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More media coverage of Open Streets closed to pedestrians
by Beth McKechnie 14 Apr '21

14 Apr '21

https://globalnews.ca/news/7754372/city-considers-extending-active-transpor… https://winnipegsun.com/news/news-news/pedestrians-will-have-to-keep-off-ro…

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WFP: Open streets may prohibit pedestrians (Apr13'21)
by Beth McKechnie 13 Apr '21

13 Apr '21

Second pilot project to test seasonal active transportation routes Open streets may prohibit pedestrians https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/open-streets-plan-to-sideline-pedes… WINNIPEG’S next round of “open streets” may be closed to foot traffic. A proposal calls for council to approve a second pilot project testing seasonal active transportation routes. Last year, the city limited vehicle traffic to one block from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily on 10 different sections of streets to create space for cyclists and pedestrians to engage in physically distanced exercise. This year, the change would apply from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily on sections of 14 streets, from May 3 to Nov. 5, if council approves. However, pedestrians will not be invited this time, since doing so could violate the Highway Traffic Act. The act prohibits pedestrians from walking on roadways where a “reasonably passable” sidewalk is present. Jim Berezowsky, Winnipeg’s public works director, said the city wasn’t aware of the legal issue when it moved to quickly offer “open streets” last year. “We tried to operate in the best interests of (Winnipeggers) … under a state of local emergency,” Berezowsky said. City staff are now asking council to exclude pedestrians from what would be deemed “enhanced summer cycling routes,” though officials are also in talks with the province to try to amend the act so foot traffic can eventually resume. “What we would like to see is a safe opening with pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles,” said Berezowsky, who warned that may not occur in time for this year’s pilot project. Public works officials also refrained from making the routes a permanent, seasonal addition, since the “open streets” concept has only been tested since traffic plummeted due to the pandemic. Those who’ve lobbied for more active transportation options say cutting off pedestrian access would ignore a large portion of Winnipeggers the routes were meant to serve. “This again will force pedestrians to crowd on to very narrow sidewalks, so it misses that reallocation of (travel) space, which was the point of the open streets … This is very disappointing,” said Mel Marginet, a co-ordinator with the Green Action Centre’s sustainable transportation team. Marginet said she’s seen many residents safely use open streets to walk and run. “I experienced many of these streets as a pedestrian myself… Last year I went on multiple times a day and I didn’t get that sense (of a safety risk),” she said. The executive director of Bike Winnipeg, a group that conducted cyclist and pedestrian counts at open streets last year, said he’s also concerned about cutting off pedestrian access. “That will have a pretty big impact on the open streets. A lot of the counts we did showed, especially on … Wellington Crescent, there were really some huge uptakes from people walking on those corridors,” said Mark Cohoe. Cohoe said he hopes the province can provide the city with interim permission to allow pedestrians access to the routes during the pilot project. Coun. Matt Allard, the chairperson of council’s public works committee, said he ultimately wants the seasonal routes to return every year and include pedestrians. Still, he believes the current proposal offers an important step forward. “If I had my (way, the routes) would be permanent. But I think this is a step in the right direction. They were a tremendous success last year,” said Allard (St. Boniface). Other councillors said the pedestrian component is a critical aspect of the program. “It’s definitely disappointing that pedestrians are not included and, in fact, I think it changes the program altogether,” said Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan). In an email, Manitoba Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler said changing the Highway Traffic Act would require a new bill and legislative debate. He didn’t directly answer whether or not the province supports the city’s specific request. “The province remains open to exploring amendments to The Highway Traffic Act if a permanent and long-term need is identified that benefits all Manitobans,” said Schuler. Council’s public works committee will cast the first vote on the proposal on April 16, which also requires full council approval. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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CBC: Open streets return in Winnipeg pilot project, but routes closed to pedestrians (Apr12'21)
by Beth McKechnie 12 Apr '21

12 Apr '21

Open streets return in Winnipeg pilot project, but routes closed to pedestrians Public works department says Highway Traffic Act prohibits walking on future active transportation streets https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-bicycle-streets-open-route… A report from the city's public works department says pedestrians should not be allowed to use any of the streets closed to vehicles for a coming pilot project aimed at extending Winnipeg's Sunday/holiday active transportation routes. The city has plans to reboot the popular program at the beginning of May with vehicular restrictions on 14 streets, but only cyclists — not pedestrians — can take advantage. The report from public works, made public Monday, says allowing pedestrians on those routes contravenes section 143 (1) of Manitoba's Highway Traffic Act (HTA). "The HTA currently prohibits pedestrian use of a roadway when a sidewalk is present on the street in question," reads the report. Thousands of Winnipeggers got some physically-distanced fresh air last year on several streets that were closed to most vehicular traffic. The city expanded its Sunday vehicular restrictions on four streets to seven days a week, and last spring added five more routes. Enthused by the response, last September city council directed public works staff to look at making some of the streets year-round active transportation routes <http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-city-open-streets-active-tr…> and expanding the program to other areas of the city. The recommendations from public works staff say a new pilot program in May 2021 could be undertaken "that excludes pedestrians on the streets," and says to communicate the change in policy, it should be "re-branded" as the enhanced summer cycling route pilot. Closures last year were a quick decision: Director The director of the city's public works department, Jim Berezowsky, says the streets were closed last year under the spectre of the COVID-19 pandemic and a desire to give residents some physically distanced exercise. "Things were happening where we had to make decisions on a daily basis to try and operate in the best interest of the public, and keeping people close to home and those considerations were our number one focus while we under that local state of emergency," Berezowsky said. The city will appeal to residents to obey the law and keep off the streets while on foot. "We are asking pedestrians to cooperate in a safe and efficient manner as it stands, while we work on a solution. We're reaching out to the public on that. We really do want their support on this so we can find a viable solution here," Berezowsky said. The chair of the infrastructure and public works committee was repeatedly asked if the proposed pilot would stop residents from walking on the designated routes, and repeatedly Matt Allard gave a similar answer. "I know that there are circumstances where pedestrians are legally allowed to engage the street," Allard said. Allard, who has championed the active transportation routes, acknowledged he's liked having the streets open to both cyclists and pedestrians. "Ideally, that would be the case. The director [of the public works department] has has an opinion on the matter. We're branding these holiday cycle routes in part based on that opinion from the director," Allard said. Allard said he would have more to say about the issue at a meeting of the committee on Friday. The popularity of the open streets project last year was highlighted in a survey done by the city. It found 65 per cent of the 5,600 respondents were positive about the routes. Berezowsky agreed monitoring the streets for breaches of the HTA would be the responsibility of the Winnipeg Police Service, and says if there are safety issues that are raised as the pilot project moves forward, his department will look at those locations "on a case-by-case basis." The 14 streets designated as part of the enhanced summer cycling route pilot program are: - Lyndale Drive – Cromwell Street to Gauvin Street. - Scotia Street – Anderson Avenue (at St. Cross Street) to Armstrong Avenue. - Wellington Crescent – Academy Road (at Wellington Crescent) to Guelph Street. - Wolseley Avenue – Raglan Road to Maryland Street. - Churchill Drive – Hay Street to Jubilee Avenue. - Egerton Road – Bank Avenue to Morier Avenue - Kildonan Drive – Helmsdale Avenue to Rossmere Crescent & Larchdale Crescent to Irving Place - Kilkenny Drive – Burgess Avenue to Patricia Avenue and Kings Drive. - Rover Avenue – Hallet Street to Stephens Street. - Youville Street – Eugenie Street to Haig Avenue. - Alexander Avenue – Arlington Street to Princess Street. - Ravelston Avenue – Plessis Road to Wayota Street. - Linwood Street – Portage Avenue to Silver Avenue. - Harbison Avenue West – Henderson Highway to eastern terminus.

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CBC: Vancouver to temporarily close streets alongside 3 schools to encourage active transportation (Apr11'21)
by Beth McKechnie 12 Apr '21

12 Apr '21

*Vancouver to temporarily close streets alongside 3 schools to encourage active transportation* https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/school-street-closures-vanc… The City of Vancouver will be closing the streets in front of three elementary schools starting Monday to encourage parents to use active transportation to pick up and drop off their children. One street running alongside each of Hastings, Lord Roberts and Van Horne elementary schools will be closed for 30 to 45 minutes during peak pick-up and drop-off times. During that time, no motor vehicles will be allowed to enter or exit the affected block. The pilot starts Monday and will be in place until May 7. The city chose streets that allow nearby residents to still access their homes. It also has ensured reserved parking or designated pick-up and drop-off spots for parents or students with disabilities. 'We're really excited' Ian Rowe, chair of the Lord Roberts parent advisory council, says he and most parents were glad the city was trying something new to discourage driving. "School congestion, traffic and safety has been an issue every single year," Rowe said. "And so we're really excited." The pilot wasn't most parents' preferred option, Rowe says, in large part because it requires parent volunteers twice a day, every day, for it to work. Rowe says parents at the West End elementary school wanted permanent infrastructure changes instead, like continuing the separated bike lane along Comox Street in front of the school in order to make cycling a safer option. A few parents objected to the pilot, Rowe says, but the parent advisory council has been working with them to encourage use of the other two streets that flank the school where vehicular traffic will still be allowed. - Vancouver drivers now need to slow to 30 km/h in school zones, around the clock <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-drivers-now-need-…> "We're always going to have parents who need to drive," Rowe said. Health researcher Mariana Brussoni previously told CBC News <http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bike-to-school-1.5495851> that parents face many challenges trying to get their kids to school by foot or bike — including busy schedules, multiple drop-offs and schools that are too far away. School streets around the world Less than 25 per cent of students <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bike-to-school-1.5495851>across B.C. use active transportation to get to school, according to a written statement from the Ministry of Transportation last year. According to the city's webpage for the pilot <https://vancouver.ca/people-programs/school-streets.aspx>, so-called school streets are popular in several places around the world and they have been shown to create a safer environment for children, improve air quality and encourage active transportation. - Vancouver pilots 30 km/h 'slow zone' in Grandview-Woodland neighbourhood <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-pilots-slow-zone-…> In London, England, nearly 350 school streets have been implemented. The city says 81 per cent of parents there were supportive of the measures, which reduced nitrogen dioxide air pollution by 23 per cent. As a result, 18 per cent of parents reported driving less. The city says school streets were also implemented in Toronto and Edinburgh.

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WFP Analysis: Research supports reduced-speed initiative (Apr12'21)
by Beth McKechnie 12 Apr '21

12 Apr '21

*Research supports reduced-speed initiative * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/research-supports-reduce… OVER the last 10 years, six million vehicles have been added to Canadian roads, an increase of almost 20 per cent. Since the 1990s, the average vehicle horsepower has almost doubled, average vehicle weight has increased by 26 per cent, cars are 17 per cent larger and 80 per cent of vehicles sold in Canada today are trucks and SUVs. In Manitoba, more vehicles and larger, faster vehicles has led to a 50 per cent increase in collisions resulting in injury during the past decade. On Winnipeg streets in 2019, the last available statistics, every second day a pedestrian or cyclist was struck and injured by a driver seriously enough to be reported. Every third day a pedestrian or cyclist was sent to hospital, and almost once a month one was killed. Across the country, nearly one out of every five people killed or seriously injured in vehicle collisions is not in a vehicle. All these statistics are inspiring a wave of change across Canada, as cities are one by one lowering speed limits on residential streets to make neighbourhoods safer for all road users, and more comfortable for pedestrians and cyclists. Montreal led the way in 2019 by making sweeping speed-limit changes across the city. Main streets were reduced from 50 km/h to 40 km/h and all residential streets were changed to 30 km/h. Edmonton and Calgary, famous for their car culture, followed suit and reduced residential speed limits to 40 km/h. Quebec City recently announced it will match Montreal and go to 30 km/h on most residential streets. Lowering speed limits to improve road safety is simple physics. The energy transferred in a collision increases with both mass and velocity — bigger vehicles moving faster cause more damage. In general, if a pedestrian is struck by a car travelling at 50 km/h, there is a 50/50 chance of survival, but when speeds are reduced to 30 km/h, almost all pedestrians survive and 30 per cent will not even suffer an injury, making that speed a magic number for advocates. Slower speeds also reduce stopping distances, from 28 metres at 50 km/h to 20 metres at 40 km/h and 13 metres at 30 km/h, which makes roads safer by reducing the likelihood of collisions. The City of Calgary predicts that by reducing residential speed limits to 40 km/h, as many as 450 vehicle collisions will be avoided each year. Research in several cities has proven that the science has real-world effects. A study in Toronto showed that between 2013 and 2018, lowering posted residential speed limits from 40 km/h to 30 km/h reduced pedestrian collisions by 28 per cent and severe injuries fell by two-thirds. In Edmonton, implementing 30 km/h school zones has reduced severe pedestrian collisions by almost half. A 20-year study in the U.K. demonstrated that 30 km/h zones were associated with a 42 per cent decrease in road casualties. Travelling 50 km/h protected by a 2,000-kilogram metal box may not feel fast, but for a pedestrian or cyclist, sharing the road with large, fast-moving vehicles can be unnerving; so much so that it’s a significant deterrent to active transportation for many people. Slower residential street traffic not only makes neighbourhoods safer; it also makes them comfortable and livable, inviting more people to engage in walking and biking. In response to mounting pressure for change in Winnipeg, Coun. Jeff Browaty recently commissioned a public survey to ask people if they want to drive slower. Not surprisingly, more than half of respondents said no. Coun. Browaty has been using the results as proof that Winnipeggers are opposed to this change. Digging beyond the headlines, however, those who support safer streets might see the results as a victory. Certainly, they provide reason for optimism. Even with the poll offering little context or background, 44 per cent of respondents supported reducing speed limits and only one-third were strongly opposed. In mature neighbourhoods where people walk and bike far more than they do in the outer suburbs, support was about twice as high. Without context, people hear reduced residential speed limits, especially 30 km/h, and picture themselves crawling around the city at a snail’s pace. In response to this misconception, Edmonton launched a successful public engagement process to outline the impacts. The city even created an app that allows people to input their destination and see the travel time difference with the new speed limits. In most cases trips were minimally affected. Consider that in Winnipeg, 25,000 vehicles per day are driven down Grant Avenue, and it has the same speed limit as the cul-de-sac your kids play street hockey on. Portage Avenue downtown is eight lanes wide and has the same speed limit as the two-lane street you back onto when pulling out of your garage. Presented with context, it seems illogical not to change the speed limits. Public-safety policy is not a popularity contest, and should be based on data, engineering and science, but Coun. Browaty’s recent poll shows there is a significant base of support for calmer streets. We take pride in our city of great neighbourhoods; by using this new polling information as a springboard to public consultation that broadens support even further, we can follow the lead of other cities and reduce residential speed limits to make those great neighbourhoods even better. *Brent Bellamy is senior design architect for Number Ten Architectural Group.*

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WFP: Wheels in motion on push for active transportation network (Apr9'21)
by Beth McKechnie 09 Apr '21

09 Apr '21

Wheels in motion on push for active transportation network https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/wheels-in-motion-on-push-for-active… IT’S time to make it as easy to cycle or walk throughout Winnipeg as it is to drive. That’s the message to Mayor Brian Bowman, Premier Brian Pallister and federal cabinet minister Dan Vandal, from a lobby group that has demanded they take urgent action to provide a connected network of cycling and walking routes throughout the city. “Right now, unless you own a personal vehicle, your ability to get around Winnipeg to access employment, to access services, is really limited. You either have to use Winnipeg Transit … and your time for that trip is often twice or even four times as long as it would be for somebody in a personal vehicle. Or, if you travel on foot or by bike, you often have to face sections of your route that are very unsafe,” said Mel Marginet of the Green Action Centre, which is part of the campaign. Marginet said about 70 per cent of Winnipeg families surveyed by Green Action Centre said they live within three kilometres or less of their childrens’ schools. Only about 16 per cent said they walk or bike to get there, often due to safety concerns, she said. “People need safe ways to get to work, to school, to run their essential errands on foot and by bike and that’s really how we’re going to see… a response to our need for mode shift (from personal vehicle transportation to greener options),” she said. Ideally, the group hopes politicians will immediately take steps to add a temporary grid for a full active transportation network throughout the city, which would eventually be made permanent. Marginet welcomed Winnipeg’s temporary “open streets” but says such recreation options don’t help commuters. Nearly a dozen streets were designated as “open” in 2020, where vehicular traffic was limited to just one block from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily to make more room for cyclists and pedestrians. She said governments should also invest in active transportation to ensure equity, since Black, Indigenous and people of colour, as well as women and youth, are more likely to rely on transit, cycling and walking to reach their destinations. “(This is) really a response to those (Winnipeggers) to say that you matter in our society and that our transportation system should offer you comfortable choices as well,” Marginet said. Her organization, and representatives from 14 others, signed letters to lobby for the change, which were hand delivered to the politicians this week. Members of the group include several community organizations, as well as the superintendents of the Pembina Trails and Louis Riel school divisions. In an email, Mayor Bowman’s office said he continues to support Winnipeg’s pedestrian and cycling strategy and “remains open to looking at more ways the city can be innovative in its approach in the creation of new walking and cycling paths.” The statement did not promise specific action. In a written statement, a spokesperson for Manitoba Municipal Relations Minister Derek Johnson said his government spent $7.5 million to expand hiking and biking trails last year. The statement didn’t promise specific action on a connected active transportation network for Winnipeg, but noted the city could spend some of the $75.3 million in provincial capital funding it will receive this year on that purpose. Dan Vandal could not be reached for comment. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Traffic Calming Request Process
by Beth McKechnie 05 Apr '21

05 Apr '21

[snipped from Councillor Lukes' newsletter] Speeding and Traffic Calming of Streets The public service has developed a new process to deal with requests for traffic calming of streets. Over the past few years, the public service has seen a dramatic increase in requests to investigate how to traffic calm residential and collector streets. The engineers have developed a six step process starting with a resident making a request. See details here: Traffic Calming <https://u2481139.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=-2FzUZWSuvR5fHvfuxBn3ORIuE0XH…>

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The Herald: Federal funds committed to active transportation (Apr1'21)
by Beth McKechnie 02 Apr '21

02 Apr '21

Federal funds committed to active transportationLocal projects could benefit from federal strategy, $400m fund https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/herald/Federal-funds-comm… Although "if you build it, they will come" was written about a baseball diamond in an Iowa cornfield, it could very well have been writing about active transportation routes. In March, the federal government pledged $400 million towards the country’s first active transportation fund, and the development of Canada’s first National Active Transportation Strategy. The purpose of the strategy, according to its official website, is to "co-ordinate active transportation investments that reflect best practice planning, design, regulations, and standards across levels of government, Indigenous communities, not-for-profits and the private sector." The announcement was great news for longtime proponents of AT. The Winnipeg Trails Association called the announcement: "Excellent news for all Canadian communities at a time we need it most." Local politicians also welcomed the announcement, noting a number of projects across the northeast that could benefit from the fund, though most expressed a cautious optimism that the money will find its way onto northeast streets. Daniel Blaikie, MP for Elmwood-Transcona, noted that northeast Winnipeg is home to a number of great active transportation routes, like the Northeast Pioneers Greenway and the Transcona Trail. However, getting from one to the other remains problematic. "These options help people engage in activities or commute to work without use of a vehicle," Blaikie said. "We need to work on those connecting nodes, so people can use that whole network in a seamless way that they can feel safe and comfortable and use a network that allows them to explore the community." Coun. Shawn Nason (Transcona) echoed those sentiments, adding that he would like to see funding go towards a number of projects in Transcona that have been delayed for too long, including an AT pathway along either Regent or Reenders to Panet Road. "Is there a way to figure that out in that section, a dedicated way to cycling?" Nason said, noting that finishing that route had been included in the 2018 budget, but was removed at the last minute. Nason would also like to see the AT route on Pandora, which currently ends at Day Street, completed, as well as a route through Canterbury Park connecting to the Transcona Trail. "If there’s a windfall, I’d like to see those connections made," Nason said. Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan), who sits on the city’s standing policy committee on infrastructure renewal and public works, said he’d like to access support "to plant additional trees along the Northeast Pioneer’s Greenway in North Kildonan." Coun. Jason Schreyer (Elmwood-East Kildonan) added that there are a pair of studies ongoing in his ward to improve bike routes, particularly along Roch Street. "I’m always into experiments, because if we don’t try things we can’t discuss them," Schreyer said. "What’s missing in the area is actually remarkably simple," said Michel Durand-Wood, an executive with the Glenelm Neighbourhood Association and author of the popular blog Dear Winnipeg... "We just need to focus on making it easier for residents to get to the stuff in our neighbourhood, like local businesses, services, parks, etc." Durand-Wood would like to see an investment in "more space for people," rather than cars, in local neighbourhoods. "Do we want a neighbourhood that is vibrant, accessible to all including seniors, children and those with disabilities, with tons of thriving local businesses that are easy to walk to?" he said. "Or do we want a place that is fast to drive through?" For more information on the federal program, visit infrastructure.gc.ca/trans/active-actif-eng.html

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WFP: Most city drivers want speed limit kept as is: poll (Apr1'21)
by Beth McKechnie 01 Apr '21

01 Apr '21

Most city drivers want speed limit kept as is: poll https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/most-city-drivers-want-speed-limit-… WINNIPEGGERS don’t want the speed limit lowered on residential streets, a new poll has found, despite a strong lobby effort to get city hall to slow drivers down. A Probe Research poll commissioned by Coun. Jeff Browaty asked 600 Winnipeggers about reducing the default speed limit on residential streets. A majority (56 per cent) said they opposed the change, while 44 per cent supported it. If given a chance to vote on a plebiscite to reduce the residential speed limit to 30 km/h from 50 km/h, 66 per cent said they would vote “no,” 26 per cent said they’d vote “yes” and eight per cent weren’t sure. Browaty (North Kildonan), who opposes lowering the limit, said the findings show most Winnipeggers agree with him. “It is pretty clear that… most of Winnipeg is opposed to the 30 (km/h speed limit) and lowering it in general,” he said. The councillor said he hopes the feedback will help to convince his council colleagues to keep the current residential speed limit. Last year, the majority of council members voted in favour of a one-year pilot project to test a 30 km/h speed limit on five residential streets, though no exact date has been set for that to begin. Browaty opposed the change. He said he remains convinced the city shouldn’t pursue speed reductions because roads are safe under the current limits. “I think there are a lot of responsible people who, on the more major local streets, will drive up to 50 km/h and can do so safely,” he said. “I hope these polling numbers will give an opportunity for my colleagues to reflect on what their constituents are thinking.” The Probe Research poll surveyed a random and representative sample of 600 Winnipeg adults online and by phone between March 10 and 21. The results are considered accurate within plus or minus 4.9 percentage points, with 95 per cent certainty. Winnipeg groups that have pushed council to reduce the speed limit argue the change is needed to improve safety. And that risk is why all speed limit decisions must be handled by experts, not guided by public opinion, said Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg. “We’re not putting fire regulations to a plebiscite, why are we putting traffic safety to a plebiscite? We lose lives in this city due to people getting hit by cars. It’s unfortunate and I think we want to make sure that goes down to zero,” said Cohoe. The World Health Organization says pedestrians have a 90 per cent chance of survival when hit by a car travelling at 30 kilometres per hour, but that drops to less than 50 per cent when the car travels at 45 km/h. Mel Marginet, a sustainable transportation co-ordinator for the Green Action Centre, said she’s not surprised by the opposition to a reduced speed limit, something for which she has advocated. “Change is always hard and… a majority of Winnipeggers get around by personal vehicles and few people experience their neighbourhood on foot or by bike. So I think we just minimize that threat or we don’t appreciate how intimidating that is,” said Marginet. She expects public support would grow for a reduced speed limit on residential streets once Winnipeggers try them out. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: Councillor suggests alternate use for school-zone speeding funds (Mar30'21)
by Beth McKechnie 30 Mar '21

30 Mar '21

Councillor suggests alternate use for school-zone speeding funds Take radar revenue, reconfigure roads: Allard https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/allard-wants-school-zone-speeding-r… A WINNIPEG city councillor hopes to spend photo radar revenue from school zones to reconstruct roads in ways that slow down the drivers in those areas. Coun. Matt Allard, council’s public works chairman, is calling for a staff report with options to reallocate that cash from the police budget to public works. In a new motion, the councillor notes school-zone tickets have been criticized as a revenue generator and stresses more must be done to stop drivers from speeding near schools. “Some of the data indicates that there isn’t (enough) in terms of changes in driver behaviour despite the photo enforcement locations,” said Allard (St. Boniface). “What’s proven to work is actually reconfiguring the road where there’s a high volume of tickets.” He suggests the public service check out traffic-calming options to see what would work best in school zones with speeding concerns, which could include speed bumps or road narrowing. Allard said he doesn’t know how much revenue police could lose through the move, though he said budgets could be gradually altered to ease the loss. “I’m convinced that we need to do more than just photo enforcement. We need to follow that up with other road improvements in order for speeding to properly be addressed,” he said. The councillor said he believes photo radar vans have been effective at slowing down some speeders, but the city needs to take further action to address others. If the effort succeeds, that could eventually reduce or eliminate the need for photo enforcement, he said. “I think the program is a good one (but) I think it needs reform,” he said. The Winnipeg Police Service raised $9.6 million in photo-radar revenue in 2020, an amount that plummeted from an initial budget estimate of $15.8 million because of a drop in driving during the pandemic. City budgets don’t specify how much of the revenue is raised through school-zone enforcement. A total of 10 mobile units are assigned to conduct speed enforcement in zones around schools, playgrounds and construction, according to the WPS website. The number of school-zone tickets handed out has been inconsistent in recent years: 53,263 in 2016, 50,125 in 2017, 41,784 in 2018 and 41,793 in 2019. The lack of a clear downward trend shows ticketing hasn’t triggered a lasting improvement in driver behaviour, said Christian Sweryda, a law student and former WiseUp Winnipeg member who has long criticized the photo-enforcement program. “Personally, I see that tickets would drop as people get used to knowing where the vans are. And then, every year or two (police) have to change something to get the tickets back up,” said Sweryda. In an emailed statement, WPS spokesperson Const. Rob Carver declined to discuss what impact the budget change could have on the police service. “We will not speculate on the potential impact of budget proposals,” wrote Carver. *Allard’s motion is slated for a vote at the April 6 meeting of the Riel community committee.* Joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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Dangerous by Design 2021: Pedestrian Deaths Up 45% (US)
by Beth McKechnie 26 Mar '21

26 Mar '21

*Dangerous by Design 2021: Pedestrian Deaths Up 45%* The new edition of Dangerous by Design 2021 <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> from Smart Growth America reports that the number of people hit and killed by drivers while walking in the US increased by 45% in the last decade, and that the last four years have been the deadliest for pedestrian deaths since 1990. The report also highlights ongoing disparities in which groups of people are at greatest risk of dying while walking. Older adults, Black or African American and American Indian or Alaska Native people, and people in low-income communities continue to be disproportionately represented in fatal crashes involving people walking. The report uses the most recent federal Fatal Accident Reporting System data on pedestrian fatalities combined with data on population and walking rates to rank states and the 100 most populous metropolitan areas by their “Pedestrian Danger Index." Forty-nine states and 84 of the 100 largest metro areas have become more dangerous since the 2019 edition of the Dangerous by Design report. The report calls on states, localities, and the federal government to make improving pedestrian safety an urgent priority and identifies actions that can save lives. These include passing the newly introduced Complete Streets Act of 2021 <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…>, which would require state DOTs and MPOs to plan for all people who use the street, including the most vulnerable users. Learn more about the Dangerous by Design report in a webinar on March 25 at 2:00 pm ET <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> .

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Americans Drove Fewer Miles in 2020. Pedestrians Weren’t Any Safer. - WSJ
by Terry Zdan 23 Mar '21

23 Mar '21

https://www.wsj.com/articles/americans-drove-fewer-miles-in-2020-pedestrian…

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CTV: Winnipeg planning to build more pedestrian bridges (Mar19'21)
by Beth McKechnie 21 Mar '21

21 Mar '21

https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/winnipeg-planning-to-build-more-pedestrian-brid… WINNIPEG -- With more and more Winnipeggers choosing to walk or cycle as a mode of transportation, the City of Winnipeg also has plans to add more pedestrian bridges around the city. According to Chris Baker, a City of Winnipeg senior active transportation planner, the city has two current priorities when it comes to pedestrian bridges. “The top priority is the Fort Rouge McFadden Bridge, connecting the Downtown to Osborne Village,” he said. “The next priority would be the Pembina Highway overpass at the Bishop Grandin Greenway.” Baker added that these shovel-ready projects are part of the city’s infrastructure priority list and will be built once the city finds the funding. *THE CITY’S CURRENT PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES* Currently, there are more than 50 pedestrian bridges in the city of Winnipeg. “That includes everything from the signature bridges, the Disraeli pedestrian bridge over the Red River or the Esplanade Riel and all the way down to a bridge in a golf course or in a city park,” Baker said. He noted the city’s active transportation policy is what guides where it chooses to build bridges, adding that the policy calls for several bridges and other grade separations throughout the city. *ARE THE BRIDGES NECESSARY?* Baker said through the city’s monitoring of walking and cycling it has discovered that people are partaking in these activities more and more. He said that in the spring of 2020, some locations reported a 30 per cent increase in the number of pedestrians and cyclists compared to 2019. Anyone who is looking to provide feedback on pedestrian bridges can contact 311.

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CBC: Winnipeg still considering whether to continue, or expand, active transportation route program (Mar19'21)
by Beth McKechnie 19 Mar '21

19 Mar '21

City reviewing pandemic program that was popular with users, but not always with residents on closed streets https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-city-open-streets-active-t… Thousands of residents pedalled and pounded the pavement of Winnipeg's "open streets" routes earlier in the COVID-19 pandemic — but decisions on what will happen with that initiative this spring are still on hold. The restrictive nature of public health orders in 2020, as the pandemic began, prompted the City of Winnipeg last spring to expand its four regular Sunday/holiday bicycle routes <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/city-winnipeg-active-transportation…> to seven days a week. It later added several other locations <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/city-winnipeg-more-active-transport…> across the city. Sections of Lyndale Drive, Wellington Crescent, Wolseley Avenue and Scotia Street were, as usual, reserved for pedestrians and cyclists during daytime hours until the Thanksgiving weekend last year, with motor vehicle traffic limited to one block on those routes. The city added sections of Assiniboine Avenue, Churchill Drive, Egerton Road, Kildonan Drive and Kilkenny Drive to that list in April, and Vialoux Drive in July. They remained closed to daytime vehicle traffic <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-open-streets-closed-labour…> until the Labour Day weekend last year. Now, with temperatures rising and some health restrictions still in place, there are questions about where the city will take the program this year. Some feel limiting motor traffic on certain streets should not only be continued, but expanded. "Absolutely. It's been life changing to have a place where we can walk and we can actually space" apart to observe physical distancing, Debbie Kroeker said as she strolled with a friend down Wellington Crescent. "If we didn't have this, we couldn't walk with more than one person. So it's just a way to really energize the community." A report on the active transportation routes was ordered by city council last September, but the public administration has asked for, and received, extensions to finish the work — the latest being until the middle of April. Staff with the city's public works department are expected to find options for other streets across the city that could be closed on some basis to motor traffic, and recommendations for establishing year-round active transportation route. The chair of the city's public works and infrastructure committee is keen to get going on some sort of expansion of the program, and is chafing at the wait for feedback from staff. "I, for one, would like to see them open right now," said St. Boniface Coun. Matt Allard. "The public service has had two extensions to produce the report.… Seeing the snow melt and recalling the huge success last year, I'm really eager to get this going, and I don't see why we can't get it going right away." 'A lot of confrontations': Wellington resident Not everyone thinks expanding the program would be a good idea. One Wellington Crescent resident says turning her street into an active transportation route has prompted plenty of friction between cyclists and pedestrians, and residents trying to get to or from their homes. "The people that are using the street don't really have any regard to the people that live on the street and need to access the street," said Leanne (she declined to give her last name). "So there's been a lot of confrontations … you know, yelling at people for being on the street or having your vehicle when you're just trying to get to your driveway and get home." She says she filled out a city survey seeking feedback on the routes <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-open-streets-program-surve…> last year, and hopes some attention is paid to the residents. "Think of it from our point of view as well. We want everyone to be safe and walk, and it's a beautiful street and we want to enjoy it too, but we do live on it and we need to get our vehicles out," she said. Kroeker hopes the people who walk and bike the streets, and the residents along them, can find a way to use them together. "Everybody needs to dig a bit deeper and be tolerant and patient — and of course, please be respectful of our wonderful neighbours here and vice versa," she said. A spokesperson for the city's public works department called last year's open streets program "unprecedented" and said it was taking extra time to prepare the report on what to do next. "The additional time needed to present our recommendations has been a result of doing extensive due diligence in terms of consulting with stakeholders and working to ensure that any identified corridors are able to function as open streets," spokesperson Ken Allen said in an email.

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CBC: How pandemic bike lanes made some Canadian cities more accessible
by Beth McKechnie 19 Mar '21

19 Mar '21

Cycling advocates say temporary bike lanes should be made permanent https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/pandemic-bike-lanes-canada-1.5951863 Several Canadian cities set up temporary bike lanes to accommodate the pandemic cycling boom, and biking enthusiasts want the changes to stay. According to a survey <https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/200810/dq200810a-eng.htm> from Statistics Canada, more Canadians are now biking or walking to work than using public transit. After the pandemic began last year, many viewed cycling as a safer alternative to being crammed together with others in small spaces and increasing the potential risk of contracting COVID-19. Research <https://findingspress.org/article/19069-the-impact-of-covid-19-cycling-infr…> from the University of Toronto published last month suggests the pandemic bike lanes improved access to jobs, parks and stores. Cycling advocates say the changes should be made permanent and expanded further — similar to what is being done in Europe. According to cycling advocacy organization Vélo Canada Bikes, several cities, including Moncton, Kitchener, Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, Victoria, Toronto, Calgary and Winnipeg have extended their bike lane networks since the pandemic began. In Montreal, Société du parc Jean-Drapeau, which runs the park area that includes Île Sainte-Hélène and Île Notre-Dame, opened a new, year-round cycling route this winter between the Jacques-Cartier and Concorde Bridges. In Calgary, 13 kilometres of roadway with vehicle traffic was temporarily closed to provide space for cyclists and pedestrians to use during the pandemic. In Toronto, 25 kilometres of new temporary bike lanes <https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-protect-yourself-others/covid…> were approved in June 2020 through ActiveTO <https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-protect-yourself-others/covid…> — an initiative that opened up streets for cyclists and pedestrians to have more space for physical distancing while spending time outdoors. "These benefits are all temporary, and that's why we have an ongoing push to keep ActiveTO, retain the routes beyond 2021 and keep expanding," said Keagan Gartz, executive director of bike lobby group Cycle Toronto. New bike lanes expand access In the U of T study <https://findingspress.org/article/19069-the-impact-of-covid-19-cycling-infr…>, researchers mapped the provincial capital's entire cycling network using city and survey data. It was discovered that the COVID-19 cycling lanes increased cyclists' road access to stores and jobs by 10.4 per cent to 22.3 per cent and increased access to parks by 6.3 per cent. In the study, the researchers classified each roadway based on how stressful it is to cycle on. Roads where a child might easily ride were ranked at the low end of the scale while dangerous, busy roads were pinned at the top. Using this ranking system, the researchers were able to measure the impact of new temporary bike lanes on accessibility. Middle-class neighbourhoods benefit most One of the other researchers leading the study, Shoshanna Saxe, said the areas with the most improved accessibility were those where new infrastructure built on existing networks. "The places where we connect new bike lanes to old bike lanes are the places that benefit the most," she said. "And that means that places in parts of the city that didn't already have bike lanes are starting off a little bit farther behind. And so we need to build more for those parts of the city faster." Brian Pincott, executive director of Vélo Canada Bikes, said more work needs to be done to create equal access to cycling networks. "They were in places that were nice to go for a bike ride, not in more socio-economically challenged neighbourhoods," he said. "We have to look at cycling as a tool for equity so that lower-income neighbourhoods can access safe cycling infrastructure to get around." The federal government recently announced Canada's first active transportation fund <https://www.canada.ca/en/office-infrastructure/news/2021/03/government-of-c…> in response to the need for safe, alternative transportation options. The $400-million National Active Transportation Fund will be spent over the next five years on projects such as new cycling paths and trails. Bike lanes not always welcome However, not all efforts to expand bike lanes have been well received. The Vancouver Park Board recently met with criticism for approving to reinstate a temporary bike lane <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-stanley-park-bike…> on Park Drive in Stanley Park. Last summer, the board opened up a lane dedicated to cyclists and pedestrians to make more room for physical distancing, restricting access to vehicles. The lane was later reconfigured to be shared between cyclists and cars as pandemic restrictions eased. Some argued that the addition of the new bike lane caused serious congestion as it forced the park's slow-moving horse-drawn carriages into a single car lane. Business owners in the area voiced concerns about customers being driven away by the closure. The public responded with a 27,000-signature petition in September demanding the park board reverse the decision. Pincott said that as municipalities develop new cycling infrastructure, they're learning more about which changes work. "We can always make adjustments, but we have to be open to trying," he said. Europe's investments in cycling U of T's Saxe said Canada should follow the lead of European cities in making temporary bike lane expansions permanent. "Around the world, we see examples of places that have said this is the future," she said. "This is how we get more people moving around in healthier, more environmentally-friendly ways. And Paris has been really leading the charge on that." According to the European Cyclists' Federation, 42 out of the 94 largest European cities have built new pandemic cycling networks and more than 400 kilometres of them are permanent. European cities have made significant investments in making it easier to travel by bike: - In Paris, Mayor Anne Hidalgo recently made the expansion of 50 temporary bike lanes permanent. - The European Cyclists' Federation's COVID-19 measures tracker <https://ecf.com/dashboard> shows that London, Milan and Granada, Spain, have put in the most cycling infrastructure since the pandemic began. - The British government announced funding <https://www.gov.uk/government/news/2-billion-package-to-create-new-era-for-…> last year for a new bus, cycling and walking initiative in England. That will provide 240 kilometres of permanent, protected bike lanes, as well as wider sidewalks, safer intersections and bus-only lanes by 2025. - Kraków, Poland, introduced five kilometres of pop-up bike lanesand has developed a five-year plan to connect all the city's districts with the centre. - Brussels imposed a 30 km/hr speed limit through most areas of the city at the start of the year and is conducting feasibility studies for a network of fast bike highways linking the city centre and the suburbs. - Barcelona has accelerated the construction of 160 kilometres of new or expanded bike paths, which will bring its bike network to 305 kilometres by 2024. Corrections - An earlier version of this story said the addition of a bike lane in Vancouver's Stanley Park forced cars, bikes, and horse-drawn carriages to share a single lane. In fact, bikes have their own lane while carriages and cars now share a single lane. Mar 18, 2021 12:17 PM ET

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CBC: ActiveTO poised to return in 2021, may include bike lanes and patios on Yonge Street
by Beth McKechnie 17 Mar '21

17 Mar '21

*ActiveTO poised to return in 2021, may include bike lanes and patios on Yonge Street* Major weekend road closures are recommended to continue even after the pandemic https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/activeto-report-2021-1.5951691 <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/activeto-report-2021-1.5951691> Toronto is recommending the return of its ActiveTO program in 2021, which could include the addition of temporary bike lanes and curb lane patios on a major portion of Yonge Street. ActiveTO was created in the spring of 2020 to promote modes of active transportation such as cycling, running and walking during the early stages of the pandemic. A report recommending the renewal of the program <http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2021.IE20.12> this spring goes to the city's Infrastructure and Environment Committee on Tuesday, March 23. The city is recommending that the program become a permanent fixture even after the pandemic ends. "This report shows that ActiveTO was a tremendous success in 2020 and city staff are confident that we can build upon that success this year," said Toronto Mayor John Tory in a statement. "I think this report shows we are doing everything we can as a city government to support more active transportation options." According to the city, people who took part in the weekend road closures were overwhelmingly supportive of the initiative, with 92 per cent saying they wanted the closures to continue beyond COVID-19. The staff report also found minimal evidence for increased vehicle traffic delays due to the program, with some exceptions on the Gardiner Expressway and The Queensway. Yonge Street redesign to follow Danforth Avenue model The proposed changes on Yonge Street would be installed between Bloor Street and Davisville Avenue. The redesign of the street would be considered a pilot project with a tentative end date of Apr. 30, 2022. The report suggests temporary changes to Yonge Street that would mirror the redesign of Danforth Avenue undertaken last year. (Toronto) The proposed changes would mirror the approach taken on Danforth Avenue last summer, where new bike lanes and patios were installed using temporary blockades and paint. The report says the changes on Yonge Street could likely be implemented this year, though city staff have not provided a target date. Toronto city council approved a plan to add bike lanes to a larger stretch of Yonge Street <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/yonge-street-bike-lanes-council-1.57…> last fall. That decision called for the bike lanes to be installed sometime during the second quarter of the year. City to consider additional tweaks The version of ActiveTO proposed for 2021 includes several changes compared to the initial program introduced last year, which had three primary components: weekend road closures, the creation of "Quiet Streets" neighbourhood zones, and the expansion of the city's cycling network. While some major weekend road closures are slated to continue, the closures will likely not include a section of Lake Shore Boulevard West that proved to be among the more popular ActiveTO destinations last summer. City staff say construction projects taking place in the west end of the city would likely cause significant traffic delays if Lake Shore Boulevard East were closed to motor vehicles in either 2021 or 2022. The weekend road closures on portions of Bayview Avenue and Lake Shore Boulevard East are planned to continue. The report also recommends the cancellation of the Quiet Streets program, which saw the installation of traffic calming measures such as signage and barricades in 30 locations around the city. The report instead recommends "refocusing" on other measures such as reducing speed limits and automated speed enforcement.

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The Dangerous Rise of the Supersized Pickup Truck - Bloomberg
by Beth McKechnie 15 Mar '21

15 Mar '21

[You can also check out a recent webinar recording with Angie Schmitt at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zoXDPi8-40] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-11/the-dangerous-rise-of-th… What Happened to Pickup Trucks?As U.S. drivers buy more full-size and heavy-duty pickups, these vehicles have transformed from no-frills workhorses into angry giants. And pedestrians are paying the price. To get a handle on what’s happened to pickup trucks, it really helps to use a human body for scale. In some nerdy Internet circles — specifically, bike and pedestrian advocacy — it has become trendy to take a selfie in front of the bumper of random neighborhood Silverados. Among the increasingly popular heavy-duty models, the height of the truck’s front end may reach a grown man’s shoulders or neck. When you involve children in this exercise it starts to become really disturbing. My four-year-old son, for example, barely cleared the bumper on a lifted F-250 we came across in a parking lot last summer. [image: relates to What Happened to Pickup Trucks?] Look out below. Photo courtesy Angie Schmitt Vehicles of this scale saddle their drivers with huge front and rear blind zones <https://www.wthr.com/article/news/investigations/13-investigates/13-investi…> that make them perilous to operate <https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/19/21522959/cadillac-escalade-2021-first-d…> in crowded areas. Even car guys have been sounding the alarm about the mega-truck trend recently. A few months ago, the *Wall Street Journal*’s Dan Neil <https://www.wsj.com/articles/pickup-trucks-are-getting-huge-got-a-problem-w…>complained about his close encounter in a parking lot with a 2020 GMC Sierra HD Denali: “The domed hood was at forehead level. The paramedics would have had to extract me from the grille with a spray hose.” Since 1990, U.S. pickup trucks have added almost 1,300 pounds <https://twitter.com/kevin_degood/status/1166359839855054850?ref_src=twsrc%2…> on average. Some of the biggest vehicles on the market now weigh almost 7,000 pounds <https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2019/10/14/the-most-massive-cars-…> — or about three Honda Civics. These vehicles have a voracious appetite for space, one that’s increasingly irreconcilable with the way cities (and garages, and parking lots <https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2020/03/05/suvs-pickups-trucks-ga…>) are built. Styling trends are almost as alarming. Pickup truck front ends have warped into scowling brick walls, billboards for outwardly directed hostility. “The goal of modern truck grilles,” wrote *Jalopnik*’s Jason Torchinsky in 2018 <https://jalopnik.com/we-need-to-talk-about-truck-design-right-now-before-it…>, “seems to be… about creating a massive, brutal face of rage and intimidation.” The Electric Pickup Truck War Is Here During the pandemic, U.S. buyers seemed to respond <https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/2020/10/31/pickup-trucks-carguru-cov…> to this kind of packaging. In May 2020, Americans bought more pickup trucks than cars <https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-05/pickups-outsell-passenge…> for the first time. Five of the 10 top-selling vehicles in the U.S. last year were pickup trucks <https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/08/pickup-trucks-dominate-americas-10-best-sel…> . Giant, furious trucks are more than just a polarizing consumer choice: Large pickups and SUVs are notably more lethal to other road users, and their conquest of U.S. roads has been accompanied by a spike in fatalities among pedestrians and bicyclists <https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2020-08-12/why-are-cars-still-so-da…>. As I wrote in my 2020 book <https://islandpress.org/books/right-way> *Right of Way: Race, Class, and the Silent Epidemic of Pedestrian Deaths in America*, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety <https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/new-study-suggests-todays-suvs-are-more-le…> and the *Detroit Free Press <https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/2018/06/28/suvs-killing-americas-ped…> *have pointed to the rise in SUVs and large pickups as the main culprit in the pedestrian mortality surge. The truck trend is contributing to another troubling crash-related disparity: In a new study <https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/vehicle-choice-crash-differences-help-expl…>, the IIHS shows that women — who tend choose smaller vehicles — are suffering higher injury and death rates than their male counterparts, despite the fact than women engage in fewer risks and crash less. Why have pickup trucks morphed into such huge, angry, and dangerous presences? Traffic safety experts, commentators on U.S. automotive culture, and social scientists have suggested a range of forces behind truck bloat. The truckification of the family car One key driver of pickup growth relates to how they are now being used. If you overlook their gleefully violent styling and garage-unfriendly footprint, these vehicles have become more practical as family vehicles <https://www.consumerreports.org/pickup-trucks/are-pickup-trucks-becoming-th…> . Despite the agrarian pursuits that TV commercials suggest, today’s pickup trucks are being built more to haul kids and families than sheep and boulders. Until the 1980s, almost every pickup truck sold in the U.S. had a single cab, meaning seating for three max in a single bench-style seat, with a bed that was eight feet long for a full-sized long-bed vehicle. That old no-frills working-style truck is fading into history. [image: Loading Hay Bales] In 1967, this was a pickup truck. Photographer: Underwood Archives/Archive Photos In 2020, 85% of pickup trucks sold had “crew cabs” or “extended crew cabs” or one of a handful of other tough-guy euphemisms with two sets of seats for five people — most with four doors. Some have four regular-size doors. These passenger-heavy, cargo-lite arrangements are so popular that some automakers — like Ram — have stopped even offering single cabs in their best-selling pickup brands. As pickups transformed into family vehicles, they also became more luxurious. The average truck in the U.S. sells for almost $50,000 now <https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimgorzelany/2020/03/03/why-annual-pickup-truc…> — a 41% increase compared to a decade ago — and many boast posh, feature-laden interiors designed to compete with high-end SUVs and sedans, as auto writer Jim Gorzelany writes in *Forbes* <https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimgorzelany/2020/03/03/why-annual-pickup-truc…> . As a result, today’s truck owners include all kinds of people who don’t necessarily need (and rarely use) <https://www.thedrive.com/news/26907/you-dont-need-a-full-size-pickup-truck-…> these vehicles’ defining features: the open cargo-hauling bed and towing capabilities. Some choose big trucks because smaller vehicles make them feel too vulnerable on modern highways. Michael Powell, a social worker who lives in rural Maine, says he’d rather drive a compact car, but he has PTSD from a former car crash: He drives a truck, he says, “because everyone else in my town does, and it’s the only way I can get around without feeling like I’m gonna die.” Jeff Weidner, an assistant professor at a college in El Paso, Texas, says he feels a little guilty about choosing to buy a full-size Toyota Tundra — but admits he likes it. “We were looking for something that would hold six people, would be good for long trips in terms of space and carrying our stuff,” he says. At first, he planned on buying the mid-size Tacoma, but “they upsold us hard with the Tundra. They barely even had stock of Tacomas — they probably do not make enough money on them.” The U.S.’s perverse regulatory and tax environment contributes to this arms race. Ford’s heavy-duty F-250, for example, benefits from its regulatory status as a commercial vehicle, unlike the slightly smaller F-150. The same goes for other heavy-duty models like the Ram 2500 and Silverado 2500HD, which aren’t classified as passenger vehicles, but as work machines <https://jalopnik.com/its-time-to-call-bullshit-on-the-biggest-cover-up-in-a…>, and are thus exempt from EPA fuel economy reporting regulations. “Nobody tracks the gas mileage — there’s no EPA rating for that car,” says Dan Albert, author of *Are We There Yet?: The American Automobile Past, Present and Driverless <https://www.amazon.com/Are-There-Yet-Automobile-Driverless/dp/0393292746>* *.* [image: GMC Holds Vehicle Reveal Event] The mighty prow of a GMC Sierra Denali HD. Photographer: Sandy Huffaker/Bloomberg Business tax structure also encourages many business owners to opt for the bigger F-250 over the F-150, making the added cost almost negligible. Going large doesn’t necessarily exact a major toll in fuel expenses, either: While pickups have gotten bigger they have also become — while not exactly green — certainly less gas guzzling. Equipped with a hybrid powertrain, the 2021 Ford F-150 can achieve 25 miles per gallon in the city <https://www.motortrend.com/news/2021-ford-f-150-hybrid-mpg-fuel-economy/>, six more than a Honda Odyssey minivan. “We have gotten better at making them more efficient,” says Benjamin Sovacool <https://profiles.sussex.ac.uk/p373957-benjamin-sovacool>, a researcher who studies energy transitions. That fuel efficiency is set to leap forward again, with the arrival of Tesla’s Cybertruck, GM’s rebooted 1,000-horsepower Hummer EV, and host of other electrified rigs <https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2020-12-10/electric-cars-ford-f-tes…>: battery-powered vehicles that overcompensate for their non-polluting powertrains with hyper-aggressive styling and power ratings. Make way for “petro-masculinity” But that doesn’t mean the decision to buy a $50,000 truck with a 4,200-pound payload rating for the occasional trip to the golf course or hardware store is strictly rational. Personal vehicles are not merely functional appliances: They are used as refuges, fortresses and private enclaves, and serve as important signifiers of class and gender identity, as Sovacool explored in a 2018 study <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965856416311247#b0140>. To Albert, the booming appeal of bigger and more brutish trucks reflects “a crisis of masculinity,” he says. “Nothing could be more emasculating than driving a minivan. So you want the vehicle that’s going to maintain your performative masculinity.” The fact that supersized pickup trucks were often deployed as political props (and weapons <https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-03/why-vehicle-attacks-agai…>) during the Trump era did not escape the notice of scholars like Cara Daggett, a professor of political science at Virginia Tech. In a widely shared 2018 journal article <https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0305829818775817>, Daggett coined the term “petro-masculinity” to describe flamboyant expressions of fossil fuel use by men (and some women as well, but mostly men) as a reaction against social progress. To these drivers, “the affront of global warming or environmental regulations appear as insurgents on par with the dangers posed by feminists and queer movements seeking to leach energy and power from the state/traditional family,” she wrote. Petro-masculinity helps explain not only these vehicles’ confrontational styling, but the often equally belligerent way in which they are operated. The EPA estimates that more than half a million trucks — 15% of the diesel-powered pickups on U.S. roads — have had their emissions equipment modified over the last decade in order to increase their power and polluting potential. There’s a cottage industry <https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/sep/09/auto-car-emissions-defeat-d…> devoted to the practice of bypassing emissions standards; such modified vehicles are believed to emit as much pollution as 9 million emissions-compliant diesel trucks. While illegal, some drivers flaunt their ability to pollute, via the behavior known as “rolling coal <https://newrepublic.com/article/143083/republicans-rolling-coal-party>,” in which drivers of modified diesel trucks blow black smoke at targets of their disapproval (often Prius drivers or bicyclists). “Burning fossil fuels can come to function as a knowingly violent experience,” Daggett writes, “a reassertion of white masculine power on an unruly planet that is perceived to be increasingly in need of violent, authoritarian order.” Built for battle Geopolitical factors have long played a role in car and truck design in the U.S.: Jeeps, of course, began as military vehicles adapted to civilian use, a heritage the company still proudly announces <https://www.jeep.com/history/1940s.html> on its site, saying the brand is “forever tied to freedom, capability and adventure.” The first iteration of GM’s Hummer brand spun from the high-profile role that Humvee military vehicles used in the Persian Gulf War <https://taskandpurpose.com/gear-tech/humvee-failed-battlefield-sparked-cult…>. Other manufacturers continue to cultivate connections to the military as well. Ford advertises <https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2014/01/13/ford-use…> its F-150 is made of “military-grade aluminum alloy” for the “working warrior.” In his excellent illustrated essay “About Face <https://popula.com/2019/02/24/about-face/>,” cartoonist Nate Powell, whose father was an Air Force officer, explores the recent emergence of the overtly “paramilitary aesthetic” in truck and SUV design and connects it to recent U.S. “forever wars,” in which regular troops have mixed with private security units, special forces and law enforcement officers in battlefields around the world. Many veterans of these campaigns employed up-armored civilian vehicles, and they brought a taste for such machines back home with them. “It’s a kind of spectacular performance of power.” That aesthetic can be detected not only in the raised “militarized” grille height of pickup trucks, but also the popularity of aftermarket modifications like blacked-out windows and “bull bars” affixed to the front end. Together, the way these trucks look speaks to a “rejection of communication, reciprocity and legal accountability,” Powell writes. At their heart, these consumer choices also reflect something else, says Sovacool: fear. “We are questioning our place in the world, with globalization and Trump. We’re also feeling really uncertain and unsafe — the pandemic, terrorism.” With its “bulletproof” stainless-steel skin and “bioweapon defense mode,” perhaps no vehicle feels as precisely calibrated to the anxieties of its era as the Tesla Cybertruck <https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-11-22/tesla-s-cybertruck-is-bu…>. Such vehicles promise more than just “defensive security,” wherein a larger vehicle at least theoretically protects its occupants better in a collision with a smaller vehicle: They are built to project “offensive security,” Sovacool says. “If you do need a vehicle that will go off road, carry lots of weapons or run over people,” he says, “then these bigger vehicles do it better than these smaller ones.” Only in America Threaded within the pickup’s militaristic branding is a powerful appeal to national pride. U.S. automakers have long dominated pickup truck sales, which produce enormous profits for Detroit-based companies and employ a lot of domestic auto workers. No wonder there’s such hesitancy among regulators to stand in the way of some of their more egregious styling trends or emissions loopholes. “In a way, critiquing them is seen as anti-American and anti-jobs,” says Sovacool. [image: Pickup trucks with American flags affixed to their attennas] America’s “Big Three” automakers dominate the large pickup market. Photographer: Jack Smith/Bloomberg In a 2016 essay for *N+1*, Albert also reflected on the burden of associations — nostalgic and nationalistic — that pickups carry: “To drive a thirsty truck is to live in a pre-EPA era, before the spikes in gas prices, before political correctness,” he wrote <https://nplusonemag.com/online-only/online-only/the-american-pickup/>. “To fill the bottomless tank of a pickup … is to practice the religion of the American Way. It is to affirm climate denial, petrol-adventurism, and American exceptionalism.” There are many ways to untangle pickup trucks from this trap and rein in their most destructive excesses. Federal regulators could revise the EPA mandates that the largest pickups now avoid, and impose stronger rules <https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-17/how-cities-could-push-ba…> on pedestrian safety to make trucks and SUVs less lethal. The tax code could be reformed, so businesses that purchase the largest commercial trucks aren’t rewarded with a 100% depreciation bonus <https://gscpa.com/how-much-can-businesses-deduct-for-vehicles-placed-in-ser….> on the first year. Cities could stiffen parking policies and raise vehicle fees <https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-17/how-cities-could-push-ba…> so that such impractically scaled machines will be less appealing to buyers who have little need of their capabilities. But any such efforts can’t be merely “technocratic,” Daggett says — they must grapple with the broader societal forces that these supertrucks have tapped into. “A lot of things are attached to fossil fuel culture because they are symbolically a part of a certain way of life or an identity,” she says. “It’s no longer possible to operate in the world and not understand that fossil fuels are violent. It’s a kind of spectacular performance of power.” *Angie Schmitt <https://twitter.com/schmangee> is a writer and planning consultant and author of *Right of Way: Race, Class and the Silent Epidemic of Pedestrian Deaths in America <https://bookshop.org/books/right-of-way-race-class-and-the-silent-epidemic-…> *.*

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WFP: City urged to add bike lanes on Salter Street in rebuild (Mar13'21)
by Beth McKechnie 13 Mar '21

13 Mar '21

City urged to add bike lanes on Salter Street in rebuild https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/city-urged-to-add-bike-lanes-on-sal… ON any given day, the intersection of Salter Street and Selkirk Avenue is bustling with cars, trucks and buses. Those looking to cycle through the neighbourhood often find themselves on the sidewalk, deftly dodging a steady stream of pedestrians. As the City of Winnipeg plans to rebuild a swath of Salter Street, community leaders are questioning its decision to leave out active transportation routes — and are advocating for a design model that includes a bike lane on the busy roadway. All his life, Nelson Flett has navigated his North End neighbourhood by foot, bike and even rollerblades. Having bike lanes in the community, he says, would offer a safe way to get around and bring about some revitalization. “I want the future generations to be safe, have fun, get outdoors and enjoy the life I had, because I’ve been riding bikes most of my life,” Flett said Friday morning, during a news conference on the corner of Salter and Selkirk. “I think it would just rejuvenate the area, bring the life out in people.” Flett joined members of Winnipeg Trails, Couns. Ross Eadie (Mynarski) and Vivian Santos (Point Douglas), and other community leaders to call for the building of active transportation routes as street revitalization projects take place in the North End. The group envisioned what a bike lane might look like on Salter Street. “Seven feet, that’s all we’re asking for,” they called out, holding up a tape measure at the seven-foot mark. “We want to see them fix Salter and do it right; $6 million spent through the heart of the North End without bike lanes in the middle of a pandemic is wrong,” Winnipeg Trails executive director Anders Swanson said. “We want the city to integrate bike lanes into all of its road reconstruction, because we are tired of chasing after multimillion-dollar projects that could have been done better.” In late 2020, the city tendered a project to rehabilitate Salter between the Slaw Rebchuk Bridge and Cathedral Avenue. But due to a “limited scope,” the project will not include any public engagement activities, according to the city’s website. In February, the city awarded a tender valued at more than $4.2 million to Winnipeg-based Darco Group Ltd. for the rehabilitation project, which will have roads and sidewalks rehabilitated for pedestrian safety. “This considers neither current nor best practices in active transportation, otherwise the moment you see one person riding on the sidewalk here, you would put in bike lanes,” Swanson said. Flett — who has biked over the bridge to his work in West Broadway — said the busy traffic lanes in the neighbourhood are “scary” to traverse, leading many on bikes to take to the sidewalks and causing safety issues for pedestrians. In an ideal reconstruction, Flett said he would like to see protected cycle lanes, like the ones on Maryland and Sherbrook Streets, start popping up in the North End. Ground is expected to be broken on the Salter Street project in summer. julia-simone.rutgers(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @jsrutgers

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FW: $400 Million for Bike Paths, Walkways, etc.
by Charles F 12 Mar '21

12 Mar '21

Federal AT funding and engagement announcement.One small step...Sent from my phone.

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WFP: A Route to the Future - Transit Master Plan (Mar6'21)
by Beth McKechnie 06 Mar '21

06 Mar '21

A Route to the Future https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/greenpage/transforming… The city will unveil a public-transit blueprint in the coming weeks that could transform Winnipeg; there’s a lot riding on it, including the number of people willing to ride on it THIS spring, Winnipeg’s civil service will unveil its new master plan for public transit, coming on the heels of Ottawa’s announcement to shovel billions of dollars into programs across the country over the next decade in an effort to lower emissions from the transportation sector. This convergence of public money and planning seems to offer Winnipeg a chance to reimagine what is possible in the realm of transit — what the system could be going forward, despite past failings. However, it is quickly becoming clear there are no visions of streetcars or light rail dancing in their heads. Dreams for Winnipeg’s transit system are much smaller, even among its biggest proponents, which speaks to how far the system still has to go in order to meet a threshold of service that would successfully convince people to leave their cars at home. Or, even more radically, not buy a car in the first place. Breaking people of their car-driving habit is a key aspect of national and municipal climate plans. More than 40 per cent of greenhouse-gas emissions in Manitoba came from the transportation sector in 2018. Of the emissions from transportation, about 37 per cent comes from vehicles classified as light-duty cars and trucks. Electrification will help lower passenger vehicle emissions, but prospective civic policies also rely on getting more people out of their vehicles altogether and on to bikes, buses and trains. “Investments in public transit will also require some behavioural changes on the part of commuters,” declared the Senate’s 2017 report on decarbonizing the transportation sector. “Unless taking transit is easier, faster and cheaper than taking a car for one’s daily commute, investments will not result in the desired emission reductions.” Ideally, all of the pieces are meant to come together to help solve the emissions problem. But in Winnipeg, the road forward is shaping up to be a long, slow one. ●●● Coun. Vivian Santos grew up getting around the city by bus, accepting the hour-long commute between her childhood Southdale home and downtown that would otherwise take 15 minutes by car. As she got older, a bike became a better alternative to the bus, cutting her commute time in half. “I stopped taking transit because it was just, to be honest, a waste of my time in the morning,” she says. In the decades since, bus service hasn’t really improved, but her financial flexibility did, plus she added kids to the mix. And so, the Point Douglas councillor made the same choice most Winnipeggers who can afford it make, and she bought a car. There are now two in her household to shuffle her family around the city. Her children are getting to the age where they could start taking transit on their own — and she’d like to encourage them to do so — but it’s not realistic, based on where they live in the northwest part of the city. “There’s actually no transit service out here, to be honest with you. So if my son were to take transit, he would actually have to walk 10 minutes to McPhillips. Or he’d have to walk maybe seven minutes the other way down towards Pipeline and Templeton. So we’re really kind of outside of the transit system,” she says. Winnipeg has some of the lowest transit use rates per capita in the country, according to a recent report from Climate Reality Canada, the Canadian arm of former U.S. vice-president Al Gore’s international environmental non-profit organization. Among large cities with more than 600,000 residents, Winnipeg came in last, with an average of 67 transit trips per person annually. The next lowest was Calgary with 84. The Canadian leader in transit trips per capita is Montreal, with 236. Nationally, transit ridership has increased from roughly 1.8 billion regular service trips in 2009 to 2.1 billion in 2017, according to the Canadian Urban Transit Association. But in Winnipeg, ridership stalled and even declined in that same time period, according to city statistics. The last census revealed Winnipeg was the only Canadian city where commuting by public transit had declined over the preceding 20-year period. Santos believes getting more people on transit isn’t about building rail lines or any other flashy, grand plans. To her, it’s much more simple — it’s about making transit more frequently accessible and reliable, and charging less money to use it. “I think a good balance of both should be done,” she says. “They need to be done together. Because I understand that if we lower the fees, we’re going to have more people come on, we’re gonna see an uptick rate of people taking the transit. So obviously, we need to increase purchasing buses, and we need to better our frequency.” To that end, she put a motion before the city’s public works committee in February to study what the impact of lower fares might be in Winnipeg. It was rejected in a 2-2 vote. Curt Hull, director of Winnipeg’s Climate Change Connection, agrees with Santos’s evaluation of what’s needed to bring the transit system up to speed, and explains why aiming higher at this point isn’t practical. “Implementing rapid transit by rail is really a long ways further from where we are. You don’t start with that. You start with building the demand with things like developing frequent service, and then once you get enough demand, enough ridership on a particular route, then you make it rail. So we’re a long ways away from that,” Hull says. Efforts to regenerate the transit system with rapid bus infrastructure — the second leg of the Southwest Transitway was completed last spring — have proven lacklustre, Hull says, but he is hopeful new, less capital-intensive improvements will help deliver more riders. In addition to Santos’s hopes for more frequent, cheaper service, Hull adds a couple of things to the wish list. The routes need to be simple, he says, and access to lines criss-crossing the city needs to be easy. He envisions something like an on-demand service for suburban neighbourhoods, where a small van or a similar vehicle shuttles a rider to the main bus lines. Having regular but empty buses running through those neighbourhoods doesn’t make sense, he says, but you can’t cut them off from the network, either. “The issue is the availability of funding for it,” he says. ●●● Winnipeg relies more heavily on the fare box to fund transit than any other city in the country on a per capita basis, which pins the system’s progress directly to ridership. It’s a chicken-and-egg scenario — the system can’t be improved until ridership increases, but that won’t happen without system improvements. It also puts the system at risk for ridership fluctuations, as was the case for most of last year because of the pandemic. Across the country, transit ridership fell by more than 60 per cent in 2020, according to Statistics Canada. While it rebounded somewhat in the summer months, those minor gains were lost again amid the second wave in late fall and early winter. “That hits our system that much more than other systems,” says Coun. Matt Allard, chair of Winnipeg’s public works committee. Winnipeg’s reliance on fare-box revenues was cemented in 2017 when the provincial government moved away from its 50-50 funding agreement with the city. In 2019, fares represented 45 per cent of total revenues on transit, which amounted to $91.7 million of $204 million. At the public works committee meeting in February where Santos put forward the idea of free or lower-fare transit, the conversation quickly turned from one that was simply about buses and dollar figures to a much more complicated question: is public transit something Winnipeggers consider to be a public good? Taxpayers who are childless or do not have school-age children still contribute money to the education system. Taxpayers who do not borrow books from the library still pay to keep the lights on and the shelves stocked. Those who do not drive still pay to keep the roads maintained. And all of those services are free of direct costs to the user. Winnipeggers have come to an implicit agreement that some things are in the public’s interest to fund. But so far, Winnipeg and its residents have yet to bring public transit under that umbrella. As long as the system relies heavily on the fare box, it will not be viewed as a public good. At least not to the same extent that other services are. Much like parents not bringing their children to a park with broken swings and garbage strewn everywhere, a neglected transit system will not yield higher ridership. It will not be a civic source of pride, as it is in many other cities. “Convenient access to public transit” is among the United Nations’ indicators for sustainable development goals. Yet, Winnipeg fails to meet measures of success that were created as goals in developing countries. International Institute for Sustainable Development targets for appropriate wait times and distance to the closest bus stop are unattainable for a third of Winnipeggers. Transit investments have been found to have significant positive spillover effects in economic development, especially in sectors such as tourism. It also stands to reason riders save money that would have otherwise have spent on a car. Then there’s the significant shared benefits between climate interests in transit and equity policy across different socio-economic classes. “If you see transportation as a way of participating in society — which it certainly is — the more accessible transit is, the more people can easily get around and the more their experience becomes comparable to somebody who owns a vehicle, who’s more economically advantaged,” Allard says. The push for change has become louder as the urgency of climate action increases. Carolyn Kim, the director of transportation at the Pembina Institute, argues that making the decision as a city to invest in transit would be transformational, in itself. “If you’re able to increase the level of service, and people can ride a bus that is more frequent, it’s more reliable. It’s affordable,” Kim says. Also critical to the conversation is deliberately targeting dense housing and business development along the main transit arteries, she adds. Getting people onto transit is about making it a more convenient, cheaper alternative to driving. So the flip side of the equation, though often unpopular politically, is to find ways to increase the cost of driving through increased parking rates, lowering parking availability and other planning tools. It’s another avenue to pursue transformational changes, Kim says. Take London, as an example. The British city has created an “ultra-low emission zone” where, depending on how much your vehicle pollutes the air, you are charged a daily fee to drive in certain areas. Cities are free to get creative with policies and find solutions that work for them, Kim says, but they have the power to set priorities and pathways that change residents’ behaviour. ●●● Winnipeg is also contemplating where the electrification of buses fits into the picture. A pilot project for the use of both battery-electric and hydrogen fuel-cell buses will be considered by council this spring. Allard says he’s looking forward to debate on the topic, but to him, more buses on the road — regardless of how they’re powered — is the priority, since the transit fleet is responsible for such a small fraction of emissions in the city compared to personal passenger vehicles. Joanna Kyriazis, a senior policy adviser with Clean Energy Canada, warns against that kind of thinking, pointing out that electric buses actually stand to save cities money, since operation and maintenance costs are so much lower, even if up-front costs to purchase the vehicles are still higher. “The life of a bus is 12 to 18 years. And so if we keep making diesel bus purchases today, that that decision has consequences for another two decades,” she says. And the added allure of electric buses might be another way for the city to persuade drivers to park and ride, she says. Along with electrification, the new buses also come with GPS to track where they are on routes, and that information can then be sent to users. Generally, they also come with electronic-pass scanners, so riders don’t need to fumble with correct change and tickets. All of these upgrades make the transit experience better, she says. Plus, no more diesel fumes. “It’s also a great way for people to experience an electric vehicle for the first time. And the more we see them on our streets, the more we ride them, the more we see how many benefits they deliver, the more likely those riders are to go and buy an electric car themselves. So there are these spillover effects,” Kyriazis says. “Doing the same thing we’ve always done isn’t working. And so modernizing and connecting these vehicles is going to help improve the rider experience.” In Winnipeg, transformational changes might not be as big and headline-grabbing as they are in other cities, but this city is coming from behind and has more ground to make up if transit is going to become a priority. Rail lines or a world-class network of multimodal transit aren’t on anyone’s realistic wish list. But perhaps Winnipeg is on the verge of a different radical change. One where transit isn’t looked at as a lost cause, but rather something to be invested in for the good of the community. sarah.lawrynuik(a)freepress.mb.ca <sarah.lawrynuik(a)freepress.mb.ca> Twitter: @SarahLawrynuik

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Edmonton to roll out new community-led street safety program this spring
by Beth McKechnie 05 Mar '21

05 Mar '21

The City of Edmonton wants to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries on city streets by 2032, and starting this spring, it will be asking community members to help make that happen. The Street Labs program <https://pub-edmonton.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=81995> aims to introduce temporary measures in an attempt to make residential streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists. It is the latest initiative under Vision Zero <https://www.edmonton.ca/transportation/traffic_safety/vision-zero.aspx>, the city's long-term traffic safety plan. Neighbourhood residents will come up with their own ideas, and city officials will provide materials, funds, and guidance. Full article: https://edmonton.taproot.news/news/2021/03/03/city-to-roll-out-new-communit…

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March 16 free webinar re: transportation behavior change
by Beth McKechnie 01 Mar '21

01 Mar '21

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Jessica Roberts <jessicaroberts(a)altaplanning.com> Date: Mon, Mar 1, 2021 at 4:27 PM Subject: [Transp-tdm] 3/16 free webinar re: transportation behavior change Hi all - I'm giving a webinar on Tuesday 3/16 at 10 am Pacific for the California Active Transportation Resource Center. It's about using research findings to build better transportation behavior change programs, and it includes new material I haven't presented on before about behavior change theories and incentives. I'd love to see you there! Please sign up here <https://cdph-conf.webex.com/mw3300/mywebex/default.do?nomenu=true&siteurl=c…>, and forward this to anyone who might be interested. Complete details below. Best, Jessica ----- [image: ATRC.png] ATRC On the Move: Perspectives 2021 Webinar – *Changing Transportation Behavior: What Really Works?* Tuesday, March 16, 2021 10:00am – 11:30am PST Please join the Active Transportation Resource Center for the first On the Move: Perspectives 2021 webinar entitled, *Changing Transportation Behavior: What Really Works?* Click here <https://cdph-conf.webex.com/cdph-conf/onstage/g.php?MTID=e1d128ac04eb60aa52…> to register! *______________________________* Whether you work in Safe Routes to School, traffic safety, policy development and beyond, we're all in the business of convincing humans to change their behavior. Humans are complex, so we can't just tell them what to do and expect them to comply. The truth is that behavior change is HARD. Join this webinar to learn more about what research tells us about transportation behavior change. You'll learn about major behavior change theories, the role of incentives in program design, and creative ways to test if your program is working. By the end of this webinar, you'll have new practical ideas you can put to work in your own active transportation campaigns and programs. *Featured Speaker* *Jessica Roberts, Principal, Alta Planning + Design* *Jessica Roberts is a Principal Consultant at Alta Planning + Design, focusing on campaigns that help people change their transportation habits for good. She is known as the founder of the fast-growing “behavioral Transportation Demand Management (TDM) movement”, which is building bridges between behavioral scientists and transportation professionals. Her work in this arena is creating more effective campaigns that are based on evidence and theory, and that are evaluated rigorously to determine the mode shift impact of individual program variables.* *To register for this free webinar, click on this **link* <https://cdph-conf.webex.com/cdph-conf/onstage/g.php?MTID=e1d128ac04eb60aa52…> *.* You are encouraged to send any questions in advance of the webinar to atsp(a)cdph.ca.gov. *JESSICA ROBERTS, TDM-CP* *Pronouns: she/her* Principal | *Alta Planning + Design, Inc.* *Working remotely: c**:* 503.752.4144 Portland, OR | altago.com *We have a new domain name and logo! Please update your Contacts with my new email address: jessicaroberts(a)altago.com <jessicaroberts(a)altago.com>.*

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Watch: How Induced Demand Explains the Vicious Cycle of Congestion
by Beth McKechnie 01 Mar '21

01 Mar '21

A helpful video illustrating induced demand when we try to build our way out of traffic congestion. An accompanying video showing latent demand for bike infra would be nice too. https://www.planetizen.com/news/2021/02/112352-watch-how-induced-demand-exp… cheers, Beth -- Beth McKechnie (she/her) *| *Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> *We are located on Treaty 1 Territory and the homeland of the Métis Nation. The water we drink comes from Shoal Lake First Nation. * Green Action Centre is your green living hub Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://www.gomanitoba.ca>

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Winter Cities Toolkit
by Beth McKechnie 25 Feb '21

25 Feb '21

Hi everyone, Though it doesn't feel much like winter right now, here's a recently released for winter cities: https://www.wintercitiestoolkit.com/tools/ cheers, Beth -- Beth McKechnie (she/her) *| *Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> *We are located on Treaty 1 Territory and the homeland of the Métis Nation. The water we drink comes from Shoal Lake First Nation. * Green Action Centre is your green living hub Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://www.gomanitoba.ca>

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Green Action Centre is hiring!
by Beth McKechnie 24 Feb '21

24 Feb '21

Green Action Centre is looking for an independent, energetic and well-organized individual to join our sustainable transportation team. The position focuses on engaging schools, students, workplaces, employees and community organizations to make active and green transportation options both appealing and within reach. The coordinator supports Green Action Centre’s goals of reducing Manitoba’s environmental impacts and related GHG emissions from driving personal vehicles by increasing walking, cycling, public transit and carpooling as preferred and accessible modes of travel. Application deadline: *4pm CDT Tuesday, March 16, 2021* Please see the attached pdf for details. -- Beth McKechnie (she/her) *| *Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> *We are located on Treaty 1 Territory and the homeland of the Métis Nation. The water we drink comes from Shoal Lake First Nation. * Green Action Centre is your green living hub Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://www.gomanitoba.ca>

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WFP Analysis: ‘Abilities Village’ plan filled with possibility (Feb22'21)
by Beth McKechnie 22 Feb '21

22 Feb '21

‘Abilities Village’ plan filled with possibility https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/abilities-village-plan-f… PROVENCHER Boulevard has a long history as the commercial heart of St. Boniface and Winnipeg’s francophone community. With wide sidewalks, a few historic buildings and local shops, it has the bones to be an active pedestrian street and centre of community life. Unfortunately, as a busy truck route and commuting thoroughfare, Provencher is challenged to be a welcoming place for a shopping stroll or break on a sidewalk patio. Several surface parking lots and vacant properties further diminish the pedestrian experience, and a low population density in the surrounding neighbourhood offers an insufficient base to support a vibrant commercial street. The neighbourhood plan for St. Boniface and Provencher Boulevard looks to address some of these issues by supporting development of higher-density and more diverse housing options, encouraging good urban design that is pedestrian focused, enhancing existing parks and celebrating the neighbourhood’s cultural assets. The City of Winnipeg currently owns two of these cultural assets on the street: the former St. Boniface city hall and the adjacent, long-abandoned fire hall. In November 2019, a request for proposals was issued to find a new owner for the buildings and adjacent parking lots, with the goal of leveraging them to breathe new life into Provencher Boulevard and the surrounding community. After a year-long search, Manitoba Possible (formerly the Society for Manitobans with Disabilities), an organization that provides services and supports to persons with disabilities, has come forward with a visionary idea that ticks almost every box in the neighbourhood plan. The proposal is inspired by a development in Singapore called “Enabling Village,” a firstof- its-kind neighbourhood campus dedicated to integrating people with disabilities into society by providing social, creative and economic fulfilment in a place that is also a hub and destination for all residents in the area. The development offers education, employment, training, retail and social amenities, while bringing people with disabilities and the broader community together to share experiences and build relationships. Manitoba Possible’s proposal, called “The Abilities Village,” envisions a campus of new multi-use buildings constructed on the existing parking lots that surround the iconic city hall and fire station. These buildings will flow together as a single choreographed space, inside and out, drawing people from the sidewalk through an active collection of dynamic experiences and public amenities. Some of the proposed features include restaurants, pubs and bistros, a grocery, a retail art gallery, a gymnasium, training centres, a daycare, offices and a technology hub for entrepreneurism. The village will elevate the heritage buildings to a new place of prominence by inviting people to interact with them in a more intimate way, as part of a vibrant neighbourhood destination that brings new life to the street. The unique twist on this dynamic community hub is that it will also be a global showcase of barrier-free design — breaking down all types of barriers to establish a sense of belonging for people with disabilities. It will reimagine everyday spaces to be meaningful, accessible and completely inclusive. The campus is specifically not an institution; it will be a model for seamlessly accessible public spaces that connects the broader community to people with disabilities in a type of reverse inclusion, helping to break down the barriers of social isolation, independence and economic opportunity while inspiring new social networks and personal experiences for everyone. The commercial and public services components of the village will provide job training and work experience to people with disabilities that will open new employment opportunities beyond the campus. The campus will also include a housing component that will be a demonstration of technology driven accessible design, providing quality independent living opportunities while increasing the population density and residential diversity of Provencher Boulevard to help support local shops and services. The campus will be a blend of dynamic, sidewalk-focused modern architecture, interior design, signage, lighting, art and landscape, woven together in a single composition with the iconic historic buildings and sculpture garden. Designed by 5468796 Architecture and Scatliff + Miller + Murray, the development will be phased to ensure it grows seamlessly into the neighbourhood over time. The derelict fire hall will be redeveloped into public space and, once the sale is complete, Manitoba Possible is hoping to work with the local community to find economically viable uses that ensure the city hall building, which will be independent of the development, remains a proud cultural contributor to the Franco-Manitoban community. The proposal for the St. Boniface city hall site presented by Manitoba Possible is an aspirational and forward-thinking idea that could bring the heart back to Provencher Boulevard. As a magnet for public gathering, it will provide an opportunity to reimagine the future of the street as a place that is a celebration of the community and a vibrant focal point of neighbourhood life. The beauty of the old St. Boniface city hall has inspired people for generations; it will always stand as a proud symbol of a proud community. In its new life as part of The Abilities Village, it will take on the added symbolism of a place that unites communities and builds relationships. It will continue to inspire as a declaration of inclusivity, opportunity, and equality. *Brent Bellamy is senior design architect for Number Ten Architectural Group.*

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This week, cycling events, global and local
by Anders Swanson 09 Feb '21

09 Feb '21

A few special events coming up for your interest: *THURS FEB.11 AND FRIDAY 12 - eGlobal Winter Cycling Congress* Two short jam packed days of unique presentations and fascinating discussions, with post event social activities in a virtual Finnish bar. The Winnipeg connection includes Councillor Sherri Rollins sharing political wisdom and ideas and the story of learning to ride a bicycle only a few months ago. She will be sharing a stage with Oboi Olatunji, the founder of Slow Roll Chicago who visited Winnipeg for Bike Bike a few years ago (along with Sarah Goodyear from the War on Cars podcast from NYC and Lisa Bender, the President of City Council in Minneapolis to talk about the role of enforcement post in a BLM era and ways of making winter cycling both normal and inclusive. As conference director, I get the honour of moderating a session with MP Andy Fillmore, head of Canada's new AT strategy, Bronwen Thornton, head of international pedestrian design and land use network, Walk21 and Dr.Peter Newman, an award-winning sustainability and urban design expert who is a lead author for transport at the IPCC. So many other great speakers! Local engineering firm Sandbox is a sponsor and helping to support Winnipeg Trails' assistance with project management and communications. It is truly a global team effort, with teams from Boston, Montreal, Helsinki, Masstricht and more combining to pick up the pieces from the usually in-person conference sites that had to be cancelled due to you-know-what. We hope you can join. Student registration is only 5EUR. Regular conference registration is just 20EUR with a membership to the Winter Cycling Federation. Viva la Bike Boom. Register now: WinterCycling.org *Friday Feb.12 WinterBikeALoopza (Winter Bike to Work Day COVID 19 Edition) *With so many people worldwide working from home or unemployed, this year is different. People are committing to ride, like usual, but encouraged to do loops of their own neighbourhoods. Sign up online, and check the maps. The School Loops team will be adding all kinds from Winnipeg this week. Rememberm we started this event, Winnipeg, its up to you to finish it. ;) Join us. WinterBikeToWorkDay.org *Wednesday Feb.24th *- *LAUNCH of Women in Cycling Network. T*his is partially organized by Angela van der Kloof, whom some of you may remember from the Kickstand sessions that Janice Lukes and I organized with Michael Colville Andersen almost a decade ago or from the 2014 Winter cycling Congress here in Winnipeg. anders

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Cycling for Sustainable Cities
by Beth McKechnie 09 Feb '21

09 Feb '21

Cycling for Sustainable Cities MIT Press just published “Cycling for Sustainable Cities," co-edited by Ralph Buehler and John Pucher. In addition to its up-to-date analysis of cycling trends and policies, the book provides practical lessons for making cycling safe, practical, and convenient for almost everyone and for most trip purposes. The 21 book chapters feature contributions by authors from around the world who are experts in both cycling and their respective professional fields of urban planning, public policy, public health, transportation, and engineering. Following the introduction, chapters 2-15 explore topics such as the health benefits of cycling; cycling safety; cycling facilities, programs, and project evaluation; the special cycling needs and preferences of women, children, and older adults; and social justice in cycling decision-making, policies, and infrastructure. Chapters 15-19 examine these same topics in the context of specific countries and cities in Europe, North America, Latin America, and Asia. Chapter 20 explores the importance of cycling advocacy. Finally, Chapter 21 proposes specific strategies for policy implementation and summarizes the main lessons for increasing cycling and making it safer and more convenient for daily travel. More info: https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/cycling-sustainable-cities

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New Healthy Communities Initiative
by Beth McKechnie 08 Feb '21

08 Feb '21

View this email in your browser <https://mailchi.mp/880cities.org/880-cities-takes-part-in-a-new-healthy-com…> 8 80 Cities takes part in a new Health Communities Initiative 8 80 Cities is excited to be teaming up with Community Foundations of Canada and other partners to fund projects through the Healthy Communities Initiative <https://880cities.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=49b51d71f0a96500f24124…> . Register to join Community Foundations of Canada on February 9th, 2021 at 1PM EST <https://880cities.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=49b51d71f0a96500f24124…> for a special announcement and panel event focused on transforming public spaces to respond to COVID-19. This event is an opportunity to learn more about Initiative, a new $31 million investment from the Government of Canada to support communities as they adapt public spaces for the new realities of the pandemic. Join the Healthy Communities Initiative partners and a set of fantastic panelists including Parliamentary Secretary Andy Fillmore for a candid conversation on public spaces and COVID-19. From equity-based placemaking and public safety to community development and resilience, you’ll hear from leading place-makers, activists and thinkers who will explore what’s working, what’s not, and what’s next for community-led solutions across Canada. It will also be an opportunity to learn more about the forthcoming Healthy Communities Initiative. This event will take place in French and English with ASL and LSQ interpretation. A recording of the event will also be made available if you are unable to attend live. 8 80 Cities will be in touch again later this week to share more information on how you and your organization can participate in the Healthy Communities Initiative. [image: Twitter] <https://880cities.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=49b51d71f0a96500f24124…> [image: Facebook] <https://880cities.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=49b51d71f0a96500f24124…> [image: Website] <https://880cities.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=49b51d71f0a96500f24124…> *Copyright © 2020. 8 80 Cities. All rights reserved.* *Our mailing address is:* 372 - 401 Richmond Street West Toronto, M5V 3A8 Canada

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WFP: Winnipeg Trails breaks ground on more than 30 ski and walking loops in city neighbourhoods (Feb8'21)
by Beth McKechnie 08 Feb '21

08 Feb '21

Winnipeg Trails breaks ground on more than 30 cross-country ski and walking loops in city neighbourhoods MAKING TRAILS, MAKING CONNECTIONS https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/making-trails-making-connections-57… WINNIPEG’S winter sport enthusiasts have more places to go for a ski, snowshoe or hike now that Winnipeg Trails has broken ground on more than 30 cross-country ski and walking loops in neighbourhoods around the city. “One of the most beautiful things about winter is the new trails that it opens up for people,” said executive director Anders Swanson. “It basically creates bridges all over the city on a temporary basis. So it inspired us to see what we could do about increasing access to trails, at least for the winter, in places close to people’s homes.” Planning for the extra trails began in July as Winnipeg Trails started thinking about what a second wave of COVID-19 cases and lockdown rules would mean for Winnipeggers this winter. “The idea ultimately comes from the need for human beings to connect, and it turns out one of the few places we can do that has been outside,” Swanson said. “We are in the business of community-building more than anything else. We do that by connecting people with safe and comfortable ways to be outside and to move so that we can see each other face to face.” More than 30 sites are underway in neighbourhoods such as St. Boniface, Dufferin, Garden City and Tuxedo. Dozens more approved by the city are still to come. “The whole point of this project was to make sure there was some winter fun near you for Winnipeggers; there are sites in every neighbourhood basically,” Swanson said. The trails are built and maintained by a team of volunteers, Swanson said. The crew can make three or four trails a day, and the sites come with benches and sculptures — built of snow, of course — for visitors to use to put on skis or sit for a cup of cocoa. The trails are made by a machine Swanson describes as the “Swiss army knife of trail building.” It looks like a snowmobile cut in half, he said, and can be fitted with different attachments to carve out ski trails or pack snow for walking and biking. The broader Winterpeg project is designed to “spark a little joy” in the city, Swanson said. For those who may not be into skiing, there are opportunities to walk, bike, snowshoe, build snowmen or ice candles, among activities showcased on the organization’s website. For those who want to try skiing for the first time, Winterpeg will offer a mobile ski library to take free ski rentals and guides to loops around the city. “It goes hand in hand with Winterpeg and building the trails,” said Jenny Sawatzky, who runs the Icicle Garden, a gear library that has ski and snowshoe rentals. “People who maybe don’t have access to a car or can’t afford it, show up and try some skis out.” Though the Icicle Garden, based out of the Bicycle Garden storefront on Sherbrook Street, has been in operation all season, the new mobile option is intended to run events and encourage access to winter sports for all Winnipeggers. Sawatzky said the gear library has been a huge success. The storefront has been busy every day, she said, and has had an influx of donations of both money and winter gear. “Everybody has been very grateful that we opened. Feedback has been positive every time,” Sawatzky said. “Everyone’s been fairly generous.” That ski library has been a major source of funding for the trail program: donations for rentals are funneled into the trail-making efforts. The Winterpeg team has received funding from the federal EcoCanada internship program and the City of Winnipeg’s wellness fund. Swanson noted city councillors have roundly supported the trail-building effort, and helped secure the $5,000 in municipal funding. Swanson said the team at Winnipeg Trails and Winterpeg would love to see the entire city connected with ski and walking trails — and bike paths for the warmer seasons — so residents can enjoy time outside with ease year-round. “There are some places where the people in the area already might have skis… and there are some areas in the city, for example, with a lot of newcomers to Canada from countries that may not have long winters, and they’re not as used to it,” said Swanson. “We’re not expecting those to be as popular right away, but it’s one of the reasons why we’re bringing the mobile ski library out, so people get a chance to try.” Swanson said his favourite part is the opportunity to watch people discover the joy of skiing. julia-simone.rutgers(a)freepress.mb.ca <julia-simone.rutgers(a)freepress.mb.ca> Twitter: @jsrutgers

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WFP: Bundle up and get active with Jack Frost Challenge
by Beth McKechnie 07 Feb '21

07 Feb '21

Bundle up and get active with Jack Frost Challenge KRIS Kuzdub will be taking extra care while bundling up before heading outside this week as the forecasted high for today is pegged at -25 C and with the wind chill considered it could feel colder than -40 C at times. Today also marks the start of Winnipeg’s Green Action Centre’s Jack Frost Challenge. All week, teams and individuals will be competing against one another to log the most outdoor, active kilometres. Kuzdub, the Green Action Centre’s sustainable transportation co-ordinator, says maybe it would have been nice if the challenge landed during one of the more moderate weather weeks, but she thinks the encouragement to get out the door might be needed now more than ever — even if it’s just for a quick walk around the block. “Manitobans are tough, we can do it. Just bundle up,” Kuzdub told the Free Press. After activities outside, participants log onto the website and track their kilometres. There are participation prizes, as well as prizes for the most kilometres logged by a team and by an individual. A reminder to readers that Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued an extreme cold warning for all of Manitoba and notes in this week’s forecasts that frostbite is possible within minutes if the proper precautions aren’t taken and skin is exposed. Kuzdub said unlike other commuter challenges hosted by the centre, people don’t need to be travelling long distances, simply getting outside and making a snowman and using your smartphone to count your steps will do. “People need this this year, myself included,” Kuzdub said. In 2020, the Jack Frost Challenge had 1,400 individuals registered to compete and more than 220 teams. This year, as the competition marks its 10th anniversary, more than a thousand individuals have signed up with more than 400 teams registered. Linda Loewen lives in North Kildonan and has signed up for the group competition for the first time this year. She registered with two friends and a friend of a friend. They won’t be trying any of the currently trendy outdoor activities such as fat biking or cross-country skiing, instead, they’ll be sticking to the basics and walking as much as they can. Loewen says she wasn’t much of a walker before, but since the pandemic began she’s found peace and beauty in just walking around her neighbourhood and down the river paths. “It made me appreciate it more than I probably would have in the past,” Loewen said She’s particularly fallen in love with Fraser’s Grove Park and has made it a ritual to walk past it every time she is on her way home. “I’ve seen the seasons pass. I started walking when there was still ice and snow then watched as the river melted… That’s my quiet, peaceful meditative time.” Loewen signed up for the Jack Frost Challenge because despite the peace walking has offered her in the last year, she’s struggled to get moving again since the holidays. “We just need to get outside because we’ve been so cooped up and people are feeling that. People might just need that little extra push,” Kuzdub said. She also hopes the challenge has some of the lasting effects it aims for every year, such as helping people appreciate the time outside, and maybe learn that biking to work or walking to the grocery store wasn’t as much of a chore as they’d built it up to be in their minds. In order to show the impact, the Green Action Centre tracks the cumulative kilometres moved and travelled by participants. In 2020, it was a total of 28,497 km, and if the same distance were covered in a car, it would have created approximately 6,348 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, their estimates show. It demonstrates that every climate action matters, Kuzdub said, and it also burns calories and is fun — so there’s really no downside. The competition runs from today to Feb. 13 and people can still register at greenactioncentre.ca/jackfrostchallenge. sarah.lawrynuik(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @SarahLawrynuik

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Safety of Bicycle Infrastructure in Canada | TAC webinar slides
by Beth McKechnie 03 Feb '21

03 Feb '21

Hi everyone, In case you missed it yesterday, TAC hosted an interesting webinar on the safety of bicycle infrastructure in Canada presented by Dr. Jeannette Montufar of MORR Consulting in Winnipeg. Here are the slides for reference. If a recording link is provided, I will circulate later. cheers, Beth -- Beth McKechnie (she/her) *| *Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> *We are located on Treaty 1 Territory and the homeland of the Métis Nation. The water we drink comes from Shoal Lake First Nation. * Green Action Centre is your green living hub Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://www.gomanitoba.ca>

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What We Learned from Tracking Cycling Deaths for a Year
by Beth McKechnie 01 Feb '21

01 Feb '21

Deaths by Road Type The most dangerous place to be a cyclist, however, was on an arterial road, which we defined as a busy, multilane thoroughfare with traffic signals at intersections and speeds limits exceeding 30 miles per hour. Arterials accounted for 65 percent of the fatal crashes in our database. We saw that poorly designed intersections along these roads presented serious hazards for cyclists. While many had multiple lanes for cars, they had none for bikes. Furthermore, many had speed limits as high as 45 miles per hour. (Speed limits have been increasing in many parts of the country.) And numerous intersections on arterials allow vehicles to turn right on a red light, or have several turning lanes, which makes it much more likely that a driver won’t see a cyclist while they are turning. BikeMaps.org executive director Karen Laberee adds that cars making unprotected left turns—those with no dedicated left-turn light—are especially hazardous, because a driver may be watching for other cars coming in the opposite direction but not for cyclists or pedestrians. “A left turn is a particularly challenging maneuver cognitively <https://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/the-cure-for-killer-cars/> for a driver—there’s a lot going on for them to process,” Laberee says. One solution is to restrict concurrent movement, with separate light cycles for left-turning vehicles, vehicles driving straight, and pedestrians and cyclists, she says. That way, only vehicles or pedestrians are going through the intersection at one time. Full article: https://www.outsideonline.com/2420196/what-we-learned-tracking-cycling-deat…

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WFP: New Flyer in automated bus driver’s seat (Jan30'21)
by Beth McKechnie 30 Jan '21

30 Jan '21

AV pilot project running in U.S. rapid transit corridor NFI in automated bus driver’s seat https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/nfi-in-automated-bus-drivers-sea… ON Friday, NFI Group officially launched North America’s first fully operational automated transit bus, once again staking its claim as the industry leader. The bus maker has been working for more than a year with Maryland-based Robotic Research LLC to fit out its Xcelsior battery-electric model with all the technology that allows it to navigate autonomously through city streets as well as expertly dock three inches from the curb and deploy accessibility ramps for passengers. The bus is currently operating in a pilot project with the Connecticut Department of Transportation on the CTFastrak, a dedicated nine-mile-long bus rapid transit corridor that runs between downtown Hartford and downtown New Britain. The bus uses sensors, radar, LIDAR (sometimes referred to as laser radar) and cameras to create a 360-degree digital 3D modelling of the environment. It can digitally communicate with other vehicles and infrastructure like traffic lights and the technology will work day or night and with or without satellite GPS. It has integrated so-called advanced driver-assistance systems achieving level four certification with the Society of Automotive Engineers. In a virtual presentation on Friday, Chris Stoddart, president of New Flyer, referenced recent comments made by General Motors CEO Mary Barra, about creating a world with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion. “I could not have said it better myself,” he said. “What we are unveiling today will help fulfil that vision.” Industry proponents believe autonomous vehicles will reduce accidents — 94 per cent of the most serious ones are caused by human error — reduce travel time and be more efficient because of reduced maintenance. While New Flyer currently has its hands full managing delayed orders and a disrupted order book caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the company hopes to be fully on top of automated bus technology when the time comes. Company officials were clear that regulations are a long way from catching up to autonomous technology which is not currently able to be deployed in public transit on shared roadways except in controlled environments like the one in Connecticut. But Stoddart said, “In the coming decades we anticipate fleets of automated buses improving road safety and potentially improving commute times, increasing energy efficiency and reducing congestion.” But before that becomes a reality, North American cities have to make some significant commitments to getting people out of their cars and redesigning streets. “First of all, cities need to dedicate resources to urban redesign,” said Jennifer McNeill, New Flyer’s vice president of sales and marketing. “Cities have to dedicate laneways for buses. Transit buses have to be privileged over, or in tandem with, vehicles. Once that starts to happen, AV (autonomous vehicles) can happen.” In a panel discussion with industry experts at NFI Group’s virtual investor day held earlier this month, Josipa Petrunic, the president and CEO of the Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium, said although there has been plenty of talk and development of autonomous vehicle technology, it won’t happen until a couple of things take place. “Cities (need to) dedicate time and effort to urban redesign,” she said. “And the second thing that has to happen is that cities have to set a gold standard or target for why they’re deploying AV shuttles or buses. And the target has to be: move more people and kill cars. It has to be that. If it’s anything else, there’s no point in deploying AV technology.” New Flyer has already started the process of encouraging cities in that direction. In March it’s holding a free virtual session on workforce development and training related to the Xcelsior autonomous vehicle. martin.cash(a)freepress.mb.ca

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WFP: Councillor takes aim at surface parking lots (Jan27'21)
by Beth McKechnie 27 Jan '21

27 Jan '21

*Councillor takes aim at surface parking lots * * Allard wants council to have more say in how land used* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/councillor-takes-aim-at-surface-par… A WINNIPEG councillor is calling for the city to find ways to prevent street-level parking lots from being set up after commercial and industrial buildings get torn down. “I’m looking at ways to essentially curb this and ensure we end up with at least a say, as a council, on how much of our urban form is surface parking lots, as opposed to buildings,” said St. Boniface Coun. Matt Allard. “Buildings… generate more property values and lead to a more sustainable city than a city full of surface parking lots, which I think Winnipeg has a lot of.” Since commercial and industrial demolitions that lack new building permits aren’t subject to a public hearing process, despite the fact similar applications for residential homes require such as hearing, Allard said the city should try to increase oversight. If Allard’s motion is approved by council’s property and development committee, a public service report will check out how other cities address the issue. The councillor said he was inspired to take action after a commercial building at 384 Tache Ave. was torn down in 2018 and replaced with a surface parking lot. Allard said his new motion isn’t meant to criticize the owners of that particular lot, but aims to see council get more control over future property changes. “It just brought forward the policy issue that commercial buildings can go down, industrial buildings can go down and there’s no public hearing. (With) residential, you do have that public hearing and, in some cases, the area councillor and the community committee can turn them down and the end result is you have a building and not a surface parking lot,” said Allard. While some Winnipeg drivers might find them convenient, Allard said he believes surface parking lots aren’t the best use of space, since they prevent density and impede the city’s climate change goals. “The more surface parking lots there are, the more Winnipeggers will be choosing the single-passenger vehicle trip (to reach their destinations),” said Allard. Winnipegger Stephane Dorge said he believes that while some surface parking lots may be required, the city should address an “excessive” amount of them in and around downtown. “I definitely think there’s a better use of land than surface parking… To me, it creates dead zones instead of having neighbourhood activity or resources or storefronts that residents could access,” said Dorge. The city has attempted to reduce the number of downtown surface parking lots for several years. As of 2018, 150 surface parking lots took up about 20 per cent of Winnipeg’s downtown real estate. A development permit is required to legally set up a surface parking lot in Winnipeg. Land owners who skip that step can face an enforcement process, the city noted in an emailed statement. If the property and development committee approves Allard’s motion next month, the report would be expected in four months. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb <joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca>.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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Ridar Systems partners with HERE Technologies to detect bicycles and motorcycles more accurately - Green Car Congress
by Terry Zdan 27 Jan '21

27 Jan '21

https://www.greencarcongress.com/2021/01/20210127-ridar.html

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WFP Analysis: Parking minimums stifle development (Jan25'21)
by Beth McKechnie 26 Jan '21

26 Jan '21

*Parking minimums stifle development * *https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/parking-minimums-stifle-development-573655122.html* <https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/parking-minimums-stifle-…> FOR the next few weeks, the City of Winnipeg is seeking public feedback on the Winnipeg Parking Strategy, a five-year vision to manage vehicle parking across the city. It may not sound glamorous, but parking is quietly one of the most powerful forces shaping our cities, having a fundamental influence on cost of living, neighbourhood form and character, and building design. Six months ago, Edmonton became the first major Canadian city to eliminate parking minimums for new development. The new strategy presents an opportunity for Winnipeg to follow this lead. Parking minimums are municipal-government regulations that dictate the number of parking stalls a new development must include on its property. The ratio is derived from a decades-old formula based on building size and whether it’s a new house, apartment block, commercial building or other use. In Winnipeg, outside of downtown, 1.5 parking stalls are required for every residential unit, reduced to 1.2 in some inner-city areas. An important shortcoming of these blanket ratios is that they do not account for variables influencing the amount of parking actually required, such as vehicle ownership in the neighbourhood, adjacent amenities, transit access, suite sizes, demographics and evolving mobility trends. Mandated parking levels have resulted in significantly more parking being built than is required. Studies have found in the United States, there are as many as eight parking stalls for every vehicle, which is likely similar in car-dominant Canadian cities such as Winnipeg. Before Edmonton implemented its new policy, a thorough study was undertaken that found only seven per cent of parking lots city-wide are full at peak times and, overall, parking lots are typically no more than 40 per cent occupied. It was concluded that Edmonton has 50 per cent more parking than is needed. A 2018 study in metro Vancouver found that the rate of unused parking stalls in the region’s apartment buildings was between 35 and 40 per cent. The impact of this over-built parking is significant. The simple construction costs for parking can range from about $7,000 for a single surface stall to $40,000 for an above-ground parkade stall, and $60,000 or more for an underground stall. Knowing that range in cost, it is easy to understand why developers prefer suburban projects, surrounded by oceans of asphalt, over infill development with expensive enclosed parking. When parking minimums are required, it is effectively an incentive for urban sprawl. This high cost of parking is passed down to consumers, baked into rents and real-estate prices, the groceries we buy and the services we use. It can have a significant impact on housing affordability in a city. As an example, the little brick apartment buildings familiar to many inner-city Winnipeg neighbourhoods were often built with little or no parking. They provide valuable affordable housing opportunities in these neighbourhoods and are typically well leased. If one of those buildings burns down, it is impossible to replace because of mandatory parking requirements. For most of these buildings, filling the entire property with parking alone would not meet the requirements,and if parking is located underground, affordability is lost. Overbuilt parking pushes buildings farther apart, which has the cumulative effect of reducing urban density, increasing infrastructure needs and diminishing the walkability of a neighbourhood. The impacts of parking on the pedestrian quality of a street can be seen side-by-side on Winnipeg’s Corydon Avenue, where older buildings built to the property line with active storefronts along the sidewalk have created an attractive street to walk down. New developments have been set back from the sidewalk behind parking lots, increasing walking distances, reducing visual interest, and making the street feel less safe and less attractive to shoppers and residents. Eliminating parking minimums does not mean eliminating parking; it instead allows developers to build what they need. Developers have a strong incentive to find the balance between building as little parking as possible and building so little that their investment becomes impossible to lease. When the market, rather than government, decides how much parking should be built, developers can be more targeted, flexible and able to incorporate less impactful solutions, which generally results in more appropriate parking amounts being built. Parking minimums were established in the 1960s out of a fear from neighbourhood residents that new development would cause an increase in street parking. This is still a primary source of opposition to new development today. Cities that are eliminating minimums are dealing with this by taking a proactive approach to managing on-street parking. Requiring the purchase of neighbourhood parking permits, as an example, allows the city to control who is parking on the streets, ensuring that new development is not freeloading, as well as signalling to homeowners that on-street car storage does not come free with the purchase of their property. Cities that can balance strong parking management policies with elimination of parking minimums for new development will see more appropriate amounts of parking built in the future, resulting in higher levels of investment and development, greater housing affordability, higher density and more sustainable infill growth, as well as more vibrant and beautiful streets and neighbourhoods. *Brent Bellamy is senior design architect for Number Ten Architectural Group.*

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WFP: EPC puts brakes on speed limit plebiscite (Jan21'21)
by Beth McKechnie 21 Jan '21

21 Jan '21

*EPC puts brakes on speed limit plebiscite * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/epc-puts-brakes-on-speed-limit-pleb… WINNIPEGGERS will not get to vote on whether they support lowering the default 50 km/h speed limit on residential streets. Coun. Shawn Nason’s call for the city to hold a plebiscite during the 2022 municipal election, or a mayoral byelection, was rejected by the executive policy committee Wednesday. Council’s most powerful committee decided to receive the idea as information, which means no action will be taken on it, a decision only Coun. Jeff Browaty opposed. Mayor Brian Bowman, along with councillors Matt Allard, Scott Gillingham, Cindy Gilroy, Brian Mayes and Sherri Rollins voted not to pursue the change. Nason argued a plebiscite would be a fair way to seek feedback from all residents before deciding if a major change should take place. “My (request)… is to engage our community on a question that touches, I believe, every member of this city,” Nason told EPC members. Several Winnipeggers spoke out against a plebiscite at the committee hearing, arguing that lower speed limits would reduce the risk of a serious or fatal injury in a crash, making the matter a safety issue that should be guided by research. “The issue of safety should not be up for debate... these things should not be in the realm of, nor be swayed by, the public opinion of the day. Instead, decisions on such issues must remain firmly in the hands of those with the knowledge and expertise to make those decisions,” said Kira Coulter, who spoke on behalf of the advocacy group Safe Speeds Winnipeg. Prior to the decision, Rollins argued that letting Winnipeggers vote on the topic would amount to shifting responsibility for what should be a policy decision made by elected officials. The mayor said he rejected the motion because it would tie city council’s hands and prevent it from taking any action on the file. “I think city hall needs to be open to the topic of lowering speed limits. We’re doing some policy work right now and I’m looking forward to reviewing that work… I’m trying to be guided by the input of road safety engineers and I’m trying to look at it through that lens,” said Bowman. The mayor noted the city has not decided whether to lower the default speed limit. In July, council approved a pilot project to test a 30 km/h speed limit on five residential streets in a one-year period. It’s not clear when that will begin. For many months, advocates have repeatedly lobbied the city to reduce the default residential speed limit to 30 km/h. However, an online petition against that proposal has gathered almost 9,000 signatures. Winnipegger Ray Hignell said he’s among those who don’t think a reduced speed limit is justified. He said he’s disappointed the plebiscite won’t occur. Hignell said he believes crashes that kill pedestrians tend to happen on busier streets, not residential ones, so he’s not convinced a speed limit reduction is warranted. “This city seems determined to slow down traffic, impede people’s progress and there’s no facts that I have seen... that suggest there really is a problem,” he said. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb <joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca>.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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PSU Study Evaluates Impact of Speed Limit Reductions on Driver Speeds
by Beth McKechnie 21 Jan '21

21 Jan '21

PSU Study Evaluates Impact of Speed Limit Reductions in Portland, OR on Driver Speeds In 2015 the City of Portland adopted a Vision Zero plan. Crash data revealed that speed was a contributing factor in 47% of fatal crashes in Portland. In 2018, the City Council reduced the speed limit on all residential streets to 20 mph. Funded by the Portland Bureau of Transportation and conducted at PSU by Monsere, Kothuri and Jason Anderson, this study looked at the before and after the speed limit changes at 58 locations and found that the change likely reduced driving speeds by small but significant amounts. The speed reduction in the percentage of vehicles faster than 30 mph and 35 mph on residential streets are larger in magnitude than other observed impacts. https://trec.pdx.edu/news/effect-residential-street-speed-limit-reduction-2…

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WFP: City drops plan for bike-share program (Jan20'21)
by Beth McKechnie 20 Jan '21

20 Jan '21

City drops plan for bike-share program https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/city-drops-plan-for-bike-share-prog… THE city has hit the brakes on a bikeshare pilot project after a request for expressions of interest failed to find anyone willing to operate the program. Winnipeg had planned to spend $80,000 on a trial project that would allow traditional and electric bikes to be shared as a transportation alternative. Instead, it will back out of that option after officials concluded it would cost too much for the city to run the project on its own. While the effort began as an innovation project in 2019, it was cancelled before the city spent any money on it. “It would be a nice thing to have but it’s just not one of those super-feasible things to do without a large amount of public or private funding,” said innovation committee chair Coun. Jeff Browaty. A civic report noted there had been one expression of interest, but the company asked the city to purchase bikes and other equipment and, as a result, was rejected. Browaty (North Kildonan) said he expects the program would simply cost too much to pursue alone. However, a local cycling group is continuing to explore the option. Mark Cohoe, the executive director of Bike Winnipeg, said his organization is conducting a feasibility study on bike-share programs. “People are looking for less reliance on private automobiles… (Bike shares) create a more equitable transportation system and you’re also creating something that involves a lot more climate-friendly options,” said Cohoe. He believes the city would benefit from the change, since bicycle travel could place less wear and tear on local roads and help Winnipeggers connect to Winnipeg Transit routes. Cohoe said bike-share programs can allow members to rent bikes for short periods or lease them on a monthly basis. He said that could include traditional and electric bikes. Cohoe said the city might be asked to invest in any program proposed by his group. Meanwhile, the city has also opted against expanding a solar trash-compacting pilot project after it deemed an initial test with 15 “Bigbelly” trash receptacles too limited to prove effective. Jim Berezowsky, the city’s public works director, said it would cost $1 million to install enough of the containers to cover one high-volume trash collection route. The innovation committee instead opted to let the current solar-powered bins remain in use until they need to be replaced. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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Reclaiming Public Space for People Beyond COVID-19
by Beth McKechnie 20 Jan '21

20 Jan '21

Examples of public space changes can be found around the world in some of the largest cities, but here in Canada, smaller cities have demonstrated that they too can take positive action. Lessons can be learned from three Canadian cities that have successfully modified their downtowns and made a case for permanent changes well beyond the pandemic. https://mobycon.com/updates/reclaiming-public-space-for-people-beyond-covid… <https://mobycon.com/updates/reclaiming-public-space-for-people-beyond-covid…>

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WFP: Studying slippery sidewalks (Jan16'21)
by Beth McKechnie 18 Jan '21

18 Jan '21

STUDYING SLIPPERY SIDEWALKS OPTIONS to make sidewalks easier to travel on during winter will be considered by city council. Council’s public works committee has ordered city staff to provide recommendations on how to make sidewalks and active transportation routes less slippery, despite our often lengthy season of ice and snow. The report is expected to study the health costs and outcomes linked to slips and falls on sidewalks. It’s also expected to consider how snow-clearing changes, ice treatments and other changes could improve the surfaces. Finally, it will also explore ways to improve walking conditions on roadsides where sidewalks aren’t available. The report is expected back in about six months.

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Free Webinar (January 21st) - Achieving Equity in Transportation
by Beth McKechnie 12 Jan '21

12 Jan '21

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Elliot Siemiatycki <Elliot(a)rideshark.com> Date: Tue, Jan 12, 2021 at 9:49 AM We are excited to start 2021 with a great free webinar on January 21st. We will have Dr. Steve Farber, a leading transportation researcher from the University of Toronto discussing equity and accessibility issues. *You can register **HERE* <https://rideshark.webex.com/rideshark/onstage/g.php?MTID=e1ff93dca6405a0d5a…> and feel free to share with any colleagues that might be interested. Best regards, Elliot Elliot Siemiatycki, PhD Vice President of Innovation and Strategic Initiatives Email: Elliot(a)RideShark.com www.RideShark.com <http://www.rideshark.com/> ------------------------------

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Webinar: Building Better Bike Friendly Communities Jan. 14
by Beth McKechnie 11 Jan '21

11 Jan '21

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Lauren Gabuzzi <lauren(a)downtownithaca.com> Date: Fri, Jan 8, 2021 at 3:38 PM Subject: [Transp-tdm] Webinar: Building Better Bike Friendly Communities Jan. 14 You are invited to join GO ITHACA for the Building Better Bike Friendly Communities Webinar on Thursday, January 14th from 12-1:30 pm EST. Registration is required. To Register Click Here <https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJItcO6urT4iE9K6afdxbpmwHuwnFmV-JIcD>. Feel free to eat your lunch while the presenters wow you with important ways to make our community (buildings, buildings, campus and more) bike-friendly! *Agenda* *Roughly 90-minute Webinar * Introduction Presentation Q&A *Presentations by * Bike Walk Tompkins: Hector Chang Bikes for All / Bikes Make Life Better: David L. Allen American League of Cyclists: Amelia Neptune *Our presenters will cover several topics including* Bike Walk Tompkins' Bicycling for Everyone Action Plan, American League of Cyclists' Bike Friendly Business program, Bike Friendly Community Program, and Bike Friendly University Program & Bike Back to Work strategy and Better Bike Infrastructure. Please make sure to register and send this invite to anyone you feel is interested in building better biking communities. We look forward to seeing you there! Best wishes, The GO ITHACA team Lauren Gabuzzi She/Her/Hers Downtown Ithaca Alliance TDM Program Manager Goithaca.org Cell: (607) 391-1389

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FW: TAC Learning Program | Upcoming Webinar
by Zdan, Terry (MI) 11 Jan '21

11 Jan '21

From: TAC-ATC Communications <secretariat(a)tac-atc.ca> Sent: January-11-21 9:14 AM To: Zdan, Terry (MI) <Terry.Zdan(a)gov.mb.ca> Subject: TAC Learning Program | Upcoming Webinar [Image] LEARNING PROGRAM | UPCOMING WEBINAR [Image] Safety Performance of Bicycle Infrastructure in Canada Tuesday, February 2 1:00-2:00 PM ET FREE The growth of cycling in Canada is spurring the development of infrastructure intended to better serve the safety and mobility needs of cyclists. This webinar will provide an overview of TAC’s new publication<https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBQDPDzUpg…> on the safety performance of bicycle infrastructure in Canada, including key findings related to: * The safety performance of different bicycle facility types * The factors that affect observed and perceived safety * Related data and knowledge gaps The webinar will also present a bicycle facility selection flowchart developed through this project. [Rounded Rectangle: More Info & Register] [Facebook]<https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBQDPDzUpg…> [Twitter]<https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBQDPDzUpg…> [LinkedIn]<https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBQDPDzUpg…> TAC © 2021 www.tac-atc.ca<https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBQDPDzUpg…> UNSUBSCRIBE<https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBQDPDzUpg…> Transportation Association of Canada 401-1111 Prince of Wales Drive, Ottawa, ON K2C 3T2 613-736-1350 | secretariat(a)tac-atc.ca<https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBQDPDzUpg…>

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Automobile Dependency: An Unequal Burden
by Beth McKechnie 08 Jan '21

08 Jan '21

*Todd Litman of the Victoria Transport Policy Institute analyses the unfair burden an auto-dependent transportation system places on lower income households, especially in the face of any disruption (such as a pandemic). Here's a sample:* https://www.planetizen.com/blogs/111535-automobile-dependency-unequal-burden <https://www.planetizen.com/blogs/111535-automobile-dependency-unequal-burden> Described differently, typical lower-income households can afford housing expenses (rent or mortgage) *or* vehicle expenses, but not both, and owning two vehicles is financially stressful for most households. Of course, many households own more vehicles and spend more on transportation than is considered affordable. This leaves them vulnerable to financial shocks, such as a vehicle failure, traffic collision, or reduced income, which explains why so many families must drive to food banks or require other types of financial assistance. For vulnerable households, a small vehicle problem can turn into a major financial and legal crisis. For example, a high-interest car loan for an unreliable vehicle, a vehicle crash, being caught driving unlicensed or uninsured, or an unpaid traffic citation can quickly expand to a morass of debt, injury, unemployment, legal strife, and sometimes jail. Default rates on high-risk, high-interest auto loans are increasing, leaving many low-income households with no vehicles, no money, and no credit. <https://www.planetizen.com/blogs/111535-automobile-dependency-unequal-burden> Ten Common Policies that Increase Automobile Dependency and Sprawl 1. Transportation planning that favors traffic speed over other goals (affordability, public health, social equity, community livability, environmental protection, etc.). 2. Roadway design that gives little consideration to walking, bicycling and public transit travel demands. 3. Zoning codes that limit density and compact housing types, such as townhouses and apartments. 4. Development policies that favor urban expansion over compact infill. 5. Parking minimums which mandate abundant parking supply. 6. Public facilities (schools, post offices, courts, etc.) located to maximize automobile access. 7. Dedicated roadway funding, which favors roadway spending over investments in other modes. 8. Fuel production subsidies and low fuel taxes. 9. Transportation planning that undercounts, overlooks and undervalues non-auto travel. 10. Travel models that ignore induced travel impacts, which exaggerates roadway expansion benefits. cheers, Beth -- Beth McKechnie (she/her) *| *Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> *We are located on Treaty 1 Territory and the homeland of the Métis Nation. The water we drink comes from Shoal Lake First Nation. * Green Action Centre is your green living hub Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://www.gomanitoba.ca>

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Free online course: Transforming Urban Mobility
by Beth McKechnie 08 Jan '21

08 Jan '21

Part 1: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/introducing-sustainable-urban-mobility Part 2: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/components-of-sustainable-urban-mobility -- Beth McKechnie (she/her) *| *Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> *We are located on Treaty 1 Territory and the homeland of the Métis Nation. The water we drink comes from Shoal Lake First Nation. * Green Action Centre is your green living hub Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://www.gomanitoba.ca>

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Sorry, Boys. The First Profitable Micromobility Company Was Veo, Not Lime
by Beth McKechnie 08 Jan '21

08 Jan '21

*Great quote from CEO and founder of Veo micromobility service provider: * I guess you can say, we are the anti-Tech bro company in the Tech Broiest of industries. And that was always intentional because our roots are in the Midwest, not Silicon Valley. I co-founded Veo because I truly believe shared micromobility can provide a vital sustainable transportation service to communities. Learn more: https://veo-mobility.medium.com/sorry-boys-the-first-profitable-micromobili… -- Beth McKechnie (she/her) *| *Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> *We are located on Treaty 1 Territory and the homeland of the Métis Nation. The water we drink comes from Shoal Lake First Nation. * Green Action Centre is your green living hub Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://www.gomanitoba.ca>

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Mobility Justice and Open/Slow Streets
by Beth McKechnie 08 Jan '21

08 Jan '21

Compelling article given criticisms and concerns that Winnipeg's Open Streets program does not extend to inner city and low income neighbourhoods: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-06/the-swift-disruptive-ris… cheers, Beth -- Beth McKechnie (she/her) *| *Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> *We are located on Treaty 1 Territory and the homeland of the Métis Nation. The water we drink comes from Shoal Lake First Nation. * Green Action Centre is your green living hub Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://www.gomanitoba.ca>

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WFP Analysis: Health restrictions redefine city spaces (Jan6'21)
by Beth McKechnie 06 Jan '21

06 Jan '21

Health restrictions redefine city spaces https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/health-restrictions-rede… WILL the COVID-19 pandemic prompt a shift to healthier cities that focus on wellness rather than functional and economic concerns? This is a hypothesis that seems to be supported by several researchers around the world. In many ways, containment and physical distancing measures have contributed to an increased recognition of the importance of public space as a gathering place and key tools for meeting people’s basic needs. Urban residents are more aware of the important role of this space as a living environment essential to their physical and psychological well-being. Forced isolation and social distancing during the pandemic have exacerbated solitude and anxiety for part of our population. Numerous studies show that loneliness is linked to major health issues, including depression, heart problems and reduced life expectancy. In recent decades, individualism, neo-liberal public policies and new technologies had already contributed to this isolation. Online shopping has gone so far as to deprive us of the micro-interactions that sometimes represented our only daily social contacts. Many Montrealers in forced isolation were able to appreciate the qualities of the city’s urban space by using their balconies, front yards and alleyways, which enabled them to maintain certain close contacts and exchanges with neighbours while respecting physical distancing. From conversations from one balcony to the other to picnics at a distance between neighbours in the alley, the domestic environment has been able to broaden, thanks to increased human contact. Public spaces, especially parks, have also proven to be essential for socialization, especially for young people. Access to nature, wide-open spaces and sports and leisure facilities has emerged as a vital need, with both individual and collective benefits. Walking, one of the only forms of exercise accessible to many people, has made it possible to escape from confinement with exposure to fresh air and sunshine. The pandemic has shown the advantages of converting some major streets into pedestrian walkways, even temporarily, and the need for wider sidewalks. It has also demonstrated the importance of large linear parks, such as the very popular Promenade Champlain in Quebec City and the banks of the Lachine Canal in Montreal. Cities around the world have realized the importance of maximizing access to public space. Throughout containment, there have been a variety of creative and low-cost initiatives to make urban spaces safe and suitable. In this, the pandemic may have caused an unintended casualty: the motorist’s view of the city. The new health context has provoked a collective awareness of the excessive space devoted to the automobile and the interest in putting this space at the service of people. There has been a significant increase in pedestrian and shared-use streets and more bicycle lanes. In Rotterdam, cars are banned from some major arteries after 4 p.m. so that pedestrians can use them. In Oakland, Calif., streets are being transformed into “slow streets” — mixed-use areas where cars are tolerated but no longer have priority. A paved access in Montreal’s Lafontaine Park is now devoted to bicycles. The transformation of on street parking into temporary café patios — a common phenomenon in Montreal over the past decade — has multiplied around the world. The commercial success of pedestrianized streets throughout Montreal has ensured the survival of small businesses, bars and restaurants. Artistic practices have multiplied, whether they be music, theatre, dance or multimedia projections, allowing artists to showcase themselves and earn a few cents. Other aspects of urban design could be affected by the pandemic, due to the risks of transmission. The slower rate of contagion in outdoor spaces means that it is safer to shop on a commercial street and in a public market than in a hermetically sealed shopping mall or large air-conditioned area. Buildings will also have to be redesigned to offer more natural ventilation and outdoor spaces, be they individual or communal. These could take the form of rooftop terraces, courtyards and balconies. In the city, common spaces and facilities such as bus shelters, sidewalks, pedestrian crossings and rest areas will have to be redesigned in a sustainable way. Some temporary reallocations of car space may well become permanent after the end of the pandemic. There is already increased use of active transportation, which can have a positive long-term effect on urban congestion and public health. Many cities are rethinking their entire urban mobility system. Paris is already planning to remove 72 per cent of on street parking spaces to make more space for bicycles. The pandemic will thus have accelerated already emerging trends toward a healthier, more humane and active city, creating new habits that may outlive it. Paradoxically, COVID-19 may also have long-term public-health benefits, promoting a more active, self-reliant and supportive population. *Anne-Marie Broudehoux is director of graduate programs at the Université du Québec à Montréal’s school of design. * *This article has been edited for length; the full version can be seen at winnipegfreepress.com or theconversation.com/ca.*

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WFP Sou'wester: Community survey results are in (Jan4'21)
by Beth McKechnie 06 Jan '21

06 Jan '21

Community survey results are in https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/souwester/forum/Community… During the summer, my staff and I created a community needs assessment survey and sent it out to all Fort Garry constituents. We received approximately 100 responses from folks in Fort Garry. Thank you to those who completed the survey. This valuable input will allow me to better represent the constituency and I want to share some common themes that we heard about in your responses. First, I want to take a moment to celebrate the diversity within our constituency. Many respondents have lived in Fort Garry for well over a decade, while others have recently moved here. In recent years, demographics have changed rapidly as more young families, newcomers, and students have arrived in the constituency. I am so proud to represent such a diverse community, and I am committed to representing the diverse needs of our constituency in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. *A common theme in the feedback was the need for increased active transportation infrastructure in Fort Garry. We heard from many folks who want to see more sidewalks, bike lanes, and improvements to road safety to increase safety for pedestrians. During the pandemic, getting outside in the community has been so important for the mental and physical health of Manitobans. I applauded the City of Winnipeg for closing many different streets during the summer to promote active transportation, and I continue to advocate for extended closures of these streets so that Fort Garry residents can continue to enjoy the outdoors safely in our community.* *We also heard from Fort Garry residents that there is a strong desire for better public transportation options and improved access to basic needs like groceries and other essential services.* I understand that ensuring access to transportation and essential services is more important than ever. As we move forward, I will continue to advocate for improvements that will make Fort Garry more accessible, healthy, and vibrant. While this edition of our community survey has since closed, we always welcome your feedback and ideas to improve life for everyone in the constituency. You can call or email my office at mark.wasyliw(a)yourmanitoba.ca or 204-421-4241. I wish you a safe and happy new year! [image: Mark Wasyliw] *Mark Wasyliw* *Fort Garry constituency report* Mark Wasyliw is the NDP MLA for Fort Garry.

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CBC: Ice bikes and new skating trail introduced at Calgary's Bowness Park
by Beth McKechnie 05 Jan '21

05 Jan '21

Like a regular bicycle on a sled platform, they 'are a safe, stable alternative to skating' https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/bowness-park-calgary-ice-bikes-trail…

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WFP: City’s slushy sidewalks make for serpentine strolls (Jan5'21)
by Beth McKechnie 05 Jan '21

05 Jan '21

Mild, windy weather turns freshly cleared paths into slippery, wet obstacle courses City’s slushy sidewalks make for serpentine strolls https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/slushy-sidewalks-make-for-serpentin… MAKING use of some Winnipeg sidewalks right now requires some fancy footwork to stay out of the unseasonably slushy morass. The recent mild spell has made the prospect of a fresh-air stroll appealing to many pandemic-forced shut-ins, but it’s important to watch your step. Michael Cantor, the city’s manager of streets maintenance, said that even though the sidewalks were cleared of a recent snowfall by Sunday evening, navigation may still prove challenging, partly due to wind and mild weather that quickly messed up freshly cleaned paths. “It’s usually (due to) blown-in (snow). And… when temperatures go up, the packed snow that was there got a little slushy,” said Cantor. “In conditions like that, it’s difficult for wheelchair users, so when we get calls and we inspect (these places) and we see some trouble areas, we replow them.” Residents made their concerns known across social-media platforms. Abnormally warm conditions, which saw Winnipeg’s temperature rise just above the freezing mark Monday, means hard-frozen snow that would typically offer an even walking surface has softened into slick, treacherous little mounds of slush. “We plow to a compacted snow condition, not bare pavement all the time.… (If) you have two centimetres of compacted snow, you can walk on it when it’s -10 C. But when it becomes 1 C, it could become slushy and then it’s harder to pass,” said Cantor. He urged Winnipeggers who see trouble spots to call 311 to report them. While some Winnipeggers criticized the city for slush piles along the edges of some roads, Cantor said the city’s snow-clearing policy doesn’t require it to deal with residential streets yet. The policy calls for residential street clearing when an inspection deems the routes impassable, which may (but is not guaranteed to) occur after at least 10 cm of snow falls. Since climate change is expected to trigger an increasing number of unseasonably warm winter days, some Winnipeggers are urging the city to explore new winter street-grooming options. “As the climate changes and these freeze-thaw periods are something we see a lot more of… I think it is something the city needs to think about,” said Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg. “Instead of having that solid, sort of packed snow base (these conditions create) this slushy mound. It takes a lot more energy to move around in.” Cohoe said he’d like the city to consider making travel easier for pedestrians and cyclists on sidewalks and pathways, possibly through clearing efforts aimed at slush removal. Lindsey Wilson, the chairman of the Island Lakes Residents’ Group, said he believes the city has done a good job plowing sidewalks, but he hopes more will be done to combat the ice that can make sidewalks slick after freezing rainfall, especially just before and after winter. “It becomes hard to walk and there’s a ton of people walking these days,” he said. The city does appear set to study ways to make sidewalks and active transportation routes less dangerous during winter. Coun. Matt Allard (St. Boniface) raised a successful motion at Monday’s Riel community committee meeting that would direct city staff to study how best to make such paths less slippery. The motion asks the public service to study the health costs of slips and falls on those routes and report on ways to make them safer, which could be tested via pilot projects. “I’m looking to ask the public service for a higher level of service. I think that we’re doing the best we can with available resources. But, certainly, we could do better if we were to allocate more resources,” said Allard, the chairman of council’s public works committee. The study requires the approval of council’s public works committee. Allard said he wants the report to consider increasing sand and salt treatments to add traction, acquiring new snow- and ice-control equipment and possible changes to snow-clearing schedules. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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FYI How accessibility in the transportation system affects well-being
by Zdan, Terry (MI) 05 Jan '21

05 Jan '21

How accessibility in the transportation system affects well-being https://www.itf-oecd.org/sites/default/files/docs/dimensions-accessibility-… 181652 How accessibility in the transportation system affects well-being Dimensions of Accessibility Benefits<https://www.itf-oecd.org/sites/default/files/docs/dimensions-accessibility-…>, released by the International Transport Forum [cid:image018.jpg@01D6DF7C.29ACAF50] [The COVID-19 pandemic in Canada]<https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https://curio.ca/en/collection/the-covi…>Terry Zdan, BA MEDes [Google (Android 10)] "...Resilience is the ability to prepare and plan for, absorb, recover from, and more successfully adapt to adverse events..." þ Think green, read on screen | Soyez écolo, lisez à l'écran

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WFP: Portage and Main concourse overhaul could hit $47M (Dec31'20)
by Beth McKechnie 31 Dec '20

31 Dec '20

Engineering report says waterproofing membrane, most mechanical and electrical systems need replacing Portage and Main concourse overhaul could hit $47M https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/portage-and-main-overhaul-could-hit… THE City of Winnipeg was once warned the full cost to repair and update the underground concourse at Portage Avenue and Main Street could reach as high as $46.8 million. That potential tab includes $12.6 million to repair the underground over the next 10 years ($16.8 million with inflation), according to the “Portage & Main Underground Concourse Facility Condition Assessment report” written by SMS Engineering Ltd. in May 2019. The cost could soar another $15 million to $20 million higher, if surface work to get access to the roof membrane is included, raising the total price to $32.6 million ($46.8 million with inflation), the report adds. The report cautions that the roof membrane price is a preliminary estimate. The city stresses there’s still work to do to pin down a final price. “At this point in time, those estimates… do not include actual costs or contingencies,” said Kalen Qually, a city spokesman, in an email. The engineering report was posted online with a new request for proposals. The RFP seeks a consultant to design the most immediate and critical underground repairs at the Portage and Main concourse, which opened in 1979, and determine a more refined cost estimate for the work. That plan will address repairs that are required over the next five to 10 years to keep the concourse “accessible and available to the public while the city continues to develop a more comprehensive investment strategy,” wrote Qually. The head of council’s property and development committee said the need for repairs at the aging concourse is obvious. “There’s a lot of work that we know needs to be done. Of course, any time we have (a price estimate) that high it is a bit of a shock… We would have to look at this closely,” said Coun. Cindy Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre). Gilroy said she believes some of the repairs are critical, including those that address safety. The engineering report details many problems at the aging concourse, including a Portage Avenue skylight that “leaks during any major rain event.” It concludes the waterproofing membrane, most of the mechanical systems and most of the electrical systems are “beyond their theoretical service life” and should be replaced. It also found the site’s “obsolete” fire alarm doesn’t meet current code or life safety standards. Investments in Portage and Main have become a hot topic, especially since Winnipeggers voted against reopening the intersection’s aboveground crossing to pedestrians in 2018. Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital), a former property and development chairman, stressed the underground repairs can’t be ignored, even if pedestrian access never resumes. “It’s not like if we just agreed to crossing at grade, we could have avoided all this cost. It’s some aging infrastructure that needs to be fixed up,” said Mayes. The RFP calls for detailed drawings to repair leakage to concrete foundation walls, a complete roofing system replacement and a skylight replacement at 210 Portage Ave. It also calls for repair and/or replacement plans for some electrical, pipe, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system), and fire protection elements. While the contractor is expected to provide a schedule for the work, the RFP notes “the city has no obligation to proceed with the construction services… until sufficient funding is available.” Qually confirmed funding has not been approved for the construction work at this point. The city expects to award the contract in March 2021. Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan) said the public service will also seek a second consultant in January to address “intersection revitalization” for Portage and Main, which he said would look at sidewalk enhancements and the renewal of the roof membrane. However, Browaty stressed he believes the city must complete access agreements with property owners at the intersection before it sets aside new funding for the concourse. “I don’t think we should be spending a single dime right now, until we figure out what the sharing agreement is going to be with our partners, beyond the absolute bare minimum in maintenance to keep it open,” he said. Browaty, who was a vocal opponent of reopening Portage and Main to pedestrians, said he agrees some underground upgrades and repairs are necessary. Joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: Plebiscite should decide speed limit question, councillor says (Dec24'20)
by Beth McKechnie 25 Dec '20

25 Dec '20

*(Portage & Main all over again...)* Plebiscite should decide speed limit question, councillor says https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/plebiscite-should-decide-speed-limi… <https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/plebiscite-should-decide-speed-limi…> Coun. Shawn Nason hopes to put to rest the issue of reducing the speed limit on residential streets, by calling for a plebiscite in 2022, when voters elect a new mayor and council. "This has been an ongoing dialogue in the City of Winnipeg likely before I was elected," said Nason. "There’s lots of talk of is it 30 km/h? Is it 40 km/h? Or do we maintain the 50 km/h? My residents in Transcona have said very loudly and clearly they want to maintain the current limit." Nason said a plebiscite is the best way to let Winnipeggers have a say in the matter. He added that he supports maintaining the 50 km/h speed limit and believes the public does, too. "Residential neighbourhoods in the City of Winnipeg have been 50 km/h forever and a day and there doesn’t seem to be a want and desire by the mass majority to make any changes of that nature, nor to spend the money it would take to do such an undertaking," he said. The speed limit on residential areas isn’t the problem, said Nason, it’s that drivers need to be more aware of their surroundings. "Safe operation on the streets, that is where the biggest challenges come from on our residential streets," he said. "People need to drive for conditions and be aware that people might not be aware of their surroundings. We’re driving two-tonne vehicles, we need to take the abundance of caution that those who are riding bikes, playing street hockey, might not be alert and aware of what’s coming at them." The idea of reducing the speed limit on residential streets was raised at the Dec. 4 public works committee. Nason said he believes the committee chairman, Coun. Matt Allard (St. Boniface), wants to spend $1.8 million to lower the speed limit to 30 km/h and put up signage in residential areas. "If we do that citywide, that’s an exponential amount of money," said Nason. Nason plans to present his idea for a plebiscite at the next East Kildonan-Transcona community committee meeting on Jan. 5. Two of three councillors must approve the idea for it to be considered by other city committees. "This will go up to the mayor and his committee if they look at this or accept this as information, I do hope they give it some consideration." kellen.taniguchi(a)freepress.mb.ca <https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/plebiscite-should-decide-speed-limi…>

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[SUSPICIOUS MESSAGE] WFP: Province asks city to redirect federal transit funding (Dec18'20)
by Beth McKechnie 18 Dec '20

18 Dec '20

===== UofM Email Security Notice - SUSPICIOUS MESSAGE ===== The message below may be a potential threat. It may trick victims into clicking a link and downloading malware. Do not open suspicious links. If you do not know the sender or cannot verify the integrity of the message, please do not respond or click on links in the message. Depending on the security settings, clickable URLs may have been modified to provide additional security. Please contact the Service Desk if you have any questions. (204) 474-8600 ==== Original Email Body Follows ==== ------------ Suspicious threat disclaimer ends here ------------ Province asks city to redirect federal transit funding https://secure-web.cisco.com/12lklxClhZk9_g82T2Ym0jx3Z-oQnHdGK-1Qaqu7WmYKa7… THE Manitoba government is seeking to divert millions of federal dollars earmarked for Winnipeg Transit to support “green” projects around the province. However, the move would require Winnipeg council approval, and Mayor Brian Bowman is not on board. In September, city council did support a provincial request to transfer $321 million of future Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program funds from a public transit stream to a green infrastructure category. That change was meant to accommodate the federal share for the first two phases of a $1.8-billion North End sewage treatment plant upgrade. Council’s vote included a “condition” the province seek no further reductions to Winnipeg’s remaining ICIP transit cash. On Thursday, Municipal Relations Minister Rochelle Squires confirmed the province is now asking the city to support a transfer of the remaining $204 million of potential federal transit funding to green projects around the province. The $204 million could trigger about $534 million of total transit funding, should the money stay in place and all three governments agree to an ICIP deal. Squires said the funds should be transferred because the federal government wants to allocate all ICIP funds by December 2021. The minister said Winnipeg would need to complete its transit master plan and an application for federal funding to access the transit funds. Squires said she doesn’t expect that will happen prior to the end of next year. “If the transit stream money isn’t allocated into green, it will go unutilized… It could be for any green project in the province, and it’s either going to be lapsed money or spent money on green projects,” she said, stressing the province does support public transit, in general. “If there were a transit application in front of me, I would be giving serious consideration to that,” said Squires. The minister confirmed a city council resolution is needed to support the additional transfer. She did not confirm exactly which green projects the new funding transfer would support. The province said it could include more funding for the North End plant upgrade — if a request for its final phase is submitted and approved in time. The province and feds are currently being asked to help the city pay for the first two phases of that upgrade. The work would clear the way for a third phase that reduces the amount of phosphorus and nitrogen in effluent released by the plant, nutrients that promote algae growth on Lake Winnipeg. On Thursday, Bowman said he wouldn’t support another transfer of transit cash, however, especially if it involves shifting money earmarked for Winnipeg to other municipalities. “We don’t want to see that money stolen and used elsewhere outside the city of Winnipeg. It is earmarked for Winnipeg Transit. Transit is incredibly important to Winnipeggers and the future of our city,” said Bowman. In contrast to Squires’ timeline, the mayor said he expects a Transit master plan will be completed in about three months. “We want to make sure that there are dollars to implement and actually support the Transit master plan as soon as possible, once that’s done,” he said. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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January 21, 2021 Winter Cities Webinar Registration Link Fixed
by Beth McKechnie 17 Dec '20

17 Dec '20

If you haven't registered yet, do it before it's sold out! <https://880cities.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=49b51d71f0a96500f24124…> Wintermission Webinar Winter-Friendly Cities: Addressing Social Isolation in Winter If you were having trouble registering for our January Wintermission Webinar the registration link <https://880cities.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=49b51d71f0a96500f24124…>has now been fixed! Sorry for the inconvenience and thanks for the quick feedback! See you in 2021. [image: Facebook] <https://880cities.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=49b51d71f0a96500f24124…> [image: Twitter] <https://880cities.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=49b51d71f0a96500f24124…> [image: Link] <https://880cities.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=49b51d71f0a96500f24124…> [image: Website] <http://www.880cities.org> * <https://880cities.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=49b51d71f0a96500f24124…> Copyright © 2020. 8 80 Cities. All rights reserved.* *Our mailing address is:* 364 - 401 Richmond Street West Toronto, M5V 3A8 Canada Questions? Contact Us: info(a)880cities.org <info(a)880cities.org> Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences <https://880cities.us10.list-manage.com/profile?u=49b51d71f0a96500f24124fb7&…> or unsubscribe from this list <https://880cities.us10.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=49b51d71f0a96500f24124…> .

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WFP: School paves way to safety for pedestrians, cyclists (Dec17'20)
by Beth McKechnie 17 Dec '20

17 Dec '20

School paves way to safety for pedestrians, cyclists https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/school-paves-way-to-safety-for-pede… ISAAC Brock School’s early success with an active transportation pilot project could pave the way for other communities seeking to promote walking, biking and rolling to class in Winnipeg. On the first day of the new school year, the Green Action Centre, Winnipeg School Division, and City of Winnipeg launched a first-of-its-kind “school street” project in Manitoba, at 1265 Barratt Ave. In the months since, Barratt Avenue, the street on which the main doors to the K-9 school are located, has been closed off to the public between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays, to protect pedestrians, limit idling near the school entrance, and encourage alternatives to car commuting. The oldest students at Isaac Brock are tasked daily with setting up barricades to block off the stretch during the morning and afternoon rush hours, when pupils are coming and leaving the grounds. “It’s really opened our eyes to the fact that we do need to encourage students to walk to school more,” said Marla Tran, vice-principal at Isaac Brock. Tran admits the pilot has made her more conscious of how she commutes. She’s started to walk to and from work whenever she can this year, while the roster of students and staff doing the same has also increased. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately 52 per cent of the student population walked, rolled or biked to school, per a new report authored by the Green Action Centre. The rest of the families either drove children to school or sent them on a school bus, both with 24 per cent of the total share of commuters. Mid-pilot this fall, GAC surveyed families to gauge experiences. Of the 71 guardian respondents, 15 per cent indicated a shift in their children’s travel mode to walking, biking or rolling, citing Barratt Avenue being closed. (Total enrolment is approximately 348, although many families have more than one child at the school.) There have been challenges with congestion on surrounding streets, access for residents who live on Barratt Avenue, and accommodations for students with mobility needs, but Denae Penner, GAC lead on the project, said changes will be made in the coming months to improve the pilot for all community members. Overall, focus groups and surveys yielded positive results about security, with the majority of students and area residents saying the pilot makes them feel safer, she said. “It can be difficult to move away from using your car every day, so we’re hoping we can do things like this that create a safe opportunity to start in a small way, incorporating walking into daily routines,” Penner added. “By offering one safe block where that can happen, I’m hoping we can help people see the benefits it can have in the long term for their family and their neighbourhood.” The school street was originally slated to last 60 days. The city extended it into December, and more recently, until the last day of school in June. Ken Allen, city spokesman, said in a statement Wednesday the public works department will consider whether school streets are feasible elsewhere throughout the rest of the 2020-21 Isaac Brock pilot. maggie.macintosh(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @macintoshmaggie

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Canada's public transit looks to rebound from COVID-19 (Dec16'20)
by Beth McKechnie 17 Dec '20

17 Dec '20

MONTREAL - The COVID-19 pandemic has led to massive declines in public transit ridership across Canada, yet many cities decided to maintain service levels this year, while others even chose to expand. Not long after the global health crisis reached Canada, rates of public transit use across the country dropped by about 85 per cent, according to prof. Matti Siemiatycki of University of Toronto's geography and planning department. The transportation policy expert said there were fears transit agencies in Canada would have to make drastic service cuts. “Public transit networks have been among the most impacted sectors in the economy from the pandemic,” he said in a recent interview. Instead, provincial and federal funding rescued the country's transit systems from the verge of collapse, he said. In the United States, however, public transit systems are facing the "dreaded transit death spiral,” Siemiatycki said, where cuts lead to further declines in ridership, which lead to further cuts and declines. Washington, D.C., and Boston have announced major service cuts. In New York City, the local transit authority said in mid-November it may be forced to cut bus and subway service by 40 per cent and lay off more than 9,000 workers. In contrast, Toronto and Montreal are expanding their transit systems. Luc Tremblay, CEO of the Montreal Transit Corp. said in a recent interview Montreal chose to maintain service levels in 2020 at 2019 levels — despite the fact ridership is about 35 per cent of what it was before COVID-19 hit. Montreal, Tremblay said, made that choice so service is available when riders decide to return. “It’s the key,” he explained. “Build it and they will come.” On Dec. 15, as Quebec imposed more COVID-19-related restrictions to stop a surge in infections across the province, the government announced a major expansion to the city's light rail system. Twenty-three new stations will be added to the commuter rail network, with construction set to begin in 2023. In the country's largest city, the Toronto Transit Commission said service during the week of Dec. 4 was at 95 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. The transit agency said it will maintain the same level of service in 2021. The Ontario government is also moving forward with a $28-billion plan to expand transit in the Toronto area. In British Columbia, transit agencies will receive more than $1 billion in federal and provincial funding to maintain service levels. Federal money also helped Winnipeg's public transit agency fill a gap in its budget after ridership — and fare revenue — declined. Marco D'Angelo, president and CEO of the Canadian Urban Transit Association, a trade association that represents the country's public transit agencies, said service across the country is currently about 87 per cent of pre-COVID levels. "Systems are not planning to reduce service, but that will likely change unless governments extend financial support," he said in an email. Siemiatycki said that while ridership is down, the health crisis has shown the importance of public transit. “Even through the pandemic, transit played a critical role in our economies," he said. "Transit was a lifeline service for people to reach their front-line place of employment." Daniel Bergeron with Montreal's public transit authority said he expects the pandemic-induced decline in ridership to have an almost $1-billon impact on the agency's budget between 2020 and 2022. He said government subsidies will help cover most of the shortfall, but added that expenses will need to be cut and improvements put off in order to continue to offer service at 2019 levels. When the pandemic is over, people will move around differently, he said, adding that he expects service to increase outside traditional peak periods. People working from home will be more likely to take trips during the day instead of at rush hour, he said. “In the short term, there’s uncertainty," he said. "But in 10, 20 years, it will be a new normal but still normal. We may have a bit more working from home, but it’s not open to everybody.” People will still have to go to work in shops, restaurants and manufacturing facilities, and he thinks people will still want to go out to restaurants and go shopping downtown. “Good quality of life is not living near a highway,” Bergeron said. “Nice neighbourhoods usually come with good public transport services.” *This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 16, 2020.*

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Winter-Friendly Cities: Addressing Social Isolation in Winter (webinar)
by Beth McKechnie 17 Dec '20

17 Dec '20

Join 8 80 Cities on January 21, 2021 from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm CST to celebrate our Wintermission program Teams from Buffalo, NY, Eau Claire, WI and Leadville, CO will share their experiences in engaging communities in creating more inclusive winter-friendly public spaces that support social connection and reduce social isolation. Register here <https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/winter-friendly-cities-addressing-social-isolat…>

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After the Pandemic: Canada Releases Climate Change Plan to Build Back Sustainably and Exceed its 2030 Target - Lexology
by Zdan, Terry (MI) 17 Dec '20

17 Dec '20

https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=c7b730a0-dcc0-4040-8dfa-c790… See the AT item in the transportation sector Happy Trails Terry Zdan

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The impact of e-cycling on travel behaviour: A scoping review
by Beth McKechnie 16 Dec '20

16 Dec '20

Highlights • E-bikes increase the frequency and duration of cycling compared to conventional bikes. • Uptake of e-cycling largely substitutes for conventional cycling or private car journeys. • E-bikes are primarily used for utilitarian purposes, with older adults also using e-bikes for recreation. • E-cycling promotion campaigns should be guided by evidence on the purpose of e-cycling and factors associated with e-bike use. Conclusions This review suggests that the personal use of e-bikes is associated with a reduction in motorized vehicle use, which has potential positive impacts on the environment and health. The impacts of e-bike share schemes and workplace initiatives are less well understood. Evidence describing the purposes for which e-bikes are used, and the factors associated with usage, are useful to inform e-cycling promotion policy. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214140520301146

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WFP: Case of officer who pepper-sprayed cyclist raises questions over limits of oversight (Dec15'20)
by Beth McKechnie 15 Dec '20

15 Dec '20

Case of officer who pepper-sprayed man raises questions over limits of oversight Manitoba police watchdog muzzled by ‘reasonable doubt’ https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/manitoba-police-watchdog-muzzled-by… MANITOBA’S system of civilian oversight of police makes it a “pointless exercise” for the independent watchdog to criminally charge officers against prosecutors’ advice, a justice source says. In a case that has raised questions about the limits of oversight in the province, the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba announced last week it would not lay charges against a Winnipeg Police Service officer who pepper-sprayed a cyclist. Prosecutors recommended against proceeding with the case, even though the IIU has the power to lay charges if it sees fit. A justice source familiar with the process said IIU files involving WPS officers are forwarded to a rural senior Crown attorney to decide if the case has a reasonable likelihood of conviction and if prosecuting it is in the public interest. While the IIU has the ability to lay a charge regardless of the Crown opinion, the case will only end up back in the hands of the same Crown, the source said. “It’s sort of a pointless exercise because even if (the IIU) says no, we don’t agree with you, we are laying a charge; it’s just going to go back to that Crown to prosecute it and it will just go away,” the source said. “So that’s where they are stuck. “They have that power legally, but that power means nothing if the Crown’s office isn’t backing them up.” The Crown would have to provide the IIU reasons why charges were not recommended, but those reasons do not have to be made public, the source said. “If there is not a reasonable likelihood of conviction, we would have to weigh it: can we prove this beyond a reasonable doubt? If the answer is no, we don’t proceed,” the source said. WPS Patrol Sgt. Jeffrey Norman was investigated for alleged assault, after an April 12, 2019, incident in which he pepper-sprayed a 29-year-old man who was biking home from work. Norman was investigating car break-ins in the area, and said the cyclist fit the description of a suspect. In his report, Norman claimed he felt threatened, and said he had to use pepper spray to detain a man who was trying to get away. The cyclist, Thomas Krause, said the officer got angry when asked to turn off his car’s high beams, and pepper-sprayed him when Krause told him he didn’t think Norman had the right to search his backpack. On Dec. 10, the IIU announced Norman won’t face any charges, following a Crown office review of the case. A former law professor and federal prosecutor says Manitoba prosecutors followed proper legal standards. “It would be a little bizarre to get a Crown opinion that there’s no reasonable likelihood of conviction and then lay a charge anyway, in the face of that opinion, knowing that it’s going to go to the Crown and they’ll stay it,” said Bruce MacFarlane, who has taught at University of Manitoba’s law school, worked as a prosecutor, and served in the federal and provincial justice departments. “It was dealt with the way it should have been dealt with, in my view.” Police can lay a criminal charge if they have reasonable grounds, meaning enough evidence. The test for Crown prosecutors is a step above: they have to decide there’s a reasonable likelihood of conviction, based on the evidence and the public interest in bringing the case to court. Unlike in B.C., Quebec and New Brunswick, Manitoba prosecutors don’t screen every case before criminal charges are laid. Police can ask for a Crown review when they choose, and often do so in cases that involve complex legal questions or suspects who are public figures, MacFarlane said. “This is not special treatment, because there’s many different types of cases, tough cases, where a Crown opinion is sought first. Many, many — so to leave any impression that police are being given special treatment, it would be false,” he said. The public typically doesn’t get a glimpse of a Crown review — a portion of the Crown’s opinion was released as part of the IIU’s final report in this case. MacFarlane said the Crown has to consider possible defences when it determines whether there’s a reasonable likelihood of conviction. In this case, the Crown consulted a use-of-force expert from out of province (whose report hasn’t been publicly released) before prosecutors decided there was “reasonable doubt” Norman’s actions constituted excessive force. That language raised a red flag for Ian Scott, former head of Ontario’s police watchdog Special Investigations Unit. “My personal view is that whether or not there’s going to be a doubt or not, it’s kind of irrelevant. That’s really for the judge to decide, not the prosecution service,” Scott said. It’s up to the prosecution to decide if there’s a reasonable likelihood of conviction, but reasonable doubt about whether a crime occurred needs to be decided by the courts, he said. “If that’s the standard... the chances that there’s ever going to be a trial of a police officer in circumstances like this is next to nil... When you’re reading a file in an office, there’s always a reasonable doubt,” Scott said. “The prosecution service is usurping the role of the courts.” The Free Press requested copies of the Crown’s full opinion on the case, and the use-of-force expert’s report prosecutors consulted, but a spokesperson for Manitoba Justice said the materials are privileged and won’t be released. katie.may(a)freepress.mb.ca <katie.may(a)freepress.mb.ca> dean.pritchard(a)freepress.mb.ca

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OECD report finds measures needed to curb PM emit…
by Zdan, Terry (MI) 15 Dec '20

15 Dec '20

https://www.greencarcongress.com/2020/12/20201214-oecd.html Happy Trails Terry Zdan

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U.S. DOT Publishes Pedestrian Safety Action Plan
by Zdan, Terry (MI) 10 Dec '20

10 Dec '20

From: FHWA Office of Planning, Environment, and Realty (HEP) <FHWA.HEP(a)info.dot.gov> Sent: December-10-20 11:02 AM To: Zdan, Terry (MI) <Terry.Zdan(a)gov.mb.ca> Subject: Human Environment Digest 12/10/20 [header] Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVy…>. December 10, 2020 Human Environment Digest Welcome to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Human Environment biweekly email digest. This digest shares the latest information from a range of Federal and non-Federal sources, addressing transportation and its relationship to the human environment. Through this information exchange, FHWA hopes to foster dialogue at all levels and continue to further the state of the practice on these important topics in support of safety; infrastructure, including accelerated project delivery, access to jobs, and community revitalization; technology and design innovation; and accountability, including, data-driven decisions and performance-based planning. For more information on any of these topics, see the FHWA Related Links on the sidebar. Click here<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVy…> to manage your subscriptions. *The information provided in this mailing does not necessarily reflect the view of the Federal Highway Administration or the U.S. Department of Transportation. EVENTS Please check with event organizers on if/how events are being adjusted to accommodate remote participation. December 8-10, 2020<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVy…>: FHWA's Every Day Counts-6. Virtual Summit. February 28-March 3, 2021<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVy…>: League of American Bicyclists' 2021 National Bike Summit. Virtual Event. (There is a fee) January 5-8 and 11-15, 2021<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVy…>: TRB's 100th Annual Meeting: Committee Meetings. Virtual Event. (There is a fee for some) January 16, 2021<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVy…>: Transportation for America's TransportationCamp DC. Virtual Event. (There is a fee) January 21-22 and 25-29, 2021<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDYsInVy…>: TRB's 100th Annual Meeting: Sessions and Exhibits. Virtual Event. (There is a fee for some) January 27-29, 2021<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDcsInVy…>: Micromobility World Conference. Virtual Event. (There is a fee for some) March 17-19, 2021<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDgsInVy…>: National Environmental Justice Conference and Training Program, Washington, D.C. (There is a fee for some) March 17-19, 2021<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDksInVy…>: Urbanism Next Center Forum. Virtual Event. WEBINARS December 10, 12:00-1:15 PM ET<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTAsInVy…>: Rail~Volution's Micromobility: Scooter Technology and Accessibility in Cities. December 10, 1:00-2:00 PM ET<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTEsInVy…>: Next City's Solutions of the Year: How Cities Can Promote Environmental Justice in Underserved Neighborhoods. (There is a fee for some) December 10, 1:00-3:00 PM ET<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTMsInVy…>: TRB's Cross-Cutting Issues in Urban Congestion Pricing. (There is a fee) December 10, 2:00-2:45 PM ET<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTQsInVy…>: Eno Center for Transportation's Environmental (In)Justice During COVID-19. December 10, 2:00-3:00 PM ET<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTUsInVy…>: Alta Planning + Design's Delivering Quick-Build Projects: Four Cities Share their Stories of Doing More with Less. December 10, 3:00-4:00 PM ET<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTYsInVy…>: PeopleForBikes' Leveraging Policy to Support the Bike Boom in 2021. December 11, 1:30-3:00 PM ET<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTcsInVy…>: ITE's Smart Columbus Program: Event Parking Management. December 14-15, 6:00-8:00PM ET<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTgsInVy…>: Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation's Compliance to the Americans with Disabilities Act in the Public Right-of-Way. (Session 1 of 2. This session is offered twice and there is a fee) December 15, 1:00-2:30 PM ET<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTksInVy…>: AASHTO Council on Active Transportation and FHWA's Speed Management. December 15, 1:00-2:30 PM ET<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMjAsInVy…>: American Planning Association Oregon Chapter's Equity by Design. (There is a fee for some) December 15, 2:00-3:00PM ET<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMjEsInVy…>: Association for Commuter Transportation's New Year... New Transportation Possibilities! (There is a fee for some) December 16-17, 10:00AM-12:00PM ET<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMjIsInVy…>: Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation's Compliance to the Americans with Disabilities Act in the Public Right-of-Way. (Session 2 of 2. This session is offered twice and there is a fee.) December 16, 3:00-4:00 PM ET:<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMjMsInVy…> Association of Pedestrian & Bicycle Professionals' Are We There Yet? Best Practices in Speed Management. (There is a fee) December 18, 1:00-2:00 PM ET<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMjQsInVy…>: Center for Advanced Transportation Mobility, North Carolina A&T State University's Collaborative Multimodal Decision Making with Advanced Transportation Technologies and Computing. December 17, 1:00-3:00 PM ET<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMjUsInVy…>: FHWA's Moving FoRRRwD with Safety Action Plans: Statewide, Regional, and Local. December 21-23, 10:00AM-12:00PM ET<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMjYsInVy…>: Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation's Design of Americans with Disabilities Act Curb Ramps and Pedestrian Access Routes. (There is a fee) January 6, 1:00-2:30 PM ET<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMjcsInVy…>: PBIC's Improving Safety with Bicyclist and Pedestrian Road Safety Audits. January 19, 1:00-2:00 PM ET<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMjgsInVy…>: Transportation Research and Education Center's Transportation Benefits of Polycentric Urban Form. January 21, 1:00-2:00PM ET<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMjksInVy…>: American Trails' Making Meaningful Spaces: A Brief Survey of Integrative Active Transportation. February 9, 1:00-2:00 PM ET<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMzAsInVy…>: Transportation Research and Education Center's Land Use and Transportation Policies for a Sustainable Future. FHWA RELATED LINKS Environment Homepage<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMzEsInVy…> Bicycle/Pedestrian<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMzIsInVy…> Environmental Justice<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMzMsInVy…> Transportation Alternatives<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMzQsInVy…> Recreational Trails Program<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMzUsInVy…> To submit comments or information for inclusion in the next HE Digest, click here<mailto:livable.communities@dot.gov>. Submissions must be made before 12 PM ET Wednesday. [safety] U.S. DOT Publishes Pedestrian Safety Action Plan The U.S. Department of Transportation released a pedestrian safety action plan<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMzYsInVy…> to address pedestrian fatalities and injuries through the expanded use of countermeasures, technology, and data-driven practices. The plan explains the Department's comprehensive approach that encompasses improvements to the roadway and surrounding environment, increased education on the shared responsibility of both pedestrians and motorists, along with enforcement and adjudication of pedestrian safety laws. It identifies actions the Department intends to accomplish in the next two years, focusing on the development or update of resources, tools, and plans; new and revised campaigns, programs, and initiatives; the creation or revision of curriculum; and new research to improve pedestrian safety. U.S. DOT Releases Summary Report on Pedestrian Safety Summit The U.S. Department of Transportation published a summary report<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMzcsInVy…> of the Pedestrian Safety Summit held in July 2020. The three-part webinar series covered the current state of pedestrian safety, risk factors that impact pedestrian safety, and the Department's planned efforts to improve pedestrian safety. Additional videos, presentations, and materials<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMzgsInVy…> from the event are also available. IIHS Studies Find Most E-scooter Rider Injuries Occur on Sidewalks The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety developed two research<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMzksInVy…> papers using interviews of electric scooter (e-scooter) riders whose injuries brought them to an emergency room in Washington, DC. One study examined how the severity of their injuries varied according to where and how they were injured. The second compared the rider demographics, usage patterns, and injuries to those of bicyclists who were interviewed as part of an earlier study. The studies found that e-scooter riders suffered more injuries per mile traveled than bicyclists, but bicyclists were more likely to have conflicts with motor vehicles. Research Assesses Safety of E-bikes Relative to Conventional Bicycles The Journal of Transport & Health published a study<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNDAsInVy…> examining the role of bicyclists' health condition on safety of electric bicycles (e-bikes) compared to conventional bicycles. Researchers surveyed bicyclists treated at emergency rooms for crash injuries and a control group without known crash experience. The findings indicate that e-bike users were not more likely to be involved in a crash or to sustain more severe injuries; however, older female bicyclists had an elevated risk on e-bikes and sustained more severe injuries. The study suggests that older females are more likely to fall while mounting or dismounting their e-bikes, and recommends lower saddle height to mitigate risk. ________________________________ [infrastructure] White Paper Discusses Framework to Balance Utility, Safety, and User Experience on Shared-Use Paths Alta Planning + Design published a white paper<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNDEsInVy…> exploring how shared-use paths should be designed, operated, and managed to accommodate micromobility transportation options, including powered micromobility. The paper discusses policy and design considerations for multi-use paths, provides implementation advice for trail managers, and shares examples of how trails across the U.S. are adapting to emerging mobility trends. It suggests several principles to guide decision making regarding powered micromobility devices on trails: advance mobility justice, design for safety, complement the natural environment, prioritize the human experience, expand user amenities, and design for the future trail. Research Analyzes Parking Supply and Demand at Transit-Oriented Developments The Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board published a study<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNDIsInVy…> examining parking at seven transit-oriented developments (TODs) in the U.S. to determine how much less parking is required at TODs than the new Institute of Transportation Engineers Parking Generation manual would suggest. Researchers conducted a literature review and measured parking generation at the TODs through field observation and intercept surveys. The findings indicate that, at the peak parking demand hour, only 51 to 84 percent of spaces are filled. The study suggests TODs could improve use of shared parking and change policies around bundled residential parking. ________________________________ [innovation] Transportation Research Board to Host 2021 Annual Meeting The Transportation Research Board 100th Annual Meeting<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNDMsInVy…> will be conducted as a virtual event throughout January 2021. The meeting program will cover all transportation modes, addressing topics such as micromobility, ridehailing, emerging mobility technologies<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNDQsInVy…>, transportation equity<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNDUsInVy…>, safety and public health<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNDYsInVy…>, resiliency and security<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNDcsInVy…>, and more. The sessions and workshops will focus on the spotlight theme for the 2021 meeting: Launching a New Century of Mobility and Quality of Life. This year's meeting will feature dozens of sessions on how the national health emergency<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNDgsInVy…> has impacted transportation and how transportation professionals and researchers are responding. Committee meetings will be held January 5-8 and 11-15. Sessions and exhibits will occur January 21-22 and 25-29. Report Examines Availability and Use of Pedestrian Infrastructure Data to Support Active Transportation Planning The National Cooperative Highway Research Program published a report<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNDksInVy…> describing how State departments of transportation (DOTs) are collecting, managing, sharing, and analyzing pedestrian infrastructure data. The report documents and summarize current State DOT practices for defining, storing, collecting, and sharing pedestrian infrastructure data. Agencies can use the report's findings to tailor the data collection process to build data infrastructure that supports various uses, leading to more consistent and efficient planning and management of pedestrian infrastructure. ________________________________ [account] Involving Underserved Populations in Rural Community Transportation Planning The Federal Highway Administration published a case study<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNTAsInVy…> discussing community engagement approaches with traditionally underserved populations, including Hispanic and Tribal communities, in Cortez, Colorado during an update to the town's Access Control Plan. The plan is intended to improve traffic, bicycle and pedestrian safety, and preserve traffic flow capacity of two highways in the city. The outreach process gave residents the opportunity to express concerns about street design and high-speed vehicles in the central business district, and as a result, the city incorporated traffic calming measures into the design. Cortez's holistic public engagement efforts enhanced project delivery and established long-term strategy for ongoing engagement. Presentations Discuss Environmental Justice Resources and Methods for Collaboration The National Environmental Justice Conference and Training Program released presentation recordings<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNTEsInVy…> from the October 2020 virtual event. The presentations share ideas and approaches to environmental justice, including the impacts of the national health emergency on low-income communities, energy solutions, as well as active transportation and transit considerations. They explain the nexus of environmental justice with the National Environmental Policy Act. Podcast Examines Use of Digital Tools for Participatory Transportation Planning The Public Transport Research Group at Monash University in Australia released a podcast<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNTIsInVy…> discussing how virtual tools can facilitate more collaborative transportation planning. Researchers explain how data and digital tools can assist the public and decision makers during the transportation planning process. The discussion also explores the synergies between transportation and health. The podcast details how an interactive walkability planning support map tool helped planners understand infrastructure needs and healthcare costs of developing in a new neighborhood with limited walkability, compared to redeveloping an existing site. Survey Requests Inputs on Complete Streets Education and Outreach Efforts The Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University, in partnership with a national transportation advocacy group, is leading an effort to collect information about effective and notable complete streets outreach, along with educational and engagement activities across the country. The researchers encourage representatives of State departments of transportations, regional planning authorities, county and local governments, advocacy groups, community organizations, and all others to respond to the survey<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNTMsInVy…> by December 15. [footer] ________________________________ Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNTQsInVy…>. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNTUsInVy…>. This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. DOT Federal Highway Administration<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNTYsInVy…>. ________________________________ This email was sent to terry.zdan(a)gov.mb.ca<mailto:terry.zdan@gov.mb.ca> using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: U.S. DOT Federal Highway Administration * 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE * Washington, DC 20590 * 202-366-4000 [GovDelivery logo]<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNTcsInVy…>

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Upcoming Webinar on Conducting Pedestrian and Bicyclist Road Safety Audits
by Beth McKechnie 09 Dec '20

09 Dec '20

*Webinar Announcement* Upcoming Webinar on Conducting Pedestrian and Bicyclist Road Safety Audits *Improving Safety with Bicyclist and Pedestrian Road Safety Audits Wednesday, January 6, 2021* 1:00-2:30 pm Eastern Time Register Here <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> Pedestrian and bicyclist road safety audits (RSAs) are valuable tools that can be used by transportation agencies to formally evaluate roadway conditions and better understand factors influencing road user safety and comfort. Performing audits of field conditions can provide real-world perspectives and valuable contextual information to those charged with developing and implementing safety countermeasures for vulnerable road users. RSAs can be used in any phase of project development from planning and preliminary engineering, design and construction. During this webinar, panelists from VHB and the UNC Highway Safety Research Center will share new guidance from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Pedestrian and Bicyclist Road Safety Audit Guide and Prompt List <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…>, demonstrating how this new resource can be used to plan and conduct RSAs. Representatives from Caltrans and the City of Albuquerque will share their experiences using RSAs to investigate sites and develop safety improvements. This webinar will be delivered by VHB and the UNC Highway Safety Research Center through a contract to provide training and technical assistance to the FHWA-designated Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Focus States and Cities. ------------------------------ PBIC offers free, public webinars approximately every month. To register for upcoming webinars and to access archived presentations, please visit www.pedbikeinfo.org/webinars <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> . Follow the PBIC on Twitter <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> and Facebook <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> and join the discussion [image: https://twitter.com/pedbikeinfo?lang=en] <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> [image: https://www.facebook.com/pedbikeinfo] <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> [image: http://www.pedbikeinfo.org/index.cfm] <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> ------------------------------ Since its inception in 1999, PBIC's mission has been to improve the quality of life in communities through the increase of safe walking and bicycling as a viable means of transportation and physical activity. The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center is maintained by the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center with funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. ------------------------------ Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center 730 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Suite 300 Chapel Hill, NC 27599 Add us to your address book <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/vcard?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e453ab5d&…> Phone: 1.888.823.3977 Fax: 919.962.8710 www.pedbikeinfo.org <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> View this email in your browser <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…>

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Continental bicycle tire made of dandelion rubber…
by Zdan, Terry (MI) 09 Dec '20

09 Dec '20

https://www.greencarcongress.com/2020/12/20201207-taraxagum.html Happy Trails Terry Zdan

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Free download - Safety Performance of Bicycle Infrastructure in Canada (TAC Nov 2020)
by Beth McKechnie 08 Dec '20

08 Dec '20

In case you weren't able to download this report from an earlier post, here are links to both the report and technical appendices: <goog_1441524465> https://www.tac-atc.ca/en/publications/ptm-spbi-e (Thanks to Terry Zdan for the link.)

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Portland e-scooter report (phase 2)
by Beth McKechnie 08 Dec '20

08 Dec '20

[From the APBP listserv] The Portland Bureau of Transportation has published a report <https://www.portland.gov/sites/default/files/2020-09/pbot_escooter_report_f…> about their phase 2 e-scooter pilot program, evaluating it against the goals they established for it. I found a lot in the report that would be of interest to active transportation professionals, including what types of facilities are used, how usage changes when new facilities are installed, how to reduce sidewalk riding and ped-unfriendly parking, what reduces pedestrian conflict, what percentage of scooter trips replace walk/bike trips, and more. *JESSICA ROBERTS* *Pronouns: she/her* Principal | *Alta Planning + Design, Inc.* *Working remotely: c**:* 503.752.4144 Portland, OR | altago.com

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Webinar: City Efforts to Realize Low-Carbon, Equitable Transportation
by Beth McKechnie 07 Dec '20

07 Dec '20

Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser <https://www2.aceee.org/webmail/310911/722316487/7e7e0f2608add2f597fa5711bd2…> . [image: ACEEE LOGO] Webinar Announcement * City Efforts to Realize Low-Carbon, Equitable Transportation* *Date and time: Thursday, December 10, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM ET* Transportation has replaced the power sector as the largest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the United States. Local governments and metropolitan regions play a critical role in maximizing this sector’s energy efficiency, reducing its GHG emissions, and working to ensure that all residents benefit from an accessible, efficient transportation system. Those efforts face new challenges as COVID-19 has had a severe impact on shared transportation, hampering transportation modes that are key to reducing GHG emissions. Research from ACEEE’s 2020 City Clean Energy Scorecard shows that some cities have taken key steps over the past 18 months to reduce transportation-related emissions, with several municipalities releasing sustainable transportation plans and four cities (of 100) taking new steps to create compact, transit-oriented communities welcoming increased density to reduce vehicle travel distances. However, our research also suggests that all cities can do much more, including adopting vehicle-miles-traveled (VMT) reduction targets and tracking progress toward meeting them. Join us to discuss ACEEE’s research findings and learn from two leading cities. Officials from Minneapolis and Washington, DC will discuss their strategies to reduce transportation-related emissions and inequities. <https://www2.aceee.org/e/310911/D0F89995A13921A5E69974DB755239/23cfwms/7223…> *Speakers:* *David Ribeiro, Moderator* Director of Local Policy American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy *Shruti Vaidyanathan* Transportation Program Director American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy *Matthew Gaskin* Air Quality Coordinator Washington, D.C.'s District Department of Transportation *Kim Havey* Sustainability Director City of Minneapolis Share/forward this email: [image: Forward This] <https://www2.aceee.org/e/310911/-us-pubid-aceee-news-gmail-com/23cfwmv/7223…> [image: blank] [image: Tweet This] <https://www2.aceee.org/e/310911/-en-pubid-aceee-news-gmail-com/23cfwmx/7223…> [image: blank] [image: Send to Linkedin] <https://www2.aceee.org/e/310911/-en-pubid-aceee-news-gmail-com/23cfwmz/7223…> [image: blank] [image: Send to Facebook] <https://www2.aceee.org/e/310911/-en-pubid-aceee-news-gmail-com/23cfwn2/7223…> [image: blank] [image: blank] [image: blank] [image: View more services] <https://www2.aceee.org/e/310911/que-pubid-aceee-news-gmail-com/23cfwn4/7223…> *About ACEEE: The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy acts as a catalyst to advance energy efficiency policies, programs, technologies, investments, and behaviors. For information about ACEEE and its programs, publications, and conferences, visit aceee.org <http://aceee.org>* ### Connect with us on social media: [image: Follow us on Twitter] <https://www2.aceee.org/e/310911/ACEEEdc/23cfwn6/722316487?h=vb_CSmlS8eqNtoJ…> [image: Like us on Facebook] <https://www2.aceee.org/e/310911/myACEEE--fref-ts/23cfwn8/722316487?h=vb_CSm…> [image: View our profile on LinkedIn] <https://www2.aceee.org/e/310911/company-962421-/23cfwnj/722316487?h=vb_CSml…> [image: View on Instagram] <https://www2.aceee.org/e/310911/aceeedc/23cfwnd/722316487?h=vb_CSmlS8eqNtoJ…> ACEEE, 529 14th Street., N.W., Suite 600, Washington, DC 20045 Sent by aceeenews(a)aceee.org . <https://www2.aceee.org/emailPreference/e/epc/310911/hZB0-mx4t2AIr6BpeRISGhL…>

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CBC: Snow clearing on sidewalks, pathways more crucial than ever during pandemic, advocates say (Dec6'20)
by Beth McKechnie 07 Dec '20

07 Dec '20

Public health orders mean outdoor activity is one of few options left, but clearing must keep up: advocates https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-winter-covid-19-1.5827678 Manitobans are being encouraged to stay active and get outdoors this pandemic winter — but advocates say that means sidewalk and active transportation route clearing has to keep up. "If people felt trapped before, they're really going to feel trapped now," said Anders Swanson, executive director of the Winnipeg Trails Association. The organization is working with multiple city councillors and community groups to try to make more opportunities for skiing, snowshoeing, biking and walking this winter. On top of those efforts, the city should be doubling down on sidewalk clearing, with extra attention to areas around schools, grocery stores and seniors' homes, Swanson said. "Right now, trails and getting outside is really the only recreational opportunity that is available. I think it's taken on an importance that even we couldn't have conjured before this," he said. "People are going to need to get outside. More than ever, we need to look at … the ways we maintain our existing pathway networks to make sure that everybody has access." David Kron, executive director of the Cerebral Palsy Association of Manitoba and a spokesperson for Barrier-Free Manitoba, said poorly maintained sidewalks affect everybody. "It's not just for folks who are in the disability community. It's for all Winnipeggers and all Manitobans," he said. "It's a safety issue. It's an access issue. It's [an] equality issue." Everyone can appreciate getting outdoors and getting some exercise, especially during the pandemic, Kron said. "It's great to get out and get some fresh air, and it's something you can do safely together, but separately," he said. "It's just what everybody needs." 'Fear of falling' Aida Champagne, board member and consultant for the Filipino Seniors Group of Winnipeg, said the people she works with are lonely right now and facing limited options for how to get out of the house. Sidewalks can be treacherous even with very little snow, and popular options for indoor activities, like mall walking, are closed. "It's too lonely to be cooped inside a house, especially for some seniors without any relatives, or living alone in their apartments or a nursing home," she said. Connie Newman, executive director of the Manitoba Association of Senior Centres, said the seniors she works with — and she herself — are also apprehensive about getting outdoors in the winter. "For many of us and many of our centres, the ability to get outside and enjoy relatively OK fresh air right now is very, very important for own mental health and our physical health," she said. "I love to walk in my neighbourhood, and yet with our icy conditions, it makes it almost impossible because of fear of falling." 'A bleak winter if we don't' No matter your reason for getting outside, Swanson said it can have a major impact on mental health. The Winnipeg Trails Association has some projects in the works that he hopes to share more information on soon, but everyone can play a role in helping make the outdoors accessible, he said. "What we're looking at doing is bringing enhanced winter trail activities to every area of the city, because, quite frankly … it's going to be a bleak winter if we don't," he said. "I think that there's a role for everybody to play, to be honest." Champagne and Newman echoed that sentiment. If you're a business owner or a homeowner, ensuring the sidewalks in front of your property are cleared can be a huge help, they said. "The more the individual person can do on our side streets, on our cul-de-sacs, to make sure the front sidewalks are cleared — that would be a great support," Newman said. "From a city point of view, our main sidewalks should be cleared. And if they can't be cleared, there should be sand on them so that we can all walk." Kron added that one perk of the pandemic has been the increased ease of working from home, which has helped some in the disability community who had faced challenges in their commutes. He hopes to see that change last longer than COVID-19. Municipal planning Michael Cantor, manager of maintenance for Winnipeg's public works department, said the city isn't planning on doing anything differently regarding sidewalk or active transportation clearing this year, but will continue an effort launched last year to enhance clearing of those areas. The city worked with community groups like Bike Winnipeg to determine which active transportation routes are the highest priority, he said. He expects to see more people using those routes this season, as usual winter recreation options remain closed due to public health orders. The city launched *new features on its website for snow clearing this year* <https://www.winnipeg.ca/PublicWorks/snow/default.stm>, so residents can check an interactive status map to see crews' progress during major plowing operations. Spending time outdoors in the Manitoba winter still might not be everyone's idea of fun, but Swanson said this is the year to change that attitude. He's focused on highlighting the benefits of winter in Winnipeg. There's magic out there waiting to be found, he said. "We take … this embracing of winter pretty seriously," he said. "We think this winter is going to be the winter that sort of defines us as a city, because it can sink us in a lot of ways."

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Fwd: City of Toronto's Automated Sidewalk Winter Maintenance Challenge
by Zdan, Terry (MI) 07 Dec '20

07 Dec '20

Happy Trails Terry Zdan Begin forwarded message: From: Barrie Kirk <bkirk(a)cavcoe.com> Date: December 3, 2020 at 6:08:05 PM CST To: "Zdan, Terry (MI)" <Terry.Zdan(a)gov.mb.ca> Subject: City of Toronto's Automated Sidewalk Winter Maintenance Challenge

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WFP: Tired of falling, councillor wants to give icy sidewalks the slip (Dec4'20)
by Beth McKechnie 04 Dec '20

04 Dec '20

Tired of falling, councillor wants to give icy sidewalks the slip https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/tired-of-falling-councillor-wants-t… HE has fallen multiple times on pavement so slick that even thick winter boots couldn’t keep him upright. “I can remember two total wipeouts. Just falling onto the ground and ending up horizontal,” said St. Boniface Coun. Matt Allard. Now Allard, chairman of city council’s public works committee, is searching for ways to make sidewalks and active transportation routes less slippery. The councillor, who has tried to rely on Winnipeg Transit and active transportation as much as possible since January 2018, said he’s fallen a few times over the past two years, including one incident that damaged his computer. In November, he said he slipped twice in one walk while turning right onto Main Street near city hall, at one point grabbing a building to avoid hitting the ground. “The sidewalk was icy and slippery and the road was pristine, bare pavement,” said Allard. After he raised the issue on social media, Allard said he heard from hundreds of Winnipeggers who also want the city to find a way to make sidewalks and paths less treacherous. The councillor said he’ll raise a motion at a council committee in January, which would require city staff to study how to improve the condition of sidewalks and active transportation paths. The motion will call on the public service to study the health costs linked to slips and falls on sidewalks and how changes to snow clearing and ice treatments could make the surfaces safer. “I think there are always ways to make things better, so I’m asking the questions,” he said. Allard said he wants the city to consider factors such as increasing sand and salt treatments to add traction, new snow and ice control equipment, and an altered snow clearing schedule. Southdale resident Mary McWilliams said she agrees there’s room for improvement, especially on the Vermillion Road sidewalk she avoids walking on each winter. “There’s just a sheet of ice,” said Mc-Williams. “I’m a senior, and I had a hip replacement a couple of years ago, so I would not even try to walk on it for fear of falling.” Last winter, the city implemented some sidewalk and active transportation snow-clearing improvements, which cost about $800,000 annually. Michael Cantor, Winnipeg’s manager of streets maintenance, said those changes ensure that snow is cleared from entire active transportation routes to avoid gaps and that top-priority sidewalks (typically the most used ones) are cleared each time at least five centimetres of snow accumulates on them. “Before, some of those paths weren’t cleared on a priority basis and they were more cleared based on whether resources are available. Now… it’s defined based on usage,” said Cantor. Cantor said that’s triggered a “dramatic improvement” in snow clearing, while ice control is still performed on an as-needed basis, following sidewalk inspections and 311 complaints. Cantor said the city could explore additional work to remove ice, though changes would largely depend on how much council is willing to pay for the service. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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The WRENCH launches fundraiser for new building
by Beth McKechnie 02 Dec '20

02 Dec '20

The WRENCH is on the move Non-profit bike shop launches fundraiser for new building https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/times/The-WRENCH-is-on-th… The WRENCH is launching a fundraising campaign in tandem with its annual Cycle of Giving event in hopes of finding another home. The Winnipeg Repair Education and Cycling Hub, a bike shop that offers programs aimed at educating youth and empowering volunteers, is located in the basement of the Animal Services building on Logan Avenue. Overwhelmed by hundreds of bikes, tools and parts, the WRENCH wants to add some square-footage to its cycling hub and is searching for an additional space. “We’re busting at the seams and we’re constantly having to dance around piles of bikes that are kind of edging into walkways,” Kate Sjoberg, executive director, said. “The WRENCH has been a part of creating a culture of cycling in Winnipeg for a long time, and creating physical infrastructure that can help cyclists like community bike shops … So, we really see this move towards establishing an above-ground space as a part of that story of Winnipeg embracing cycling, and Winnipeg creating the spaces needed to support cyclists in the city, whether they are new to cycling, or have been cycling for a long time.” The Moving On Up campaign will begin Sat., Dec. 5, the same day the WRENCH is celebrating the 10th annual Cycle of Giving. Every year, volunteers come together to build as many bikes as possible within 24 hours using bicycles and parts saved from local landfill and recycling sites. The WRENCH partners with local organizations, schools and families to subsequently distribute the bikes to kids. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, volunteers have been building bikes in their home-based or private shops since the beginning of November. “This decentralised build will culminate on Dec. 5, a day of simultaneous bike building at shops throughout the city,” a news release said. “We’ve got more than two dozen people, individuals, and also bike shops, building bikes as we speak,” Sjoberg said. “On the day of Dec. 5, we’re treating it as a celebratory kind of day where everyone’s building at the same time. And so, we’re going to encourage people to be connecting over social media and sharing what they’re doing in their homes. And then we’ll distribute the bikes after Dec. 5.” Leading up to that Saturday, the WRENCH will be posting on its social media pages stories and histories of Winnipeg bike culture and activism. Also different this year, the WRENCH is gifting individuals items for their donations. If someone donates $30 or more, they will receive a screen-printed WRENCH t-shirt with artwork by Sarah Thiessen, the organization’s volunteer co-ordinator. Someone who donates $60 or more will receive a WRENCH t-shirt and raffle ticket for one of three hand-painted helmets by Graffiti Gallery-affiliated artist Marco Muller. A donation of $100 or more will earn the donor a WRENCH t-shirt and raffle ticket for a hand-painted bike by Art City-affiliated artist Kiana Fontaine. More information can be found online at thewrench.ca

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The Dangers of Elite Projection
by Beth McKechnie 02 Dec '20

02 Dec '20

Worthwhile read (or refresher): *Elite projection* is the belief, among relatively fortunate and influential people, that what those people find convenient or attractive is good for the society as a whole. Once you learn to recognize this simple mistake, you see it everywhere. It is perhaps the single most comprehensive barrier to prosperous, just, and liberating cities. https://humantransit.org/2017/07/the-dangers-of-elite-projection.html

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New PSU study: 20 MPH speed signage
by Beth McKechnie 02 Dec '20

02 Dec '20

[shared from the TDM listserv] Hi all, a really interesting study just came out of Portland State University. They looked at vehicle speed before and after the city re-signed certain designated streets to 20 MPH (from 25 MPH). They found that average speed did not change *but *the highest speeds were reduced. And those highest-speed vehicles are disproportionately responsible for injuries and fatalities, so this change is meaningful in the Vision Zero landscape. I think it's really interesting to see that signage changes alone do, in fact, appear to change driver behavior. And this gives me the chance to plug one of my favorite (paywall free!) academic articles <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214140517307302>, which explores possible theories of change - aka mechanisms by which a 20 MPH speed limit may affect safety outcomes. Study here <https://bikeportland.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/pbot-20-mph-speed-study…>, and overview article on Bikeportland here <https://bikeportland.org/2020/12/01/report-citys-new-20-mph-signs-have-redu…> . -Jessica *JESSICA ROBERTS* *Pronouns: she/her* Principal | *Alta Planning + Design, Inc.* *Working remotely: c**:* 503.752.4144 Portland, OR | altago.com

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Shared Micromobility Replacing Car Trips
by Zdan, Terry (MI) 30 Nov '20

30 Nov '20

From: DOE Vehicle Technologies Office <eere(a)service.govdelivery.com> Sent: November-30-20 12:31 PM To: Zdan, Terry (MI) <Terry.Zdan(a)gov.mb.ca> Subject: Fact of the Week #1162 [Bookmark and Share]<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVy…> View in browser<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVy…> [Energy dot gov Office of Energy Efficiency and renewable energy]<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVy…> Vehicle Technologies Office <https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVy…> Transportation Analysis Fact of the Week #1162<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVy…> [Divider] November 30, 2020 Shared Micromobility Replacing Car Trips In a 2019 survey of seven cities, 45% of those using shared micromobility (bikes and scooters) said that they would have completed their trips using a personal vehicle or rideshare vehicle if the bike/scooter was not available.* Another 9% would have used transit for their trips. Bikes/scooters replaced walking trips for 28% of respondents and 18% would have used other modes or not taken the trips if shared micromobility were not available. [Mode Used if Shared Micromobility Not Available, 2019] * Survey data includes respondents in Santa Monica, CA, Alexandria, VA, Bloomington, IN, Brookline, MA, Hoboken, NJ, Oakland, CA, and San Francisco, CA. Note: Shared micromobility refers to small fleets of fully or partially human-powered vehicles including bikes, e-bikes, and e-scooters. Source: National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), Shared Micromobility in the U.S.: 2019<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVy…>, Summer 2020. View the supporting data<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDYsInVy…> for this Fact of the Week DOE Facebook [Facebook] <https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDcsInVy…> EERE Facebook [Facebook] <https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDgsInVy…> Energy Saver Facebook [Facebook] <https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDksInVy…> DOE Twitter [Twitter] <https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTAsInVy…> EERE Twitter [Twitter] <https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTEsInVy…> Daniel R Simmons' Twitter [Twitter] <https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTIsInVy…> DOE YouTube[Youtube]<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTMsInVy…> DOE LinkedIn[LinkedIn]<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTQsInVy…> EERE LinkedIn[LinkedIn]<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTUsInVy…> Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTYsInVy…>. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact support(a)govdelivery.com<mailto:support@govdelivery.com>. This service is provided to you at no charge by DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE). Visit the website at energy.gov/eere<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTcsInVy…>. ________________________________ This email was sent to terry.zdan(a)gov.mb.ca<mailto:terry.zdan@gov.mb.ca> on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy * 1000 Independence Ave., SW * Washington DC 20585

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Norway's EV subsidies; ... no country needs more cars...
by Charles Feaver 28 Nov '20

28 Nov '20

An column by Eric Reguly in the Globe: Norway's electric cars subsidies: a lot of money, not a lot of gain https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-norways-electric -car-subsidies-a-lot-of-money-for-not-a-lot-of-gain/ Like many countries in the West, Norway, an oil exporter, wanted to clean up its act. The centrepiece of that effort was the mass rollout of electric vehicles and the results have been spectacular - some 60 per cent of new car sales are EVs. That's the good news. The bad is that the sales of those EVs has come at great cost to the taxpayer, and will continue to do so as Norway pursues an all-EV fleet. Those billions of dollars of subsidies might have been put to far more effective use elsewhere in Norway's carbon-reduction effort.. Norway's lavish EV freebies have actually intensified the car culture, not diluted it. The less glam options, such as public transportation, got buried in the green plan.. Norway decided in the 1990s that EVs were the way to go as "global warming" entered the everyday lexicon and the country became acutely aware that its massive North Sea oil industry was part of the climate problem. Norway was rich - still is - and a cynic (not me, of course) would say that EVs became a luxury form of greenwashing for Europe's premier petro-state.. To make them affordable, the national and local governments in Norway rolled out incentive after incentive. Here are a few of them: exemption from the 25-per-cent value-added (VAT) tax on new car purchases; exemption from import duties; exemption from emission fees; no fuel taxes; cut-rate insurance; and ultra-cheap or free parking, road tolls and car ferry tickets. Many cities also gave EVs unfettered access to bus lanes.. As a climate change effort, Norway's embrace of EVs has worked, but only a bit. Road traffic emissions fell by about 10 per cent between 2014 and 2018, though the continued improvement in the efficiency of regular cars no doubt helped. But what if those billions in EV subsidies over the years had been devoted to other climate efforts, such as home insulation, the expansion of public transport or tighter emission controls on office buildings and factories? The drop in emissions might have been significant. As it is, Norway's EV subsidies look like a giveaway to the auto industry, an effort that is putting more cars on the road. Indeed, the total number of cars has climbed in recent years, partly because it appears that most buyers (such as my Norwegian friend) are not swapping their regular car for an EV; the EV is an addition to the regular car. No country, no city, needs more cars. What they need is fewer cars and credible reductions in carbon emissions. The Norway plan, so far, has done neither - at great expense.

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A Review of Canadian Transport Plans
by Anders Swanson 27 Nov '20

27 Nov '20

A timely review out of McgIll for us as we develop our new transport master plan and pedestrian/cycling strategies. The pursuit of cycling equity: A review of Canadian transport plans https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0966692320310048

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FW: Safety Performance of Bicycle Infrastructure in Canada | New TAC Report
by Zdan, Terry (MI) 26 Nov '20

26 Nov '20

FYI From: TAC-ATC Communications <secretariat(a)tac-atc.ca> Sent: November-26-20 9:35 AM To: Zdan, Terry (MI) <Terry.Zdan(a)gov.mb.ca> Subject: Safety Performance of Bicycle Infrastructure in Canada | New TAC Report [Image] Safety Performance of Bicycle Infrastructure in Canada The continued growth of cycling in Canada is leading to the development of infrastructure that better serves the safety and mobility needs of cyclists. A new report from the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) will help practitioners evaluate the potential safety performance of new facilities for cycling. Safety Performance of Bicycle Infrastructure in Canada<https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBQDPDzUpg…> is a resource document that characterizes the safety performance of different types of linear bicycle facilities and intersection treatments. [Alternate text] The report and its technical appendices can be downloaded free from TAC’s website<https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBQDPDzUpg…>, thanks to support from the project’s funding partners. The report was developed by MORR Transportation Consulting, and is currently available in English with a French version coming soon. Browse this and other titles in TAC’s online Catalogue<https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBQDPDzUpg…>. [Rounded Rectangle: Read the Full Article] [Facebook]<https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBQDPDzUpg…> [Twitter]<https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBQDPDzUpg…> [LinkedIn]<https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBQDPDzUpg…> TAC © 2020 www.tac-atc.ca<https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBQDPDzUpg…> UNSUBSCRIBE<https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBQDPDzUpg…> Transportation Association of Canada 401-1111 Prince of Wales Drive, Ottawa, ON K2C 3T2 613-736-1350 | secretariat(a)tac-atc.ca<https://u2306505.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=M3V7pKe308SQRDM8wYnXBQDPDzUpg…>

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Availability and Use of Pedestrian Infrastructure Data to Support Active Transportation Planning | The National Academies Press
by Zdan, Terry (MI) 24 Nov '20

24 Nov '20

https://www.nap.edu/catalog/25995/availability-and-use-of-pedestrian-infras… FYI Happy Trails Terry Zdan

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UK city launches ‘smart junctions’ that prioritize cyclists and pedestrians
by Beth McKechnie 23 Nov '20

23 Nov '20

Transport for Greater Manchester <https://tfgm.com/> (TfGM) has announced the rollout of 20 ‘smart junctions’ across the city. They use sensors to detect the type of road user at junctions and allow different modes of transport to be given priority. Developed in collaboration with AI firm Vivacity Labs <https://vivacitylabs.com/>, the scheme aims to accommodate and promote the use of active travel modes such as cycling and walking, which have become an increased priority for UK cities in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. The project first went live earlier this year, but is now being scaled up to cover 20 junctions in Manchester by the end of 2021. Speaking after its launch, the UK’s Digital Infrastructure Minister Matt Warman said: “Smart traffic technology is just one of the many ground-breaking areas the government is funding to pioneer new ways for artificial intelligence and 5G to transform our lives for the better. We’re backing this initiative in (Greater) Manchester to improve the city’s transport, reduce journey times, and cut pollution.” Full article: https://thenextweb.com/shift/2020/11/18/uk-city-launches-smart-junctions-th…

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Forget electric vehicles. Post-pandemic cities don't need them - they are still cars
by Charles Feaver 21 Nov '20

21 Nov '20

Eric Reguly opinion piece in the Globe and Mail: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-forget-electric- vehicles-post-pandemic-cities-dont-need-them-they/ . The hype around EVs and their offspring, self-driving e-cars, is dazzling and relentless, and anyone who thinks they should not be part of the new urban mix is treated as a Luddite. Some mayors are swayed by these arguments, especially the clean-air one. The few enlightened ones, such as Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, are not. Ms. Hidalgo and her like see an EV for what it is - a car. Cars take up public space. They need to be parked. They are a menace to pedestrians and bikers. They require roads and taxpayer funds to build and maintain those roads. The ideal city is not filled with sleek, silent, non-polluting e-cars; it is a city devoid of cars. Yet the tech lobby, the Wall Street machine behind it and Elon Musk, boss of Tesla, the world's most successful EV company, would have you think that buying an e-car is the morally correct and patriotic consumer choice. . Local and regional governments who push EVs might not realize that doing so commits themselves to a spending program they cannot afford. Making cities EV friendly would require digging up streets to create a vast network of unsightly charging stations. In a 2019 report, the International Council on Clean Transportation estimated that installing a single direct-current, 150-kilowatt fast-charging station, with two chargers each site, would cost more than US$38,000 in labour, materials, permits and taxes (the greater the power level, the higher the cost). . A 2018 report by Wood Mackenzie determined that charging 60,000 EVs simultaneously in Texas (which has 24-million registered vehicles) could bring down the electrical grid, assuming they were plugged into 100-kilowatt fast chargers. To accommodate hundreds of thousands of EV, Texas would have to build new peak-demand generating plants, probably coal burners. Cost aside, that would be a rather pointless exercise, since EVs are supposed to make the air cleaner. . Cities are run by politicians and the smartest politicians stick with what they know and what they can control. They know and can control public transportation. Most big cities around the world have a century or more of experience in this field. They have zero experience in building and managing vast networks of charging stations and all the supporting infrastructure. Public transportation will make a comeback once the COVID-19 vaccines are rolled out. The best way to reclaim cities from cars is to invest in subways, buses, rail and bike paths. .

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How to get rid of parking minimums: Edmonton's experience
by Beth McKechnie 18 Nov '20

18 Nov '20

*If you missed yesterday's webinar on how Edmonton eliminated parking minimums, check out the recording and resources below. Highly recommended!* Thank you for joining the Strong Towns Team for "How to Get Rid of Parking Minimums." *You can watch (or re-watch) the webinar recording, or share it with others, here! <https://strongtowns.apms5.com/anywhere/m?s=strongtowns&m=s_8f218988-0cc5-42…>* Find tons of information about the process of eliminating parking minimums in Edmonton here. <https://strongtowns.apms5.com/anywhere/m?s=strongtowns&m=s_8f218988-0cc5-42…> And for Strong Towns coverage of Edmonton's success to read and share, check out "Will Edmonton Be the First Major Canadian City to Eliminate Parking Minimums?" <https://strongtowns.apms5.com/anywhere/m?s=strongtowns&m=s_8f218988-0cc5-42…> (Spoiler: It was!) and "Parking minimums are costing your city. For a way forward, look to Edmonton." <https://strongtowns.apms5.com/anywhere/m?s=strongtowns&m=s_8f218988-0cc5-42…> Thanks again for your hard work! —Lauren at Strong Towns

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UMCycle winter cycling workshop
by Beth McKechnie 18 Nov '20

18 Nov '20

Winter cycling workshop UMCycle is hosting an online winter cycling workshop on Nov. 20. The free workshop is aimed at both those with experience and those new to winter biking. It will cover what to wear, what to keep in mind, and how to get the most out of your bike mechanically. Registration is required on EventBrite by noon on Nov. 19, and the event will take place on Zoom at 2 p.m. For more, see www.eventbrite.ca/e/winter- cycling-workshop-tickets-127498249697

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Webinar — Make Biking Better in Your City
by Beth McKechnie 16 Nov '20

16 Nov '20

[image: The Advocacy Academy provides city leaders, local advocates and retailers with a better understanding of our PlacesForBikes City Rating program.] <https://u8232924.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=-2FQ23vsRKP4fdjLiX7FqTpgjHEFB…> The Advocacy Academy provides city leaders, local advocates and retailers with a better understanding of our PlacesForBikes City Ratings program. Learn how to make local improvements that boost your score and discover the secrets of success from the world’s best bicycling cities. Join us on *November 17* at *2 pm MT* for a 30-minute presentation, followed by a 15-minute Q&A. <https://u8232924.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=-2FQ23vsRKP4fdjLiX7FqTpgjHEFB…> Can't make the webinar? *Register now <https://u8232924.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=-2FQ23vsRKP4fdjLiX7FqTpgjHEFB…>*, and we'll send you a recording later. <https://u8232924.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=-2FQ23vsRKP4fdjLiX7FqTphxVtOE…> [image: Facebook] <https://u8232924.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=-2FQ23vsRKP4fdjLiX7FqTpqJQESe…> [image: Twitter] <https://u8232924.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=-2FQ23vsRKP4fdjLiX7FqTpkfMZIE…> [image: Instagram] <https://u8232924.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=-2FQ23vsRKP4fdjLiX7FqTphuqGaA…> [image: YouTube] <https://u8232924.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=-2FQ23vsRKP4fdjLiX7FqTpifo-2F…> How many people in your company know about our campaign to help new riders *Keep Riding* <https://u8232924.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=-2FQ23vsRKP4fdjLiX7FqTprculua…> into 2021? © 2020 PeopleForBikes Coalition Business Network 501(c)6. All rights reserved.

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The 15 minute city
by Charles Feaver 14 Nov '20

14 Nov '20

Good article in the weekend Globe about European cities becoming bike-friendly In Europe, cycling caught on in a big way this year as COVID-19 discouraged cars and crowded public transit. Some cities' leaders hope to make the habit permanent and make congestion a thing of the past Biking went mainstream virtually overnight, and cities such as Paris and Milan pushed the notion of the 15-minute city, where all of lifes necessities are within a 15-minute reach by foot or bike. Pontevedra is a Galician city of about 83,000 on the Atlantic, just north of the Portuguese border. When Mr. Fernández Lores, now 66, was elected mayor in 1999, he inherited a pretty but ailing little metropolis. The historic centre was plugged with cars, and its narrow streets were filled with fumes and drug dealers. The street in front of his office saw 14,000 cars pass by a day. In a 2018 interview with The Guardian, he said he found the centre dead." Within a month, he and his team swung into action. The entire historic centre was made a car-free pedestrian area. Surface parking spots were eliminated, opening up almost 1,700 spots for public use, and underground ones were built on the periphery. In the outer zones, they replaced traffic lights with roundabouts to ease traffic flow and end the gunning of engines at green lights, and brought speed limits down to 30 kilometres an hour. Footpaths, bike lanes and green space were added. It wasnt supposed to work, but it did. He got some pushback from motorists, who thought they had the right to park two tonnes of metal and rubber next to medieval buildings, but only some. Years before the pandemic persuaded other mayors to follow a similar route, Pontevedra was lauded as an urban renewal model and has won several international awards, including the UN-Habitat award in 2014. Most children now walk to school alone, and the streets have become alive and filled with people, the UN said. The city claims zero traffic deaths since 2008, a 70-per-cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, 12,000 new inhabitants (no small achievement in a country whose towns are depopulating fast), a drop in crime and a 30-per-cent increase in business revenues. Ms Hidalgo, 61, is a member of Frances Socialist Party and was first elected Paris mayor in 2014. She came in with a vision a clever one. Instead of launching a war against cars and climate change per se, she went after air pollution, a quality-of-life issue that ensured broad buy-in. Who could be against breathable air? By 2016, she had introduced Paris Respire days that eliminated cars from most areas of the centre on the first Sunday of each month and made public transportation free on those days. Later, she turned the busy highway that runs along the north side of the River Seine into a riverside park. European cities, like Paris, were smart to focus on air pollution rather than climate change, says Mr. Toderian. Air pollution is real for people. You can see it, smell it. People liked what she did. Before the pandemic hit, Ms. Hidalgo ramped up her effort to reduce pollution, which meant getting Parisians out of cars and onto bikes and pedestrian walkways. She is creating 1,400 kilometres of bike lanes throughout Paris almost every street will have a lane and has removed thousands of surface parking spots. Her plan is to get rid of 60,000 of them, or about 70 per cent of the total. The major east-west artery, Rue de Rivoli, went car-free when Paris emerged from lockdown in May. From 2024, diesel cars will be banned More than a few European cities are emulating, or hope to emulate, the Paris model. One is Milan, Italys commercial capital, which is also discouraging car use by handing over streets to cyclists and pedestrians. The Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, where a former mayor once used an armoured military vehicle to crush a car parked in a bike lane, is doing the same. But it wont work everywhere. Athens botched its Great Walk project, conceived only last year, to turn car-clogged streets in the centre into gracious, tree-lined pedestrian boulevards. The project was poorly designed, executed and marketed to the public. Edinburgh, one of northern Europes best-preserved old cities, is struggling to add bike lines and pedestrian-only streets. Anthony Robson, an Edinburgh solicitor and bike-lane lobbyist, says Conservative factions and motorists are resisting the idea of adopting a strategy similar to Pariss. The Conservative councillors equated more cars with more shopping, he says. They said, No cars, no commerce.' Weve been trying to debunk this notion. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-bikes-pedestrians-and-the-15- minute-city-how-the-pandemic-is/

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The bike path factor: active transport of growing importance for homebuyers
by Beth McKechnie 14 Nov '20

14 Nov '20

Zolo (national online real estate brokerage) report: Top Canadian cities for alternative transportation <https://www.zolo.ca/blog/best-centres-alternative-transportation> Spoiler alert: Winnipeg ranks 22nd * * * * *Calgary Herald: The bike path factor: active transport of growing importance for homebuyers Author of the article: Joel Schlesinger • for the Calgary Herald Publishing date: Nov 13, 2020 https://calgaryherald.com/life/homes/new-homes/the-bike-path-factor-active-… Living in communities with plenty of opportunity for active transport — bike trails, transit and walking paths — are viewed as increasingly desirable, a new study shows. Yet the report on the top Canadian cities for alternative transportation painted Calgary in a rather unfavourable light, ranking it near the bottom of the 100 urban centres surveyed. “We were examining how communities may be more desirable because they offer transport accessibility outside of using your car,” says Romana King, director of content with Zolo, a national online real estate brokerage, which published the study late last month. In this respect Calgary ranked 79th with a negative score for alternative transport. The score is compiled using a variety of metrics, such as elevation change, precipitation, along with the quality of bicycle and walking paths, and mass transit. Montreal and Ottawa ranked No. 1 and 2 in the study, with Edmonton in 36th place. King says Calgary’s ranking — while interesting — is not a damning indictment of its active transport opportunities. “Larger urban areas are always going to outshine smaller ones because they have larger public purses to build more infrastructure,” she says, adding Calgary has the fourth largest population among Canadian cities. Zolo included several other factors to balance large cities, which typically have rail transit and extensive bike lanes and paths, with smaller centres like Okotoks and Cochrane, which ranked 33rd and 34th respectively. The elevation change metric no doubt hampers Calgary’s score, she adds, given it is hilly making riding a bike to work more challenging, for example. King further notes the study examined alternative transport because of its growing importance to buyers. On that point, realtor Tim Jones agrees. “Being active is important to Calgarians in general,” says the broker/owner of Re/Max Prime in Calgary. “Proximity to bike paths, walking paths, parks and green space all have a positive effect on the value and saleability of homes in the Calgary region.” He further notes in the last few months, because of COVID-19, that properties located near pathways and parks are especially seeing higher demand from buyers. But being near public transportation is less of a concern among buyers. Jones says this demand trend could also be a result of the pandemic with more people working from home. “Both large and small organizations have been forced to have staff work from home this year, resulting in many cost saving benefits” for people, such as lower gasoline and parking costs. Consequently the focus for buyers is more on communities with active transport options that are recreational as opposed to those offering alternatives to commuting to work by car. Still, King suggests the study reflects that when people are looking for a home, considerations like proximity to these amenities can be just as important as what’s inside the home. “When people are looking for a home, quite often what they want is something that is going to satisfy their budget, but they also look for things like being close to a school, close to work or easy access to grocery stores,” King says. * * * * * Edmonton Journal: Alternative transport study ranks Edmonton ahead of most big Canadian cities [image: Joel Schlesinger, for the Edmonton Journal]Joel Schlesinger, for the Edmonton Journal Published on: November 13, 2020 https://www.norfolkandtillsonburgnews.com/life/homes/alternative-transport-… Edmonton ranks well among major Canadian cities for alternatives to the automobile for getting around, a recent study reveals. The capital city placed 36th among 100 municipalities in Canada, according to a new study by Zolo, a national online real estate brokerage. “It’s not just about the transit score,” says Romana King, Zolo’s director of content. “It’s also about the ability to bike and walk.” The survey ranked communities according to a number of metrics from walking and biking paths to transit access, and even other variables like elevation change and precipitation. King says the purpose behind measuring several factors was to balance out the advantage big cities have — with extensive transit systems — over smaller ones, which may feature better walkability but less robust public transportation. An Edmonton bedroom community, for example, “might not be the best for public transportation, but it likely ranks better for walkability,” she says. “So while you can’t walk from your home to downtown Edmonton in a lot of cases, you can get around with walking and biking in these smaller communities so that would allow them to rank higher in some respects.” The only community near Edmonton to appear in the study was Spruce Grove, ranked 38th. (Other surrounding communities such as St. Albert and Sherwood Park were not ranked.) Nationally, Montreal and Ottawa ranked first and second, while Calgary sat in 79th place. The highest ranking Alberta city was Fort McMurray at 32nd place. For Edmonton realtor Kathy Schmidt, active transport amenities are becoming more and more important to buyers. “Every buyer has individual priorities … whether it’s being close to the airport for frequent business travel, close to their work especially if they’re someone who may be on-call, or close to family for help with child care or caring for aging parents,” says the broker/owner of Schmidt Realty Group Inc. Increasingly, many buyers are seeking to live closer to downtown, which has more options for transit as well as access to the river valley trail network, she adds. Additionally, homes with good access to alternative transport and amenities tend to appreciate better than average in the city. Schmidt cites neighbourhoods like Ritchie, adjacent to Mill Creek and close to Whyte Avenue, along with Greenfield and Sweet Grass, both a little farther south. All have good access to transit and paths for walking and biking to shops and restaurants — though Ritchie offers more in that respect, as well as being closer to downtown. “Looking back 10 years, you can see that single-family homes in these neighbourhoods have held their value or increased in value over time,” she says. The average single-family detached home in Edmonton increased by 10.5 per cent in value while the average home in Ritchie grew by 20.7 per cent. A home in Sweet Grass slightly also outpaced the city average with a gain of 12.8 per cent. Yet Schmidt further notes LRT and bike paths — particularly those on major thoroughfares — can be “controversial.” While homeowners appreciate these amenities, many prefer to be 10 minutes’ walk from an LRT station as opposed to adjacent to these amenities. With respect to bicycle options, some buyers driving to work find their commute negatively affected by lanes on key arteries, she notes. Still, King and Schmidt argue alternative transport is increasingly a positive for home values. “It’s more than likely homes offering better active transport accessibility hold value better in downturns and accelerate better in upswings,” King says.

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School Streets Feedback - community survey
by Denae Penner 12 Nov '20

12 Nov '20

Hello all, We've launched an online survey to get feedback and input on the school streets pilot project <https://greenactioncentre.ca/at-school/school-streets-pilot/>. *Please share what you think about School Streets for Winnipeg to help us figure out next steps. Do we keep it? * Fill out the survey >> <https://ca.surveygizmo.com/s3/50087587/School-Street> Survey closes Monday, November 16 at midnight. The survey is for Isaac Brock students & parents, as well as Winnipegers more broadly. We're looking for input from others, including parents of students at other schools, interested citizens, business owners, etc. Thanks, *Denae Penner *(she/her/hers) Sustainable Transportation Program Coordinator, Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> 204-925-3777 ext. 114 | 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, MB *Green Action Centre is your green living hub* Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/>. Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/GreenActionCentre/> | Twitter <https://twitter.com/greenactionctr> | Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/greenactioncentre/> | LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-action-centre/>

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Open Streets full report
by Beth McKechnie 12 Nov '20

12 Nov '20

Hi everyone, If you want to check out the full Open Streets report presented to the Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works, see attached. Or you can find it online (Report #6): http://clkapps.winnipeg.ca/dmis/ViewDoc.asp?DocId=20520&SectionId=&InitUrl= cheers, Beth -- Beth McKechnie (she/her) *| *Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> *Green Action Centre is located in Winnipeg on Treaty No. 1 territory and the traditional homeland of the Métis Nation. * *The water we drink comes from Shoal Lake 40 First Nation on Treaty Three territory.* Green Action Centre is your green living hub Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://www.gomanitoba.ca>

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Free webinar: How Edmonton abolished parking minimums
by Beth McKechnie 12 Nov '20

12 Nov '20

Look to Edmonton for a way forward.‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Parking minimums—the requirement to provide a minimum number of parking spaces for a given structure—destroy opportunity and diminish quality of life in our places. *In June of 2020, the city council in Edmonton, Alberta voted to do away with minimum parking requirements.* To give you an idea of what this means for the people who live there, consider these images: [image: Alternate text] <https://strongtowns.apms5.com/anywhere/m?s=strongtowns&m=s_f4162bdd-1385-43…> Edmonton, Alberta, from above. All parking spaces are highlighted in red. With this decision, Edmonton has created countless opportunities by unlocking literal miles of land for its residents to live, eat, and build wealth on. *Read about the future Edmonton looks forward to, and the lessons we can take from their journey, in today's story. <https://strongtowns.apms5.com/anywhere/m?s=strongtowns&m=s_f4162bdd-1385-43…>* *Want to learn more about how to eliminate parking minimums in your place? Join us for this free webcast during Member Week!* [image: Alternate text] <https://strongtowns.apms5.com/anywhere/m?s=strongtowns&m=s_f4162bdd-1385-43…> *Tuesday, Nov. 17, Noon Central* Parking minimums are costing your town or city productivity, prosperity and financial resilience. Will your community be the next to end this wasteful practice? In this webcast, you'll hear directly from a team of advocates and local leaders who successfully accomplished this feat in Edmonton. Register Now! <https://strongtowns.apms5.com/anywhere/m?s=strongtowns&m=s_f4162bdd-1385-43…> Learn More <https://strongtowns.apms5.com/anywhere/m?s=strongtowns&m=s_f4162bdd-1385-43…> Strong Towns www.strongtowns.org [image: Alternate text] <https://strongtowns.apms5.com/anywhere/m?s=strongtowns&m=s_f4162bdd-1385-43…> [image: Facebook] <https://strongtowns.apms5.com/anywhere/m?s=strongtowns&m=s_f4162bdd-1385-43…> [image: Twitter] <https://strongtowns.apms5.com/anywhere/m?s=strongtowns&m=s_f4162bdd-1385-43…> [image: LinkedIn] <https://strongtowns.apms5.com/anywhere/m?s=strongtowns&m=s_f4162bdd-1385-43…> [image: Instagram] <https://strongtowns.apms5.com/anywhere/m?s=strongtowns&m=s_f4162bdd-1385-43…>

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Fwd: SnowFall Global Winter Cycling Webinar THIS Thursday
by Anders Swanson 11 Nov '20

11 Nov '20

Hi folks, Join us for the first ever winter congress online event, a warm up to the real thing happening later in february. The inperson version is of course cancelled, but I think this is going to be quite good anyway . Details below. ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Winter Cycling Federation <office(a)wintercycling.org> Date: Tue, Nov 10, 2020 at 10:07 AM Subject: Join us for SnowFall Winter Cycling Webinar THIS Thursday To: Anders <andersswanson(a)gmail.com> Free online event featuring expert guests and Discussion. <https://wintercycling.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2168f328496bff4b1f7…> Join us this Thursday for.. <https://wintercycling.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2168f328496bff4b1f7…> *SnowFall, a pre-season winter cycling conference warmup event. * This event features two panels filled with very special guests followed by moderated Q&A. Come. Learn. Bring your questions and ideas. *Session 1 - Is YOUR city ready?* Winter plans, policies, and procedures from Finland, Canada and the US featuring a discussion with city staff from Minneapolis, Turku, Oulu and Montreal. Followed by Q&A. *Live from Finland - Video Tour Break* *Session 2 - **Are YOUR people ready?* How to nudge culture and lay the foundation for new ways of moving. Share best practices in motivating others and discuss what it takes to get millions of people - or maybe just your uncle - to ride in winter every day. Register for SnowFall <https://wintercycling.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2168f328496bff4b1f7…> *Panelists and Moderators* <https://wintercycling.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2168f328496bff4b1f7…> Stella Aaltonen Panelist, Project Manager, City of Turku, Finland <https://wintercycling.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2168f328496bff4b1f7…> Harri Varaala Panelist Traffic Engineer, City of Oulu, Finland <https://wintercycling.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2168f328496bff4b1f7…> Becca Wolfson Moderator, Boston Cyclists' Union, Boston, USA <https://wintercycling.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2168f328496bff4b1f7…> Leigh Anne Parry Panelist, Plain Bicycle Project Winnipeg, Canada <https://wintercycling.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2168f328496bff4b1f7…> Bartek Komorowski Panelist, City of Montreal, Canada <https://wintercycling.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2168f328496bff4b1f7…> Anders Swanson Moderator, Chair, Vélo Canada Bikes <https://wintercycling.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2168f328496bff4b1f7…> Marjo Harju Senior Lecturer Well-being and Health Technology Tampere University of Applied Sciences <https://wintercycling.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2168f328496bff4b1f7…> Pekka Takhola Urban Planner and Well Being Engineer Live Video Tour (Oulu, Finland) <https://wintercycling.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2168f328496bff4b1f7…> Glenn Kubish Well-being and Health Technology <https://wintercycling.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2168f328496bff4b1f7…> Learn More and Register <https://wintercycling.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2168f328496bff4b1f7…> Let the world know that cycling year round is the way of the future. *Share this event on social media... :)* <https://wintercycling.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2168f328496bff4b1f7…> <https://wintercycling.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2168f328496bff4b1f7…> [image: Facebook] <https://wintercycling.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2168f328496bff4b1f7…> [image: Twitter] <https://wintercycling.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2168f328496bff4b1f7…> [image: Link] <https://wintercycling.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2168f328496bff4b1f7…> [image: Website] <https://wintercycling.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2168f328496bff4b1f7…> *Copyright © 2020 Winter Cycling Federation, All rights reserved.* You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. *Our mailing address is:* Winter Cycling Federation Nummikatu 34 Oulu 90100 Finland Add us to your address book <https://wintercycling.us2.list-manage.com/vcard?u=2168f328496bff4b1f7379f51…> Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences <https://wintercycling.us2.list-manage.com/profile?u=2168f328496bff4b1f7379f…> or unsubscribe from this list <https://wintercycling.us2.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=2168f328496bff4b1f7…>. [image: Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp] <http://www.mailchimp.com/email-referral/?utm_source=freemium_newsletter&utm…>

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We're hiring
by Anders Swanson 09 Nov '20

09 Nov '20

Know any talented UX designers or software developers who are into cycling, graduated university, and wanna do something special? Check it out: https://www.winnipegtrails.ca/job-postings/ Anders

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in the USA Shared Micromobility Trips Grew by 62% in 2019
by Zdan, Terry (MI) 09 Nov '20

09 Nov '20

fyi From: DOE Vehicle Technologies Office <eere(a)service.govdelivery.com> Sent: November-09-20 12:32 PM To: Zdan, Terry (MI) <Terry.Zdan(a)gov.mb.ca> Subject: Fact of the Week #1159 [Bookmark and Share]<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVy…> View in browser<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVy…> [Energy dot gov Office of Energy Efficiency and renewable energy]<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVy…> Vehicle Technologies Office <https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVy…> Transportation Analysis Fact of the Week #1159<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVy…> [Divider] November 9, 2020 Shared Micromobility Trips Grew by 62% in 2019 The number of micromobility trips grew 62% from 2018 to 2019 due to the large increase in scooter trips. Shared micromobility refers to small fleets of fully or partially human-powered vehicles including bikes, e-bikes, and e-scooters. Trips on scooters more than doubled from 2018 to 2019 while bike trips increased by 3% and e-bike trips increased 54%. Data collection by the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) began in 2010 and included only bike trips until 2018. [Number of Shared Micromobility Trips, 2010-2019] Note: Data includes systems with over 150 bikes or scooters and includes only data reported by large cities. Data does not include private or closed campus systems like those operating on university campuses. For more detail, see the source report. Source: National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), Shared Micromobility in the U.S.: 2019<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVy…>, Summer 2020. View the supporting data<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDYsInVy…> for this Fact of the Week DOE Facebook [Facebook] <https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDcsInVy…> EERE Facebook [Facebook] <https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDgsInVy…> Energy Saver Facebook [Facebook] <https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDksInVy…> DOE Twitter [Twitter] <https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTAsInVy…> EERE Twitter [Twitter] <https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTEsInVy…> Daniel R Simmons' Twitter [Twitter] <https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTIsInVy…> DOE YouTube[Youtube]<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTMsInVy…> DOE LinkedIn[LinkedIn]<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTQsInVy…> EERE LinkedIn[LinkedIn]<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTUsInVy…> Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTYsInVy…>. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact support(a)govdelivery.com<mailto:support@govdelivery.com>. This service is provided to you at no charge by DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE). Visit the website at energy.gov/eere<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTcsInVy…>. ________________________________ This email was sent to terry.zdan(a)gov.mb.ca<mailto:terry.zdan@gov.mb.ca> on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy * 1000 Independence Ave., SW * Washington DC 20585

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Good to Go? Assessing the Environmental Performance of New Mobility
by Beth McKechnie 06 Nov '20

06 Nov '20

This report examines the climate impact of personal and shared electric kick-scooters, bicycles, e-bikes, electric mopeds, as well as car-based ride-sharing services. Users in cities across the globe are rapidly adopting new mobility forms, helped by digital connectivity and electrification technologies. New urban mobility services are often sold as “green” solutions. But what is their real impact on energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions? This study analyses the life-cycle performance of a range of new vehicles and services based on their technical characteristics, operation and maintenance, and compares it with that of privately owned cars and public transport. Finally, the report identifies solutions to make new mobility a useful part of the urban transport mix while helping to reduce energy use and limit climate change. https://www.itf-oecd.org/good-to-go-environmental-performance-new-mobility

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AARP: The 50+ Cycling Survey Results
by Beth McKechnie 06 Nov '20

06 Nov '20

Older cyclists reflect on their bicycling preferences and experiences in a nationwide [US] survey. Many consider cycling to be a staple of their lives and can't envision ever not being able to ride a bike https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/getting-around/info-2020/50-plus-c…

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How to Bike With Disabilities, Discrimination, and Difference
by Beth McKechnie 06 Nov '20

06 Nov '20

Some of the most intimidating barriers to enjoying cycling have less to do with non-existent bike lanes and hulking SUVs, and more to do with the *kinds* of bodies our cycling culture is built to suit — and in a new online speaker series, 13 riders shared stories of how disability, discrimination, and differences have shaped the way they ride. https://usa.streetsblog.org/2020/10/29/how-to-bike-with-and-not-always-desp… <https://usa.streetsblog.org/2020/10/29/how-to-bike-with-and-not-always-desp…>

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WFP: ‘Open streets’ experiment draws positive reviews (Nov5'20)
by Beth McKechnie 05 Nov '20

05 Nov '20

‘Open streets’ experiment draws positive reviews https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/open-streets-experiment-draws-posit… WINNIPEGGERS appear to have welcomed “open streets” offering more room for active transportation, though the routes aren’t slated to become permanent fixtures just yet. Nearly a dozen open streets were tested this year, where vehicle traffic was limited to just one block from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. The routes were created to provide extra space for pedestrians and cyclists to stay active while also keeping at least two metres apart during the COVID-19 pandemic. A new city report notes 65 per cent of 5,436 people surveyed about the routes rated their experience as “very positive,” while another 14 per cent rated it as “positive.” However, the document also warns more work is required to determine where to place the routes going forward. That includes additional monitoring once post-pandemic traffic volumes resume. “Generally, the response to the open streets pilot was positive and suggests further pilot programs be implemented along with further technical analysis prior to recommending a permanent program,” the report notes. Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg, said he was pleased with the overall positive assessment. “Those streets have been very popular and there’s strong demand,” he said Wednesday. The report follows a lobby from council’s public works chairman, Coun. Matt Allard, to permanently add seasonal active transportation routes on 15 streets, which would run seven days a week between the May long and Thanksgiving weekends. The St. Boniface councillor said those routes should include 10 sections of “open streets” the city tested out this year, plus sections of five new ones. Instead, the public service suggests specific route recommendations be made in a separate report in February. Cohoe said allowing for a little more time to plan and additional pilot projects should help determine the best and safest possible routes. In an email, Allard’s office said he expects to support the plan: “The consultation demonstrated widespread public support and provides a process for how to continue and improve this great program.” Mayor Brian Bowman said he’s still reviewing the report but also sees a need to explore more permanent active transportation links, whether or not the pandemic ends by next spring. “I’m absolutely open to active transportation changes that could be made that are more permanent,” said Bowman. The city report does note not everyone who actually lives on an open street welcomes the concept, with approval ratings within that group varying widely. About 97 per cent of Egerton Avenue residents rated their experience with the routes as “very positive” or “positive,” while 52 per cent of Vialoux Drive residents rated their experience as either “negative” or “very negative.” Overall, about 18 per cent of residents with homes along the routes reported a “negative” or “very negative” experience. While there was some conflict between vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists along the routes, the public service is aware of just one minor collision, the report notes. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: Winter pedallers now a common sight on city roads (Nov2'20)
by Beth McKechnie 02 Nov '20

02 Nov '20

SUB-ZERO cycling spikes Winter pedallers now a common sight on city roads https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/entertainment/arts/sub-zero… MIA Douchant calls her chariot Red Lightning. By her admission, it’s a “very old” Raleigh bike that she bought second-hand. The brakes, she says, are “a little questionable.” But this winter, whenever the library assistant commutes from downtown Winnipeg to the University of Manitoba, Red Lightning will carry her there. She normally carpools, but her co-pooler, a librarian, is still working from home. “So it was either I drive myself, which I didn’t want to do, take the bus, which I didn’t want to do, or bicycle,” she says. With the pandemic raging, and public transit a bit overwhelming, Douchant chose the latter option — pedalling forward into several months of powder and slush in hopes of staying in shape and getting to work on time. After getting wider tires, a studded front wheel, and converting her two-wheeler into a single-speed drivetrain, Douchant started riding to and from work — a 10-kilometre trek each way — in the snow. “It’s tough so far, but online, everyone says it gets better,” she says. There might have been a time when Red Lightning stood out on the city’s roadways, but winter cycling has gone from obscurity to commonality in recent years. Much of that has to do with upgrades to the biking grid and the proliferation of “fat” bikes, rides with wider, stable tires, local enthusiasts say, but just as much has to do with the fact those riding during the winter no longer feel quite as alone out there. “I don’t recall getting any sideways looks,” says Karin McSherry, who’s been riding in the winter since 1997. “But I don’t recall too many others out there.” Now, watch a snow-covered street for a few minutes, and you’ll likely see a bike roll on by. This winter, the number of winter cyclists has no doubt been increased by the pandemic: many people, like Douchant, have had to rethink their means of conveyance, and others, like Eric Timperman, were inspired to make the change when co-workers weren’t calling it quits when the snow fell. Timperman, a double bassist with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, said he also wanted to drive less, saving money on parking and gas while also reducing his ecological footprint. (He doesn’t plan on carrying his instrument while biking, sparing himself a hernia). “It just seemed to be a good time to dip my toes in the water,” he said. “I’m a total beginner.” Last week, Timperman went with a colleague to Bikes and Beyond on Henderson Highway to take stock of the stock. They settled on a Norco Indie4 with studded tires and mechanical brakes, which work better in the cold. It’s ordered, and Timperman is both excited and apprehensive to take it for a spin. Emily Payne, a salesperson at the store, says there has been a lot of interest in winter cycling, something she took up in 2017. “I used to think you had to be a Nordic god to do it,” she says. But after winterizing your bike, she said, you have to winterize yourself, preparing for the conditions and conditioning yourself to handle the change in terrain. It turns out even mortals can conquer the task. And many mere mortals are trying it out this year, says Alter Ego Sports’ Rick Yaschyshyn, who’s been a winter cyclist for decades. Yaschyshyn said this year’s sales have been busier than ever, and he attributes the bump to COVID- 19. During the summer, many rediscovered the joy of cycling, and when winter came, didn’t want to stop feeling it. In particular, fat bikes have been a quick mover. When Yaschyshyn started riding, people thought he was crazy. (In 2018, city councillor Jeff Browaty famously called winter cyclists “extreme cyclists,” an honorific some now wear with pride). “Now they realize it’s just what I do,” he said. “That’s Rick, and he rides his bike year-round.” Currie Gillespie leads a winter ride for Woodcock Cycle called Fat Fridays, when riders of the fat-tired bicycles — which are considerably more expensive than a converted bike but offer more stability — get together to explore the city. “I don’t think the question is, ‘Why should I ride in the winter,’” he says. “The question is ‘Why not?’” Some reasons might be timidity about the terrain, ultracold temperatures, and fear of sharing the road with drivers, but Payne, Gillespie and Yaschyshyn all say experience helps allay those concerns. Douchant has some concerns of her own: bike lanes are often not cleared or salted, and the conditions are proving to be a little more difficult than she anticipated, she says. But even though she really feels each of the 10 kilometres, she’s satisfied with her decision so far. “And I haven’t wiped out yet,” she says with some pride. ben.waldman(a)freepress.mb.ca

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