- AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

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

07 Apr '09

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

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

06 Apr '09

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

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

06 Apr '09

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

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

06 Apr '09

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

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

03 Apr '09

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

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

02 Apr '09

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

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

02 Apr '09

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

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

02 Apr '09

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

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BRT and Bicycle Lanes
by David Wieser 31 Mar '09

31 Mar '09

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

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

30 Mar '09

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

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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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Fw: Active Transportation - Canada: October 3, 2008
by Beth McKechnie 03 Oct '08

03 Oct '08

----- Original Message ----- From: Michael Haynes To: activetransportation(a)rogers.com Sent: Friday, October 03, 2008 11:44 AM Subject: Active Transportation - Canada: October 3, 2008 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 - $50B transit plan would improve GO, TTC 2.. Upcoming Event - Vancouver: Guidelines for Child and Youth Friendly Land Use and Transportation Planning 3.. Article - Kelowna cycling cash 4.. Interesting Website - Worldometers: Bicycle Statistics 5.. Article - Obesity and high oil prices are good news for the world’s biggest bikemaker 6.. Upcoming Event - Toronto: Ontario's Inaugural Road Pricing Forum 7.. Article - Belleville: Kiwanis Skateboard Park is 'friggin' sick' 8.. Article - A small step for commuters, a giant leap for saving the planet 9.. Article - Montreal: Carefree on a car-free day 10.. Article - It's traffic as usual on Toronto's no-car day 11.. Car Free Day News - London UK **************************************************************************************************** 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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More cities trying out ciclovias
by Beth McKechnie 03 Oct '08

03 Oct '08

MORE CITIES TRYING OUT CICLOVIAS According to an article in the Sept. 28 "Parks, Greenways, Trails, Great Places to Walk & Bike" newsletter [by Gil Penalosa], "An increasing number of cities are temporarily opening streets to people and closing them to cars. Without any capital investments (some operational), they are getting people out to be physically active; from thousands in small communities to millions in large cities, it is working. "Thanks to StreetFilms and the leadership of Clarence Eckerson, now we can learn from many of these 'best practices.' Use the videos to get people on board, and then barrow the Nike slogan and 'just do it!' It takes political will, a can-do attitude from city staff, and community engagement. "See four examples of magnificent exercises of social integration where people of all ages, gender, levels of ability, economic and ethnic backgrounds come out and participate as equals. Although Bogota has enjoyed ciclovia for many years, NYC, San Francisco, and Portland began in 2008; you can too, by learning from them. This could be your first resolution for 2009!" Videos: Bogota (CO): http://tinyurl.com/4ynyeu New York City (NY): http://tinyurl.com/3mwe9p San Francisco (CA): http://tinyurl.com/4m3svh Portland (OR) http://tinyurl.com/3tqlh9

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WFP editorial: The right bridge (Sept.25'08)
by Beth McKechnie 25 Sep '08

25 Sep '08

Winnipeg Free Press a.. Winnipeg Free PressEditorialsThe right bridge bylineParse(' ') Updated: September 25, 2008 at 07:24 AM CDT CITY council, with some dissent, has approved the rational option for saving the Disraeli overpass and bridge, a span that is, by some professional assessment, heading to collapse. It is disconcerting when the public works department says the bridge is OK for now, largely on the premise it is inspected four times a year for further decay. The city administration needs to move this capital priority along as fast is prudently possible. The supports and surface of the 48-year-old bridge will be rehabilitated, and a separate cycling/pedestrian bridge will be built to the east of Disraeli. The project, which will involve a private partner to whom the city will pay rent on the bridge for 30 years, will cost $140 million. Four dissenting councillors wanted to see a double span constructed, for an additional $150 million. They were concerned the closure of the bridge for up to 16 months would make the commute from the city's northeast, down alternate routes, onerous. It is expected to add nine minutes to the trip, which almost doubles travel time for some. No one is predicting that there will be population growth along Henderson Highway to justify a double span bridge over the Red River. Further, if the general trends on bus riding hold, any increased pressure on the route ought to be partially offset by the more efficient mode of transportation. Councillors are expected to speak for their constituents interests but not so disproportionately against the interests of the broader community. The commuters from East Kildonan will feel the temporary inconvenience most acutely, but to double the cost of the Disraeli project would be inappropriate. The city was told that improving bus service with shuttles and park-and-rides is one way to reduce the increased strain on North Main Street, from the Chief Peguis Trail and the Redwood Bridge. The focus inevitably will be on rush-hour demand, but in isolation of the larger picture -- encouraging the development of more useful mass transit options to attract more riders -- would reduce the exercise to a stop-gap measure that likely would revert back to current ridership when Disraeli opens again. Winnipeg has been nursing an infrastructure-deficit hangover for decades. It will take a long time to dig out of the multi-million dollar hole. Bridges and freeways are big, expensive things to build and maintain and dangerous when their repair needs are ignored. Pushing drivers onto mass transit can help ease the long-term cost of road maintenance. That should become an integral piece of Winnipeg's the infrastructure maintenance plan. a.. a.. © 2008 Winnipeg Free Press. All Rights Reserved. Powered by McClatchy Interactive

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WFP: Council OK's Disraeli refit (Sept.25'08)
by Beth McKechnie 25 Sep '08

25 Sep '08

Winnipeg Free Press a.. Winnipeg Free PressLocal NewsCouncil OK's Disraeli refit; area councillors ignored bylineParse('By Bartley Kives') Updated: September 25, 2008 at 02:50 AM CDT WINNIPEG will forge ahead with a plan to fix the aging Disraeli Freeway against the wishes of every councillor who represents the northeast quadrant of the city. City council voted 11-4 on Wednesday to approve a Disraeli Freeway repair plan that calls for new concrete decking and refurbished structural supports on the existing 1.1-kilometre roadway, which includes a single-span, four-lane bridge that connects Elmwood with downtown. The $140-million plan, which calls for a new pedestrian-and-bike bridge to rise over the Red River three blocks to the east, will result in a freeway closure that may last as long as 16 months. The city hopes to reduce that closure by writing incentives into a formal call for proposals to design, build and maintain the freeway, which was built in 1960 and then damaged by corrosion during the next 48 years. Winnipeg's chief administrative officer will ensure the city chooses a private construction consortium that either comes up with a plan to speed up the Disraeli repair job or finds a way to keep two lanes of freeway traffic open while some of the work takes place, Mayor Sam Katz said. But the mayor's assurances could not stop all four councillors who represent the areas most affected by the closure to vote against the plan. North Kildonan Coun. Jeff Browaty, Elmwood Coun. Lillian Thomas and St. Boniface Coun. Dan Vandal opposed the plan because they believe a 16-month closure is intolerable to northeast Winnipeg motorists. Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt believes the plan is short-sighted because the city will soon need to refurbish the 97-year-old Louise Bridge and must also build a new bridge to carry buses from Point Douglas to a future Nairn Avenue rapid-transit corridor. "This is a city that sometimes thinks like a village," said Wyatt, decrying a lack of long-term planning in the city. The northeast Winnipeg politicians said they would prefer to see Winnipeg build a dual-span, six-lane Disraeli Freeway that could accommodate traffic on one span while the other is under construction. Rookie councillor Browaty called the single-span plan the biggest disappointment he's seen since he joined council, while Thomas suggested city engineers have overstated the cost of building a dual-span Disraeli Freeway. Those engineers have placed the projected cost in the $300-million range. Katz said the city cannot afford the tab and is not likely to get help for the project from the provincial government. "There's no pot of gold on Broadway," the mayor said. bartley.kives(a)freepress.mb.ca a.. a.. © 2008 Winnipeg Free Press. All Rights Reserved. Powered by McClatchy Interactive

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Vote online re: ped/cyclist bridge at Disraeli
by Beth McKechnie 23 Sep '08

23 Sep '08

Winnipeg Free Press Web Poll VOTE ONLINE at winnipegfreepress.com "Do you like the idea of a separate bridge for pedestrians and cyclists on the Disraeli Freeway?" * * * * * * * * * * Beth McKechnie Green Commuting Initiatives Resource Conservation Manitoba www.resourceconservation.mb.ca

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WFP: City eyes pedestrian/bike span - Disraeli reconstruction (Sept.23'08)
by Beth McKechnie 23 Sep '08

23 Sep '08

Winnipeg Free Press Local News City eyes pedestrian/bike spanWould be part of Disraeli reconstruction bylineParse('By Bartley Kives') Updated: September 23, 2008 at 02:50 AM CDT Cyclists are ecstatic but northeast Winnipeg politicians are fuming over the latest Disraeli Freeway reconstruction plan, which calls for a new pedestrian-and-bike bridge but no guarantees motorists won't be stuck in construction traffic for as long as 16 months. After mulling over three Disraeli design options, city bridge engineers have chosen to forge ahead with a four-lane, single-span structure that will keep the price down to $140 million by reusing existing concrete foundations and steel girders. The design, which comes before city council's public works committee today, calls for a single sidewalk, wider curb lanes to allow vehicles and cyclists to share the road and a brand-new pedestrian/cyclist bridge that would connect Elmwood with North Point Douglas several blocks to the east. City engineers say the dedicated pedestrian/bike bridge will add $12.5 million to a design originally pegged at $125 million, but remains cheaper than a $160-million option that called for a wider motor-vehicle bridge to accommodate a separated bike lane. "No fumes, no fast cars zooming by you. This is exactly what we wanted," said Kevin Miller, a spokesman for Bike To The Future, a commuter-cyclist lobby group. "This is just a wonderful solution that fits in perfectly with the (bike trail) infrastructure that's been built in the last few years." Pending council approval, city engineers will search for a private construction consortium to design, build, finance and maintain the 1.1-kilometre roadway later this fall, with the hopes of seeing actual work start in 2010. Preference will be given to a consortium that comes up with a way to abbreviate the expected 16-month construction period or keep two lanes open to traffic while the work is underway, public works director Bill Larkin said. Those goals will be written into the formal request for proposals, but northeast Winnipeg politicians would still prefer to see the city adopt a design that would not require any closures on the Disraeli Freeway. North Kildonan Coun. Jeff Browaty, Elmwood Coun. Lillian Thomas, Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt and former Elmwood MLA Jim Maloway -- who's now running for a federal seat in Transcona -- have been urging the city to build a six-lane, double-span Disraeli Freeway. Browaty said his constituents won't be happy with any closure on the motor-vehicle bridge. Maloway completely panned the new city design. "This sounds to me like a pretty goofy idea, because it doesn't change the fact people will be inconvenienced for a year and a half," he said. City engineers have pegged the price of a double-span Disraeli Freeway at around $300 million, a figure Larkin says the city cannot justify on the basis of meeting future traffic needs or alleviating construction-period congestion. Even at $140 million, the freeway reconstruction is the second-most-expensive roadway project on Winnipeg's horizon, after the $324-million southwest Winnipeg bus corridor announced by Mayor Sam Katz and Premier Gary Doer earlier this month. The special meeting of city council's public works committee has been called for this morning to allow Couns. Thomas, Browaty, Bill Clement and Harry Lazarenko to review the Disraeli design, while council as a whole votes on the plan on Wednesday. Maloway said that does not allow enough time for debate, claiming he's heard from 5,000 northeast Winnipeg residents who want to see a two-span bridge built at any cost. bartley.kives(a)freepress.mb.ca * * © 2008 Winnipeg Free Press. All Rights Reserved. Powered by McClatchy Interactive

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Anders may not toot his own horn ...
by Stacy Matwick 21 Sep '08

21 Sep '08

But I will ;-) "The Front Line: Five Local Eco Heroes" by Jordy Gold GreenLiving Fall 2008 p. 33-37 "For every Al Gore or Jane Goodall, there are a legion of relatively unknown individuals whose accomplishments are equally impressive. Meet five inspiring Canadians." http://www.greenlivingonline.com/EnviroHeroes/5-local-eco-heroes/ For the full article (with pictures) http://magazine.greenlivingonline.com/greenliving/2008fall 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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Car Free Day this Sunday and Campus Commuter Challenge
by Stephanie Fulford 19 Sep '08

19 Sep '08

Car Free Day, Sunday, September 21st, 2008 On Sunday, September 21st, community groups will be making part of Winnipeg truly car-free, by closing down Albert Street in the Exchange District to all motorized traffic for the afternoon. If you've ever wished that you could play street hockey downtown, challenge a stranger to a game of chess, or sit on a couch in the middle of a street, then this is the event for you. For more information on the event check out www.resourceconservation.mb.ca (see poster attached) Campus Commuter Challenge, September 22-26, 2008. Fall has arrived, and university students are figuring out how to get to class not just on time, but also on a budget and greenhouse-gas-free. During the week of September 22nd-26th, they will also be engaging in a friendly competition to see which Manitoba campus will be declared the Campus Commuter Challenge Champion for 2008. Participating students have the opportunity to win fantastic prizes, including free monthly transit passes for the school year courtesy of Winnipeg Transit, and free train travel for two from Winnipeg to Churchill courtesy of Via Rail Canada. For more information or to register, visit: www.resourceconservation.mb.ca --------------------------------------------------------------- Stephanie Fulford Green Commuting Initiatives Resource Conservation Manitoba 303 Portage Avenue, 3rd Floor Winnipeg, MB R3B 2B4 Phone: 204.925.3774 Fax: 204.942.4207 www.resourceconservation.mb.ca

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Social costs of transportation = $40B
by Beth McKechnie 19 Sep '08

19 Sep '08

Social costs of cars, planes, trains $40B a year: Transport Canada Last Updated: Monday, September 1, 2008 | 3:47 PM ET Comments30Recommend17 The Canadian Press A groundbreaking federal study has calculated the "social costs" of operating cars, trucks, planes, trains and boats across Canada at up to $40 billion a year. The study for the first time attempts to put a national price tag on the unwanted byproducts of transport, that is, accidents, pollution, congestion, noise and greenhouse gases. The findings, released without fanfare in late August, are the result of a five-year project that drew widely on experts from academia, industry and the provinces. Using statistics for the year 2000, the task force found that the often-hidden social costs for all modes of transport ranged between $24.4 billion and $39.5 billion - or up to 17 per cent of the total costs of transport that year. Automobile accidents represented the largest single source of social costs. Researchers determined that a Canadian life was worth about $4 million on average, based on insurance and court settlements, and that fully disabling accidents cost an average of $260,000. Altogether, road accidents accounted for an estimated $16 billion in social costs in 2000, compared with just $370 million for accidents involving planes, trains and boats combined. Road congestion and air pollution on the roads cost another $5 billion each, while greenhouse gases emitted by road vehicles cost $3.7 billion, based on a carbon-trading market price of $29 a tonne. Noise costs, difficult to estimate, were pegged at just $220 million. Congestion was generally measured in terms of productive time lost while drivers were idled by traffic jams. The air, marine and rail modes accounted for just a fraction of these social costs, the study found. The worst social impact of aircraft was in the amount of greenhouse gases emitted, calculated as costing almost half a billion dollars. The worst impact in the rail and marine sectors was air pollution, each also calculated at about a half billion dollars. Lack of data prevented the researchers from estimating congestion costs for the rail, marine and air sectors. The authors caution that the complex methodology is a still work in progress but that "another tool has been added to the analytical toolbox of transportation analysts." Further related studies are planned. A spokeswoman for Transport Canada said the $1.4-million study was designed "to allow for a better understanding of the relative full costs of the different modes of transportation. "Those social costs are borne by all members of society," Maryse Durette said in an interview. A transportation expert who was consulted throughout the study praised the results. "I have been quite impressed at the care taken in the analysis," said David Jeanes, spokesman for Transport 2000, a non-profit research and advocacy group. "We urgently need this `level playing field' information for governments to make intelligent decisions about investment among the various modes [of transport]. "It has been a very challenging exercise and cannot be absolutely complete and perfect, but I think the report is a good one." The study also tried to compare social costs in Canada with other countries. Canadian accident costs, for example, were generally in line with those in Britain and Europe but were less than half the level for the United States. "The high transportation accident cost in the United States can be explained in part by the higher rate of transportation accident related death observed in that country ... more than 15 per 100,000 inhabitants compared to about 10 per 100,000 for Canada," the report says. On the other hand, the estimated costs of transportation "noise" in Canada were much lower than in any other country, perhaps reflecting a less-dense population in Canada or differing methods of determining the cost, the authors said. Noise costs were generally calculated as the damage to residential property values from the constant sound of vehicle traffic, trains and aircraft. © The Canadian Press, 2008 -- Liz Dykman Coordinator Manitoba Eco-Network 3-303 Portage Ave. Winnipeg, MB R3B 2B4 Ph: (204) 947-6511 Fx: (204) 989-8476 Web: www.mbeconetwork.org Manitoba Eco-Network is a regional affiliate of the Canadian Environmental Network

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Active & Green Fall 2008
by Jessie Klassen 17 Sep '08

17 Sep '08

Hello All! Below you will find the link to our latest Active and Green newsletter. We hope you will share it widely with your colleagues, family and friends. http://www.resourceconservation.mb.ca/news/pdfs/Active%20&%20Green%20Fall%20 2008.pdf Here are a few highlights from the Active & Green Fall 2008 issue: * Park(ing) Day (September 19, 2008) * Car Free Day Celebrations (Sun/Mon, Sept 21/22, 2008) * Campus Commuter Challenge (September 22-26, 2008) * International Walk to School Month (October 2008) * Bike to the Future Fall Forum (Wednesday, October 15, 2008) * Civic Centre Public Bike Corral now open * Commuter Challenge Results and Stories * Friday Afternoon at the Movies 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, Beth McKechnie and 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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WFP: City not supporting cycling
by Beth McKechnie 15 Sep '08

15 Sep '08

Winnipeg Free Press_______________________________________ a.. Winnipeg Free Press Have Your Say Updated: September 15, 2008 at 08:34 AM CDT City not supporting cycling Re: Bike lanes were a bit of a wash, Sept. 12. Four years after the City of Winnipeg received the report it commissioned on active transportation, and two years after the report was adopted in principle, the city has done little to support cycling in Winnipeg. The few things that have been done have been poorly planned and implemented, as the "sharrow" example shows. These extra-wide "sharrow" lanes not only washed away, they were placed too close to the curb, often in lanes that were too narrow to actually share, according to accepted standards for road design. Meanwhile, major priorities for cycling improvements, such as the Pembina corridor, are ignored. We have lots of pavement in Winnipeg, but we need to reallocate some of it for the use of bicycles. When we rebuild roads and bridges and when we plan new suburban subdivisions, we need to consider and encourage cycling as a means of transportation instead of building bicycle paths to nowhere, as is being done in Waverley West. And we need a public education campaign to get cyclists and motorists sharing the road safely. With yet another spike in gas prices, you would think city politicians would get the message-- more and more of us are cycling more often. It's time city council woke up and read the good news: More bicycles mean less traffic congestion, a cleaner environment, fewer street repairs and a healthier, more attractive city. Jeremy Hull Winnipeg a.. a.. © 2008 Winnipeg Free Press. All Rights Reserved. Powered by McClatchy Interactive

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WFP: Bike lanes were a bit of a wash (Sept.12'08)
by Beth McKechnie 15 Sep '08

15 Sep '08

Winnipeg Free Press a.. Winnipeg Free PressColumnistsBike lanes were a bit of a wash bylineParse('By Bartley Kives') Updated: September 12, 2008 at 02:55 AM CDT A $100,000 plan to make Winnipeg roads safer for cyclists has literally washed off city streets, forcing officials to search for a more durable brand of paint. Back in May, the city created extra-wide "sharrow" lanes on seven major streets to give cyclists and motorists a little extra breathing room. Sharrows were created on Higgins Avenue, Roblin Boulevard, Grant Avenue, Regent Avenue, Plessis Road, Dakota Street and Dunkirk Drive. Bicycle symbols were painted on the streets and metal signs instructing motorists to "share the road" were erected along boulevards. But most of the paint washed off by the middle of June because the city used a water-based paint. "An attempt was made to use an environmentally friendly product for an environmentally friendly project. We're now looking for a better product," said city spokesman Terry Aseltine. Water-based paint performs well when applied to houses, Aseltine said. But the city did not anticipate the pounding the paint would take after it was applied to asphalt. The city is now searching for a more durable alternative, but probably won't get around to repainting the sharrows until 2009. The new lanes, which cost the city $100,000, are part of Winnipeg's $3.2-million plan to create new bike paths and active-transportation corridors. Construction on most of those projects will begin later this month or in September, according to a trail-building update prepared by city active-transportation co-ordinator Kevin Nixon. But trail groups were upset to see the sharrows disappear only weeks after they were painted. "This is really disappointing. This was one of the first things the city did in terms of on-street improvements for cycling, and the paint came off in June," said Janice Lukes, executive director of the Winnipeg Trails Association. Lukes said she is also frustrated to see the late-summer or fall start dates for construction of other trails and active-transportation corridors, such as new bike lanes on downtown streets, new trails alongside Bishop Grandin Boulevard and the extension of Northeast Pioneers Greenway. Lukes also questioned whether sharrows are a good solution to Winnipeg's bike-trail woes. "Paint doesn't make me feel safer from an SUV or a semi-trailer. Maybe it does for die-hard commuters, but I have kids. I want a barrier," she said. Winnipeg has increased its funding for trail-building in recent years, boosting the annual budget from $200,000 in 2006 to $1.5 million in 2007 to $3.2 million this year. The latter figure includes spending on trails as well as on-street improvements for cyclists. bartley.kives(a)freepress.mb.ca a.. a.. © 2008 Winnipeg Free Press. All Rights Reserved. Powered by McClatchy Interactive

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WFP: Bus corridor plan rolled out
by Beth McKechnie 11 Sep '08

11 Sep '08

Winnipeg Free Press(I expect everyone has seen this article on the new BRT including a bike path, but just in case you missed it... -Beth) a.. Winnipeg Free PressLocal NewsBus corridor plan rolled out $138-M first section to run from downtown to Jubilee bylineParse('By Bartley Kives') Updated: September 9, 2008 at 12:40 AM CDT Winnipeg is breaking from recent tradition by borrowing money to pay for a $327-million bus corridor -- and is banking on taxes from new apartment buildings to pay back the loan. On Monday, Mayor Sam Katz and Premier Gary Doer ended months of speculation by announcing they plan to build a dedicated busway that will eventually connect downtown to the University of Manitoba. The first leg of the corridor -- which comes with a $138-million price tag -- will begin at Queen Elizabeth Way near The Forks and then snake 3.6 kilometres southwest to Jubilee Avenue near Pembina Highway, crossing over Osborne Street on a new bridge and then tunnelling below CN Rail's Fort Rouge Yards along the way. The city and province each plan to spend $55 million toward the first leg of the 7corridor, and Ottawa will contribute $28 million. "I've always said rapid transit is part of the city's future," said Katz, who offered a lukewarm endorsement of bus rapid transit four years after he cancelled a $50-million BRT plan proposed by former mayor Glen Murray. "I do not believe bus rapid transit will get the majority of people to leave their cars at home," said Katz, who has always maintained Murray's bus rapid transit plan lacked sufficient detail and would have cost taxpayers much more than $50 million if it went ahead. On Monday, Doer vindicated Katz by praising Winnipeg Transit for scrutinizing every detail of the new busway and declaring its design -- which calls for complete isolation from existing roadways -- will allow for faster bus travel than would have been possible under the former proposal. "It will be rapid and it will be separate," Doer said. Katz said he now supports a busway because it will serve as a precursor to a light-rail system, the form of rapid transit he has always preferred. The new busway has been designed to accommodate a future upgrade to light rail transit by making allowances for clearances, grades and turning angles required for railcars, Winnipeg Transit director Dave Wardrop said. "Light rail is just around the corner," Katz proclaimed. But he conceded the city has no plans to build light rail in the near or distant future. In fact, the city does not know how it will finance the $187-million second leg of the bus corridor, beyond the fact the province has agreed to match the city's contribution and Ottawa will be asked to contribute as well. Katz said the cost of the second phase could be reduced if CN Rail agrees to sell or lease its underused Letellier line, which runs parallel to Pembina Highway. CN is willing to talk to the city and province about the bus corridor, provided it does not disrupt rail operations, regional spokesman Kevin Franchuk said from Edmonton. The first leg of the corridor will feature a commuter bike path, some form of park-and-ride facility and at least three busway stations, which Doer and Katz hope will stimulate residential and commercial development. Newly introduced provincial legislation will allow property and education taxes from new highrise towers and retail stores within the bus-corridor zone to pay back the cash that must be borrowed to build the project. City property director Phil Sheegl said the city hopes to see 700 new apartment or condo units eventually rise alongside each of 12 new busway stations on the entire corridor. Based on $1,000 of taxes per unit, that could generate $8.4 million a year for the city, he said. The bus corridor announcement garnered a mixed reaction from opposition politicians and transit lobby groups. Fort Rouge Coun. Jenny Gerbasi and St. Boniface Coun. Dan Vandal praised the bus corridor plan, although Vandal accused the mayor of flip-flopping on rapid transit. Manitoba Liberal Leader Jon Gerrard called the policy weak and said Doer should have spent $75 million on a more ambitious rapid-transit system. Paul Hesse of pro-bus Rapid Transition Coalition called the plan a good start, provided new corridors are built in other areas of Winnipeg. Jim Jaworski of pro-rail group TRU Winnipeg panned the new plan. More details about financing for the plan will emerge in coming weeks, transit director Wardrop promised. bartley.kives(a)freepress.mb.ca BUSWAY FINALLY ON THE WAY Confirming months of speculation, Premier Gary Doer and Mayor Sam Katz announced their intention to build a $327-million bus corridor between downtown and the University of Manitoba. Breaking with recent fiscal policy, the city plans to use debt financing to pay for its share of the first phase of the corridor. It will then backfill the loan with property taxes expected to flow from new residential and commercial developments near new busway stations. Although it will be possible to convert the busway into a light rail corridor at some point in the future, the city has no actual plans to build a light rail transit system. The city has already started planning to build phase 1 of the busway, but has no start date for phase 2 until it conducts negotiations with CN Rail and secures more federal financing. PHASE 1 Cost: $138 million Length: 3.6 kilometres Route: From Queen Elizabeth Way (southern end of Main Street) to the intersection of Jubilee Avenue and Pembina Highway Features: A new bridge over Osborne Street and a new tunnel below CN Rail's Fort Rouge Yards Stations: Slated for Harkness Avenue, Osborne Street, Morley Avenue and possibly Jubilee Financing: $55 million from the city, $55 million from the province and $28 million from Ottawa. The federal money is in the form of $17.5 million in transit funds announced last March, plus $10 million already granted to Winnipeg to purchase buses. Construction: Could begin in spring 2009, pending council approval Completion: Within three years PHASE 2 Cost: $189 million Length: six kilometres Route: From Jubilee Avenue to Bison Drive Features: New bridges over Pembina Highway and Bishop Grandin Boulevard. Stations: Slated for Windermere Avenue, McGillivray Boulevard, Clarence Avenue, Chevrier Boulevard, Plaza Drive, Chancellor Drive, Markham Avenue and Bison Drive Financing, construction and completion: Dependent on negotiations with CN Rail, which might be persuaded to sell or lease the underused Letellier Line that runs loosely parallel to Pembina Highway a.. a.. © 2008 Winnipeg Free Press. All Rights Reserved. Powered by McClatchy Interactive

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Re: [At-network] Couple of things on Safety
by delmore＠mts.net 31 Aug '08

31 Aug '08

It is great that MPI is taking the initiative to put some 60 second driver commercials together based on cycling, now all they have to do is get the message correct. In the videos, several of the riders travel too close to the curb (Can-Bike recommends a minimum of 1 meter) and in one case John Sauder rides over the catchbasin grate which would put him approximately 0.5 meters from the curb. The video also indicates that as a cyclist we should stay as "close as possible to the curb<' which is again incorrect. The HTA says that we must ride as "close a practicable" to the curb and this is totally different than what is being indicated in the commercial. I have also reviewed the drivers handbook (as I have a young driver who recently went through the course) and it is as well indicates that cyclists are to ride "usually one-half meter from the curb." The illustrations provided showing cyclist signals show the rider with his right foot on the curb, something that again is not a safe position for any cyclist. There is no question that both cyclists and drivers need education, however we need to make sure that the message is correct before we educate. This is part of an on going discussion that Bike to the Future is having with MPI and one can only hope that we can set them straight before they waste anymore money on commercials that provide the wrong message to drivers and cyclists. Thanks' Dave > > From: Stacy Matwick <smatwick(a)iisd.ca> > Date: 2008/08/28 Thu PM 02:35:05 CDT > To: "at-network(a)lists.umanitoba.ca" <at-network(a)lists.umanitoba.ca> > Subject: [At-network] Couple of things on Safety > > Don't know if anyone but me noticed this but the other day one of MPI's Driving Tips commercials was on Bike Safety. It was one of their 60 Second Driver commercials you always see after the CTV evening news. http://www.mpi.mb.ca/English/dr_tips/BicycleSafety.html > Since I don't have a car and don't deal with MPI it's a pleasant surprise to see the amount of information they do have http://www.mpi.mb.ca/English/dr_tips/60sec.html > > And this from a recent Christian Science Monitor > "New bike commuters hit the classroom, then the road. The rush of new cyclists, created by high gas prices, is driving up demand for bike safety classes" > By Ben Arnoldy Aug. 25, 2008 > http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0825/p01s01-usec.htm > > 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 > > > > > _______________________________________________ > AT-Network mailing list > AT-Network(a)lists.umanitoba.ca > http://lists.umanitoba.ca/mailman/listinfo/at-network >

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Couple of things on Safety
by Stacy Matwick 28 Aug '08

28 Aug '08

Don't know if anyone but me noticed this but the other day one of MPI's Driving Tips commercials was on Bike Safety. It was one of their 60 Second Driver commercials you always see after the CTV evening news. http://www.mpi.mb.ca/English/dr_tips/BicycleSafety.html Since I don't have a car and don't deal with MPI it's a pleasant surprise to see the amount of information they do have http://www.mpi.mb.ca/English/dr_tips/60sec.html And this from a recent Christian Science Monitor "New bike commuters hit the classroom, then the road. The rush of new cyclists, created by high gas prices, is driving up demand for bike safety classes" By Ben Arnoldy Aug. 25, 2008 http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0825/p01s01-usec.htm 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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Secure bike corral open downtown
by Jessie Klassen 05 Aug '08

05 Aug '08

Hi All, If you were looking for safe bike parking downtown, a new bike corral is now open in the civic parkade across from Red River College, Princess street campus. The corral uses a card reader for access (fun to use!), and currently has space for 50 bikes. The cost is $50/year, and you can get a card, or get more information, by calling the Exchange District BIZ at 942-6716. The bike corral is the result of a partnership between The Winnipeg Parking Authority, Red River College, Exchange District BIZ, and City Councilor Mike Pagtakhan. Spread the word! Let's show 'em safe bike parking is needed and will be well used. Thanks! Jessie Klassen Workplace TDM Coordinator Resource Conservation Manitoba (204) 925-3772 jessie(a)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

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More on cycling/ped web maps
by Beth McKechnie 31 Jul '08

31 Jul '08

Hello all: Interesting article on increasing demand for cycling/ped web maps: http://www.technologyreview.com/Wire/21131/page1/ cheers, Beth

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Online bike trip planners
by Beth McKechnie 30 Jul '08

30 Jul '08

Hello everyone: In various conversations, it has been noted that an online bike trip planner that is similar to Winnipeg Transit's Navigo tool would be really helpful. (That is, in addition to an updated cycling map of Winnipeg!) Vancouver recently launched a web-based route planner: http://www.cher.ubc.ca/News/MediaReleases/routeplanner_06-25-08.asp Portland also has an online bike trip planner, which they describe as follows: "The byCycle bicycle trip planner is a free online tool to help both new and seasoned cyclists plan safe trips through the city. This private website was created by cycling enthusiasts volunteering their time, with support from Metro." http://tripplanner.bycycle.org/regions/portlandor Something to think about for Winnipeg. cheers, Beth

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Fw: Job Posting - PACM Fueling Physical Activity Project
by Jessie Klassen 29 Jul '08

29 Jul '08

Hello PACM members Please find attached the job description and job posting for the position of Fueling Physical Activity Project Coordinator. Can you please forward this on through your networks. Thank you. Sandy Millar ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Nancy Pallett <pallettn(a)cc.umanitoba.ca> Date: Jul 25, 2008 9:38 AM Subject: re: Job Posting To: Sandy Millar <smillar.pacm(a)gmail.com> Hi Sandy, Would you please send out the attached Job Posting to the PACM listserv. Thanks, Nancy -- Sandy Millar PACM Fueling Physical Activity Project Coordinator (204) 333- 2958

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Upcoming David Suzuki documentary
by David Wieser 25 Jul '08

25 Jul '08

Should be an interesting Nature of Things coming up. IKEA even has bikes that come with a trailer for taking your purchases home... "He'll be an amazing advocate for bike culture and separated bike infrastructure in Canadian cities." http://www.copenhagenize.com/2008/07/david-suzuki-got-copenhagenized.html David Wieser

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Interesting article
by Stacy Matwick 24 Jul '08

24 Jul '08

http://www.salon.com/mwt/good_life/2008/07/24/sports_utility_bicycle/ "My family car is an SUB and I love it" On my new "sport utility bicycle" I can cart groceries, take my kids shopping, haul a barbecue grill and make a margarita. By Mark Benjamin 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

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FREE Sustainable Transportation Event - Thursday
by Richard Milgrom 16 Jul '08

16 Jul '08

PN2008 Winnipeg The Planners Network Conference Planning in Challenging Climates July 17-20, 2008 Reminder! FREE EVENT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Sustainable Transportation: Research, Advocacy Realization Date: Thursday July 17, 2008 Time: 7:00pm Location: Red River College Princess Street Campus Speakers: Todd Litman, Victoria Transport Policy Institute Will Toor, Boulder County Commissioner, former mayor of Boulder For speaker biographies, see <http://www.pnmb.org/PN2008Schedule.htm>. This is the opening session of the PLANNERS NETWORK CONFERENCE. For more information about the event or the conference, please contact Richard Milgrom <milgrom(a)cc.umanitoba.ca>. Planners Network is an association of professionals, activists, academics, and students involved in physical, social, economic, and environmental planning in urban and rural areas, who promote fundamental change in our political and economic systems. -- Richard Milgrom Assistant Professor Department of City Planning Faculty of Architecture University of Manitoba Winnipeg MB R3T 2N2 Canada phone: 204.474.6868 mobile: 204.471.1979 fax: 204.474.7532 email: milgrom(a)cc.umanitoba.ca

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Free Public Sustainable Transportation Event - July 17th!
by Jessie Klassen 10 Jul '08

10 Jul '08

Hello All! Next Thursday, July 17th, join the Planners Network for a free public Sustainable Transportation Event, featuring guest speakers Todd Litman from Victoria Transportation Policy Institute, and Will Tour, Former Mayor of Boulder Colorado. The evening includes displays and refreshments. Hope to see you out next Thursday! Date: Thursday, July 17th Location: Red River College, Princess Street Campus, 160 Princess St. Time: 7:00 pm Thanks! Jessie Klassen Workplace TDM Coordinator Resource Conservation Manitoba 303 Portage Ave., 3rd Floor (204) 925-3772 jessie(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca

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Britain invests hundreds of millions to encourage cycling (Jun23'08)
by Beth McKechnie 23 Jun '08

23 Jun '08

[http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jun2008/2008-06-23-01.asp] Britain Invests Hundreds of Millions to Encourage CyclingLONDON, UK, June 23, 2008 (ENS) - Persuading people to climb out of their cars and onto bicycles is a key part of the British government's plan to meet its commitment to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change. To further this effort, British Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly has named Bristol as the UK's first official Cycling City, and announced a further 11 Cycling Demonstration Towns across England. Bristol and the 11 other towns have each won a share of the record £100 million (US$197.4 million) investment package to pioneer innovative ways to increase cycling in their areas. Proposals include improving cycling infrastructure such as dedicated cycle lanes, increasing bike parking, cycle training for children, and promoting the benefits of cycling. "The UK's first ever Cycling City and 11 new Cycling Demonstration Towns will pioneer new ways of encouraging people to get on their bikes, Kelly said. "A quarter of journeys made every day by car are less than two miles," she said. "Cycling is an alternative that could bring real health benefits to millions of adults and children, as well as helping them save money and beat congestion." Cyclists assemble in Bristol's Millenium Square for the city's 15th annual Biggest Bike Ride. June 22, 2008. (Photo by Rob Green) Bristol was chosen in part because it has hosted a popular cycling event for the past 15 years. On Sunday, the 15th annual Bristol's Biggest Bike Ride attracted thousands who helped the city celebrate its selection as the UK's first Cycling City. Phillip Darnton, who chairs Cycling England, said, "We have learnt from our European neighbours, such as the Netherlands, that increased and sustained investment is the key to getting more people enjoying the benefits of cycling. The funding that Bristol and the other 11 towns have been awarded is designed to create a real step change in levels of cycling, starting in 2008 and for years to come." The 11 other Cycling Demonstration Towns are - Blackpool, Cambridge, Chester, Colchester, Leighton/Linslade, Shrewsbury, Southend on Sea, Southport with Ainsdale, Stoke, Woking and York. Cycling England is the national body co-ordinating the development of cycling across England. It was launched by the Minister for Local Transport in March 2005, replacing the previous National Cycling Strategy Board, and is supported by a number of government departments, including health, education, planning and sport as well as transport. Today's announcement aims to encourage 2.5 million more adults and children to take up cycling, improve their fitness and beat the traffic. Bristol wants to double the number of people cycling over the next three years, by creating the UK's first on-street bike rental network, modeled on the successful Paris scheme. Plans include establishing a 're-cycling' scheme, providing free bikes to those in deprived communities. The city has plans to build a state-of-the-art facility for cyclists in the city center providing showers, bike parking and lockers so commuters can have a wash and brush up before starting work. On the drawing board are plans to create a dedicated cycleway to link the suburbs with the city center, opening up new, safer options for commuters who currently rely on their cars. "The first step in persuading people to leave their cars at home is to offer them a real choice," said the minister. "Providing a step change in cycling facilities, dedicated cycle lanes, more training and information will have a big impact on how people choose to travel." "I look forward to seeing these towns and cities put their plans into action and urge other communities across the country to follow their lead," she said. The further 11 Cycling Demonstration Towns will build on the work of the existing six Cycling Demonstration Towns appointed in 2005, which have seen significant increases in cycling levels. These first six towns are - Aylesbury, Brighton, Darlington, Derby, Exeter and Lancaster. They will receive £7 million of the newly announced funding. "Beyond well co-ordinated, consistent investment in cycling, and the introduction of policy measures to encourage it, cycling crucially needs determined and persistent high-level leadership," said Darnton. "We are delighted that the government has championed this and Cycling England's other projects which aim to increase national cycling levels by 20 percent overall by 2012." The government has already announced it is investing an unprecedented £140 million (US$276.5 million) in cycling to increase the provision of Bikeability training to help half a million children cycle safely by 2012; build 250 new Safe Links to School as well as create the UK's first-ever Cycling City and appoint further Cycling Demonstration Towns, as announced today. Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2008. All rights reserved.

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Monday morning reading
by Stacy Matwick 23 Jun '08

23 Jun '08

More commuters choose to pedal right past pumps Source: Chicago Times via iNSnet.org http://www.insnet.org/ins_headlines.rxml?id=14128&photo= I especially liked the quote from the long time commuter at the end of the article about people thinking of it like a gym membership. I wonder what the numbers are for New Years resolutions? If it's only the four (or so) months of summer that would still be great. Cheers and a big thanks to everyone who worked at putting together a fabulous "Bike to Work Day" The pancakes were delish? 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

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New report on cycling and health benefits
by Beth McKechnie 20 Jun '08

20 Jun '08

Hello everyone: New report on cycling and health, from England, that looks at the specific health benefits from cycling: http://www.networks.nhs.uk/uploads/07/11/cycling_and_health.pdf (Sorry for any duplicate postings) cheers, Beth McKechnie Green Commuting Initiatives Resource Conservation Manitoba www.resourceconservation.mb.ca

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BIKE TO WORK DAY - June 20th
by Deanna Betteridge 11 Jun '08

11 Jun '08

Have you thought about riding your bike to work but you were waiting for the right opportunity? Or maybe you just finished the Commuter Challenge and you are looking for the next challenge. Or maybe you are a veteran cyclist that wants to be apart of something big. Whatever the case - Pull out your bike, stretch your legs, and take part in the 1st Annual Bike to Work Day Winnipeg! The City of Winnipeg and Bike to the Future are hosting the 1st Annual Bike to Work Day Winnipeg 2008 on Friday June 20, 2008. Winnipeg residents are encouraged to register online and ride their bikes to work and back. The day will feature a free pancake breakfast at The Forks, energy stations set-up at at various locations around the city, great prizes and more. The event was announced by the Mayor of Winnipeg on Friday May 9th, and, with over 750 residents already registered, is starting to gain real momentum. Please note that an Energy Station map will be posted on the Bike to Work Day Winnipeg website shortly. Find more information (and to register!) at www.BikeToWorkDayWinnipeg.org See you Friday, June 20th, 2008! Cheers, Deanna ------------------------------------------------------------- Deanna Betteridge, M.Sc. in motion Coordinator 2 - 189 Evanson St. Winnipeg, Manitoba R3G 0N9 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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Reminder - Walkin' & Rollin' on the Trail - June 7th
by Deanna Betteridge 04 Jun '08

04 Jun '08

************************************************************************* Walkin’ & Rollin’ on the Trails - International Trails Day Celebration Come out and have a great "in motion" time on Northeast Pioneers Greenway (Corner of Chalmers Avenue and Raleigh Street) to celebrate International Trails Day! Young or old we encourage everyone to come out and experience Winnipeg's newest trail AND see the unveiling of the BRAND NEW Trail Identification and Kilometre signs by Healthy Living Minister Irvin-Ross, Councillor Jeff Browaty, and Mr. Milton Sussman! Saturday, June 7, 2008 10:00 am - 12:00 noon Northeast Pioneers Greenway (Corner of Chalmers Ave & Raleigh St.) ** Rain or Shine ** WIN great prizes - Count Your Trail Kilometres & WIN! Bike Rodeo - Ride (or bring) your bike and participate in the MPI bike rodeo.........kids and adults are welcome! Historic Walk - Experience the history of the community from a local historian. Bike Parking - Ride (or bring) your bike and park it in the secure bike valet service (free) provided by Scouts Canada. Vehicle Parking - Free parking is available on the side streets off of Gateway, Chalmers Community Club and at Elmwood Highschool. Dignitaries - Health Living Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross, Councillor Jeff Browaty and Mr. Milton Sussman (WRHA) will be out to unveil the NEW Trail Identification and Kilometre Signs. For more information on this free event, contact Winnipeg in motion at 940-3648, or visit www.winnipeginmotion.ca or www.WinnipegTrails.com ******************************************************************************* Winnipeg in motion is a community-wide collaboration that encourages Winnipeggers to be physically active for health benefits. Winnipeg in motion coordinating partners, the University of Manitoba, the City of Winnipeg, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and Manitoba in motion are committed to sharing their knowledge and expertise to support communities in developing physical activity strategies that promote the health of their citizens. Have a great "in motion" day, Deanna ------------------------------------------------------------- Deanna Betteridge, M.Sc. in motion Coordinator 2 - 189 Evanson St. Winnipeg, Manitoba R3G 0N9 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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Webinar June 12th: Emerging Trends in Bicycle/Pedestrian Work
by Jessie Klassen 03 Jun '08

03 Jun '08

Hello All! Join us in the Eco-Centre boardroom on June 12th for a Bicycle/Pedestrian webinar! See below for details. To register at this location, please contact Jessie Klassen at jessie(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca or 925-3772. There is space for ~20-25 people. <The Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) and the National Center for Bicycling & Walking are pleased to announce the first in a series of professional development webinars. The first webinar is titled Emerging Trends in Bicycle/Pedestrian Work. Seleta Reynolds, Transportation Planner with Fehr & Peers in San Francisco will be the featured presenter in the one-hour webinar. Reynolds is also the President of the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals. WHEN: Thursday, June 12, from 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. (Central Daylight Time) . WHAT: Webinar topic: Emerging Trends in Bicycle/Pedestrian Work. DETAIL: Communities coast to coast are planning for increased levels of bicycling and walking,. Webinar participants can sharpen their competitive edges by learning what's new and what's on the horizon. Topics will include innovative tools, technology, training, and more.> http://www.bikewalk.org/webinar.php Thanks and hope to see you there! Jessie Klassen Workplace TDM Coordinator Resource Conservation Manitoba 303 Portage Ave., 3rd Floor (204) 925-3772 jessie(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca

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Association of Commuter Transportation - Call for Papers - Deadline May 30th
by Sandy Kostyniuk 27 May '08

27 May '08

Hello everyone. For your information if anyone is interested. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Halifax Association of Commuter Transportation - Call for Papers - Deadline May 30th website: http://www.actcanada.com/EN/Conference2008/Default.aspx Sandy Kostyniuk Program Consultant The Public Health Agency of Canada Street Address 7th Floor, 275 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba Mailing Address Manitoba and Saskatchewan Regional Office 1015 Arlington Street Winnipeg, MB Canada R3E 3R2 Phone: 1-204-789-7411 Fax: 1-204-789-7878 Email: sandy_kostyniuk(a)phac-aspc.gc.ca

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Sign up for Bike to Work Day, June 20th
by Anders Swanson 24 May '08

24 May '08

Aah yes, highly embarrassing. Thank you Stacy. : ) There are tons of people who've been working just as hard on this (and for longer) yet I end up in the paper for it. Oh well. I can't even begin to start naming you all - - but a lot of you are on this list and you know who you are. If you appreciate the work that everyone's been doing on the cycling front, please consider registering for Winnipeg's first ever *Bike to Work Day *being held on *Friday, June 20th* (two weeks after Commuter Challenge<http://www.resourceconservation.mb.ca/gci/CC/>). *Note: An official, much better written e-mail is coming later - - one that is more suitable (and explanatory) for sending to colleagues, mailing lists, etc..* But for now, why not try it and sign yourself up? Help us make a big statement by showing what Winnipeg might look like as a cyclist's paradise, even if only for a day. But you must register. Visit the site: http://biketoworkdaywinnipeg.org/ and follow the instructions, it's free. (++ If you register soon, you will win a free t-shirt, and everyone who registers will be eligible to win awesome prizes.) Anders On Mon, May 12, 2008 at 8:33 AM, Stacy Matwick <smatwick(a)iisd.ca> wrote: > He's a trailblazer for cyclists: Founder of One Green City gets things > done > Erin Madden, Winnipeg Free Press-City and Business, B2 > Updated: May 10, 2008 at 08:29 AM CDT > > He could easily be one of Winnipeg's busiest volunteers, donating his time > to more organizations and committees than he can count on his fingers. > > Thirty-year old Anders Swanson is dedicated to helping Winnipeg become a > greener city by improving the cycling network, with more trails, safer lanes > on roads and maps that will get beginner cyclists and veteran cycling > commuters alike, from point A to point B. > > The Mayor's Environmental Committee, the City of Winnipeg's Active > Transportation Committee , Bike to the Future , BIZ Transportation > Committee, and the Winnipeg Trails Association are just a few of the groups > he's involved with. In addition, he helped form the North Winnipeg Commuter > Cyclists, the West Central Commuter Cyclists and was the founder of One > Green City -- a service which liaises cycling groups and encourages them to > connect. > > "I am essentially volunteering with as many cycling related committees and > volunteer groups throughout the city as I can to try to bring them together > around the idea of building a comprehensive network of cycling routes," said > Swanson, a Corydon Village resident who hasn't owned a car for more than > five years. "I really felt I understood why people weren't cycling. I wanted > to address the reasons that they weren't rather than just telling them to." > > His hard work is paying off. Since he became involved just a few years > ago, progress has already been made with a $600,000 commitment from the city > budget now dedicated to building a trail infrastructure and the creation of > the Northwest Pioneer Greenway. > > He said that with a larger budget dedicated to the issue, cyclists will be > safer and the tensions between motorists and those riding bicycles will be > lessened. > > "The more cyclists you have out and the more cycling infrastructure there > is, the less people get hurt," explained Swanson, who works as a bike > mechanic at Natural Cycle. "I think the key is reducing conflict. I don't > drive now, but as a driver I was scared of hitting cyclists. It's > stressful." > > Janice Lukes, co-ordinator for the Winnipeg Trails Association, said the > work done by Swanson for her organization and the many others he volunteers > for, has been nothing short of amazing. > > "I have been involved in trail development since 2001 and have met a ton > of volunteers, all passionate, all motivational," she wrote in an e-mail to > the Winnipeg Free Press. "But Anders Swanson's commitment, dedication and > passion to help others embrace the bicycle as a means of transportation and > source of recreation is simply unprecedented. I know many of the trail and > cycling organizations in Winnipeg would agree that Anders has been > instrumental in helping secure more trails and bike pathways for > Winnipeggers!" > > For more information about the work done by Swanson, visit > www.onegreencity.com. To learn more about the Winnipeg Trails Association, > visit www.winnipegtrails.com. > > > _______________________________________________ > AT-Network mailing list > AT-Network(a)lists.umanitoba.ca > http://lists.umanitoba.ca/mailman/listinfo/at-network >

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Not really about AT except
by Stacy Matwick 20 May '08

20 May '08

That it's a really nice leisurely peddle down Wellington Crescent on a Saturday afternoon and Steve has promised light refreshments. 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 _____________________________________________ From: Stephan Barg Sent: Monday, May 19, 2008 5:27 PM To: Winnipeg Staff Subject: Charity Sale of Peruvian Handicrafts - Saturday, May 24. Hello all, My sister has started a Canadian NGO to help support children who are burn victims in Lima, Peru. She became familiar with the needs in Peru, and the organizations that help the children, while she was living in Lima several years ago. She will be here on the coming weekend, and we are holding a sale at our house of handicrafts from Peru in order to raise money for her organization. The sale will include these things: - High quality silver jewellery, such as earrings, rings, bracelets, and necklaces - Baby sweaters, washable, embroidered, sizes up to about four years - Adult sweaters, alpaca wool (much better, the Peruvians say, than sheep wool) - Cotton scarves in many colours - Wool winter scarves and hats - Table cloths, in small and medium sizes The cause she is supporting is a good one - helping children who have been burned get medical treatment and also counselling, to assist them to lead normal lives. The organization in Peru that she is supporting is called ANIQUEM, which has a staff of doctors, social workers and so on who do their best to help the burn victims. More details are available from its web page, at www.aniquem.org<http://www.aniquem.org>. My sister's NGO is called Canadian Friends of Aniquem or CAFA, and more details are available from its web page, at www.friendsofaniquem.org<http://www.friendsofaniquem.org> . CAFA is a registered charity under the Income Tax Act in Canada. Two final points - CAFA has almost no expenses - for example, my sister pays her own travel expenses when she goes to Peru. Thus over 95% of any profits from the sale of handicrafts go straight to helping the burn victims in Peru. And secondly, both ANIQUEM and CAFA are completely independent of the government of Peru, thereby avoiding various potential problems. Place - 93 Harrow Street, Winnipeg - just down the street from Kelvin High School. Time - 2:00 to 4:00 PM on Saturday, May 24 Phone - 452-8911 We hope to see you there. Coffee, tea and light refreshments will be served. Best regards, Stephan Barg Associate International Institute for Sustainable Development

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If you missed it - from today's Free Press
by Stacy Matwick 15 May '08

15 May '08

Winnipeg is made for bikes and bike lanes (View from the West) Nicholas Hirst Winnipeg Free Press Updated: May 15, 2008 at 12:40 AM CDT (page A13) Winnipeg's and Manitoba's economies appear more robust than they have for many years. As the nation's labour force stagnates, Manitoba's continues to grow. Houses continue to sell at more than their asking price and, while spring always makes Winnipeggers feel better, there is a sense of optimism in the air. This optimism and growth needs sustaining. To do so, the province and the city need to become truly innovative. We need the image of our city to be such that it becomes a magnet for people because it is ahead of the curve. We need to make ourselves one of the most creative places to do business in Canada. As Minneapolis has dubbed itself, Winnipeg needs to be "one cool city." How would we do that? Not so much by big moves but by small gestures. The big moves are developments like the human rights museum. That's going to be a huge attraction adding to the perception that Winnipeg is a city to live in. Other developments have created a cool image for us -- the Louis Riel bridge is one, the continuing success of our arts and culture is another. But it is smaller, non-institutional developments that often really turn the image of city -- its restaurants, clubs, a digital movie theatre, a new festival, a new feeling. The best innovation of this type builds on natural advantages -- winter skating on the Assiniboine is an example -- next year we should get Starbucks to provide stops along route. The restaurants and open spaces and access to the rivers at The Forks are another. The water buses are way cool. In an environment where gas is more expensive than it has ever been and a barrel of oil worth four times what it was a couple of years ago, anything that looks like an answer to the looming energy crisis is worth its weight in image gold. Winnipeg has one key advantage that seems almost to be forgotten about. It's flat. That's why it once had streetcars. Bringing streetcars back would be innovative but is a big ticket item, not one of the smaller gestures that can bring as much notice. Our city has the ideal typography for bicycling. Not just bicycling for recreation along the four designated streets closed to cars in May for the weekend, but bicycling to get to work, visit your friends and run easy errands. Despite an active lobby to encourage commuter bicycling and the city promise of $500,000 for biking and walking trails, true commuter bike paths and lanes are few if not non-existent. There are signs for biking on lesser used roads, but not bike lanes to go with them. Why not? The last place I lived that was as flat as Winnipeg was on the Plain of Holderness in England. The city was Hull and you couldn't move for bikes. Commuter bike lanes in Winnipeg would do all kinds of good, at least in the summer. It would encourage a healthier lifestyle, reduce the number of cars on the road and save energy. In other cities, kids too young to drive and too poor to own cars bike to see their friends, to school and to university. Who in their right mind would bike down Waverley or Pembina at rush hour? With bike lanes, it would be possible. Winnipeg could also follow Washington D.C. and create a public-private partnership to rent bikes by the hour similar to the Zipcar and Autoshare plans I recently wrote about. Why not combine the two? A city that is serious about combating its energy usage takes easy routes to get cars off the road. That has to start somewhere and it is unlikely to get going without a public commitment. So, Mr. Mayor and city council, get going. Create bike lanes for children and commuters. Get in touch with the bike shops and bicycle lobbyists to set up a bike-sharing scheme. Try a pilot plan with bikes located behind the barriers at Portage and Main and at The Forks. Combine the bike-sharing scheme with a car-sharing scheme. Recreational biking is fine. But in Winnipeg, it often means taking your bike on a rack on your car to where the recreational trails start. It doesn't have to be that way. An innovative city sees its natural advantages and takes small measures for big gains. Designated bike lanes and bike and car sharing -- maybe working together -- are the types of innovation that would get our city talked about and put it ahead of the curve. Will we do it? If not, why not? Nicholas Hirst is CEO of Winnipeg-based television and film producer Original Pictures Inc. (c) 2008 Winnipeg Free Press. All Rights Reserved.

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Three interesting short items
by Stacy Matwick 14 May '08

14 May '08

Bicycles Pedaling Into the Spotlight J. Matthew Roney 12 May 2008 Earth Policy Institute The world produced an estimated 130 million bicycles in 2007-more than twice the 52 million cars produced. Bicycle and car production tracked each other closely in the mid-to-late 1960s, but bike output separated sharply from that of cars in 1970, beginning its steep climb to 105 million in 1988. Following a slowdown between 1989 and 2001, bike production has regained steam, increasing in each of the last six years. http://www.earthpolicy.org/Indicators/Bike/2008.htm Bikes Ahoy : UW grad students win $25,000 environmental prize for plan to start innovative sharing program that could be a North American first http://alumni.uwaterloo.ca/alumni/e-newsletter/2008/may/bikes.html and finally the Magic Wheel Foot Scooter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v96i8ldtdbE&eurl=http://www.treehugger.com/f… 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

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It's time to sign up for Commuter Challenge!
by Jessie 12 May '08

12 May '08

How did you get to work today? Resource Conservation Manitoba is sponsoring The Commuter Challenge, a yearly event that encourages people to use environmentally friendly forms of transportation from June 1 to 7, 2008 . It is a cross-Canada event that features friendly competition between similar-sized cities, towns, communities and workplaces. Participants log their green kilometers online and are entered to win exciting prizes such as a fantastic bike from Olympia Cycle & Ski and gear from Mountain Equipment Co-op! Participants can be individuals or workplaces. If you would like to coordinate the Challenge in your workplace, we offer training and resources to help you every step of the way! For more information please call Sara at 925-3775, e-mail challenge(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca or visit our website: www.resourceconservation.mb.ca. Sara Perlmutter Commuter Challenge Coordinator Resource Conservation Manitoba 3rd fl., 303 Portage Ave, R3B 2B4 Phone: 925-3775 Fax: 942-4207 sara(a)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

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If you missed Saturdays WFP
by Stacy Matwick 12 May '08

12 May '08

He's a trailblazer for cyclists: Founder of One Green City gets things done Erin Madden, Winnipeg Free Press-City and Business, B2 Updated: May 10, 2008 at 08:29 AM CDT He could easily be one of Winnipeg's busiest volunteers, donating his time to more organizations and committees than he can count on his fingers. Thirty-year old Anders Swanson is dedicated to helping Winnipeg become a greener city by improving the cycling network, with more trails, safer lanes on roads and maps that will get beginner cyclists and veteran cycling commuters alike, from point A to point B. The Mayor's Environmental Committee, the City of Winnipeg's Active Transportation Committee , Bike to the Future , BIZ Transportation Committee, and the Winnipeg Trails Association are just a few of the groups he's involved with. In addition, he helped form the North Winnipeg Commuter Cyclists, the West Central Commuter Cyclists and was the founder of One Green City -- a service which liaises cycling groups and encourages them to connect. "I am essentially volunteering with as many cycling related committees and volunteer groups throughout the city as I can to try to bring them together around the idea of building a comprehensive network of cycling routes," said Swanson, a Corydon Village resident who hasn't owned a car for more than five years. "I really felt I understood why people weren't cycling. I wanted to address the reasons that they weren't rather than just telling them to." His hard work is paying off. Since he became involved just a few years ago, progress has already been made with a $600,000 commitment from the city budget now dedicated to building a trail infrastructure and the creation of the Northwest Pioneer Greenway. He said that with a larger budget dedicated to the issue, cyclists will be safer and the tensions between motorists and those riding bicycles will be lessened. "The more cyclists you have out and the more cycling infrastructure there is, the less people get hurt," explained Swanson, who works as a bike mechanic at Natural Cycle. "I think the key is reducing conflict. I don't drive now, but as a driver I was scared of hitting cyclists. It's stressful." Janice Lukes, co-ordinator for the Winnipeg Trails Association, said the work done by Swanson for her organization and the many others he volunteers for, has been nothing short of amazing. "I have been involved in trail development since 2001 and have met a ton of volunteers, all passionate, all motivational," she wrote in an e-mail to the Winnipeg Free Press. "But Anders Swanson's commitment, dedication and passion to help others embrace the bicycle as a means of transportation and source of recreation is simply unprecedented. I know many of the trail and cycling organizations in Winnipeg would agree that Anders has been instrumental in helping secure more trails and bike pathways for Winnipeggers!" For more information about the work done by Swanson, visit www.onegreencity.com. To learn more about the Winnipeg Trails Association, visit www.winnipegtrails.com.

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