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WFP Analysis: Car co-op a progressive success story (Oct12'21)
by Beth McKechnie 12 Oct '21

12 Oct '21

Car co-op a progressive success story https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/car-co-op-a-progressive-… YOUR car is likely your second largest household expense, and studies show that it’s probably parked 95 per cent of the time. The typical Canadian vehicle is driven for just over one hour per day on average, and according to the Canadian Automobile Association, the SUV that most people drive for that time costs an average of $33 per day to own, with all expenses included. Imagine if you could, sharing a car with your neighbours, and only paying for it when you are actually using it. No more loan payments, or trips to the mechanic, and as a bonus you would be doing something good for the environment. Ten years ago, this was the dream for a small group of people in Winnipeg who saw the growing car-sharing trend in larger cities across the world and wondered if it could work here. The group organized, found 40 people to pay $500 membership deposits and, in June 2011, Peg City Car Co-op was born. The idea started small, with three cars in Osborne Village; keys were stored in lockboxes and transactions recorded on paper. As Peg City celebrates its 10th anniversary, it has grown to more than 2,000 members with 60 vehicles parked across 11 central neighbourhoods, and has hopes of growing to 100 vehicles in 2023. Members can now conveniently make bookings online up to a year in advance, for as little as an hour at a time, and they are automatically billed for their time and distance. The people at Peg City have worked hard to grow their reach, and some of their success can be attributed to progressive change happening in our city. Even slow-growing, car-dominant Winnipeg is becoming more urban. Nearly 60 per cent of all new homes built today are apartments, and almost three-quarters are multi-family buildings, compared to only 15 per cent 20 years ago. Higher-density development is happening across the city, and more people are embracing an urban lifestyle with walking, biking and transit becoming preferred transportation options. In neighbourhoods such as Earl Grey, Osborne, Wolseley and the West End, between 40 and 50 per cent of people don’t use a car to commute to work. These are the types of neighbourhoods where car-sharing can be successful. A shared vehicle isn’t typically primary transportation, but when people are walking, biking and busing, the ability to sometimes drive can be an attractive added convenience. To be successful, a critical mass of members must live within a short walk of a shared vehicle location, which typically requires neighbourhoods to be higher density and more diverse. Dense neighbourhoods allow a grid of shared vehicles to be located within walking distance of each other to give people alternatives in higher demand times. For people living in neighbourhoods with effective access to car sharing, the personal advantages of membership are easy to understand. Vehicles are always newer, with no maintenance headaches, depreciation or parking costs. With a range of vehicle types, members can choose the appropriate model for their use — a pickup truck for moving furniture, a hatchback for a grocery run. Most significantly, car sharing provides a method of private transportation without the inefficient financial burden of owning a car. Peg City has found the average member spends about $1,200 per year on car sharing, about 10 times less than the cost of individual car ownership. This can create more equitable neighbourhoods, allowing lower-income households more affordable access to a private vehicle. Higher-income households might find car sharing effectively replaces the need for a second car. Car sharing also has several collective advantages for cities. The North American Shared-Use Vehicle Survey found that each car-share vehicle typically removes 13 privately owned vehicles from the road. This means Peg City’s 60 cars are removing almost 750 others from traffic, and from creating road wear and air pollution. Parking for 750 vehicles would require five acres of land — more than three football fields. Almost 20 per cent of Peg City’s vehicles have come from partnerships with developers, who are allowed by the City of Winnipeg to reduce the number of required parking stalls in a new development when car-sharing is included. This has been a successful initiative that helps infill development in mature neighbourhoods become more feasible. The success of Peg City Car Co-op demonstrates that when we build higher-density and more diverse communities, new lifestyle choices become available. Ten years ago, most people would have believed car sharing was a big-city idea that could never work in Winnipeg, but our city is changing. If we embrace this change, and welcome multifamily options into our neighbourhoods, promote street-focused local retail, support the construction of protected bike lanes and wider sidewalks, and invest in frequent, high-quality transit service, our children will be able to find the urban lifestyle so many relocate to other cities in search of. If we can accomplish that, organizations like Peg City Car Co-op will be celebrating many more milestone anniversaries in the future. *Brent Bellamy is senior design architect for Number Ten Architectural Group.*

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WFP: City snapshot shows spike in winter cycling numbers (Oct7'21)
by Beth McKechnie 07 Oct '21

07 Oct '21

City snapshot shows spike in winter cycling numbers https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/city-snapshot-shows-spike-in-winter… A growing number of Winnipeggers are cycling long after snow hits the ground, according to a recent city count. The total number of local cyclists who used some key active transportation routes during the winter nearly doubled during a March survey period, rising to a daily average of 236 in 2021, up from 119 in 2020, a report notes. “It shows there is a pretty sizable demand for people to actually be able to bike in winter… I think there’s a bigger barrier (with winter weather) in perception than necessarily in the reality,” said Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg. City officials note last winter’s unusually mild weather made active transportation especially appealing. The report also credits the change to increased interest in cycling, especially as Winnipeggers engaged in more recreation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The counts were taken on 10 key routes over four days in early March in 2020 and 2021. The results offer a “snapshot” of general increased interest in cycling, Cohoe said. He believes the trend is clearly linked to improved snow clearing on the routes, since those selected were prioritized for more frequent snow clearing a few years ago. “It’s not really a surprise finding that when we plow our roadways and bike routes, people respond by actually biking,” he said. Coun. Matt Allard agreed. “(It needs to be) where snow clearing is at the level of service where somebody riding their bicycle to work knows that when they get out the door they’ll have a path cleared of snow so they’ll get to their destination on time,” said Allard, public works committee chairman. The cycling increase builds the case for greater investments in active transportation, he said. In addition to meeting a demand from Winnipeggers, it would also help reduce reliance on personal vehicles and combat climate change, he said. “As we build dedicated cycling facilities and provide proper snow clearing, people will use the facilities more and more on their daily commute and for other purposes.” joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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Montréal Offers Lessons for All Cities That Want Safer, Better, More Livable Streets
by Beth McKechnie 06 Oct '21

06 Oct '21

Last month, Clarence Eckerson journeyed to Montréal to see how much progress it has made in reining in the car culture, creating more livable communities, encouraging cycling, making roadways safer and, most important, bringing back freedom to inhabitants long oppressed by car drivers. Of course, Montréal has fewer open streets than New York City does, but the open streets in the Paris of North America are much better. Montréal’s 13 open streets are much longer and operate almost entirely car-free — car-free, meaning no parking, either! — 24 hours a day, all summer long. “It’s about making the city accessible for everyone,” Montréal’s mayor Valérie Plante told me. “There has to be more room for cyclists and pedestrians, and arts and parklets.” On Montréal’s open streets, you don’t just see people walking or biking as you see in New York, but also art installations, benches, bioswales, swings (with cupholders!), play areas for kids and bollards to keep out the cars. “It just brings so much joy and fun and, of course, safe spaces for our kids,” Plante added. And local business owners confirm that pedestrianized zones bring in more money for struggling merchants. Read the full article from Streetsblog here: https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2021/09/16/see-it-montreal-offers-lessons-for-a… Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oi5wmsK-3Zk

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WFP Metro: New bike lanes praised, questioned (Oct4'21)
by Beth McKechnie 05 Oct '21

05 Oct '21

New bike lanes praised, questioned https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/metro/New-bike-lanes-prai… The new, nearly-complete bike trail system running through West Broadway and Wolseley is garnering mixed reviews from cyclists. The trail begins where Memorial Boulevard meets Granite Way just north of the Osborne Bridge. From there, it winds through the two neighbourhoods up to the intersection of Walnut Street and Westminster Avenue. Though many were pleased the city is investing in bike infrastructure, some cyclists pointed out several points along the trail that can cause confusion or potentially dangerous situations with drivers and other riders. Some believe more signage and painted lines will only do so much to solve the bike path's flaws. One of the most contentious spots, according to cyclists who spoke with *The Metro*, is at Westminster Ave and Young Street in front of Balmoral Hall School. Here, the path splits from a bidirectional trail to two unidirectional routes. To negotiate a turn onto the one-way westbound lane from the two-way path, cyclists must take a sharp turn and cross the roadway at a three-way traffic stop. "It really breaks up the flow of your riding, because there is signage that says to turn right, but I guess they don’t have the directional signs on the ground yet," said cyclist Reynold Beniza. Beniza, 30, is a digital marketing manager who lives in the Exchange District and has followed this route to work for the last year, in summer and winter. While Beniza is happy the city is focusing on active transportation, he doesn’t believe this stretch of road needs bike lanes. "I would much rather see this sort of work done on, say, Portage Avenue or Main Street and getting more of these protective barriers on the really car-heavy roads," he said. "Or, even adding more active transportation routes from the North End." At press time, there were directional markers painted on the east and westbound bidirectional lanes, but not in the intersection itself. A draft of the finished design can be found in the city’s Wolseley to Downtown Walk Bike Project plan. Just to the northeast, another tight turn on the bidirectional path makes for some "pretty hairy situations," especially during morning and afternoon commutes, Beniza said. Mark Campbell lives in the heart of Wolseley and uses the bike paths almost every day. Campbell said he really likes the paths and has found them useful, but the 33-year-old software developer has a gripe with the west end of the trail. At this junction, cyclists are forced to merge with vehicle traffic. "The cars just speed up and there’s parking, so you’ll still fighting with cars, right." he said. "Turning across Westminster is extremely dangerous." Campbell is a fan of the bi-directional path because it allows him to bike alongside his partner and daughters. Michael Falk, a 42-year-old self-employed festival worker, lives in the West End. Falk uses the new bike paths three to four times per week. "I’m super-glad to have a bike path, but there’s little decisions here and there that feel like they’re weird budget decisions resulting in little peculiar moments," he said. While Falk knows there’s more signage on the way, he said the stretch where the path splits into two is "a bit clunky" regardless. The slow introduction of signs and painted lines has left Falk perplexed. "When they build a road, signs go up right away. You don’t just have six lanes of road going with no signs," he said. Looking beyond their neighbourhoods, Campbell and Falk are in step with Beniza’s sentiment that there needs to be more bike routes connecting downtown with the North End. Campbell and Falk also noted that there’s room for the city to improve on existing bike paths by closing the gaps. Both pointed to the fractured bike lane on Sherbrook Street just north and south of Portage Avenue.

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Police tickets issued to cyclists
by Orly Linovski 04 Oct '21

04 Oct '21

Hi all, Sharing some recent research on tickets issued to cyclists in Winnipeg: https://findingspress.org/article/28345-police-enforcement-of-cycling-offen… Best, Orly

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Globe editorial on bike lanes
by Charles Feaver 04 Oct '21

04 Oct '21

The Globes editorial today; note the last sentences: The shift in direction is decisive. The arguments over bike lanes are settled. Theyre becoming what they should have long been: an ordinary way of getting around our cities. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/article-is-the-war-agains t-bike-lanes-finally-over/ On Vancouvers downtown peninsula, crews are at work on the citys newest bike lanes. Both of them, on Richards and Smithe streets, will be physically separated from car traffic. Once theyre finished, Vancouver will have an extensive and connected network of protected bike lanes throughout and in and out of the citys core. Whats more, the latest projects are being built free of the controversies of yesteryear. It is the opposite of the late 2000s, when the city opened its first protected bike lane on the Burrard Bridge into downtown. Chaos feared, blared one headline. Doomed to failure, opined a columnist. All that proved incorrect: The Burrard Bridge bike lane, billed as the busiest in North America, saw <https://vancouver.ca/streets-transportation/how-we-collect-bike-volumes.asp x> 1.4 million rides in 2020, 40 per cent more than its first full year a decade earlier. Bike lanes, in Vancouver and across Canada, have grown from political flashpoints and ideological signifiers to standard-issue civic infrastructure. Theyre being built everywhere. Penticton, in the British Columbia Interior, this summer opened its Lake-to-Lake bike lane; it plans <https://www.pentictonwesternnews.com/news/penticton-looks-to-spend-over-15- million-on-bike-lanes-over-the-next-5-years/> to invest $15-million over the next five years. Sarnia, Ont., is <https://www.sarniathisweek.com/news/local-news/bike-lanes-extension-on-russ ell-street-planned-2> extending its bicycling network. In Halifax, about a third of a <https://www.halifax.ca/transportation/cycling-walking/expanding-network/reg ional-centre-bikeway-update> planned 57 kilometres of protected bike lanes is complete. It includes Hollis Street through the heart of the city. Montreal last November opened a long north-south route on Saint Denis Street as part of its <https://montreal.ca/articles/le-rev-un-reseau-express-velo-4666> Réseau express vélo network. Toronto, <https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/recreation/covid-19-activeto/covid-19- activeto-expanding-the-cycling-network/> spurred by the pandemic, has installed protected lanes across the city. One new <https://twitter.com/TO_Cycling/status/1441110656644640768> segment on Bloor Street East opened in late September. These lanes are billed as temporary, but it would be a short-sighted mistake to reverse course. The key element in each is the bike lanes are physically protected from traffic. In years past, cities would take the cheap route and paint some lines on the street. Without real separation from cars, they were underused. Many potential riders did not feel safe in between moving and parked vehicles. Data have long indicated protected bike lanes are essential to draw riders. A flurry of new research underlines that conclusion. A <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1361920921002145> study from Ryerson University in May, one that looked at the Toronto region, found that protected bike lanes were <https://www.ryerson.ca/city-building/news-research/2021/05/new-cycling-data -dashboard/?mc_cid=1b91686d73&mc_eid=24ee3949b9> more than two times as likely to attract riders than unprotected ones. A <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2213624X21001097?dgc id=author> study in Boston showed that a protected bike lane increased bike-share traffic by 80 per cent. This is a sort of induced demand build it, and they will ride. Its no surprise. A protected bike lane is obviously safer than a faded line painted on the street. Whats fascinating is the findings from <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2214140518301488> research in 2019 that concluded such bike infrastructure can make a citys streets safer for all users drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. The goal of protected bike lanes isnt to get every single person on a bike, or for cars to be forever abandoned. Bike lanes are neither a disaster nor a saviour. Theyre about options. A well-built network means a family can ride for fun on a weekend, and that workers can commute by bike when able. (The arrival of October is a reminder that weather in Canada will always be a challenge.) Vancouver recognizes this. The citys goal is to have 12 per cent of all trips walking, car and transit included be made by bike by 2040. The <https://vancouver.ca/streets-transportation/annual-transportation-survey.as px> most recent figure was 8 per cent double the rate in 2013. A little change can make a big difference. Research suggests that if Canadians drove <https://www.fastcompany.com/3062989/50-reasons-why-everyone-should-want-mor e-walkable-streets> one day less a week, it could cut almost four megatonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year. Ditching the car once in a while isnt unrealistic. The advocacy group Vélo Canada Bikes points to Statistics Canada data that show almost 40 per cent of commuters in cities live within five kilometres of their workplace. Canada has made gains but Europe is home to the worlds <https://copenhagenizeindex.eu/> top bicycling cities starting with Copenhagen. It is sometimes said, Well, were not Europe. Forty years ago, European cities such as Amsterdam <https://twitter.com/BrentToderian/status/1436961474837024777> were clogged with cars. Not any more. Paris of late is going through <https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/06/opinion/paris-bike.html> a total overhaul. The Rue du Rivoli, adjacent to the Louvre in the centre of the city, is now closed to private vehicles. Canadian cities can likewise change. The shift in direction is decisive. The arguments over bike lanes are settled. Theyre becoming what they should have long been: an ordinary way of getting around our cities. Charles Feaver Bike Winnipeg

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WFP: Councillor wants 2022 budget to increase funding for green transportation (Oct1'21)
by Beth McKechnie 01 Oct '21

01 Oct '21

Councillor wants 2022 budget to increase funding for green transportation Boost to cycling options peddled https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/boost-to-cycling-options-peddled-57… THE public works committee chairman is calling for a major increase to the City of Winnipeg’s active transportation spending. Coun. Matt Allard wants the 2022 budget process to consider such funding that equals 10 per cent of the annual road construction budget. The investment could build up cycling and pedestrian routes, which would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change, he says. “Every year, we emit more and more carbon, and we need to find ways to reduce the amount of carbon that we’re putting into the atmosphere,” Allard said Thursday. “In order to make (Winnipeg’s) climate action plan deliver what it intends to, we need to add that meat on the bones to ensure we (complete the active transportation network).” At $1.7 million, dedicated spending for active transportation falls far below that amount in 2021, with a roads budget of $152 million. If Allard’s change is approved for 2022, it would increase the AT budget from a forecast $2.3 million to $16.2 million (based on a projected road budget of $162 million). The St. Boniface councillor said some AT spending occurs separately within specific road projects. But he said many road renewals don’t include it, including 2021 projects at Roblin Boulevard and Day Street. Allard also wants council to make active transportation investments eligible for revenue raised through annual tax hikes. Mayor Brian Bowman has promised to cap the property tax hike at 2.33 per cent again in 2022, with two per cent earmarked for roads and bridges and 0.33 per cent for rapid transit. Allard said increased AT funding would help the city ensure half of all local trips involve greener modes of transportation than single-passenger vehicles by 2030, one of its key climate change goals. “For every bicycle used in a commute, that’s one less car on the road,” said Allard. The proposed funding hike is welcome but meets the minimum investment needed for cycling and pedestrian routes, said Mel Marginet, a workplace commuter options co-ordinator at the Green Action Centre. “That will give us a fighting chance to move forward on the pedestrian and cycling strategies that the city already has,” said Marginet. In 2015, city council approved a 20year, $334-million cycling and pedestrian strategy but actual investments have delayed its implementation. With roughly 80 per cent of Winnipeggers choosing personal vehicles for their trips, much more investment is needed to make the green transportation options of walking, biking and bussing more convenient, said Marginet. “It’s really a shift in the paradigm… At this current time, cars go first (in budget priority).” Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg, said active transportation has been persistently underfunded in recent years, which leaves gaps in cycling routes. “(The current budget is) really just a fraction of what’s been needed... We see it in an unconnected network,” said Cohoe, adding the extra funding would spark a huge improvement. Coun. Janice Lukes, a former public works chairwoman, said she supports Allard’s proposals. However, she said he and other executive policy committee members should never have allowed the AT budget to drop to its current level. “We would have been much further ahead (on active transportation) at this time (if they hadn’t),” said Lukes. “It’s gone down millions.” In 2019, for example, the preliminary budget included $3 million for active transportation, down from a previously forecast $5.7 million. The current forecast predicts the funding will drop to $1.7 million in 2023, and $1.4 million per year from 2024 to 2026. Allard said provincial funding cuts played a role in the reduced investment in recent years. His motions will be considered by council’s public works committee Oct. 12. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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Vox: America’s car crash epidemic – driving kills as many Americans each year as guns do. Experts say that’s preventable.
by Beth McKechnie 28 Sep '21

28 Sep '21

https://www.vox.com/22675358/us-car-deaths-year-traffic-covid-pandemic -- 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 on the ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg, Ininew, Anishininiwag, Dakota, and Dene Peoples, and the homeland of* *the Métis Nation. We acknowledge that our water is sourced from Shoal Lake 40 First Nation and that our hydro is sourced from numerous First Nations here in Manitoba**. * 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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One week left to complete Winnipeg Road Safety Plan survey
by Beth McKechnie 24 Sep '21

24 Sep '21

"The Road Safety Strategic Action Plan is driven by data and public feedback and will serve as a roadmap for implementing both short-term solutions and long-term investments over the next 3-5 years and beyond." https://engage.winnipeg.ca/roadsafetyplan

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WFP: Location list for pedestrian crossings (Sep23'21)
by Beth McKechnie 23 Sep '21

23 Sep '21

Word on the street THE following have been identified as locations where some form of crossing control is warranted. A pedestrian corridor has overhead flashing beacons, a pedestrian half signal involves erecting a traffic light and an RRFB is a rectangular rapid flashing beacon. ● Burrows Avenue at Lawrence Street (pedestrian corridor) ● Corydon Avenue at Edgeland Boulevard (pedestrian corridor) ● Dakota Street at Dakota Community Centre (pedestrian half signal) ● Des Meurons Street at Horace Street (RRFB) ● Devonshire Drive at Tommy Douglas Drive (RRFB) ● Gateway Road at Furniture Park (RRFB) ● Grant Avenue at Lilac Street (pedestrian half signal) ● Lakewood Boulevard at Meadowbrook Road (RRFB) ● Lindenwood Drive E near Lindenwood Drive W (RRFB) ● Lindenwood Drive W at Wallingford Crescent (pedestrian corridor) ● Logan Avenue at Winks Street (pedestrian half signal) ● Main Street at Church Avenue (south side) (pedestrian half signal) ● McGillivray Boulevard at Front Street (pedestrian half signal) ● Pembina Highway at Newdale Avenue (pedestrian half signal) ● Portage Avenue at Rita Street (pedestrian half signal) ● Regent Avenue West at Winona Street (pedestrian corridor) ● River Avenue at Scott Street (RRFB) ● River Avenue at Lewis Street (RRFB) ● Roblin Boulevard at Municipal Road (pedestrian half signal) ● Roblin Boulevard at the zoo entrance (pedestrian half signal) ● Rorie Street at McDermot Avenue (RRFB) ● St. Mary’s Road at Crystal Avenue (traffic signal) ● St. Mary’s Road at Hastings Boulevard (pedestrian half signal) ● St. Mary’s Road South at St. Vital Trail (pedestrian half signal) ● Stradbrook Avenue at Scott Street (RRFB) ● Wellington Crescent at Kingsway (RRFB) ● Wellington Crescent (southbound) between River and Stradbrook avenues (RRFB) ● Wellington Crescent northbound exit to Stradbrook Avenue (RRFB)

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WFP: City identifies 28 sites for crosswalks (Sep23'21)
by Beth McKechnie 23 Sep '21

23 Sep '21

City identifies 28 sites for crosswalks https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/city-identifies-28-sites-for-crossw… NEARLY $3 million for new crosswalks will be considered in the city’s 2022 budget process. Municipal traffic experts have identified 28 locations that meet the criteria for some form of pedestrian crossing control, with an early combined cost estimate of about $2.8 million, says a report by city bureaucrats. The report cautions a detailed design hasn’t been done at each location. The city currently adds an average of four crossings per year at the highest need locations, due to city staff and budget limits, the report notes. Council’s public works chairperson said the devices are key to improving road safety, since uncontrolled busy crossings could raise the risk of vehicle/pedestrian collisions. “There is a big shortfall in terms of the warranted but unfunded (crosswalks)… In practice, what tends to happen where you don’t have a crosswalk where it’s warranted, is you have a high level of people driving cars on that street and you have a high level of pedestrians crossing that street in uncontrolled circumstances,” said Coun. Matt Allard. The public works committee recently referred the potential cost for the warranted, but not yet funded, crosswalks to the 2022 budget process. Installing more of the devices could help Winnipeggers feel safe walking to more destinations, which could help entice them to choose foot travel more often, said Allard. “The lowest hanging fruit for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, is (for) people to (shift modes of transportation). You need to build the facilities that make it easier to choose active transportation (such as) properly administered pedestrian corridors,” he said. The report concludes that crosswalks are warranted at points along Wellington Crescent, St. Mary’s Road, Lakewood Boulevard and Burrows Avenue, among many other locations. The list is based on pedestrian and vehicle volumes, along with each site’s proximity to other traffic controls and pedestrian crossings. Immediate construction may not make sense at some of the sites, however, which may be altered by upcoming bicycle networks or Winnipeg Transit stop changes, the report warns. Crosswalk additions could also be cheaper if they’re timed to coincide with adjacent road upgrades, it notes. Michel Durand-Wood, a volunteer with Safe Speeds Winnipeg, said he’s glad to see the city pay attention to pedestrian access but believes the effort can’t be limited to crosswalks. “I think crosswalks are better than nothing. But if we were addressing the actual issue, crosswalks would be less necessary... If traffic speeds are low enough, then we don’t need (these) expensive crosswalk structures in a lot of those places,” said Durand-Wood. Safe Speeds advocates for lower speed limits on residential streets and other routes where pedestrians and vehicles share the road. Durand-Wood said it would be “disingenuous” to suggest the city can’t afford to add the crosswalks, since it devoted $152 million to road renewal in 2021. “We can move some money around pretty easily, depending what our priorities are,” he said. The city report notes another 70 potential crossing locations are still being studied, though it’s too early to say if they warrant pedestrian crossing devices. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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Just One Trip
by Mel Marginet 22 Sep '21

22 Sep '21

Greetings all, Green Action Centre's GoManitoba tool is launching Just One Trip this fall. If you can help spread the word in your workplaces and on social media, that'd be great. Details in the media release below. September 22, 2021 (Winnipeg, Manitoba) - Manitobans are invited to take the Just One Trip pledge in October to convert one trip per week to a more sustainable mode. Participants choose the way they’ll travel and how often, and then track their trip using GoManitoba. For participating, they receive hints, tips, encouragement, and are entered to win prizes! October is a time when we form habits, including how we get around, as we get back into fall routines. Due to the pandemic, Manitobans have experienced disruption to their regular routines, so now is the perfect time to try something new! Who/Where: All Manitobans What: Take the Just One Trip <https://greenactioncentre.ca/justonetrip/> pledge When: Take the pledge today. The challenge takes place throughout October (or GoTober!) Why: Transportation is the number one source of GHG emissions in Manitoba. Driving alone is expensive (according to Stats Canada, the average Canadian spends $8,000 to $12,000 a year to commute via personal vehicle, almost 20% of consumption <https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/181212/dq181212a-eng.htm>). Workplaces with sustainable transportation programs <https://greenactioncentre.ca/wco-resources/> see a reduction in absenteeism and gain better health outcomes for employees. GoManitoba GoManitoba is a free commuting tool for all Manitobans. The tool matches users together to find carpool partners, transit, biking and walking routes, and mentors for those taking the bus or cycling for the first time. - 30 - For media inquiries about GoTober and the Just One Trip pilot program: Mel Marginet, Sustainable Transportation Team Green Action Centre 204-297-0949 or mel(a)greenactioncentre.ca *Mel Marginet* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x112 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> **Note: I work two days a week at Green Action Centre and it may take a few * *days to respond to you. * *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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City of Winnipeg Bike Maps Now Available
by Beth McKechnie 22 Sep '21

22 Sep '21

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Dickson, Erik <EDickson(a)winnipeg.ca> Date: Wed, Sep 22, 2021 at 9:34 AM Subject: City of Winnipeg Bike Maps Now Available To: Dickson, Erik <EDickson(a)winnipeg.ca> Good morning! My name is Erik Dickson. I am the Livable Streets Specialist at the City of Winnipeg. I work in the Active Transportation Branch at Public Works. The City has recently released an updated Bike Map (Version 7). Please see the news release here as well as links to the online PDF version of the map: https://winnipeg.ca/ourstories/2021/210910.stm Print maps are now available in both English and French and are free. In the past the City has greatly valued the partnership with local community bike shops and advocates to assist in delivery of Bike Maps to the general public. If you are interested in obtaining Bike Maps to hand out to customers/clients/supporters/etc., please let me know how many maps of each language you require and I would be happy to coordinate delivery to you. For reference, if you are asking for a ‘box’ of maps, they come in boxes of 120-130 maps. If you have any questions, please feel free to give me a call or send me an email. Thank you very much for your help in promoting the City of Winnipeg Cycling Network. [image: City of Winnipeg logo] <https://winnipeg.ca/> *Erik Dickson, MCIP, RPP* Livable Streets Specialist *Transportation Division* *Public Works Department* *Mobile: *204-471-1834 *Email: *edickson(a)winnipeg.ca *Website: *winnipeg.ca *Address: *101-1155 Pacific Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P1 *Connect with us:* [image: Facebook] <https://www.facebook.com/cityofwinnipeg> [image: Twitter] <https://twitter.com/cityofwinnipeg> *Confidentiality Notice:** The information contained in this message is intended solely for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged information. Any use, dissemination, distribution, copying or disclosure of this message and attachments, in whole or in part, by anyone other than the intended recipient is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and permanently delete the complete message and any attachments. Thank you.*

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Updated cycling map now available to help you plan your next route
by Beth McKechnie 13 Sep '21

13 Sep '21

https://www.winnipeg.ca/ourstories/2021/210910.stm

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WFP: City considers test of reduced-speed neighbourhoods (Sep10'21)
by Beth McKechnie 11 Sep '21

11 Sep '21

City considers test of reduced-speed neighbourhoods https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/city-considers-test-of-reduced-spee… WINNIPEG has 30 km/h zones and streets, but that reduced speed could soon apply to entire neighbourhoods. City bureaucrats have recommended some communities switch to the lower speed limit in a new pilot project. Council had directed city staff to look into making 15 roads — one in each ward — 30 km/h zones. A new report from the public service suggests implementing the change in entire neighbourhoods instead. “With 30-kilometre zones surrounded by 50-kilometre zones or even higher speeds... (drivers) will avoid those streets and go to other streets that might not have been designed for that level of traffic,” said Coun. Matt Allard, council’s public works chairman. That’s one of the reasons the change has been suggested, he said. “With a neighbourhood-based approach, you wouldn’t get that problem because everyone in the neighbourhood would be going (30 km/h).” Allard believed four neighbourhoods would be affected, but city staff hadn’t named specific communities. A downside to the proposed change is the amount of signage, Allard said. “If you wanted to reduce the speed from the default 50, you’d have to put up a sign at every block,” he said. “That’s quite costly.” Council has asked the province to approve boundary signage, where speed limit signs would be erected at community entry points instead of on each street, but there has been no response, Allard said. The city turned four neighbourhood greenways into 30 km/h zones as part of its pilot project in July. Machray Avenue, Powers Street, Eugenie Street and Warsaw Avenue are affected. The city’s public works committee will debate the issue on Wednesday. Coun. Shawn Nason (Transcona) wants to see a city-wide approach or nothing at all. “I think we’re making streets less safe, because people are going to be trying to figure out, ‘Am I in a 30 zone? Forty zone?’” he said. Fifty-kilometre zones are unsafe on roads with no sidewalk, he noted. “We need to work with the province and determine if this is going to be a citywide mandate,” he said. “These block pilots that (have) been proposed are just a slippery way to try to mandate it in... without proper education and training.” Todd Dube, leader of traffic advocacy group Wise Up Winnipeg, said the slower speed areas aren’t “necessary or effective.” “The rhetoric of ‘slow down and save the kids’ really is simply the front line of what becomes an abusive enforcement revenue program, as we’ve seen in the City of Winnipeg for decades,” Dube said. City staff has also suggested erecting speed-reader boards at the 10 photo-enforced locations that have the highest number of infractions. The boards show motorists’ speeds on an LED screen. The city is borrowing four boards from Manitoba Public Insurance for three years and will install them this fall. Grant Avenue, west of Thurso Street, topped the list for number of infractions in 2020, with 11,654 tickets. Eastbound Talbot Avenue, near Watt Street, was second with 4,816 tickets issued. “Speed boards are extremely effective,” Dube said. Each one costs about $5,000, plus $1,000 in annual maintenance and operating fees, the city report says. Installation adds another $1,300 to $10,000, depending on the post used and placement. gabrielle.piche(a)freepress.mb.ca

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WFP Editorial: Reduced speeds create more time to think (Sep6'21)
by Beth McKechnie 11 Sep '21

11 Sep '21

Reduced speeds create more time to think https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/reduced-speeds-create-… WHETHER 30 km/h is fast or slow depends on an individual’s mode of transportation. Most of us who are not named Andre De Grasse can’t run that fast for a sustained period. Cyclists can maintain a speed of 30 km/h if the rider is in good physical condition. Motorized vehicles can easily go 30 km/h: in fact, the problem in Winnipeg is getting vehicles to go so slow. Like it or not — many vehicle drivers emphatically do not — a speed limit of 30 km/h is becoming more common on the streets of Winnipeg. A one-year pilot project began July 26 on four city streets, dropping the limit from 50 km/h to 30 km/h and adding speed humps to give forgetful drivers a jarring reminder of the slow-down zones. Also, the 30 km/h limit at school zones throughout the city resumed on Wednesday in preparation for the upcoming home-school-home migration of children who sometimes forget to look both ways before they cross. Drivers can fume that 30 km/h is frustratingly sluggish, in light of the considerable horsepower they are able to employ with a tap of their accelerator foot. Some also allege the low limits are less about safety and more about a cash grab accessed through speeding tickets issued by the city. Such laments are largely in vain, however, and certainly can’t be heard by the technological photo-radar devices that monitor school zones and issue tickets under the Highway Traffic Act, typically $250 for the owner of a vehicle caught doing 50 km/h. If receiving the fine notices in the mail irritates drivers to a degree sufficient to prompt them to express their disdain for 30-km/h zones to their city councillors or the Winnipeg Police Service, they certainly have every right to complain. But again, they’re likely wasting their breath. Winnipeg’s elected representatives and city planners are all-in committed to a traffic program called Towards Zero, which has been adopted by other cities including Edmonton with considerable success at making roads safer. The goal, sometimes stated as “no loss of life is acceptable,” is to eliminate all injuries and fatalities on Winnipeg roads, a philosophy that will help guide the new Transportation Master Plan the city is developing over the next three years. Another embodiment of the safe-roads philosophy that now dominates city-hall traffic planning is the temporary Open Streets project that closed portions of 14 streets to vehicle traffic, giving the open pavement to cyclists. While drivers can grumble when their route is diverted several blocks by a section of Open Streets, or sigh with frustration when they get a ticket for driving more than 30 km/h in reduced speed areas, no one can argue with the motivation of the city to make streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Manitoba Public Insurance statistics show that between 2012 and 2019, an average of 260 pedestrians and cyclists were injured or killed annually in vehicle accidents in Manitoba. Perhaps those statistics will be helpful to consider for drivers who, when their progress is slowed to 30 km/h, will find themselves with more time to ponder such matters. If the annual traffic toll of 260 pedestrians and cyclists were allowed to continue unabated, the victims could someday include a family member or friend of any of us. Such an outlook makes it easier to drive as if the child crossing at the upcoming school zone is one of our own.

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WFP - Mixed response to city road slowdown
by Patman, David 31 Aug '21

31 Aug '21

Mixed response to city road slowdown By: Joyanne Pursaga Posted: 4:00 AM CDT Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021 AMID a persistent lobby to slow down traffic on residential streets, some Winnipeggers are now living on routes with reduced speed limits. And about one month into a one-year pilot project that will test 30-kilometre-per-hour speed zones on four routes which previously had 50 km/h limits, they're sharing a mixed response to the changes. One resident would prefer the pilot project end now, arguing tax dollars would be better spent on fixing potholes. "We've got roads we can't drive on and we're spending money on (this)... It's just a gross waste of taxpayers' money, period," said Rick Farley, a Machray Avenue resident. While supporters of reduced speed limits have long argued the change would make streets safer for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians, Farley said he's seen very few cyclists and pedestrians on his slowed-down block. The city says the 30 km/h speed limits were implemented July 26 on Machray (from Fife to Main streets), Powers Street (from Dufferin to Partridge avenues), Eugenie Street (from St. Mary's Road to Youville Street), and Warsaw Avenue (from Thurso Street to Pembina Highway.) At all four sites, the city has installed new speed signs and speed humps that aim to slow down vehicles. Multiple residents of those streets told the Free Press they welcome the lower speed limit itself. "I love it... Since the 30 (km/h maximum speed) has been posted, (drivers) don't fly down the street anymore," said Warsaw resident Burton Perry. Prior to the speed reduction, Perry said Warsaw attracted many commuters seeking to avoid busier routes, a shortcut he thinks the slower speed limit now deters. However, both Perry and Eugenie Street resident Geoff Ford fear the large speed humps on their streets could create new safety risks. Ford said he fears the raised surface could make speeding cars more likely to lose control and crash into parked vehicles. "I don't have a problem with a slower speed in residential areas... It's just that speed hump. When some yahoo in the wintertime who's not (using) winter tires is going too fast because they're late (that could prove dangerous)," said Ford. Warsaw resident Phil Koch is concerned the humps could hinder cyclist travel. "I'm in favour (of the limit) but I think... they should have made the speed humps so that bikes can navigate without hitting (them)," said Koch. Warsaw resident Dan Rogers, who relies on cycling as his exclusive mode of transportation, shared only positive views of the reduced speed. "It just makes (cyclists) feel safe. I think just, in general, the calming of the streets in the neighbourhoods is just very welcome," said Rogers. Coun. Ross Eadie, whose ward includes the Machray and Powers trial routes, said he has received a few complaints about the speed humps. While Eadie expects the current routes may require some tweaks, he supports the trial as a way to add safe cycling options in his area. "I thought, let's try to provide a decent space, a safe route for the community," the Mynarski councillor said. Matt Allard, whose St. Boniface ward contains Eugenie Street, said the pilot is triggering a mixed response from residents so far, though feedback is just beginning to come in. "Generally, commuters are more opposed to reductions in speeds (than residents of the street)," said Allard. He and other councillors noted the speed reduction pilot project followed repeated demands from cyclists, safety advocates and other groups to permanently set lower speed limits on residential streets. "I've never seen such an outcry (before), (such) a demand for slower vehicle speeds on residential streets," said Coun. Janice Lukes, who also supports the project. Lukes said city council should acknowledge a growing demand to use residential roads for recreation. She believes slower speed limits would make them easier to play on. "Slowing traffic down on residential streets improves the quality of life in neighbourhoods," said Lukes. The city's corporate communications department said resident feedback and traffic data gathered from the sites won't be shared until after the one-year pilot project ends. A public report on the trial is expected sometime in Fall 2022. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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Paris introduces city-wide 30 km/h speed limit
by Beth McKechnie 31 Aug '21

31 Aug '21

Paris introduces city-wide 30 km/h speed limit The French capital has lowered the speed limit for drivers on most streets in a bid to curb the number of cars in the city, reducing noise and fighting climate change. The speed limit is one of the campaign promises made by the city's socialist mayor, Anne Hidalgo <https://www.dw.com/en/france-paris-mayor-wins-reelection-macron-dealt-blow-…>, before last year's local elections. Hidalgo has also expanded cycling lanes in the city, and is pushing ahead with plans to remove 60,000 of the city's roughly 140,000 street-level parking spaces. *Full story*: https://www.dw.com/en/paris-introduces-citywide-30-kmh-speed-limit/a-590253…

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WFP The Herald: Cycling series highlights climate emergency, lack of infrastructure (Aug25'21)
by Beth McKechnie 25 Aug '21

25 Aug '21

Winnipeggers bike for the future Cycling series highlights climate emergency, lack of infrastructure BY SYDNEY HILDEBRANDT STAFF REPORTER ELMWOOD In light of the climate emergency and the need for improvements to local active transportation infrastructure, a group of Winnipeggers are cycling across the city this summer and fall. The first Bike for the Future event, organized by Bike Winnipeg, took place Aug. 15 and began at Norquay Community Centre in North Point Douglas. A squad of cyclists spent the afternoon traversing North End streets. “We’ve organized this ride to encourage the (City of Winnipeg) to invest more money in active transportation infrastructure, and to work on lowering speed limits to make riding in our residential neighbourhoods more comfortable for people of all ages and abilities,” organizer Ian Walker said. “I’ve been an advocate with Bike Winnipeg for about a decade, and the city’s done some really good work over the years investing in separated infrastructure and creating these open streets and lowering speed limits.” However, there’s still room for improvement, Walker said. In some areas the lack of infrastructure forces cyclists onto sidewalks — which could result in a fine — or into dangerous situations on the roads. Winnipeg police issued 87 tickets to cyclists riding on the sidewalk in 2020 — more than double the 43 tickets issued in 2019, as reported last month by the Winnipeg Free Press. This year, police have handed out around 38 tickets, each $113. Walker, a St. Boniface resident, said he himself has never been ticketed or hit by a car while cycling. “I’ve noticed that a lot of the tickets that are being given out are in the north end of the city,” he said. “It’s really unfair, because there aren’t any good alternatives for folks that are using the sidewalk. People naturally want to go to the sidewalk because being on a road with fast moving cars is uncomfortable. I’ve been riding a bike for decades and I still don’t like riding in traffic, especially with my kids. It’s bananas.” Ashley Challinor and Will Prosper recently moved from Toronto to the Broadway-Assiniboine neighbourhood. Challinor is an “avid cyclist” while Prosper just adopted the mode of transportation after moving to Winnipeg. “I felt a little bit more safe here than I did back home,” Prosper admitted. “Winnipeg actually has a fair amount of pretty good cycling infrastructure,” Challinor said. “Its problem is connection. So there’s little bits here and there, but there isn’t one big connected network. And that really makes it hard to commute on a bicycle, or to go run errands on a bicycle … Toronto’s a bit better about those direct connections, but it also has a lot of room for improvement, too.” Winnipeg is currently working on a number of active transportation connectivity projects, including the North Winnipeg Parkway. The new corridor will connect The Forks to Chief Peguis Trail with a path along the Red River, through Point Douglas and segments of St. John’s and Seven Oaks. Phase 1 began last month. The final phase is scheduled for mid-2022. Elmwood resident Emma Durand-Wood said active transportation infrastructure is an important component to climate justice, which is why she decided to participate in Bike for the Future. “I think this summer has really kind of hit home that climate change is actually upon us. And I already am someone who bikes a lot for transportation, so it’s really made me think a lot about (how) we need to be acting right now … to make biking more safe and appealing and an attractive option, a real option.” Follow Bike Winnipeg on social media for updates on the Bike for the Future ride series.

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WFP: Boulevard, greenway could be renamed by end of year (Aug22'21)
by Beth McKechnie 22 Aug '21

22 Aug '21

Boulevard, greenway could be renamed by end of year https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/boulevard-greenway-could-be-renamed… BISHOP Grandin Boulevard and the greenway that runs parallel to it — both of which are named after an architect of the residential school system — could have new titles before the end of the year. The volunteer board that oversees the greenway’s operations issued a notice this week to inform community members of its ongoing support for the City of Winnipeg’s efforts to explore cutting ties with Bishop Vital-Justin Grandin (1829-1902) as a namesake for local landmarks. The board indicated renaming consultations are underway and it anticipates a report with a recommendation on the subject will be brought forward to city council this fall. “I don’t want people to think we’re sitting on our hands and letting this fall by the wayside,” said Derick Young, president of Bishop Grandin Greenway Inc. “There is a great deal of concern among some people in the community about the name and I think most people, not just in St. Vital, recognize that we need to deal with, as a country, our history of the residential schools and the legacy of people who were involved.” The Truth and Reconciliation Commission concluded that Grandin, a Roman Catholic priest, “led the campaign for residential schooling.” The commission’s final report outlines in detail Grandin’s idea to create boarding schools that would convert Indigenous children into Christians and his success in securing federal funding to make his pitch a reality. The bishop once wrote, “To become civilized they should be taken with the consent of their parents and made to lead a life different from their parents and cause them to forget the customs, habits and language of their ancestors.” Not long after the remains of 215 children were found in unmarked graves near a residential school site in Kamloops, outrage about the senseless death, abuse and intergenerational trauma caused by Grandin’s beliefs prompted demands to rename local landmarks. First Nations leaders and concerned citizens have spoken out in favour of removing his name from the boulevard and greenway in south Winnipeg. Others, however, want to leave the existing signage up and add markers that acknowledge his role in setting up the assimilative school system. A Probe Research poll conducted in the spring found 55 per cent of Winnipeggers are in favour of renaming the boulevard because of Grandin’s role in the residential school system. The survey, which took place June 2-11 with a random and representative sampling size of 600 adults, found 28 per cent of respondents were in favour of keeping the road’s name and educating the public on Grandin. A total of 17 per cent of those surveyed indicated they wanted to keep the name as is. Young said it’s likely new names will be chosen in the coming weeks — an announcement he expects will be met with enthusiasm by road and path users; the greenway, which includes community gardens and trails, is accessed by hundreds of people daily in the summer. Once names are approved, there will be discussions about costs related to the logistics of renaming, including updating the title of the greenway board and installing new trailhead signs. maggie.macintosh(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @macintoshmaggie

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E-bikes & Scooters Bird, Ford-owned Spin latest micromobility platforms to integrate with Google Maps - Green Car Congress
by Terry Zdan 18 Aug '21

18 Aug '21

https://www.greencarcongress.com/2021/08/20210818-gmm.html

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Globe editorial on "open streets" in Toronto
by Charles Feaver 10 Aug '21

10 Aug '21

An urbanist view of Toronto's initiatives to designate streets for pedestrians and cyclists instead of cars. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/article-toronto-should-be -expanding-activeto-not-cutting-it-back/ When Rob Ford was mayor of Toronto, he mastered the low art of the catchphrase. Stopping "the gravy train" played to the idea that city government was all bloat, all the time. "Subways, subways, subways" was a promise of more expensive underground transit, rather than less-costly, on-road light rail, in low-density Scarborough. None of this was rooted in reality or good public policy, but that wasn't the point - stirring up resentment among suburban voters was the point. By that measure, Mr. Ford's most resonant slogan was his claim that the city had declared a "war on the car." Streetcars and (a very few) bike lanes were making the city impassable for humble drivers, he claimed. (The mayor got around in a black Cadillac Escalade.) This mantra was no truer than his other mantras, but it stuck in the urban hive mind. The chaotic Ford years can seem like a distant memory for Canada's largest city - now run by the conservatively progressive John Tory - but their spirit has never really gone away. Rob's brother Doug is, of course, Premier. His nephew, Michael, occupies the family seat on city council, representing Etobicoke North. And road rage still fuels Toronto politics. Consider Michael Ford's latest campaign to end one of the best things to happen in the city during the pandemic. Last summer, a program called ActiveTO removed cars from a few major roads on weekends, including parts of the pseudo-highway Lake Shore Boulevard, to allow people more space to bike, walk and get outside. The city resumed the program this summer - grudgingly, with fewer, shorter and less frequent closings. The concept, even in its truncated form, attracts tens of thousands of cyclists and pedestrians to its most popular routes. Yes, it can slow drive times on some adjacent streets - as do the scores of restaurant patios that have taken over chunks of road across the city - but that's a small price for briefly making Toronto feel like something more than a grid of commuter arteries. Enter Councillor Ford. He wants to end ActiveTO's road closings, which he says are creating a "mass amount of congestion" for drivers. The young dynast hasn't revived his late uncle's "war on the car" trope and sounds pleasant and reasonable in interviews. But he is every bit as wrong when he places the convenience of motorists above the interests of other city residents, and the needs of people passing through a neighbourhood over those actually living there. Let's review the arguments. Mr. Ford is right that some ActiveTO road closures have increased congestion. City figures point to longer travel times on the Gardiner Expressway during some weekends when Lake Shore West was closed. Even if drivers themselves have some responsibility here - ActiveTO has been a fact for two summers running; pick another route! - of course being stuck in traffic is annoying. Far less persuasive is the notion that cyclists have other options. Mr. Ford suggests they try the waterfront Martin Goodman Trail, as though it wasn't already so crowded as to be the site of narrowly averted Tour de France-style pile-ups every weekend from May to October. The pandemic has revealed the pent-up desire for places to stroll and pedal, in a city centre with few green spaces, and little room for modes of transport that aren't motorized. The city says that 34,000 cyclists and 5,000 pedestrians used Lake Shore West on one day in May when it was closed to car traffic. That's more than the number of cars and trucks using it on the average weekend day. The difference is, when cyclists feel congested or unsafe by a lack of road space, they stay home - or they drive. Cycling congestion is thousands of people invisibly at home or behind the wheel, not cycling. By taking a small amount of road space from cars, a few days a month, ActiveTO has shown that Toronto has been in the throes of a silent, years-long cycling traffic jam. Where the campaign against ActiveTO really founders, though, is on philosophical ground. Mr. Ford believes saving a few minutes of drive-time for a few thousand drivers is worth depriving the city of new, much-needed space for safe recreation. But the places where we live are more than just spaces to drive through. If you wanted to boil the issue down to a Fordian slogan, urbanists have one ready-made: "Cities are for people."

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WFP Editorial: City should focus on cycling infrastructure (Jul30'21)
by Beth McKechnie 30 Jul '21

30 Jul '21

City should focus on cycling infrastructure https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/city-should-focus-on-c… DURING the pandemic, many Winnipeggers decided — to borrow a line from the legendary rock group Queen — to get on their bikes and ride. Cycling was a way to get some exercise at a time when gyms were closed, a head-clearing activity to alleviate stress, and an opportunity to commune with nature after months of being cooped up at home. Winnipeg’s Open Streets pilot project, which was unrolled in 2020 and saw the expansion of the city’s annual Sunday and holiday bike routes, got even more people out on two wheels, in large part because they felt safe to do so. Alas, with this bicycling boom has come an increase in tickets being handed out to cyclists riding on the sidewalk. Winnipeg police issued 87 tickets in 2020, compared with 43 in 2019. So far, police have handed out 38 tickets in 2021. The fine for riding on the sidewalk is $113. Instead of focusing on ticketing cyclists using sidewalks, Winnipeg might be better served by prioritizing safe and accessible biking infrastructure — especially in areas of the city where there is none, and areas in which sidewalk riders are disproportionately ticketed. We don’t really know where to put people on bicycles in this city. Cyclists are not motorists, nor are they pedestrians. And yet, in many areas of the city, if they aren’t sharing the road with one, they are sharing the sidewalk with the other. Winnipeg’s biking infrastructure has slowly improved over the past decade with the arrival of dedicated off-street bike paths as well as protected, buffered and painted on-street bike lanes. But that mix of infrastructure is mostly linked together in a city-wide network by so-called “informal on-street routes,” which are just streets deemed to be low or medium stress for cyclists. On Winnipeg’s Cycling Map, areas of caution are circled in red. As you might expect, many of these are intersections. In many neighbourhoods, especially those in the northern parts of the city, informal on-street routes are largely the only biking infrastructure that exists. That means riding one’s bike in many places in the city — especially if one is a commuter cyclist — inevitably means riding with traffic, often moving at high speed. On busy stretches where bikes are frequently crowded out by cars or near-constant construction, the safer choice is clear. According to Statistics Canada and data from the Canadian Vital Statistics: Death Database, 890 cyclists died in Canada between 2006 and 2017, for an average of 74 deaths per year. Seventy-three per cent of these deaths were the result of a collision with a motor vehicle. Pedestrians are also killed by motor vehicles in Canada; 332 in 2018. Pedestrians have been killed by cyclists travelling at high speed in other places, too, though those incidents are decidedly more rare. The bottom line is that everyone needs to slow down; everyone needs to follow the rules of the road. Mixed-use pathways are frequently shared by pedestrians and cyclists, who should practice proper etiquette by announcing their presence with a bell or a simple “on your left.” Cyclists need to follow the rules of traffic, and motorists need to realize bikes have the right to be on the road. The increased interest in cycling shows there’s an appetite for safe, equitable and accessible biking infrastructure in this city. Until everyone can stay in their dedicated lane, we need to find a way to share without being punished.

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Sympathy Doesn’t Do a Damn Thing
by Beth McKechnie 29 Jul '21

29 Jul '21

In part 1 of a special 2-episode series focused on the lived experiences of people with disabilities, Zack Hurtz, Micah Lusignan, Krystal Monteros, and Tanisha Sepulveda share their everyday mobility challenges and what they believe is needed for equitable access to mobility for all. https://transloc.com/the-movement-podcast/sympathy-doesnt-do-a-damn-thing/ -- 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 on the ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg, Ininew, Anishininiwag, Dakota, and Dene Peoples, and the homeland of* *the Métis Nation. We acknowledge that our water is sourced from Shoal Lake 40 First Nation and that our hydro is sourced from numerous First Nations here in Manitoba**. * 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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Government of Canada announces the country’s first-ever federal strategy and fund dedicated to building active transportation trails and pathways
by Beth McKechnie 28 Jul '21

28 Jul '21

Government of Canada announces the country’s first-ever federal strategy and fund dedicated to building active transportation trails and pathways https://www.canada.ca/en/office-infrastructure/news/2021/07/government-of-c… The Active Transportation Fund will invest $400 million over five years to help build new and expanded networks of pathways, bike lanes, trails and pedestrian bridges and undertake planning studies. This new Fund is part of an eight-year, $14.9-billion public transit investment to support communities as they build vibrant neighbourhoods where people can safely live, work, and play. Eligible recipients for the Active Transportation Fund are municipal, local, and regional governments, provincial and territorial governments, public sector bodies, not-for-profit organizations and various Indigenous Governing Bodies. More information about the Active Transportation Fund, details on eligibility, and how to apply may be found on the Infrastructure Canada website. <https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/trans/active-actif-eng.html>

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