him on January 23, 2015 asking for a meeting to discuss opportunities to improve cycling options in Transcona and throughout the City of Winnipeg. You can read the full text of that email at bikewinnipeg.ca. Councillor Wyatt failed to respond to our invitation. Mark Cohoe Executive Director Bike Winnipeg

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AT Webinar: Law enforcement strategies to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety, Wed, May 20, 2-3pm, EcoCentre
by Beth McKechnie 14 May '15

14 May '15

Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg invite you to join us for a local viewing of the APBP webinar: *Law Enforcement Strategies to Improve Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety**. * The webinar viewing takes place in the EcoCentre boardroom (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave) and will be followed by group discussion of local applications. RSVPs appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! cheers, Beth ** * * * ** Law Enforcement Strategies to Improve Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety *Wednesday, May 20th, 2-3pm, EcoCentre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Boardroom* Effective law enforcement is a key factor in ensuring that pedestrians and cyclists have safe, equitable access to the public right-of-way. Attend this webinar to learn about law enforcement programs that raise awareness of traffic safety, shape behavior, and improve safety for vulnerable users. This session focuses on three approaches to law enforcement: 1. Seattle’s data-driven SeaStat program, a collaboration between Seattle’s DOT and Police Department that identifies hot spots and dangerous behavior through collision record analysis and speed and traffic volume data. 2. Seattle’s School Zone Safety Photo Enforcement Program, which measures success by the reduction in speeds and violations. Revenue from the speed cameras goes into safety improvements around schools. 3. Behavior change brought about by programs focused on education and positive interactions between law enforcement officers, motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. *Presenters*: - Jim Curtin, City of Seattle Department of Transportation - Brian Dougherty, City of Seattle Department of Transportation - Major Jim Russell, Deputy Chief of Police, Florida State University Police Department -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://canadahelps.org/>

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Re: [At-network] shed the monster
by Mark Cohoe 14 May '15

14 May '15

Thanks Terry. Very appropriate today! Keep an eye on our site, I think things will come out fine for BW by the end if the day. Mark Sent from my mobile device. ----- Reply message ----- From: "Terry Zdan" <tjzdan50(a)gmail.com> To: "AT network" <AT-Network(a)lists.umanitoba.ca> Subject: [At-network] shed the monster Date: Thu, May 14, 2015 10:19 AM We all have those days. Full inbox, stuck in traffic, spilled coffee, barking dogs… The everyday stresses of life can take a toll. We get cranky, grumpy and irritated by things that aren’t a big deal. But if you ride, you know there’s always one thing you can count on: the power of a bike ride to erase the stress and lighten your day. Hop on a bike and shed the monster. Watch the video: PeopleForBikes.org/shed -- Terry Zdan126 Duncan Norrie Drive Wpg MB R3P 2J9 CANADA tjzdan50(a)gmail.com

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shed the monster
by Terry Zdan 14 May '15

14 May '15

[image: Watch the video] <http://peopleforbikes.org/page/m/67f218cb/3a9fcb02/7f0881/3af1d302/16556347…> We all have those days. Full inbox, stuck in traffic, spilled coffee, barking dogs… The everyday stresses of life can take a toll. We get cranky, grumpy and irritated by things that aren’t a big deal. But if you ride, you know there’s always one thing you can count on: the power of a bike ride to erase the stress and lighten your day. Hop on a bike and shed the monster. *Watch the video: PeopleForBikes.org/shed <http://peopleforbikes.org/page/m/67f218cb/3a9fcb02/7f0881/3af1d309/16556347…> * -- Terry Zdan 126 Duncan Norrie Drive Wpg MB R3P 2J9 CANADA tjzdan50(a)gmail.com <tjzdan(a)gmasil.com>

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Local media coverage of delay on Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies
by Beth McKechnie 14 May '15

14 May '15

http://globalnews.ca/news/1996785/bowman-delays-cycling-and-pedestrian-stra… http://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/video?playlistId=1.2373078 http://www.winnipegsun.com/2015/05/13/epc-backpedals-on-active-transportati… http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/cycling-plan-hits-speed-bump-3037084… Cycling plan hits speed bumpEPC agrees to delay vote on $330-million strategy By: Kristin Annable A lineup of advocates for the city's pedestrian-and-cycling strategy arrived at city hall Wednesday to address Mayor Brian Bowman's decision to delay the adoption of the city's $330-million, 20-year strategy. There were few opponents. Yet, council's executive policy committee unanimously approved Bowman's motion to delay the vote on the strategy by more than a month. The delay is to allow further consultation with business owners and residents on infrastructure recommendations in the document. Bowman said a handful of downtown businesses approached him with concerns involving parking and asked for additional time to read the extensive document. "The feedback I received from some is that they didn't feel that they had enough time or avenues to provide their input to the process, and I wanted to let them know we are listening," he said after the meeting. "When you look at the map, if you are under the presumption that the strategies are the final product, then I can understand and appreciate the concern of anyone looking at it." The 356-page document recommends a dense network of protected bicycle lanes be focused within the downtown core. This year, if approved by council on May 27, the city will allot $205,000 for the development of a functional design for the first phase of a downtown protected bike-lane network at Fort Street and/or Garry Street. Coun. Russ Wyatt has led the charge against the quick adoption of the strategy and has been advocating the city take a second look before adopting the document. Earlier this week, the Free Press learned the Transcona councillor sent multiple letters to downtown businesses to inform them of the possible loss of parking resulting from the proposed protected bike lanes. After the meeting Wednesday, Wyatt said Bowman's announcement Tuesday he would delay the strategy's adoption quelled the naysayers. "I think it was a genuine gesture by the mayor and the mayor's staff so they want to respect that," he said when asked why none of business owners concerned with the strategy attended the meeting. Wyatt also takes issue with the proposal of creating "neighbourhood greenways" for non-arterial roads. The idea is to encourage cycling, walking and local traffic, which can include the use of traffic-calming measures such as speed humps or traffic-calming circles. The strategy suggests Point Douglas, Seven Oaks East, River Heights and St. Boniface West are well-suited for extensive neighbourhood greenways. Bowman was quick to remind councillors the document is only a strategy and said "nothing is cast in stone" when it comes to its contents. He said if there is anything council does not agree with, the action plans will still be voted on by council and further public consultation will occur. Advocates such as Coun. Jenny Gerbasi, resident Len Van Roon, Winnipeg Trails Association co-ordinator Anders Swanson and Stephanie Voyce of the Downtown BIZ all came to the meeting to speak in favour of the strategy. Van Roon told members there is room for public consultation, but said he supports the 20-year strategy. "We worry about the cost of cycling and walking infrastructure, but we are subsidizing cars and the repair costs," Van Roon said, repeating the argument more cyclists will save the city money on road repairs. kristin.annable(a)freepress.mb.ca Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 14, 2015 B1

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Now accepting proposals to present at Winter Cycling Congress 2016 Minneapolis-Saint Paul!
by Beth McKechnie 13 May '15

13 May '15

Very cool (pun intended) to see that the 2016 Winter Cycling Congress is taking place in Minneapolis. Carpool anyone? cheers, Beth ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Winter Cycling Congress 2016 Minneapolis-Saint Paul < info(a)wintercyclingcongress2016.org> Date: Wed, May 13, 2015 at 10:36 AM Subject: Now accepting proposals to present at Winter Cycling Congress 2016 Minneapolis-Saint Paul! To: Beth <beth(a)greenactioncentre.ca> Now accepting proposals to present at #WCC16! View this email in your browser <http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=abcb7e25b4918127c7355edce&id=512bf43b1f…> <http://wintercyclingcongress2015.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abcb7e25…> Share your winter cycling research and expertise at #WCC16! Proposals to present at the Winter Cycling Congress 2016 <http://wintercyclingcongress2015.us7.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=abcb7e2…> are now being accepted. The Winter Cycling Congress will be held *2-4 February* in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. The congress is a three-day professional development event uniting a diverse and international group with a shared vision of increasing cycling and walking among people of all ages and abilities. This year’s congress will look at winter cycling through the lens of *equity*. How do we engage with a wide range of people and their communities to ensure everyone has an ownership in cycling and active transportation no matter the time of year, where they live, their age, ability or background? Topics & Tracks Topics to be covered at the congress relate to policy, planning, engineering, design, maintenance, implementation, evaluation and encouragement necessary to creating a built environment and social context in which cycling is a safe, comfortable and convenient choice in July or January. There will be three tracks at the congress, including the following. 1. Build it – policy, planning, engineering and design for year-round cycling and walking. 2. Maintain it – implementing the plan and maintaining safe, comfortable conditions. 3. Bike it –evaluating winter cycling and encouraging health, economic and social benefits. Audience Past congresses have featured presenters from the fields of planning, engineering, advocacy, public health, journalism, architecture, the arts and many other areas. It is a Congress for anyone who lives in a winter climate and works with or uses a bike in the winter. More information? Interested parties can learn more about proposal criteria and deadlines at http://wintercyclingcongress2016.org/program/. For specific questions, write to organizers: info(a)wintercyclingcongress2016.org. About the congress This is the first year the Winter Cycling Congress will be held in the United States. The 2016 congress is being organized by a coalition of volunteers representing a diverse group of individuals, organizations and businesses from Minneapolis, Saint Paul and the State of Minnesota. This coalition presents the 2016 edition of the congress in partnership with the Winter Cycling Federation <http://wintercyclingcongress2015.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abcb7e25…>. The mission of the Winter Cycling Federation is to promote winter cycling around the world. <http://wintercyclingcongress2015.us7.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=abcb7e2…> <http://wintercyclingcongress2015.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abcb7e25…> [image: Facebook] <http://wintercyclingcongress2015.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abcb7e25…> Facebook <http://wintercyclingcongress2015.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abcb7e25…> [image: Twitter] <http://wintercyclingcongress2015.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abcb7e25…> Twitter <http://wintercyclingcongress2015.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abcb7e25…> [image: Website] <http://wintercyclingcongress2015.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abcb7e25…> Website <http://wintercyclingcongress2015.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abcb7e25…> *Copyright © 2015 Winter Cycling Congress 2016 Minneapolis-Saint Paul, All rights reserved.* You are receiving this email because you previously attended the Winter Cycling Congress, have applied as a speaker, are an organizer or have joined our newsletter online. Thanks again for staying in touch! *Our mailing address is:* Winter Cycling Congress 2016 Minneapolis-Saint Paul c/o Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota P.O. Box 5078 Saint Paul, MN 55101 Add us to your address book <http://wintercyclingcongress2015.us7.list-manage.com/vcard?u=abcb7e25b49181…> unsubscribe from this list <http://wintercyclingcongress2015.us7.list-manage1.com/unsubscribe?u=abcb7e2…> update subscription preferences <http://wintercyclingcongress2015.us7.list-manage1.com/profile?u=abcb7e25b49…> [image: Email Marketing Powered by MailChimp] <http://www.mailchimp.com/monkey-rewards/?utm_source=freemium_newsletter&utm…>

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In response to the Free Press article re: Councillor Wyatt
by Patman, David 12 May '15

12 May '15

http://www.citylab.com/work/2013/09/no-bike-lanes-dont-hurt-retail-business… http://www.citylab.com/cityfixer/2015/03/the-complete-business-case-for-con… http://www.citylab.com/work/2013/12/safer-streets-pay-businesses/7880/ David Patman, P. Eng. Transit Planner Winnipeg Transit | Service Development Division 421 Osborne Street | Winnipeg, Manitoba R3L 2A2 P: 204-986-5737 | dpatman(a)winnipeg.ca<mailto:dpatman@winnipeg.ca> From: at-network-bounces(a)lists.umanitoba.ca [mailto:at-network-bounces@lists.umanitoba.ca] On Behalf Of Beth McKechnie Sent: May-12-15 8:33 AM To: AT network Subject: [At-network] WFP: Wyatt wary of two-wheel traffic - says bike-pedestrian paths could hurt downtown business (May12'15) Wyatt wary of two-wheel traffic Says bike-pedestrian paths could hurt downtown business By: Bartley Kives http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/wyatt-wary-of-two-wheel-traffic-3033… Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt is trying to put the brakes on Winnipeg's new bike-and-pedestrian strategy by warning protected bike lanes could harm downtown businesses. The fourth-term councillor has penned a letter to downtown business owners, warning the creation of 13 protected bike lanes over the next 20 years may lead to a loss of parking. "I thought you may want to know this. This is not just a 'strategy,' but calls for the amending of the city's transportation master plan, designating and setting out these streets for this treatment. Once it is in the plan, you are then on the defensive if you want to stop or change it," Wyatt wrote in an email to an undisclosed number of businesses. In the letter, Wyatt noted he spoke against the city's bike-and-pedestrian strategy last week at council's public works committee, "assuming many in the business community have never been consulted." He noted the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ spoke in favour of the plan at the meeting. Wyatt wrote he supports bike-and-pedestrian paths but called the documents making their way through council committees "unrealistic plans that ignore the facts" of how roads are used. "Maybe a street or two could be designated to improve the protected bike lane system in our downtown, but to designate a dozen or more streets seems a bit over the top," he wrote, offering to meet with downtown business owners who are concerned about the plans. In an interview, Wyatt said he contacted "three or four" downtown business owners because he feared Fort Rouge Coun. Jenny Gerbasi, who represents the southern half of downtown, would not. "Downtown Winnipeg belongs to all Winnipeggers," he said. "It appears to me we've forgotten the lessons of the Assiniboine Bikeway audit." That audit, conducted following a troubled city effort to conduct $20 million worth of bike-and-pedestrian upgrades in 2010, concluded businesses were not adequately consulted about the construction of a protected bike lane on Assiniboine Avenue as well as traffic-flow changes on the downtown street. St. Norbert Coun. Janice Lukes, city council's public works chairwoman, said she isn't sure why Wyatt is trying to foment downtown opposition to the pedestrian-and-cycling strategy, which comes before council's executive policy committee on Wednesday. "He's free to do what he wants," said Lukes, the former director of the Winnipeg Trails Association. "Any dialogue toward active transportation is a good thing, as nothing can be built until we have consultation." Lukes, however, questioned why Wyatt is so concerned with the relocation of on-street parking spaces when downtown suffers from a surfeit of surface parking. She also called the Assiniboine Bikeway one of the most utilized bike lanes in the city, despite the fact it's interrupted by the Heritage Landing apartment construction. "It's a proven fact more people walking and biking bring value to businesses," she said. "I have no idea what he's doing, but I'm pleased to see he's engaging." The Downtown Winnipeg BIZ plans to consult with its members about the protected bike lanes as well, executive director Stefano Grande said. "We've advised them consultations are just starting. There are no designs," Grande said. Gerbasi concurred, saying nothing will move forward without "extensive consultations" that may include plans to create more parking-protected bike lanes such as the one on Sherbrook Street, where parking stalls are placed between traffic and a bike lane. bartley.kives(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:bartley.kives@freepress.mb.ca> Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 12, 2015 0

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CBC: Bike paths on Berry Street ripped up, residents question city plan (May11'15)
by Beth McKechnie 12 May '15

12 May '15

Bike paths on Berry Street ripped up, residents question city plan Hydro work also tears up 5-year-old cycling paths By Sean Kavanagh, CBC News <http://www.cbc.ca/news/cbc-news-online-news-staff-list-1.1294364> Posted: May 11, 2015 4:28 PM CT Last Updated: May 11, 2015 4:45 PM CT Residents along Berry Street say they don't understand why the City of Winnipeg would build bike paths only to damage them by subsequent work for another project. The two bike paths along Berry were completed at the end of 2010 as part of an active transportation strategy funded by the province, the federal government and the city. Some residents on Berry were angered by the original bike path project from the start. The paths run along each side of the curb and meander around trees and light posts. "It's the only street in North America with two sidewalks on it … and they are all dirty," said Agostino "Gus" Fiorentino. Fiorentino has run his barber shop on Berry for the past eight years and watched as crews built the bike paths in 2010 and 2011, and then saw other workers damage them last year doing sewer work. "It's just a waste of money," said Fiorentino, who didn't want the paths installed in the first place. He said the work crews seemed to disappear during the sewer repairs last fall. Fiorentino was told they left to work on roads around Polo Park. "They stopped here, and then went to do on St. James. Because they had to — Target has a priority to be opened up first. The Target ended up closed." The paths now have large sections cut out for replacement and there is debris everywhere on Berry from last fall's work. Lindy Alderson has lived on Berry for 24 years. She saw the bike paths built, then damaged. "I don't know what the hell they thought they repaired in the process of doing that. They screwed these up because they drove their equipment over it. They just screwed it up," Anderson said. The city admits that some of the damage to the bike path was caused by combined sewer and basement flood relief work started in April 2014. A city spokesperson also acknowledges the project was delayed and will seek compensation from the contractor in charge of the work. "The project has been delayed for reasons beyond the control of the City including a period of time in July/August 2014 when the contractor reassigned some of its crews to projects in the Polo Park area. Because of these delays, the City will be requesting compensation from the contractor," the city stated in an email to CBC News. The city also said Manitoba Hydro is responsible for much of the damage to the bike path. Hydro has been installing new street lighting on Berry Street and was required to cut out sections of the path for the street light cable replacement. Public works and infrastructure committee chair Janice Lukes says she understands the residents' frustration. "I don't think there was a big embracing of the active transportation path in the first place, and then two years later we have the sewer works that starts, and then the sewer work is delayed and then the sewer work starts up again, and then Hydro starts upgrading their hydro poles. It's been a long process," she said. Lukes is steering a 20-year, $300-million cycling/pedestrian plan through city hall and promises that active transportation routes will be better planned and have more consultation before being implemented. The city says the sewer work and repairs to the damaged bike paths will be completed by the end of this month. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/bike-paths-on-berry-street-ripped-up…

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WFP: Wyatt wary of two-wheel traffic - says bike-pedestrian paths could hurt downtown business (May12'15)
by Beth McKechnie 12 May '15

12 May '15

Wyatt wary of two-wheel trafficSays bike-pedestrian paths could hurt downtown business By: Bartley Kives http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/wyatt-wary-of-two-wheel-traffic-3033… Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt is trying to put the brakes on Winnipeg's new bike-and-pedestrian strategy by warning protected bike lanes could harm downtown businesses. The fourth-term councillor has penned a letter to downtown business owners, warning the creation of 13 protected bike lanes over the next 20 years may lead to a loss of parking. "I thought you may want to know this. This is not just a 'strategy,' but calls for the amending of the city's transportation master plan, designating and setting out these streets for this treatment. Once it is in the plan, you are then on the defensive if you want to stop or change it," Wyatt wrote in an email to an undisclosed number of businesses. In the letter, Wyatt noted he spoke against the city's bike-and-pedestrian strategy last week at council's public works committee, "assuming many in the business community have never been consulted." He noted the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ spoke in favour of the plan at the meeting. Wyatt wrote he supports bike-and-pedestrian paths but called the documents making their way through council committees "unrealistic plans that ignore the facts" of how roads are used. "Maybe a street or two could be designated to improve the protected bike lane system in our downtown, but to designate a dozen or more streets seems a bit over the top," he wrote, offering to meet with downtown business owners who are concerned about the plans. In an interview, Wyatt said he contacted "three or four" downtown business owners because he feared Fort Rouge Coun. Jenny Gerbasi, who represents the southern half of downtown, would not. "Downtown Winnipeg belongs to all Winnipeggers," he said. "It appears to me we've forgotten the lessons of the Assiniboine Bikeway audit." That audit, conducted following a troubled city effort to conduct $20 million worth of bike-and-pedestrian upgrades in 2010, concluded businesses were not adequately consulted about the construction of a protected bike lane on Assiniboine Avenue as well as traffic-flow changes on the downtown street. St. Norbert Coun. Janice Lukes, city council's public works chairwoman, said she isn't sure why Wyatt is trying to foment downtown opposition to the pedestrian-and-cycling strategy, which comes before council's executive policy committee on Wednesday. "He's free to do what he wants," said Lukes, the former director of the Winnipeg Trails Association. "Any dialogue toward active transportation is a good thing, as nothing can be built until we have consultation." Lukes, however, questioned why Wyatt is so concerned with the relocation of on-street parking spaces when downtown suffers from a surfeit of surface parking. She also called the Assiniboine Bikeway one of the most utilized bike lanes in the city, despite the fact it's interrupted by the Heritage Landing apartment construction. "It's a proven fact more people walking and biking bring value to businesses," she said. "I have no idea what he's doing, but I'm pleased to see he's engaging." The Downtown Winnipeg BIZ plans to consult with its members about the protected bike lanes as well, executive director Stefano Grande said. "We've advised them consultations are just starting. There are no designs," Grande said. Gerbasi concurred, saying nothing will move forward without "extensive consultations" that may include plans to create more parking-protected bike lanes such as the one on Sherbrook Street, where parking stalls are placed between traffic and a bike lane. bartley.kives(a)freepress.mb.ca Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 12, 2015 0

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WFP: Show the Free Press the city's worst spots for cycling (May11'15)
by Beth McKechnie 11 May '15

11 May '15

Excellent article! Please share widely and start sending in those photos of the worst spots. * * * * * Show the Free Press the city's worst spots for cycling By: Kristin Annable Bike lanes that lead nowhere or abruptly end, dangerous merges into traffic and a daily battle with cars for a share of the road. These are the hindrances cyclists say they encounter daily as they navigate the streets of Winnipeg. [image: Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg rides through the Pembina Highway Underpass.] <http://media.winnipegfreepress.com/images/800*1334/6769357.jpg> Enlarge Image <http://media.winnipegfreepress.com/images/800*1334/6769357.jpg> Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg rides through the Pembina Highway Underpass. (WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)Photo Store <http://store.winnipegfreepress.com/photostore/photo-search/?keyword=Mark+Co…> THE *Free Press *is asking cyclists to submit their own photos of troublesome spots they encounter in their travels. Come across a bike path that goes nowhere, a lane that abruptly ends, or a dangerous merge? Snap a photo and send it in and we will post it <http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/multimedia/interactive/Tell-us-where-Winni…>. Our aim is to create a map highlighting all the hindrances cyclists come upon in their travels. We've already started the job for you by mapping out some spots cyclists have already identified to us. Visit wfp.to/cycling to participate. *Winnipeg's bike lanes and paths, by the numbers:* - Winnipeg currently has about 197 kilometres of multi-use paths, 35 km of bike paths, 56 km of bike boulevards. - Estimated cost to create a connected bike network throughout the city: $125 million, plus $1.4 million annually. - Estimated cost of a dedicated downtown protected bicycle lane: $7 million, plus $100,000 annually. - Estimated cost for developing a network that would connect local bicycle networks to the main paths and downtown: $25 million, plus $200,000 annually. - Estimated cost for developing separated crossings for pedestrians and cyclists along major corridors, rivers, and rail crossings: $100 million, plus $500,000 annually. - City's planned investment over six years on walkways and off-street bike paths: $8.3 million. - City's planned investment over six years on bicycle corridors: $11.1 million. *Some examples from cyclists of danger spots they encounter during their commute:* - *Main Street underpass:* Narrow road with many cars and no protected bike lane, a central connection needed for cyclists to cross the city. - *St. Vital Bridge:* Narrow sidewalks, coupled by a dangerous merge where it suddenly turns to 80 km/h when you get over the bridge. - *Portage Avenue and Broadway:*Dangerous merge on the lane eastbound for cyclists. - *The termination of the FortWhyte cycle path: *exits onto Front Street and McGillivary Boulevard, cyclist must now navigate this extremely busy intersection to get to the bike path on the south side. - *Bike path at Taylor Avenue that proceeds south to the IKEA corner:* Example of a path that starts nowhere and ends nowhere. - *Sturgeon Creek path from Ness to Hamilton Avenue:* Path is less than a metre wide in places and has not seen any maintenance for some time. After years of planning, the city has finally released a comprehensive 20-year, $330-million strategy into tackling these issues in Winnipeg and making the city more pedestrian and cycling friendly. The plan is making its way through city hall this month for final approval. In the meantime, the Free Press is launching a project this week to help cyclists identify these troublesome areas and through our website, send in photos to help us map out the city's worst spots for cyclists. And it is a project city officials say they will pay attention to. 'No bike lanes, no calm streets, you'll find you are on a street with a lot of traffic and cars trying to squeeze around you' -- Mark Cohoe on his typical commute It is modelled after a similar project done in Sweden, by the Gteborgs-Posten, a daily newspaper based out of Gothenburg, which saw many cyclists participate and a vast map created. Kevin Nixon, the city's active transportation co-ordinator, said it is something that could help officials prioritize their future investments. "It is really useful, because you can't do everything, so if we get a lot of mentions of a particular issue, then we can make that our priority," Nixon said. "All of these proposed (bike paths) are extremely long and you just don't get the money in one year's budget to do the whole thing." Pathways such as the Bishop Grandin Greenway, which can get a cyclist from Sage Creek to FortWhyte Alive, is one example of a well-designed route the city has created, he noted. The protected bike lane along Sherbrook Street is another example of a well-crafted route for cyclists, said Anders Swanson, the co-ordinator of the Winnipeg Trails Association. But, he points out, it will only function as well as what it is connected to. "With a complete connected network, it is science, you build it and they actually will come, so every bicycle project that makes it safer and easier for people to ride bicycles is more people riding. Period," he said. "I think pointing out how many little or big barriers there are in the city, how much work needs to go into Winnipeg, I think one of the values is until you have these protected lanes, until you fix some of the barriers that are out there, it is tough for someone to understand it is possible." He points to the North End, where there is no safe way for cyclists to cross the Canadian Pacific rail yard, forcing cyclists to navigate dangerous connections such as the Arlington Bridge, which does not have a protected bike path. For Mark Cohoe, the executive director of Bike Winnipeg, he describes his typical commute as one filled with barriers, as he battles to share the road with a heavy onslaught of traffic. "No bike lanes, no calm streets, you'll find you are on a street with a lot of traffic and cars trying to squeeze around you," he said. "A lot of the pathways, you have to stop and dismount or cross multiple lanes of traffic." His nightmare intersection: the Pembina underpass, where more than 60,000 cars a day travel and cyclists are forced to squeeze through a narrow road shared with these cars. However, creating a connected cycling network does not come cheap. The city's 20-year Cycling and Pedestrian Strategies report estimates creating a connected bicycle network throughout the city will cost $125 million, while creating separated crossings for cyclists and pedestrians at major corridors, rivers and rail crossings will cost a further $100 million. On the books for 2016 is a $4-million plan to tackle issues along Pembina Highway, by building buffered bike lanes from Grant Avenue to Osborne Street. Nixon, Cohoe and Swanson all argue the payoff -- less wear and tear on the roads and less congestion, plus a healthier, more active community -- are reasons even those who don't cycle should embrace these sorts of investments. "The fact is if we don't create these alternatives for people to get through, the alternative to creating a safe space for people to be biking is to create more roadways, which is an incredibly more expensive alternative," Cohoe said. "And it is more divisive. Those higher volume roadways are going to be coming through people's neighbourhoods." Through a telephone survey conducted by the city, Nixon said they found a significant population of Winnipeg was interested in cycling, but were concerned about the safety and convenience of the current network. "If you allow the people who want to get out of their cars, a bike is a lot less hard on the road than a vehicle is, it is also healthier for folks and we have to realize there is market out there for walking and cycling that we haven't tapped into," he said. kristin.annable(a)freepress.mb.ca Came across a bike path that goes nowhere? A busy underpass with no space for cyclists? Perhaps a bridge with poor bike path markings? Take a photo and send us a description, so we can add it to our interactive map of cycling problem spots in Winnipeg. See the map below for some troublesome cycling spots, then send us your own using our form below. http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/take-us-for-a-bumpy-ride-303249791.h…

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A little Friday fun. Just imagine what Bike to Work Day would sound like!
by Stacy Matwick 08 May '15

08 May '15

Trotify Makes Your Bike Sound Like a Galloping Horse | | | | | | | | | | | Trotify Makes Your Bike Sound Like a Galloping HorseTrotify is a wooden gadget that uses a coconut to that makes your bicycle sound like a galloping horse when pedaling. | | | | View on inhabitat.com | Preview by Yahoo | | | | |

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Protected bike lanes cut sidewalk biking in half
by Beth McKechnie 08 May '15

08 May '15

A few months after Honolulu's first protected bike lane opened, it's the latest to demonstrate a very consistent trend across the country <http://greenlaneproject.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=64bd122c67bd28d62…>: almost every protected bike lane cuts sidewalk biking in half. >From August 2014 (before barriers were installed) to February 2015 (after), the number of bikes using King Street (both directions, road bed and sidewalk combined) soared 71 percent. And in the same period, Honolulu bicycle coordinator Chris Sayers said Monday, the number of bikes on the sidewalk plummeted 65 percent. Full story: http://www.peopleforbikes.org/blog/entry/honolulu-installs-protected-bike-l… -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://canadahelps.org/>

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WFP: Stadium pedestrian path takes shape (May7'15)
by Beth McKechnie 07 May '15

07 May '15

Stadium pedestrian path takes shape By: Kristin Annable http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/stadium-pedestrian-path-takes-shape-… THE road leading to Investors Group Field is on the path to a $1.3-million overhaul. As part of the city's 2015 pedestrian and cycling plan, a pathway on Chancellor Matheson Road -- from IGF to Pembina Highway -- is being proposed to deal with safety issues for pedestrians leaving the stadium. The Chancellor Matheson pathway has been given top priority by city officials thanks to a number of high-profile events over the next few years, including the Grey Cup and women's World Cup soccer games in 2015. Mayor Brian Bowman said the pathway will give Winnipeggers more options to travel safely to and from stadium events. "It is a strategic investment, and when you look at the volume of people who are going there for games and also the Bisons and concerts throughout the year," he said Wednesday. "We want to make sure the different points of accessibility are there." When asked whether other stakeholders, such as the University of Manitoba or Winnipeg Football Club, should be sharing the cost for the pathway, Bowman replied, "We are making our investments where our priorities are." This week, public works committee chairwoman Coun. Janice Lukes added an amendment to the project's funding which will take almost $200,000 out of the Waverley multi-use pathway budget. The amendment called for the city to look into alternate sources, such as surpluses in the city's local road renewal fund, to help pay for the project. "A greater percentage of the pathway was actual roadwork that needed to be done to accommodate transit," she said, noting the scope of the project also includes shoulder upgrades for buses, landscaping, lighting and a spot for the buses to pick up and unload riders. "It is heavily needed when you have that many people coming out after an event and we want to get people on the buses as fast we can so we don't have hours of waiting." Lukes said because active-transportation funding is often difficult to wrangle from the city, the money for the pathway shouldn't all come from that source. "A million dollars in pathway work -- that could give us more pedestrian sidewalks. It could go massively far," she said. The 2015 pedestrian and cycling plan heads to council on May 27 for final approval. kristin.annable(a)freepress.mb.ca Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 7, 2015 B4

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WFP L2E: Enforce street-closure rules (May7'15)
by Beth McKechnie 07 May '15

07 May '15

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Enforce street-closure rules I was surprised by the reference to Sunday street closures as "bike-route street closures" (Driving on bike routes to be costly, May 6). We bought a house on Scotia Street over 20 years ago, in part because it is a Sunday-closure street. When we first moved there, plenty of families and people of all ages would be out walking, cycling, Rollerblading and skateboarding every Sunday, enjoying the freedom of the entire width of the street without vehicles. In the past decade, the numbers have dwindled because motorists ignore the barricades and scare families back onto sidewalks (or perhaps couches). I sincerely hope this new approach is enforced, and that Scotia Street will come alive again each Sunday. Beth McKechnie Winnipeg http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/letters-may-…

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Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies - local media coverage
by Beth McKechnie 06 May '15

06 May '15

http://globalnews.ca/news/1979888/cycling-walking-plan-goes-up-for-debate-a… http://www.winnipegsun.com/2015/05/05/city-on-bike-path http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-s-334m-cycling-walking-plan… * * * * * Advocates weigh in on city's $330-M active transportation plan By: Kristin Annable http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/Advocates-weigh-in-on-citys-330-M-ac… Cycling and walking advocates lined up at city hall to discuss the benefits of the city’s new $330-million active transportation strategy. Representatives from Bike Winnipeg, Winnipeg Trails Association, Green Action Network, Downtown BIZ, along with Coun. Jenny Gerbasi spoke in favour of the 20-year strategy which calls to improve the city’s infrastructure to benefit cyclists and pedestrians at the city’s public works committee Tuesday. 2015 Pedestrian and Cycling Action Plan recommendations to be approved by council: Sidewalk on the north side of Sargent Ave. between Milt Stegall Drive to Strathcona Street - Estimated cost: $497,648 Sidewalk on east side of Donan Street between Murray Avenue and Park Manor Boulevard - Estimated cost: $150,000 The Forks to the Assiniboine Avenue Bikeway connection - Estimated cost: $400,000 Downtown protected bike lane system - Estimated cost: $205,000 for first phase functional design to include Fort Street and/or Garry Street Chancellor Matheson Pathway from Investors Group Field to Pembina Highway bike path - Estimated cost: $1.29 million Northwest Hydro Corridor path - Pedestrian and cycle path in the Northwest hydro right-of-way located one-half kilometer, west of McPhillips Street between McPhillips Street Casino and the North City limits - Estimated cost: $450,000 Public education and awareness program for 2015 Bicycle Corridors - Estimated cost: $105,000 Winnipeg Cycling Map redesign - Estimated cost: $30,000 (in addition to $49,000 identified in 2014 for the project) The 356-page strategy was released on Friday <http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/City-plans-improvements-to-walking-c…> . The city also released the public service’s proposed infrastructure projects for cycling and pedestrians for 2015 on Friday. Stephanie Voyce, manager of transportation, placemaking and cleanliness with the Downtown BIZ, asked public the committee to consider supporting a pilot program which would see temporary protected bike lanes created to connect areas of the city to the downtown. For four Sundays in August and September, temporary lanes created from traffic cones would connect areas such as Kildonan Park and Assinboine Park to the downtown. The idea is to fill in the current gaps that exist in the city’s bike lane infrastructure, she said. Meanwhile, Anders Swanson of the Winnipeg Trails Association, commended the city for releasing a strategy, but called for the city to move faster on getting more protected bike lanes across the city. "Every street, small or big, needs to include cycling/walking improvements. Period," Swanson told the committee. He noted cities such as Vancouver, Indianapolis and Calgary are already ahead of Winnipeg in building protected bike lanes, adding it encourages cycling in the city by up to 40 per cent. Mark Cohoe of Bike Winnipeg listed off a number of bike lanes in the city that need to be extended or created such as extending King Edward Street across the railroad tracks, upgrading Ferry Road to protected bike lane, and extending the Jefferson Street lane past McPhillips Street. However, not everyone was happy with the contents of the strategy. Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt called it a tremendous report, but pointed to a specific caveat of the document which recommended the city look at changing the priorities of sidewalk snow clearing. "They are recommending creating a special sidewalks category, that would require... folks to shovel their own sidewalks," he said, noting in the report they would take the savings from that and put it towards snow removal on the bike path system. He said he will vote against the strategy if it comes to council in its current form, arguing more public consultation needs to occur. He also questioned the impact on traffic some of the proposed pedestrian infrastructure recommendations will have on traffic. "This is a major change that is being recommended," Wyatt told the committee. Committee chair Coun. Janice Lukes fired back at Wyatt’s opposition to the strategy, saying every aspect of the report will have to go through public consultation and council before it is implemented. "We will be doing in-depth consultation on any project that we undertake," she said. "There is no proposal to get residents to clear their own sidewalks, there is many, many recommendations... these are things that could be considered." Looking to the future, however, Lukes said the city will have to take a closer look at how snow is cleared from sidewalks frequently used by pedestrians. And residents shoveling their own sidewalks might have to happen. "I think with consultation with communities and neighbourhoods, that is the only way to go about it," she said. Krisitn.annable(a)freepress.mb.ca -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://canadahelps.org/>

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WFP: Driving on bike routes to be costly - Sunday, holiday closures will carry hefty fine (May6'15)
by Beth McKechnie 06 May '15

06 May '15

Driving on bike routes to be costlySunday, holiday closures will carry hefty fine By: Kathleen Saylors http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/driving-on-bike-routes-to-be-costly-… Drivers face hefty fines later this month if they're caught driving too far in designated cycling routes. A bylaw approved by city council last summer comes into effect May 24 and lasts until Thanksgiving Monday. The bylaw prohibits traffic from travelling more than one block on four Winnipeg roads, including Wellington Crescent, Wolseley Avenue, Lyndale Drive and Scotia Street on Sundays and holidays. Drivers will face a fine of $190.80 for driving more than the allotted one block through the bike routes. The streets are part of the Sunday and holiday bike-route street closures -- roads set apart for cyclists during the summer to encouraging biking. The streets are favourites for cyclists because of the picturesque routes. River Heights-Fort Garry Coun. John Orlikow, whose ward includes Wellington Crescent, said the restrictions foster a sense of community for cyclists. "It will provide a nice environment for families to get out on a Sunday, to take their kids on the street to bike or learn to bike. It allows people to connect in the neighbourhood," Orlikow said. Drivers should expect a two-week phase-in period as police begin to educate the public, police Staff Sgt. Rob Riffel said. "Our primary goal is to change driving behaviour. Officers may use discretion when issuing any offence notice," Riffel said. "The police are not going to be draconian," he said. "For one day a week. I believe it's a good community-building thing." Any inconvenience to homeowners in the area should be minimal at best, he said. "If there is an inconvenience, it will be minor. It's only on the Sunday, they have access to their property at all times. They just have to tell visitors to go up the side street closest to them." City spokeswoman Lisa Fraser said the city is making drivers aware through media releases and social media, as well as issuing letters to homeowners on the affected streets. Traffic signs will be posted to let drivers know when they are entering a bike zone. Before the bylaw, bike routes were not enforced. Barriers were put up to discourage traffic, but cyclists said they often found themselves surprised by cars. "You'd see people who would simply drive normally through the street, and when they reached the barricade, they would thread their way through and carry on," said Shawn Kennedy, a cycling advocate. He said there were huge risks to cyclists by people who disrespected the current bylaw. Mark Kohoe from Bike Winnipeg said property owners might be surprised by the pleasant effect of the bylaw on the community. "It's just more the through traffic that is dropping down," Kohoe said. "It might be kind of nice because you're not getting the though traffic you might otherwise be getting." Sunday and holiday bike-route closures are in effect regardless of the weather every Sunday and holiday from May 24 to Oct. 12 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. kathleen.saylors(a)freepress,mb.ca Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 6, 2015 B1

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WFP: City plans improvements to walking, cycling paths (May2'15)
by Beth McKechnie 04 May '15

04 May '15

Other local media coverage of the Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/active-transportation-gets-a-leg-up-… http://www.cjob.com/2015/05/02/winnipeg-making-strides-to-modernize-city-st… http://www.winnipegsun.com/2015/05/02/cyclists-continue-drive-for-better-ac… * * * * * City plans improvements to walking, cycling paths http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/City-plans-improvements-to-walking-c… CITY officials are attempting to encourage Winnipeggers to get active with an extensive document that maps out a $330-million, 20-year plan to increase cycling and walking in the city. "The City needs a road map to prioritize active transportation infrastructure, programs and policy to support a growing and dynamic city," Kevin Nixon, the city's active transportation co-ordinator, said in a news release. The city's 356-page Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies guideline outlines the city's short- and long-term goals for walking and cycling in Winnipeg, and provides the framework for its 20-year plan. Public works chair Coun. Janice Lukes is happy the city finally has a plan. "It is a plan; it is not a random approach. We are identifying key connections, we have brought extensive data to make extremely informed decisions on how we invest our funding, and we don't have a ton of funding, so we have to be extremely strategic on how we invest it," the St. Norbert councillor said, noting the latest report is a comparable document to the city's Master Transportation Plan, which guides road investments. "This brings us up to speed with cities around North America and Europe." It outlines several barriers the city needs to address in order to support this plan, including increased sidewalk snow removal and better connectivity for bicycle paths. The cost to implement the Pedestrian and Cycling Strategy is pegged at about $334 million over the next 20 years, a cost Lukes notes is about 10 per cent of what the city plans to spend on roads. It will also require approximately $3.7 million annually to support infrastructure improvements needed in tandem with the strategy. The strategy calls for improving the convenience of cycling by providing parking for bikes to encourage cyclists to bike to work. The plan also cites the need to improve maintenance of the city's sidewalks and bicycle networks. In this year's capital budget, $250,000 was set aside for new regional sidewalks, as well as $150,000 for new non-regional sidewalks, $1 million for recreational walkways and bike paths, plus $1 million for bicycle corridors. For 2015, the public service has outlined a series of proposed new sidewalks, bike paths and multi-use active-transportation paths, such as a $1.29-million bike path for Chancellor Matheson Pathway to connect Investors Group Field and Pembina Highway. The report outlining the strategies will be first considered by public works committee on May 5, before heading to council for approval. kristin.annable(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Mobilizing Knowledge for Active Transportation (MKAT) Project update
by Beth McKechnie 04 May '15

04 May '15

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Dawn Sheppard <dawn.sheppard(a)phac-aspc.gc.ca> Date: Mon, May 4, 2015 at 8:50 AM Hello All, I am writing to share an update with you about the *Mobilizing Knowledge for Active Transportation (MKAT) *Project. MKAT was started in 2013 as a way to strengthen evidence-informed Active Transportation (AT) work across Canada. Despite this being an area of growing policy and program development, evidence sharing and learning mechanisms were lacking across Canada in the area of healthy built environments, and AT in particular. In response to this, and as a way to advance the Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention's (CCDP) commitment to healthy living and physical activity, the project was launched. Over the last two years, MKAT has undergone a number of phases including research, development and sharing of knowledge products and identifying further actions to advance active transportation. Content experts representing a variety of sectors have provided input and advice over the course of the project. We wanted to share the products that have been developed and disseminated during the project (attached below). This includes two scans and the resulting brief knowledge products, in addition to a series of webinars that were delivered over the last year by ACT Canada to highlight developments and learning about provincial AT efforts. A primer on evaluating AT initiatives has recently been developed and will be shared with you at a later date. We also wanted to let you know that, as a result of recent changes within our Centre, the MKAT project will not be continuing in its current form. However, the issue of active transportation and built environment will continue to be addressed by the Centre. For example, our Surveillance Division is in the process of modernizing its physical activity surveillance system based on new, emerging research and data sources and plans to report regularly on active transportation levels of Canadian adults, youth and children in the future. In addition, there are opportunities through the Multi-sectoral Partnerships to Promote Healthy Living and Prevent Chronic Disease fund to pursue targeted interventions focused on innovative, integrated approaches that promote healthy living, prevent chronic disease and address common risk factors. Please visit this link for details: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/fo-fc/mspphl-pppmvs-eng.php. We are grateful to all those who contributed to this project and we hope that you will keep in touch regarding your active transportation news and developments. Should you have any further questions, please contact us directly. Thank you and all the best, Dawn, Kerry and Pam *Attachments:* Mobilizing Knowledge for Active Transportation Scan: of Provincial/Territorial Policies, Strategies and Approaches completed by Opus International Consultants (Canada) Limited (Please note that these scan are meant to inform your own AT work and are not meant to be shared outside of your organization) *(See attached file: MKAT Opus Scan - Final Draft Jan 2015.docx)* Mobilizing Knowledge for Active Transportation: Scan of Regional-level and NGO Perspectives completed by Wellspring Strategies (Please note that these scan are meant to inform your own AT work and are not meant to be shared outside of your organization) *(See attached file: MKAT Wellspring Scan.Final Draft. Jan 2015.docx)* Mobilizing Knowledge for Active Transportation: Project Briefing and Highlight Sheets developed by Noxon Associates - http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/hp-ps/hl-mvs/pa-ap/mobil-transport-eng.php Ideas in Motion: Mobilizing Knowledge for Active Transportation Webinars developed in conjunction with ACT Canada - - http://www.actcanada.com/events/webinars Dawn Sheppard Senior Policy Analyst Public Health Agency of Canada 785 Carling Avenue, PL 6807B Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9 Ph: 613-946-6442 Fax: 613-941-2633 dawn_sheppard(a)phac-aspc.gc.ca

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2015 projects also online.
by Anders Swanson 01 May '15

01 May '15

Please also note that, in the midst of the hoopla about the strategies, there is also the matter of the projects being done in 2015. See agenda item 15 here. <https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=808847135865501&id=771955…>

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Fwd: City of Winnipeg News Release – City takes first step in long-term commitment to support and encourage walking and cycling in Winnipeg
by Anders Swanson 01 May '15

01 May '15

They are out! Could this be a turning point? *The City of Winnipeg Pedestrian/Cycling Strategies are posted online: WalkBike.Winnipeg.ca <http://walkbike.winnipeg.ca/>. * The strategies will now be considered by Council. This is going to the Public Works standing policy committee on Tuesday. <http://clkapps.winnipeg.ca/dmis/ViewDoc.asp?DocId=14318&SectionId=&InitUrl=> If you would like to get involved, there are details on how to do that on this Facebook post <https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=808847135865501&id=771955…> . Full version of City of Winnipeg press release below. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Hello, Please see the below media release related to the Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies. Thank-you for working with us and for your contributions on this exciting project. The City is looking forward to continuing to work collaboratively with stakeholders as we develop and shape our City to provide transportation choices that are safe, convenient, accessible, and attractive to citizens of all ages and abilities. Best Regards, Scott [image: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: cid:image002.jpg@01CDEF0F.40CC9670] For Immediate Release Friday, May 1, 2015 *City takes first step in long-term commitment to support and encourage walking and cycling in Winnipeg* *Pedestrian Cycling Strategies to serve as roadmap to make walking and cycling safer, more convenient, accessible, and attractive to citizens* *Winnipeg, MB *– The City is taking a first step in a long-term commitment to support and encourage walking and cycling in Winnipeg. The public service is seeking Council approval for the Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies, a policy document which will serve as a roadmap for civic investments into infrastructure and active transportation support programs in order to make walking and cycling safer, more convenient, accessible, and attractive to citizens. Encouraging walking and cycling creates countless community benefits. Providing greater access and options for walking and cycling will lead to improved health, increased personal mobility, more liveable and socially active communities, and reduced impacts on the environment and our climate. “This project aims to improve the quality of life for all Winnipeggers,” said Kevin Nixon, Active Transportation Coordinator. “The City needs a roadmap to prioritize active transportation infrastructure, programs, and policy to support a growing and dynamic City. It is evident that providing safe, convenient, accessible and well maintained pedestrian and cycling infrastructure is important to most Winnipeggers.” A key component in the development of the Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies planning has been public engagement. The City heard directly from thousands of Winnipeggers throughout the process through online and telephone surveys, public open houses, stakeholder meetings and a workshop, and through the project website. This feedback was instrumental in developing the recommendations and plans in the Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies. Included in this plan are a series of short, medium and long-term strategies which focus on: · *Improving connectivity*, including expanding the bicycle network, expanding and enhancing the sidewalk network, and addressing barriers to connectivity. · *Improving convenience* to using active transportation by providing bicycle parking and end-of-trip facilities and increasing and improving multi-modal connections. · *Improving safety and accessibility* by providing accessible infrastructure, including improving pedestrian and cycling crossings, developing safe routes to school, and providing well-lit, visible facilities for pedestrians and cyclists to use. · *Improving maintenance* for the bicycle and sidewalk networks. · *Improving vibrancy* of our public spaces by enhancing streetscapes, land development and site design. · *Increasing awareness* by offering enhanced way-finding, signage and trip planning and improving education and awareness on the benefits of active transportation. The full cost to implement the strategies is estimated to be approximately $330 million over the next 20 years. However, consideration will be given to these strategies in the yearly budgeting process and the use of funds for specific projects and programs will be approved by Council on a yearly basis through the Pedestrian and Cycling Action Plan. These strategies will also be implemented in existing road renewal programs, development projects and major capital projects. The Strategies will be a living document and will require continuous monitoring of the implementation actions and continued collaboration with stakeholders. A report <http://clkapps.winnipeg.ca/dmis/ViewDoc.asp?DocId=14318&SectionId=&InitUrl=> outlining the strategies will be first considered by the Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works on May 5. -30- Media inquiries should be directed to the City of Winnipeg Media Inquiry Line at 204-986-6000 or via email at City-MediaInquiry(a)winnipeg.ca. Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/cityofwinnipeg <http://www.facebook.com/cityofwinnipeg> Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/cityofwinnipeg <http://www.twitter.com/cityofwinnipeg>

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City of Winnipeg News Release – City takes first step in long-term commitment to support and encourage walking and cycling in Winnipeg
by Beth McKechnie 01 May '15

01 May '15

[image: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: cid:image002.jpg@01CDEF0F.40CC9670] For Immediate Release Friday, May 1, 2015 *City takes first step in long-term commitment to support and encourage walking and cycling in Winnipeg* *Pedestrian Cycling Strategies to serve as roadmap to make walking and cycling safer, more convenient, accessible, and attractive to citizens* *Winnipeg, MB *– The City is taking a first step in a long-term commitment to support and encourage walking and cycling in Winnipeg. The public service is seeking Council approval for the Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies, a policy document which will serve as a roadmap for civic investments into infrastructure and active transportation support programs in order to make walking and cycling safer, more convenient, accessible, and attractive to citizens. Encouraging walking and cycling creates countless community benefits. Providing greater access and options for walking and cycling will lead to improved health, increased personal mobility, more liveable and socially active communities, and reduced impacts on the environment and our climate. “This project aims to improve the quality of life for all Winnipeggers,” said Kevin Nixon, Active Transportation Coordinator. “The City needs a roadmap to prioritize active transportation infrastructure, programs, and policy to support a growing and dynamic City. It is evident that providing safe, convenient, accessible and well maintained pedestrian and cycling infrastructure is important to most Winnipeggers.” A key component in the development of the Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies planning has been public engagement. The City heard directly from thousands of Winnipeggers throughout the process through online and telephone surveys, public open houses, stakeholder meetings and a workshop, and through the project website. This feedback was instrumental in developing the recommendations and plans in the Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies. Included in this plan are a series of short, medium and long-term strategies which focus on: · *Improving connectivity*, including expanding the bicycle network, expanding and enhancing the sidewalk network, and addressing barriers to connectivity. · *Improving convenience* to using active transportation by providing bicycle parking and end-of-trip facilities and increasing and improving multi-modal connections. · *Improving safety and accessibility* by providing accessible infrastructure, including improving pedestrian and cycling crossings, developing safe routes to school, and providing well-lit, visible facilities for pedestrians and cyclists to use. · *Improving maintenance* for the bicycle and sidewalk networks. · *Improving vibrancy* of our public spaces by enhancing streetscapes, land development and site design. · *Increasing awareness* by offering enhanced way-finding, signage and trip planning and improving education and awareness on the benefits of active transportation. The full cost to implement the strategies is estimated to be approximately $330 million over the next 20 years. However, consideration will be given to these strategies in the yearly budgeting process and the use of funds for specific projects and programs will be approved by Council on a yearly basis through the Pedestrian and Cycling Action Plan. These strategies will also be implemented in existing road renewal programs, development projects and major capital projects. The Strategies will be a living document and will require continuous monitoring of the implementation actions and continued collaboration with stakeholders. A report <http://clkapps.winnipeg.ca/dmis/ViewDoc.asp?DocId=14318&SectionId=&InitUrl=> outlining the strategies will be first considered by the Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works on May 5. -30- Media inquiries should be directed to the City of Winnipeg Media Inquiry Line at 204-986-6000 or via email at City-MediaInquiry(a)winnipeg.ca. Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/cityofwinnipeg <http://www.facebook.com/cityofwinnipeg> Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/cityofwinnipeg <http://www.twitter.com/cityofwinnipeg>

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WFP: No to through-pass traffic (Apr.30'15)
by Beth McKechnie 01 May '15

01 May '15

City hall in brief Posted: 04/30/2015 http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/city-hall-in-brief-301789591.html No to through-pass traffic CITY council has unanimously voted to reject traffic entering Winnipeg via a planned through-pass in East St. Paul. North Kildonan Coun. Jeff Browaty has been one of the project's biggest opponents because of the influx of traffic it would allow to flow into Winnipeg. "There is no support now or forever for the idea of having general traffic use the Raleigh corridor," he said Wednesday at council. "The streets were not designed to handle this kind of traffic." The new interchange was announced by the province in September, to be constructed at Highway 59 and the north Perimeter. Part of the project would see the Perimeter elevated to accommodate a grade-level extension of Raleigh Street, connecting both sides of the RM of East St. Paul. The city administration joined Browaty this month in voicing concern over the proposed traffic link's impact on road congestion. The motion adopted on Wednesday called for council not to support the accommodation of general traffic entering Winnipeg from East St. Paul via the through-pass. In the province's original plan, the through-pass was intended for pedestrians, active transportation and emergency-vehicle access. In November, however, the province raised the possibility of opening the through-pass to vehicle traffic, a proposal since endorsed by the RM. "What we are saying is that what is being built, we don't have any consideration for it being open to vehicular traffic," Browaty said after the meeting. "The RM can build what they see fit, but what we are saying is we are not supporting the idea of opening it up to vehicular traffic through this tunnel." Public works chairwoman Coun. Janice Lukes brought forth an add-on to the motion, which called for public transit to be accommodated via the through-pass. Browaty, a longtime opponent of bus rapid transit, called the motion offensive and later remarked "it feels like this council will vote for anything that has rapid transit in its title." Browaty and St. Charles Coun. Shawn Dobson were the only councillors who voted in opposition to the add-on to the motion.

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New study: People who walk, cycle or take transit a third less likely to be obese
by Beth McKechnie 30 Apr '15

30 Apr '15

*People who walk, cycle or take transit a third less likely to be obese: study* by ALISON BAILEY <http://www.news1130.com/author/alison-bailey> Posted Apr 29, 2015 9:34 am PDT http://www.news1130.com/2015/04/29/people-who-walk-cycle-or-take-transit-a-… VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – If you walk, cycle, or take transit, chances are, you’re healthier than your friends who drive every day. Those are the results of a new study <https://www.myhealthmycommunity.org/Portals/0/Documents/MHMC%20Transportati…> that comes just one month before ballots have to be in for the transportation plebiscite. People who choose to walk, cycle, or take transit are 33 per cent less likely to be obese than those who are dependent on their cars, says Dr. Jat Sandhu with Vancouver Coastal Health. He adds they also are likely to have more positive lifestyle habits. “And these lifestyle attributes [are] characterized by eating five or more servings of fruit and vegetables a day, having 30 minutes of walking a day, meeting their 150 minutes of exercise a week, as well as not smoking.” There was a difference in level of connection to the community, as well. “Those car users with longer commute times had a much lower sense of community belonging, and that’s a proxy marker for your social connectedness to your community as well as your social connections around you. So, really, the message here is that there are clear positive health dividends for those that participate in active transportation, whereas for car users with long commutes, there’s a downside in relation to how well connected they are to their community,” says Sandhu. This study began in 2013 and the data was collected over a year. About 28,000 people took part in the study, which is part of a larger project called My Health, My Community. Sandhu is the principal investigator of that project. “This is part of our broader work around healthy communities. Across both VCH and Fraser Health, there are in excess of 30 municipalities that we work with and we’re working with local governments to develop official community plans to consider factors that may support creating health promoting environments, so this information is really going to inform that, and that was really the primary purpose of undertaking this project. Along the way, we realized we’ve collected a wealth of information that could inform other issues as well, and hence, the first report that we released was the transportation and health.” Sandhu adds community profiles for 30 Lower Mainland municipalities will be released in about a month; the municipalities are benchmarked across their regional comparators.

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Another Fine Day in the City
by Stacy Matwick 29 Apr '15

29 Apr '15

Just a shout out to all AT Folk (and a hello to Beth) I thought this would brighten your Wednesday.Having nothing whatsoever to do with active transport but everything to do with the song.Crusoe's Dog-Friendly Florida Vacation 2015 | | | | | | | | | | | Crusoe's Dog-Friendly Florida Vacation 2015 | | | | View on www.youtube.com | Preview by Yahoo | | | | | Cheers from Stacy Matwick (enjoying my retirement)

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The Guardian: End of the Car Age - How Cities Outgrew the Automobile
by Jackie Avent 29 Apr '15

29 Apr '15

http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/apr/28/end-of-the-car-age-how-cities…

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No Safe Routes to School in Nova Scotia
by Jackie Avent 29 Apr '15

29 Apr '15

Hey folks, If anyone can put out the word to Nova Scotia that they should not cancel their ASRTS program funding, that would be great. It's an important, successful and award winning program that makes a proven difference. http://metronews.ca/voices/your-ride-halifax/1352740/nova-scotias-budget-cu…

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Cinematheque: Marinoni - The Fire in the Frame
by Beth McKechnie 23 Apr '15

23 Apr '15

Marinoni: The Fire In The Frame For cycling fans, his name is nothing less than legendary. In 1964, when he was 25, Giuseppe Marinoni left his native Italy for a bike race. Not only did he get countless Canadians interested in the sport, he went on to become one of the most passionate and trusted bicycle builders in the world. Now 75, the man with “a character of iron and the soul of an angel” is as driven as ever, and plans to break the world record for distance cycled in one hour for his age group, a record held by Eddy Merckx. For 60 days leading up to the event, Tony Girardin documented this intriguing, complete man, who shared not only his own story but those of the people important to him. *Generously sponsored by Natural Cycle* *Now playing at Cinemathque. Check showtimes and buy tickets <https://www.winnipegfilmgroup.com/event/marinoni-the-fire-in-the-frame/2015…>.*

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From: David Wieser
by David Wieser 22 Apr '15

22 Apr '15

Hi at http://vashkot.ru/vacation.php?song=eqp6hfa9m9an7b davidwieser(a)gmail.com Sent from my iPhone

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Jane's Walks strolling into Winnipeg May 2 & 3
by Beth McKechnie 21 Apr '15

21 Apr '15

*** Please share widely – thanks! *** On Saturday May 2 and Sunday May 3, the ninth annual Jane’s Walk is strolling into town. On this weekend, Winnipeggers can choose from a number of guided walks taking place across the city, and presented in an innovative and uniquely neighbourly fashion. Find background on Jane’s Walks <http://greenactioncentre.ca/living-green-living-well/janes-walks-celebrate-…> or go straight to the 2015 Winnipeg listings <http://janeswalk.org/canada/winnipeg/> to plan which walks you’ll take in May 2nd & 3rd. Check back regularly as more walks are being added daily!

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What's our walk-ability? Community discussion April 30th
by Beth McKechnie 20 Apr '15

20 Apr '15

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Complete streets
by Patman, David 20 Apr '15

20 Apr '15

New (April 2015) report - information on evaluating projects. http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/guides/evaluating-complete-streets-projec… David Patman, P. Eng. Transit Planner Winnipeg Transit | Service Development Division 421 Osborne Street | Winnipeg, Manitoba R3L 2A2 P: 204-986-5737 | dpatman(a)winnipeg.ca<mailto:dpatman@winnipeg.ca>

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Fwd: [transp-tdm] CUTR webcasts now on YouTube
by Beth McKechnie 17 Apr '15

17 Apr '15

Hello everyone, In case you have an hour to fill (cause we all have so much unallocated time), here's a whole list of webinar recordings now available on YouTube that maybe of interest from the Centre for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida. enjoy, Beth ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Winters, Phil <winters(a)cutr.usf.edu> Date: Fri, Apr 17, 2015 at 2:47 PM Subject: [transp-tdm] CUTR webcasts now on YouTube To: Transp-tdm <transp-tdm(a)lists.cutr.usf.edu> Okay – we may not rival Netflix but we have moved our 75+ CUTR Webcast recordings to the CUTR YouTube channel! We hope you will visit https://www.youtube.com/user/NCTRCUTR to view these approximately 1-hour webinar recordings. Sorry but popcorn is not included. The full video playlist can be found at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD9B44DA087CA569E or check the list below: 1. A Qualitative Analysis of Bus Simulator Training on Transit Incidents 2. A Tool for Assessing the Economic Impacts of Spending on Public Transit 3. Access Management - Best Practices for Local Governments 4. Airport Cooperative Research Program 5. Airport Leadership Development Program 6. Alternative Fuels and Public Transportation Evaluating the Economic Impacts of Transportation 7. An Assessment of Public Transportation Markets Using NHTS Data 8. Attracting and Securing Airline Service 9. Best Practices in Bus Dispatch 10. Bicycle Sharing Program Development 11. Carpooling Without the Car - Walking School Bus and Bicycle Train Program 12. Collaboration between Universities and Cities to Create Sustainable Communities 13. Cost-Benefit Analysis of Rural and Small Urban Transit 14. Developing an Application to Measure Public Involvement 15. Development of Pinellas County Roadway Jurisdiction Policy 16. Evaluating the Impacts of Real-Time Transit Information in Tampa and Atlanta 17. Evaluation of Camera-Based Systems to Reduce Transit Bus Side Collisions 18. Evaluation of Rear-end Collisions and Identification of Possible Solutions 19. Expanding Commuter Options and Reducing GHG Emissions with Workplace Plug-in Vehicle Charging 20. Five Ways to Mitigate Substance Abuse in the Transportation Workplace 21. Flooded Bus Barns and Buckled Rails - Public Transportation and Climate Change Adaptation 22. Freight - Challenging the Role of Public Sector Transportation Officials 23. How to Develop a Transit Development Plan (TDP) and Why? 24. Human Transit - Tools for Clarifying Transit Debates 25. Improving Bus Transit Safety through Rewards and Discipline 26. Internal Trip Capture for Mixed-use Developments 27. Introduction to Airport Economics 28. Investigation of the Feasibility of Toll and Transit Agency Equity Sharing 29. Location Aware Technology 30. Mapping the Structure of Work in Public Transportation 31. Mobility Planning Strategies and Concepts 32. Motorcycle Crash Hot Spot Analysis for Ten High Priority Florida Counties 33. Motorcycle Crash Trends in Florida 34. Motorcycle Violations Checklist 35. Motorcyclist Attitudes and Behaviors in Florida 36. Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) from a Public Transportation Perspective 37. Moving the Bus Safely Back Into Traffic 38. National Transit Livability Performance Measures – Challenges and Opportunities 39. Observational Survey of Motorcyclist Behaviors 40. OneBusAway Multi-region – Rapidly Expanding Mobile Transit Apps to New Cities 41. Open Transit Data - A Developer's Perspective 42. Organizational Structure of MPOs 43. Pedestrian/Bicyclist Warning Devices and Signs at Highway-Rail and Pathway-Rail Grade Crossings 44. Planning for Changing Travel Behavior 45. Potential Impacts of Federal Health Care Reform on Public Transit 46. Practices to Protect Bus Operators from Passenger Assaults 47. Recent Developments in Cost-Effective Multimodal Trip Planners 48. Regional Transit GIS Architecture and Data Model Project 49. Shared Bicycle/Bus Lanes 50. Survive the Ride - Motorcycle Safety 51. Sustainability Metrics & Mapping Tool for Environmental Assessment of Rail Infrastructure in IL 52. TCRP Report: Maintaining Transit Effectiveness Under Tight Fiscal Constraints 53. The American Community Survey (ACS) Statistical Analyzer 54. The Impact of Implementing a Contactless Smart Card System on Miami Dade Transit and its Customers 55. The Implementation and Outcomes of Fare-Free Public Transit 56. The Who and What: Bus Rapid Transit Riders and Systems in the U.S. 57. Toward zero deaths: Who needs to do the heavy lifting? (Motorcycle Crash Trend in Florida) 58. Tracking Costs of Alternatively Fueled Buses in Florida 59. Tracking Costs of Alternatively Fueled Buses in Florida Phase II 60. Transit Boardings Estimation and Simulation Tool (TBEST) 61. Transit GIS Clearinghouse 62. Transit Improvements from the Urban Partnership Agreement Program - What Have We Seen So Far? 63. Transit, Technology, and Public Participation 64. Trends in Travel Behavior 65. Trends in Travel Behavior - Update 66. TriMet’s Customer Service Modules & OTP Analyst Extension using OpenTripPlanner 67. Trip Reduction Impacts for Mobility Management Strategies 68. University Campuses as Leaders in the Shift Away from Driving 69. Using Audience Response to Measure Pedestrian Education Efforts 70. Value Capture Coordination Best Practices and Case Studies for Transit Capital Projects 71. Vehicle Assist and Automation Technologies in Bus Revenue Service 72. Veteran Mobility in Small Urban and Rural Areas 73. Visionary Student Concepts for Florida’s Future Corridors 74. Volunteer Transportation - A Generosity-Based Solution to Our Mobility Challenges 75. Walk Wise - A Grassroots Pedestrian Safety Campaign 76. Web-based Trip Planner Options for Transit Agencies 77. What We Do and Don’t Know About Vehicle Miles of Travel Trends You can also subscribe to the channel. Phil Philip L. Winters Director, TDM Program Center for Urban Transportation Research University of South Florida 4202 E. Fowler Ave., CUT100 Tampa, FL 33620-5375 813.974.9811 813.974.5168 fax winters(a)cutr.usf.edu www.cutr.usf.edu Best Workplaces for Commuters – www.bestworkplaces.org ------------------------------ If you wish to reply to everyone, please add transp-tdm(a)lists.cutr.usf.edu in the "TO" field of your email. Otherwise, only the author of the original message will see your reply. To unsubscribe from a list, send an email message to leave-transp-tdm(a)lists.cutr.usf.edu. To subscribe, please go to www.nctr.usf.edu/clearinghouse/connections.htm TRANSP-TDM listserv is provided as a service to the TDM community by the National TDM and Telework Clearinghouse (www.nctr.usf.edu/clearinghouse). The Clearinghouse is part of the National Center for Transit Research located at the Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florida. -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://canadahelps.org/>

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Cycling to school data collection and visualization
by Patman, David 14 Apr '15

14 Apr '15

Neat: http://mobilitylab.org/2015/04/13/school-bicycling-safety-in-alexandria-vir… David Patman, P. Eng. Transit Planner Winnipeg Transit Service Development Division P: 204-986-5737<tel:204-986-5737> dpatman(a)winnipeg.ca<mailto:dpatman@winnipeg.ca> Sent using iPhone

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Children's mobility and independence: North America vs the Netherlands
by Beth McKechnie 14 Apr '15

14 Apr '15

Compelling difference between NA and the Netherlands experience with children and mobility (no surprise, I know!) . While a family in the U.S. has their children apprehended because they were allowed to walk to a park less than 1km from their home, children in Utrecht are taught about cycling, walking and motorized vehicles in a 'traffic garden' (watch 3 min Streetfilms video <https://vimeo.com/31545084>.) A speaker in the Utrecht video notes that it is important because at age 10 or 11, children there will start biking across the city. That's the same age as the older child in the U.S. family that isn't allowed to let their children walk 1km to the park in their own neighbourhood. Sigh. * * * * * 'Free-range' parenting under the gunAgency seizes kids walking home alone By: Amanda Lee Myers http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/world/free-range-parenting-under-the-gun-2… SILVER SPRING, Md. -- Two suburban Washington, D.C., parents are under scrutiny again for letting their six- and 10-year-old children play in a park and walk home alone in a case that has stirred debate about "free-range" parenting and government powers. For the second time in four months, police on Sunday picked up the children of Danielle and Alexander Meitiv as they were walking home alone from a park that's just over a kilometre from their house. This time, instead of bringing the children home, police took them directly to Child Protective Services. "It's beyond ridiculous," Danielle Meitiv said Monday. "The world is safer today, and yet we imprison our children inside and wonder why they're obese and have no focus." The Meitivs, who live 9.6 kilometres from Washington in Silver Spring, Md., believe in "free-range" parenting, which includes allowing their children to play and walk alone in the neighbourhood to teach them self-reliance and responsibility. Child Protective Services first began investigating the couple in December after police stopped the children midway through a 1.6-km walk home from a different park after responding to a call from a concerned citizen. Police drove the children home but called Child Protective Services. The Meitivs were notified in a February letter they had been found responsible for "unsubstantiated neglect," a ruling that's made when there's some information supporting child neglect, seemingly credible reports disagree or there isn't enough information for a conclusion. The Meitivs continued allowing their children some independence until Sunday, when the couple dropped the kids off at a park so they could play after a six-hour drive back from upstate New York, telling them to be home by 6 p.m. Danielle Meitiv said she and her husband began worrying when the kids weren't home by 6:30. Child Protective Services didn't call them until 8 p.m. to say the children were in their custody. Police had picked them up on the walk home after another concerned citizen called. In a news release Monday, the Montgomery County Police Department said the officer who responded to the call saw a homeless man "eyeing" the children. Capt. Paul Starks, a department spokesman, couldn't immediately elaborate on whether the homeless man was considered a serious threat. Starks said the children were turned over to Child Protective Services at the agency's request. The Meitivs were able to get their children back from Child Protective Services around 10:30 p.m. Similar to December's incident, Danielle Meitiv said the couple had to sign a temporary safety plan saying their children would be supervised at all times until a followup visit. "This morning, my daughter wanted to go play in the yard and I couldn't let her out because I was making breakfast," Danielle Meitiv said. "Are they prisoners? She's six and she's not allowed to play in the yard?" The case has drawn international media coverage, and Danielle Meitiv said the couple have heard from people all over the world. The majority have been supportive, Meitiv said, but some have expressed outrage at the couple's parenting style. Starks said police and Child Protective Services were conducting a joint investigation of the Meitivs for possible child-neglect allegations. Once that is finished, a decision will be made about whether any charges will be filed against the couple, he said. Child Protective Services said the agency is prohibited from discussing specific cases. In the meantime, Danielle Meitiv said she won't leave her children unsupervised until she and her husband are cleared. "Child Protective Services has succeeded in making me terrified of letting my children out," she said. "Nothing that has happened so far has convinced me that children don't need independence and freedom, except that they'll be harassed by police and CPS." -- The Associated Press Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 14, 2015 A6

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[At-network] AT Webinar: Exploring Vision Zero, Wed, Apr.15th, 2-3pm, EcoCentre
by Beth McKechnie 13 Apr '15

13 Apr '15

Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg invite you to join us for a local viewing of the APBP webinar: *Exploring Vision Zero: Legal Rights and Issues for Pedestrians and Cyclists**. * The webinar viewing takes place in the EcoCentre boardroom (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave) and will be followed by group discussion of local applications. RSVPs appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! cheers, Beth ** * * * ** Exploring Vision Zero: Legal Rights and Issues for Pedestrians and Cyclists *Wednesday, Apr. 15th, 2-3pm, EcoCentre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Boardroom* *Key learning objectives*: 1. Understand the background and focus of the Vision Zero concept, and how laws relating to vulnerable road users relate to this concept 2. Identify strategies for implementing a Vision Zero plan 3. Recognize ways to improve laws that protect pedestrians and cyclists *Description:* Traffic laws that ensure the safety and fair treatment of pedestrians and cyclists vary widely from state to state, and within states. Is there a better alternative? Vision Zero uses one simple idea to reframe the issue of legal rights for vulnerable users: all citizens have the right to safe mobility—on a par with the right to clean air or safe drinking water. The Vision Zero approach to mobility prioritizes safety and presumes that traffic fatalities are preventable; the focus is on changing transportation culture. APBP’s next two webinars (April 15 and May 20) explore Vision Zero and how communities have begun to rethink engineering, education and enforcement to promote behavioral change. Presenters will discuss the origins of Vision Zero, the implications of Vision Zero for equity, key factors in implementation, and the roles of advocacy groups and law enforcement. The City of Seattle’s Vision Zero plan provides an example of a plan that integrates policy, regulations, street design and law enforcement to achieve a visionary goal of ending traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030. The webinar concludes with a discussion of ways to clarify and improve laws and regulations that protect vulnerable road users. *Presenters*: - Dongho Chang, PE, PTOE, City Traffic Engineer, City of Seattle - Arthur Ross, Pedestrian-Bicycle Coordinator, City of Madison - Heather Strassberger, AICP, Project Manager, WalkBoston

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WFP: The sneaky parking-lot plot - Hydro proposal for Notre Dame Avenue ill-conceived (Apr.13'15)
by Beth McKechnie 13 Apr '15

13 Apr '15

The sneaky parking-lot plotHydro proposal for Notre Dame Avenue ill-conceived ON ARCHITECTUREBy: Brent Bellamy http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/the-sneaky-parking-lot-plot-29952… IN the past decade, downtown has experienced development and renewal. To keep up with increasing electrical demand and serve this growth, Manitoba Hydro will soon begin construction on a new $62-million substation downtown. It will be located on a large parking lot at the corner of Adelaide Street and Notre Dame Avenue, previously owned by nearby Calvary Temple. As part of the transaction to secure the property, Hydro agreed to replace the church parking by co-ordinating the purchase of an adjacent 40-stall lot with the intent of demolishing four commercial buildings along Notre Dame to make room for another 35 cars. An application to the city for a demolition permit has not yet been submitted, but intentions to do so have been made public. An important obstacle facing this scheme is that demolition to create surface parking as a primary use on a downtown property is no longer permitted. Building demolition is only allowed with proof that an appropriate redevelopment plan is forthcoming. The negative effect surface parking lots have on urban areas is well recognized across North America, and these restrictions in Winnipeg have been put in place to begin the long process of reversing their blight on our city. It is staggering to consider that almost one-quarter of Winnipeg's downtown is devoted to surface parking. The most significant reason they are so detrimental to urban areas is that they degrade the pedestrian experience, which has a cascading effect on the economic and physical health of the city. Unlike suburban businesses that cater to the automobile, commerce downtown relies on a volume of foot traffic for its success. Large swaths of asphalt parking reduce the density of a neighbourhood and in turn the intensity of that pedestrian traffic, hurting the economic vitality of the area. Buildings constructed to the sidewalk improve the pedestrian experience by creating a continuous edge that provides shelter, increased retail density and activity, greater visual interest and connection to interior spaces. This edge encloses the peripheral expanse of a street, which intuitively slows vehicular traffic, heightening pedestrian comfort and security. Surface parking also increases the perception of crime in a downtown. Building density and increased sidewalk traffic is a self-policing deterrent to criminal activity. Crime is attracted to secluded open spaces such as parking lots, and without feeling connected to adjacent buildings as a pedestrian, the perception of safety decreases as one's feeling of isolation increases. Every Winnipeg mayor since Glen Murray has recognized the negative effect of surface parking on downtown and each has campaigned on promises to reduce their numbers. Former mayor Sam Katz referred to them as "magnets for crime" and Mayor Brian Bowman along with Premier Selinger, who himself made anti-parking-lot pledges, recently announced an important new residential grant program that targets development on open lots. For initiatives such as this to be successful long-term, it's crucial we maintain consistent values and uphold these goals and ideals in all instances. The demolition application for the Notre Dame properties will likely make the argument the overall amount of surface parking will not increase because the substation will rise on a lot across the street. This may be technically true, but if impact on the neighbourhood is the measure of a project's value, the parking-lot trade is not an even one. A building is not merely the inverse of a parking lot. The opportunity it provides and its interaction with the street are what create relative value for the neighbourhood. Many people will look at these four buildings and decide they are small, old and of no real worth, but these types of buildings are vital for establishing healthy and economically prosperous urban neighbourhoods. The high rents required to make new construction viable in Winnipeg generally prevent local or small business from affording space in new buildings. Redevelopment of older structures such as these can provide lower-cost opportunities for small-scale commerce, promoting a diversity and entrepreneurship that is the backbone of a neighbourhood's economy. The West End has seen a renaissance, transforming itself into one of the most vibrant and diverse neighbourhoods in the city, fuelled by a proliferation of small, unique, family-owned businesses that have found success in the low-cost model offered by the older buildings in the area. Located on a busy thoroughfare between Central Park and the West End, the Notre Dame buildings are perfectly situated to provide opportunity for the area's population, many of whom are new immigrants or migrants from rural areas searching for an independent livelihood. The restaurants, corner stores, retail shops and services that build a strong, vibrant community can only find a home in these types of small, older structures. With three unique storefronts, low commercial rents and small flexible spaces, the Notre Dame buildings can be a catalyst in furthering the neighbourhood's transformation by enabling this fine-grain commercial growth. Startup companies, arts groups and non-profit incubator organizations have also found success in these types of buildings. Winnipeg's new Innovation Alley, directly adjacent to the Notre Dame properties is a celebrated collection of creative industries that could only have happened in the low-rent spaces of older buildings. Manitoba Hydro is making a significant contribution to downtown Winnipeg by constructing its new substation. Calvary Temple has been an important and positive presence in the city centre for several decades. There is a strong will from both partners to be good neighbours and to do what is best for the community. The Central Park and West End neighbourhoods deserve more than a parking-lot trade and the status quo. They deserve a project that improves the safety, economic opportunity and sense of pride for everyone who lives in those communities. If a provincial Crown corporation is allowed to co-ordinate the creation of a new surface parking lot on one of downtown's main commercial streets, the precedent will be difficult to defend when private building owners hope to follow suit and cash in on the reduced property taxes, low maintenance costs and easy profits surface parking can provide. Reducing the four unassuming buildings on Notre Dame to rubble would represent a lost opportunity to make positive change in a sensitive inner-city neighbourhood. It is not too late to reconsider the need for those 35 parking stalls and find a solution that is a win for Manitoba Hydro, for Calvary Temple and for everyone in the community. Brent Bellamy is senior design architect for Number Ten Architectural Group. bbellamy(a)numberten.com Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 13, 2015 B3 -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://canadahelps.org/>

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Wpg Sun: Portage and Main study moves forward (Apr.10'15)
by Beth McKechnie 12 Apr '15

12 Apr '15

Portage and Main study moves forward By Joyanne Pursaga <http://www.winnipegsun.com/joyannepursaga>, Winnipeg Sun First posted: Friday, April 10, 2015 03:17 PM CDT http://www.winnipegsun.com/2015/04/10/portage-and-main-study-moves-forward A city committee has taken a step to ensure pedestrian access at Portage Avenue and Main Street continues well beyond the occasional hockey celebration. Coun. Jenny Gerbasi (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry) said the fact fans flocked to the iconic intersection Thursday night to celebrate the Winnipeg Jets' playoff berth highlights its significance. "People went down to Portage and Main to celebrate, which, I think, shows you that even when you close something for 35 years, people will not forget that's a place for people," said Gerbasi. Winnipeg's most famous intersection is closed to foot traffic due to a 40-year agreement with property owners of an underground shopping mall at the site. But that contract expires in 2019 and Mayor Brian Bowman has pledged to re-open the intersection to pedestrians. The downtown development motion would direct city staff to lay out guidelines for a full traffic study and determine any other steps needed to allow the change. It still requires full council approval. The committee also received confidential legal advice on the matter, which didn't appear to impede further work toward the alteration. "We didn't hear anything that would cause us to stop a study," said Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital), the committee's chair. Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan) cast the sole opposing vote to the motion, fearing it would cause traffic woes. "Certain parts of our traffic network, key arterial routes, go through our downtown and I think opening it up to pedestrians would be a detriment to that flow," said Browaty. joyanne.pursaga(a)sunmedia.ca

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Paris wants to become world capital of cycling
by Beth McKechnie 09 Apr '15

09 Apr '15

A little something to drool over – €150 million investment for everything from dedicated bike highways to bike parking and 30km speed limits throughout the city (and only 50km on major roads). While Copenhagen and Amsterdam probably don't have to worry about losing the title of world cycling capital, it should certainly help with the smog problems in Paris. Lots more details on the bike plan provided in this link for French speakers. - cheers, Beth https://wehicles.com/news/un-nouveau-plan-velo-ambitieux-pour-paris-1504034… * * * * * Now Paris Wants to Become the 'World Capital of Cycling' Lower speed limits, subsidies and loads more bike lanes are all forthcoming. Will it be enough? - FEARGUS O'SULLIVAN <http://www.citylab.com/authors/feargus-osullivan/> - @FeargusOSull <https://twitter.com/intent/user?screen_name=FeargusOSull> - Apr 6, 2015 http://www.citylab.com/commute/2015/04/now-paris-wants-to-become-the-world-… Paris is destined to become the “world capital of cycling,” or at least, that's the grand ambition declared recently <http://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/2015/04/03/01016-20150403ARTFIG0027…> by Paris City Hall. While Amsterdam and Copenhagen may not be sweating it just yet, the French capital is indeed taking bicycle transportation more seriously than ever before. To underscore that effort, the city has just announced a €150 million ($164.5 million) program over the next five years that aims to make Paris far easier, safer and more attractive for cyclists. At the heart of the project are plans to double the city's bike lanes. Between now and 2020, Paris will add 80 kilometers (roughly 50 miles) of new, improved routes. The crown jewels of this new network will be a grid of five bike highways <http://s3.lprs1.fr/images/2015/04/01/4657497_f1a04caa-d8a3-11e4-be07-001517…> that will be bi-directional and almost entirely protected from automobile traffic by barriers. Three of the new lanes will be axial—two bisecting the city north to south and one east to west—while a further two will follow the banks of the River Seine as closely as possible. Quite apart from their value for commuters, the tourist potential for these alone is huge. Visitors on rental bikes will soon be able to amble down the Champs-Élysées and along the Seine Quays without braving traffic. The overhaul isn’t just sticking to tourist spots, however. Paris will also focus on overcoming obstacles that hamper cyclists from crossing the *Boulevard Périphérique* beltway. Separating the city core from its suburbs, routes across this barrier will be smoothed, easing the transition through Paris’s traffic-filled, potentially dangerous “city gates <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_gates_of_Paris>.” And off the express network, things should get easier too. Junctions with traffic lights will be equipped with 7,000 new alternative corner crossings that allow cyclists to turn without waiting for lights to turn green. Where these are not in place, cyclists will benefit from priority at all lights. People who ride bicycles in Paris should also stand to benefit from an ongoing plan to cut the citywide speed limit to 30 kilometers (18 miles) per hour, with only major roads rising to 50 kilometers (30 miles). And finally, when they arrive at their destination, cyclists will have more places to put their bikes, as Paris will fund 10,000 new parking spots for bicycles. Improved infrastructure is great, but it won’t mean much without lots more cyclists to use it. Paris is clearly aware of this. In a bid to coax bike riders onto the road who don’t necessarily want to arrive at their destination sweaty, the city is also providing financial help for electric bike purchases. Parisians can now get reimbursed <http://www.paris.fr/pratique/deplacements-voirie/dossier/velo-a-assistance-…> for 33 percent of the cost of an electric bike, with the upper cap set at €400. These are radical, healthy changes indeed, but they won’t make Paris a cyclist’s paradise overnight. The new plan’s ambitions to get 15 percent of Parisians commuting on bikes by 2020 still sets it target far below matching the 43 percent of Amsterdammers who already do <http://www.citylab.com/commute/2015/02/amsterdam-has-officially-run-out-of-…>. Paris transit and public space secretary Christophe Najdovski acknowledges Paris still has a long climb ahead of it. “It’s a long-haul job,” he says. “The Netherlands has been working on it since the ‘70s. We’ve got a lot of work to do to reach their stage, but we’re optimistic.”

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