- AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

New resource: Pedestrian and Bicyclist Road Safety Audit Guide and Prompt List (US)
by Beth McKechnie 10 Oct '20

10 Oct '20

The Pedestrian and Bicyclist Road Safety Audit Guide and Prompt List <https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/tools_solve/docs/fhwasa20042.pdf> serves as an update to the *Pedestrian Road Safety Audit Guidelines and Prompt Lists *(2007) and *Bicycle Road Safety Audit Guidelines and Prompt Lists *(2012). However, as pedestrian- and bicycle-focused RSAs are oftentimes conducted simultaneously, this new guide provides the content in one concise document. The document provides information on how to conduct an RSA and effectively assess the safety of pedestrians and cyclists. These Guidelines provide an overview of the Road Safety Audit process, as well as an overview of basic safety principles and potential hazards affecting pedestrians and cyclists. Prompt lists are provided to assist RSA team members in considering general issues when performing a PBRSA. Tamara Redmon Pedestrian Safety Program Manager Federal Highway Administration Room E71-303 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE Washington, DC 20590 Phone: 202-366-4077 Web page: safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike

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Walking and cycling fatalities | US vs UK, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands
by Beth McKechnie 10 Oct '20

10 Oct '20

Ralph Buehler and John Pucher. 2021. "The Growing Gap in Pedestrian and Cyclist Fatality Fates between the United States and the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands, 1990–2018," *Transport Reviews*, Vol. 41, Issue 1, January 2021. (Published online on Oct. 7, 2021) *https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01441647.2020.1823521 <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.tandfonline.com_do…>* Using official national data for each country, this article calculates trends in walking and cycling fatalities per capita and per km in the USA, the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark. From 1990 to 2018, pedestrian fatalities per capita fell by 23% in the USA vs. 66%–80% in the other countries; cyclist fatalities per capita fell by 22% in the USA vs. 55%–68% in the other countries. In 2018, pedestrian fatality rates per km in the USA were 5–10 times higher than in the other four countries; cyclist fatality rates per km in the USA were 4–7 times higher. *The gap in walking and cycling fatality rates between the USA and the other countries increased over the entire 28-year period, but especially from 2010 to 2018. Over that 8-year period, per-capita fatality rates in the USA rose by 19% for pedestrians and 11% for cyclists; per-km fatality rates rose by 17% for pedestrians and 33% for cyclists. By comparison, fatality rates either fell or remained stable in the four European countries.* We reviewed the relevant literature to identify factors that might help explain the much lower walking and cycling fatality rates in Europe compared to the USA. Possible explanatory factors include better walking and cycling infrastructure; lower urban speed limits; fewer vehicle km travelled; smaller and less powerful personal motor vehicles; and better traffic training, testing, and enforcement of traffic regulations. We recommend that the USA consider implementing an integrated package of mutually reinforcing safety measures such as those that have been successfully implemented in the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany to reduce pedestrian and cyclist fatality rates.

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WFP: Snow-cleared streets lure winter bike riders (Oct9'20)
by Beth McKechnie 09 Oct '20

09 Oct '20

Snow-cleared streets lure winter bike riders Report shows demand for cycling routes in winter cold https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/snow-cleared-streets-lure-winter-bi… THERE is demand for accessible, snow-cleared winter cycling routes in Winnipeg, according to a report to be presented to the public works committee next week at city hall. The city conducted cycling counts on 10 streets recently upgraded to Priority 1 snow-clearing (maintained to bare pavement) between Jan. 31 and Feb. 13. A total of 1,633 cyclists were logged across all sites, equivalent to approximately 115 daily. According to the data, the majority rode on weekdays, and during slightly warmer weather. This is the first time specific data of this nature has been tracked in Winnipeg, according to Coun. Matt Allard (St. Boniface). In June 2018, the city approved some upgrades to active transportation pathway snow-clearing, and began designing a winter cycling network. According to the report, improved winter maintenance is intended to ensure key routes are cleared quickly after snowfall to provide “uninterrupted and effective connections” between neighbourhoods, Winnipeg Transit facilities, and downtown. “I want to stress that the lion’s share of the budget for this enhanced snow clearing is to clear the roads that lead to our active transportation facilities,” Allard explained in an interview Thursday. A November 2019 motion called for some monitoring of those cleared routes to determine how much demand there is for winter riding in the city. Across the 10 sites, the highest-trafficked route was Warsaw Avenue, which logged an average of 24 cyclists daily. One route, Clifton Street, recorded no cyclist activity. Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg, attributed the low traffic on Clifton Street to its lack of connectivity to main cycle paths, and noted all 10 of the city’s tested routes are located in generally low-traffic areas. As it stands now, much of Winnipeg’s active transportation network is made up of existing roadways, Allard said, meaning enhanced snow-clearing benefits cyclists, pedestrians and motorists alike. “If you create a facility that people can use, people then start using it — and that’s exactly what we want when it comes to active transportation, when we’re building new facilities because every trip that someone takes on a bicycle or walking is another trip that they’re not taking using another mode,” Allard said. The city noted it was unable to provide figures for latent demand — which would indicate how many potential winter cyclists would ride if infrastructure and snow-clearing were improved — because the data collection processes are currently in early stages. More robust data sets are expected in the future. Cohoe indicated, in his experience, latent demand for winter cycling is substantial — so long as the paths and roads are cleared, and proper infrastructure is in place for accessibility. A 2018 poll conducted by Bike Winnipeg and CAA found a majority of respondents think the city’s snow-clearing on roads and pathways is neutral or poor. “The very basic one is: get that winter maintenance in place,” Cohoe said. “It’s also having protected facilities — it’s even more important through winter to have that type of facility to make those connections.” — with files from Joyanne Pursaga julia-simone.rutgers(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @jsrutgers

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Free webinar on Ottawa's recent e-scooter pilot
by Beth McKechnie 09 Oct '20

09 Oct '20

*Oct 15th, 12-1pm EST* *Register at **https:// <https://t.co/QVhp2TdGGC?amp=1>www.cite7.org/event/... <https://www.cite7.org/event/ite-ncs-october-webinar-e-scooter-pilot-in-otta…>* The webinar will cover the results and lessons learned of this summer's e-scooter pilot in Ottawa as well as highlight e-scooter operations elsewhere in Canada. A short Q/A will follow the presentations. *Presenter: Kathleen Wilker, City of Ottawa.* Kathleen Wilker leads the City of Ottawa's Transportation Demand Management Program. Her work centres on developing and implementing policies and programs enabling residents to enjoy using Ottawa's walking, cycling and transit networks more often. She has been instrumental in collaborating with colleagues, councillors, external stakeholders, e-scooter providers and residents to bring e-scooters to Ottawa this summer. *Presenter: Chris Schafer, Bird Canada.* Chris Schafer is Vice President, Government Affairs at Bird Canada. Prior to joining Bird Canada, Chris was a Senior Director at another micromobility start-up after almost five years at Uber Canada as their Senior Public Policy Manager in Canada. Previously, Chris did stints in media, at think tanks and as a regulatory lawyer with Gowlings in Ottawa.

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Vancouver City Council approves study on eliminating minimum parking standards
by Beth McKechnie 07 Oct '20

07 Oct '20

Vancouver City Council approves study on eliminating minimum parking standards https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-city-council-approves-study-on-el… Vancouver City Council has directed city staff to perform a deep dive into eliminating city-mandated parking minimums in future building development projects <https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-parking-minimum-requirements-open…> . Instead, the intention is to have an Open Parking Policy method where market forces — developers and businesses — would decide on the amount of parking supply needed, and be required to implement transportation demand management (TDM) measures that encourage public transit use and active transportation. If city council approves a future staff recommendation to abolish parking minimums, Vancouver would follow in the footsteps of Edmonton, which approved the elimination of parking minimums <https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/edmonton-remove-minimum-parking-requirements> this past June. -- 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 your green living hub Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://www.gomanitoba.ca>

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WFP Analysis: Collective response is the best strategy (Oct5'20)
by Beth McKechnie 05 Oct '20

05 Oct '20

Collective response is the best strategy https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/collective-response-is-t… REMEMBER when we thought schools taking an extra week off at spring break would give us time for the COVID-19 pandemic to pass? It seems laughable in hindsight, but it was not a unique reaction. For decades, we have been racing toward a climate crisis with a similar “It couldn’t happen here” naiveté. This pandemic could well be a dress rehearsal for the main show, climate change — a far more catastrophic global emergency, with no hope of a vaccine to save us. The coronavirus has demonstrated that our world is a fragile ecosystem, and when we push it too hard, it breaks. It has proven that a global problem is everyone’s problem. Old tropes, such as the suggestion the climate crisis is the sole responsibility of major polluters like India, China or the United States, no longer fly. Like tackling a pandemic, the solution to climate change can only be realized through collective response. Global warming has been created through the cumulative effect of billions of small actions, and the only response is an equal number of small solutions. Canadian cities and provinces will be on the front lines of this effort. To provide context, if Manitoba were a country, it would sit within the top 15 highest per-capita emitters in the world. Manitoba’s emissions have increased by more than eight per cent since 2005 — the third highest growth rate among provinces. What’s driving much of the increase in Manitoba’s emissions is driving. The number of cars on Manitoba’s roads has grown by almost 50 per cent since 2005, and despite higher fuel efficiency, emissions from vehicles in the province have almost doubled since 1990. The story is much the same for the city of Winnipeg, where vehicles are responsible for half of all emissions, by far the largest contributor. More than 10,000 vehicles are added to Winnipeg’s roads every year, and with the city’s low density and sprawling growth, we are also driving farther. Winnipeggers drive a combined 5 1/2 billion kilometres per year, equating to every person over the age of 16 driving alone in a car 26 kilometers every single day. Compounding this, Winnipeg is the only major city in Canada to have lower public-transit ridership today than it did 20 years ago (pre-pandemic). The City of Winnipeg has a comprehensive Climate Action Plan that targets a 20 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030 (relative to 2011 levels). It targets a 17 per cent reduction in transportation-related emissions, achieved in part by increasing public-transit use and tripling the number of people who walk and bike. So, how do we change 60 years of urban planning centred around traffic management, and begin to promote more sustainable transportation options? Coun. Matt Allard recently introduced two innovative ideas that could be part of a larger transformation. His first proposal introduces an ‘induced demand analysis’ for all new transportation projects. Induced demand is a concept that can best be described as “you get what you build for.” When cities build more roads, people drive more cars. A groundbreaking study from 2011 titled “The Fundamental Law of Road Congestion” demonstrated that there is a one-to-one correlation between a city’s road capacity and the number of kilometres residents drive. The phenomenon has many contributing factors. Increased road capacity initially reduces commute times, causing people to alter their driving patterns, either route, frequency, or time of travel, to take advantage of the higher capacity network. Greater convenience results in fewer people using public transportation and promotes more trips by car. It also inspires driving farther distances, which keeps cars on the road for longer times and stimulates urban sprawl, which further promotes an automobile-centred lifestyle as longer distances make alternate transportation options ineffective. These factors all work together to increase the number of cars on the road, which invariably grows to meet the road capacity, no matter how much was built. This leads to demand for even more roads, creating an unwinnable cycle. Allard’s proposal may allow us to understand how our road-building choices will be affected by induced demand, helping us to make smarter choices, reducing road construction spending, traffic congestion, the amount we collectively drive and, in turn, greenhouse gas emissions. The second motion introduced by Allard is to make the “open streets,” which were so popular during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, a permanent fixture in the city. His proposal is to close 15 streets to vehicles for six months per year. This move would represent a transformational shift in our traditional priorities by taking vehicle space and creating places for people. Open streets such as Wellington Crescent and Wolseley Avenue saw high levels of use, regularly accommodating up to two hundred cyclists and almost as many pedestrians every hour. It changed how we experience our city. If the motion passes, open streets could provide the backbone for a new, connected, active-transportation network that fundamentally transforms how we move around. It would be a progressive and bold move for Winnipeg, one that might inspire us to think differently about our city and encourage investment in more sustainable transportation options such as walking, biking and transit. We have learned from the pandemic that change takes a collective effort. As we emerge from the crisis, we have an opportunity to channel this unprecedented global collaboration to focus on the even greater challenge moving toward us. These types of local, progressive ideas, implemented in cities across the world, can create a powerful cumulative effect that moves us toward flattening the global-warming curve, so our children and grandchildren inherit a future from us. *Brent Bellamy is creative director at Number Ten Architectural Group.*

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FYI: Designs for Main Street released in new Playbook
by Zdan, Terry (MI) 05 Oct '20

05 Oct '20

From: Canadian Urban Institute <communications(a)canurb.org> Sent: October-05-20 10:14 AM To: Zdan, Terry (MI) <Terry.Zdan(a)gov.mb.ca> Subject: Designs for Main Street released in new Playbook [https://mcusercontent.com/f47fe5ecd01cfe0eeeec18182/images/657964b0-48cb-47…]<https://canurb.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f47fe5ecd01cfe0eeeec18182&…> [https://mcusercontent.com/f47fe5ecd01cfe0eeeec18182/images/a695f5ca-36d5-4b…]<https://canurb.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f47fe5ecd01cfe0eeeec18182&…> October 5, 2020 / canurb.org Main Street Design Challenge Playbook released to help Bring Back Main Street [https://mcusercontent.com/f47fe5ecd01cfe0eeeec18182/images/9d56b8bd-e663-45…]<https://canurb.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f47fe5ecd01cfe0eeeec18182&…> Today, the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) and the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) are proud to release the Main Street Design Challenge Playbook<https://canurb.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f47fe5ecd01cfe0eeeec18182&…>, a collection of design solutions that can be implemented during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The Main Street Design Challenge invited all Canadian residents interested in place-making and design to develop solutions that can help build the resiliency of Canada’s main streets. Over the past four months, 47 designs were submitted from a wide range of sources, ranging from well-known architects and urban designers to students, planners, community animators, and artists. The Playbook showcases a range of creative and practical interventions, from masterplans to art installations to modular street furniture. [https://mcusercontent.com/f47fe5ecd01cfe0eeeec18182/images/6ff8a114-8ead-46…] [https://mcusercontent.com/f47fe5ecd01cfe0eeeec18182/images/914ff868-90cc-4e…] The Main Street Design Challenge reflects the importance of design in revitalizing our streets, including kickstarting the economy, fostering vibrant, liveable, and healthy communities, increasing public safety, reducing social isolation, and restoring the public’s confidence to return to streets and public spaces. All designs are free to use, though contacting the creators is encouraged. The Playbook contains links to implementation details and other information on the CUI website. [https://mcusercontent.com/f47fe5ecd01cfe0eeeec18182/images/3c582126-3820-4a…] [https://mcusercontent.com/f47fe5ecd01cfe0eeeec18182/images/b0f4b3f4-8e2e-4e…] The Main Street Design Challenge is an initiative of Bring Back Main Street, a nationally coordinated research and action campaign by the CUI to ensure the people, businesses, and organizations that call Canada’s Main Streets home can recover and emerge from the crisis more resilient than ever. Read The Playbook<https://canurb.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f47fe5ecd01cfe0eeeec18182&…> CUI and RAIC gratefully acknowledge the following Supporting Partners: Canadian Institute of Planners<https://canurb.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f47fe5ecd01cfe0eeeec18182&…>, Canadian Society of Landscape Architects<https://canurb.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f47fe5ecd01cfe0eeeec18182&…>, Council for Canadian Urbanism<https://canurb.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f47fe5ecd01cfe0eeeec18182&…>, ICOMOS Canada<https://canurb.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f47fe5ecd01cfe0eeeec18182&…>, National Trust for Canada<https://canurb.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f47fe5ecd01cfe0eeeec18182&…>, OCAD University<https://canurb.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f47fe5ecd01cfe0eeeec18182&…>, Rues principales<https://canurb.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f47fe5ecd01cfe0eeeec18182&…>, STEPS Initiative<https://canurb.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f47fe5ecd01cfe0eeeec18182&…>, Trinity Centres Foundation<https://canurb.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f47fe5ecd01cfe0eeeec18182&…>. Don't Miss! [https://mcusercontent.com/f47fe5ecd01cfe0eeeec18182/images/5656e2fa-926b-44…]<https://canurb.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f47fe5ecd01cfe0eeeec18182&…> Register<https://canurb.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f47fe5ecd01cfe0eeeec18182&…> Thank You to Our Partners We are grateful to all of our partners for supporting us in building a stronger urban Canada. Donors and Program Funders Bring Back Main Street is supported by Business Improvement areas and Economic Development organizations across Canada, Vancity and Vancity Community Investment Bank Partners Black Business and Professionals Association, Bloor-Yorkville BIA, Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council, Canadian Business Resilience Network, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Canadian Federation of Independent Business, Canadian Institute of Planners, CGLCC: Canada's LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce, City of Calgary, City of Edmonton, City of Toronto, City of Vancouver, Develop Nova Scotia, Downtown Halifax, Downtown Halifax Business Commission, Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, Downtown Yonge BIA, Environics, Financial District BIA, National Preservation Council, National Trust for Canada, Ontario Business Improvement Area Association, Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Regina Downtown BID, Retail Council of Canada, Royal Architecture Institute of Canada, Rues principales, Save Canadian Small Business, St. Lawrence BIA, Tamarack Institute, The Waterfront BIA, Toronto Entertainment District BIA, Trinity Centres Foundation, Vancouver Economic Commission Main Street Design Challenge Partners Canadian Institute of Planners, Canadian Society of Landscape Architects, Council for Canadian Urbanism, ICOMOS Canada, National Trust for Canada, OCAD University, Rue principales, STEPS Initiative, Trinity Centres Foundation Research Team 360 Collective, Happy City, Simon Fraser University, Fathom Studio, JC Williams Group About CUI CUI is Canada's Urban Institute. We are the national platform that houses the best in Canadian city building – where policymakers, urban professionals, civic and business leaders, community activists and academics can learn, share and collaborate with one another from coast to coast to coast. Copyright © 2020 Canadian Urban Institute | Institut urbain du Canada Canadian Urban Institute | Institut urbain du Canada 30 St. Patrick Street, 5th Floor Toronto, ON M5T 3A3 Canada Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences<https://canurb.us3.list-manage.com/profile?u=f47fe5ecd01cfe0eeeec18182&id=9…> or unsubscribe from this list<https://canurb.us3.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=f47fe5ecd01cfe0eeeec18182&…>. 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Free webinar: Organizing for equitable, walkable communities - Angie Schmitt
by Beth McKechnie 05 Oct '20

05 Oct '20

So many webinars to choose from! [image: Twitter] <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> [image: Facebook] <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> [image: YouTube] <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> [image: Make a gift to Island Press today!] <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> View this email in your browser <https://mailchi.mp/6aa1e9fbdcb1/free-summer-e-book-503709?e=c14836d4ab> ISLAND PRESS | ASU [image: ASU Sustainability Series] <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> Equitable Energy and Affordable Housing *Oct. 29 • Nov. 19* ------------------------------ Arizona State University's (ASU) School of Sustainability and Island Press are partnering on a fall speaker series featuring Island Press authors and Urban Resilience Project contributors. All events are free, hosted by ASU, and promise to inspire. Our upcoming webinars include: - Shane Phillips: The Affordable City; Thursday 10/29 1pm MST <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> - Shalanda Baker: Revolutionary Power: An Activist’s Guide to the Energy Transition; Thursday 11/19 1pm MST <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> LEARN MORE <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> FREE WEBINAR | ioby & ISLAND PRESS [image: In Conversation with Angie Schmitt, Author of ‘Right of Way’ October 14, 2020 @ 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm] <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> Organizing for equitable, walkable communities *Wed. October 7 • 1:00-2:00 PM EDT* ------------------------------ In this live webinar, hear about some of the causes of the disproportionate impacts of traffic violence, and learn about some of the programs and movements that are beginning to respond. You'll also hear from everyday neighbors who stepped up to address pedestrian safety in their communities, and see how you could do it too. *This webinar is in partnership with ioby <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…>.* REGISTER <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> ASU EVENT | SHANE PHILLIPS [image: ASU Stardust Center Event -- The Affordable City] <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> A conversation with Shane Phillips *Thurs. October 29 • 1:00-2:00 PM PDT* ------------------------------ Arizona State University’s (ASU) School of Sustainability and Island Press are partnering on a fall speaker series featuring Island Press authors and Urban Resilience Project contributors. All events are free, hosted by ASU, and promise to inspire. Join Shane Phillips, author of *The Affordable City* <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…>, for a discussion moderated by ASU urban planner and sustainability scientist Deirdre Pfeiffer. *This event is in partnership with Arizona State University <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…>.* REGISTER <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> ANGIE SCHMITT | RIGHT OF WAY [image: In Conversation with Angie Schmitt, Author of ‘Right of Way’ October 14, 2020 @ 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm] <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> In conversation with Angie Schmitt *Wed. October 14 • 5:00-6:00 PM PDT* ------------------------------ Join SPUR and Walk San Francisco in diving into the research and realities behind why pedestrians are dying, and how we can imagine and demand safer, equitable cities in the Bay Area. Moderated by Marta Lindsey, Walk SF’s communications director. *This webinar is in partnership with Walk San Francisco <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> and SPUR <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…>.* REGISTER <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> GET THE BOOKS Enter *WEBINAR* at checkout for 30% off [image: Right of Way by Angie Schmitt | An Island Press book] <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> *Expendable people?* ------------------------------ *Right of Way* <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> exposes the crisis of traffic violence that is plaguing our cities, inspiring regular citizens to action. *$19.60* $28.00 <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> [image: The Affordable City by Shane Phillips | An Island Press book] <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> *Brings opposing sides together* ------------------------------ *The Affordable City* <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> is an essential tool for professionals and advocates working to improve affordability and increase community resilience through local action. *$22.40* $32.00 <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> *It's time for a revolution* ------------------------------ "[*Revolutionary Power*] <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> is an inspiring guide that makes energy and energy justice easy to understand and radical ideas doable." —Denise Fairchild <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…>, President/Chief Executive Officer, Emerald Cities Collaborative *$22.40* $32.00 <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…>

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Impact of e-cycling on travel behaviour
by Beth McKechnie 05 Oct '20

05 Oct '20

(Thanks to Michelle Porter for the share) In case you are interested: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32904492/ The impact of e-cycling on travel behaviour: A scoping review - PubMed <https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32904492/> pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov This review suggests that the personal use of e-bikes is associated with a reduction in motorized vehicle use, which has potential positive impacts on the environment and health. The impacts of e-bike share schemes and workplace initiatives are less well understood. Evidence describing the purposes …

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Study: We Can’t Fix Transportation-Related Climate Emissions With EVs Alone
by Beth McKechnie 03 Oct '20

03 Oct '20

*Why EVs can’t get dirty to go ‘green’* *In order to maintain our [US] national car addiction and stay within a national transportation-related emissions “budget” that scientists agree is necessary to maintain the planet at temperatures our ecosystems can survive, the United States would need to replace a whopping 90 percent of gas-powered cars on the roads with zero-emissions electric vehicles by 2050, researchers at the University of Toronto <https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-020-00921-7> found.Right now, just 1.5 percent <https://www.eei.org/issuesandpolicy/electrictransportation/Documents/FINAL_…> of new vehicle sales in the U.S. are electric cars, and roughly 99.7 percent <https://phys.org/news/2020-09-electric-vehicles-wont-climate.html> of cars on the road today are powered by fossil fuels.The study was careful to note that EVs are not a lost cause, and are, of course, “likely to reduce emissions in the United States when compared with conventional gasoline vehicles.” But the researchers cautioned of the dangers of policies that over-focus on electric cars, especially if they come at the expense of investments in proven strategies for which we have the technology in place today to significantly curb emissions.Those strategies include massive public transit adoption, mass construction of active transportation infrastructure, and fundamentally redesigning our cities to make car-free or car-light living possible for more people.*

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WFP: 'Open Streets' to be further explored (Oct2'20)
by Beth McKechnie 02 Oct '20

02 Oct '20

‘OPEN STREETS’ TO BE FURTHER EXPLORED THE City of Winnipeg could soon prioritize seasonal pedestrian and cyclist access on parts of a dozen streets every year. Council unanimously approved a motion late Wednesday to have its public service study whether to continue 10 sections of “open streets” that the city tested out this year. A report is expected around November. Coun. Matt Allard, chair of the public works committee, hopes to make the active transportation routes permanent, seven days a week between the May long and Thanksgiving weekend. The streets would limit vehicle traffic to one block from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

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WFP: City makes changes to traffic lights at intersections to improve pedestrian safety (Oct2'20)
by Beth McKechnie 02 Oct '20

02 Oct '20

*City makes changes to traffic lights at intersections to improve pedestrian safety* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/in-a-flash-they-were-gone-572606212… THE city has put a stop to traffic light cycles that combine flashing amber and red lights at Winnipeg intersections. The change, which took effect Thursday, affects 185 intersections throughout the city, which used the flashing amber and red light signals at night, in the early morning and on weekends when traffic volumes are low. The majority of these intersections now has a standard light cycle: solid green, amber and red phases at all hours. Flashing yellow lights warn some directions of traffic to slow down before proceeding through an intersection, while blinking red lights direct drivers to treat the crossing like a stop sign. The city says the change is meant to make it safer for people crossing the street, since pedestrian visual walk signs and audible crossing sounds were inactive during flashing light periods. Coun. Shawn Nason (Transcona) called for the change a few months ago. Nason said he grew concerned about the practice after a visually impaired resident reported feeling unsafe while walking late at night through the intersection of Plessis Road and Kernaghan Avenue, when it was in a flashing light mode. “Hopefully, (this change) will result in the ability for pedestrians and/or active-transportation users to be able to safely cross the road at these intersections with minimal impact on the driving public,” said Nason. “I think it’s wonderful. I think it’s another step to ensure an inclusive city,” he added. Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital) also welcomed the change, noting he expects it could also reduce safety risks for drivers. Mayes said he has personally driven through one set of flashing lights that suddenly switched to a solid red while his vehicle was still in the intersection of Worthington Avenue and St. Anne’s Road. “A third of the way through the intersection, you look up (and) it’s a hard red you’re facing now because the clock has shifted to 7 o’clock (in the morning)... I altered my route in the morning because I thought, I’m going to get a ticket here or, worse, I’m going to get in a collision,” said Mayes. “That dangerous situation has now been eliminated.” The flashing lights were previously meant to reduce driver delays during times when roads saw low traffic volumes. Coun. Matt Allard, council’s public works chairman, said he expects the safety benefits of the change will outweigh any inconvenience for drivers. “There certainly is a trade-off there. Motorists, who in the past may have been able to (enter) the intersection at their own discretion, will have to wait for the signal to change. I think on a balance, though, if you’re considering the vulnerable road users... I think it’s the right thing to do,” said Allard (St. Boniface). The city says eight intersections with especially low traffic volumes will still have a light cycle that flashes red lights in all directions during set hours, which drivers should treat as a four-way stop. City officials also plan to “fine-tune” overnight traffic signal patterns over the next few months, as new traffic data is collected. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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Shared Use Mobility Data Primer
by Beth McKechnie 01 Oct '20

01 Oct '20

Helpful primer from Oregon on shared use mobility data (bikeshare, e-scooters, carsharing, ridehailing services). Lots to think about! ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: MILLAR Stephanie L <Stephanie.L.MILLAR(a)odot.state.or.us> Date: Thu, Oct 1, 2020 at 2:19 PM Hello Fellow TDM Professionals, I am sharing a recently completed project from my consultants at Trillium Solutions. Attached is the Shared Use Mobility Data Primer. This document was developed to provide small and medium sized communities with information on what shared use mobility data is, why it is important to manage, and the steps to take in managing it. I hope you find it useful. *The excerpt below is intended as a pull out piece for elected officials and managers to help them understand why the subject is important.* *Why This Matters* Public demand for shared mobility is growing, as is our understanding of how it fits into the broader picture of transportation solutions in Oregon communities. In the course of their operation, shared mobility companies collect a large amount of data about their users and travel patterns. Local jurisdictions can establish guidelines for how companies use this data, and also what data these companies need to share with the jurisdiction. In many jurisdictions, a condition of approval for shared mobility companies to operate within their boundaries is a data sharing and management agreement. For jurisdictions, having access to shared mobility data allows them to see travel patterns in their communities, make responsive transportation planning decisions, ensure oversight of shared mobility companies operating in the public right of way, and monitor equity impacts of these services. Stephanie Lawson Millar ODOT Transportation Options Program Manager Desk: 503-986-4224 Cell: 503-430-4152 *Email is the best way to reach me* <http://getthereoregon.org/> ------------------------------

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WFP Weeklies: Final pedestrian sound signal installed (Sep30'20)
by Beth McKechnie 30 Sep '20

30 Sep '20

Final pedestrian sound signal installed https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/souwester/Final-pedestria… As a “coo-coo” sound rang out over the noise of traffic, the final pedestrian sound signal was installed last week at a street corner in River Heights, during an event hosted by the City of Winnipeg. Coun. Matt Allard (St. Boniface), chairperson of the standing policy committee on infrastructure renewal and public works, and Coun. Ross Eadie (Mynarski) were on hand on Sept. 24 at the corner of Stafford Street and Kingsway Avenue to announce the successful implementation of audible pedestrian signals at all signalized intersections throughout the city. “I wanted to say, I never thought I’d see the day. I thought the plan was going to be... and I’d be dead before it was completed,” Eadie said with a laugh. Audible pedestrian signals communicate traffic signal timing information to pedestrians using non-visual, audible tones. The City had originally anticipated completing the installation of the audible pedestrian signals at all signalized intersections by the end of 2021. “The installation of the 670 signalized intersections was made a priority and completed over a year ahead of schedule,” Allard said, adding it’s a huge achievement to improve accessibility for Winnipeggers at all intersections with traffic signals. “With the addition of audible pedestrian signals, everyone can now safely navigate these intersections with the help of auditory cues to provide guidance indicating when it’s safe to cross the street.” For those not familiar with the sounds made by the signals, the “coo-coo” typically indicates it’s safe to cross in a north-south direction. The signals also make chirping, ticking and tocking sounds. The first audible signal in Winnipeg was installed in 1953 at Portage and Sherburn by the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. “I am pleased that this project is finally completed as it will improve accessibility and safety for all of our citizens,” Eadie said. “I want to thank all those who have been involved over the years championing this worthy effort for the benefit of all Winnipeggers regardless of what part of the city they live in. We prioritized this project because we understood and recognized the importance of safety and accessibility for all Winnipeggers.” The City began installing audible pedestrian signals at signalized intersections throughout the city in 1996 under then-mayor Glen Murray. “We who are blind fought for this in the mid-1990s, to convince the city to move ahead, to install audible signals so we knew when it was our turn to cross at all the intersections, no matter where you work, live, play or go to school,” Eadie said.

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Webinar series on the intersection between transportation and health
by Beth McKechnie 29 Sep '20

29 Sep '20

The focus on the intersection between transportation and public health is increasingly important as communities plan for recovery and response amid COVID-19 and tackle more persistent health and safety issues. Emerging research to better align the two fields offers not only an expanded perspective of their connections, but also opportunities to address health issues through the lens of transportation. *The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC), in partnership with many organizations, is delivering a* five-part webinar series <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001y_uZFci0Y6LLgGHRFkC-VyI4g4UutomkCFyvWH88Ztvh…> t*o explore the integration and advancement of health in various transportation planning practices, including the confrontation of power and privilege in communities, collaborative partnerships, data integration, project prioritization, and policy change*. The series will be held from October 13-28 and participants are encouraged to register for any or all of the sessions. For details and to register: http://www.pedbikeinfo.org/webinars/webseries_healthtransp.cfm -- 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 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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Wpg Sun: Breathing Space - School Street pilot project allows students more room to walk, bike, play (Sep26'20)
by Beth McKechnie 27 Sep '20

27 Sep '20

BREATHING SPACE: School Street pilot project allows students more room to walk, bike, play https://winnipegsun.com/news/news-news/0925-school-streets A collaboration between the City of Winnipeg and the Green Action Centre, a non-profit promoting greener living, is getting a lot of positive feedback stemming from a pilot program aimed at giving students a little more room to breathe outside of one Winnipeg school. The School Street Project, which has become commonplace throughout the United Kingdom, is being piloted at Issac Brock School in Winnipeg’s West End neighbourhood. The initiative sees street closures in front of schools to vehicles, allowing students more space to walk, bike, play and physical distance. The result? Cleaner air, less noise, calmer streets and less traffic. “These projects have started to be adopted across North America and other parts of the world because they are so beneficial, particularly for young students,” said Denae Penner, Sustainable Transportation Program Coordinator at Green Action Centre. “It’s really important that students have the ability to walk a little bit and the start and end of each day, and the majority of traffic you see around schools in the morning — and the majority of rush-hour traffic in general — is people driving their kids to school.” Since students returned to the classroom on Sept. 8, Barratt Avenue, which runs adjacent to the front doors of Isaac Brock, has been closed to allow for students to better move around what’s normally a busy area during school hours. It’s part of a 60-day pilot project in partnership with the city, including backing from Coun. Cindy Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre) and school trustee Jennifer Chen. The hope, according to the GAC, is School Streets will support families in choosing to walk or bike to school, reduce traffic congestion in the area, and alleviate some of the stresses on school buses, while creating safer streets for children to play around. “The Isaac Brock Parent Council has always been concerned with making sure the students and community members have safe ways to get to school,” said Elizabeth Jackimec, president of the Isaac Brock Parent Council. “We also encourage active transportation, so this initiative is great.” The Safer Streets program has been highlighted further since the beginning of the school year as a strike by Winnipeg School Division bus drivers, which Isaac Brock falls under, has meant more parents having to drive their kids to and from school. “Anecdotally, and what some of the school administrators have said, is the streets feel much calmer,” Penner said. How that changes when the strike ends is unknown, but so far, feedback has been great. “Response from residents I have interacted with so far has been really positive, and already, without any nudging or any kind of push from us, the families who are waiting to get their kids from school are spreading out on the street to give their kids more space to ensure physical distancing is being met,” Penner said. It’s too early to say whether or not the Safe Schools program will be implemented at other schools at this point, Penner said. “But I do know that the traffic engineers at the City of Winnipeg, who have been supporting us, are looking into more innovative approaches to address road safety concerns around schools,” she said. sbilleck(a)postmedia.com Twitter: @scottbilleck

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The Conference Board of Canada report: The Benefits and Significance of Canada’s Trail System
by Beth McKechnie 25 Sep '20

25 Sep '20

Trekking Our Trails: The Benefits and Significance of Canada’s Trail System https://www.conferenceboard.ca/focus-areas/canadian-economics/2020/trekking…

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CBC: New cycling maps pop up around Winnipeg schools to help kids find safer ways to bike to class
by Beth McKechnie 21 Sep '20

21 Sep '20

Winnipeg Trails Association's School Loops maps show active transportation routes around schools https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/school-trails-maps-winnipeg-1.57288…

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WFP: Public works chair wants 15 permanent seasonal traffic-restricting open streets (Sept 18'20)
by Beth McKechnie 17 Sep '20

17 Sep '20

*Public works chair wants 15 permanent seasonal traffic-restricting open streets* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/public-works-chair-wants-15-… Winnipeg city council’s public works chairman wants to prioritize pedestrian access on sections of more than a dozen streets. Coun. Matt Allard (St. Boniface) is lobbying colleagues to permanently add seasonal active transportation routes on 15 streets, which would run seven days a week between the May long and Thanksgiving weekends each year. The routes would include 10 sections of "open streets" the city tested out this year, continuing to limit vehicle traffic on them to one block from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. The routes were created to provide extra space for pedestrians and cyclists to stay active, while offering room for them to also keep least two metres apart from others during the COVID-19 pandemic. "In my opinion, and I think the opinion of many across the city, (the routes) were a tremendous success. They were very low cost and opened up very large recreational opportunities for Winnipeggers… I don’t think COVID-19 is necessarily going away, so Winnipeggers will potentially need those recreational opportunities again next year," said Allard. The councillor raised a successful motion to support the change at a public works committee meeting Wednesday. If council approves it, the motion will have Winnipeg’s public service study the 10 routes and consider adding others on five additional streets. A report on implementing those changes would return for a second round of council votes, perhaps in November. Allard hopes a final decision will be made in time for the routes to reopen by May 2021. Some of the 10 temporary trial routes closed for the season Sept. 7. Others will be offered until Oct. 12, but only on Sundays and holidays. The closures triggered plenty of public pressure to extend the active transportation access, especially through online petitions and social media. However, not all Winnipeggers support the seven-day-per-week routes. "Why would you close a road seven days a week when there’s nobody using it for walking and cycling during the daylight hours because they’re at work or school? That’s nonsense," said Riverview resident Tom Pearson. Pearson said he’s concerned the Churchill Drive route in his neighbourhood also diverts drivers to streets that actually have more pedestrians than it does, creating a new safety risk while also interrupting commutes along Churchill. The city must consult the broader public before considering permanent changes, Pearson said. He fears politicians may otherwise base decisions solely on input from those who support the change, which he argues could be a "vocal minority." Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg, said he’s convinced there is ample demand to warrant the number of open streets the motion recommends. "Looking at the numbers we saw biking down those roads this year, there’s a huge amount of demand to have that kind of access," said Cohoe. "I think it’s (also) something that moves the city forward towards its goals on climate change, towards its goals on sustainability." He expects the city’s approval process will offer time and flexibility to assess feedback on each individual route and make adjustments to address some residents’ concerns. For example, Cohoe said he agrees the Churchill Drive route warrants extra consideration, suggesting it may be better suited to offer a protected bike lane than an open street section. Allard said public feedback will be incorporated in the November report. If the changes are implemented, seasonal open streets would resume every year on sections of Wellington Crescent, Lyndale Drive, Scotia Street, Egerton Road, Kildonan Drive, Kilkenny Drive, Rover Avenue, Vialoux Drive, Wolseley Avenue and Churchill Drive. New routes would also be added for parts of Glenwood Crescent, Youville Street, Rosseau Avenue and Ellen Street, as well as two sections of Alexander Avenue. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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Transport Findings Journal published a study analyzing the effects of implementing docked bikeshare programs in eight Canadian and American cities
by Zdan, Terry (MI) 17 Sep '20

17 Sep '20

fyi From: FHWA Office of Planning, Environment, and Realty (HEP) <FHWA.HEP(a)info.dot.gov> Sent: September-17-20 11:02 AM Subject: Human Environment Digest 9/17/20 [header] Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVy…>. September 17, 2020 Human Environment Digest Welcome to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Human Environment biweekly email digest. This digest shares the latest information from a range of Federal and non-Federal sources, addressing transportation and its relationship to the human environment. Through this information exchange, FHWA hopes to foster dialogue at all levels and continue to further the state of the practice on these important topics in support of safety; infrastructure, including accelerated project delivery, access to jobs, and community revitalization; technology and design innovation; and accountability, including, data-driven decisions and performance-based planning. For more information on any of these topics, see the FHWA Related Links on the sidebar. Click here<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVy…> to manage your subscriptions. *The information provided in this mailing does not necessarily reflect the view of the Federal Highway Administration or the U.S. Department of Transportation. EVENTS Please check with event organizers on if/how events are being adjusted to accommodate remote participation. 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(Virtual Peer Exchange Series Information<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMjAsInVy…>) September 29, 1:00-2:00 PM ET<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMjEsInVy…>: National Center for Sustainable Transportation's Spatial Equity Analysis of Dock-Based and Dockless Bike Share in San Francisco. September 29, 4:00-6:00 PM ET<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMjIsInVy…>: Transportation & Climate Initiative's Ensuring Environmental Justice and Equity in a Regional Low-Carbon Transportation Program. September 30, 1:00-2:00 PM ET<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMjMsInVy…>: Road to Zero Coalition's Equity in Transportation Series, The Safety Premium: Designing Equity in Vehicles and Beyond. 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October 21, 3:00-4:00 PM ET<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMzIsInVy…>: Association of Pedestrian & Bicycle Professionals' Thinking About Cycling Experience: Cycle Highways and Methods for Human-Centered Bikeways. (There is a fee) October 22, 1:00-2:30 PM ET<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMzMsInVy…>: American Trails' Make it Count: Collecting and Applying Trail Count Data. October 22, 1:00-3:00 PM ET<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMzQsInVy…>: FHWA's Value Capture Virtual Peer Exchange Series: Joint Development & Use Right-Of-Way Agreements. (Virtual Peer Exchange Series Information<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMzUsInVy…>) October 28, 2:00-3:15 PM ET<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMzYsInVy…>: FHWA's Americans with Disabilities Act 30th Anniversary Webinar Series: Dedicated ADA Funding. December 2, 2:00-3:15 PM ET<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMzcsInVy…>: FHWA's Americans with Disabilities Act 30th Anniversary Webinar Series: Innovations and Technology for Transition Plan Implementation. FHWA RELATED LINKS Environment Homepage<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMzgsInVy…> Bicycle/Pedestrian<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMzksInVy…> Environmental Justice<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNDAsInVy…> Transportation Alternatives<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNDEsInVy…> Recreational Trails Program<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNDIsInVy…> To submit comments or information for inclusion in the next HE Digest, click here<mailto:livable.communities@dot.gov>. Submissions must be made before 12 PM ET Wednesday. [safety] National Walk to School Day is October 7 On October 7, National Walk to School Day will be observed in a variety of formats across communities this year due to COVID-19. Events will take place virtually, within neighborhoods, or at schools, depending on the local context, and registration<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNDMsInVy…> is now open. The National Center for Safe Routes to School released 20 Ideas for Walk to School Day in 2020<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNDQsInVy…> including virtual participation activities. Study Analyzes Vehicle Safety Criteria Between Younger and Older Drivers The Traffic Injury Prevention Journal published a study<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNDUsInVy…> examining risks associated with vulnerable driver groups in New Jersey by focusing on young, newly licensed drivers, older drivers, and drivers in low-income areas. The study suggests younger and older drivers experience higher rates of crash risk and fatalities, and those living in low-income areas are disproportionately represented in serious and fatal crashes. Researchers analyzed Statewide crash and licensing data over a seven-year period, cross referencing with information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Product Information Catalog and Vehicle Listing platform<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNDYsInVy…> to determine safety characteristics of the vehicle fleet among a range of drivers. The findings indicate the youngest and oldest drivers, as well as drivers of all age groups living in low-income areas, are more likely to drive older, less safe vehicles that lack safety features such as side airbags. Study Examines Impacts of Docked Bikeshare Programs on Bicycle Crashes The Transport Findings Journal published a study<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNDcsInVy…> analyzing the effects of implementing docked bikeshare programs in eight Canadian and American cities. Using survey data of self-reported crashes, researchers aimed to better understand whether the introduction of this new mode impacts the rate of reported bicycle crashes in communities. The findings suggest that reported bicycle crashes overall did not increase after implementing bikeshare programs, and decreased in areas such as Boston, Montreal, and Toronto which had existing bikeshare programs in place. ________________________________ [infrastructure] U.S. DOT Announces Availability of $70 Million for Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects Grants The U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) announced the availability of $70 million in grant funding<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNDgsInVy…> for Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects (NSFLTP). The funding opportunity will support cities, States, Tribal governments, and Federal lands management agencies with the construction and repair of roads and bridges serving Tribal or Federal lands. To help address rural needs and enhance key rural routes, the NSFLTP grant program will consider projects located in rural areas with goals and actions that are consistent with U.S. DOT's Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNDksInVy…> initiative. The NSFLTP Notice of Funding Opportunity<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNTAsInVy…> application period will remain open through November 2, 2020. BUILD Grant Project Addresses Downtown Connectivity and Pedestrian Safety in Pembroke, North Carolina The Town of Pembroke, North Carolina received a $5.2 million grant<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNTEsInVy…> through the U.S. Department of Transportation Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNTIsInVy…> program to improve pedestrian safety and connectivity in the downtown district. The project improves access to Tribal lands and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke campus through various multimodal infrastructure improvements. Once completed, the project will enhance safety for community members and visitors, improving quality of life and economic development in a rural area. BUILD Grant Project Supports Development of Downtown Riverfront in Toledo, Ohio The Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments received a $23.6 million grant<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNTMsInVy…> through the U.S. Department of Transportation Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNTQsInVy…> program to develop the Glass City Riverwalk in the city of Toledo, Ohio. The project encourages multimodal transportation around a regional riverfront through the creation of a shared-used path network. The project will improve connectivity between nearby neighborhoods and businesses, provide additional recreational opportunities for residents and visitors, and promote public health and economic growth in the area. Study Discusses Role of Green Infrastructure in Supporting Mobility in Environmental Justice Communities The National Institute for Transportation and Communities at Portland State University published a study<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNTUsInVy…> discussing the role of green infrastructure in mitigating flood impacts in environmental justice communities in Arizona. The study demonstrates how flooding and extreme storm events present major challenges to the transportation system in communities across the country, and particularly the mobility impacts on low-income and minority populations. Researchers conducted a flood vulnerability assessment to identify priority locations for improvements to mitigate transportation system flooding. The findings highlight comprehensive neighborhood-scale green infrastructure in the public right-of-way as an effective approach in areas with moderate flooding conditions. ________________________________ [innovation] NACTO Releases Report on Shared Micromobility The National Association of City Transportation Officials published a report<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNTYsInVy…> on shared micromobility in 2019. The report discusses the growth and use of shared micromobility across the country, including shared bicycles and electric scooters (e-scooters) and electric bicycles. The report found that there was a 45 percent increase in dockless e-scooter programs between 2018 and 2019 in communities. The report also notes that shared bicycle and e-scooter trips are replacing trips by motor vehicle, walking, and transit. It provides a snapshot of trends, challenges, and opportunities to support policy development and decision making. GHSA Report on Micromobility Highlights Role of State and Local Partners The Governors Highway Safety Association published a report<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNTcsInVy…> discussing challenges associated with shared micromobility systems, as well as opportunities for States and local partners to help address issues. The research analyzes micromobility challenges across six categories: oversight, funding, data collection, enforcement, infrastructure, and education, including growth trends and COVID-19 impacts. It captures research findings led in coordination with a panel of Federal, State, and local roadway safety officials, as well as bicycle and rideshare advocates, micromobility providers, and public health practitioners. It also highlights solutions related to community engagement, education programs, funding, and training opportunities. NABSA Releases State of the Industry Report on Shared Micromobility The North American Bikeshare Association published a report<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNTgsInVy…> discussing the trends and growth of the shared micromobility industry in 2019. The report examines successes and challenges in shared micromobility including traditional bicycles, electric bicycles, and electric scooters. It analyzes data points for 292 cities across several topics such as rider demographics, trends by vehicle type, system statistics by city size, operating costs and revenues, operating characteristics, equity, and community benefits. The findings indicate riders in North America took 157 million micromobility trips across 194,000 vehicle types in 2019, in which 36 percent of the rides replaced a car trip. ________________________________ [account] Approaches with Underserved Populations in Regional Active Transportation Plan The Federal Highway Administration published a case study<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNTksInVy…> discussing noteworthy community engagement approaches with traditionally underserved populations, including Hispanic and Tribal communities, in the Lake Tahoe region during the development of a regional Active Transportation Plan. The plan facilitates increased active transportation and transit through the planning process to shift more trips to these modes, and to address the seasonal increases in traffic. The outreach process highlighted how many residents rely on the regional bicycle and pedestrian network for mobility needs, and identifies areas for improvement where people felt unsafe. It also identified Tribal priorities including safety along major roadways, connectivity of existing active transportation infrastructure, and the importance of protecting Tribal sacred sites during construction. FHWA Releases Updated Livability Fact Sheets The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released updates to a series of fact sheets discussing how livability considerations during the transportation decision-making process can benefit communities. Through the Transportation and Livability<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNjAsInVy…> resources, FHWA provides support to State departments of transportation, regional planning agencies, Tribes, and other partners in both rural and urban settings. The most recent updates focus on the topics of Economic Development<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNjEsInVy…>, Safety<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNjIsInVy…>, and Rural Livability<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNjMsInVy…>. The Economic Development fact sheet discusses how targeted transportation investments can improve access to jobs, education, shopping, and goods movement through compact development, relocation decisions, and increased connectivity. Safety promotes safer roads for all users, including strategies to combine safety and redevelopment, repurpose spaces, and create bike-friendly cities. Since rural communities vary widely, Rural Livability focuses on providing transportation choices and connections to a broad audience through projects enhancing quality of life, improving safety for students, and creating active transportation networks. Fact Sheet Describes Best Practices for Complete Streets Regional Policy Development The Safe Routes Partnership released a fact sheet<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNjQsInVy…> discussing notable practices and resources in regional complete streets policy development, including ideas for collaboration between regional and local jurisdictions. The fact sheet also outlines policy considerations and case studies to assist metropolitan planning organizations and regional agencies with complete streets planning, funding, and construction. [footer] ________________________________ Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNjUsInVy…>. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNjYsInVy…>. This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. DOT Federal Highway Administration<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNjcsInVy…>. ________________________________ using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: U.S. DOT Federal Highway Administration * 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE * Washington, DC 20590 * 202-366-4000 [GovDelivery logo]<https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxNjgsInVy…>

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Developing methodologies for improving customer levels of service for walking
by Beth McKechnie 15 Sep '20

15 Sep '20

Interesting study from NZ. Thanks to Michelle Porter for the share. https://www.nzta.govt.nz/assets/resources/research/reports/667/667-Developi… cheers, Beth -- Beth McKechnie (she/her/hers) *| *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 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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How to make the most of a COVID winter
by Beth McKechnie 14 Sep '20

14 Sep '20

Don’t write off the darkest season just yet. Even with colder weather and shorter days, it’s still possible to plan for pandemic-safe outdoor fun. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-11/how-to-prepare-for-a-cor… -- Beth McKechnie (she/her/hers) *| *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 your green living hub Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://www.gomanitoba.ca>

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WFP Editorial: Closing roads to cars showed promise (Sep14'20)
by Beth McKechnie 14 Sep '20

14 Sep '20

Closing roads to cars showed promise https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/closing-roads-to-cars-… AMONG the many assumptions the COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to confront is: why are we driving everywhere? An initiative that let people physically distance while getting fresh air and exercise was the restriction of motorized traffic on certain city streets. It was instituted in the spring and city council voted to extend the restrictions through the summer. The limitations were lifted on Tuesday. In a city where many events were cancelled, fitness and entertainment venues were shuttered, and many people worked and studied from home, the street closures allowed many thousands of Winnipeggers to get out and enjoy themselves. Wide, paved surfaces are good for pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchair users, skateboarders and many more to travel safely while maintaining physical distance. The move on the city’s part coincided with a boom in bicycles, as sales of new bikes increased and many Winnipeggers hauled out their dusty bikes and tuned them up. To paraphrase Field of Dreams: if you build it, they will ride. Of course, the streets in question didn’t necessarily form a connected network, so they weren’t a permanent solution to provide space for active transportation. And many residents in the affected areas weren’t happy about the effects the restricted streets had on traffic in the area — often, motorists trying to get through the neighbourhood merely shifted to a nearby street, which concentrated more vehicles on fewer routes. Clearly, what is needed is a long-term approach. Blocking off certain streets from motorized traffic, as has been done for many years on Wellington Crescent and Wolseley Avenue — but only on weekends, for a designated period of summer months — is a piecemeal approach that treats active transportation as a diversion. Instead, as the city upgrades road infrastructure, many streets and neighbourhoods are getting an active transportation component. This is often done in consultation with the affected residents, and the various stages each project is in can be found on the city’s website. If the city keeps building its active transportation network, will more people use it? Maybe. It will largely depend on whether the network is a reliable way for Winnipeggers to ditch their cars and power their way to work, school, errands or entertainment. But if they do, then motorists and area residents win as well, even if they never use those protected lanes or bike paths. More people using bikes, rollerblades, skateboards or scooters means fewer vehicles on the road, making the traffic less clogged. And that also means residents tired of blocks-long lines of cars and trucks will see fewer of those. The city has been slowly improving the active transportation infrastructure over the years and, despite the recent cash crunch owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, continued investment in such improvements should be part of every street renewal project. It will pay dividends in people’s quality of life and better health for decades. There’s also the fact that merely increasing road capacity doesn’t solve traffic jams, it merely results in more vehicles using the streets. What if we apply the same logic to active transportation — increase capacity, and see how many more people take advantage of it. The temporary, improvised open streets transformed neighbourhoods by showing Winnipggers what they can do with their streets when they’re not behind the wheel. Long-term, continued active transportation investment could transform the entire city. We’d all be better off for it.

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WFP: Pedal pushers - Freedom fighter (Sep12'20)
by Beth McKechnie 12 Sep '20

12 Sep '20

*FREEDOM FIGHTER * *Leigh Anne Parry is on a two-wheeled mission to empower and improve the lives of women by giving them the skills to safely, independently and confidently join Winnipeg’s male-dominated bicycle-riding community* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/cover-pedal-pushers-in… I’M coasting down the bike lane on Sherbrook Street on a plain, black Dutch bike, carrying Plain Bicycle Project co-manager Leigh Anne Parry on my rear panier rack. She guides me through traffic and along the sidewalks as we make our way to Gordon Bell High School for a bike lesson, the same kind she gives to dozens of women in their 20s and older who are interested in learning to ride. Normally the lessons, currently on pause thanks to COVID-19, would take place in the schoolyard at Ecole Victoria-Albert. On this fall morning, however, we coast languidly along the path looping Gordon Bell’s soccer field. “These bicycle lessons have been in the back of my head for a while now,” Parry explains. Inspired by a woman in the Netherlands for whom bike lessons and Dutch bikes are a lifetime project, Parry — whose work with the Plain Bicycle project stretches 3 ½ years — decided earlier this summer to begin running sessions to make cycling more accessible to the Dutch bike’s key customers: adult women. “It’s something that can be freeing for the whole family,” she says. “Empowering women empowers the whole family’s ability to take different modes of transportation.” First things first: balance. We start sitting on the bike seats, feet flat on the ground, and begin to walk. The trick is to get comfortable balancing by gaining momentum and lifting the feet, practising little coasts down the path. For me, most confident on a hard-tailed mountain bike, the gentle ride and upright stance is a comfortable change of pace. It’s part of the reason why, Parry says, the bikes appeal to new riders. Parry, 33, got invested in biking in university, she says. She grew up outside the city, but moved into Winnipeg for school and was gifted a bike to ride around. After using it as her main mode of transportation for some time she got a fast-paced job as a bike courier. “I started to ride with a particular kind of work purpose, I got to explore the city a lot, I got more comfortable and confident riding a bicycle, especially in traffic,” she says. “Then I was working as an urban farmer and had a big trike that I would deliver vegetables on; I’ve always integrated bicycles into my work life because I find it very useful and I think it’s a good idea.” Using the bike as a tool for her everyday activities, Parry became familiar with the city’s strengths and weaknesses in bike infrastructure, and began to notice the biking community was dominated by men who felt comfortable enough to weave with traffic on the city’s busy streets. “Women are sort of an indicator species for how good your infrastructure is in a city,” Parry says. “Women statistically take less risks because they’re usually depended on a lot more and their stakes are higher, and they feel less confident being an aggressive rider in among the traffic.” In the Netherlands, she explains, 60 per cent of bike-riders (she prefers to avoid “cyclist” as a term) are women. In Winnipeg, by contrast, women make up closer to 30 per cent of the cycling crowd. That number is something Parry is slowly setting out to change. Biking is more convenient for women, she says. It’s a quick way to “trip-chain,” or make multiple stops close together: dropping the kids off at school, visiting the grocery store and getting to work, for example. “It’s also something that can be really empowering and freeing for women to have that sense of independence and to be able to do all of those errands and runs on their own, on their own transportation, quickly and easily,” Parry says. Lately she’s seen an “inspiring” uptick in older women — those over 50 — learning to ride, especially with the comfort and ease of the “omafiet” or “grandma bike.” “Our intention is to integrate this kind of bike into the market,” Parry says. “That message, I think, landed with older women who had been thinking and considering their abilities and maybe a shift in their life a little bit... it creates this other sense of independence.” After we practise our balance, including getting our feet on the bottom and top pedals while we coast and pedalling backwards to brake, Parry explains the mounting and taking- off process. With one foot on the top pedal, we slip up onto the seats and press down, pushing us through another curve in the path. Parry explains that in her class sessions, usually attended by 15 to 20 people each, the women she teaches often begin to help each other; once they’ve mastered a stage they support one another, building confidence and camaraderie among the avid learners. Most learn to ride in one or two sessions, she says. “It’s very beautiful — people are helping each other out, they’re teaching one another how to ride. They were coming in there saying they weren’t feeling confident and they were scared, and then they leave feeling really excited that they were successful at the stage where they’re at,” Parry says with a smile. “People are very courageous and ready to go.” >From there, riders move on to Phase 2, which consists of turning, lifting hands off the handlebars to signal and shoulder checks. Normally Parry would teach this on an obstacle course until riders can confidently do all three at once. They’re key steps for city riding, where bikers need to navigate traffic, bike lanes and more to stay safe on the roads. Parry wants to instil confidence, so the women she teaches can start integrating cycling into their day-today lives. “The next steps are going to be really exciting because when they start to be able to use it for their transportation, when I see them riding around downtown with their kids on their back, that’s not only going to be great for them but also for Winnipeg,” she says. “If you see more people on a bicycle — and not just white men in Speedos and helmets — you can start to see yourself riding a bike, so it changes other people’s lives, too.” The more people, and particularly adult women, who become empowered to ride, the safer the streets will become, Parry explains. “I think when you’re learning to ride a bike, especially in a place that is not bike-friendly, you might end up thinking that you can’t do it and you’re the issue,” she says. “But you should be allowed to get to your grocery store easily and safely, even if you’re not a confident rider; you should be able to do it beside somebody that you’re teaching how to ride a bike, or your kids or your partners, these are sort of normal and common practices in a place where you see most people riding a bike. So keep your imagination open, and your ability to see the possibility of change within your city and ask for it and demand it.” Part of Parry’s cycling classes have involved working with central Winnipeg groups such as the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba, teaching cycling skills to moms, newcomers, youths and those typically not visible in the cycling world. Abiba Salamu attended three of Parry’s sessions through IRCOM this summer. Never having biked before, she can now ride around a little on her own, and is able to help others start pedaling, too. She’s still a beginner, but one day she’d like to be able to go for rides to the store or around her neighbourhood for fresh air. For Salamu, the community was the best part of the classes. Even as she waits anxiously for the classes to start again, she’s staying in touch with friends she made in the field. “I was so happy…through that I found my friend that I’m still talking to now, on the phone, greeting each other, all that.” At the end of the day, for Parry, the classes are about instilling hope — something she possesses in spades. The future of the project is wide open; she crosses her fingers excitedly describing a major grant that could be on the way, bringing hundreds of new bikes into the shop. “It could get really big and I want it to get really big,” Parry says with a smile. “I had the opportunity to prove to myself that I could do it, so now I think anything is possible.” julia-simone.rutgers(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @jsrutgers

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WFP: Pedal pushers - riding in style, plain and simple (Sep12'20)
by Beth McKechnie 12 Sep '20

12 Sep '20

*A trip to Europe opened Dutch bike enthusiast Erin Riediger’s eyes to the simple pleasures of a civilized, active and healthy daily commute to her Exchange District workplace* *RIDING IN STYLE, PLAIN AND SIMPLE* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/cover-pedal-pushers-in… IT’S a warm and windy day in early September and urban cycling advocate, Erin Riediger, has agreed to spend her lunch hour touring me through a section of her daily commute. We meet on the sidewalk in front of her east Exchange District office and chat about the route while she unlocks her bike — a simple black cruiser with a touch of superficial rust (or “character,” as she likes to call it). Riediger, 32, is wearing chic ankle boots and a dusty pink jacket that matches the hue of her bike bag and front tire. She doesn’t look like a cyclist. And that’s the point. “The Dutch mentality is that you should dress for the destination, not the journey,” she says. Wearing the trendy office attire of an architect while riding her bike to and from work at Number Ten Architectural Group is a form of everyday advocacy for Riediger, who believes wider representation is necessary for cycling to become a mainstream mode of transportation, rather than a subculture. >From her vantage, the majority of regular cyclists in Winnipeg fall into two main camps: enthusiasts who ride because they like bikes and recreational cyclists who ride for exercise and entertainment. Like most people, Riediger learned to ride a bike as a kid, but drifted away from cycling as an adult because she didn’t identify with the local scene. “Some of my friends had faster road bikes and rode with traffic,” she says. “I felt like that was a little risky for me, and it just wasn’t really my personality.” A post-university trip to Europe in her 20s gave her a new perspective. “As I travelled around, I saw people in everyday clothes biking, and I thought, ‘That’s kind of cool, I could get into that.’” She returned home and bought her first “grown-up” bike with the intention of reducing her car dependency. Riediger became a full-time bike commuter and accidental cycling advocate when her 1997 Honda CR-V bit the dust four years ago. “I decided to just not get it fixed,” she says. “Owning a car didn’t really improve my lifestyle at all, whereas I’ve found that cycling has.” The decision to spend 30 minutes a day biking to and from work boosted her mood, cut her transportation costs and allowed her to explore the city from a different vantage point. The decision also garnered local media attention and framed Riediger as an outlier in a city with a deeply ingrained car culture — something she looks back on with a laugh. “It’s just kind of hilarious because it’s almost like the price to participate in society is owning a car,” she says. “And it doesn’t have to be that way.” The route Riediger has plotted for our afternoon bike ride takes us from the Exchange District to The Forks by way of some of the city’s newest protected bike lanes. In 2019, the city completed construction of a two-way protected lane down Garry Street, connecting the grid of bike lanes in the Exchange with the well-established cycling thoroughfare on Assiniboine Avenue. The Garry corridor feels like something that’s been air-lifted from a larger city. It’s a modern, well-planned route that provides safe separation from cars and pedestrians; but it’s fleeting. Our journey from Point A to Point B takes about 15 minutes to complete. It’s a short trip that offers a glimpse of Winnipeg’s potential as a cycling city and a stark reminder of the infrastructure and political will needed to get there. “A lot of times for people in those decision-making seats it’s easy to take that path of least resistance,” Riediger says. While cycling infrastructure is still lacking in most parts of Winnipeg, she’s seen a gradual shift in the right direction from city hall. “Now, people are realizing that if you really want to see more people using (bikes) as a tool of transportation you need that protected bike lane and you need the proper infrastructure… and it needs to go places people want to go.” Beyond protected lanes, Riediger believes Winnipeg’s cycling culture would benefit from a wider variety of bikes on the road. “If you can’t get a bike that’s really easy to ride that you can wear any clothes on and that can carry the stuff you need to carry, then you can’t really replace your car,” she says. It’s an epiphany Riediger experienced for herself last year when she purchased a Dutch-style commuter bike from the Plain Bicycle Project — a local organization that has been bringing shipping containers full of used bikes from the Netherlands to Winnipeg since 2017. “When I got my Dutch bike, I started using it even more and just biking for everything,” she says. “I was an idiot for not getting one in the first place… this is the type of bike I’ve always wanted and I’ve been trying to modify other bikes to be more like it.” Riding side-by-side, there’s a noticeable difference between our bikes. I’m hunched over the handlebars of my road bike, while Riediger is sitting in a comfortable upright position atop her “omafiet” or “grandma bike.” The simple cyclers are designed to be used by anyone (including grandmas) and come equipped with everything from fenders and a rear rack to a headlight and a drink holder. “There’s another plain bicycle,” Riediger says excitedly, referring to a woman pedalling past on her own omafiet as we cross Main Street. There are nearly 700 of the Dutch bikes on the road in Winnipeg, but spotting a fellow rider in the wild is still something of a novelty — one that’s usually celebrated with a wave and a ding of her bell. Riediger has turned her newfound omafiet fandom into a podcast called Plain Bicycle. The six-part series dives into the motivations behind the grassroots project of the same name and features interviews with Dutch cycling experts. WHILE recording a podcast with no prior experience has been challenging, the project has served as a creative outlet amid the coronavirus pandemic, while most of her usual hobbies — hot yoga, shopping for new records and competing in Harry Potter trivia events — have fallen by the wayside. It’s also become a way to share her passion for transportation and people-first city building with a wider audience. “Transportation culture has a lot to do with the way that architecture and cities are formed,” she says. “When you build around the car, you’ve got these wide roads, the storefronts aren’t as important because people aren’t going slowly. “We just have to stop prioritizing cars, we have to start thinking about multi-modal (transportation)... cars have a place but they’re not everything.” Like many born-and-raised Winnipeggers, Riediger had dreams of leaving home and moving to a big city. Instead, she’s decided to focus on making Winnipeg a better place to live, one bike ride at a time. “I think there’s just... there’s a lot of room for growth, which makes it interesting as someone who wants to advocate for better things.” eva.wasney(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @evawasney

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