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WFP: Report advises city to accept gift of school-zone lights (Sep12'20)
by Beth McKechnie 12 Sep '20

12 Sep '20

*Report advises city to accept gift of school-zone lights * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/report-advises-councillors-to-accep… THE City of Winnipeg could soon accept a gift of flashing amber lights that better alert drivers to the reduced speed in school zones — but it could take decades to get the lights in place. The deal could eventually lead the city to add more lights at its own cost, according to a new report by the public service. The report recommends the city accept as many as 480 solar-powered beacons through a donation from Expert Electric, which would provide two of the devices per school. The company’s owner, Chuck Lewis, has been offering to donate the lights to the city since at least 2017. He says he’s willing to continue that effort for as long as it takes, since he believes it will make school zones safer. “If… it saves one life, then that was worth that fight,” said Lewis. He has described the beacons as more eye-catching than traditional signs, which should help ensure more drivers slow down to 30 km/h in school zones. That speed limit is in effect from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, from Sept. 1 to June 30. Expert Electric would also handle repair and warranty issues for at least five years. An outline of the agreement noted most of the installations would depend on the success of the first set of lights over a three-month trial period, noting the rest could be cancelled if problems emerged. But the city later clarified that it expects testing done prior to this agreement will be sufficient for Winnipeg officials to commit to the full project, if council approves it. “Given that testing of the beacons has already occurred, if approved, the city will likely work with the donor to move directly into implementation,” wrote city spokesman Ken Allen in an emailed statement. Meanwhile, the city says some schools will need more than the two donated beacons to cover adjacent school-zone roads. The city report predicts Winnipeg would eventually spend about $1.4 million to add 391 units for those areas, if the deal is approved. “In order to ensure consistency, (it) is anticipated that the city would make up any shortfall of beacons,” wrote Allen. For at least the first five years of installation, however, the city says only the donated lights would be installed. The proposed agreement calls for the donor to install the lights “as soon as is practicably possible,” with a minimum rate of two per month. That minimum rate would mean the entire installation would take 20 years. Lewis said that a lengthy timeline may be needed for him to keep the project affordable, since each set of two lights will cost him about $7,000. He said the process could be sped up if others also donated to the effort. Allen noted the long timeline does mean that “in the future, there may be reasons for either party to revisit the agreement.” The property and development committee is set to cast the first vote on the deal on Sept. 17. Coun. Cindy Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre), the committee chairwoman, said she expects to support the proposal. “We should be looking at how we deal with some of the congestion around our schools,” said Gilroy. The councillor said she believes the future cost to the city is worth consideration. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: Longer times for amber lights disappoint (Sep11'20)
by Beth McKechnie 11 Sep '20

11 Sep '20

Warning period still seen as too short *Longer times for amber lights disappoint * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/winnipeg-extends-amber-light-times-… AMBER light times are now longer at some Winnipeg intersections — but the move still falls short, says an advocate who has fought for the change. Winnipeg’s amber lights previously lasted a uniform four seconds on all roadways before a traffic signal turned to red, according to a new city report. An update completed Sept. 4 changed the duration to 4.3 seconds on 70 km/h routes and 4.7 seconds on 80 km/h routes for about 110 intersections on flat-grade roads. Todd Dube, founder of WiseUp Winnipeg, a driver’s advocacy group that has for years lobbied the City of Winnipeg for more time in the name of safety and red-light ticket reductions, called the change a first step “in the right direction.” “This is a bare minimum, but it still will be enough time to expose that all of these years (the city was) unfairly ticketing people that simply didn’t have enough time to stop at four seconds,” he said Thursday. Dube argues the new warning period is still too short, since his research found 80-km/h intersections, such as Bishop Grandin Boulevard and River Road, should have an amber light time of at least 5.4 seconds. “(The new measure) is still an unnecessarily… and dangerously short amber time,” Dube said, adding, however, he expects the number of photo enforcement tickets doled out at such intersections to drop dramatically. According to the city report, the new signal timings are based on a roadway’s speed and slope, as well as driver perception and reaction time. No change was made to the amber lights on roads with speed limits set at 60 km/h or lower — which will ensure a minimum four-second warning remains in place at intersections on those routes, the report notes. Coun. Matt Allard, chairman of council’s public works committee, said he believes those calculations show the city is evolving its practices to improve safety. “I think (the times) were set up with the understanding that they made the roads safer and taking a closer second look we found that, yes, there was some room for improvement,” said Allard (St. Boniface). He also refuted the argument photo radar use at high-speed intersections was unfair in the past, noting he believes the program remains necessary. “The motivation is public safety, and the (photo radar) fine happens to be the one enforcement tool we have as a city.” *The city report states the new extended amber light times should help increase the separation between vehicles and pedestrians, which some research indicates will help prevent collisions. Uniform amber light times were initially meant to provide a predictable warning time for drivers, while the new system is based on more recent research,** the city says. The city says it is still reviewing an option to further extend amber light times for left-turning vehicles.* joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: City’s Open Streets initiative coming to a close (Sep6'20)
by Beth McKechnie 06 Sep '20

06 Sep '20

City’s Open Streets initiative coming to a close https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/citys-open-streets-initiative-comin… RUNNERS and cyclists, young and old, sped down Vialoux Drive Saturday morning with little disturbance from motor vehicles. They will soon have increased traffic to navigate through. The City of Winnipeg’s Open Streets initiative ends Monday at 8 p.m. The program, which was announced in April, blocks vehicles from stretches of residential roads so people can walk, cycle and physically distance. Ten routes through the city were limited to active transport users and vehicles of people living on the routes between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. seven days a week. The measures came to promote social distancing during the pandemic. Now, a motion at city hall proposes that Winnipeg keep some of its “Open Streets” open — but unless council votes for the changes, the city will return to its usual four routes that are exclusive to cyclists, runners and walkers on Sundays and holidays. Robbie Scott, 57, biked down Vialoux Drive for the first time in years on Saturday. But, Scott is no newbie — he’s been cycling for four decades, and he bikes a 40 to 45 km route daily in the summer. He said it’s been amazing seeing more people take up biking. “It’s families, it’s kids, old folks, all kinds of ages,” Scott said. “In terms of what (Open Streets) has done for the community, you just, you haven’t seen that.” Scott doesn’t spend all his time on blocked off residential streets, but some — portions of Wellington Crescent and Wolseley Avenue — are part of his loop. He said he feels safer, and he’s seen others feel it too. “For cyclists, it’s always, ‘OK, what seems like the least risky (path) at this time,’” Scott said. He said he was shocked and disappointed to hear the active transportation routes were ending, especially in the midst of a pandemic, when many people use them to get exercise while staying safe. “People have learned, ‘Hey, I could actually bike to work or bike to school,’” Scott said. Anders Swanson, the executive director of Winnipeg Trails Association, said keeping the streets open would allow kids to bike safely to school instead of being driven by a parent or taking a bus. “You have the government telling people to drive their kids... We’re closing these open streets; it’s sending the message that there’s sort of a dark and unsustainable future ahead of us,” Swanson said. The city has a survey online where people can give feedback about Open Streets, including picking the best time of year to have the program, if at all. The survey ends Monday. The motion before city council aims to keep active transport routes until Nov. 1 at the Wolseley Avenue route and at Churchill Drive, from Hay Street to Jubilee Avenue. Council may vote on the matter at its Sept. 30 meeting. Coun. John Orlikow (River Heights-Fort Garry) said he’ll make his decision after receiving the survey’s results. “We have time,” Orlikow said, adding if council votes for extended active transport routes, the changes will probably last from October to November. Some people felt a bit relieved over the ending of Open Streets, including Amy Bruno, who lives on Vialoux Drive. She’s been yelled at for driving down the road in her car, which she needs to do when she leaves her house. “It’s like, well, how are people supposed to go to work if people read the signs (on the street) and assume, ‘Oh, you’re not supposed to drive down here,’” Bruno said. Most people are understanding once they realize people who live on the road can still drive on it, Bruno said. She added she likes the initiative because people have more access to walking around and social distancing. Others, like Matt Ullenboom, feel indifferent about the program’s end. Ullenboom, 33, went for a bike ride with his five-year-old son through Assiniboine Park and Vialoux Drive Saturday. “It’s definitely a good thing in the warmer months, when people can be out,” Ullenboom said. “In the winter and fall, it wouldn’t bother me if they changed it back to car traffic.” Beginning Sept. 13, Lyndale Drive, from Cromwell Street to Gauvin Street; Scotia Street, from Anderson Avenue (at St. Cross Street) to Armstrong Avenue; Wellington Crescent, from the west end of Academy Road to Guelph Street; and Wolseley Avenue, from Raglan Road to Maryland Street, will have limited motor vehicle traffic on Sundays and holidays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The restrictions end Oct. 12. gabrielle.piche(a)freepress.mb.ca

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WFP: Extension of two ‘open streets’ sought (Sep5'20)
by Beth McKechnie 05 Sep '20

05 Sep '20

Extension of two ‘open streets’ sought Wolseley Avenue, Churchill Drive named https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/motion-seeks-extra-time-for-pair-of… A new motion proposes city hall extend some of Winnipeg’s temporary active transportation routes, also known as “open streets,” which are set to close Monday. The current 10 routes, which include four traditional Sunday/holiday bicycle routes, limit vehicular traffic to one block from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily to provide extra space for pedestrians and cyclists. The new routes and extended hours were a COVID-19 pandemic response measure, intended to help Winnipeggers stay active while keeping at least two metres apart. The six routes added this year are slated to close Monday at 8 p.m., while the traditional bike routes will reduce the vehicle travel restriction to Sundays and holidays only, between Sept. 13 and Oct. 12. The city centre community committee passed a motion Friday that aims to instead keep the enhanced AT access until Nov. 1 at both the Wolseley Avenue traditional Sunday/Holiday route and the temporary AT route on Churchill Drive. The changes require council’s approval. While a final vote on the matter could have to wait until the Sept. 30 council meeting, Coun. Sherri Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry) said she’s hopeful the motion could instead inspire a quicker policy change by the public service. Rollins said she supports extending the other routes as well. “I would like more routes added… I think we need a lot more tools in our toolbelts to get children to and from schools in a safe manner,” Rollins said Friday. Coun. John Orlikow (River Heights-Fort Garry), however, said he won’t push for the Wellington Crescent active transportation route in his ward to be extended, stressing public feedback on that decision should come first. A survey on the routes is slated to end Monday. Orlikow said the city must consider the views of those who support and oppose the routes, noting he’s heard complaints the one-block vehicle travel restriction has made it inconvenient for some drivers to reach their homes. “We have to be careful about councillors deciding how to use streets arbitrarily. We’re not traffic engineers, there’s impact city-wide, so we have to be making sure that we listen to our administration and the public,” said Orlikow. Open streets were also placed on sections of Lyndale Drive, Scotia Street, Egerton Road, Kildonan Drive, Kilkenny Drive, Rover Avenue and Vialoux Drive. The Lyndale, Scotia and Wellington sites are also slated to revert back to Sunday/holiday bicycle routes. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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CBC: City of Winnipeg to close 6 active transportation routes after Labour Day weekend (Sep3'20)
by Beth McKechnie 04 Sep '20

04 Sep '20

City of Winnipeg to close 6 active transportation routes after Labour Day weekend 4 remaining pedestrian, bike routes will be closed to vehicle traffic only on Sundays, holidays after Sept. 8 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-open-streets-closed-labour… More than half of the active transportation routes throughout Winnipeg will be closing after the long weekend, the city announced in a news release Thursday. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the city designated 10 roadways as "open streets," limiting vehicle traffic to one block from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. The city usually limits vehicle traffic to one block on four of those streets on Sundays and holidays, from the Victoria Day long weekend until Thanksgiving, but expanded the closures in an effort to create bike- and pedestrian-friendly routes during the pandemic. As of Sept. 8, the program will end for six of the current routes. Vehicle traffic will be limited on the remaining four only on Sundays and holidays after the Labour Day weekend, the city said in its release. Motor vehicle traffic will continue to be limited on these routes from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Sundays and holidays until Oct. 12: - Lyndale Drive – Cromwell Street to Gauvin Street. - Scotia Street – Anderson Avenue (at St. Cross Street) to Armstrong Avenue. - Wellington Crescent – Academy Road (at Wellington Crescent) to Guelph Street. - Wolseley Avenue – Raglan Road to Maryland Street. Signs informing people they are entering or leaving an active transportation route will be posted at each end of the route. Barricades marking the ends of the routes will also be in place during operational hours, the city said. Violating the motor vehicle restrictions can result in a fine under Winnipeg's traffic bylaw, the city added. The vehicle restrictions will end after Sept. 8 on these routes: - Churchill Drive — Hay Street to Jubilee Avenue. - Egerton Road — Bank Avenue to Morier Avenue. - Kildonan Drive — Helmsdale Avenue to Rossmere Crescent, and Larchdale Crescent to Irving Place. - Kilkenny Drive — Burgess Avenue to Patricia Avenue and Kings Drive. - Rover Avenue — Hallet Street to Stephens Street. - Vialoux Drive — Alcrest Drive to Wexford Street. The city launched an online survey <https://engage.winnipeg.ca/enhanced-active-transportation-routes-open-stree…> last month to gauge reaction to the program. Residents can still provide feedback for future consideration via that survey until Monday, the city's news release said.

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WFP: Bicycle Garden - Bike shop pop-up hopes to get city rolling on two wheels (Sep1'20)
by Beth McKechnie 01 Sep '20

01 Sep '20

Bike shop pop-up hopes to get city rolling on two wheels A Bicycle Garden grows on Sherbrook https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/a-bicycle-garden-grows-on-sherbr… THIS spring, with some freedoms put on hold, many people in Winnipeg found — or rediscovered — the freedom of riding a bicycle. Vendors, manufacturers and mechanics could hardly keep up with the reinvigorated interest as the global supply chain was interrupted and demand outpaced supply. “It’s like selling Coca Cola and you’ve run out of Coke,” Lifesport owner Walter Jozwiak told the Free Press in May. Under those circumstances, Leigh Anne Parry and Anders Swanson got their wheels turning on a new idea, a pop-up bike shop called the Bicycle Garden, where they could peddle Dutch-built pedals to riders young and old. The shop opened last week on the main floor of the Sherbrook Flats building (267 Sherbrook St.). “We’d heard during the pandemic there was a shortage of bikes (particularly women’s bikes),” said Parry, who along with Swanson is co-founder of the Plain Bicycle Project. “And we had a source to get them in.” The project is a social enterprise that brings bicycles from the Netherlands, where they’re more popular than the Toyota Camry, to Winnipeg. The bikes are Dutch-style, featuring mudguards, skirt guards, and upright seating, which makes them practical for daily use regardless of athletic ability or the clothes you’re wearing. “It’s like you’re sitting in an armchair, floating in the clouds,” said Swanson, the director of the Winnipeg Trails Association, whose summer office is now in the shop. While the pop-up is selling leftover stock from previous shipments, it also features six pallets worth of bicycles and accessories — child seats, bells, lights, bags, baskets — that arrived from the Netherlands earlier this summer; another order is already being planned for later this week. The bikes range in cost from $350 (used) to over $1,000. Cycling had been rising in popularity in Winnipeg long before the pandemic: a 2018 poll conducted by Probe Research found over one fifth of respondents cycled weekly. While data related to the COVID-19 era is not yet available, Swanson said anecdotal evidence shows the mode of transportation has become an increasingly attractive option for many as habits changed during the pandemic. In April, when the city designated certain stretches for active transportation and restricted vehicle use, roadways were filled with cyclists, rollerbladers, or pedestrians. Elsewhere, vehicular traffic fell, leading to a minor reclamation of pavement by cyclists. “When the roads were empty, people were falling in love with (cycling),” Swanson said. Adding to the demand have been changes to the ways residents exercise. While gyms are open, many are struggling to regain members, and recreational sports, though ongoing, are dealing with similar reluctance. As well, bike ownership and maintenance is considerably cheaper than car ownership — a key consideration during a time of economic instability. As the school year nears, parents are also looking for active options for their kids to get to and from class, Swanson said. So far, the response from the community has been strong: the Bicycle Garden’s most recent harvest is nearly half-picked. AT other shops around the city, demand remains high, however supply continues to be an issue. “The biggest thing for us is that when a customer walks in the door, we’ll likely have a bike for them, but options are still limited,” said Mac Wood, the assistant sales manager at Woodcock Cycle. “In a typical spring or summer, that doesn’t happen.” “It’s certainly more difficult to forecast availability to our customers,” he said. “We, as an industry, are as much at the mercy of restrictions as any other.” The pop-up shop — which could go until October or beyond — is the commercial tenant on the main floor of the Sherbrook Flats. “When (the pop-up) came to us with a proposal, I was very excited,” said Sotirios Kotoulas, the building’s designer and part-owner. “For us, the most important thing is to activate the street,” he added. “It takes time to transform a streetscape or find the right fit, but obviously a bicycle shop is an amazing fit.” Outside the shop, there are a few tables and chairs, meant to evoke the bikes’ Dutch vibe. Repairs are also being offered on the boulevard, which borders an unprotected bike lane on Sherbrook. Since opening, Parry said the interest from the public has been obvious. “Day one, we had a lineup outside mostly of older people looking to get around independently,” she said. “There are a lot of people walking and biking by, which is really good for us.” ben.waldman(a)freepress.mb.ca

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TONS Seeks Urban Transportation Consultant
by Beth McKechnie 31 Aug '20

31 Aug '20

From: Samantha Rodeck <info(a)tonsmb.org> Date: Mon, Aug 31, 2020 at 10:09 AM Transportation Options Network for Seniors (TONS) is looking to hire an Urban Transportation Consultant to help fulfill its mandate of informing and educating Manitobans on transportation options that enhance quality of life and promote age-friendly communities. Attached is the job description to be shared within your networks and to those who you know would be interested in applying. The *application deadline is 3:00pm on September 11*, 2020. If you have any questions, please email Samantha at info(a)tonsbmb.org Thank you, Samantha Rodeck Executive Director (204) 799-1788 [image: signature_349093641]

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WFP: Bike Dump - Volunteers pedal passion at bike shop (Aug31'20)
by Beth McKechnie 31 Aug '20

31 Aug '20

*Volunteers pedal passion at bike shop* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/finding-life-with-wheel-meaning-572… FOR someone who spent the first 33 years of life in California, it seems odd that Edward Cloud would enjoy riding a bicycle in frigid winter temperatures. “I remember the first time I rode in -45 weather for 10 or 15 kilometres. I just felt so vibrantly alive — more alive than I ever felt,” said Cloud. “I’ve never found anything to be enjoyable in that way.” Cloud’s love of cycling turned into a volunteer role at the Bike Dump, a volunteer-run, community bicycle shop. Started in 2005, the Bike Dump strives to make cycling accessible to all by offering access to tools and a space where people can fix their bikes for free. People can also use recycled bike frames and parts to build their own bike. Volunteers are available at the shop, which is located at the back of Red Road Lodge at Main Street and Logan Avenue, to help guide people through repairs and bike-building projects. Cloud, who lives in the North End, is committed to making the community a better place. “I’ve made it my personal mission to try to spend most of my life making things better for people. Volunteering at the Bike Dump is one of the ways I do that.” Darcee Lytwyn began attending the Bike Dump’s women, queer and trans night on Mondays in 2017 so she could learn how to repair her bike. She started volunteering last winter and says it’s “the grit and the passion” that she loves about being involved. “Everyone’s enthusiastic about sharing their knowledge with you,” Lytwyn said. “It’s a great space for discovery and for learning all together.” Riley McMurray has volunteered at the Bike Dump for almost 10 years and enjoys it because he can immediately see the effect of his efforts. “You’re actually working with someone and you see them ride out with the bike they just built with you that day. You can really tell how much it means to them,” he said. “Sometimes they’ll tell you they need that bike to get to work tomorrow. It can really be a lifeline.” The Bike Dump is currently closed to the public as a result of the COVID- 19 pandemic. It’s disappointing to all of the volunteers. The shop is hoping to offer limited hours soon. In the meantime, volunteers are helping folks by appointment on a limited basis. The Bike Dump is always looking for volunteers, Cloud says. They are expecting to hold some shop clean-up nights in the coming weeks, which is a great way for new volunteers to learn about the Bike Dump’s methods. Anyone interested in volunteering can email winnipegbikedump@gmail. com. No experience is necessary. Although the pandemic has weighed heavily on Bike Dump volunteers at times, Lytwyn says that interacting with the group online has reminded her what a special place the bike shop is. “As we’ve been organizing in our Zoom calls and our emails, it’s just been evident how our volunteers have the biggest hearts,” she said. “They care for the community and they care so much for each other.”

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CTV: A new active transportation route could link St. Boniface and Downtown (Aug27'20)
by Beth McKechnie 29 Aug '20

29 Aug '20

https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/a-new-active-transportation-route-could-link-st… WINNIPEG -- The City of Winnipeg is seeking the public’s feedback on an active transportation route linking the St. Boniface and Downtown neighbourhoods. Through this initiative, called the St. Boniface to Downtown Walk Bike Project, the city would aim to improve travel options, accessibility, and connectivity between the Esplanade Riel footbridge/Provencher Bridge and the multi-use path on Archibald Street, south of Nairn Avenue. The city’s pedestrian and cycling strategies, which city council has approved, identify a connection between these two areas as a priority. As part of the first phase of the preliminary design study, the team working on the project is looking for Winnipeggers to provide information on how they travel through this area, and what type and routing of infrastructure would best meet their needs. To provide feedback online, <https://engage.winnipeg.ca/stboniface-walk-bike> Winnipeggers can conduct an online survey or use an online mapping tool on the project’s website. These tools will be available until Sept. 23. The city is also providing walking tours of the area, where residents can identify barriers and opportunities. These tours leave from the St. Boniface City Hall at 219 Provencher Boulevard and take place on two dates in September. The walking tours are on Tuesday, Sept. 15 and Tuesday, Sept. 22, with the north tours taking place from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and the south tours taking place from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. During these events, project team members will be at St. Boniface City Hall to talk to anyone who wants to give input, but doesn’t want to or can’t participate in the walking tour. If the weather doesn’t allow for the walking tours, they will be cancelled. Instead, the project staff will stay inside St. Boniface City Hall to answer questions and discuss the initiative. Participants must register for the walking tours by contacting them at stbtodowntown(a)winnipeg.ca.

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WFP: Study urges traffic changes in school zones (Aug29'20)
by Beth McKechnie 29 Aug '20

29 Aug '20

*Study urges traffic changes in school zones * * Calls for reducing speeds all day on more streets* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/study-urges-traffic-changes-in-scho… A REPORT on school zone speeding in the East Kildonan-Transcona area has prompted the city’s public works department to make recommendations to get more drivers to obey school-zone speed limits. Tasked with investigating speed violations in the neighbourhood, the city department delivered a report to the East Kildonan-Transcona Community Committee, which found 11,195 tickets were issued in the neighbourhood’s reduced-speed school zones in 2018. The majority of tickets were issued through photo enforcement while 237 were issued through traditional police enforcement. Of the photo enforcement tickets, more than 90 per cent involved reduced speed zones at three schools: River Elm with 6,390 tickets, The King’s School with 2,276 tickets and École Riviere Rouge, where 1,367 tickets were issued. The report recommends expanding school zones beyond streets immediately bordering schools to ensure all parents and children within the 1.6 km walking zone of the school have access to safe streets, increasing the 30 km/h rules to a 24-hour, seven days a week schedule to reduce confusion about holidays and evenings, and expanding school zones to middle and high schools. It recommended removing the requirement that school zones be implemented on non-regional streets in favour of a policy based on road classification, fencing, pedestrian and cycling infrastructure and other factors. Also, it recommended following the City of Calgary in implementing reduced- speed zones near playgrounds. There are 240 reduced speed school zones throughout Winnipeg. These zones have a maximum speed of 30 km/h which are in effect from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday from September to June. In an email statement Friday, Winnipeg Police Service said “reduced speed school zones throughout the city see fluctuations and variances in detected offences.” Though the study was only conducted for East Kildonan-Transcona, the city confirmed a wider study on road safety is underway, and will review reduced speed school zones efficacy in other areas of the city. Despite high levels of infractions in some school zones, police data found motorists generally reduce speeds to comply with school zones, and typically drive below the 50 km/h limit in effect during non-school hours. Feedback from six school districts in the city overwhelmingly indicated that the reduced-speed school zones improve student safety, according to the report. Further evidence from a study conducted in Edmonton found that reducing speed from 50 km/h to 30 km/h resulted in a 45 per cent reduction in fatal and non-fatal injury collisions and a 55 per cent reduction in injuries to vulnerable road users. The report comes in the midst of other municipal investigations into street safety measures, including a possible 30 km/h speed limit on all residential streets. If this limit were to come into play, reduced-speed school zones may not be necessary, the report said. julia-simone.rutgers(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Job Posting - Managing Director position @ The WRENCH
by Anders Swanson 29 Aug '20

29 Aug '20

Morning. Please pass on this exciting opportunity <https://thewrench.ca/tag/job-posting/> to anyone you think might be a great fit for a great organization! Anders

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NACTO guide: Setting safe speed limits on urban streets
by Beth McKechnie 26 Aug '20

26 Aug '20

*City Limits: Setting Safe Speed Limits on Urban Streets* A new guide <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> from the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) outlines how to use a tested, context-sensitive safe systems approach to strategically set safer speed limits on urban streets to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries. This three-method approach provides an alternative to percentile-based speed limit setting: 1) setting default speed limits on many streets at once; 2) designating slow zones in sensitive areas; and 3) setting corridor speed limits on high priority major streets using a Safe Speed Study. These approaches allow cities to holistically evaluate who is using streets and how people are using them. City Limits <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> is free to download and is part of a larger conversation about how to make streets safe for everyone.

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WFP: Local tech firm studies near-misses in bid to prevent collisions, make roads safer (Aug25'20)
by Beth McKechnie 25 Aug '20

25 Aug '20

Local tech firm studies near-misses in bid to prevent collisions, make roads safer DETOUR FROM DISASTER https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/detour-from-disaster-572209962.h… SERIOUS traffic accidents and fatalities have fallen dramatically over the past 50 years, but that decline has now plateaued and traffic fatalities remain the eighth leading cause of death around the world. MicroTraffic, a Winnipeg technology company, is using artificial intelligence to take a different approach to mitigating this ongoing public safety issue. It uses data from existing traffic cameras to identify intersections and roadways where the largest numbers of near-misses occur and is helping municipalities leverage that data into creating safer streets. MicroTraffic, which recently received funding to hire three more people from the province’s Innovation Growth program (which will bring its workforce up to 25), has already gained significant traction. After only a couple of years in the market, its work with around 40 municipalities has resulted in about $225 million in planned infrastructure changes to dangerous intersections. It has also attracted institutional validation in the form of a partnership with Aviva, the international insurance company. The unlikely duo has teamed up for an innovative funding program that is offering about $50,000 to five Canadian municipalities to conduct studies on 10 intersections in each city to provide data on intersections where the greatest number of “near-misses” occur. The winning applicants will be expected to pay 25 per cent of the costs up to maximum of $12,500. “Road infrastructure projects, like replacing a dangerous intersection with an interchange or a roundabout, cost a lot of money,” said Craig Milligan, CEO and co-founder of Micro-Traffic. “Knowing that you’re going to save lives and knowing the risks that are there can really help justify that decision.” Milligan is finding that traffic safety professionals are keen to be able to take a proactive approach rather than have to rely on data from crashes that have already occurred. “Almost three-quarter of fatalities are happening where they have not happened recently,’ he said. “So you put the money in locations where the fatalities happen and it just happens somewhere else. That is a frustrating approach for everyone working on road safety.” Milligan, who has a PhD and is an expert on road safety engineering, worked as a consultant for several years and he and co-founder Joel Penner conducted about 300 safety improvement studies. “After doing it for a time, too many people were dying at intersections where we had already done intersection safety improvement plans for,” he said. “The way they died was not represented in the historical crash data… and it was clear there were other risk factors, serious ones, at play that were impossible to detect with existing methods.” Milligan does not take credit for the approach, as there is active academic study to detect latent risk factors or the science of surrogate safety. But Milligan decided to implement those ideas through a computer vision system where the artificial intelligence drives an engine that automatically goes through the video. “It recognizes what is going on, sees how fast people are going, how close they are to one another and if someone is hitting the brakes sharply,” he said. “From those trajectories we construct risk indicators. They have proven to be very effective at precisely identifying risk.” Aviva connected with MicroTraffic as part of the insurance company’s own program to reduce serious traffic injuries called Take Back Our Roads. Catherine Brown, vice-president marketing and corporate social responsibility at Aviva Canada, said, “Micro-Traffic’s approach to prevention really fits nicely with our overall platform. Craig and his team are fantastic partners to work with. We wanted to be able to bring the technology to the forefront and make it more accessible to municipalities to focus their infrastructure investments in a way that is looking at prevention and proactive activities.” It is also not lost on the City of Winnipeg, which has just embarked on its own road safety strategic action plan that will use data and public input to set the pace of road safety investment over the next five years and beyond. Parallel and in conjunction with that, the city is in the middle of a pilot project with MicroTraffic. Rebecca Peterniak, the community traffic engineer at the City of Winnipeg, said MicroTraffic’s technology provides much more data to work with that traditional traffic analysis. “Improving road safety data is a really important objective,” she said. “We do have collision data which is historic in nature — we have to wait for collisions to happen before we get that information.” She said that using the kind of near-miss analysis that MicroTraffic can provide between all road users — vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians — allows them to take a deeper dive to understand what’s causing high accident rates. “It gives us a deeper understanding of what is going on in the background,” she said. martin.cash(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Telling people to "Slow Down" doesn't work.
by Beth McKechnie 24 Aug '20

24 Aug '20

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Lauren at Strong Towns <lauren(a)strongtowns.org> Date: Mon, Aug 24, 2020 at 9:37 AM We need a new solution for Traffic Fatalities.‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Early on in the coronavirus shutdowns, we saw a sharp decrease in traffic, with some states observing as much as a 50% drop in daily trips. *And yet, traffic fatalities surged.* In the absence of traffic, all that is left is the road—*and the road is designed for speed,* posted limits be damned. We've over-engineered our streets to encourage dangerous driving. Now is the time to start dialing it back. *Today, Strong Towns founder Chuck Marohn lays out four simple steps <https://strongtowns.apms5.com/anywhere/m?s=strongtowns&m=s_135a2040-557a-4a…> for undoing reckless street design in your place.* It took decades to build the networks of dangerous and costly streets we now think are normal. It will take time to replace them with something better. Let's get to work. Stay well, —Lauren at Strong Towns Strong Towns www.strongtowns.org [image: Facebook] <https://strongtowns.apms5.com/anywhere/m?s=strongtowns&m=s_135a2040-557a-4a…> [image: Twitter] <https://strongtowns.apms5.com/anywhere/m?s=strongtowns&m=s_135a2040-557a-4a…> [image: LinkedIn] <https://strongtowns.apms5.com/anywhere/m?s=strongtowns&m=s_135a2040-557a-4a…> [image: Instagram] <https://strongtowns.apms5.com/anywhere/m?s=strongtowns&m=s_135a2040-557a-4a…>

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Upcoming City of Winnipeg Road Safety Strategic Action Plan Events
by Beth McKechnie 24 Aug '20

24 Aug '20

As a stakeholder for the Road Safety Strategic Action Plan, you play a key role in providing information, feedback and support into the project’s vision and focus areas. We ask you to share the following information within your network to help... Un message en français suivra. As a stakeholder for the Road Safety Strategic Action Plan, you play a key role in providing information, feedback and support into the project’s vision and focus areas. We ask you to share the following information within your network to help identify gaps and opportunities in the current state of road safety in Winnipeg. Help Shape the Future of Road Safety for Winnipeg! Road safety is a priority for the City of Winnipeg. 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. Get Involved In Road Safety Online Survey We want to hear from you about your perception and experience as a road user (pedestrian, cyclist or motorist) in Winnipeg and learn more about how and what road safety improvements can be made. Visit winnipeg.ca/roadsafetyplan <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011hytNyznS-nPIZq63KS5rOzfuHGWb7JheFO8fF_x6IjX…> to complete a survey. Pop-up Events We selected four pop-up locations to safely engage with communities in higher needs areas that experience higher rates of collisions. Drop by and tell us your ideas for road safety improvements and share your vision for safer roads in Winnipeg. Date: Saturday, September 5, 2020 Time: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Location: Bronx Park Farmers’ Market, 720 Henderson Highway Date: * Wednesday, September 9, 2020 Time: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Location: Broadway Neighbourhood Centre, 185 Young St Date: * Friday, September 11, 2020 Time: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Location: Powers Park Plaza, Powers Street at Selkirk Avenue, North side Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2020 Time: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Location: The Salvation Army Barbara Mitchell Family Resource Centre, 51 Morrow Ave (*): Get a bike tune up from the WRENCH and tell us why road safety matters to you. Please Note: Public Health measures will be adhered to at all pop-up events. Gathering size will be limited to 50 people at a time, and appropriate social distance will be maintained. Please self-screen prior to attending, stay home if you are ill, and wash or sanitize your hands. Virtual Engagement Sessions We will be holding two Zoom virtual events to gather public input. Join us at one of the following events to learn more about the development of the strategic action plan, ask questions, and answer some of our questions live. Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2020 Time: 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Register Here <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011hytNyznS-nPIZq63KS5rOzfuHGWb7JheFO8fF_x6IjX…> Date: Thursday, September 24, 2020 Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Register Here <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011hytNyznS-nPIZq63KS5rOzfuHGWb7JheFO8fF_x6IjX…> Registration required for virtual sessions by September 20, 2020. Discussion Kit We invite those unable to attend the events to complete the survey and mapping tool and to host a discussion with friends and family using the discussion kit. Available at winnipeg.ca/roadsafetyplan <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011hytNyznS-nPIZq63KS5rOzfuHGWb7JheFO8fF_x6IjX…> until September 30, 2020. Submit your completed discussion guide to roadsafety(a)winnipeg.ca. For more information, to register for a virtual event or provide feedback online, visit: winnipeg.ca/roadsafetyplan <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011hytNyznS-nPIZq63KS5rOzfuHGWb7JheFO8fF_x6IjX…> . For inquiries or for those who require alternate formats or interpretation in order to participate, please contact roadsafety(a)winnipeg.ca or 204-944-9907 by August 29, 2020. En tant qu’intervenant du Plan d’action stratégique pour la sécurité routière, vous jouez un rôle clé en fournissant des renseignements, des commentaires et du soutien quant à la vision et les secteurs d’intervention du projet. Nous vous demandons de communiquer les renseignements suivants à votre réseau afin de déterminer les lacunes et les possibilités relatives à l’état actuel de la sécurité routière à Winnipeg. Aidez-nous à façonner l’avenir de la sécurité routière à Winnipeg! La sécurité routière est une priorité pour la Ville de Winnipeg. Le Plan d’action stratégique pour la sécurité routière s’appuie sur des données et les commentaires du public; il servira de feuille de route pour la mise en œuvre de solutions à court terme et d’investissements à long terme au cours des 3 à 5 prochaines années et par la suite. Améliorez la sécurité routière Sondage en ligne Nous aimerions connaître votre opinion et vos expériences en tant qu’usager de la route (piéton, cycliste ou automobiliste) à Winnipeg et en savoir plus sur la manière dont la sécurité routière peut être améliorée. Consultez winnipeg.ca/plansecuriteroutiere <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011hytNyznS-nPIZq63KS5rOzfuHGWb7JheFO8fF_x6IjX…> pour répondre à un sondage. Événements ponctuels Nous avons sélectionné quatre lieux de rencontre ponctuelle afin d’engager le dialogue, en toute sécurité, avec les collectivités des secteurs aux besoins élevés, où les collisions sont plus fréquentes. Passez nous voir, faites-nous part de vos idées visant à améliorer la sécurité routière et communiquez votre vision quant à des routes plus sûres à Winnipeg. Date : Samedi 5 septembre 2020 Heure : De 9 h à 11 h Lieu : Marché de producteurs du parc Bronx, 720, route Henderson Date : * Mercredi 9 septembre 2020 Heure : De 16 h à 18 h Lieu : Broadway Neighbourhood Centre, 185, rue Young Date : * Vendredi 11 septembre 2020 Heure : De 16 h à 18 h Lieu : Powers Park Plaza, rue Powers, au niveau de l’avenue Selkirk, du côté nord Date : Mardi 15 septembre 2020 Heure : De 14 h à 16 h Lieu : Armée du Salut, Barbara Mitchell Resource Centre, 51, avenue Morrow (*) : Faites mettre au point votre vélo par The WRENCH et dites-nous pourquoi la sécurité routière est importante pour vous. Remarque : Les mesures de santé publique seront respectées à tous les événements ponctuels. La taille des rassemblements sera limitée à 50 personnes, et une distance physique appropriée sera maintenue. Veuillez effectuer un dépistage avant de vous présenter, rester à la maison si vous êtes malade et vous laver ou vous désinfecter les mains. Séances de participation virtuelles Nous tiendrons deux événements virtuels sur Zoom afin de recueillir les commentaires du public. Joignez-vous à nous pendant l’un des événements suivants pour en savoir plus sur l’élaboration du plan d’action stratégique, poser des questions et répondre à certaines de nos questions en direct. Date : Mardi 22 septembre 2020 Heure : De 14 h à 15 h 30 Inscrivez-vous ici <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011hytNyznS-nPIZq63KS5rOzfuHGWb7JheFO8fF_x6IjX…> Date : Jeudi 24 septembre 2020 Heure : De 18 h 30 à 20 h Inscrivez-vous ici <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011hytNyznS-nPIZq63KS5rOzfuHGWb7JheFO8fF_x6IjX…> L’inscription est obligatoire pour les séances virtuelles, d’ici le 20 septembre 2020. Trousse de discussion Nous invitons les personnes qui ne pourront pas être présentes aux événements à se servir de l’outil de sondage et de cartographie et à organiser une discussion avec leurs proches à l’aide de la trousse de discussion. Il est accessible à l’adresse winnipeg.ca/plansecuriteroutiere <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011hytNyznS-nPIZq63KS5rOzfuHGWb7JheFO8fF_x6IjX…> jusqu’au 30 septembre 2020. Envoyez votre guide de discussion rempli à roadsafety(a)winnipeg.ca. Pour en savoir plus, pour vous inscrire à un événement virtuel ou pour donner votre avis en ligne, consultez le site winnipeg.ca/plansecuriteroutiere <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011hytNyznS-nPIZq63KS5rOzfuHGWb7JheFO8fF_x6IjX…> . Si vous avez des questions, ou si vous avez besoin de médias substituts ou de services d’interprétation pour participer, veuillez écrire à roadsafety(a)winnipeg.ca ou composer le 204 944-9907 avant le 29 août 2020. HTFC Planning & Design | 500 - 115 Bannatyne Avenue East, Winnipeg, MB R3B 0R3 Canada Sent by info(a)htfc.ca powered by [image: Trusted Email from Constant Contact - Try it FREE today.] <http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp?cc=nge&rmc=VF19_3GE> Try email marketing for free today! <http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp?cc=nge&rmc=VF19_3GE>

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Get involved - Winnipeg's Road Safety Strategic Action Plan
by Beth McKechnie 20 Aug '20

20 Aug '20

From: City of Winnipeg <notifications(a)engagementhq.com> Road Safety Strategic Action Plan - what does road safety mean to you?Work on our Road Safety Strategic Action Plan has begun! We want you to share their thoughts on how we can work together to make our roads safer. Get involved by: - joining a virtual session <http://emails.engagementhq.com/ls/click?upn=9vcdD193qA8wVAWAMcxkDRPI9yvzhYQ…> - attending a pop-up Talk Road Safety event <http://emails.engagementhq.com/ls/click?upn=9vcdD193qA8wVAWAMcxkDRPI9yvzhYQ…> - completing an online survey <http://emails.engagementhq.com/ls/click?upn=9vcdD193qA8wVAWAMcxkDRPI9yvzhYQ…> - hosting your own discussion by downloading the discussion kit <http://emails.engagementhq.com/ls/click?upn=9vcdD193qA8wVAWAMcxkDRPI9yvzhYQ…> Visit winnipeg.ca/roadsafetyplan <http://emails.engagementhq.com/ls/click?upn=9vcdD193qA8wVAWAMcxkDRPI9yvzhYQ…> for more information.

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Webinar: Congestion Pricing & Travel Behavior During COVID
by Beth McKechnie 20 Aug '20

20 Aug '20

Join us on Wednesday, September 2 at 1:15pm ET for a discussion on congestion pricing, travel behavior, and COVID-19. ROAD TO RECOVERY WEBINAR Rebalancing the Load: How Road User Charging Can Influence Traveler Behavior September 2, 2020 from 1:15pm ET to 2:00pm ET Congestion pricing can be a valuable tool for regions to address congestion and meet goals for sustainability and equity. ITS tools and ETC technologies to enable congestion management systems that can sense, adapt, and influence driver behavior so that planners and policy makers can optimize their transportation networks. Given the current changes in traveler behavior due to the pandemic, there is increasing interest in road user charging schemes as a new approach to manage the load on regional transport systems. In this webinar, you’ll learn how technology is being leveraged to integrate other road network systems, holistically manage networks, coordinate planned demand against different modal capacities, and incentivize specific choices. *Speakers:* *Marc Deflin,* *Vice President of Business Development – Road User Charging, Cubic Transportation Systems* *Brianne Eby,* *Senior Policy Analyst, Eno Center for Transportation* September 2020 02 REGISTER <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> *Connect with us and don't miss out on other great resources!* [image: Facebook] <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> Facebook <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> [image: Twitter] <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> Twitter <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> [image: VIEW UPCOMING WEBINARS] <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> VIEW UPCOMING WEBINARS <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> *Copyright © 2020 Eno Center for Transportation, All rights reserved.* You are receiving this email because you opted in to our email list. *Our mailing address is:* Eno Center for Transportation 1629 K St. NW Ste 200 Washington, DC 20006 Add us to your address book <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/vcard?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff96&id=d…> -- 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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Right of Way: Race, Class, and the Silent Epidemic of Pedestrian Deaths in America (Angie Schmitt)
by Beth McKechnie 19 Aug '20

19 Aug '20

Free Webinar - a conversation with author Angie Schmitt Support Walkable Communities <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001by_ghNbl05qUfvwIUtUDw0AzGinaCIdORiECdJFB9gvP…> <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001by_ghNbl05qUfvwIUtUDw0AzGinaCIdORiECdJFB9gvP…> <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001by_ghNbl05qUfvwIUtUDw0AzGinaCIdORiECdJFB9gvP…> Right of Way: Race, Class, and the Silent Epidemic of Pedestrian Deaths in America – a conversation with author Angie Schmitt September 8th, 2020 at 1pm – 2pm EST, 10am – 11pm PST Register Here <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001by_ghNbl05qUfvwIUtUDw0AzGinaCIdORiECdJFB9gvP…> Join us for an interview with Angie Schmitt and discussion of her book, Right of Way: Race, Class, and the Silent Epidemic of Pedestrian Deaths in America. This webinar is hosted by America Walks Board Member Charles Brown, who wrote the foreword. Right of Way documents the traffic violence that occurs daily on America’s streets and reveals the racist policies and practices that create and perpetuate these tragedies. Contrary to popular opinion, pedestrian deaths are not unavoidable “accidents,” but highly predictable events, occurring in stark geographic patterns that tell a story about systemic inequalities. The victims are disproportionately those marginalized by society: immigrants, People of Color, those with lower incomes, the elderly, and the disabled. The discussion will address the following critical questions: - Why do we accept pedestrian fatalities as the status quo? - Why do we hold pedestrians, not drivers, responsible for traffic collisions? - How do political inaction, victim blaming, lack of media interest, and cultural apathy block change? - What does the national walking movement need to do to implement solutions that save lives? Learn More and Register Here <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001by_ghNbl05qUfvwIUtUDw0AzGinaCIdORiECdJFB9gvP…> Help Us Spread the Word About this Webinar [image: Facebook] ‌ <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001by_ghNbl05qUfvwIUtUDw0AzGinaCIdORiECdJFB9gvP…> [image: Twitter] ‌ <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001by_ghNbl05qUfvwIUtUDw0AzGinaCIdORiECdJFB9gvP…> Angie Schmitt, author and journalist, former National Editor at Streetsblog Angie Schmitt is one of the best-known writers in the United States on the topic of sustainable transportation. She was the long-time national editor at Streetsblog, covering the movement for safe, multi-modal cities, and her writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Atlantic, Bicycling, and GOOD. She is frequently sought out as an expert source on transportation topics by the news media. Schmitt holds a master’s degree in urban planning from the Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University and an undergraduate degree in journalism. Charles T. Brown, Senior Researcher, Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center Charles T. Brown, MPA is one of the nation’s leading voices in transportation equity and justice. He is a senior researcher with the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center (VTC) and adjunct professor at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, both at Rutgers University. He also serves as a 2020 Fellow within the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication in Partnership with The OpEd Project. His work has been published in international journals and featured by various national outlets, including the New York Times, Vice and CityLab. STAY CONNECTED [image: Facebook] ‌ <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001by_ghNbl05qUfvwIUtUDw0AzGinaCIdORiECdJFB9gvP…> [image: Twitter] ‌ <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001by_ghNbl05qUfvwIUtUDw0AzGinaCIdORiECdJFB9gvP…> [image: LinkedIn] ‌ <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001by_ghNbl05qUfvwIUtUDw0AzGinaCIdORiECdJFB9gvP…> [image: Instagram] ‌ <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001by_ghNbl05qUfvwIUtUDw0AzGinaCIdORiECdJFB9gvP…> <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001by_ghNbl05qUfvwIUtUDw0AzGinaCIdORiECdJFB9gvP…> Donate to Our Webinar Program <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001by_ghNbl05qUfvwIUtUDw0AzGinaCIdORiECdJFB9gvP…> America Walks | PO Box 70742, Bethesda, MD 20813 Sent by info(a)americawalks.org powered by [image: Trusted Email from Constant Contact - Try it FREE today.] <http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp?cc=nge&rmc=VF19_3GE> Try email marketing for free today! <http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp?cc=nge&rmc=VF19_3GE>

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WFP Metro: Should we lower residential speed limits? - Scott Gillingham (Aug19'20)
by Beth McKechnie 19 Aug '20

19 Aug '20

Should we lower residential speed limits? I regularly hear from many residents of St. James concerned about the speeds that vehicles are travelling down their streets. My office receives multiple requests every year for speed humps, slow down signs, stop signs, pedestrian crosswalks, traffic studies and increased police enforcement, all in an effort to make the streets we live on feel safer. The people of St. James are not alone in their desire. My council colleagues receive similar requests from residents across Winnipeg who are calling for steps to be taken to improve the sense of safety on local streets. This is a trend that is growing across Canada. The cities of Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Toronto are currently engaged in studies examining the reduction of speed limits on residential streets to something less than 50 km/h. The City of Winnipeg is also considering reducing the default speed limit on residential streets to either 30 km/h or 40 km/h. The speed limit is currently 50 km/h on residential streets. A recent report from the city’s administration says “(t)here is a strong interest from both Council and the public to investigate a city-wide speed limit reduction for Winnipeg’s residential streets, as reducing speeds is proven to make streets calmer, quieter, and safer for people walking, biking, driving, and enjoying their neighbourhood.” Council has asked city staff to conduct a jurisdictional scan, to examine the impacts of reducing speeds on residential streets to 30 km/h or 40 km/h, to review the existing street classification system, to look at best practices and engineering data and to conduct public engagement in order to get feedback, ideas and involve the public in decision-making. This work will take place over the next year. The study will also include a trial speed limit reduction on one street in each ward (including the St. James ward) of either 30 km/h or 40 km/h. The pilot streets have not yet been selected. I support lowering the default speed limit from 50 km/h on Winnipeg’s residential streets. Research shows that there is a relationship between speed and the severity of injuries in a collision. Even though lower speeds are known to improve safety, I still hear from some residents (albeit fewer) who want the speed limit to remain at 50 km/h. Therefore, I believe 40 km/h on local streets has the best chance of getting public support as a reasonable middle ground between those residents opposed to any change and those calling for 30 km/h. I realize that speed limits are a contentious issue, so I want to hear from you. Are you in favour of seeing speed limits on residential streets lowered from 50 km/hr? Please call me at 204-986-5848 or email scottgillingham(a)winnipeg.ca Enjoy the rest of your summer.

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WFP - The Times: A healthier community — one bike at a time (Aug17'20)
by Beth McKechnie 18 Aug '20

18 Aug '20

A healthier community — one bike at a time https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/times/forum/A-healthier-c… Over the spring and summer months, I have been working very closely with an organization in the Notre Dame constituency that does really great work. The Winnipeg Repair Education and Cycling Hub, also known as The WRENCH, builds, repairs, and helps to maintain bikes. They sell, rent, and donate their bikes, not just to individual people, but they even have entire fleets available for businesses. Bicycles are a fantastic way to participate in active transportation. We know that getting around by bike is healthy not only for ourselves but for the environment and our community, as well. In cities around the world where bike use is more common, traffic congestion lightens up and air pollution is reduced. The WRENCH is a permanent fixture of Hugh John Macdonald School, where staff and volunteers provide skills and training to students. They also do community outreach events such as cycling safety workshops and bike giveaway/tune-up events which they have held at IRCOM and Rossbrook House. I was thrilled to work with The WRENCH on some of these outreach events where I got to witness firsthand how hard they work for our community. Not only is The WRENCH promoting a healthier community by getting people on bikes, they are also saving bike parts that are still useable from landfills. Sustainably is a core value of the organization. Most recently, I was happy to be in attendance when The Electronic Recycling Association (ERA) donated four laptops to The WRENCH that will be used by staff to keep the organization running, growing, and thriving. *Because The WRENCH has been so successful at making a good impact in our community, it is expanding. It is currently in a basement on Logan Avenue which it has outgrown. So, The WRENCH is looking to purchase a larger building to meet the demands of the growing organization. In order to achieve this, The WRENCH is planning a capital campaign to raise $250,000 to put towards the purchase of a bigger space.* To learn more about this fantastic organization and to see its event schedule, you can visit thewrench.ca/ <https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/times/forum/thewrench.ca/> As always, feel free to get in touch with my office at Malaya.marcelino(a)yourmanitoba.ca or call 204-788-0800.

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WFP: City seeks input on enhanced AT routes (Aug17'20)
by Beth McKechnie 18 Aug '20

18 Aug '20

** please share widely ** City seeks input on enhanced AT routes The City of Winnipeg wants your views on opening local streets to offer greater active transportation access. As part of its COVID-19 response, Winnipeg now offers 10 enhanced temporary active transportation routes, which prioritize bicycles and pedestrians by limiting motor vehicles to one block of travel between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily. The move was meant to help Winnipeggers safely enjoy the outdoors with enough room to socially distance themselves from others. The current routes are slated to last until at least Sept. 7. *To help evaluate future options for these “open streets,” Winnipeggers are asked to complete a survey now posted at *winnipeg.ca/walkbike2020. Prior to 2020, four enhanced AT routes were offered each year on Sundays and holidays only, between Victoria Day and Thanksgiving weekend. Complete the survey by September 7th.

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10th anniversary of Bicycle Valet Winnipeg
by Beth McKechnie 14 Aug '20

14 Aug '20

Great article on the Bike Winnipeg website for the 10th anniversary of Bicycle Valet Winnipeg. Hard to believe it's already been 10 years! https://bikewinnipeg.ca/2020/08/12/winnipeg-bicycle-valet-from-idea-to-real… Congrats to founder, David Weiser, and to all the hard working staff and volunteers since 2009. cheers, Beth -- Beth McKechnie (she/her) *| *Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is 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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The shape and size of personal trucks
by Charles Feaver 14 Aug '20

14 Aug '20

An article about the growing size and shape of personal trucks, and the danger they pose to other road users, particularly pedestrians and cyclists: https://theweek.com/articles/929196/case-against-american-truck-bloat FYI Bike Winnipeg argued this issue at the latest PUB review of MPI road safety programs, and the PUB has ordered MPI to analyze the extent to which personal trucks do more harm to other road users than sedan type vehicles. MPI is in a unique position to do this, what with having 100% of the data from crashes in the province and a methodology for assigning costs to injury (v. other jurisdictions which have highly variable injury cost settlements arising from court proceedings). It will be interesting to see what this study finds. Charles Feaver 11 Harvard Ave Winnipeg R3M 0J6 204.293.6332

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CTV: City reopens new and improved Empress Street after three years (Aug13'20)
by Beth McKechnie 13 Aug '20

13 Aug '20

WINNIPEG -- After three years of road construction, the new Empress Street overpass, which included rehabilitation and the creation of a new cycling and pedestrian route, is now open. On Thursday morning the City of Winnipeg, along with the federal and provincial government, got together for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially reopen the stretch of road between Portage Avenue and St. Matthews Avenue. "I can't tell you how great it is to have protected cycling facilities that are separate from the road," said Coun. Matt Allard, chairperson of the Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works said. "Infrastructure investments like these are so essential to encouraging mode shift." Despite the pouring rain, Allard said he did cycle to the announcement to give the new cycling route a try. The project cost about $23 million, with $921,000 coming from the province and nearly $4.5 million coming from the federal government. The rest of the project was covered in the City's capital budget. "As a (former) city councillor, I understand that the city can't do it alone – we need the federal government and the provincial government to step up and that is exactly what we've been doing," said Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, representing the federal government. The project included new accessible pedestrian ramps on the north and south side of Portage Avenue, as well as new bi-directional bicycle paths in a protected lane along Empress from the Assiniboine River path. "As an avid cyclist, I am very thrilled to be partnering with my civic and federal counterparts to build more active transportation, because we know in Winnipeg we get all kinds of weather," said Rochelle Squires, Manitoba Minister of Municipal Relations. "I know this pathway will be used well into the future for all the people who do choose the active transportation." Coun. Scott Gillingham, who represents St. James, said this was a project he's had in his sights since he was elected. "When I was fundraising in 2014, the residents told me many times that roads were the number one issue, specifically around the Polo Park area, so I'm glad to see this project completed," he said. The City of Winnipeg has more information about the project online <https://winnipeg.ca/publicworks/construction/projects/empress.stm>. https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/city-reopens-new-and-improved-empress-street-af…

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Why Walking to Work May Be Better for You Than a Casual Stroll
by Beth McKechnie 12 Aug '20

12 Aug '20

Study finds people walk faster, report being healthier, when they walk with a purpose https://news.osu.edu/why-walking-to-work-may-be-better-for-you-than-a-casua…

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