- AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

Streetfilms - A park from the midst of its pavement
by David Wieser 29 Jun '09

29 Jun '09

Yet another fantastic film from streetfilms. This one involves removing cars from a major intersection and the placing of street furniture in the street. Allowances are made for street cars to travel through at 17th / Castro / Market in San Francisco. After 17 years of planning, installation occured over a 72 hour period, from cars to pedestrian friendly streetscape. http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/san-francisco-carves-a-park-from-the-mi… I would be curious to hear about where you think this could occur in Winnipeg, such as Albert / McDermot / Bannatyne area. This network isn't a discussion based forum, so feel free to e-mail me if you have a suggestion and I'll compile a list and reply back. David Wieser

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WFP: Winnipeg can become cycling city
by Beth McKechnie 27 Jun '09

27 Jun '09

Winnipeg Free Press: June 27, 2009 Editorials Winnipeg can become cycling city Cycling groups now say they feel they were sold a bill of goods because of a flawed feature in the overall plan. A gap in the route at the Osborne Street rail underpass will separate the northern and southern sections of the bicycling path, forcing cyclists from both directions to use the narrow sidewalks or the roadway beneath the CN Rail tracks. Cyclists, of course, already use the underpass, but the bike trail will funnel many more people into a potentially dangerous bottleneck with pedestrians and motorists. For its part, the city says it will rebuild the entire underpass sometime in the future, but it's not in the budget now. In the meantime, civic traffic engineers have a variety of ideas for solving the problem on a short-term basis, including dedicating one sidewalk for pedestrians and the other for bikes, and possibly even expanding a sidewalk, but they are unsatisfactory answers to a problem that has been on the table for many years. It is also hard to imagine cyclists sharing a single sidewalk in a safe manner. The three levels of government are spending $138 million for the first phase of the Southwest Transit Corridor, but they should dig a little deeper to ensure the project is done right now, rather than waiting for the crumbling underpass to die of old age. If not, they may want to consider other options, rather than building a pathway with a giant pothole in the middle. The province has already said it's prepared to help with extra cash. It is in the city's interest to get more motorists out of their cars and onto buses. Another way to get people to leave their cars at home is to develop good infrastructure for cyclists. In fact, there's no reason why Winnipeg can't develop a reputation as a cycling city, which would be a significant promotional tool. Some skeptics say the city's severe winters are an obstacle to achieving that goal, but the observation is uninformed. Minneapolis is a winter city, too, yet it has been named the No. 2 cycling city (after Portland) in the United States, boasting 65 kilometres of dedicated bike lanes along city streets, and 130 kilometres of off-street bicycle paths. That's in addition to other measures to encourage and support cycling. As a result, an estimated 7,200 people regularly commute to work by bicycle, including many in the winter. The city has pledged that by 2020, everyone will have convenient access to a cycling route. Winnipeg already has many passionate cyclists, but the lack of infrastructure is a deterrent to convincing more people to give it a try. The average person is just too intimidated by the poor roads and close proximity to cars to consider travelling very far by bicycle. The city has been talking about rapid transit for decades. Now that we are ready to begin a small leg of the project, let's get started on the right foot. A transportation initiative that discourages cyclists is no way to launch a project that wants to get cars off the road and encourage alternative modes of transportation.

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Have your say - AT consultations this week
by Beth McKechnie 23 Jun '09

23 Jun '09

[excerpted from a Winnipeg Trails Association mailing] Have your say on pedestrian and cycling issues at three different events taking place this week: June 23 - Bishop Grandin Greenway WEST of the Red River - Winnipeg Technical College - Henlow Bay http://www.winnipegtrails.ca/2009/05/13/community-consultation-bishop-grand… June 24 - Building the Network - Red River Campus - Princess Street http://www.winnipegtrails.ca/2009/05/12/building-the-network-public-open-ho… June 25 - Silver Ave. Pathway - Heritage Victoria Community Centre - Sturgeon Rd http://www.winnipegtrails.ca/2009/05/10/silver-avenue-pathway/

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[Bike to the Future] "Where's the Pathway in BRT?"
by Beth McKechnie 23 Jun '09

23 Jun '09

[Circulated on behalf of Bike to the Future...] Help inform Winnipeggers about a critical gap in the City's Active Transportation network and get a free ice cream! Join us this Thursday June 25th at noon at the South Osborne Underpass for a press conference highlighting the sudden and fundamental change in the Southwest Rapid Transit Corridor. Background For years the rapid transit project has been mandated to include an integrated Active Transportation Pathway. In the current plans, the pathway has become disconnected by the South Osborne Underpass. The fragmented remnants of the pathway will lead motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians into conflict. Paul Jordan, Chair of the Winnipeg Trails Association, along with representatives from the Winnipeg Trails Association, The Forks, the Prairie Pathfinders walking club, Bike to the Future, Winnipeg Rapid Transit Coalition, Manitoba Cycling Association, and One Green City are undertaking an awareness campaign to inform the public of this fundamental change. Paul and others will hold a short press conference on the Active Transportation component of the Southwest Rapid Transit Corridor project followed by a walk through the underpass and free Banana Boat ice cream on the other side. This is one of the most critical "choke points" of the Active Transportation Network. If must be addressed now. We hope you can attend. Please share this message with your contacts. Press Release PDF Letter to Premier Doer PDF Letter to Mayor Katz PDF The Gap in the City's SW Rapid Transit Corridor bikeway plan (May 23rd) The Gap -- diagram PDF Curt Hull Bike to the Future, Treasurer http://biketothefuture.org

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Bike to Work Day registration push
by Beth McKechnie 16 Jun '09

16 Jun '09

*Please post widely* Register NOW for Bike to Work Day! Only 4 days left to go! Friday, June 19th, 2009 On-line registration for this FREE event is now open at http://biketoworkdaywinnipeg.org/registrations/new. Great prizes! Pancake Breakfast! Group Rides! Bike Oases! Refer a friend and have more chances to win! The more friends you refer, the more times your name gets entered in the prize draws. The event this year is bigger and better! Events of the day include: Manitoba Lotteries Pancake Breakfast - 7-9 am June 19th, 2009 7-9 am, Forks Market Join us for food, music, entertainment and company the morning of Bike to Work Day! The first 300 cyclists to arrive will receive a free pancake breakfast. *NEW This Year!* Bike Oases - 6:30 - 9:00 am Stop by your local neighbourhood Oasis on your way to work for some snacks and refreshments provided by Edna Fedya Restaurant. Then, once you're energized you can Catch the Wave (see below for more information) downtown to the Pancake Breakfast with other cyclists! Oasis Locations (check out www.biketoworkdaywinnipeg.org for a visual map coming soon!) Natural Cycle Oasis - at Polo Park (on Portage Avenue) Free Press Oasis - Northgate Shopping Centre (on McPhillips) Manitoba Public Insurance Oasis - Kildonan Crossing (Narin at Lagimodiere - Moxies Parking Lot) Alter Ego Sports Oasis - Edna Fedya Restaurant in Smart Park (off Chancellor) at the University of Manitoba *NEW This Year!* Catch the Wave Bike Waves (escorted group rides) will be leaving from each Oases at 7:15 am and going to the Forks. Route details are posted at www.biketoworkdaywinnipeg.org. Cyclists are welcome to join up with or leave the wave at any time along the route. If you're already a rider - come out to show how many of us there are out there! If you're not a rider - come out to ride safely in a group. Bike Waves will be lead by experienced cyclists bringing valuable safety tips for newer riders. Check out www.biketoworkdaywinnipeg.org for more information, great photos, fun maps and more exciting information about Bike to Work Day 2009!

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Building the Network Public Open House
by Erik Dickson 09 Jun '09

09 Jun '09

Hello Everyone, Please see the attached invitation to the Building the Network Public Open House on Wednesday June 24 from 4:00 - 8:00 PM at Red River College Princess Street Campus, CGA Manitoba Room, P-107 Main Floor. Please feel free to distribute to your email mailing groups, post to websites and print copies of the poster to put up. Please contact me if you have any questions. Hope to see you all on the 24th! Regards, Erik Dickson B.Sc. (Hons) Marr Consulting Services 8th Floor - 136 Market Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0P4 Phone: (204) 927-3456 ext. 242 Fax: (204) 927-3443 Please consider our environment before printing this message.

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WFP editorial cartoon: share the road
by Beth McKechnie 08 Jun '09

08 Jun '09

In today's Winnipeg Free Press...

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Bike to Work Day Volunteers!
by Beth McKechnie 04 Jun '09

04 Jun '09

[please help spread the word...] VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED FOR BIKE TO WORK DAY! Visit www.biketoworkdaywinnipeg.org for more information! June 19th, 2009 will be the second annual Bike to Work Day in Winnipeg. This day cannot happen with out the energy of volunteers and we need you! We still need approximately 60 volunteers for Bike to Work Day itself! Those interested in volunteering should contact kristin(a)marrcc.com with their name and preferred volunteer placement (see below). Volunteers will be entred to win a volunteer-only prize package, and will be invited to a Volunteer-only Appreciation Event in the evening with food, drink, music and merriment. Volunteers will also receive a distinct Bike to Work Day t-shirt and have the satisfaction of contributing to an exciting and worthwhile event. Bike to Work Day 2009 will consist of the Manitoba Lotteries Pancake Breakfast at the Forks, and we will have four Bike Oases (with food, drink and swag) located at Polo Park, the U of M, North Gate Shopping Centre and Kildonan Crossing (visit www.biketoworkday.org for detailed information about location). Bike Waves (escorted group rides) will run from the Oases to the Forks in the morning. We need volunteers in the following capacities: Pancake Breakfast - 2-shifts (6:30 - 7:45; 7:45 - 9:00) - 51 volunteers! traffic directors at the Forks site: 8 x2 registration 10 x2 registration table coordinator 1 - to fill both shifts bike valet 4 x2 shirt hand-out person 1 x2 Door entrance counter 1 x2 Spare 1 x2 Bike Oases - one shift 6:00 - 9:00 am - 4 volunteers! U of M 1 to staff Oasis; Polo Park 1 to staff Oasis; Northgate 1 to staff Oasis; Kildonan Crossing 1 to staff Oasis; Evening Appriciation Event - 3 shifts - 5-6 pm; 6-7 pm; 7-8 pm Door Security 1 x3 -- o _`\(,_ ......... (_)/ (_)

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Ped & bike image library
by Beth McKechnie 02 Jun '09

02 Jun '09

Looking for images of pedestrians and cyclists? The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) image library is US-based but offers free high res images. See more info below, along with usage guidelines and a call for photo submissions. -cheers, Beth ------------------------ PBIC News Brief June 1, 2009 http://www.walkinginfo.org/newsroom/2009-06-01.cfm PBIC launches updated image library Submit your images for chance to win a free retro-reflective pants strap! CHAPEL HILL, NC The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center announces the launch of the updated and redesigned pedestrian and bicycle image library at www.pedbikeimages.org The PBIC Image Library is a searchable collection of free, high-quality images relating to walking and bicycling. Visitors to the site may use the images in any non-commercial projects including web pages, presentations and reports. There are no per-image costs, royalties, or extra payments for the images, but users must adhere to the Usage Guidelines posted on the site at www.pedbikeimages.org/usage.cfm The updated site features hundreds of fresh images of people, transportation facilities, and livable places in the US and in more than 10 other countries. The images can be searched for using keywords, or users can browse by popular search terms. Users can also search for images from specific states or countries, photos taken by a particular photographer, or for a specific format or print quality. The PBIC would like to encourage users to submit http://www.pedbikeimages.org/submit.cfm their own pedestrian and bicycle-related photos. For the next 6 weeks starting on June 1, users who submit their own related images will be automatically entered in a weekly random drawing. Users will be entered into the drawing for each image they submit, so your odds of winning increase as you submit more photos. The winning recipient for each week will receive one PBIC retro-reflective bike pants strap. The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center is funded through the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and maintained by the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center. -- Laura Sandt Research Associate, UNC Highway Safety Research Center Associate Director, Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center 730 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Suite 300 / Campus Box 3430 Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3430 Tel 919.962.2358 Fax 919.962.8710 sandt(a)hsrc.unc.edu www.walkinginfo.org www.bicyclinginfo.org.

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Active Transportation - Canada: June 1, 2009
by Beth McKechnie 01 Jun '09

01 Jun '09

----- Original Message ----- From: Michael Haynes Sent: Monday, June 01, 2009 9:02 AM Subject: Active Transportation - Canada: June 1, 2009 Active Transportation - Canada features a regular posting of news articles, studies, reports, and other items that have relevance in this field, with previous postings available in an archive. In addition, pictures of existing Active Transportation infrastructure from communities across Canada will be profiled each week. The following items have recently been posted to the Active Transportation - Canada Blog. To view in more detail, go to: http://activetransportation-canada.blogspot.com **************************************************************************************************** AT Infrastructure Example: Moncton NB - Mayor unveils new "Share the Road" signs 1.. Website - Germany: Revolution on Two Wheels 2.. Article - Toronto: Campaign woos newcomers 3.. Article - Montreal: Fighting for the right of way 4.. Article - Get walking or cycling, says local committee 5.. Article - New bike lanes planned for Ajax cyclists 6.. Article - Active transportation combines bikes, transit 7.. Article - Toronto council passes plan to narrow Jarvis in favour of bike lanes 8.. Conference - The 5th Montreal Citizen Summit 9.. Event - Vancouver: Velo-City: Vancouver & the Bicycle Revolution 10.. Event - Toronto: World-renowned Danish architect and urban design visionary Jan Gehl to speak in Toronto 11.. Article - Arizona: Skateboarding joins PE curriculum 12.. Video - How Bicing changed the way Barcelona moves 13.. Book Review - “Pedaling Revolution: How Cyclists Are Changing American Cities” 14.. Newsletter - UK: Cycle Digest 15.. Report - UK: New Dept for Transport Consultation Paper on 20 mph for residential streets **************************************************************************************************** A reminder e-mail of new postings will be sent no more often than once per week. To continue to receive these updates, you need take no action. Should you not wish to receive updates, please return this e-mail with "Unsubscribe" in the Subject area. Interested in an AT workshop in your community? For more information, please contact: Michael Haynes Director

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Orioles Bike Cage Employment Opportunity
by Beth McKechnie 01 Jun '09

01 Jun '09

Employment Opportunity - Orioles Bike Cage Community Engagement Officer (Contractor) Orioles Bike Cage (444 Burnell Street) is a community-owned bicycle resource centre. We strive to create a bicycle-friendly community where everyone has a reliable bike and the skills to maintain it and to share our knowledge of bicycle repair in a welcoming environment. The Bike Cage is seeking a part-time, 4-month, contract Community Engagement Officer. This position will be of interest to an outgoing, self-motivated person with strong communication skills and a passion for community and for bikes. The Community Engagement Officer will co-design and deliver community outreach/involvement, volunteer coordination and a children’s bike event. Contract requirements are estimated at 20 hours per week; contract value is $4,000. Applications are due June 12, 2009. Send to OriolesBikeCage(a)gmail.com or to: Attn: Orioles Bike Cage, c/o Daniel McIntyre/St. Matthews Community Association, 444 Burnell Street, Winnipeg MB, R3G 2B4 Complete job description: http://oriolesbikecage.googlegroups.com/web/OBC+Community+Engagement+Contra… Orioles Bike Cage web site: http://www.bikecage.ca/

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G&M: The new key to the city: Bikes (May23'09)
by Beth McKechnie 26 May '09

26 May '09

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/travel/the-new-key-to-the-city-bikes/ar… The new key to the city: Bikes Montreal's Bixi program lets visitors rent a bike for an hour or a day. Cities and hotels are inviting guests to cruise around like locals, and Montreal's new bike-sharing program is leading the way On the streets of Montreal, where visitors once flocked to watch Formula One cars race through the streets, you can now cruise the city on two wheels. That is, on one of the 3,000 sleek bicycles in the city's new bike-sharing program. Launched this month, Bixi is North America's largest and most innovative bike-sharing program, billed as a green, cheap method of getting around. With the city's 450 kilometres of bike paths, you can cruise around like a local. "Tourists are most welcome to use the system and experience the city the way local residents do," Tourisme Montreal's Patrick Guidote says. As urban cycling gains in popularity, following the European example, cities and hotels are offering bike-sharing and bike paths - along with bikes as amenities for guests - as a way to attract visitors and open up a new tourism experience. With the $15-million Bixi - the name blends the words "bicycle" and "taxi" - Montreal is building on its potential for visitors. In an online video, Tourism Montreal blogger "Tamy" recommends pedalling to places slightly off the beaten path: Jean-Drapeau Park, for instance, where you can bike on the F1 Gilles Villeneuve track and then stop for a dip at the Jean-Drapeau beach. The formula for such programs is simple. In Montreal, riders use a member's key or credit card to unlock a bike, pedal it around town and return it to one of 300 solar-powered docking stations. The sturdy aluminum bikes have three speeds, raised handlebars, lights, and tires built for urban cycling. They're also theft-resistant - and come with a modest rental price. The first 30 minutes of every ride is free. After that, it costs from $1.50 for an hour to $5 for a full day of cycling. Bixi is modelled after programs in Europe, including Berlin, Barcelona and particularly Paris. After two years of operation in Paris, a city of 2.2 million, the Vélib' program has clocked 42 million riders - thanks in part to tour guides who lead visitors around the Latin Quarter by bike. If success is based on longevity and popularity, then Bycyklen in Copenhagen is perhaps the biggest success story. Copenhagen brands itself as the City of Cyclists, and 36 per cent of locals travel by bicycle; the city is aiming for 50 per cent by 2015. Founded in 1995, Bycyklen was the first large-scale urban bike-share program featuring specially designed bikes. And it's free: Riders leave a $4.25 deposit, which is refunded when they return the bikes. Its tourism board weaves promotional campaigns with tips on how to experience the city like a local and boasts about its extensive network of bike paths, which expands every year. According to bike-sharing consultant Paul DeMaio, Montreal and other cities are likely to see bike-sharing programs become a favourite mode of transport for visitors. "Tourism improves when visitors can rely on the local transit network, including bike-sharing, rather than needing a car rental," he says. "Tourists get to experience a city more up close when they're biking. They can smell the aromas of the bakeries and enjoy urban life, rather than be frustrated about being stuck in traffic and worried about where to find parking." Given the growth of bike-sharing globally, that sort of experience should be a common part of city tourism within a few years. London plans to unveil its 6,000-bicycle-strong share program by 2010. Boston, Minneapolis, Denver, San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia and Phoenix have announced programs for the near future. In New York, the quintessential urban jungle, the city has conducted a comprehensive study to assess the potential for a bike-sharing program. And this summer, the neighbourhood group Alliance for Downtown New York is running its second annual Bike Around Downtown program, which provides the public with bicycle rentals (free for members, and anyone can register online to be a member), including helmets and baby seats. Some of the hippest hotels in North America are also getting in on the action. In New York, the Hotel Gansevoort invites guests to hop on their fleet of ultramodern Puma bicycles, complete with helmets. Chicago's James Hotel stocks trendy Paul Frank-designed bikes for adults and kids that are perfect for a ride down Lake Shore Drive. And in Miami Beach, where visitors are used to seeing fancy cars vying for attention along Ocean Drive, The Raleigh hotel encourages guests to cruise along the boardwalk with their own set of wheels. Bike-sharing programs are designed for short trips, which means there has to be a critical mass of activities that are accessible by bike in order for tourists to embrace the trend, says Jennifer Keesmaat, a founding partner of Office for Urbanism, a Toronto-based planning and design firm. "Cyclists don't stay on their bikes," she says, "They use cabs, buses and their feet to get around, so a network of paths has to tie all of the pieces together." Local governments have to invest in constructing bike lanes, trails and good signage, she argues, before they implement bike-sharing programs. Detroit seems to be getting the idea. This month, it officially unveiled the Dequindre Cut, a walking and cycling trail on an abandoned rail line just outside downtown. It has three access points: the Detroit riverfront, the established residential community of Lafayette Park, and the southern end of Eastern Market, a historic district that is home to a farmers market and restaurants. In a general sense, Keesmaat argues, a strong environment for urban cycling improves a city for its residents and acts as a major draw for visitors. "People measure cities by how easily they can get around. If you're sitting in traffic for hours, you generally don't want to be on the road," Keesmaat says. "But if you're cycling on safe, well-signed bike lanes, feeling the breeze and seeing the sights en route, then you'll be a lot happier where you are." * * * Pack your bags BICYCLE-SHARING PROGRAMS Bixi, Montreal www.bixi.com Vélib, Paris www.velib.paris.fr Bycyklen, Copenhagen www.bycyklen.dk Bike Around Downtown, New York www.downtownny.com/bikearound HOTELS WITH BICYCLE AMENITIES Proximity Hotel Greensboro, N.C.; 336-379-8200; www.proximityhotel.com. Offers complimentary use of its bicycles to explore the nearby eight-kilometre Greenway trail. Raleigh Hotel Miami Beach; 305-534-6300; www.raleighhotel.com. Hotel Gansevoort New York; 212-206-6700; www.hotelgansevoort.com. James Hotel Chicago; (312) 337-1000; www.jameshotels.com. Lorien Hotel & Spa Alexandria, Va.; 877-956-7436; www.lorienhotelandspa.com. Special to The Globe and Mail

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Cycling route working session - June 2
by Beth McKechnie 22 May '09

22 May '09

[Forwarded on behalf of Erik Dickson, Marr Consulting Services] Please see below an invitation to a Working Session on developing cycling route improvements in Winnipeg for June 2, 2009. Please note the registration deadline of May 31, 2009.

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Globe & Mail: A battle of wheels
by Beth McKechnie 22 May '09

22 May '09

Andre Picard's Second Opinion A battle of wheels The leisurely Tour de l'Île has been criticized for not aligning itself with a charity. Is the promotion of physical activity - in this case cycling - a worthy cause in itself? Of course it is http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/a-battle-of-wheels/article114516… Andre Picard Monday, May. 18, 2009 04:24PM EDT On June 7, more than 30,000 cyclists will take to the streets for the annual Tour de l'Île, a leisurely 50-kilometre jaunt around the Island of Montreal. The event, organized by the non-profit group Vélo Québec, is designed to promote cycling as a healthy family activity and an alternate form of transportation. But, above all, it's supposed to be fun and liberating, the one day of the year when bikes can roll through the city streets unencumbered by cars. Not surprisingly, the Tour de l'Île has had to deal with a backlash from motorists. While the event closes only a fraction of Montreal's streets, and it does so on a quiet Sunday in June, it does lead to some delays for drivers. As a result, some municipalities (the Island of Montreal is home to an incomprehensible mix of boroughs, towns, cities and political fiefdoms) and surrounding suburban communities have banned the Tour de l'Île. It is not coincidental that the most vocal opponents of the activity are commuter havens, where cars rule the roost. But organizers and supporters of the Tour de l'Île have seen through these self-serving complaints and soldiered on, adjusting the course route in deference to the anti-cycling lobby. But now the Tour de l'Île is dealing with a new line of attack: Complaints that the event is not associated with charitable fundraising. Murray Levine, founder of the Philanthropic Athletes Foundation, has led a dogged campaign against the Tour de l'Île, arguing, among other things, that the event should not get tax dollars and taxpayer-supported services (namely police and street cleaners). He argues that this investment - about $600,000 a year - is unfathomable. Mr. Levine wants the Tour banned, unless it aligns itself officially with a charity and promotes fundraising. This line of attack conveniently ignores the fact that taxpayers - even the cyclists - pay billions of dollars each year to maintain the road network and that the only thing car drivers donate daily is air pollution. Just as curious is that Mr. Levine has targeted the Tour de l'Île and not made a big stink about other state-supported, traffic-disrupting events like the Montreal Marathon, the Jazz Festival, the Santa Claus parade, the St-Jean Baptiste parade and so on that do not actively raise money for charity either. Regardless of his ulterior motive - Mr. Levine is, after all, a professional fundraiser - the gadfly raises an intriguing philosophical question. Is the promotion of physical activity - in this case cycling - a worthy cause in itself? Of course it is. Further, should the promotion of physical activity and alternative forms of transport get state support? Again, in a society where obesity and lifestyle-related chronic illnesses are epidemic and where our reliance on fossil fuels is destructive, it is indeed a good investment. Charities play an important role in Canadian society and they have found many creative ways of raising funds. The marriage of healthy activities like biking and raising money for cancer research (the Ride to Conquer Cancer) or running marathons and raising awareness of childhood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma (Team in Training) is often inspirational. Charity - the giving of one's money or time - is, by definition, voluntary. It should not be mandatory. Many people participating in the Tour de l'Île will use the event as an occasion to raise money for charity and that's wonderful, and they are in no way prevented from doing so. But people should be able to lace up their shoes and saddle up on bikes without setting out to cure cancer or save the world. To suggest that the Tour should not have access to Montreal streets and to city services if they do not actively promote charitable giving is preposterous. What Mr. Levine is suggesting, while no doubt well-intentioned, reflects a much larger problem: The commodification of daily life. Not every activity of daily living needs to have a commercial purpose. Every breath we take need not be associated with the generation of economic activity, either commercial or non-profit. We don't need ads plastered on every sidewalk and subway platform. We can have city parks that are not festooned with the ads of their corporate sponsors. We can have buildings in our public institutions that do not sell off their naming rights in the name of charity. We can run marathons for the sheer masochistic pleasure without having to pester our friends for sponsorship. We can walk our dogs without it being a protest march against dog fighter Michael Vick. And we can bike around the Island of Montreal for a day without it having to be a guilt trip. In our high-octane society, there is, in fact, a refreshing purity to the Tour de l'Île. Cars run riot in the city 3641/2 days a year. Charitable fundraising takes place every single day of the year, and at a furious pace. But on June 7, on the streets of Montreal, there will be a welcome respite: Cycling for the sake of cycling; breathing for the sake of breathing. Families hanging out together without, as a prerequisite, the systemic badgering of friends and relatives for sponsorship. The Tour de l'Île is the type of investment we should make in ourselves and our cities far more often and far more purposefully.

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Friday morning laugh
by Stacy Matwick 22 May '09

22 May '09

Just a little something something that made me smile - thought you'd all enjoy. http://www.boingboing.net/2009/05/21/howto-plant-a-handle.html Posted by Cory Doctorow, May 21, 2009 9:42 PM "Instructables user FriendOfHumanity has a little HOWTO for installing a windowbox planter on the handlebars of your bike. I dunno, I'd be worried about doing a faceplant (worse yet, if you planted chickpeas, you might falafel your bike) (I did that once and I falafel about it)." http://www.instructables.com/id/Bicycle-Window-Box--For-the-transient-garde… Cheers Stacy Matwick Information Centre International Institute for Sustainable Development 161 Portage Ave. E., 6th floor Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 0Y4 Voice: (204)958-7755 Fax: (204)958-7710 Email: smatwick(a)iisd.ca Library website: http://sd-cite.iisd.org<http://www.iisd.org/> "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read" Groucho Marx "Life is like a bicycle, to keep your balance your must keep on moving" Albert Einstein

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Bike Parking in Chicago
by David Wieser 21 May '09

21 May '09

WOW, check out the bike parking facility they have had in Chicago since 2005. Could this be something similar to what is going to be built at the University of Winnipeg? Could this be what could be designed into the new Bombers stadium at the University of Manitoba for a bike valet? http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/bike-parking-respect-in-chicago-mcdonal… David Wieser

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NYC's streets are to behave - New York Times, May 21, 2009
by Beth McKechnie 21 May '09

21 May '09

In the Future, New York Citys Streets Are to Behave Imagine narrow European-style roadways shared by pedestrians, cyclists and cars, all traveling at low speeds. Sidewalks made of recycled rubber in different colors under sleek energy-efficient lamps. Mini-islands jutting into the street, topped by trees and landscaping, designed to further slow traffic and add a dash of green. This is what New York City streets could look like, according to the Bloomberg administration, which has issued the citys first street design manual in an effort to make over the utilitarian 1970s-style streetscape that dominates the city. Article online at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/20/nyregion/20streets.html?_r=2&ref=todayspa… NYC street design manual at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/about/streetdesignmanual.shtml

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NYC report - bringing back pedestrian streets
by Beth McKechnie 12 May '09

12 May '09

Interesting summary of New York City's experience in closing streets to cars and opening them to pedestrians and other AT users. Find the full report (55 pages, publ. March 2009) at: http://www.transalt.org/files/newsroom/reports/2009/walk_in_my_street.pdf -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Executive Summary In the summer of 2008, thousands of New Yorkers took a walk in the street. For a handful of weekends strung throughout the summer, several streets around New York City were opened to people instead of cars, bringing the idea of pedestrian streets back into the sun after a three-decade exile in history's dustbin. Transportation Alternatives studied this effort to reintroduce pedestrianization to the streets of New York, documenting three community-driven street events-Summer Space on Montague Street in Brooklyn, the 78th Street Play Street in Queens, and Williamsburg Walks on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn. The results paint a picture of a New York desperate for more public and community space, and New Yorkers ready to make the most of what they have: * Opening the street to people is a boon to local retail: Montague Street retailers experienced 26% higher sales during Summer Space than on comparable days in 2007, on average. * People who have experienced a pedestrian street want more: before the closure, 42% of respondents said they would visit Montague Street if it were closed to auto traffic; during the closure this number jumped by an additional 30%. * Pedestrianization improves visitors' perceptions of a street: the percentage of respondents who rated the pedestrian experience of Montague Street as "Good" or "Very Good" increased from 79% before the closure to 97% during. * Opening the street to people builds community: 100% of those surveyed at the 78th Street Play Street felt that the event "enhanced the park and farmers' market". * Pedestrian streets encourage walking: during the Williamsburg Walks event, 47% of those surveyed said that they had walked to the event, a 14% improvement over normal levels. The experiences of these three events points to a clear conclusion: thirty years after political expediency killed pedestrian streets in New York City, they are making a comeback. And with the help of dedicated, savvy community organizers, they are successfully bringing new open spaces into the communities that need them most.

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Active & Green Spring 2009
by Jessie Klassen 08 May '09

08 May '09

Hello All and Happy Spring! (Apologies for cross-postings) Our new issue of Active & Green is out. Visit the link at: http://www.resourceconservation.mb.ca/news/pdfs/Active%20&%20Green%20Spring% 202009.pdf We hope you will share it widely with your colleagues, family and friends. Here are a few highlights from the Active & Green Spring 2009 issue: * Commuter Challenge and Be a Winner! * Clean Air Day on the Bridge * Take the Green Leap Forward * How to Host a Webinar * The Evidence is Mounting: New Studies Released * New City Bike Map Released * Let Otto Come To * Power to the Pedals Contest * Green Commuting Highlights from Elsewhere If for some reason you are not able to access the link, please contact us and we will email the pdf file directly or provide a hard copy for posting at your workplace. Stay Active & Green, Jessie Klassen Green Commuting Initiatives, Workplace Transporation Demand Management Tel: (204) 925-3772 Email: jessie(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca Resource Conservation Manitoba 303 Portage Ave, 3rd Floor Winnipeg, MB R3B 2B4 Fax: (204) 942-4207 web: www.resourceconservation.mb.ca

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CFLRI resources: Making the Case for AT
by Beth McKechnie 08 May '09

08 May '09

http://www.cflri.ca/eng/active_transportation/index.php Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute: Making the Case for Active Transportation Information bulletins have been developed for professionals and community members who want to build a case for active transportation in their community. Academic, government and non-government sources are used to build a strong case for implementing active transportation opportunities at the local level. Canadian sources are used whenever available. All bulletins are available in English and French. Each bulletin includes evidence that supports the investment of time and resources for active transportation opportunities at the local level. They focus on designing communities for moving people and not cars. Recommended actions to increase and strengthen collaborative partnerships for active transportation are also included. Making the Case for Active Transportation: a.. # 1 - Health Benefits (download now) b.. # 2 - Barriers to Active Transportation (download now) c.. # 3 - Economic Benefits (coming soon) d.. # 4 - Environmental Benefits (coming soon) e.. # 5 - Built Infrastructure (coming soon) f.. # 6 - Safety (coming soon) g.. # 7 - Increasing Social Capital (download now) h.. # 8 - Role for Municipal Decision Makers (download now) Other AT resources from CFLRI: . Research File - Active Transportation (09-04): http://www.cflri.ca/eng/research_file/index.php . Lifestyle Tips - Active Transportation (2009 series): http://www.cflri.ca/eng/lifestyle/index.php

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Bike article round-up
by Beth McKechnie 08 May '09

08 May '09

Bixi bikeshare launched in Montreal: http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/628997 NOW Magazine: It's a bike-friendly world http://www.nowtoronto.com:80/daily/story.cfm?content=169259 Globe and Mail: Pedal Power to the People: Ride on! http://www.theglobeandmail.com:80/servlet/story/LAC.20090502.STLEAH02ART134… CBC News: City to convert 1 traffic lane on Burrard Bridge for bicyclists (Vancouver) http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/05/07/bc-burrard-bike-…

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MB News Release: Rondeau Appoints Members to New Active Transportation Advisory Group
by Beth McKechnie 08 May '09

08 May '09

Manitoba News Release ............................................................ May 7, 2009 RONDEAU APPOINTS MEMBERS TO NEW ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY GROUP Science, Technology, Energy and Mines Minister Jim Rondeau today appointed 11 people to the Active Transportation Advisory Group which will make recommendations for improving Manitoba's active transportation policy and infrastructure. "Having a strong active transportation policy improves our environment, complements our transportation systems, provides better recreation opportunities and enhances our personal and public health," said Rondeau. Appointed to the board are Janice Lukes (chair), Terry Zdan, Anders Swanson, Russell Wychreschuk, Tim Deacon, Marcela Rivera, Mark Cohoe, Pat Locken, Gary Ewen, Murray Haukaas and Steve Paulson. "The creation of the Active Transportation Advisory Group illustrates the province's recognition of the importance of investing in varied transportation choices," said Lukes. "Having transportation choices will have a positive impact on the health, environment and social aspects of our communities." Rondeau noted the group will look at provincial bicycle policy, development of multi-user recreational trails and ways to incorporate both recreational and commuter trails into an overall network. It will also make recommendations on improved signage, bicycle safety, cycling tourism and assess to the economic benefits of active transportation infrastructure. - 30 -

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Active Transportation - Canada: May 7, 2009
by Beth McKechnie 07 May '09

07 May '09

From: Michael Haynes Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 2009 4:00 PM Subject: Active Transportation - Canada: May 7, 2009 Active Transportation - Canada features a regular posting of news articles, studies, reports, and other items that have relevance in this field, with previous postings available in an archive. In addition, pictures of existing Active Transportation infrastructure from communities across Canada will be profiled each week. The following items have recently been posted to the Active Transportation - Canada Blog. To view in more detail, go to: http://activetransportation-canada.blogspot.com **************************************************************************************************** AT Infrastructure Example: Lethbridge AB - Pdestrian/Cycling Bridge separated from busy road 1.. Resource - New Active Transportation Fact Sheets 2.. Event - Car-Free Vancouver Day 2009 3.. Article - Cyclists sought for project on improving Winnipeg pathways 4.. Article - Municipalities get moving on sustainable transportation 5.. Article - Montreal pedals past us 6.. Article - Toronto: Four Wheels Good, Two Wheels Bad 7.. Brochure - The Myths and Facts about “Shared Use” Trails in Nova Scotia 8.. Report - I Walk in My Street 9.. Article - Italian Government Spurs Bike Sales with Incentives 10.. Article - Seoul spends on bicycles 11.. Article - Calgary: School bans skateboards 12.. Report - Planning for Cycling: Report to Cycling England 13.. Article - Ireland: The tricky transition to two wheels 14.. Article - Scotland: More children walking to school 15.. Article - UK: Speed limit to be cut on A-roads in bid to save 1,000 lives **************************************************************************************************** A reminder e-mail of new postings will be sent no more often than once per week. To continue to receive these updates, you need take no action. Should you not wish to receive updates, please return this e-mail with "Unsubscribe" in the Subject area. Interested in an AT workshop in your community? For more information, please contact: Michael Haynes Director TransActive Solutions activetransportation(a)rogers.com 613.424.2803

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Commuter Challenge launch this Thurs, May 7 at the Forks Skateboard Plaza
by Beth McKechnie 04 May '09

04 May '09

Please join us to kick off the 10th annual Commuter Challenge! Thursday, May 7 at the The Forks, Skateboard Park at 10:00 am (Rain location will be under the centre pavilion tent or just inside the Forks Market in the Atrium) The Commuter Challenge is a national sustainable transportation event to celebrate Environment Week, May 31-June 6. This friendly competition encourages individuals in workplaces and schools to adopt "green" forms of transportation. Last year, over 13,000 Manitobans from more than 200 workplaces and schools participated! This year we're celebrating the 10th year of Commuter Challenge in Manitoba featuring a $10,000 grand prize in our "Be A Winner" promotion. Minister Jim Rondeau and Mayor Sam Katz will be speaking at the kick-off, encouraging Manitobans and Winnipeggers to participate in the Commuter Challenge, and highlighting the numerous environmental, social, economic and health benefits of active living and green commuting. Jackie Avent from Resource Conservation Manitoba, Megan Tate from the Winnipeg Foundation and Paul Jordan from The Forks will also be presenting. For more information about the Commuter Challenge, please contact: Becky Elko, Commuter Challenge Coordinator Resource Conservation Manitoba303 Portage Avenue, 3rd FloorWinnipeg, MB R3B 2B4 Phone: 204.925.3775 / Fax: 204.942.4207 www.resourceconservation.mb.ca

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Ottocycle GPS study details
by Beth McKechnie 01 May '09

01 May '09

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WFP: Winnipeg unveils three bike-friendly initiatives (Apr.30'09)
by Beth McKechnie 30 Apr '09

30 Apr '09

[Winnipeg Free Press] Winnipeg unveils three bike-friendly initiatives WINNIPEG The city has announced three bike-friendly initiatives for this spring: a new cycling map for Winnipeg, the upcoming Bike to Work Day in June, and a GPS project that will let hundreds of cyclists track their routes around the city. The 2009 Winnipeg Cycling Map replaces a 1999 version commissioned for the Pan-Am games, and is available at bike shops and other Winnipeg stores as of today. To find the nearest location, call 925-5686. The GPS project, dubbed OttoCycle, is run by the Centre for Sustainable Transportation and the City of Winnipeg. Over 900 cyclists can track their routes between May and October to see where potential cycling infrastructure could be built in Winnipeg. Anyone who cycles more than once a week is eligible, and can sign up by emailing Ottocycle(a)uwinnipeg.ca or calling 988-7182. Bike to Work Day falls on Friday, June 19 this year. More information is available at www.biketoworkdaywinnipeg.org.

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The Times: Plan for bikeway Powers forward (Apr.30'09)
by Beth McKechnie 30 Apr '09

30 Apr '09

From: Canstar Community News (The Times) http://www.canstarnews.com/page/story/the_times/3867 Plan for bikeway Powers forward By Avi Saper April 30, 2009 Public input will be a key component of the citys plans to turn Powers Street into a bicycle boulevard by the end of the year, says Winnipegs active transportation czar. Were making a significant change to their neighbourhood, said active transportation co-ordinator Kevin Nixon. They have to be onside with whatever we decide to do. They have to understand it, and they have to be in favour of it. The North Winnipeg Commuter Cyclists, a group of bicycle activists that has been lobbying the city for two years to make Powers more bike-friendly, will be hosting a public meeting at Pritchard Park Community Centre beginning at 6:30 p.m. on May 14. Residents will be asked at the meeting for their thoughts on how to discourage non-local vehicle traffic from using Powers all the way from Flora Avenue to Leila Avenue while encouraging cyclists and pedestrians. That could mean reducing the number of four-way stops along Powers, installing traffic circles at intersections, narrowing certain sections of the road into chicanes and creating speed humps to slow down cars. Theres a degree of guesswork right now on how all this is going to work, said NWCC member Nona Pelletier. We have an opportunity to do something fantastic here and really change the look of the North End. Pelletier and her husband Greg Littlejohn, who is also a member of NWCC, said Powers is the ideal street for the project because plenty of pedestrians already walk on the road and cyclists use the route year-round. The idea isnt that were going to eliminate cars entirely, Pelletier said. That isnt our intention. The idea is to keep the cars going at the same speed as the bikes. Littlejohn said the eventual goal is to have a street that community members especially children can use on a regular basis to get anywhere they might need to go. In order for that to happen, the communitys safety concerns must be addressed, he said. There isnt that much traffic now (on Powers), Littlejohn said. But it is a street where stolen vehicle are sometimes driven, and some people come down here to avoid the possibility of a breathalyzer. The only comparable bike boulevard the city already has is Argue Street in Lord Roberts, which was created last year. Nixon says the city learned some valuable lessons on the importance of public consultation while working on that project, and will be making sure it hears from all residents by the end of June before proceeding on Powers. Trying to determine where traffic will go instead of Powers is a key consideration, Nixon said, as well as how easily pedestrians and cyclists will be able to get from one end of the street to the other. (This site has) a lot of good things going for it, he said. Theres a good crossing with a crosswalk at Selkirk, and Burrows and Inkster both have medians so youre only crossing one direction of traffic at a time. Residents and city planners are sharing an enthusiasm that the project will soon be a reality. Two years ago, the idea that Powers could be a bikeway didnt exist, Pelletier said. Nixon, who has been working on active transportation since July 2007, said city council is making it easy for him to do his job. Its an exciting time to have this job, he said. Theres a lot of political support for this right now.

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Walking....The NEW Full Body Workout - May 22, 2009
by Deanna Betteridge 30 Apr '09

30 Apr '09

Hello, Can you please assist Winnipeg in motion by promoting the following FREE event and forwarding this information on to your networks? See you at the Library, Deanna ************************************************************************* Take Your Walk to the Next Level! Walking......The NEW full body workout. Walking is great exercise and most of us already walk a little bit every day. The benefits of walking are even greater when you use walking poles or add strength training to it. Join Deanna and Kristine of Winnipeg in motion and Ken Chura of Keenfit as they show you how to get more out of your every day walk. Ken will discuss the advantages of using walking poles and demonstrate how to use them. Deanna and Kristine will show you how to get a full body workout by using simple equipment and objects along your walking route. This session will be held on Friday, May 22, from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. in the Carol Shields Auditorium on the second floor of the Millennium Library. Admission is FREE and registration is NOT required - just wear comfortable clothing to join in the activities, or come to watch! Unable to attend? Visit www.winnipeginmotion.ca for great resources related to this session (& many others) to help you and your family get "in motion". Please feel free to pass this information on to your co-workers, family and friends. Contact Winnipeg in motion at 940-3648 for more information. ************************************************************************* Take Your Walk to the Next Level is part of "in motion Fridays", a series of monthly workshops that promote physical activity for better health. The in motion @ the Library series is sponsored by Winnipeg in motion and the Millennium Library. For a complete list of workshops, visit http://www.winnipeginmotion.ca/resources/in_motion_library . ** Sign-up to receive Winnipeg in motion email updates www.winnipeginmotion.ca/signup/ ** ------------------------------------------------------------- Deanna Betteridge, M.Sc. in motion Coordinator 2 - 189 Evanson St. Winnipeg, Manitoba R3G 0N9 204-940-3264 (w) 204-232-3297 (c) 204-940-8409 (f) E-mail: dbetteridge(a)wrha.mb.ca Web site: www.winnipeginmotion.ca This email and/or any documents in this transmission is intended for the addressee(s) only and may contain legally privileged or confidential information. Any unauthorized use, disclosure, distribution, copying or dissemination is strictly prohibited. If you receive this transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately and return the original. Ce courriel et tout document dans cette transmission est destiné à la personne ou aux personnes à qui il est adressé. Il peut contenir des informations privilégiées ou confidentielles. Toute utilisation, divulgation, distribution, copie, ou diffusion non autorisée est strictement défendue. Si vous n'êtes pas le destinataire de ce message, veuillez en informer l'expéditeur immédiatement et lui remettre l'original.

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Streetfilms - Portland Bridge
by David Wieser 30 Apr '09

30 Apr '09

Just imagine a bicycle traffic jam on the new Disraeli Bike / Pedestrian Bridge. Check out the new Streetfilms video on the Hawthorne Bridge in Portland, Oregon. http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/portland-bike-rush-hour-on-the-hawthorn… 7000 + bicycle crossings per day 20% of the traffic on the bridge less than 10% of the space David Wieser

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Take a Jane's Walk this weekend - May 2 & 3
by Beth McKechnie 29 Apr '09

29 Apr '09

Hope to see you out on a Jane's Walk this weekend! Check out all the walks at: http://janeswalk.net/participating_cities/winnipeg (Please share widely...)

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City media launch Wed noon - cycling hot topics
by Beth McKechnie 28 Apr '09

28 Apr '09

[forwarded from Bike to the Future] The City of Winnipeg, along with their partners from Bike to the Future, the Winnipeg Trails Association, Climate Change Connection, One Green City, Resource Conservation Manitoba, the Manitoba Cycling Association, and The Centre for Sustainable Transportation will be announcing three exciting Active Transportation initiatives for 2009 on Wednesday April 29th at noon at the City Hall Courtyard: * Winnipeg Cycling Map 2009 will be available at bike shops throughout Winnipeg starting on Wednesday April 29th. http://biketothefuture.org/news/archives/2009/04/28/winnipeg-cycling-map-20… * A GPS cycling study called OttoCYCLE: Building Better Biking in Winnipeg will start on May 1st. http://biketothefuture.org/news/archives/2009/04/19/cycling-gps-mapping-pro… * The 2nd annual Bike to Work Day will be held on Friday June 19th. http://biketothefuture.org/events/archives/2008/12/20/ Mayor Sam Katz, City Councillor Russ Wyatt, City Active Transportation Coordinator Kevin Nixon, and representatives from each partner organization will be attending. A good turnout of cyclists will help launch these three initiatives on a very positive note. Kevin Miller Bike to the Future, Co-Chair http://biketothefuture.org

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Fw: Active Transportation - Canada: April 22, 2009
by Beth McKechnie 22 Apr '09

22 Apr '09

I found the article on "The physics of why bicyclists hate stop signs" particularly interesting. If you want to go straight to the original essay/paper: http://blog.oregonlive.com/commuting/2009/04/physicsofstopping.pdf cheers, Beth ----- Original Message ----- From: Michael Haynes Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 9:14 AM Subject: Active Transportation - Canada: April 22, 2009 Active Transportation - Canada features a regular posting of news articles, studies, reports, and other items that have relevance in this field, with previous postings available in an archive. In addition, pictures of existing Active Transportation infrastructure from communities across Canada will be profiled each week. The following items have recently been posted to the Active Transportation - Canada Blog. To view in more detail, go to: http://activetransportation-canada.blogspot.com **************************************************************************************************** AT Infrastructure Example: Yellowknife NT - Frame Lake Walkway 1.. Report - Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center: Case Study Compendium 2.. Article - But the emperor has no clothes! 3.. Article - Urban design turning kids off being active 4.. Article - Go ahead, take a walk in the park 5.. Report - The physics of why bicyclists hate stop signs 6.. Article - Ottawa: Skateboarder contests city's helmet proposal 7.. Article - Australia: Eco suburb plan unveiled for city 8.. Video - L.A.’s Orange Line: Bus Rapid Transit (plus bike path!) 9.. Article - Thinner is better to curb global warming, study says 10.. Article - EU Digs Deep in Public Rental Bikes 11.. Article - University of Kentucky plans bicycle permit parking 12.. Article - South Korea: [President] Lee Highlights Plans to Promote Bicycle Use 13.. Article - Plan to reduce speed limit to 30km/h throughout most of Dublin city centre 14.. Article - Taiwan to promote bike tourism 15.. Article - Can Abu Dhabi be a pedestrian city? **************************************************************************************************** A reminder e-mail of new postings will be sent no more often than once per week. To continue to receive these updates, you need take no action. Should you not wish to receive updates, please return this e-mail with "Unsubscribe" in the Subject area. Interested in an AT workshop in your community? For more information, please contact: Michael Haynes Director TransActive Solutions activetransportation(a)rogers.com 613.424.2803

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Happy Earth Day
by Stacy Matwick 22 Apr '09

22 Apr '09

Interesting post with some good tips. http://www.good.is/post/bike-commuting-and-living-to-tell-about-it/ Cheers Stacy Matwick Information Centre International Institute for Sustainable Development 161 Portage Ave. E., 6th floor Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 0Y4 Voice: (204)958-7755 Fax: (204)958-7710 Email: smatwick(a)iisd.ca Website: http://www.iisd.org "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read" Groucho Marx "Life is like a bicycle, to keep your balance your must keep on moving" Albert Einstein

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WFP L2E: Make room for cyclists (Apr.21'09)
by Beth McKechnie 21 Apr '09

21 Apr '09

[Nicely expressed letter in today's Winnipeg Free Press. -cheers, Beth] Letters to the Editor Have your say:Make room for cyclists I work downtown and commute by bicycle along Pembina Highway. I do my best to be respectful of motor vehicle drivers and allow enough room for small vehicles to share the lane with me most of the time. However, due to potholes, gravel/sand build-up, and certain areas where lanes are narrow, I need to take the full lane along small stretches of my commute. For safe riding, this is recommended by the Canadian Cycling Association, and permissible under the Highway Traffic Act. I applaud most drivers, because they are respectful of my safety, and change lanes, or give me ample room within my lane as they pass by me. Unfortunately, I also face daily assaults on my safety by an angry few. Drivers speed by within inches of me, cut me off, honk, and even yell profanities. In fact, the other day I was flipped the bird twice on my way home. This message is aimed at those angry few. If I am taking the full lane, I am doing it for safety reasons. It is not intended to upset you, so please don't show your frustration by putting my life at risk. If you are a large truck or SUV driver, we almost certainly can never share a lane, even if I am far to the right. The width of your vehicle does not allow for a reasonably safety cushion of space between us. You need to change lanes to pass me. Again, I'm not trying to upset you by riding my bike, so please do not show your frustration by putting my life at risk. If you still feel frustrated and angry over having to share the road with me, rest assured, we are on the same side! I don't want to be on the road with you either, but I do not have any other options along Pembina Highway. So instead of aiming your anger at me, and thereby putting my life at risk, I suggest you funnel your anger into a letter to your city councillor demanding the city fast track cycling infrastructure. Then, I can be out of your hair and your lane once and for all. Sylvia Buchholz Winnipeg

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TO posts 32% increase in biking to work
by Beth McKechnie 14 Apr '09

14 Apr '09

Toronto posts a 32% increase in biking to work between 2001-2006: http://www.bikingtoronto.com:80/2009/04/biking-to-work-in-toronto-increases… cheers, Beth

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Fw: Active Transportation - Canada: April 8, 2009
by Beth McKechnie 09 Apr '09

09 Apr '09

----- Original Message ----- From: Michael Haynes Sent: Wednesday, April 08, 2009 8:41 AM Subject: Active Transportation - Canada: April 8, 2009 Active Transportation - Canada features a regular posting of news articles, studies, reports, and other items that have relevance in this field, with previous postings available in an archive. In addition, pictures of existing Active Transportation infrastructure from communities across Canada will be profiled each week. The following items have recently been posted to the Active Transportation - Canada Blog. To view in more detail, go to: http://activetransportation-canada.blogspot.com **************************************************************************************************** AT Infrastructure Example: Rails with Trails 1.. Conference - Toronto: Bike Summit 2009 2.. Article - Active transportation plan will wait til 2010 3.. Article - Vancouver set to launch bike sharing program 4.. Article - Transit use associated with better fitness, say Canadian researchers 5.. Report - Cycling on the Rise: Public Bicycles and Other European Experiences 6.. Article - Lakefront plan gives pedestrians top priority 7.. Article - Korea: Insurers urged to offer policies for bike riders 8.. Report - Chicago: Bicycle and Pedestrian Crashes in Illinois: 2004-2007 9.. Article - US: City to spend millions on walking paths, bike lanes 10.. Article - Vandalism Doesn't Damage Paris Cycle Hire Scheme 11.. Article - Hey, you! On the cell phone! Watch where you're walking! 12.. Article - Skateboarding at school? Fridley elementary says sure 13.. Article - Skateboarding and yoga boost PE 14.. Article - Skateboard park breaks ground this spring 15.. Article - Documentary deal eases pain of city fine **************************************************************************************************** A reminder e-mail of new postings will be sent no more often than once per week. To continue to receive these updates, you need take no action. Should you not wish to receive updates, please return this e-mail with "Unsubscribe" in the Subject area. Interested in an AT workshop in your community? For more information, please contact: Michael Haynes Director TransActive Solutions activetransportation(a)rogers.com 613.424.2803

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

07 Apr '09

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

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

06 Apr '09

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

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

06 Apr '09

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

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

06 Apr '09

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

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

03 Apr '09

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

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

02 Apr '09

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

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

02 Apr '09

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

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

02 Apr '09

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

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BRT and Bicycle Lanes
by David Wieser 31 Mar '09

31 Mar '09

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

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

30 Mar '09

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

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Active Transportation - Canada: March 21, 2009
by Beth McKechnie 24 Mar '09

24 Mar '09

----- Original Message ----- From: Michael Haynes To: undisclosed recipients: Sent: Saturday, March 21, 2009 11:23 AM Subject: Active Transportation - Canada: March 21, 2009 Active Transportation - Canada features a regular posting of news articles, studies, reports, and other items that have relevance in this field, with previous postings available in an archive. In addition, pictures of existing Active Transportation infrastructure from communities across Canada will be profiled each week. The following items have recently been posted to the Active Transportation - Canada Blog. To view in more detail, go to: http://activetransportation-canada.blogspot.com **************************************************************************************************** AT Infrastructure Example: Bike Ramps on Stairs 1.. Press Release - US: 'Complete Streets' Bill Introduced to Help Americans Save on Transportation Costs, Cut Congestion 2.. Video - Bicycle Counters in Vanacouver 3.. Report - Creating Walkable and Transit-Supportive Communities in Halton 4.. Ontarians Walking NOW: Pickpockets, Placemakers, and Planning 5.. Article - The secret Canadian exercise weapon: Walking 6.. Article - Edmonton cyclists to lobby for $100M bike plan 7.. Article - Bike, sidewalk plans get support 8.. Article - Active Transportation Plan Being Developed 9.. Article - City plans to get active at last 10.. Article - Plateau unveils plan to ease congestion 11.. Article - US: Traffic, safety committee scrutinizes Portsmouth's skateboard ordinance 12.. Article - In Markham, the dream of an urban village that never was 13.. Study - Walk 100 Steps a Minute for 'Moderate' Exercise 14.. Article - The benefits of walking around your neighborhood 15.. Article - US: Salt Lake City plans for bicycle transit station **************************************************************************************************** A reminder e-mail of new postings will be sent no more often than once per week. To continue to receive these updates, you need take no action. Should you not wish to receive updates, please return this e-mail with "Unsubscribe" in the Subject area. Interested in an AT workshop in your community? For more information, please contact: Michael Haynes Director TransActive Solutions activetransportation(a)rogers.com 613.424.2803

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Job posting: Centre for Sustainable Transportation
by Beth McKechnie 24 Mar '09

24 Mar '09

Employment opportunity: The Centre for Sustainable Transportation FYI: Attached is a job posting with CST. Please pass it along if you know someone who might like the work. --------------------------------------------------------------- Marika Olynyk Researcher The Centre for Sustainable Transportation at The University of Winnipeg (204) 982-1152 m.olynyk(a)uwinnipeg.ca

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March 25th webinar: Bike Lanes, On-Street Parking and Business
by Beth McKechnie 22 Mar '09

22 Mar '09

---------- Forwarded Message ----------- From: Jackie Avent <co-chair2(a)biketothefuture.org> Hi Folks, Just a reminder that Bike to the Future is hosting this webinar in the Eco-Centre boardroom (3rd Floor, 303 Portage Avenue) at 1:30 pm on Wednesday, March 25th. Please spread the word to folks from the various Biz's, your interested colleagues, and other listserves you know about. There is space for about 25 people. Thanks! Jackie EVIDENCE SHOWS BIKE LANES ARE GOOD FOR BUSINESS * Upcoming webinar: March 25, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. CST Is your community considering investing in its public realm through an improved pedestrian environment or increasing transportation options through the installation of on-road bike lanes? Often, such proposals involve removing some on-street parking and are met with opposition from merchants who fear that the reallocation of road space would hurt business. A recent study in Toronto found that contrary to common public perception, the evidence shows that removing on-street parking to install a bicycle lane or widened sidewalk would likely increase not decrease commercial activity. The study conducted in July of 2008 surveyed the opinions and preferences of merchants and patrons on Bloor Street and analyzed parking usage data in the Annex area. Among the studys findings: · Only 10% of patrons drive to Bloor-Annex neighbourhood; · Even during peak periods no more than about 80% of parking spaces are paid for; · Patrons arriving by foot and bicycle visit the most often and spend the most money per month; · There are more merchants who believe that a bike lane or widened sidewalk would increase business than think would reduce it; · The reduction in on-street parking supply from a bike lane or widened sidewalk could be accommodated in the areas off-street municipal parking lots. The Clean Air Partnership is pleased to invite you to participate in a webinar profiling the findings of the study, the tools and methodology used and a discussion on how a similar study could be conducted in your community. The findings of this study will also be presented in May at Velo-City 2009 in Brussels the worlds largest conference devoted to bicycling. Date: March 25th, 2009 Time: 2:30 pm Eastern Standard Time Host: The Clean Air Partnership Presenter: Fred Sztabinski The studys lead researcher is an urban planning and policy researcher currently based in Amsterdam. Prior to this, Fred worked as the Project Coordinator and Active Transportation Researcher for the Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation and the Clean Air Partnership. Fred has a Masters in Planning from the University of Toronto. Fred's previous work experience, including time spent with the provincial government, the transit industry, and a transportation demand management association, has consistently aimed at raising the profile of more sustainable modes of transportation and promoting travel choice alternatives to the private car. To read the study report please click here. Support has been provided by a grant from the Toronto Community Foundation. The Clean Air Partnership would also like to thank Transport Canada and the City of Toronto for their generous support. ------- End of Forwarded Message -------

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2009 Wpg Bike Map Preview - Tues, Mar. 24, 5-7 p.m., Library
by Beth McKechnie 22 Mar '09

22 Mar '09

Friendly reminder to come out this Tuesday evening for an advance look at the NEW Winnipeg Bike Map. The map provides suggested cycling routes in Winnipeg based on the City's Active Transportation Network. Stop by the Carol Shields Auditorium on the second floor of the Millennium Library between 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24th. Thanks to all who have contributed to date. Hope to see you on March 24! cheers, Beth On behalf of the 2009 Winnipeg Bike Map steering committee: * Curt Hull, Climate Change Connection * Anders Swanson, One Green City * Janice Lukes, Winnipeg Trails Association * Ted Mann, Bike to the Future * Beth McKechnie, Resource Conservation Manitoba * Kevin Nixon, City of Winnipeg * Ron Brown, Manitoba Cycling Association * Tim Woodcock, Manitoba Cycling Association

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NEW Winnipeg Bike Map Preview - March 24, Millennium Library, 5-7 p.m.
by Beth McKechnie 16 Mar '09

16 Mar '09

Come see the 2009 Winnipeg Bike Map! Sneak a peek at the **NEW** Winnipeg Bike Map before it goes public. Stop by the Carol Shields Auditorium on the second floor of the Millennium Library between 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24th. Thanks to all who have contributed to date. See you March 24th! cheers, Beth On behalf of the 2009 Bike Map Steering Committee: * Curt Hull, Climate Change Connection * Kevin Nixon, City of Winnipeg, Public Works * Anders Swanson, One Green City * Ron Brown, Manitoba Cycling Association * Janice Lukes, Winnipeg Trails Association * Ted Mann, Bike to the Future * Beth McKechnie, Resource Conservation Manitoba * Tim Woodcock, Manitoba Cycling Association

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Active Transportation in River Heights - Fort Garry By Election - Candidates comments
by Janice Lukes 13 Mar '09

13 Mar '09

RIVER HEIGHTS - FORT GARRY BY ELECTION CANDIDATES FEEDBACK related to ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION: http://biketothefuture.org/news/archives/2009/03/05/river-heights---fort-gar ry-by-election-candidates-meetings Over the next 2-4 years, the majority of Active Transportation infrastructure spending will occur in the River Heights - Fort Garry ward due to significant projects (Bus Rapid Transit, Bishop Grandin Trail expansion, potential Kenaston Expansion, etc.) The Winnipeg Trails Association and Bike to the Future held two separate meetings for members and general public with the candidates. We presented a PowerPoint overview of Active Transportation in Winnipeg and the River Heights - Fort Garry ward, and then had question period. If you live in River Heights, I encourage you to look over the feedback. The PowerPoint and candidates feedback have been posted to the Bike to the Future website (link above) and I've attached a PDF of the candidates summary. It makes for an interesting read. thanks Janice Janice Lukes Winnipeg Trails Coordinator Winnipeg Trails Association 202 - One Forks Market Road Winnipeg, MB R3C 4L9 Cell (204) 952-4222 Fax (204) 943-7915 <mailto:jlukes@shaw.ca> jlukes(a)shaw.ca winnipegtrails.com

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Active Transportation Plan Winnipeg - IKEA and surrounding lands
by Janice Lukes 09 Mar '09

09 Mar '09

fyi _____ From: Elizabeth Fleming [mailto:enfleming2006@hotmail.com] Sent: March 7, 2009 12:20 PM To: Elizabeth Fleming Subject: Meeting re Kenaston/Sterling Lyon Parkway Plan Winnipeg amendment Dear Winnipeggers, You are invited to a meeting at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, March 9th at the University Women's Club, 54 Westgate, to discuss the huge Plan Winnipeg amendment to permit redevelopment of land at Sterling Lyon Parkway and Kenaston Boulevard that was announced Thursday, March 5th. This application is being rushed prior to an open house being held on Wednesday, March 11th at the J.B Mitchell School Gymnasium (4:00 to 8:00 p.m.) and a hearing by the Executive Policy Committee at 510 Main Street on Wednesday, March 18th beginning at 9:00 a.m. The application and recent media reports can be found at these links: <http://www.winnipeg.ca/ppd/planning/SterlingLyon/> http://www.winnipeg.ca/ppd/planning/SterlingLyon/ <http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/ikea_project_to_add_6m_to_cit y_taxes-40835312.html> http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/ikea_project_to_add_6m_to_city _taxes-40835312.html <http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2009/03/05/mb-city-ikea.html> http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2009/03/05/mb-city-ikea.html MMM is proposing, on behalf of Winnipeg Intermodal and 5083851 Manitoba Ltd., to redesignate 196.3 acres of land at the south west and north west corners of Kenaston and Sterling Lyon Parkway from industrial to neighbourhood policy area to create a "super regional" commercial "destination centre" larger than Polo Park. IKEA is to be the 350,000-square-foot anchor tenant. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg for a much larger development that will also include a separate 200,000-square-foot big-box store, two stores in the 140,000 to 200,000 square-foot range, numerous smaller stores, a 500-unit condo development, a 100-room hotel, a 16-screen movie theatre and a 150,000-square-foot office park. The citizens of the bordering River Heights-Fort Garry ward will feel the traffic affects. They have been without a representative at city hall for almost a year and will have cast their votes for a new, rookie councillor the day before the EPC hearing. We were hoodwinked on one Plan Winnipeg amendment - "Hoodwinked? Winnipeggers were promised a utopian suburban Waverley West, but scaled-back plans have dashed expectations and created a very different reality." Winnipeg Free Press, February 15, 2009. <http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/hood-winked-39632472.html> http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/hood-winked-39632472.html Are we prepared to stand by to be hoodwinked on another Plan Winnipeg amendment? The priority in Plan Winnipeg - approved by City Council and the province - is Downtown First. Who is standing up for downtown and planning in Winnipeg? City Council has also made a commitment to facilitate a reduction in community-wide greenhouse gas emissions. Although transportation is the largest source of GHG emissions in Winnipeg, they appear poised to approve what will likely be the most auto-dependant large retail development in Winnipeg's history. Hope to see you Monday evening. Elizabeth Fleming

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Active Transportation - Canada: March 2, 2009
by Beth McKechnie 03 Mar '09

03 Mar '09

----- Original Message ----- From: Michael Haynes To: Michael Haynes Sent: Monday, March 02, 2009 9:00 AM Subject: Active Transportation - Canada: March 2, 2009 Active Transportation - Canada features a regular posting of news articles, studies, reports, and other items that have relevance in this field, with previous postings available in an archive. In addition, pictures of existing Active Transportation infrastructure from communities across Canada will be profiled each week. The following items have recently been posted to the Active Transportation - Canada Blog. To view in more detail, go to: http://activetransportation-canada.blogspot.com **************************************************************************************************** 1.. Press Release - US: Trails, Walking and Biking Earn $800 Million in Stimulus 2.. Article - Korea: Commission lays out detailed plan for green growth 3.. Article - Australia: Melbourne to get more bike lanes 4.. Article - US: Is 1-mile bike path worth $9.2 million? 5.. Report - Policy and Action for Cancer Prevention, Food, Nutrition, and Physical Activity: A Global Report 6.. Article - Federal government missing the boat on green opportunities 7.. Article - Elite sports facility ridiculous waste of public money 8.. Article - Calgary plans two bridges - but not for cars 9.. Article - Long-awaited bicycle transportation plan finally goes to city council 10.. Article - Bike Racks to be Installed on Four City Bus Routes 11.. Blog - The impact of unsupportive parents in skateboarding 12.. Article - US: City aims to build center for bike commuters 13.. Article - London 2012 aims for step change in walking and cycling habits with publication of new plans 14.. Article - UK: Full extent of school 20mph zones revealed today 15.. Article - Bluesky computer modelling maps easier walking routes around Britain’s cities **************************************************************************************************** A reminder e-mail of new postings will be sent no more often than once per week. To continue to receive these updates, you need take no action. Should you not wish to receive updates, please return this e-mail with "Unsubscribe" in the Subject area. Interested in an AT workshop in community? For more information, please contact: Michael Haynes Director TransActive Solutions activetransportation(a)rogers.com 613.424.2803

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Candidates meetings focused on Active Transportation River Heights - Fort Garry by election
by Janice Lukes 02 Mar '09

02 Mar '09

fyi Candidates Meetings River Heights - Fort Garry By-Election: Bike to the Future ( <http://www.BiketotheFuture.org> www.BiketotheFuture.org) and the Winnipeg Trails Association (www.WinnipegTrails.com) have arranged separate meetings at the Manitoba Eco-Centre with both of the candidates in the upcoming River Heights - Fort Garry by-election. The meetings will allow the candidates to engage members of the community in a discussion about Active Transportation in River Heights - Fort Garry, and learn about opportunities for improvements to active transportation infrastructure and programming within the ward and throughout Winnipeg as a whole. WHY ATTEND ? Of all the wards in Winnipeg, River Heights - Fort Garry will be receiving a significant % of Active Transportation infrastructure funding over the next 2-5 years for the following projects: * Bus Rapid Transit & AT Corridor * Jubilee Overpass rehabilitation * Proposed widening of Kenaston Blvd. * Burlington Rail Line crossing * Ikea & surrounding roadway expansion * Bishop Grandin Trail WEST expansion * Pembina & Bishop Grandin intersection AT accommodations River Heights - Fort Garry by way of physical location is a key linkage in north / south - east / west - critical to quality AT development. DATES / TIMES: Geoff Currier: Tuesday March 3rd, 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM John Orlikow: Wednesday March 4th, noon to 1:30 PM LOCATION: The Manitoba Eco-Centre is on the 3rd floor in the Mountain Equipment Building. Please use the entrance door on Portage Avenue just east of the MEC store entrance. RSVP: If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Mark Cohoe (mcohoe(a)mts.net) or Janice Lukes ( <mailto:jlukes@shaw.ca> jlukes(a)shaw.ca) so we will have an idea of how many people will be attending. Everyone is welcome to attend.

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BRILLIANT SUMMARY of who is really moving Active Transportation forward in Winnipeg
by Janice Lukes 26 Feb '09

26 Feb '09

This appeared in the Winnipeg Free Press, letter to the editor section on Monday, Feb. 23rd. SUPER SUPER letter Stephanie! on my behalf also - a HUGE thank you to all the volunteers, organizations and activists who are moving AT forward in Winnipeg - Janice Lukes Winnipeg Trails Association Coordinator * * * * * * * Mayor should ride to work Re: Environment panel that quit is replaced, Feb 13. With all due respect to Mayor Sam Katz, it is not difficult to point out dozens of mayors who have done more for active transportation in their cities. Try Mayor David Miller in Toronto, an avid cyclist and transit user, or Enrique Peñalosa, the former mayor of Bogotá, Colombia, who transformed his city into a healthier and more enjoyable place to live. While progress has been made in Winnipeg in the last few years on active transportation, it is largely due to the many volunteers, organizations and activists working tirelessly on this issue. Far from being a visionary, Mayor Katz has much to learn. If Mayor Katz is sincere in his commitment to the environment and active transportation, surely we will soon see him leaving his vehicle at home, and joining the thousands of other Winnipeggers who walk, take transit or ride their bikes to work. STEPHANIE FULFORD

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Interesting article
by Stacy Matwick 13 Feb '09

13 Feb '09

on transit-oriented development (TOD) http://daily.sightline.org/daily_score/archive/2009/02/10/how-transit-orien… How Transit-Oriented Development Works Posted by Eric de Place 02/10/2009 02:30 PM Sightline Daily Cheers And have a great weekend. Stacy Matwick Information Centre International Institute for Sustainable Development 161 Portage Ave. E., 6th floor Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 0Y4 Voice: (204)958-7755 Fax: (204)958-7710 Email: smatwick(a)iisd.ca Website: http://www.iisd.org "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read" Groucho Marx "Life is like a bicycle, to keep your balance your must keep on moving" Albert Einstein

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Active Transportation - Canada: February 11, 2009
by Beth McKechnie 12 Feb '09

12 Feb '09

----- Original Message ----- From: Michael Haynes To: undisclosed recipients: Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 1:52 PM Subject: Active Transportation - Canada: February 11, 2009 Active Transportation - Canada features a regular posting of news articles, studies, reports, and other items that have relevance in this field, with previous postings available in an archive. In addition, pictures of existing Active Transportation infrastructure from communities across Canada will be profiled each week. The following items have recently been posted to the Active Transportation - Canada Blog. To view in more detail, go to: http://activetransportation-canada.blogspot.com **************************************************************************************************** 1.. Lectures - BC: Shifting Gears II, Lectures on transportation, health and the built environment 2.. News Release - Walk to School in Winter - It's Cool 3.. Article - BC: Active Transportation Plan looks at local desires and designs 4.. Article - Australian's Buy More Bikes Than Cars 5.. E-Documentary - UK: The Bicycle Diaries 6.. Website/Blog - Cycling: TOTOBOBO mask 7.. Article - US: Bike Sharing Is Denver’s Effort To Keep Residents In The Pink and The Sky Blue 8.. Article - Paris Velib Crushed by Vandalism? 9.. Article - India: Peddling an eco-friendly, cost-effective ride for cities 10.. Article - US: Bicycle Commuter Act and Rep. McHenry 11.. Article - US: Drive-throughs cause friction with Beach's Laskin plan **************************************************************************************************** A reminder e-mail of new postings will be sent no more often than once per week. To continue to receive these updates, you need take no action. Should you not wish to receive updates, please return this e-mail with "Unsubscribe" in the Subject area. Interested in an AT workshop in community? For more information, please contact: Michael Haynes Director TransActive Solutions activetransportation(a)rogers.com 613.424.2803

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U of M Bridge - study team
by Janice Lukes 09 Feb '09

09 Feb '09

fyi - Feb 5th Lance (area community paper) Janice Lukes Student, teacher team study benefits of pedestrian bridge By Matt Powers Feb. 5, 2009 As someone who regularly cycles from St. Vital to the U of M campus, James Blatz has long been in favour of a pedestrian bridge linking the two. The civil engineer professor estimates a bridge would cut down his commute by 30 minutes a day. It would also reduce the demand for student parking on campus, according to Blatz and third-year student Mark Reimer, who recently conducted a study of the role such a link could play in active transportation. "What we did is looked at what the benefit would be just to the university if people decided to use that bridge instead of bringing their cars across and we were quite pleased to see that it is notable," Blatz said. By comparing the percentage of parking permit holders of students and staff living in the southwest of the city with those in the southeast, the pair discovered a noticeable difference. Within a six-kilometre radius of University Centre there were 48 more parking permit holders living in the southeast. "It suggests that with a pedestrian bridge, there would be a decrease in parking permit holders from the east side to a value closer to that of the west side of the river, where there is no travel hindrance," Reimer said. "What it would do is basically create 5% more space on the U of M campus, which is a significant amount to reduce parking by," Reimer said. Reimer also applied data obtained from a 2006 Statistics Canada study of commuting patterns, to predict that a pedestrian bridge linking St. Vital and the campus would attract 200 to 600 potential users. "The majority of these users would be students, who on average can be generalized as low income and young, both of which fall into the higher end of active transportation users," Reimer said. Blatz says the study doesn't take into account the number of users who would use the bridge to cross over to St. Vital Mall or St. Vital Park. "There is tremendous potential there. We should also be taking into consideration the possibility of a new stadium on the campus and the creation of the Bus Rapid Transit Line," Blatz said. Paul Hesse, of Winnipeg's Rapid Transit Coalition, says he sees the bridge benefiting active transportation in a number of ways. "The City has already committed to building a rapid transit line, but what we would like to see included is commuter cycling paths all the way from downtown to the U of M. A pedestrian bridge would be a key piece of that integration," Hesse said. "Secondly, it would give students the better option of walking or cycling to the university which would not only save them money, but also save the environment by reducing traffic congestion along the St. Vital Bridge," he said. Hesse is hopeful that some of the money contributed from the 2009 federal budget for infrastructure projects will be be set aside for the bridge's construction. Winnipeg City Council included $250,000 in its annual budget to study the bridge. The estimated total cost to build the bridge is $15 million. Back <javascript: history.go(-1)> Top of <http://www.canstarnews.com/page/story/the_lance/3639#top> Page

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River trail parade set for Sunday
by Beth McKechnie 30 Jan '09

30 Jan '09

Winnipeg Free Press Latest News River trail parade set for SundayAll the world loves a parade - even if it's on the longest naturally frozen river trail in the world. On Sunday at noon, "The Longest Soul Rhythm Hip Hop Pied Piper Skate Dance Party Parade in The World" begins on the river trail at The Forks and ends at Assiniboine Park. The parade will be led by a Zamboni and all the assorted equipment used to create and maintain the Assiniboine Credit Union River Trail. Music will be blasting from "Soul On Ice" DJs Hunnicutt and Co-op who will spin and play music for the full 9.34 km. Winnipeg Transit will be available at Assiniboine Park to take skaters back to The Forks for the regular transit fare. "We're billing it as the longest soul rhythm hip hop pied piper skate dance party parade in the world and we want the whole city to join us," Paul Jordan, The Forks chief operating officer, said in a press release. Assiniboine Park officials will be waiting at the end of the parade to provide hot chocolate, coffee and cookies, while supplies last. Noon: Parade leaves The Forks Historic Port 12:30 pm: Arrives at Hugo access point 1:00 pm: Arrives at Dominion access point 1:30 pm: Arrives at Bourkevale access point 2:00 pm: Arrives at Assiniboine Park

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Fw: Active Transportation - Canada: January 27, 2009
by Beth McKechnie 30 Jan '09

30 Jan '09

----- Original Message ----- From: Michael Haynes To: activetransportation(a)rogers.com Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 8:52 AM Subject: Active Transportation - Canada: January 27, 2009 Active Transportation - Canada features a regular posting of news articles, studies, reports, and other items that have relevance in this field, with previous postings available in an archive. In addition, pictures of existing Active Transportation infrastructure from communities across Canada will be profiled each week. The following items have recently been posted to the Active Transportation - Canada Blog. To view in more detail, go to: http://activetransportation-canada.blogspot.com **************************************************************************************************** 1.. AT Grants - BC: Built Environment & Active Transportation Initiative 2.. Website - walkON 3.. Article - Toronto: City faces slip-and-fall lawsuits 4.. Article - Dutch Bicycle Production Increases 5.. Document - Nova Scotia’s Climate Change Action Plan 6.. Article - For cyclists, a bright solution 7.. Job Posting - Peel ON 8.. Newsletter - Victoria: Bike Walk News Vancouver Island 9.. Bicycle User Survey - US: Idaho 10.. Document - BC Cycling Budget Submission **************************************************************************************************** A reminder e-mail of new postings will be sent no more often than once per week. To continue to receive these updates, you need take no action. Should you not wish to receive updates, please return this e-mail with "Unsubscribe" in the Subject area. Interested in an AT workshop in community? For more information, please contact: Michael Haynes Director TransActive Solutions activetransportation(a)rogers.com 613.424.2803

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Job Posting! Green Leap Forward Coordinator
by Jessie Klassen 28 Jan '09

28 Jan '09

Hello All! We are hiring a coordinator for an exciting new collaborative project entitled the Green Leap Forward. The job posting is attached. Please circulate widely through your networks. The deadline for applications is Friday, January 6th. Thanks! Jessie Klassen Workplace Transportation Demand Management Resource Conservation Manitoba jessie(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca (204) 925-3772 Resource Conservation Manitoba: Living Green, Living Well Practical solutions for yourself, your community and the environment Green Commuting, Environmental Education, Reducing Waste, Composting Resource Conservation Manitoba is a registered charity. Please consider making a donation.

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River Party & Parade Sunday, February 1 2009
by Janice Lukes 27 Jan '09

27 Jan '09

* * Please pass this on to your contacts * * its official - rain? slush or snow ! join us for a 9.34 km " Longest Soul Rhythm Hip Hop Pied Piper Skate Dance Party Parade - in The World ! " CONFIRMED DATE: Sunday, February 1 2009 Timing as follows: 12pm - Parade leaves The Forks Historical Port 12:30pm - Arrives at Hugo docks 1:00pm - Arrives at Dominion access point 1:30pm - Arrives at Bourkevaile access point 2:00pm - Arrives at Assiniboine Park City of Winnipeg Transit bus will be waiting to return people to The Forks (bring your own fare) Watch for additional info here: http://www.rivertrail.ca/wp/ Janice Lukes Winnipeg Trails Coordinator Winnipeg Trails Association 202 - One Forks Market Road Winnipeg, MB R3C 4L9 Cell (204) 952-4222 Fax (204) 943-7915 jlukes(a)shaw.ca winnipegtrails.com

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Healthy Living Fund & AT mileage rates policy or norm
by Beth McKechnie 27 Jan '09

27 Jan '09

[Forwarded on behalf of Mike Tuthill, Health in Common] Greetings PACM & AT Folks! We've just been discussing some new policy for our organisation . . . has anyone had a mileage rate for on the job AT? Was it included in policy or part of an event? Has anyone heard of such a policy in place elsewhere? Also does anyone have a fund at their place of employment that covers healthy/active living expenses for employees (gym memberships, bicycle tune ups, sports fees, etc.)? Please let me know of any leads you may have, Thanks, Mike Mike Tutthill Information & Access Coordinator HEALTH in COMMON 100-6 Donald Street Winnipeg, MB R3L 0K6 tel: 204.949.2002 1.800.731.1792 fax: 204.284.2404 email: mtutthill(a)healthincommon.ca web: www.healthincommon.ca +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ March E-Newsletter deadline is February 20. ü Please consider the environment before printing this email.

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Walkability Roadshow Webinar - Tuesday, Feb. 3, 11am
by Jessie Klassen 27 Jan '09

27 Jan '09

Hi All, There is an interesting webinar coming up on Tuesday, February 3rd, from 11-12:30pm, the Walkability Roadshow. "The Canadian "Walkability Roadshow" is both a model for how to engage communities of all sizes in promoting walking, and a program available to Canadian communities interested in doing so. It involves a questionnaire completed my municipal staff in related departments, a needs analysis workshop, subsequent homework, site visits by international experts, the development of local pedestrian action plans, and the securing of commitments from key decision makers." "The structure of the pedestrian strategy framework is based on the International Walking Charter, adopted by the Melbourne Walk21 conference in October 2006. Communities participating in the Roadshow were audited against the Charter to assess what was being done locally to help achieve more walking, to recognize what the priorities and barriers are for future policy and investment, and to identify what external supports would assist communities to develop and implement effective local pedestrian strategies." Speaker: Jacky Kennedy, Director, Walking Programs, Green Communities Canada Please join us in the Eco-Centre boardroom at 303 Portage Ave, 3rd Floor. To register, please contact Beth McKechnie at 925-3772 or beth(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca. Hope to see you there! Jessie Klassen Workplace Transportation Demand Management Resource Conservation Manitoba jessie(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca (204) 925-3772 Resource Conservation Manitoba: Living Green, Living Well Practical solutions for yourself, your community and the environment Green Commuting, Environmental Education, Reducing Waste, Composting Resource Conservation Manitoba is a registered charity. Please consider making a donation.

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Dr. Catherine O'Brien speaking at Millennium Library - Wed, Feb. 11, 7-8:30 pm
by Beth McKechnie 26 Jan '09

26 Jan '09

Come out for a heartwarming evening in the middle of winter! Please forward to any friends, family or colleagues who you think might be interested. (Full bio for Dr. Catherine O'Brien can be found below the event poster.) Catherine O'Brien is an Assistant Professor in the School of Education, Health & Wellness at Cape Breton University, a Research Associate of the Centre for Sustainable Transportation, and co-author of Child and Youth Friendly Land Use and Transport Planning Guidelines. In addition, Dr. O'Brien has drawn from the fields of positive psychology and sustainability to develop a new concept: sustainable happiness. She defines this as the pursuit of happiness that is respectful of other people, the natural environment, and future generations. Her work emphasizes the significance of creating communities that meet the needs and aspirations of children, and planning for sustainable happiness.

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on HOLD - waiting for more COLD Parade & Party on River Trail
by Janice Lukes 22 Jan '09

22 Jan '09

good morning! Last night's decision was to put the Parade & Party on the River Trail on HOLD till NEXT SUNDAY, Feb. 1st. only in Winnipeg can you have near record braking cold temperatures followed by above average temperatures ! The river trail snow removal has been completed to Assiniboine Park, but with this week's mild weather, the new ice is in very poor condition. Paul wants to wait one more week. BOTTOM LINE: there absolutely will be a parade & party celebrating the river trail from The Forks to Assiniboine Park - some Sunday in the very near future :) ! I will keep you updated on this 'fluid' event ! (this gives you more time to prepare a parade outfit ! ) thanks! Janice Lukes Winnipeg Trails Coordinator Winnipeg Trails Association 202 - One Forks Market Road Winnipeg, MB R3C 4L9 Cell (204) 952-4222 Fax (204) 943-7915 <mailto:jlukes@shaw.ca> jlukes(a)shaw.ca winnipegtrails.com

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HEADS UP - Parade & Party - if . . if . . .if . . .
by Janice Lukes 19 Jan '09

19 Jan '09

HEADS UP Parade & Party on longest river trail in the World ! . . . . if . . . . . if . . . . . if . . . if - the weather cooperates - the kids can shovel through to Assiniboine Park Bridge this week - if the Zamboni doesn't konk out DATE: Sunday, January 25th TIME: 12:00 noon departing from The Forks through to Assiniboine Park We will kick off a parade & party departing from The Forks and travel along the river trail to Assiniboine Park. Dress up in your winter finery - lace on skates, hiking boots, or whatever and join in at any of the many access points. The decision to party will be made this Wednesday and I will send a confirmation email. Information will also be posted at: http://www.rivertrail.ca/wp/ Paul Jordan, COO of The Forks, and also known nationally at the 'dweeb in the snowsuit' when talking of Winnipeg's river trail, is also the Chair of the Winnipeg Trails Association. Janice Lukes Winnipeg Trails Coordinator Winnipeg Trails Association 202 - One Forks Market Road Winnipeg, MB R3C 4L9 Cell (204) 952-4222 Fax (204) 943-7915 <mailto:jlukes@shaw.ca> jlukes(a)shaw.ca winnipegtrails.com

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Warming Hearts in Winnipeg: Dr. Catherine O'Brien to present in Winnipeg
by Beth McKechnie 14 Jan '09

14 Jan '09

Hello AT Network partners! Dr. Catherine OBrien, Canadas leading expert on planning for sustainable happiness, will be in Winnipeg for a consultation in early February (10th, 11th or 12th we still have to work out the specific details). She has agreed to speak to members of Winnipegs AT Network for a reduced rate of $500 (down from $1500, as she will already be in town), and we are currently looking for partners to help share the cost of her speaking fee. She is a Research Associate of the Centre for Sustainable Transportation, and she is the co-author of Child and Youth Friendly Land Use and Transport Planning Guidelines for Canadian Provinces and Territories. In addition, Dr. OBrien has drawn from the fields of positive psychology and sustainability to develop a new concept: sustainable happiness. She defines this as the pursuit of happiness that is respectful of other people, the natural environment and future generations. Her work emphasizes the significance of creating communities that meet the needs and aspirations of children and planning for sustainable happiness (see attached studies). Please contact me as soon as possible if you are able to contribute! best, Jackie Jackie Avent Active and Safe Routes to School Program Coordinator Resource Conservation Manitoba 3rd Floor - 303 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3B 2B4 (204) 925-3773 www.resourceconservation.mb.ca Resource Conservation Manitoba: Living Green, Living Well Practical solutions for yourself, your community and the environment Green Commuting, Environmental Education, Reducing Waste, Composting Resource Conservation Manitoba is a registered charity. Please consider making a donation.

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Winnipeg's Winter Wonderland - TWO in motion @ the Library Sessions!
by Deanna Betteridge 13 Jan '09

13 Jan '09

******************************************************************************* In motion @ the Library - TWO different sessions - TWO different dates - TWO different locations! Tonnes of options for you and your family this Winter! Join Winnipeg in motion and the Winnipeg Public Libraries this month for two great in motion @ the Library sessions. As the mercury plunges and the snow piles high, your first instinct may be to hibernate until spring. Get up off the couch, put down the remote and discover the real potential of Winnipeg's winter. Join Greg Rubell of Mountain Equipment Co-op and Scot Miller of Olympia Cycle and Ski to learn how to turn the long winter months into an opportunity for family fun! TWO DIFFERENT SESSIONS TO CHOOSE FROM: Session 1 Winnipeg's Winter Wonderland...so many options Friday, January 23, from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. Carol Shield Auditorium on the second floor of the Millennium Library (251 Donald Street) Session 2 Discover Winnipeg's Winter Wonderland...on skis Saturday, January 24, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. St. James Assiniboine Library (1910 Portage Avenue) FREE admission and NO registration is required - just wear comfortable clothing to join in the activities or come to watch. Contact Winnipeg in motion at 940-3648 or visit http://www.winnipeginmotion.ca/resources/in_motion_library for more information. Unable to attend? Visit winnipeginmotion.ca for winter activity options in your neighbourhood. Please pass this information on to your co-workers, family and friends. ******************************************************************************* Winnipeg's Winter Wonderland is part of "in motion Fridays", a series of monthly workshops that promote physical activity for better health. The in motion @ the Library series is sponsored by Winnipeg in motion and the Millennium Library. For a complete list of workshops, visit http://www.winnipeginmotion.ca/resources/in_motion_library or http://wpl.winnipeg.ca/library/. See you at the Library! 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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Active Transportation - Canada: January 6, 2009
by Beth McKechnie 06 Jan '09

06 Jan '09

----- Original Message ----- From: Michael Haynes To: activetransportation(a)rogers.com Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2009 10:26 AM Subject: Active Transportation - Canada: January 6, 2009 Active Transportation - Canada features a regular posting of news articles, studies, reports, and other items that have relevance in this field, with previous postings available in an archive. In addition, pictures of existing Active Transportation infrastructure from communities across Canada will be profiled each week. The following items have recently been posted to the Active Transportation - Canada Blog. To view in more detail, go to: http://activetransportation-canada.blogspot.com **************************************************************************************************** 1.. Article - Announcing Ontario Communities walkON! 2.. Article - US: Trail Campaign 3.. Article - Tim's lineups spark halt to new St. John's drive-thrus 4.. Article - Winter biking challenges the hearty cyclist 5.. Article - Winnipeg prepares to make river skating trail even longer 6.. Article - Skater[boarder]s shovel out Marina Park site for winter use 7.. Website - freewheelinwaytogo.com 8.. Website - Bike Route Toaster 9.. Article - 50 Ways to Improve Your Life: Ride Your Bike to Work 10.. Article - US Survey: People think biking is dangerous **************************************************************************************************** A reminder e-mail of new postings will be sent no more often than once per week. To continue to receive these updates, you need take no action. Should you not wish to receive updates, please return this e-mail with "Unsubscribe" in the Subject area. For more information, please contact: Michael Haynes Director TransActive Solutions activetransportation(a)rogers.com 613.424.2803

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NYC's Ciclovia success story
by Jessie Klassen 05 Jan '09

05 Jan '09

Hi All, Here is a beautiful story of the success of New York City's Ciclovia-type events held last summer. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/08/30/fashion/20080830-street/index. html Enjoy (I did!), Jessie Klassen Workplace Transportation Demand Management Resource Conservation Manitoba jessie(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca (204) 925-3772 Resource Conservation Manitoba: Living Green, Living Well Practical solutions for yourself, your community and the environment Green Commuting, Environmental Education, Reducing Waste, Composting Resource Conservation Manitoba is a registered charity. Please consider making a donation.

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Sign up for free upcoming transportation webinars!
by Jessie Klassen 05 Jan '09

05 Jan '09

Hi All, There are a number of interesting webinars coming up in the next few months, including: 1) Cycle Zone Analysis: A New Bicycle Planning Tool - January 21st, 2-3pm 2) The Urban Transportation Emissions Calculator - January 27th, 11-12:30pm 3) The Canadian Walkability Roadshow - February 3rd, 11-12:30pm 4) Individualized Marketing: Where do we go from here? - March 3rd, 11-12:30pm The Eco-Centre boardroom will be a host site for the above webinars. If you are interested in attending any of these webinars, please RSVP to jessie(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca or 925-3772. The first webinar is already filling up fast, with only 5 seats left. More information follows on each of the webinars. Thanks, and hope to see you there! Jessie Klassen Workplace Transporation Demand Management Resource Conservation Manitoba jessie(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca (204) 925-3772 Resource Conservation Manitoba: Living Green, Living Well Practical solutions for yourself, your community and the environment Green Commuting, Environmental Education, Reducing Waste, Composting Resource Conservation Manitoba is a registered charity. Please consider making a donation. January 21, 2009: Cycle Zone Analysis: A New Bicycle Planning Tool Learn about Portland's (Ore.) new bicycle planning tool, Cycle Zone Analysis. Find out how this tool helps planners more accurately assess bicycling micro-environments and fine-tune improvements to cycling conditions. Register at www.bikewalk.org/webinar.php January 27, 2009: The Urban Transportation Emissions Calculator (UTEC) UTEC is a free, user-friendly, web-based tool developed by Transport Canada that estimates greenhouse gas and criteria air contaminant emissions from urban transportation. It can be used in a wide variety of contexts involving different vehicle types (e.g., cars, commercial trucks, buses, light rail), fuel technologies (e.g., gasoline, diesel, hybrid, ethanol, biodiesel, etc.), and planning horizons (2006-2031). The Tool has recently been upgraded with a new user interface, more recent emission factors and fuel efficiencies, and additional vehicle and fuel technologies. This webinar will provide an introduction to the upgraded tool and case studies of how it can be used to estimate emissions and emissions savings for different transit and transportation projects. Transport Canada's Urban Transportation Showcase Program is paying for the first 85 Canadian connections to participate at no cost. Register at: www.webinars.cullbridge.com February 3, 2009: The Canadian Walkability Roadshow The Canadian "Walkability Roadshow" is both a model for how to engage communities of all sizes in promoting walking, and a program available to Canadian communities interested in doing so. It involves a questionnaire completed my municipal staff in related departments, a needs analysis workshop, subsequent homework, site visits by international experts, the development of local pedestrian action plans, and the securing of commitments from key decision makers. Transport Canada's Urban Transportation Showcase Program is paying for the first 85 Canadian connections to participate at no cost. Register at: www.webinars.cullbridge.com March 3, 2009: Individualized Marketing: Where Do We Go From Here? (Discussion Panel and Case Study) Individualized Marketing has proven highly effective across North America, as well as in Europe and Australia, for reducing vehicle trips and increasing walking, cycling and transit use. This special 90-minute webinar features a case study of one such program, followed by a discussion panel on how to engage additional audiences and increase the cost-effectiveness and practicality of the approach for a wider range of communities. The case study is on the TravelSmart pilots conducted in six different Vancouver neighbourhoods with differing urban environments and levels of transit service. The result was an 8% reduction in vehicle trips and a corresponding increase in walking, transit use and cycling. Members of the discussion panel have been selected from municipalities across North America (Portland, Raleigh/Durham, Seattle, and Vancouver) that have implemented and evaluated the approach. Transport Canada's Urban Transportation Showcase Program is paying for the first 85 Canadian connections to participate at no cost. Register at: www.webinars.cullbridge.com

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Active & Green Winter 2008
by Jessie Klassen 18 Dec '08

18 Dec '08

Hi All! (Apologies for cross-postings) Our new holiday issue of Active & Green has arrived! Visit the link below at: http://www.resourceconservation.mb.ca/news/pdfs/Active%20&%20Green%20Winter% 202008.pdf We hope you will share it widely with your colleagues, family and friends. Have a very Happy Holiday and New Year! Here are a few highlights from the Active & Green Winter 2008 issue: * Tips for Greening Your Holidays * "Living Car Free" Story Contest Winner * Green Travel During the Holidays * New Bike Map for Winnipeg * Winter Cycling Tips from the Pros * Skating the Assiniboine * GC Highlights from Elsewhere * AT Holiday Greeting Cards If for some reason you are not able to access the link, please contact me and I will email the pdf file directly or provide a hard copy for posting at your workplace. Stay Active & Green (and warm!), Jessie Klassen Workplace Transporation Demand Management Tel: (204) 925-3772 Email: jessie(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca Resource Conservation Manitoba 303 Portage Ave, 3rd Floor Winnipeg, MB R3B 2B4 Fax: (204) 942-4207 web: www.resourceconservation.mb.ca www.LivingGreenLivingWell.ca

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Transport Canada offers webinar series
by Beth McKechnie 17 Dec '08

17 Dec '08

TRANSPORT CANADA OFFERS WEBINAR SERIES Transport Canada's Urban Transportation Showcase Program is underwriting a series of new webinars. The first, on January 27th, 2009, covers 'The Urban Transportation Emissions Calculator' (UTEC), a free, user-friendly web-based tool developed by Transport Canada that estimates greenhouse gas and air contaminant emissions from urban transportation. This webinar will provide an introduction to the upgraded tool and case studies of how it can be used to estimate emissions and emissions savings for different transit and transportation projects. A February 3rd webinar will feature the Canadian "Walkability Roadshow," introducing a model for how to engage communities of all sizes in promoting walking, and a program available to Canadian communities. And on March 3rd, the topic will be "Individualized Marketing: Where Do We Go From Here?", featuring a discussion panel on how to engage additional audiences and increase the cost-effectiveness and practicality of the approach for a wider range of communities. Transport Canada's Urban Transportation Showcase Program is paying for the first 85 Canadian organizations to participate in each of the webinars above at no cost. You can learn more about the webinars and register at: http://www.webinars.cullbridge.com/

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WFP: Council refuses to budge on funds for bicycle paths (Dec.17'08)
by Beth McKechnie 17 Dec '08

17 Dec '08

Local News Council refuses to budge on funds for bicycle paths By: Joe Paraskevas Cycling activists left city hall disappointed Tuesday, having come up short in their attempts to increase capital budget spending on bike paths and pedestrian trails. City council passed the 2009 budget Tuesday over appeals from community groups and some councillors who called for more substantial investment in Winnipeg's so-called active transportation network. Council voted 11-4 to approve the $476.1-million budget, which earmarks $3.5 million to be spent directly on bike and pedestrian infrastructure. Community activists, some of whom lobbied repeatedly before city hall committees in the three weeks since the budget was released, were exhausted. "I don't know what else to say," said Anders Swanson, project co-ordinator of the cycling group One Green City, told councillors at the end of his five-minute presentation. "The bicycle is very, very, very, very, very, very good for you," Swanson added, drawing laughter from council members and an audience of about 75 people in the council chamber galleries. Despite public efforts to convince councillors that investments in active transportation could contribute to everything from friendlier neighbourhoods to healthier workers, the majority on council resisted. "There is nobody on the floor of council who believes we can't do more," Mayor Sam Katz assured onlookers. "We will get there." Other councillors pointed out that in addition to the money the budget committed directly, bike and pedestrian paths were also part of some large public works projects, such as the Chief Peguis Trail extension and the planned Disraeli Freeway overhaul. Councillors rejected a last-minute motion to increase active-transportation spending and sidewalk renewal by $2 million. The motion was tabled by Point Douglas Coun. Mike Pagtakhan and seconded by Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt. "We have come into the dawn of a new era here in Winnipeg where the young people are looking for creative choices," Pagtakhan told council during the three-and-a-half-hour debate. Besides finding jobs, young Winnipeggers wanted to roam their city on foot, by bicycle or on inline roller skates, Pagtakhan said. "If we want people to get out of their cars, we've got to give them a reason to get out of their cars," he added. The motion was defeated, but Pagtakhan and Wyatt, who last week were the two councillors in Mayor Sam Katz's six-member executive policy committee to vote against the budget, turned around and supported the document at yesterday's council session. The two councillors said they had made their points at a cabinet meeting last week and would take their opposition no further. Councillors Jenny Gerbasi (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry), Harvey Smith (Daniel McIntyre), Lillian Thomas (Elmwood-East Kildonan) and Dan Vandal (St. Boniface) voted against the budget, however. Gerbasi bemoaned what she perceived was the limited time allocated for budget debate and the relatively little chance ordinary Winnipeggers had to influence budget decisions. She and Vandal called for the city to hold public meetings to gather input before it released the final budget document. The afternoon was also marked by tributes from councillors and Katz to Brenda Leipsic, the former councillor for River Heights-Fort Garry, who passed away last week from lung cancer. A red rose in a vase and a framed 8x10-photograph of Leipsic were on her council chamber desk throughout the budget debate and a book where the public could sign condolences was outside the chamber. The city's flag was also draped over Leipsic's empty black leather armchair. joe.paraskevas(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Making Cycling Irresistible: Lessons from The Netherlands, Denmark and Germany
by Beth McKechnie 15 Dec '08

15 Dec '08

Transport Reviews, Vol. 28, No. 4, 495-528, July 2008 Making Cycling Irresistible: Lessons from The Netherlands, Denmark and Germany www.policy.rutgers.edu/faculty/pucher/Irresistible.pdf by John Pucher and Ralph Buehler, Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA ABSTRACT: This article shows how the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany have made bicycling a safe, convenient and practical way to get around their cities. The analysis relies on national aggregate data as well as case studies of large and small cities in each country. The key to achieving high levels of cycling appears to be the provision of separate cycling facilities along heavily travelled roads and at intersections, combined with traffic calming of most residential neighbourhoods. Extensive cycling rights of way in the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany are complemented by ample bike parking, full integration with public transport, comprehensive traffic education and training of both cyclists and motorists, and a wide range of promotional events intended to generate enthusiasm and wide public support for cycling. In addition to their many pro-bike policies and programmes, the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany make driving expensive as well as inconvenient in central cities through a host of taxes and restrictions on car ownership, use and parking. Moreover, strict land-use policies foster compact, mixed-use developments that generate shorter and thus more bikeable trips. It is the coordinated implementation of this multifaceted, mutually reinforcing set of policies that best explains the success of these three countries in promoting cycling. For comparison, the article portrays the marginal status of cycling in the UK and the USA, where only about 1% of trips are by bike.

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WFP: Councillors fight for more bike trail cash (Dec. 13'08)
by Beth McKechnie 13 Dec '08

13 Dec '08

Winnipeg Free Press Local News Councillors fight for more bike trail cash By: Bartley Kives and Joe Paraskevas Two members of Mayor Sam Katz's cabinet plan to take another crack at putting more cash in the city's bike-and-pedestrian kitty at a Tuesday city council meeting that promises to be packed with cyclists and other trail-building activists. Earlier this week, Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt and Point Douglas Coun. Mike Pagtakhan annoyed fellow members of council's executive policy committee by voting against the 2009 capital budget, a $476-million blueprint for city infrastructure spending next year. Wyatt and Pagtakhan voted against Katz and finance chairman Justin Swandel to protest what they felt was insufficient cash for bike trails, sidewalks and other active-transportation corridors in 2009. Katz and Swandel proposed spending $2.75 million on trail creation next year, while Wyatt and Pagtakhan tried to increase that figure to $5.75 million. The duo will try again to amend the trail budget, this time by asking all members of council at Tuesday's special capital-budget meeting to support a total spending of $4.75 million on trails, sidewalks and other active-transportation corridors next year. "We can fix part of the problem right now," Wyatt said of the extra $2 million. "Why wait until next year?" Regardless of what happens, Wyatt and Pagtakhan are promising not to vote against the capital budget, a move that would suggest a lack of confidence in Katz and other EPC members . The mayor had no choice but to reappoint Pagtakhan to EPC and retain the outspoken Wyatt during an October cabinet shuffle, thanks to Mike O'Shaughnessy's desire to leave the committee and the late Brenda Leipsic's absence from council. But since EPC functions like a cabinet, a genuine rift between left-leaning and centre-right factions could not be tolerated for long. "Mike and I, we made our point on Wednesday," Wyatt said. "No one likes to have a gun held to their head." No matter how council votes, Wyatt and Pagtakhan will have a cheering section on Tuesday. The Winnipeg Trails Association, the Manitoba Cycling Association and Bike To The Future have called on all "cyclists, wannabe cyclists and anyone who uses a sidewalk" to attend the capital budget meeting in an effort to place pressure on council to increase active-transportation funding. WTA director Janice Lukes intends to present council with a list of 10 projects that could be completed next year with the extra $2 million. "We're going to compare this city to what other cities are doing now," Lukes said. "What do the people of Winnipeg want to see? Do we want to see a car culture or more active transportation?" Winnipeg has increased its trail-creation budget significantly during Katz's current term as mayor. The city only devoted $200,000 to trails and sidewalks in 2006, when council adopted the recommendations of a groundbreaking active-transportation study. bartley.kives(a)freepress.mb.ca joe.paraskevas(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Fw: Cycling advocacy action on Tuesday December16th at 1:00 PM at City Hall
by Beth McKechnie 12 Dec '08

12 Dec '08

[From Jackie Avent, Bike to the Future, Co-Chair] http://biketothefuture.org Please spread this far and wide to anyone you know who would like to see safer and more accessible cycling routes in Winnipeg. Winnipeg has never been as close as we are today in seeing a significant increase in funding for Active Transportation (AT) to go towards complete routes throughout the city. You may have read in the Free Press about efforts by Bike to the Future and partners like the Winnipeg Trails Association, Resource Conservation Manitoba, One Green City, and other local AT supporters [ed. note: Physical Activity Coalition of Manitoba] advocating for an increase in AT funding in the City's 2009 Capital Budget. In an unprecedented move, two of the mayor's Executive Policy Committee members voted against the proposed 2009 Capital Budget because of limited funding for cyclists and other AT users. We need to show the councillors that cycling is not a fringe issue, but that safe, enjoyable, accessible, and convenient cycling infrastructure is in everyone's best interests. Tuesday December 16th at 1:00 PM at City Hall We are asking all cyclists to come out -– bring your bike bells -- and support Mark Cohoe from Bike to the Future and Janice Lukes from the Winnipeg Trails Association who will be doing a joint presentation to City Council opposing the 2009 Capital Budget and advocating for equality for cyclists. Your attendance will help make a difference. What else can you do to help? 1. Pass this message on to all the people you know who are interested in having better facilities for cycling in Winnipeg. 2. Contact your city councillor (http://winnipeg.ca/council/) and ask him/her to increase the funding for active transportation. Share your reasons why you want to see more and safer infrastructure; if it existed, you would use it. 3. There may be an opportunity to speak on Tuesday at City Council if you feel strongly about increasing funding. Currently only two presentations opposing the budget are allowed, but by-laws can be waived if there are enough people wanting to be heard. Call your city councillor and tell him/her you want to speak to this issue. Thank you.

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WFP: Bike paths split civic committee (Dec.11'08)
by Beth McKechnie 11 Dec '08

11 Dec '08

Winnipeg Free Press Local News Bike paths split civic committee By: Joe Paraskevas In a surprising rebuke of the city's 2009 capital budget, two of six councillors in Mayor Sam Katz's cabinet rejected the $476.1-million public works plan Wednesday, saying the city could do much more to build bike paths and pedestrian trails. At a meeting of executive policy committee, Point Douglas Coun. Mike Pagtakhan and Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt voted to turn the budget down, signalling a split on council between bike-riding advocates and others. Last year, EPC councillors unanimously supported the budget. A city hall source said Katz was "shocked, surprised and disappointed" at Pagtakhan and Wyatt's actions. EPC did add $2.35 million to the budget, including $500,000 for biking infrastructure and pedestrian trails and the same amount for sidewalk and curb renewals. It also committed $250,000 for a study into a pedestrian-cyclist bridge across the Red River from the University of Manitoba to south St. Vital. The additions brought the budget's commitment to city cyclists to $2.25 million and its plans for sidewalk and curb repairs to $1 million -- pending the approval next week before city council. But the $1.25 million the committee pencilled in for cyclists and pedestrians wasn't enough for Pagtakhan and Wyatt. The additions came a day after several community groups lobbied the same committee for more spending on bike paths and bike lanes. One activist suggested the city commit $80 million over 10 years to build 50 kilometres of bike paths and three cyclist-pedestrian bridges. With that in mind, Pagtakhan tabled a motion calling for the city to spend $2 million on active transportation in 2009. And Wyatt echoed that demand by proposing $2 million for sidewalk and curb renewals, saying the extra money for cyclists would only build one kilometre of bike paths. "Basically, we're adding one kilometre of asphalt," he said. "I think we can do more." Winnipeg has about 190 kilometres of bike paths and bike lanes on streets across the city, Wyatt said. Calgary has more than 900: 635 kilometres of bike paths and 290 kilometres of bike lanes. And yet, Wyatt and Pagtakhan's motion failed. Their committee colleagues didn't share their devotion to cyclists and pedestrians. "We have an obligation not to throw money at the squeakiest wheel," St. Norbert Coun. Justin Swandel, the city's budget architect, told his fellow committee members. "We are doing a budget for the entire city of Winnipeg. we are not doing a budget for active transportation." Katz urged Pagtakhan and other active transportation advocates to come up with a five-year plan for cycling infrastructure. He said he was "extremely embarrassed" that parts of Winnipeg lacked proper sidewalks and back lanes as well as bike paths. The divide created by Pagtakhan and Wyatt is likely not large enough to stop the budget from passing before the full city council next week. But others interpreted it as a sign of conflicting visions of the city among councillors. "In all my years on council I don't recall two members of EPC voting against the final recommendations of a budget," said Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry Coun. Jenny Gerbasi, who was first elected in 1998. "This may be a sign that there are two very different visions of our city and council is more polarized than ever." Mark Cohoe, chairman of the community group Bike to the Future, said in a news release "total funding for active transportation will drop from $2.35 million in 2008 to $2.15 million in 2009, just 1 per cent of the city's budget for roads and bridges. "At this rate of expansion it will take several hundred years to complete the city's bikeway network," Cohoe said. Mynarski Coun. Harry Lazarenko, a city councillor for almost three decades and a former member of EPC, called the budget rejections "irresponsible." "They voted in retaliation because they could not get their amendments approved," Lazarenko said, of Pagtakhan and Wyatt. "that's not what EPC is supposed to do." joe.paraskevas(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Boulder, Colorado - Platinum Bike Status
by David Wieser 05 Dec '08

05 Dec '08

Yet another spine tingling feel good video from streetfilms. Just posted today. It has something for everyone, biking, walking, safe routes to school, bike co-ops... http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/boulder-goes-bike-platinum/ Add Boulder, Colorado to the League of American Bicyclists' cities to achieve Platinum Bike Status. This Fall, they were bestowed the nation's highest rank for U.S. cities and joined Portland, Oregon and Davis, California as the only three cities to have that honor. My favorite line... 3 mile ride to work and no stop signs or stop lights, one continuous ride to work. Another feature is that kids can earn ipods by biking to school with a computer chip in the kids helmet to count their trips and encourage them to wear their helmets. David Wieser

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Active Transportation - Canada: December 5, 2008
by Beth McKechnie 05 Dec '08

05 Dec '08

Active Transportation - Canada features a regular posting of news articles, studies, reports, and other items that have relevance in this field, with previous postings available in an archive. In addition, pictures of existing Active Transportation infrastructure from communities across Canada will be profiled each week. The following items have recently been posted to the Active Transportation - Canada Blog. To view in more detail, go to: http://activetransportation-canada.blogspot.com **************************************************************************************************** 1.. Resource - BC Built Environment Summit Proceedings 2.. Article - Open house for wheeling walking and cycling in Golden 3.. Article - Now is the time to reshape our cities 4.. Job Opportunity - Regional Municipality of York ON 5.. Job Opportunity - Smart Commute North Toronto 6.. Article - Winnipeg dramatically increases spending on AT 7.. Upcoming Event - Kelowna BC: Building SustainAble Communities Conference 8.. Interesting Website - Team Wonderbike 9.. Links - Cargo Bikes 10.. Video - David Suzuki cycles in Copenhagen **************************************************************************************************** A reminder e-mail of new postings will be sent no more often than once per week. To continue to receive these updates, you need take no action. Should you not wish to receive updates, please return this e-mail with "Unsubscribe" in the Subject area. For more information, please contact: Michael Haynes Director TransActive Solutions activetransportation(a)rogers.com 613.424.2803

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Free Press Article
by Stacy Matwick 03 Dec '08

03 Dec '08

Pedestrians, cyclists win small victory By: Joe Paraskevas Winnipeg Free Press Dec. 3, 2008 B4 People who walk or cycle around Winnipeg won a small but significant victory in a city hall committee room Tuesday. They lined up to demand the city's $476-million 2009 capital budget be amended to provide more funding for bike paths, bike commuting lanes on roads, better sidewalks and even a new pedestrian bridge across the Red River between the University of Manitoba and south St. Vital. And they succeeded -- though more hurdles remain before city councillors vote on the budget Dec. 16. After hearing delegations for the better part of four hours, members of the Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works committee voted to re-allocate $4.7 million in the budget to cover projects associated with cycling, walking and in-line skating -- so-called active transportation. City hall should not squander the steps it has taken to improve its network of pathways and bikeways in the last two years, community activists said. "The city's got really good momentum. It's showing vision," said Janice Lukes, trails coordinator for the Winnipeg Trails Association. "When you come up with these numbers," Lukes added, referring to the budget released last week, "it's not showing vision." The budget targeted $1.75 million for bike paths and other active transportation works -- as opposed to $95 million for road and bridge construction. Committee members agreed to add $4.25 million for active transportation projects, leaving it to administrators to decide how such funds should be distributed. To cover the added spending, St. Boniface Coun. Dan Vandal said the city could tap its $300-million reserve funds or $3 million set aside in the budget for what Vandal said was unallocated spending. The committee also agreed to shift $250,000 from $1.9 million earmarked for land acquisition to pay for a study into building a pedestrian bridge across the Red River from the University of Manitoba into south St. Vital. That project had the backing of St. Norbert Coun. Justin Swandel, the city's Finance committee chairman and budget architect. Swandel appealed in person to the committee. A deal struck with the Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corp. had freed some of the money the city had meant to use to acquire land for the expansion of Waverley Street in south Winnipeg, Swandel said. The public works committee also agreed to spend an additional $200,000 on sidewalk repairs. The budget had allocated $250,000 in 2009 to new sidewalks on major streets. The Executive Policy Committee, which reviews the capital budget next week, could still overturn today's decision. joe.paraskevas(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Bike lanes work
by Beth McKechnie 27 Nov '08

27 Nov '08

Interesting article about research in Portland showing cyclists will go out of their way to use bike infrastructure (such as bike lanes): http://www.portlandtribune.com/sustainable/story.php?story_id=1224022968389…

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Roundabouts
by Janice Lukes 27 Nov '08

27 Nov '08

As the city and province set about to spend even more money on Hwys - I find the attached TIME article very interesting. Janice Lukes Winnipeg Trails Coordinator Winnipeg Trails Association 202 - One Forks Market Road Winnipeg, MB R3C 4L9 Cell (204) 952-4222 Fax (204) 943-7915 <mailto:jlukes@shaw.ca> jlukes(a)shaw.ca <http://www.winnipegtrails.com/> www.WinnipegTrails.com

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WFP: Pedestrians rule! (Nov.20'08)
by Beth McKechnie 27 Nov '08

27 Nov '08

Winnipeg Free Press a.. Winnipeg Free Press View from the West Pedestrians rule! (Or they would if the law were enforced) Val Werier Updated: November 20, 2008 at 06:40 AM CST Now that winter is upon us, we must examine the perilous state of the pedestrian. Is there anything more unequal than the conflict between the pedestrian and the car? The car is the bully, big and powerful, equipped to stop in comfort, but it refuses to give the pedestrian the right of way. In Winnipeg, considered as one of the coldest capitals in the world, this is an atrocious display of bad manners. Pedestrians may freeze waiting to cross, but this is the way it is in Winnipeg. The civility of a city can be judged by the importance and respect given to pedestrians. On that basis, the standard of civility is poor indeed. Pedestrians are treated in a shabby manner. The law places them in an exalted position. A motorist must stop once a pedestrian starts crossing the street. That rarely happens. The pedestrian is regarded by drivers as a ne'er-do-well. That does not seem to bother all the agencies concerned with the rules of the road, safety and welfare of citizens. Rarely, if ever, is a word heard about the rights of pedestrians from the provincial Transportation department, Manitoba Public Insurance, automobile associations or city council and police. They are silent on the flagrant denial of the status of pedestrians. The safety and priority of the pedestrian is raised so seldom it creates a climate that may be a factor in this bizarre case. On a bright morning in April 2007, Shep Shell, a blind man of 62, led by his seeing-eye dog Page, crossed Cordova Street at Grant Avenue, a special pedestrian corridor. They were proceeding south and stopped at the median. There Shell pressed the button to reactivate the beeping sound and flashing yellow lights. The car in the first lane had stopped, as he had heard it do. Shell held out his arm to present a larger profile and proceeded into the second lane when he heard a car approaching quickly. He didn't dare to move back in case the car in that lane was moving. "I felt helpless," he told me. "I knew I was going to be hit." He swung Page behind him to save her from injury. He was struck and thrown to the street, suffering cuts, bruises and a severely swollen right hand. This is an extreme case -- a blind man with a seeing-eye dog struck in a pedestrian corridor with flashing lights in a school zone. Still, it does speak of the blatant disregard of the pedestrian. The record shows few drivers are charged for not yielding to pedestrians. The pedestrian must use common sense and not barge across an intersection. Most make certain it is safe to do so. In the period from 2004 to 2007, only an average of 16 tickets per year were issued for not yielding the right of way to a pedestrian or passing another vehicle stopped for a pedestrian. An average of 48 drivers per year were charged for failure to yield in a pedestrian corridor or passing in a corridor. The existence of special pedestrian corridors conveys the impression that here only pedestrians have the right of way. The law makes it clear the motorist must give way to the pedestrian at any intersection whether marked or not by lights. But that is not the way it turns out in Winnipeg. I am dumbfounded as I listen to a discussion on CBC radio about the hazards facing pedestrians. Callers say it is impossible to cross south Osborne. There is no let up in traffic to allow crossing. They want the city to establish another pedestrian corridor because the closest one is a few blocks away. I heard no one raise the point that pedestrians have priority and the law should be enforced. Other cities give pedestrians the break they deserve. Rosemarie Cloutis came to Winnipeg 12 years ago from Edmonton with her husband, Ed, and family. "I was shocked that drivers gave no regard to pedestrians," she recalls. "In Edmonton, pedestrians crossing the street at corners expect and are given the right of way." In Europe, the place of the pedestrian is so respected that an act of parliament was framed to focus on their rights. This is the Charter of Pedestrians' Rights, adopted by the European Parliament in 1988. One clause states: "The pedestrian has the right to live in urban or village centres tailored to the needs of human beings and not the needs of the motor car and to have the amenities within walking or cycling distance." Today, there are no champions for the pedestrian as such figures of the past as Coun. Joe Zuken, who denounced the closure of Portage and Main to pedestrians. There is no greater affront to pedestrians in Canada than the decision to make the symbol of Winnipeg the exclusive precinct of cars. It is a blot on Winnipeg that next year will mark the 30th anniversary of the scandal of Portage and Main. It reinforces the subordinate status of the pedestrian. Portage and Main must be opened to the people. The disrespect for pedestrians, I submit, is out of character. As a whole, Winnipeggers are a decent, caring lot as shown by the high number of volunteers in a multitude of services. We rate near the top in Canada. This is the spirit of civility that must be restored to our public streets. Val Werier is a Winnipeg writer. a.. b.. © 2008 Winnipeg Free Press. All Rights Reserved. Powered by McClatchy Interactive

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Free webinar - Bicycle Transportation Planning
by Jessie Klassen 19 Nov '08

19 Nov '08

Hi AT folks, Join us in the Eco-Centre on November 19th for a free webinar on bicycle transportation planning. Details are included below. Please let me know if you plan to attend. Feel free to share this invitation. Cycle Zone Analysis (CZA): A New Bicycle Transportation Planning Tool Wednesday, November 19, 2008 · 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Eco-Centre boardroom, 303 Portage Ave., 3rd Floor. This workshop, first presented at Pro Walk/Pro Bike in September, focuses on the new bicycle planning tool used for the update of Portlands (Ore.) Bicycle Master Plan. Listen and learn from a professional working in one of only three U.S. cities to have achieved LABs Platinum Level Bicycle Friendly Community designation. Cycle Zone Analysis helps planners understand the nuances of cycling conditions in their communities, in order to tailor treatments to specific micro areas. Participants will learn how to define cycle zones, develop a bikeway rating index, and use the resulting analysis to improve cycling conditions. To preview Cycle Zone Analysis, visit http://www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=215045. The presenter is Roger Geller, Portlands Bicycle Coordinator. He was a member of the panel that presented the Cycle Zone Analysis workshop at Pro Walk/Pro Bike in September. Jessie Klassen Workplace Transportation Demand Management Coordinator Resource Conservation Manitoba jessie(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca (204) 925-3772 Resource Conservation Manitoba: Living Green, Living Well Practical solutions for yourself, your community and the environment Green Commuting, Environmental Education, Reducing Waste, Composting Resource Conservation Manitoba is a registered charity. Please consider making a donation.

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With temps expecting to dip...
by Stacy Matwick 17 Nov '08

17 Nov '08

A timely short piece of advice. http://grist.org/advice/ask/2008/11/17/index.html I Cycle: On winter biking By Umbra Fisk - Astute Advice on All Things Environmental Grist 17 Nov 2008 Enjoy Stacy Matwick Information Centre International Institute for Sustainable Development 161 Portage Ave. E., 6th floor Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 0Y4 Voice: (204)958-7755 Fax: (204)958-7710 Email: smatwick(a)iisd.ca Website: http://www.iisd.org "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read" Groucho Marx "Life is like a bicycle, to keep your balance your must keep on moving" Albert Einstein

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Active Transportation - Canada: November 17, 2008
by Beth McKechnie 17 Nov '08

17 Nov '08

Active Transportation - Canada features a regular posting of news articles, studies, reports, and other items that have relevance in this field, with previous postings available in an archive. In addition, pictures of existing Active Transportation infrastructure from communities across Canada will be profiled each week. The following items have recently been posted to the Active Transportation - Canada Blog. To view in more detail, go to: http://activetransportation-canada.blogspot.com **************************************************************************************************** 1.. Haliburton County Cycling Master Plan 2.. Toronto Bike Summit 2008: Proceedings 3.. Article - Kelowna BC: Summit looks to beat transit issues 4.. Article - Cambridge/ Coldbrook trail: officially open for use, closed to ATVs 5.. Article - The latest skirmish in the bike wars 6.. Article - Skateboarding in Class? Here, It’s Called Gym 7.. Video - New York: Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan 8.. Article - Councillor fears '500-kilometre discussion' over 700 metres of bicycle lanes 9.. Article - B.C. knee brace, Montreal bike system among Time's top inventions 10.. Article - A Canadian in Amsterdam discovers the downside of a cyclist's paradise **************************************************************************************************** A reminder e-mail of new postings will be sent no more often than once per week. To continue to receive these updates, you need take no action. Should you not wish to receive updates, please return this e-mail with "Unsubscribe" in the Subject area. For more information, please contact: Michael Haynes Director TransActive Solutions activetransportation(a)rogers.com 613.424.2803

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Time magazine says Montreal's public bike system rocks
by Beth McKechnie 14 Nov '08

14 Nov '08

Time magazine says Montreal's public bike system rocks Time magazine has pronounced that Montreal's public bike system is among the 50 best inventions of 2008. It was number 19 on the list. When lots of people use a communal resource - like, say, a cheap public bicycle-rental program - they tend to abuse it. So when the city of Montreal built its Public Bike System, nicknamed Bixi, the designers packed in all the technology they could find, in a Canadian Magazines / Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:48:00 GMT

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Transit Oriented Development Guest Speaker from Portland - Nov 20
by Beth McKechnie 04 Nov '08

04 Nov '08

The Winnipeg Rapid Transit Coalition, in partnership with the Downtown Biz, the Institute of Urban Studies, Winnipeg Realtors and other groups, is pleased to invite you to a lecture: "Talking about Transit Oriented Development" on Thu Nov 20 from noon to 2 pm. (Please register with Tina 958-4640 or tina(a)downtownwinnipegbiz.com) TELL YOUR FRIENDS! Winnipeg's approved rapid transit plan has three main components: 1) dedicated rapid transitways from downtown to the University of Manitoba, with permanent stations 2) commuter cycling paths beside the transitways 3) transit oriented development around the rapid transit stations Transit oriented development is an important feature of the plan as it increased density around the stations, increases ridership and enhances existing neighbourhoods in Winnipeg. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Use Windows Live Messenger to send messages to your buddies on their mobile phones Find out more on our PC to Mobile website

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Commuter cycling is soaring
by Beth McKechnie 03 Nov '08

03 Nov '08

It appears that New York City's investment in infrastructure has yielded a huge percentage increase in commuter cycling... http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com:80/2008/10/30/commuter-cycling-is-soaring…

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Americans want huge transportation funding shift (Canadians too?)
by Beth McKechnie 03 Nov '08

03 Nov '08

AMERICANS WANT HUGE TRANSPORTATION FUNDING SHIFT According to an article in the Oct. 27th edition of Smart Growth Online, "Even before gas prices spiked high above $4 per gallon this spring and summer, a Harris Interactive poll found last December that 81 percent of Americans would radically change federal outlays of the 1998 Transportation Efficiency Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) from 79 percent for roads, 20 percent for mass transit, and 1 percent for biking and walking, to 37, 41, and 22 percent, respectively, in its 2009 replacement bill." For the full story see: http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/newsmail.asp?art=6854&state=52&res=1680

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New bike lanes on Hargrave St.
by Beth McKechnie 03 Nov '08

03 Nov '08

Hello everyone: If you haven't had a chance to try out the new bike lanes on Hargrave, here are a few pics courtesy of Kevin Nixon, City of Winnipeg. These bike lanes are part of the 2008 AT Action Plan and will eventually include Fort and Garry as well as Carlton and Hargrave. For a few more details, check out the Action Plan online at: http://www.winnipeg.ca/PublicWorks/MajorProjects/ActiveTransportation/ -cheers, Beth

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Commuter Friendly Workplace Awards
by Jessie Klassen 31 Oct '08

31 Oct '08

New Awards Program Is your workplace doing something new and exciting to support walking and biking to work? Has your employer been a long-time supporter of transit use, carpooling, or teleworking? Recognize their efforts with the first ever Commuter Friendly Workplace Awards! To find out more, visit www.resourceconservation.mb.ca/gci/TDM. New projects are also eligible to apply.

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Quantifying the benefits of AT
by Beth McKechnie 31 Oct '08

31 Oct '08

Hello everyone: We have had a couple of messages posted recently about quantifying the benefits of active transportation to justify the investment in infrastructure. There is a new report available from the U.S. that does exactly that. It is called "Active Transportation for America: A Case for Increased Federal Investment in Bicycling and Walking" and may be useful in comparing to the Winnipeg situation. You can find the report and additional information at: http://www.railstotrails.org/whatwedo/trailadvocacy/ATFA/index.html cheers, Beth

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CarShare Survey - Help make carsharing happen in Winnipeg!
by Beth McKechnie 30 Oct '08

30 Oct '08

We need your help with an exciting project to help establish a CarShare organization in Winnipeg! To determine the potential interest in this initiative we are surveying residents of the Osborne Village and Broadway-Assiniboine neighbourhoods. Log on to CarShareSurvey.com to take a quick survey, or call 786-9963. Please forward to any friends, family, colleagues or distant acquaintances that you think might be interested! Thank you from the CarShare Team!

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An interesting idea
by Stacy Matwick 20 Oct '08

20 Oct '08

http://www.insnet.org/ins_headlines.rxml?id=25519&photo= Smart Bikes for Denmark iNSNews Oct. 13, 2008 MIT researchers unveiled a major new project in Copenhagen on Oct. 10 called Smart Biking, aimed at transforming bicycle use in Denmark's largest city, promoting urban sustainability and building new connections between the city's cyclists. Cheers Stacy Matwick Information Centre International Institute for Sustainable Development 161 Portage Ave. E., 6th floor Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 0Y4 Voice: (204)958-7755 Fax: (204)958-7710 Email: smatwick(a)iisd.ca Website: http://www.iisd.org "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read" Groucho Marx "Life is like a bicycle, to keep your balance your must keep on moving" Albert Einstein

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The Cost of Car Dependence in Winnipeg is 960 Million Dollars per year
by Anders Swanson 16 Oct '08

16 Oct '08

Does this help?: I calculated the current cost of accidents, pollution, congestion, noise and greenhouse gases for the city at apporximately $*960 million / year. *I thought it might help to have costs associated with any argument for active transportation and against projects which cause more long term car dependence like Waverly West, an inner ring road for Winnipeg, etc... I won't post often, but thought this might be a useful stat that is unique. It might put some context in a world where we are always told of the challenges and the costs of bike lanes/ paths, etc.. , but have no local ammunition to express the gains that we will see or the costs of simply doing nothing. * *While writing an email to a committee I sit on, I realized I needed a dollar number to attach to the problems caused by cars in Winnipeg. A fair and realistic number is hard to come by, so I had to figure it out. It pains me to talk dollars about what what should be an obvious, intuitive and heartfelt argument, . . . nonetheless . . I was inspired by the recently released results of a very unique 1.4 million dollar study done by Transport Canada, showing that the cost of car dependence in Canada is *$40 Billion* */ year*. (easy to read reference<http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/09/01/mtl-socialcosttransportstudy090…>(CBC) - I have emailed Transport Canada for help finding the study itself.) I thought it would be more useful if it were applied specifically to Winnipeg. My simple methodology, which Jeremy or Mark at Bike to the Future may wish to critique, was as follows: - The current population of Canada is 33,403,049 people. (reference)<http://www.statcan.ca/english/edu/clock/population.htm>Eighty percent of them live in urban centres, the people most affected by the adverse effects of automobile dependence. (reference)<http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/demo62a.htm>= 26,722,439 people. - The current population of Winnipeg (100% urban) is 653,300 (reference)<http://www.winnipeg.ca/cao/pdfs/population.pdf> or 2.4% of the urban population of Canada. 2.4% of $40 billion (Winnipeg's share) = *$960 million. ** 960 million dollars does not include the loss of the disposable wealth people would have from not owning a car (approx 13-17% of their income minus the cost of bicycles and a trailer for each of their family members, bus tickets/handit transit / taxis for the winter or for the elderly, membership to a car co-op for trips to the lake and train tickets at Christmas). It also does not include intangible costs like lost tourism, lost tax base (people mmoving away or not moving here at all), lost wildlife and lost aesthetic value and a great deal other things that always get overlooked in any rational / linear study attempts to quantify this interesting and complex world. *Anders Swanson* One Green City *

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Disraeli ped/cyclist bridge follow-up
by Beth McKechnie 08 Oct '08

08 Oct '08

Hello everyone: I found the following article in the weekly newspapers a bit of a head shaker Councillor Lillian Thomas (Elmwood-East Kildonan) and Jim Maloway, NDP canadidate in the federal riding of Elmwood-Transcona, are trying to argue that peds and cyclists are not actually safer with a separate bridge. Here's the link plus I've pasted the text below: http://www.canstarnews.com/page/story/the_metro/3404 cheers, Beth * * * * * Maloway, Thomas opposed to bridge plan By Jolie Toews Oct. 2, 2008 Two local politicians say the citys recent decision to build a bridge for pedestrians and cyclists between the Disraeli and Louise bridges wont make it safer for users and isnt worth the expense. On Sept. 24, city council voted 11-4 in favour of the Disraeli Bridge rehabilitation project that calls for repairs to the existing single-span, four-lane roadway that connects Henderson Highway with Main Street. The $140-million plan includes replacement of the bridge deck, refurbishment of the concrete foundations and steel bridge girders and widened shared vehicle and cyclist curb lanes with one pedestrian sidewalk. The plan also includes a new $15-million bridge for cyclists and pedestrians to be located east of the Disraeli Bridge over the Red River. Coun. Lillian Thomas (Elmwood-East Kildonan) voted against the plan, saying it didnt make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists and didnt address the expected traffic disruptions during the bridges closure while it undergoes repairs. It makes no sense to spend $15 million there, said Thomas, adding that the plan should have included a sidewalk on each side of the Disraeli Bridge instead of a separate bridge solely for pedestrian and cyclist use. Thomas said having a single sidewalk on the east side of the Disraeli Bridge isnt safe for pedestrians who are leaving or going to the north side of the bridge on the west side of Henderson Highway because they have to walk under the bridge to get across. I think my area is pretty safe, but thats not a safe area, said Thomas, referring to the area just south of the Elmwood Cemetery. Jim Maloway, NDP candidate in the federal riding of Elmwood-Transcona, said the new bridge could create safety concerns for pedestrians and cyclists because they would be removed from most people who would be willing to help them if they were in danger. Maloway said he doesnt think its worth spending $15 million on building the new bridge. Why would you build a bicycle bridge between two existing bridges when it probably wont be used much in the winter time and probably not very much at night because of the area it leads into? he said. Maloway said he is still fighting for a two-span, six-lane Disraeli Bridge. We need the second span, because the city, itself, says well need it in 20 years, said Maloway, a former NDP MLA. Maloway said he is still collecting signatures from people in the area who are opposed to the plan to close the bridge for up to 16 months for repairs and would prefer a second span. The city said the plan is the most functional and cost-effective way to preserve the Disraeli Bridge for at least the next 75 years. The city said it decided not to build a two-span, six-lane bridge because additional traffic lanes are not necessary for the traffic volumes in the near future. Approximately 40,000 vehicles currently cross the Disraeli Bridge every day. City officials have said daily traffic volumes upwards of 60,000 vehicles would merit consideration of expanding the bridge to six lanes. The estimated cost of building a six-lane structure is $300 million. Elmwood business owner Jan Stuyck, a member of the stakeholder advisory committee for the project, supports a new bridge for pedestrians and cyclists. It is safer, by far, she said. Stuyck said she is concerned about people walking and cycling alongside traffic on the Disraeli Bridge. If they fall, theyre right there under the traffic, she said. The city approved plans for a public-private partnership to repair the existing structure. One of the objectives is to complete construction in the shortest possible time and, if possible, only partially close the bridge. Construction is slated to begin in 2010. Thomas said she is unhappy that the community didnt have enough time to find out about the new plan. People in the area are feeling like theyre being picked on, Thomas said, pointing to the citys decision to tear down the Kelvin Community Centre and its decision not to build a second span for the Disraeli.

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