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WFP: A bridge too fine - Riverton gets snazzy replacement (Nov.3'12)
by Beth McKechnie 03 Nov '12

03 Nov '12

A bridge too fine Riverton gets snazzy replacement By: Bill Redekop RIVERTON -- The previous four bridges here, dating back 120 years, were all wiped out by floods. Those bridges spanning the Icelandic River were built in 1892, 1910, 1932 and 1974 -- the last one knocked out by flood and ice floes in 2011. So when the fifth bridge -- it and the previous one have been pedestrian bridges -- was unveiled last week, people had to put it to the test. At the opening ceremony, 157 people got onto the new Riverton footbridge at once. Then it started to sway. Mayor Colin Bjarnason said at that point his son, Kevin Johnson, toting his two boys, decided against being the 158th, 159th and 160th persons. "It never bothered me," said the mayor of the slight movement in the bridge, which was not considered in danger. You have to see this bridge. Stantec engineers stop short of saying it's indestructible -- that's what people said about a certain ocean liner -- but claim it will "withstand whatever the river can throw at it." It's a $2-million state-of-the-art pedestrian bridge that lights up like a chandelier at night. LED lights are embedded in all the cross girders and into every second post along the decking. So at night, said resident Peter McCabe, "It's like you're in New York or someplace." This isn't New York. It's a town of 560 people that was originally settled by Icelandic pioneers, 105 kilometres north of Winnipeg. Riverton couldn't raise $20,000 for a bridge on its own, never mind $2 million. Its contribution to the bridge is $2.50 per capita, or about $1,500. The province pays the rest under the Disaster Financial Assistance program, with the understanding the federal government will cover 85 per cent of those costs under its disaster assistance program. Bridges have been a good-luck, bad-luck story for the community. The bad luck is their bridges keep being knocked out by flood ice every generation or so. The good luck is every time the bridge gets rebuilt, the town gets an upgrade paid for by the federal and provincial governments. Each new replacement bridge is built bigger and stronger to meet new building codes. The result is the magnificent $2-million footbridge. Rivertonians have voted right. Provincially, they are represented by NDP MLA Peter Bjornson (Gimli). Federally, their MP is Conservative James Bezan (Selkirk-Interlake). However, it seems more a case of first in, first out. Bjarnason said he was on the phone to government officials about obtaining a replacement bridge the same day the old one was destroyed. Stantec came forward with a design proposal and the town council submitted it almost directly to government. Bjarnason said council didn't hold public meetings and ask for public input on various designs like Souris has. Souris, with three times the population of Riverton, is still waiting for a less expensive footbridge to replace its famous suspension bridge lost in the 2011 Souris River flood. It's not like Riverton doesn't have a regular bridge for vehicle traffic. There's one half a kilometre away. The new footbridge just reconnects the east side of town, where fewer than half the residents live, considered old Riverton, to the west side for pedestrian traffic. It is also a tourist attraction and a community-enhancer. Last year's flood knocked out two of the four bridge piers. During the rebuilding, Stantec engineers took out a third pier to remove another target for ice floes. Engineers just kept a single centre pier but braced it with four anchors, burrowed 21 metres into bedrock, on each side. Stantec said the pier will withstand river ice one metre thick. Stantec also bevelled the pier into a point so it can either split ice floes or at least deflect them away. Sperling Industries built the 90-metre-long bridge in the village of Sperling, just southwest of Winnipeg. Bjarnason said he feels the bridge helps put Riverton back into the tourist game. In earlier times, Riverton was a more important hub for Icelandic Canadians than Gimli. Plus, a town heritage group recently erected a bronze statue of Sigtryggur Jónasson, known as the Father of New Iceland. "(Gimli town officials) have been blowing their whistle an awfully long time. We're proving we've got something here and we're going to start letting people know about it," said Bjarnason. bill.redekop(a)freepress.mb.ca http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/a-bridge--too-fine-177072891.html* *

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Live streaming of Sustainable Mobility Summit Nov. 5-7th!
by Jessie Klassen 02 Nov '12

02 Nov '12

Hello Everyone! Green Action Centre will be hosting a local viewing of the Sustainable Mobility Summit on Monday, November 5th, and Wednesday November 7th, right here in the Eco-Centre boardroom. This is a fantastic conference, taking place this year in Hamilton, Ontario. We will be streaming live: Monday, November 5th: 9:30am - 4pm Wednesday, November 7th: 12:30pm - 4pm Find out more about the Sustainable Mobility Summit here<http://www.actcanada.com/EN/Conference2012/Default.aspx>. View the program schedule here<http://www.actcanada.com/EN/Conference2012/pdf/SustainableMobilitySummit201…>(pp. 16-17). Please let us know if you are planning to join us by emailing jessie(a)greenactioncentre.ca or calling 925-3772. Hope to see you here! ** *Jessie Klassen* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre<http://www.greenactioncentre.ca>| Find us here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Avenue* | *(204) 925-3772 Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/memberships/>

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BttF's Submission to Charleswood Transportation Study
by Mark Cohoe 31 Oct '12

31 Oct '12

HI, I thought I would share with you the submission that Bike to the Future has made to the consultants undertaking the Charleswood Transportation Study. It is available here <http://biketothefuture.org/attachments/0000/1824/2012-10-26_bttf_charleswoo…>. Our next steps will be to contact as many organizations within the study area as possible and ask them to join us in asking for the improvements we have identified. If you can help out in that regard, please feel free to contact me at 204-894-6540. Cheers, Mark Cohoe Executive Director Bike to the Future

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WFP: MPI, PUB split over safety fund (Oct.31'12)
by Beth McKechnie 31 Oct '12

31 Oct '12

[Though it's disappointing (but not surprising) to hear such vocal backlash to MPI's proposed contributions to improve the safety of road infrastructure, it's encouraging that it's now on the table. For years, we have heard the great ways ICBC has used this approach to address poorly designed road infrastructure, especially intersections. The result has been greatly improved safety for everyone, including pedestrians and cyclists. Plus it has saved everyone money through reduced claims. Not mentioned but included would also be health care savings from those hurt in collissions. Sounds like a win all around! -cheers, Beth] MPI, PUB split over safety fund Regulator backs idea but doesn't want premiums to pay for it By: Bruce Owen The Public Utilities Board has not given a green light to Manitoba Public Insurance's plan to help fund road-improvement projects. But there are indications the panel that regulates automobile insurance rates is on the same road as MPI with regard to funding road-safety projects. MPI and the PUB are divided over how the Crown insurer is to pay for such projects. Money for a new road-safety program, which could include rumble strips or new merging lanes, would come out of basic insurance premiums, MPI spokesman Brian Smiley said, the same as it does now for MPI's current road-safety programs. Funding would not come out of MPI's rate-stabilization reserve, which stands at about $156 million, MPI's 2011-12 annual report states. The PUB has been after MPI for about two years to take about $20 million out of its rate-stabilization reserve and create a separate road-safety program to pay for initiatives that would reduce collisions and costly claims, such as when a car hits a deer. How soon a plan gets put on the PUB's table -- MPI officials have been mulling this for more than a year -- depends on what a yet-to-be-announced independent consultant recommends. "We are in the very, very early stages of this," Smiley said Tuesday. "We told the PUB we are looking at this. This is very preliminary." News the insurer is looking at expanding its road-safety program was reported last week by the Free Press and soundly criticized by the Opposition Progressive Conservatives. The Tories say it's the government's job to spruce up infrastructure. "Manitoba Public Insurance has a specific mandate and that is to provide Manitoba drivers with insurance, period," Brandon MLA Reg Helwer, the party's critic for MPI, has said. MPI is eyeing the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia's road-improvement program, which began in 1989. ICBC splits the cost of road projects -- such as roundabouts, pedestrian signals, rumble strips, medians, sign upgrades and intersection improvements -- with municipalities and the B.C. government. ICBC says a recent evaluation of the program found two years following a project's implementation, there is on average, a 20 per cent reduction in severe crashes and a 12 per cent reduction in property damage crashes. The evaluation also found for every dollar spent on a project, ICBC and customers saved $5.60 over two years and $12.80 over five years in reduced claims costs. CAA Manitoba spokeswoman Liz Peters said the auto association wants to see MPI's plan before it passes judgment. "While we acknowledge a similar endeavour has been successful for ICBC, we disagree that this is a strategy that Manitobans would likely support," Peters told the PUB at a hearing last week. "We definitely believe that infrastructure is the role of the government and should remain that way." Byron Williams, who represents the Manitoba branch of the Consumers' Association of Canada, told the PUB his clients believe infrastructure spending should also be paid through tax dollars, not insurance premiums. "But our clients want to emphasize that they're open to persuasion on this, but open to persuasion based upon sound empirical evidence," he said. "There's also risk that they're dissipating the corporation's energies on too many roles, minimizing the positive contribution it can make." bruce.owen(a)freepress.mb.ca http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/mpi-pub-split-over-safety-fun… <bruce.owen(a)freepress.mb.ca>

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Support Peg City Car Co-op in the National Co-op Challenge
by Shoni Litinsky 30 Oct '12

30 Oct '12

For Facebook users only: For those of you who would like to see more biking, walking, busing, and sometimes driving in Winnipeg - please take a moment of your time to support your local carshare co-op. The Cooperator's Insurance company is hosting a National Co-op Challenge, and Peg City is the only Manitoba finalist! We have a 50% chance of winning $30,000, $15,000 or $10,000 to help us grow the co-op....but we need your help because the competition is tight! Please follow this link to watch our video and vote for our group! Feel free to share it with your friends and co-workers :) https://apps.facebook.com/contestshq/contests/291687/voteable_entries/60151… -- *Shoni Litinsky* | Active and Safe Routes to School Green Action Centre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Avenue* | *(204) 925-3773 Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/memberships/> Find us here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/>

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[At-network] Reminder - AT Webinar: Green Lane Project, 2-3 pm, Wed, Oct. 31st, EcoCentre
by Beth McKechnie 30 Oct '12

30 Oct '12

*Friendly reminder about tomorrow afternoon's webinar. A more detailed description was also just provided this morning (pasted below)...* * * * * Green Action Centre and Bike to the Future invite you to join us for a local viewing of the upcoming APBP webinar at the EcoCentre (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave) followed by group discussion.* * *The Green Lane Project* Wednesday, October 31st | 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. CDT [image: image]Join us for an informative webinar about the innovative Green Lane Project. Martha Roskowski, Green Lane Project Director, discusses the project's scope and goals and shares the results of a recent inventory of the lanes. She'll also discuss the challenges and opportunities of protected lanes and how they fit into the emerging concept of low-stress networks as the key to encouraging more people to make short trips by bike. She will provide an update on the progress being made by the six focus cities in the project (Austin, Chicago, Memphis, Portland, San Francisco and Washington D.C.), as an introduction to detailed presentations from Chicago and San Francisco. Mike Amsden's presentation about Chicago's Protected Bike Lane Initiative will focus on two recently installed protected bike lanes (cycle tracks) in Chicago: Elston Avenue and 55th Street. Elston Avenue is a popular commuter route for bicyclists that travels through several industrial areas. This mix of industrial uses and bicycle traffic presented unique design, operational and outreach challenges. 55th Street is the northern border of the University of Chicago. Before installation of a road diet with protected bike lanes, four lanes of motor vehicle traffic created a barrier for people walking or bicycling to campus from neighborhoods to the north. Mike's presentation will describe the purpose, safety benefits, design details, and challenges of each project. Seleta Reynolds of San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency will focus on the JFK Drive bike lanes with results to date and lessons learned. San Francisco implemented its first parking-buffered cycletrack on JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park in May, 2012. The presentation will cover lessons learned in every aspect from the outreach method to the construction staging, and finally early evaluation, which includes both quantitative measures and qualitative measures including field surveys of users. Presenters: - Martha Roskowski, Director, Green Lane Project - Mike Amsden, Senior Planner, T.Y. Lin International - Seleta Reynolds, Section Leader, Livable Streets Sustainable Streets Division, SFMTA

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Incentives to encourage cycling to work
by Beth McKechnie 30 Oct '12

30 Oct '12

Incentives would encourage cycling to work 30 October 2012 | By Jennifer Paterson<http://www.employeebenefits.co.uk/jennifer-paterson/6.bio> http://www.employeebenefits.co.uk/benefits/tax-efficient-benefits/bikes-for… Almost half (48%) of respondents would cycle to work more often if there were extra incentives or rewards for them to do so, according to research by innovation foundation Nesta. The research, which surveyed more than 4,000 UK adults, found that, among employees who already cycle to work, the factors most likely to get them to cycle more include: safe storage (40%), access to bike maintenance (31%) and shower facilities (29%). A further 14% said they would welcome training sessions, such as road safety courses. However, among employers surveyed in another piece of research by Nesta, only 13% of HR decision makers said that they currently offer incentives and rewards to encourage employees to cycle to work. Its *Human resources decision makers and business leaders survey*, which polled 507 HR decision makers, found that 23% of respondents said there would be no benefit to their organisation if more employees cycled to work. Almost half (48%) of respondents said employee cycling would give them healthier staff and lead to fewer sick days, while 49% said it would help towards meeting their environmental targets. A lack of employee demand was the most commonly perceived barrier to setting up a bikes-for-work initiative, with 39% of respondents citing this reason. On the back of this research, Nesta has introduced a Workplace Cycling Challenge, which encourages employers to submit innovative ideas for getting more of their workforce commuting by bike. The challenge is open to all employers with 10 or more employees. Geoff Mulgan, chief executive at Nesta, said: “Through our Workplace Cycling Challenge, we hope to remove some of the barriers to cycling and get more people on their bikes. “Our research shows that many people would be keen to give cycling a go if only the right incentives were put in place and this presents organisations with a huge opportunity to reap all the benefits associated with an active, cycling workforce.”

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INVITATION: North American Kickstand Training Sessions
by Anders Swanson 29 Oct '12

29 Oct '12

[Apologies in advance for any cross-postings. Hope to see you there! - Anders] *Two-Day Professional Training Session on Bicycle-Friendly and People-Friendly Cities Winnipeg* *Nov.22nd and 23rd* Bicycle-friendly cities are people-friendly cities. Building a city that accommodates the bicycle means building an economically viable, sustainable and socially vibrant city. This November and December, a team of internationally known experts from The Netherlands, Denmark, Canada and the United States are traveling across North America with an innovative training program called "The Kickstand Sessions". Customized training sessions take European expertise and an understanding of North American context to develop solutions that suit the unique characteristics of each city. Trainers coach participants to discover local solutions in engineering, planning, policy, culture and marketing which will permit people of all ages, abilities, genders and backgrounds to bicycle more often. *Two Day Workshop* Thursday, Nov 22nd (8:30am - 5:00pm) Friday, Nov 23rd (9:00 am – 5:00 pm) Space limited to 36 participants. *Location:* University of Manitoba Events Centre<http://umanitoba.ca/admin/campus_planning_office/Event%20Centre.html> 100 One Research Road (in Smart Park) Complimentary bike parking for 20 and vehicle parking for 75 *Workshop Fees and Registration*: $800 / pp for two day workshop (taxes, lunch and refreshment breaks included) *Register Now. <http://copenhagenize.eu/kickstand/signup.html>* For more information, visit to the Kickstand website<http://kickstandsessions.com/>. All training fees are processed through PayPal. Spaces are limited to ensure a high quality learning environment. *PLEASE NOTE:* We are also coordinating an opportunity for the general public to hear / see / learn from our European friends. Details coming soon. * * * * * * * * * * * * *FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS* *Is this a training session just about applying European best practices in North America?* No. We know that European best practices cannot be directly applied in the North American context. We have heard the argument about how large and spread out North America is, and of course the winters! This training session is unique as it brings together experts from The Netherlands, Denmark, Canada and the United States. Our training team will inspire and coach participants in devising local solutions that build on local conditions. The Kickstand Sessions provide a unique opportunity for professionals to work alongside international cycling experts. Spaces are limited to ensure a high quality learning environment with 4 trainers and a maximum of 36 participants. * TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS * -Focus on the local conditions that need to be in place for the bicycle to work as a catalyst for creating people-friendly cities -Learn how to create the cultural and political support that is necessary to incorporate bicycle infrastructure into your city's transport system -Understand the most strategic and cost-effective approaches for integrating bicycle routes and facilities with other forms of transport -See how to incorporate bicycle planning into pedestrian planning and why this creates safe street designs that work for all road users -Learn what it means to accommodate the needs of women, children, the elderly, low-income families, immigrants and people with disabilities (All of these groups use bicycles heavily in The Netherlands and Denmark) -Uncover the leading-edge approaches used to market and promote urban cycling and why it works -Be motivated by international best practices and lessons that matter to your community -Dispel common barriers to cycling like weather, topography, funding, political will and car-oriented planning -Discover how cycling is central to building livable, modern, resilient and active cities -Find out the characteristics of bicycle culture and how this can be inherited and supported locally -Set a roadmap of key action items that are proven in cities around the world -And much more! * Who should attend this professional training session? *-Transportation engineers and planners -Professionals and business leaders in development, architecture, planning and design -Local economic development officials and tourism professionals -Public health promoters and professionals -Community groups and business improvement associations -Organizations that support women, children, the elderly, new Canadians, low-income families and other key groups -Champions of resilient and liveable communities * * * * * * * * * * * * *SOCIAL MEDIA* Join the discussion on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/kickstandsessions> and Twitter <https://twitter.com/kickstand_bike>! *CONTACT* If you have any questions about the training session, please do not hesitate to contact: *in Manitoba:* Anders Swanson (204) 797-1962 andersswanson(a)gmail.com *Canadian Coordinating Chair:* Elizabeth Allingham Community Engagement Manager, The Kickstand Sessions - North America (613) 216-2332 kickstandcanada(a)copenhagenize.eu *THANKYOU* to representatives from government and non-government organizations for helping to coordinate logistics and spread the word esp. the University of Manitoba, Manitoba’s Dutch and Danish Consuls, Portage la Prairie's bicycle committee, The University of Manitoba Institute for Transportation Engineers Student Chapter, Bike to the Future, the Winnipeg Trails Association, Manitoba Professional Planners' Institute, MPI, Green Action Centre, the Physical Activity Coalition of Manitoba, the City of Winnipeg, Manitoba Local Government and more.

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WFP: Bike lanes, trails popular, poll says (Oct.29'12)
by Beth McKechnie 29 Oct '12

29 Oct '12

Bike lanes, trails popular, poll says Strong majority supports healthy initiatives By: Mia Rabson Winnipeggers may hate change, but thus far, the slew of new bike lanes and trails in the last two years have been met with a thumbs-up from most people. A Probe Research poll for the Free Press found 71 per cent of Winnipeggers see the new bike paths and trails as very or somewhat successful for cyclists, and 60 per cent said they were very or somewhat successful for motorists. Most people fell into the slightly happy crowd, with 50 per cent calling them somewhat successful for cyclists and 51 per cent calling them somewhat successful for motorists, compared to 21 per cent and nine per cent who said they were very successful for cyclists and motorists, respectively. "When all is said and done, people think they are starting to do what they're supposed to do," said Probe Research president Scott MacKay. MacKay said he "honestly didn't know what to expect" when the question was asked, so he wasn't surprised by the results. More than $20 million was spent to build or improve more than three dozen bicycle paths, including dedicated bike lanes on major streets and multi-use trails. Much of the money came via the federal government's economic-stimulus plans, but required contributions from provincial and municipal governments. The poll did not ask whether people are more likely to use bikes since the addition of the new trails and paths, but MacKay said this poll will be a good baseline for comparison in the future. Bike to the Future, an advocacy group for cycling in Winnipeg, estimates the number of cyclists in downtown Winnipeg has gone up 47 per cent since 2011, to about 13,000 people a day. Mark Cohoe, Bike to the Future's executive director, said the new paths and bike lanes have greatly contributed to that increase. He said he is not surprised people like the new paths because they have been a great addition to the city's cycling community. "There is a definite improvement in how motorists and cyclists interact," said Cohoe. He said while there is still animosity between cyclists and drivers, the trails have helped make everyone safer. Most of the bike paths were built in 2009 and 2010. MacKay said the poll question came about because there was a lot of chatter on radio call-in shows and even around the water cooler in the Probe offices, about cycling in Winnipeg. "There's always been this debate between car people and the bike people," he said. On a personal level, he's seen many more cyclists on his way to work each day, and he himself was sometimes confused by the new signs marking bike lanes. He wanted to know whether the new paths were working for cyclists, for motorists, or neither. Cohoe said there are still major gaps, such as Pembina Highway. However, once the second rapid-transit phase is completed, and the cycling upgrades as part of the Pembina Underpass project are finished, it will give cyclists a safe trail to connect them all the way to the University of Manitoba. He said another priority for cyclists right now is for the completion of the trail between Grant and Wilkes near Shaftesbury Boulevard. mia.rabson(a)freepress.mb.ca *Probe Research poll questions* *Overall, how successful would you say these bike lanes, trails and paths have been in making travel around the city better for Winnipeg cyclists?* Very successful: 21 per cent Somewhat successful: 50 per cent Somewhat unsuccessful: 15 per cent Very unsuccessful: six per cent *Overall, how successful would you say these bike lanes, trails and paths have been in making travel around the city better for Winnipeg motorists?* Very successful: nine per cent Somewhat successful: 51 per cent Somewhat unsuccessful: 20 per cent Very unsuccessful: 13 per cent The poll of 600 Winnipeg adults was conducted randomly by phone between Sept. 19 and Oct. 14. It is considered to be accurate within 4.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/bike-lanes-trails-popular-poll-says-…

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City's Active Transportation Advisory Committee - Seeking Citizens to Serve - or not
by Janice Lukes 26 Oct '12

26 Oct '12

I've notice on the City's website front page - the City is <http://www.winnipeg.ca/clerks/docs/boards/boards.stm> 'Seeking Citizens to Serve' on boards and commissions with a deadline to apply of November 16th, BUT - nowhere is there a listing for the City's Active Transportation Advisory Committee. This past May, the City chose to 'relieve' all representatives (both city representatives and volunteers) from their duties on the Active Transportation Advisory Committee. As a volunteer member at the time, we were told they would be 'reformatting' the committee and posting the opportunity to serve on the committee in the near future. As Mark Cohoe noted in a previous 'Charleswood Transportation Study' posting to this list serve- there were many AT omissions in the Charleswood Transportation plan that: ' . . . had the City maintained the AT Advisory Committee, these errors would have been spotted prior to the public information display.' An advisory committee is an invaluable asset - for both the citizens and the City. An advisory committee provides insight and guidance to the City's one Active Transportation Coordinator and Public Works Department - and assists in ensuring costly AT errors and omissions do not occur. I encourage you to email the Mayor and your city Councillor <http://winnipeg.ca/council/> and ask them where folks can apply to serve on the Active Transportation Advisory Committee - in light of the November 16th deadline. Janice Lukes

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