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WTA News
by Beth McKechnie 30 Jan '14

30 Jan '14

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Rivers West <info(a)riverswest.ca> Date: Thu, 30 Jan 2014 16:20:47 -0600 Good day, Winnipeg Trails Association (WTA) through Rivers West continues to work on behalf of all Winnipeg Trails groups. We will communicate the activities & events that are happening in the city, what we are doing on your behalf, and we will assist you with some events. Limited funding is currently available through Rivers West to provide trails associations with honoraria and assistance with expenses for community trail events, Jane's Walks and International Trails Day. Read more on this subject in the attached newsletter. We look forward to working with all of you in 2014! -- *Sylvie Fouasse* Rivers West info(a)riverswest.ca (204) 925-2320 ext 108

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Repeat webinar by demand: Strategies to Enable Winter Cycling and Walking, Thurs, Feb.6th, noon-1:30, EcoCentre
by Beth McKechnie 30 Jan '14

30 Jan '14

Given that many people interested in this APBP webinar were not able to attend the original airing a couple of weeks ago, we are holding a repeat viewing next week. Please see the attached slides for reference. Join Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg in the boardroom at the EcoCentre (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave) next Thursday at noon for this 90-minute webinar. Very timely issue and a nice lead-in to the International Winter Cycling Congress <http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.org/>happening in Winnipeg the week following. Also mark your calendar for the next APBP webinar on Wed, Feb. 19th, 2-3pm, on the topic of "Designing for Pedestrian and Cyclist Comfort". Details to follow closer to the date. cheers, Beth (204) 925-3772 ** * * * ** Strategies to Enable Winter Cycling and Walking *Thursday, Feb. 6th | 12:00-1:30 p.m.* Winter conditions vary across a range of temperatures and precipitation, but in all cases communities must find ways to provide safe, accessible conditions for winter cycling and walking while balancing competing priorities. This webinar offers examples of policies and practices that are used to ensure timely snow removal from sidewalks, pathways, bike lanes and cycle tracks. Presenters in this session will discuss: - An overview of different types of winter climates and how facilities and maintenance should be adapted to local climate - Different policy approaches to snow removal from sidewalks - The importance of prioritization and predictability of snow removal in encouraging winter cycling - A pilot program to determine operation and funding requirements to achieve improved snow clearing and street sweeping along on-street bike routes. Presenters include: - Tyler Golly, General Supervisor - Sustainable Transportation, City of Edmonton, Alberta - Marc Jolicoeur, Research Director, Velo Quebec - Nicole Losch, Bicycle/Pedestrian/Environmental Planner, City of Burlington, Vermont - Arthur Ross, Pedestrian/Bicycle Coordinator, City of Madison, Wisconsin

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Winter Walking Day - Saturday, Feb 8th
by Janice Lukes 30 Jan '14

30 Jan '14

And here is another winter event - for the walkers in the crowd! See attached poster - and those warming huts on the river are a must see! * * * * * * * * * * Come and join Sharon Blady, Minister of Healthy Living and Seniors, the Winnipeg Trails Assoc. and friends to walk on the Red River Mutual River Trail! DATE: Saturday, February 8th TIME: 11:00 am MEET: At the central canopy in front of the Forks Market building! Calling all Winnipeg winter walkers! Walk and talk with the Minister, check out the architecturally designed warming huts, sip on free hot chocolate and make new winter memories with friends and families! We have ordered up a sunny mild day - so shake that cabin fever and come out for a winter walk!

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Fwd: Conference Program Updates and Other Exciting News
by Beth McKechnie 30 Jan '14

30 Jan '14

In case you're not receiving these messages, some really fantastic activities happening with the upcoming conference. If you haven't registered yet, sign up today<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.org/register/>! See you there. cheers, Beth ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Winter Cycling Congress Winnipeg 2014 < info(a)wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.org> Date: Thu, Jan 30, 2014 at 10:00 AM Subject: Conference Program Updates and Other Exciting News <http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=abc…> Why hello there! Just under two weeks to go! This is the second in a series of e-newsletter updates about the Winter Cycling Congress 2014. Major announcements only. This one is a doozie. Please read carefully. Join us on Twitter<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=abc…> , Facebook<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abcb…> or LinkedIn<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abcb…> for up-to-the-minute updates and other fun stuff. *1.* *See who is speaking*. Go here to learn a bit more about all of the talented speakers that are making this event special.<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abcb…> *2. You can be a speaker too! Tell everyone your story on Thursday night! *Be a part of an exciting public event where delegates, speakers and the people of Winnipeg are invited to mix at the St.Boniface Research Centre to exchange stories! With a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear from guests from around the world, we are inviting everyone involved in the conference to consider submitting a short, image-based presentation to be presented rapid-fire style in the Samuel N. Cohen Auditorium. Based on the popular *Pecha Kucha* presentation format, *"Betcha Couldya: **Reflections on Human Powered Winter Travel"* is a fun event with music, drinks, DIY workshops, mingling and a succession of stories from at home and around the world. Speaking slots are limited. Topics are open ended. Entry is free or by donation to local bike education programs. Go here for more information, and to sign up to speak.<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=abc…> Made possible by Alta Planning + Design. *3.* *Do you need a bike?* Courtesy of Winnipeg's local volunteer-run bikeshops and others, there will be a limited number of bicycles available for "rent" to conference guests. Rental is by donation. Bikes vary in size/type. Bring your own lock (mandatory) or helmet should you choose to wear one. First come first serve. To help us gauge interest, please go here to fill out a brief form<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abcb…>. Made possible by the WRENCH<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abcb…> . *4. Hungry? Sign up for the Moveable Feast . . . Winnipeg's one-of-a-kind Winter Cycling Restaurant Tour.* Thursday evening, just before the Betcha Couldya, this one-of-a-kind opportunity features a stop on the now-famous Raw: Almond restaurant right on the frozen river, warm drinks in a snow maze, dessert on a winter patio and more. Come see and taste Winnipeg for yourself! Spaces are reserved for conference-goers, but is very limited. Sign up now.<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abcb…> Made possible by The Downtown Winnipeg Biz and Freig and Associates. *5. Sign up for the Winnipeg Cultural and Architectural Icons Tours.*Also Thursday evening, just before the Betcha Couldya. Featuring special access for conference delegates, speakers and volunteers only, this is your chance to visit the newly built Canadian Museum for Human Rights and the inimitable Winnipeg Art Gallery. Culture buffs will not want to miss this one. Go here for more info and to sign up.<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=abc…>Thanks to Freig and Associates and the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ for organizing. *6.* *Winter Cities Bicycle Infrastructure Design Course.* Tuesday all day. There is still room left for participants in this important pre-conference session<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abcb…> being held at the Millenium Library on Tuesday, February 11th. The design course costs extra, but is heavily discounted for conference participants. Sign up now!<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abcb…>Kudos to our friends at Urban Systems for making it happen. *7. U of M Post Conference Session - Cold Campus Cycling.* Friday afternoon, just after the conference. Typically university campuses exhibit some of the highest numbers of winter cyclists. The U of M may not be the University of Madison or the University of Oulu, but they have big plans. Our biggest University is undergoing some significant and exciting changes and they are keen to get feedback on what is possible. Come down and hear from 4 experts who know how it works and participate in some lively discussion and workshops. Go here for more info.<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=abc…> Brought to you by the U of M. *8. Can't make it to the conference? Have to work? There is still plenty of **time to commit to riding on Winter Bike to Work Day on Friday, February 14th, 2014.* Celebrate winter riding the simplest way. There are numerous communities participating (From Alaska to Winnipeg to Finland) - or just sign up as an individual. Everything you need to know is here: Winter Bike to Work Day<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=abc…> . *9. A Few Good Causes.* Faced with the slight possibility that this non-profit conference may have money left over once we cover expenses, any additional money raised will be donated to local and international causes working to improve cycling conditions for everyone. Specifically, The WRENCH<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abcb…> (local volunteer bike repair for at-risk youth), Bike Winnipeg<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abcb…> (local volunteer bike advocacy) and the Winter Cycling Federation<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abcb…> (for the development of future conferences). *10. Music, Fancy Dress and More. *The next update will feature information on after-parties, local bands, the banquet at one of Winnipeg's oldest and most beautiful hotels and much more. Thanks again for staying connected to a very special conference. Contact us anytime for questions or comments! We would sincerely like to thank our partners the City of Winnipeg<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abcb…>and the Province of Manitoba<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abcb…>. Thanks also to our major sponsors Mobycon<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abcb…>, Urban Systems<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=abc…>, Vélo Québec<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abcb…>, Downtown Winnipeg BIZ<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=abc…>, Rivers West Red River Corridor<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abcb…> /Winnipeg Trails Association<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abcb…>, University of Manitoba<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abcb…>, Green Action Centre<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abcb…>, Tourism Winnipeg<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=abc…>, The Forks<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=abc…>, Alta Planning + Design<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=abc…>, Eco-Counter<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abcb…>, Stantec<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abcb…>and everyone else<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=abc…>who has have helped make this conference a success. This could not have happened without you. Feel Free to Share this Message Widely. Sincerely, *The Organizing Team* *Winter Cycling Congress Winnipeg 2014 <http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abcb…>* *Feb 12**-14, 2014* *Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada* phone. 1-204-797-1962 facebook. /Wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abcb…> twitter. @wccwpg<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=abc…> . #wccwpg #wintercycling Sign up for our newsletter here<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abcb…> . This email was sent to beth(a)greenactioncentre.ca *why did I get this?*<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage.com/about?u=abcb7e25b4…> unsubscribe from this list<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=abcb…> update subscription preferences<http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.us7.list-manage.com/profile?u=abcb7e25…> Winter Cycling Congress · c/o Rivers West Red River Corridor · 235 - 614 Des Meurons Street · Winnipeg, MB R2H 2P9 · Canada [image: Email Marketing Powered by MailChimp]<http://www.mailchimp.com/monkey-rewards/?utm_source=freemium_newsletter&utm…>

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Fwd: Active & Green: IISD is 'Gold'en, Take on Jack Frost, Winter Cycling Celebration
by Beth McKechnie 28 Jan '14

28 Jan '14

Hope you enjoy the latest issue of Active & Green! If you would like to subscribe directly or check out past issues, you can do so here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/active-green/> . cheers, Beth Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.<http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a183a3f55cc&id=530a28a91d…> *Looking to add some GOLD to your workplace?* Request resources<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a…>on cycling, carpooling, commuting surveys and tracking progress, among others. Book a presentation<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>on green commuting options and creating a commuter friendly workplace. Become a Commuting Ambassador! Sign up today for a FREE training session<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a…> : *1) Commuting Tools and Hands-On Training *(Wed, Feb. 26th, 1-4:30pm) *2) Baseline Commuting Surveys *(Wed, Mar. 12th, 12-1:30pm) *3) Behaviour Change *(Wed, Mar. 26th, 1-4:30pm) ------------------------------ *Upcoming Events* *Snow Trek*<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…> *Feb. 2 - Harbourview* Feb. 9 - Living Prairie The Jack Frost Challenge<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…> *February 8-14* *Winter Walk Day <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a…> Saturday, February 8* *International Winter Cycling Congress <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>* *February 12-14* *A Moveable Feast: Cycling Tour of Restaurants <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…> Thurs, Feb. 13, 4:45-8:00pm* *Winter Bike to Work Day <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…> Friday, February 14* *F <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>amily Winter Cycling Celebration <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a…> Friday, Feb. 14, 4-7pm* *Commuter Challenge <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…> June 1-7, 2014* ------------------------------ *Mark your calendar! Rapid Transit Stage 2 - Open Houses* Set aside an hour on *February 24 or 25* to attend the public open houses for Stage 2 of the Southwest Rapid Transitway<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>in Winnipeg. This leg will run from Pembina and Jubilee to the U of M and the football stadium. Stay tuned for more details on our website<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…> . ------------------------------ *What's up with the Ped/Bike Strategies?* Looks like it will be at least another month or two before Public Open Houses will be held for the Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>. Word has it the City and consultants are busy drafting what will be presented. Stay tuned for updates<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>through our regular Green Action Centre newsletter, which comes out every three weeks. ------------------------------ *'Walkmobile' claims equal space for pedestrians* Austrian engineer Hermann Knoflaccher demonstrates in his 'walkmobile'<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a…>how much space a pedestrian would take if they were in a car. Pictures truly speak a thousand words. (Photo courtesy of Dr. G. Emberger) ------------------------------ *Carpooling stories* When a group of ACU employees started sharing a ride to work, they gained more than convenience and extra savings. Most importantly, they became fast friends. Read their full story here<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…> . ------------------------------ *Share Active & Green* Like what you read? Share with your friends and family. Show your support: become a member<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a…>or make a donation<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…> to Green Action Centre. Thanks! *[image: Twitter] <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a…> [image: Facebook] <http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a…>* *IISD is 'GOLD'en* Imagine working in a place where 87% of staff take the bus (thanks to an EcoPass discounted bus pass program), where secure bike parking and showers are available when you arrive, where work-from-home options and compressed work weeks are normal, and where taxi vouchers are available if you need to get home in a hurry. The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) has turned this ideal into a reality. IISD was awarded the 2013 GOLD Commuter Friendly Workplace Award<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a…> by Green Action Centre at a staff celebration held in December. Congratulations, IISD! ------------------------------ *Take on Jack Frost Feb 8-14* Stay active this winter! Sign up your friends, family, co-workers and classmates to glide, swish, pedal and crunch your way to 130 km of fresh air, fun and 'cool' prizes. Register<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>your team of five today, then get ready to take the Bougeons en hiver: Jack Frost Challenge<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>from February 8 to 14. ------------------------------ Back on Track If one of your New Year's Resolutions involved getting a little more active or adding more green to your life, Green Action Centre might have what you're looking for. Sign up you and your friends for the Jack Frost Challenge<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>. Survey<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>your co-workers on how they get to work and how they'd like to get to work with better infrastructure and policies. Become a Commuting Ambassador<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>at your workplace by taking one of our free upcoming training sessions. Or subscribe to Green Action Centre's general e-newsletter<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>and receive practical tips on greener living and environmental issues in Manitoba. ------------------------------ *Winter Cycling Celebration* It's all about getting on your bike in Winnipeg from Feb 12-14th (and beyond). Start with the 2nd International Winter Cycling Congress<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…> being held in our fair city. Really, where better to hold a winter conference? (Oulu, Finland, took the honour last year.) Follow that up Thursday evening with A Moveable Feast cycling tour<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>of restaurants in the heart of the city. Continue riding the next morning for Winter Bike to Work Day<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>. Then top it off with an entire family celebration of winter cycling at The Forks<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…> Friday afternoon, co-hosted by our very own Active and Safe Routes to School program staff here at Green Action Centre and the good folks at MEC. Whew! That's a lot of cycling. ------------------------------ *Bendy buses a big hit* Had a chance to try out one of the new 'bendy' buses yet? Winnipeg Transit introduced the 60-foot articulated buses on January 13th on the St Vital Express Route #54. A full 20 feet longer than regular buses, these behemoths can accommodate 40% more passengers. Seeing is believing -- the inside of the bus seems to go on forever. For extra fun, choose the swing seat in the middle! Our mailing address is: Green Action Centre 3-303 Portage Ave. Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2B4 Canada Add us to your address book<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage1.com/vcard?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a183a3f…> Copyright (C) 2014 Green Action Centre All rights reserved. Forward<http://us2.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a183a3f55cc&id=530…>this email to a friend Update your profile<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/profile?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a183a3…> [image: Email Marketing Powered by MailChimp]<http://www.mailchimp.com/monkey-rewards/?utm_source=freemium_newsletter&utm…>

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(no subject)
by Dave Elmore 28 Jan '14

28 Jan '14

Hard to believe but apparently true http://www.sfgate.com/news/crime/article/Cyclist-Driver-didn-t-see-me-stuck- in-windshield-5161867.php#photo-5753097 Cyclist: Driver didn't see me stuck in windshield Updated 6:41 am, Friday, January 24, 2014 Steven Gove of Manitowoc, Wis., talks about how lucky he was to escape serious injury after he was stuck in the windshield of a moving car, Monday, Jan 20, 2014. Gove says he was struck Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014 night while riding his three-wheeled bicycle. Gove says he was wearing an overcoat with a reflective vest and he had front and rear flashers on. He says he's not sure why the driver didn't see him. Photo: Sue Pischke, AP MANITOWOC, Wis. (AP) - A Wisconsin man who became lodged in the windshield of a car that struck him said he turned to the driver and said, "Hello, I'm the guy you hit on the bicycle." The driver did not respond, but continued on, running a stop sign and hitting another vehicle before he arrived home, the cyclist, Steven Gove <http://www.sfgate.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=news%2Fc rime&search=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22Steven+Gove%22> , told HTR Media about the Saturday incident (http://htrne.ws/1bI58jh ). The man finally noticed Gove when he stopped the car outside his home. "He looked at me and said 'Who are you? What are you doing in the car?'" Gove said. "He started freaking out: 'I'm going to jail, I'm going to jail.'" The man then locked the car doors and went into his home. Gove, whose body had gone most of the way through the windshield, then pulled his knees and feet into the car. "I righted myself and got out," he said. "I unlocked the passenger's side door and started walking down the street." A witness had called police, who found Gove as he was walking and took him to a hospital. Doctors removed glass from Gove's eyes and treated him for other cuts to the head and leg. The driver, a 20-year-old Manitowoc man, was found at the home and treated at a hospital for a serious cut to the hand. He hadn't been formally charged as of Tuesday morning, but he was facing several preliminary charges, including suspicion of drunken driving, suspicion of hit-and-run causing injury and suspicion of failing to render aid. Gove, a 56-year-old newspaper carrier, was shocked that the driver didn't see him on his three-wheeled delivery bike. "I was wearing my blue overcoat with my neon reflective vest," said Gove. "I had my front and rear flashers on. I have no idea why he didn't see me." A 50-year-old Green Bay man died in a similar accident in 2007. Steven Warrichaiet <http://www.sfgate.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=news%2Fc rime&search=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22Steven+Warrichaiet%22> was sentenced to 15 years in prison for hitting Tyrone Ware, driving home with Ware's body lodged in the windshield and leaving Ware in the garage while Warrichaiet went inside and fell asleep on the couch. An autopsy showed Ware died instantly of spinal injuries.

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WFP: Crosswalk cams eyed (Jan.25'14) & Metro Winnipeg: Wpg Police to study ped cameras (Jan.27'14)
by Beth McKechnie 27 Jan '14

27 Jan '14

Crosswalk cams eyed Chief accepts proposal from councillor on concept By: Aldo Santin *http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/crosswalk-cams-eyed-241935001.html <http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/crosswalk-cams-eyed-241935001.html>* WINNIPEG police will examine the feasibility of installing photo-radar-like cameras and other safety measures at pedestrian corridors. "We have to be open to look at anything that would improve safety for our citizens," Chief Devon Clunis said. The Winnipeg Police Board met Friday morning and agreed to the proposal from Coun. Ross Eadie to study measures to bring motorists into compliance with traffic laws. "Bad motorists are doing this all the time," Eadie (Mynarski) said. "They're blowing through pedestrian corridors because they know they can and they know it's against the law." The board instructed the WPS to look at all aspects of installing cameras, including possible locations, costs and benefits. The report will be brought back in 60 days. The WPS will also consider adopting other measures that will improve pedestrian safety and bring motorists into compliance. Eadie said he's pleased with the board's response and the willingness of Clunis to look into the issue. "This is an issue of police enforcement," Eadie said, adding he believes the most violations are occurring on busy regional routes, including Main Street and Pembina Highway. In Manitoba, motorists who fail to stop for a pedestrian at a pedestrian corridor face a fine of $175.30. Motorists can also be fined an additional $143.75 for passing another vehicle stopped for a pedestrian. Washington, D.C., is the only major municipality in North America with pedestrian cameras, having installed them in November at 16 crosswalks near schools and recreation centres. Clunis told the board installing similar cameras would likely require the approval of the province. Clunis said the WPS had already been looking at the issue of pedestrian safety and driver violations but was not prepared to release any results before a comprehensive report is brought back to the board. "In principle, it sounds like an excellent idea but... you have to look at the practicality of implementing it," Clunis said. aldo.santin(a)freepress.mb.ca Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 25, 2014 B4 * * * * * Winnipeg police to study proposed pedestrian corridor cameras http://metronews.ca/news/winnipeg/920848/winnipeg-police-to-study-proposed-… A report on the feasibility of red-light-type cameras at pedestrian corridors will be delivered in 60 days, said Winnipeg Police Chief Devon Clunis. “I’m looking at the impetus behind this, it’s about safety,” said Clunis following Friday’s Winnipeg Police Board meeting. Coun. Ross Eadie (Mynarski) said the cameras are necessary because drivers are blowing through the crossings. As to how big the problem is, Clunis said the police’s admin will be checking their stats. “We need to go back and look, ‘OK, is this really a primary concern?,’” he added. “Certainly we know that at pedestrian corridors people have been killed in the past, and one death is one too many, but is it a very serious problem? We need to go back and look at that.” Coun. Scott Fielding (St. James-Brooklands), who chairs the police board and is known for his opposition to the photo radar program, said he’ll reserve his judgment until the police report is delivered. “My concern with the photo radar program in the past that it has been more about revenue than it has been about safety,” said Fielding. “(But) from my point of view, I think it doesn’t hurt to listen to ideas.” Should the pedestrian corridors cameras idea garner support, Chief Clunis said any implementation would require changes to provincial legislation.

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The City of Calgary - Bicycle Program Yearbook
by Beth McKechnie 25 Jan '14

25 Jan '14

The Bicycle Program Yearbook<http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation/TP/Documents/cycling/cycle-yearbook.pdf> is a new tool to help measure, track and report progress on The City’s effort to improve conditions for cycling. The City of Calgary is one of only a few cities world-wide to have published this type of document, also known as a Bicycle Account. Bicycle Accounts are a recommended practice of the League of American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly Community Program. The Yearbook includes the most recent information on: - The many ways that bicyclists are counted - Tracking the number of bikeways built over the last decade - Photos and descriptions of new bikeway projects - Collision and safety trends - Summary of education and encouragement efforts A snapshot of bicycle data in the Yearbook<http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation/TP/Pages/Cycling/The-Bicycle-Program-Y…>

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Montreal Gazette: Bixi files for bankruptcy protection (Jan20'14)
by Beth McKechnie 22 Jan '14

22 Jan '14

[Sad news! Hopefully there's a solution to be found.] Bixi files for bankruptcy protection Service will roll in Montreal this year, Coderre says BY ANDY RIGA, GAZETTE TRANSPORTATION REPORTER JANUARY 20, 2014 http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Bixi+files+bankruptcy+protection/94… MONTREAL — Bixi was not supposed to cost them a cent but Montreal taxpayers could be on the hook for tens of millions of dollars, the city admitted Monday. The bike-sharing service's debt is almost $50 million. Citing Bixi's "grim financial portrait," Mayor Denis Coderre announced he had forced the city-controlled non-profit company to enter bankruptcy protection. Though he wants Bixi out of the international bike-sharing business, Coderre said he would like to see Bixi continue to roll in Montreal. "We will have Bixi in Montreal this summer," he said, noting many users have purchased memberships. Keeping Bixi operating in the city in 2014 could cost taxpayers a further $1.5 million. Coderre was less definitive about whether Montrealers will have access to bike-sharing beyond 2014. Bixi is unable to neither "meet its financial obligations nor find a viable short-term solution," Coderre said. That was causing "uncertainty regarding the possible recovery of the sums injected by the city." Bixi owes the city $31.6 million on a $37-million city loan. Montreal also guaranteed a line of credit on which Bixi owes $6.4 million. That means Montreal taxpayers could be stuck with a $38-million bill, though the city hopes a sale of the international part of the business will cut that amount. Bixi also owes its suppliers $9 million. In total, then, Bixi's total debt is at least $47 million. Bixi is also embroiled in multimillion-dollar lawsuits with a former software supplier. Montreal's auditor general had warned the city about Bixi's precarious situation. In September, Jacques Bergeron expressed "serious doubts about Bixi's ability to continue operations." At the time, the city denied Bixi was on the brink of bankruptcy. Bixi has operated Montreal's popular bike-sharing service since May 2009. Though backed by the city, the company has refused to make public basic information about its operations. For example, Bixi's 2012 financial statements have yet to be disclosed. For 2013, all Bixi would say is that it had 41,000 Montreal members and that it operated with a deficit of about $4.5 million. Coderre, who took power in November, promised his administration will "keep Montrealers informed about any new developments regarding Bixi." The mayor said "if Bixi can be saved," it is through bankruptcy protection, which will allow Bixi to restructure and give it time to sell its international arm. But Coderre admitted previous attempts to sell off that part of the business have failed. On Monday, he disclosed that for the second time, a potential buyer walked away from a deal after taking a closer look at Bixi's books. Under former mayor Gérald Tremblay's plan, devised in 2007, the sale of the Bixi system to other cities would completely finance bike-share operations in Montreal. It did not work out that way. Bixi was stymied by legal disputes, software glitches, upgrade delays and, most recently, by New York City and Chicago withholding payments, claiming Bixi was not fulfilling its end of the bargain. Since 2012, Bixi has been in a legal dispute with 8D Technologies, the Montreal firm that provided the software for initial Bixi stations. The dispute arose after 8D refused to sell all the rights to the software. Bixi hired a company to build software to replace 8D's in future systems. That software, initially plagued with bugs, is now used by several cities. The latest problems involve back-end software under development by Bixi. It is used by cities to track and analyze usage, among other things. Bixi admits it has been late in providing promised updates, angering New York and Chicago. Bixi chief executive Michel Philibert said Chicago owes Bixi $2.6 million. New York City owes $3 million. In addition, Alta Bicycle Share, the company that operates New York's service, has told Bixi it wants $11 million in damages for software delays. Such disputes are common in business. But Coderre said a city should not be involved in commercial enterprises. He called the international expansion "a mistake." The city "embarked on commercial operations that it should not have been involved in. ... It is not up to taxpayers to assume the financial risk involving a business plan." The opposition at city hall backed Coderre's move. Projet Montréal leader Richard Bergeron said when the dust settles, the system could end up costing taxpayers $25 million or more. He blamed wrong-headed decisions by the Tremblay administration, which shovelled money into Bixi to create an innovative system that would sell internationally. Instead, it should have focused on developing a basic, inexpensive system for Montreal. Bergeron said Montreal's transit authority, the Société de transport de Montréal, has already drawn up a contract that would see it take over Bixi's Montreal operations, though it wants nothing to do with the service's debt. Whether the STM or a private company runs the system, "Bixi will be in the streets in 2014 and there's no reason why it shouldn't be on the streets in 2015, 2016 and so on," Bergeron said. But "it will be a public service, as it should have been from the very beginning." That means an annual city subsidy, which Bergeron estimated would range from $1.5 million to $2 million. "That is not too much for such a service, with more or less 2 million trips a year," he said. "If you pay $1.5 million for 2 million trips, it's 75 cents per trip. That's perfectly acceptable and affordable." Bergeron compared Bixi to public transit: Bixi users pay a fee but not the full cost. The bankruptcy protection process gives Bixi an initial 30 days to restructure. That period can be extended for up to six months, the city said. Bixi employees 66 people. "No job losses are expected at this time," the city said. *BIXI BY THE NUMBERS* *$31.6 million:* Amount Bixi still owes the city of Montreal on $37-million loan. *$6.4 million:* Bixi line of credit, guaranteed by Montreal taxpayers. *$1.5 million:* Estimated amount it could cost the city to ensure Bixi service operates in Montreal this year. *$4.5 million: *Bixi's estimated deficit for 2013 (financial results have not been made public). *$9 million:* Amount Bixi owes to suppliers. *$3 million:* Overdue amount owed by New York City to Bixi. *$11 million:* Amount that Alta Bicycle Share, the company that operates New York's bike-share service, has told Bixi it wants in damages for software delays. *$2.3 million:* Overdue amount owed by Chicago to Bixi. That city, too, is unhappy with software delays. *37,000:* Number of Bixi bikes in operation around the world. *15:* Number of cities that have adopted Bixi, including London and New York. *5,000:* Number of Bixis on Montreal streets in 2013 <ariga(a)montrealgazette.com> <ariga(a)montrealgazette.com><ariga(a)montrealgazette.com><ariga(a)montrealgazette.com><ariga(a)montrealgazette.com><ariga(a)montrealgazette.com><ariga(a)montrealgazette.com> ariga(a)montrealgazette.com © Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette BY ANDY RIGA, GAZETTE TRANSPORTATION REPORTER JANUARY 20, 2014

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Alternative signage on London Underground
by Jackie Avent (ASRTS) 22 Jan '14

22 Jan '14

Someone hacked the London Underground signage... If you need a morning smile to warm your bones, here's some persuasion... http://prosign.tumblr.com/post/33766157596/someone-has-made-fake-london-und… Enjoy! Jackie -- *Jackie Avent* | Active and Safe Routes to School Green Action Centre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Avenue* | *(204) 925-3773 *|* Find us here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>

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List of Bike Share Programs Around the World
by Anders Swanson 21 Jan '14

21 Jan '14

*[ One more. Further to the two recent postings on bike sharing... Companies come and go all the time. Even banks. For anyone looking for a bit more context on the bankruptcy of one bike sharing company, consider the fact that there are now more than 535 the public bike sharing systems around the world and more opening every day. The amount since 2008 has more than doubled. See the link below, for example. Even more interestingly, bike share programs around the world are now starting to stay open all winter, see recent stories in New York, Denver and Chicago. - Anders ]* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bicycle_sharing_systems

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Guide to using policy to create bicycle friendly communities
by Beth McKechnie 21 Jan '14

21 Jan '14

Stumbled across this policy guide for bicycling that (at an initial glance) looks useful (US document). http://changelabsolutions.org/sites/default/files/Getting_the_Wheels_Rollin… cheers, Beth

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Toronto Star editorial: Urban sprawl is sickening, as well as ugly
by Beth McKechnie 20 Jan '14

20 Jan '14

Urban sprawl is sickening, as well as ugly: Editorial Urban sprawl is sickening, say researchers at Toronto’s St. Michael’s Hospital, who found obesity and diabetes higher in suburban areas that discourage walking. http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2014/01/19/urban_sprawl_is_sicken… Published on Sun Jan 19 2014 Urban sprawl is ugly, inefficient and bad for the environment. It’s also – quite literally – sickening. The unhealthiness of spread-out, car-dependant neighbourhoods is clearly spelled out in a new study by St. Michael’s Hospital researchers. Urban planners, municipal leaders and city residents would be wise to pay close attention. Scientists from the hospital’s Centre for Research on Inner City Health found risk of obesity and diabetes was elevated<http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/01/15/more_obesity_diabetes_in_less_wa…>by as much as 33 per cent in suburban areas of Toronto with poor “walkability.” Simply put, the layout of a neighbourhood has a big impact on the health of the people who live in it. The findings were published this past week<http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0085295> in the online journal PLOS One. Older, downtown areas are more walking-friendly because they’re divided into shorter city blocks. There’s a higher population density, so residents aren’t as spread out. And there are more places to go (such as stores and services) within walking distance. In contrast, many outlying Toronto neighbourhoods don’t even have sidewalks. Furthermore, in contrast to sedentary suburbanites, people in walkable communities don’t just stroll more often, they also cycle and use public transit more frequently and are significantly less likely to drive. All that translates into solid health benefits. It’s important to note that other factors, beyond walkable neighbourhoods, do affect risk of obesity. Affluence and ethic origin play a big role too. And it’s possible that walking-friendly neighbourhoods don’t so much inspire residents to use their legs as attract people who were walkers in the first place. None of that should deter city planners and urban activists from pushing to cut sprawl and create walkable communities. Canada is facing an obesity epidemic. And rather than throw up their hands and lament that there’s not much that can be done, policy-makers can play an active role by promoting neighbourhoods specifically designed as healthier places to live. An emphasis on creating fewer single-family homes, and more multi-unit residential buildings, is fundamental. So are zoning initiatives aimed at developing more easy-to-walk-to mixed use areas, expanded public transit lines, and bicycle paths. Sidewalks would be nice, too. Discouraging driving and broadening opportunities for strolling, cycling, and using public transit don’t constitute a “war against the car,” as Mayor Rob Ford calls it, but part of a battle for better health. Urban sprawl is the real foe. And a determined effort is required in order to defeat it.

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Fwd: Four Reasons Protected Bike Lanes Mean Business
by Beth McKechnie 16 Jan '14

16 Jan '14

Friend - It's easy to see that we're living in a changing country. The economy is rebounding after the biggest slowdown since the Great Depression. Americans are moving to cities in record numbers. And more and more people want to be in places where bicycling is easy and comfortable. City leaders and businesses are taking note of these trends. In response, they have discovered an unexpected tool to create opportunities in growing downtown economies: the protected bike lane. In our new report with PeopleForBikes, 15 business leaders explain how protected bike lanes benefit their companies. We break down the latest research to find out how these new lanes make an impact. Keep scrolling for a summary of the four biggest findings -- and click here to read the full report.<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001i4M3sOZNJUy-puZDH0qUeSY2pqfGe9zfyQusMWYJQZSq…> <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001i4M3sOZNJUy-puZDH0qUeSY2pqfGe9zfyQusMWYJQZSq…> *1. Americans - especially young people - are driving less and biking more.* Employers say their headhunters get a competitive edge by locating in areas with great biking networks, so savvy companies are locating near protected bike lanes to attract and keep Millennials and Gen X-ers. *2. Americans are flocking to urban areas, congesting city streets and creating market demand for solutions that increase street flow without adding gridlock. * Studies show that homes near bicycle infrastructure appreciate in value more than equivalent houses away from bike lanes. *3. With health care costs at an all-time high, companies are scrambling to get more employees exercising regularly. * Newsflash: healthcare is expensive. Companies benefit when more employees find it pleasant to bike to the office, because workers who exercise regularly are less expensive to insure. *4. In shopping districts, the most valuable customers are those who stop by often. * People who shop by bike tend to buy less in a single visit, but stop by more often. When space is at a high premium, these regulars make for great customers. To learn more, check out the report: Protected Bike Lanes Mean Business<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001i4M3sOZNJUy-puZDH0qUeSY2pqfGe9zfyQusMWYJQZSq…> . If you like what you see, will you help us spread the word by sharing it?<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001i4M3sOZNJUy-puZDH0qUeSY2pqfGe9zfyQusMWYJQZSq…> <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001i4M3sOZNJUy-puZDH0qUeSY2pqfGe9zfyQusMWYJQZSq…> <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001i4M3sOZNJUy-puZDH0qUeSY2pqfGe9zfyQusMWYJQZSq…> Thanks -- happy riding, walking, and transit-taking, Mary Lauran Hall Communications Director Alliance for Biking & Walking <http://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=un&m=001fVXok0jsw3t7yu4AtMBC1w%3D%3…> <http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp?cc=TEM_Basic_209> This email was sent to beth(a)greenactioncentre.ca by info(a)peoplepoweredmovement.org | Update Profile/Email Address<http://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=oo&m=001fVXok0jsw3t7yu4AtMBC1w%3D%3…> | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe<http://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=un&m=001fVXok0jsw3t7yu4AtMBC1w%3D%3…>™ | Privacy Policy <http://ui.constantcontact.com/roving/CCPrivacyPolicy.jsp>. Alliance for Biking & Walking | PO Box 65150 | Washington | DC | 20035

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Indianapolis bike network built with philanthropic dollars...
by Jackie Avent (ASRTS) 16 Jan '14

16 Jan '14

Very interesting model! Jackie http://www.treehugger.com/cars/biggest-bicycling-infrastructure-achievement… -- *Jackie Avent* | Active and Safe Routes to School Green Action Centre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Avenue* | *(204) 925-3773 Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/memberships/> Find us here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/>

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Fwd: Let's bolster the BOLD discussion...
by Winter Cycling Congress 2014 15 Jan '14

15 Jan '14

[FYI. The focus of this discussion is walking, cycling and other modes of winter physical activity. See below.] ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Alana Odegard <aodegard(a)winnipeg-chamber.com> Join the conversation and attend the Winnipeg Chamber’s BOLD Breakfast Wednesday, Jan. 22 | 7:30-9:00 am |Radisson Downtown Hear our panel talk about “Winterpeg” and some BOLD ideas on embracing an active winter lifestyle. Tickets: https://winnipegmbcoc.wliinc31.com/events/BOLD-Breakfast-Winterpeg-%28and-p… Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser<http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=3a4a7e5892b132c1c2e330e81&id=41c2bcd691…> . <info(a)winnipeg-chamber.com?subject=BOLD%20Breakfast%20-%20Jan.%2022&body=Please%20register%20me%20for%20this%20event.> To register, please contact Marissa Schluter at (204) 944-8484 or info(a)winnipeg-chamber.com. * <http://www.winnipeg-chamber.com>* *Alana Odegard* Policy & Communications Manager The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce aodegard(a)winnipeg-chamber.com Office: (204) 944-3316 Cell: (204) 297-5703 [image: Description: cid:image001.png@01CEC981.B5FFFDE0]<http://www.winnipeg-chamber.com/>[image: Description: cid:image002.png@01CEC981.B5FFFDE0]<http://www.winnipeg-chamber.com/BOLD/> Confidentiality Warning: This message and any attachments are intended only for the use of the intended recipient(s), are confidential, and may be privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, retransmission, conversion to hard copy, copying, circulation or other use of this message and any attachments is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately by return e-mail, and delete this message and any attachments from your system. Thank you. *Winter Cycling Congress Winnipeg 2014 <http://wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.org/>* *Feb 12-14, 2014* *Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada* [image: Inline image 1] phone: 1-204-797-1962 email. info(a)wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg.org facebook. /Wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg<http://facebook.com/Wintercyclingcongresswinnipeg> twitter. @wccwpg <http://twitter.com/wccwpg>. #wccwpg #wintercycling

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WFP: Big-city feel to bendy bus (Jan.14'14)
by Beth McKechnie 14 Jan '14

14 Jan '14

Big-city feel to bendy bus Articulated unit hits streets to glowing reviews By: Alexandra Paul http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/big-city-feel-to-bendy-bus-240048361… The best part? Everyone got a seat. Transit riders on the No. 54 St. Vital Express were in for a surprise Monday afternoon. One of the city's articulated "bendy" buses made its debut, picking up the first bus riders just before 4 p.m., eastbound on Portage Avenue at Langside Street. There were the obvious comparisons to other cities -- that Winnipeg was a big city now, like Toronto, Ottawa and countless American cities that have big buses and subways. The biggest practical difference was everybody got a seat on a rush-hour bus. Typically it's standing room only by the time the 54 Express makes the turn from Portage Avenue onto Main Street for the long run down St. Mary's Road into St. Vital. "That's pretty cool, first time on an articulated bus," said Jonathan Kos as he cast his gaze around the nearly empty bus. As one of the first passengers, along with a gaggle of university students, Kos and the kids were the first to get a good look inside. "I kept walking. I was so surprised, I just kept walking" past the fare box, University of Winnipeg student Kayla Goossen said. Her companion, Trevor Thomson, nodded beside her. Skipping the fare isn't something Goossen does. Later, the bus driver said he remembered the young student with the long hair. "Yeah, I called her (back)," he said. Goossen returned quickly to drop in her fare. "I really like the length of it, and you didn't really see it when it pulled up, how long it was. It's like two buses," Thomson said. >From the outside, lots of riders missed the fact the articulated bus is 20 metres long (60 feet) compared with a regular 13-metre (40-foot) transit bus. Inside, there was an initial disorienting split second before the eyes adjusted to the new reality, to take in the depth and the long walk back. And to count the three doors, instead of just two on regular buses. And so it went for just about everyone. "I just walked in with the (lineup)," chuckled Ron Ferguson. "No, didn't notice, not until I looked up," he said. Articulated buses have been spotted around the city in the last few weeks in a training role, but a city spokeswoman said the Monday-evening rush-hour run was the first time one of the vehicles had ferried passengers. Winnipeg Transit purchased 20 articulated buses that had been used in Ottawa previously. The vehicles were refurbished by New Flyer Industries, the manufacturer. The second-hand buses were a steal of a deal. Transit picked them up for far less than their new cost, which would have been $625,000 each. Winnipeg's price per bus came to $53,000 (plus GST), roughly the cost of a fully loaded pickup, plus $11,500 each for refurbishment. Winnipeg Transit will slowly integrate the vehicles, which can carry 40 per cent more passengers than a regular transit bus. The first of the new bendy buses arrived before Remembrance Day and were expected to be on city streets weeks earlier, but refurbishing at New Flyer, followed by tweaks by Winnipeg Transit to refit the refurbished buses to match the city's code, took some extra time. In November, Transit Tom picked four routes for the initial passenger runs: Routes 36, 54, 58 and 59, for their high-traffic routes through the St. Vital and Maples areas. The No. 54 Monday was the express from downtown to deep St. Vital. Bus driver Eric Genereux said it took him about half an hour to adjust to the extra space and the gentle accordion swing in the ride. "It feels a lot like a regular 40-foot bus," the transit driver said. "It's a longer bus, that's the difference, I guess. I've got 60 feet to pay attention to on either side and the third door." It's the riders who notice it more: "They all love the added space," the driver said. More than one passenger compared the bendy bus to a transit status symbol, rolling proof the gateway to the Prairies had graduated to a grown-up metropolis. Spin seats at the articulated middle spin gently as the bus makes a turn. Sitting there, passengers don't feel much of anything. But the swing looks cool and playful from other seats. That said, it's no surprise to learn the accordion middle widens and swings far less than, say, the 90-degree turn the bus makes on the street. "There are things to watch. It's like a regular 40-foot bus only it's 60 feet long. It's not the bus driver who does the work, it's the articulated (middle) that's got to work," Transit official Carlos Fernandes said. He said the bus design, with wheels on either side of the accordion middle, is what keeps the bus on track. Toronto, Montreal and Halifax already use articulated buses. alexandra.paul(a)freepress.mb.ca Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 14, 2014 A5

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AT webinar (Wed, Jan 15, 2-3:30, EcoCentre) - Strategies to Enable Witner Cycling and Walking
by Beth McKechnie 13 Jan '14

13 Jan '14

Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg invite you to join us for a local viewing of the following APBP webinar at the EcoCentre (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave). This will be followed by group discussion of local applications. Detailed description provided below. Please note this webinar is 90 minutes (rather than the usual one hour). RSVPs are appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! cheers, Beth (204) 925-3772 ** * * * ** Strategies to Enable Winter Cycling and Walking *Wednesday, Jan.15th | 2:00-3:30 p.m.* Winter conditions vary across a range of temperatures and precipitation, but in all cases communities must find ways to provide safe, accessible conditions for winter cycling and walking while balancing competing priorities. This webinar offers examples of policies and practices that are used to ensure timely snow removal from sidewalks, pathways, bike lanes and cycle tracks. Presenters in this session will discuss: - An overview of different types of winter climates and how facilities and maintenance should be adapted to local climate - Different policy approaches to snow removal from sidewalks - The importance of prioritization and predictability of snow removal in encouraging winter cycling - A pilot program to determine operation and funding requirements to achieve improved snow clearing and street sweeping along on-street bike routes. Presenters include: - Tyler Golly, General Supervisor – Sustainable Transportation, City of Edmonton, Alberta - Marc Jolicoeur, Research Director, Velo Quebec - Nicole Losch, Bicycle/Pedestrian/Environmental Planner, City of Burlington, Vermont - Arthur Ross, Pedestrian/Bicycle Coordinator, City of Madison, Wisconsin *Mark your calendar for the full year of APBP webinars coming up in 2014* January 15 Strategies to Enable Winter Cycling and WalkingFebruary 19 Design for Cyclist and Pedestrian Comfort March 19 All In: The Value of Investing in Complete and Green Streets April 16 Public Health Benefits of Active TransportationMay 21 Best Planning and Engineering Practices for School Zones June 18 Calming Arterial Streets for Safer Walking and Cycling July 16 >From Fast to Safer: Best Practices Where Road Speeds Change August 20 Transform Bicycling and Walking Outside the Urban Context September 17 Optimize Signals for Pedestrians and Bicyclists October 15 Design Treatments to Transition from Trails to Roadways November 19 E-bikes, Electric Assist Bikes and Transportation Policy December 17 Getting to Better Outcomes from Public Engagement

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Summary of FHWA (U.S.) Pedestrian and Bicycle Research and Program Activities
by Beth McKechnie 13 Jan '14

13 Jan '14

Comprehensive summary from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in the U.S. on their Pedestrian and Bicycle Research and Program Activities: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian/overview/trb_summari… (Thanks to Terry Zdan for circulating.)

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Plans for 'cycle utopia' above London's rail lines
by Beth McKechnie 02 Jan '14

02 Jan '14

Plans for 'cycle utopia' above London's rail lines http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-25549789 Plans to build a network of cycle paths high above the streets of London are being put forward for consultation. SkyCycle is a 136-mile (219 km) route, with the first phase, proposed from east London to Liverpool Street Station, costing more than £200m. If approved, the 10 routes would be built above existing rail lines and would take about 20 years to complete. The plans will be sent out to interested parties for feedback before a planning application is submitted. Sir Norman Foster, the architect who designed London's Gherkin tower, has been working with Exterior Architecture and Space Syntax on the concept since 2012. He said cycling was one of his great passions, particularly with friends. "I believe that cities where you can walk or cycle rather than drive are more congenial places in which to live," he said. 'Lateral approach' "To improve the quality of life for all in London and to encourage a new generation of cyclists, we have to make it safe. "However, the greatest barrier to segregating cars and cyclists is the physical constraint of London's streets, where space is already at a premium. "SkyCycle is a lateral approach to finding space in a congested city. By using the corridors above the suburban railways, we could create a world-class network of safe, car free cycle routes that are ideally located for commuters." He said early studies of a SkyCycle system indicated that it provided capacity at a much lower cost than building new roads and tunnels. The car-free cycle routes will be accessed via ramps at more than 200 points. Sam Martin and Oli Clark of Exterior Architecture Ltd said: "SkyCycle is an urban cycling solution for London. A cycling utopia, with no buses, no cars and no stress." A spokesman for Network Rail said they supported the plans. He added: "We are always happy to look at ways we can contribute to improving travel and transport in London. We will continue to liaise with all involved as the aspiration for this innovative scheme develops."

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WFP: One-metre Rule -- MPI told to reinforce message to drivers, cyclists (Jan.2'14)
by Beth McKechnie 02 Jan '14

02 Jan '14

One-metre RULE MPI told to reinforce message to drivers, cyclists By: Bruce Owen http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/one-metre-rule-238408371.html It doesn't feel like bicycling weather now, but in a few months, thousands of cyclists will take to Winnipeg streets and resume the annual jostling between bicycles and vehicles. In a recent decision, the Public Utilities Board recommended Manitoba Public Insurance "reinforce" the message of a one-metre passing distance between motor vehicles and cyclists. The PUB also wants MPI to conduct detailed research, including mapping, of collision history in the province to present at a hearing expected later this year. Cycling advocates say the public regulator didn't specify how MPI should reinforce the message of safe passing distance. "It is good to see the order for mapping of pedestrian and cycling collisions, but it's disappointing to see that many items have been left as recommendations, not orders," Bike Winnipeg executive director Mark Cohoe said. "Personally, I had hoped for more, however, I am not terribly surprised," added Winnipeg CAN-Bike safety instructor Dave Elmore. "It moves some of our arguments a bit further, but not much. "The question is what does reinforce mean? MPI's reluctance to push this safety measure comes from the fact it is not a requirement of the Highway Traffic Act and thus not really enforceable." Elmore appeared on behalf of Bike Winnipeg, a cycling advocacy group, at the PUB. He argued in order to make city streets safer, MPI should improve its messaging and driver training to emphasize a safer passing distance of one metre between a cyclist and a motor vehicle, and this distance should be increased for speeds greater than 50 km/h. MPI has said between 2001 and 2010, 13 cyclists were killed, 68 were seriously injured and 2,144 were injured less seriously. Elmore also told the PUB it is not sufficient for a motor vehicle and cyclist to share a lane, given the standard width of a lane, adding the term "share the road" is often misinterpreted by motorists as sharing the lane. Bike Winnipeg wants changes to the Highway Traffic Act to make the one-metre guideline law. MPI has said it has met with cyclist groups to update the information it gives to the public about cycling safetyin brochures and on its website. The PUB also wants the province to consider a meeting to review whether MPI is doing and spending enough to promote road safety. In 2012-13, MPI's road-safety and loss-prevention expenses were $13.1 million, which was y $1.7 million less than initially forecast. Road-safety expenses are forecast to decrease to $12.4 million in 2013-14, to $11.5 million in 2014-15 and to $10.6 million in 2015-16. MPI CEO and president Marilyn McLaren said the corporation will continue to work to fulfil its road-safety mandate. "It is not immediately clear what more could be learned through a significantly larger investment in research and analysis about Manitoba vehicle collisions," she said. "Road-safety programming efficacy is a priority across the globe and we will continue to work with Manitobans to reduce risk on our roadways." Elmore said because the PUB has no jurisdiction over the province, a future meeting "is likely to fall upon what we have found, to date, to be deaf ears." Cohoe said research in other jurisdictions has shown many collisions go unreported and more has to be done between MPI, health authorities and police departments and the public to capture those unreported collisions. "This is especially true for collisions involving cyclists as no one agency has the mandate to capture all collisions," he said. "MPI only counts collisions that involve motorized vehicles." bruce.owen(a)freepress.mb.ca *Safety programs put to the test* THE Public Utilities Board says because so little is known about the effectiveness of MPI's road-safety programs, it wants the Crown auto insurer to hit the books to minimize economic and social costs of collisions. "MPI is in the unique position of gathering the most driving and vehicle data in Manitoba. It can provide a leadership role in providing data and conducting research regarding road safety. It is the view of the board that MPI can -- and should -- facilitate or conduct more research and analysis regarding road safety issues," the PUB said in a recent order. For the next rate application next fall the board wants MPI to: A. Produce an updated map of collisions and fatalities related to pedestrian/motor-vehicle accidents in Winnipeg and in rural Manitoba and report on any patterns; B. Produce an updated map of collisions and fatalities related to cyclist/motor vehicle accidents in Winnipeg and in rural Manitoba and report on any patterns; C. Produce an updated map of collisions and fatalities related to motorcyclist/motor vehicle accidents in Winnipeg and in rural Manitoba and report on any patterns. D. Conduct a summative evaluation/benchmarking analysis of its high-school driver education program, focusing on whether there is a difference in outcomes for drivers who have completed the program versus drivers who have not; E. Provide the results of the analysis in (d) above together with an update regarding the Autopac's plans for changes to the High School Driver Education program; F. Provide an independent review of the current road-safety portfolio with a view to optimizing it (and setting goals for outcomes) and minimizing the economic and social costs of collisions; and G. Provide an independent review of the optimal size of a road-safety budget portfolio for the corporation with a view to minimizing the economic and social costs of collisions. Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 2, 2014 A8

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New report: Cycling, Health and Safety (OECD)
by Beth McKechnie 28 Dec '13

28 Dec '13

http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/transport/cycling-health-and-safety_9789282105… Many jurisdictions around the world are trying to retain or increase the share of cycling in urban traffic in order to benefit from the many health and transport efficiency benefits. Safety is a key concern and should be accounted for in these policies. This report of the International Transport Forum's Cycling Safety Working Group monitors international trends in cycling, safety and policy, and explores options that may help decision makers design safe environments for cycling. Key messages relate to strategic goal-setting for cycling policy and managing crash risks while increasing health benefits. The report also discusses how to better capture crash and bicycle usage statistics. The safety impacts of a wide range of pro-cycling measures are examined in detail.

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The bicycle is emerging as a new conservative front in the culture wars
by Dave Elmore 22 Dec '13

22 Dec '13

http://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2013/12/15/conservatives-new-enemy-bikes/No LMjnocHg28jZ4hw3F4oI/story.html Conservatives' new enemy: Bikes The bicycle is emerging as a new conservative front in the culture wars. Even before Toronto Mayor Rob Ford became internationally famous for being videotaped smoking crack, he was known as a City Hall version of Bluto Blutarsky of "Animal House"-swearing in public, proudly overeating, guzzling booze. His boorishness is so conspicuous and well documented that it raises the question: Who elected this guy? And why? The answer, in large part, comes down to transit. Ford is famously pro-car, and his strongest support came from suburbs outside downtown Toronto, where voters drive into the city during the day and return by car in the evening. One political scientist found that the strongest predictor of whether someone voted for Ford in the 2010 mayoral election was the person's method of commuting: Car commuters were Ford voters; everyone else wasn't. Ford repaid their loyalty by declaring on his first day as mayor that the "war on cars" was over; he abolished the vehicle registration tax and announced a plan to kill light rail in the city simply because, he said, streetcars "are just a pain in the rear end." But Ford reserves special venom for the menace called the bicycle. He is perhaps the most antibike politician in the world. In 2007, he told the Toronto City Council that roads were designed for only buses, cars, and trucks. If cyclists got killed on roads, "it's their own fault at the end of the day," he said. He compared biking on a city street to swimming with sharks-"sooner or later you're going to get bitten." He once summarized his views in City Hall succinctly: "Cyclists are a pain in the ass to the motorists." This all might seem kind of crazy-the rantings of an unmuzzled Canadian demagogue better known for his disastrous personal habits. But in his antipathy for bikes, Ford appears to be part of a trend. Particularly in America, the bicycle is emerging as a new conservative front in the culture wars. In May, Wall Street Journal commentator Dorothy Rabinowitz called bicyclists "the most important danger in the city"; in Colorado's last governor's election, a Republican candidate said a local bike-sharing program "could threaten our personal freedoms." A columnist for the conservative Washington Times declared D.C. bike-sharing programs to be "broken-down socialism"; radio pundit Rush Limbaugh said he "won't care" if his car door knocks over a cyclist. Cyclists who have struggled for years to attract political attention might be surprised to hear themselves talked about as an insidious new social force. But they can also see it as a kind of welcome-a recognition that for better or worse, they have, politically, arrived. In some ways, the bicycle seems profoundly unsuitable as a political lightning rod. True, zero-emission transport is a kind of liberal dream, but the bike is also an icon of self-sufficiency, designed for use by individuals who rely on themselves for upkeep and mobility. Republican Presidents Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and George W. Bush all were photographed on their bicycles. The bike has managed to stick around for over a century without joining the likes of organic vegetables and the Prius as symbols of holier-than-thou progressive snobbery. But as health and government officials have begun peddling bicycles as healthy, environmentally responsible alternatives to cars, and cities and towns spend money on new bike infrastructure, conservatives have started to sense a new target. They have begun to deploy "the bike" as a bogeyman in political debates-cast in a role anywhere from physical annoyance to a genuine threat to the American way of life. The most common target of critics has been the new city bike-share programs, an idea imported from Europe that has turned out to be wildly popular in Boston, New York, and elsewhere. In an antibike-share video commentary titled "Death by Bicycle," The Wall Street Journal's Rabinowitz described New York as "a city whose best neighborhoods are absolutely-begrimed, is the word-by these blazing blue Citibank bikes," while the reporter interviewing her helpfully offered that the bikes were also a "fire hazard" and observed that "New York is not London, or Paris, or Amsterdam." But Rabinowitz's deeper cavil is that bikes represent an assault on American freedoms. Her description of the bike lobby as an "all-powerful enterprise" might sound a little breathless, but is echoed elsewhere. Dan Maes, a Colorado Republican gubernatorial candidate in 2010, declared efforts to boost cycling to be "part of a greater strategy to rein in American cities under a United Nations treaty." When Rush Limbaugh suggested that injured bikers deserve what they get, it was because they're victimizing auto drivers by forcing them to yield to others. Ford acted on his promises to crack down on the biking nuisance, ripping up existing bike lanes in an attempt to help return his supporters to the freer, pre-bike world he promised them. The removal cost the city $300,000, and, according to Canada's National Post, ended up saving commuters just an average of two minutes each way. There's an element of demographic realpolitik to the conservative antipathy to bikes. Cyclists-and especially bike commuters-are statistically more likely to be city residents, and thus more liberal than those living in suburban and rural areas. But as the commentators' language suggests, the bike fight is really just another proxy battle in the American culture wars. Washington Times columnist Charles Hurt declared D.C.'s bike-sharing program to be favored by "commune enthusiasts." The program's red bikes, he wrote, weren't suitable for manly men, only for "these so-called 'metrosexual' males everybody keeps talking about." As political ideas fracture along cultural lines, pundits and politicians are finding cyclists to be a convenient new "them" in the eternal us-them struggle. Even if conservatives don't all agree that riders are metrosexuals, they "see bikers as obnoxious, rude hipsters," says Sam Schwartz, former New York City traffic commissioner. Conservative politicians know that simply opposing causes like environmentalism appeals to the base. At the extreme end, this leads to some positions that almost defy belief-"I love that smell of the emissions," said the former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, while riding a motorcycle-but bikes represent more of an everyday rebuke, a quiet reminder that your car isn't the only way to get around. In this respect, Rob Ford isn't just a mess. He is a visionary-perhaps the first candidate to win an election in part by fanning public annoyance at those reckless, entitled, tax-and-spend bicycle riders. As new bike lanes make their slow incursions into downtown traffic patterns, it's reasonable we can expect more such victories. It might seem frustrating for bike supporters, but there is one consolation: In politics, you get attacked because you matter. "There's been a huge increase" in the number of bikers, says Schwartz, who put in New York's first bike lane in 1978. "The love affair with the car is over for young people." After decades of unquestioned, highway-sponsored dominance of cars, bikes are finally becoming-even if just on the margins-something big enough to push against. Just ask Rob Ford. Or don't. He'll tell you anyway.

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A Before-and-After Guide to Safer Streets
by Dave Elmore 22 Dec '13

22 Dec '13

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/design/2013/12/-and-after-guide-safer-stree ts/7867/ A Before-and-After Guide to Safer Streets In the past decade or so, New York has seen a considerable decline in traffic fatalities (30 percent since 2001) and an even more dramatic decrease in the risk of serious injury among cyclists (72 percent since 2000). At the heart of these public safety achievements is better street design. City streets are far from perfect, but as officials have reduced space for cars, they've improved mobility for everyone. Last month, the New York City Department of Transportation released a brief-but-handy guide [PDF <http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/dot-making-safer-streets.pdf> ] that uses before-and-after design renderings to illustrate five basic rules for street safety. The report calls its comparisons "the largest examination of the safety effects of innovative roadway engineering conducted in a major American city, or perhaps any city globally." That's a tall claim, but there's no question that the five lessons embedded in these images merit notice from urban communities near and far. 1. Make the street easy to use. The idea here is to reduce the complexity of a given intersection in the eyes of all travelers. A safer city street will trade long, indirect crosswalks for shorter crossings and pedestrian islands. Removing low-volume legs from the traffic cycle will reduce wait times for everyone and eliminate complicated (read: dangerous) turns. Clearer lane designations - for left-turns and through traffic alike - make the whole intersection more predictable. (See PDF for images) 2. Create safety in numbers. Counter-intuitive as it can seem, the safety-in-numbers effect suggests that more pedestrians and bike riders actually make streets less dangerous. Bike lanes are the obvious way to bring riders to an intersection, while islands, mid-block crossings, and direct pedestrian routes can do the same for walkers. Giving signal priority to pedestrians gets platoons of people in the streets before cars have the chance to turn. (See PDF for images) 3. Make the invisible visible. Clear sight lines can improve a street's safety significantly. Curbs lined with parked cars can make it hard for a turning vehicle to see what's in another part of the street. That problem can be addressed by removing some of the parking spaces closest to the corner - a process called "daylighting," which increases visibility considerably (so long as parking enforcement is strict). Curb extensions that bring pedestrians further into the street have a similar effect. (See PDF for images) 4. Quality over quantity. Street engineers like to give cars as much space as possible <http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2011/12/transportation-planning-la w-every-city-should-repeal/636/> , but removing lanes to reduce the complexity of an intersection can actually improve traffic flow. A jumble of un-designated lanes with competing signals has the potential to become much more congested than an intersection that bans complex turns and creates right-angle corners. Pedestrian plazas that take the place of former lanes can enhance visibility and the safety-in-numbers effect. (See PDF for images) 5. Look beyond the problem. Expanding the area of traffic analysis can unlock solutions across a wider wedge of the street system. Redirecting traffic to another part of the local network, for instance, can help decongest crowded intersections without eliminating important routes. Sometimes the best street design is really a corridor design. (See PDF for images)

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FW: For Your Next Trip to Gimli
by Dave Elmore 18 Dec '13

18 Dec '13

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/home_family/mass-high-te ch-startup-launches-device-that-transforms-any-bike-into-an-electric-hybrid- 236330091.html Mass. high-tech startup launches device that transforms any bike into an electric-hybrid In this Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013 photo, Assaf Biderman, co-inventor of the Copenhagen Wheel and Associate Director of the SENSEable City Laboratory at MIT, poses with his invention at Superpedestrian, his venture-backed company in Cambridge, Mass. The Copenhagen Wheel is a human/electric hybrid bicycle engine built into a bicycle's back wheel. Pre-orders for the Copenhagen Wheel are being taken with delivery expected by May 2014. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia) In this Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013 photo, Assaf Biderman, co-inventor of the Copenhagen Wheel and Associate Director of the SENSEable City Laboratory at MIT, poses with his invention at Superpedestrian, his venture-backed company in Cambridge, Mass. The Copenhagen Wheel is a human/electric hybrid bicycle engine built into a bicycle's back wheel. Pre-orders for the Copenhagen Wheel are being taken with delivery expected by May 2014. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia) CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - A Massachusetts startup is launching a new device that transforms almost any bicycle into an electric-hybrid vehicle using an app on a smartphone. The device, called the Copenhagen Wheel, is installed as part of a rear hub of a bike wheel and is packed with a proprietary computer, batteries and sensors that monitor how hard a rider is pedaling and activate an onboard motor whenever support is needed. The device uses wireless connectivity to communicate with the biker's smartphone to track distance travelled and elevation gained, share with friends the number of calories burned and lock the wheel remotely as soon as the owner walks away from the bike. "The motor integrates itself with the rider's motion very, very seamlessly," said Assaf Biderman, who co-invented the device at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's SENSEable City Lab, where he is associate director. "It's almost like having a riding companion riding together with you, making the ride easier, simpler." The combination of power from the Copenhagen Wheel and the cyclist's energy can make an average biker move "almost like a Tour-de-France-level athlete in your daily commute," said Biderman, who founded Cambridge, Mass.-based Superpedestrian Inc. that secured an exclusive license for the technology from MIT. The Copenhagen Wheel packs sufficient power to propel a rider as fast as 60 kph (37.28 mph), but developers have put speed limits in software to meet local speed limits, effectively turning off the motor once the speed reaches 20 mph in the U.S. and 25 kilometres in Europe. The concept was inspired by a simple question: "How can we get more people to cycle?" Biderman said. The project received funding from the Italian ministry of the environment and office of the mayor of Copenhagen, a Danish city known as one of the most bicycle friendly locations in the world and whose tourism website says 55 per cent of its residents bike 1.2 million kilometres (750,000 miles) every day. The initial 1,000 units of the Copenhagen Wheel became available for pre-order through the Superpedestrian website earlier this month. Two weeks later, at least 810 had been sold for $699 each, the majority of them to customers in the U.S. Other orders went to Europe, Australia, Kenya, Madagascar and elsewhere. Shipping is scheduled for next spring. The Copenhagen Wheel does not replace a cyclist's existing bicycle. Consumers get the stylish hubcap-sized device already installed on a new rear wheel that fits their current bicycle. They remove the current wheel from their bike and install the souped-up unit and they are ready to go. The batteries are rechargeable. The Copenhagen Wheel seeks to tap into a lucrative and highly competitive market for electric bikes, also known as e-bikes. In a recent report, clean-technology consulting company Navigant Research estimated that worldwide revenue from electric bicycles will grow from $8.4 billion this year to $10.8 billion in 2020, fueled in part by desire for a viable alternative to increasingly congested city roads that makes crawling in car traffic less palatable. In the U.S., the trend is reflected in Census Bureau data showing the number of bicycle commuters rose 60 per cent in the decade ending in 2010. "Over the past few years we've seen a cycling renaissance throughout the world," Biderman said. "People are looking for alternatives."

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