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New study shows more walkable homes are worth more (Aug.18'09)
by Beth McKechnie 25 Aug '09

25 Aug '09

New Study Shows More Walkable Homes Are Worth More August 18, 2009 www.ceosforcities.org/news/entry/2591 CHICAGO - Though housing values are still slow to rebound from the collapse of the real estate market, a new analysis from CEOs for Cities reveals that homes in more walkable neighborhoods are worth more than similar homes in less-walkable neighborhoods, pointing to a bright spot in the residential real estate market. The report, "Walking the Walk: How Walkability Raises Housing Values in U.S. Cities" by Joseph Cortright, analyzed data from 94,000 real estate transactions in 15 major markets provided by ZipRealty and found that in 13 of the 15 markets, higher levels of walkability, as measured by Walk Score, were directly linked to higher home values. "Even in a turbulent economy, we know that walkability adds value to residential property just as additional square footage, bedrooms, bathrooms and other amenities do," said Cortright. "It's clear that consumers assign a tangible value to the convenience factor of living in more walkable places with access to a variety of destinations." Walkability is defined by the Walk Score algorithm (www.walkscore.com), which works by calculating the closest amenities - restaurants, coffee shops, schools, parks, stores, libraries, etc. - to any U.S. address. The algorithm then assigns a "Walk Score" from 0-100, with 100 being the most walkable and 0 being totally car-dependent. Walk Scores of 70+ indicate neighborhoods where it's possible to get by without a car. By the Walk Score measure, walkability is a direct function of how many destinations are located within a short distance (generally between one-quarter mile and one mile of a home). The study found that in the typical metropolitan area, a one-point increase in Walk Score was associated with an increase in value ranging from $700 to $3,000 depending on the market. The gains were larger in denser, urban areas like Chicago and San Francisco and smaller in less dense markets like Tucson and Fresno. "These findings are significant for policy makers," said Carol Coletta, President and CEO of CEOs for Cities, which commissioned the research. "They tell us that if urban leaders are intentional about developing and redeveloping their cities to make them more walkable, it will not only enhance the local tax base but will also contribute to individual wealth by increasing the value of what is, for most people, their biggest asset." An example of the effect of walkability on housing values cited in the study is found in Charlotte, NC. In a neighborhood with a typical Walk Score of 54 called Ashley Park, the median home price was $280,000. In a neighborhood with an above average Walk Score - 71 - called Wilmore, an otherwise similar home would be valued at $314,000. Controlling for all other factors including size, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, age, neighborhood income levels, distance from the Central Business District and access to jobs, "if you were to pick up that house in Ashley Park, and place it in more walkable Wilmore, it would increase in value by $34,000 or 12 percent," Cortright said. In the typical metropolitan areas studied, the premium commanded for neighborhoods with above average Walk Scores compared to those with average Walk Scores ranged from about $4,000 to $34,000, depending on the metro area. "Walking the Walk' shows definitively what we've always believed - that homes in walkable neighborhoods continue to be a good investment, and are one of the simplest and most effective solutions to fight climate change, improve our health, and strengthen our communities," said Walk Score founder Mike Mathieu. "Our vision is for every property listing to include a Walk Score: Beds: 3 Baths: 2 Walk Score: 84." The study included 15 metropolitan areas, finding a statistically significant positive relationship between walkability and home values in 13 areas: Arlington, Virginia; Austin, Texas;; Charlotte, North Carolina; Chicago, Illinois; Dallas, Texas; Fresno, California; Jacksonville, Florida;; Phoenix, Arizona; Sacramento, California; San Francisco, California; Seattle, Washington; Stockton, California, and Tucson, Arizona. In one metro area, Las Vegas, walkability was correlated with lower housing values, and in Bakersfield, California, there was no statistically significant connection between walkability and housing values. Real estate data for these markets was provided by ZipRealty (NASDAQ: ZIPR, www.ZipRealty.com), a national full-service residential real estate brokerage. "Walkability is a factor we've always considered important for buyers and sellers when bidding or pricing a home. We appreciate that "Walking the Walk" has confirmed this intrinsic value," said Patrick Lashinsky, chief executive officer for ZipRealty. "We were one of the first sites to adopt Walk Score alongside our listings because we feel walkability helps all our clients in the home search process." "There are a number of trends that are reshaping the American Dream," said Coletta, "and the value home buyers now place on living close to more daily destinations is one of the most important. Now, planning, zoning and development decisions have to catch up to consumers." The full report can be accessed at: http://www.ceosforcities.org/files/WalkingTheWalk_CEOsforCities1.pdf

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Be part of Winnipeg's first Ciclovia
by Beth McKechnie 20 Aug '09

20 Aug '09

Hello all you active people and organizations! The Downtown BIZ is set to put on a huge event SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13 promoting biking, walking, active transportation and healthy living. It's called CICLOVIA and it's a BROADWAY STREET FESTIVAL. This is a chance for you to march to the beat of those who love to be active - engaging in cycling, walking, running, & blading - as a natural part of their everyday healthy lifestyle and hit up some newbies as well! Come promote yourself & your services to the hundreds of people that are sure to travel the Broadway strip and help promote alternative transportation and active living! CICLOVIA is an event that supports the use of non-motorized transportation! We're closing down the entire north side of Broadway to motor-vehicle traffic from Osborne all the way to Main Street - with a connection from Assiniboine Park all the way to the Forks - so that people can walk, bike, rollerblade, skate, run, jump, parkour, or skip on down! Ciclovia, meaning "bike way," is an event whereby a significant city street - the entire north side of Broadway from Osborne to Main - is temporarily closed to automobiles to allow dominance by non-motorized traffic. This closure will be part of the day's active transportation-friendly route connecting all the way from Assiniboine park right down to the Forks! Ciclovia combines healthy living with arts and culture and engages citizens in active alternatives to motorized transportation, bringing life and community bonding back to otherwise car choked streets. Attendees will enjoy one of the city's most beautiful districts, taking in live entertainment, food, unique visual displays, family activities, and more! There's NO COST to participate, however there are sponsorship opportunities for those who'd like to support in more ways than one! The sky's the limit on ways you can get your message out so be sure to come out and support! Please see the links below for the following documents: a.. Ciclovia 1-page summary b.. Ciclovia Participant-Application c.. Ciclovia Sponsorship Opportunities Please fill out the attached application and return it ASAP if you are interested in participating. WAYS TO PARTICIPATE: a.. Host an activity (fitness, bike decorating, yoga, bike rodeo, skateboard demo, art session) b.. Host an on-stage demo or presentation ("how to" session, craft demo, etc.) c.. Set up a display table (information booth, awareness table etc) d.. Hold a mini street game/tournament (hockey, bike polo, etc.) e.. Be or bring out your company mascot (great for the kidszone and much more!) f.. Become a merchant (artist, clothing, accessories, jewellery etc) g.. Become a food vendor (truck or cart - must have all necessary permits in place) h.. Be an entertainer (graffiti art display, busker, kids entertainer - clown, juggler etc) i.. Other (you tell us!) Get the word out to everyone you know and we'll see you Ciclovia Sunday! Ciclovia Event Application Form http://www.downtownwinnipegbiz.com/images/File/2009_Ciclovia_Participant-Ap… Ciclovia Sponsorship Opportunities http://www.downtownwinnipegbiz.com/images/File/2009_Ciclovia-Sponsorship-Op… Ciclovia Summary http://www.downtownwinnipegbiz.com/home/events/ciclovia/

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Sign up for the Bike BBQ Fun Ride 2009 - August 29th
by Beth McKechnie 14 Aug '09

14 Aug '09

** please circulate widely - apologies for cross postings ** Registration form and more details at: http://www.mikepagtakhan.ca/home.cfm !

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FREE Webinar, IWALK Registration and Golden Sneaker Request
by Beth McKechnie 14 Aug '09

14 Aug '09

[Forwarded on behalf of Jackie Avent, Active & Safe Routes to School Coordinator, Resource Conservation Manitoba.] *please circulate widely apologies for cross-postings* Please join us for a *free* webinar on Safe Routes to School International Best Practices and Tips. When: Wednesday, August 19th, 2009 from 2 pm to 3 pm. Brief discussion to follow. Where: Manitoba Eco-Centre 3rd Floor, 303 Portage Avenue (access through the Mountain Equipment Co-op Lobby). RSVP to Jackie Avent asrts(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca; (204) 925-3773 Here is more information about the webinar: APBP Professional Development Webinar series Expand Your SRTS Toolbox: Learn about a New, National Pedestrian Safety Education Curriculum, Swiss Education Strategies, and Baltimore's Safety City Wednesday, August 19 · 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. CDT Come and learn about the new, NHTSA-funded pedestrian education curriculum for K-5 which will be released in November 2009. Its creators, Toole Design Group, tied the six-module curriculum to national standards of learning for mathematics, music, art, and physical education. The modules cover the basics of safe walking (along and across roadways), best crossing locations, understanding and using traffic signals, safe bus riding skills and parking lot safety. Teacher scripts make this very visual curriculum work effectively in many settings. Also up is an insider's look at the Winterthur, Switzerland, Traffic Garden where children learn safe walking and bicycling skills throughout their school years. Training is reinforced regularly. Join city staff and police to learn how they implement an annual learning adventure that benefits the entire community. We'll conclude with a sneak preview of a U.S. equivalent: Safety City in Druid Hill Park in Baltimore, MD. The guest co-moderator for this webinar is Jon Kaplan, VT Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator and a member of the International Ped Bike Scan Team that visited Winterthur.

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Summary report - International Scan on Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety and Mobility (June 2009)
by Beth McKechnie 11 Aug '09

11 Aug '09

Interesting read (okay, maybe just for some of us!) - International Scan Summary Report on Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety and Mobility (June 24, 2009) Background info from the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Centre (U.S.): In May 2009, a team of 12 transportation professionals with expertise in bicycling and walking from the U.S. visited five countries in Europe to identify and assess effective approaches to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety and mobility. Some of the countries, like Denmark, had experienced an increase in car use in the 1960s and 1970s, and subsequently reoriented their transportation policy to give priority to bicycling and walking. The scan team heard presentations from and had informal discussions with the foreign hosts. During most visits, the scan team also went on guided field visits (by bike as well as by foot) to better understand and experience the design and operation of various walking and bicycling facilities. These field visits were invaluable in documenting the facilities through photos and video, observing traffic behavior, and experiencing firsthand how well a design or operational strategy worked. The purpose of this scan tour was to identify and assess effective approaches to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety and mobility. The summary report provides a quick-response overview of the team's findings and recommendations: http://drusilla.hsrc.unc.edu/cms/downloads/Pedestrian%20Bicycle%20Scan%20Su… cheers, Beth Green Commuting Initiatives Resource Conservation Manitoba www.resourceconservation.mb.ca

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Travel & Leisure mag: World's Top Biking Cities (July 2009)
by Beth McKechnie 10 Aug '09

10 Aug '09

http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/the-worlds-top-biking-cities/1 * Copenhagen * Portland * Munich * Montreal * Perth * Amsterdam * Seattle * Paris * Minneapolis * Bogota

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Article - cycling facilities and social justice
by Beth McKechnie 10 Aug '09

10 Aug '09

Interesting article by John Pucher and Ralph Buehler debating cycling facilities in urban centres vs. "vehicular cycling" (emphasis on education for cycling in traffic), and the importance of social justice in cycling policy: http://www.vtpi.org/pucher_buehler_cycling.pdf

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Active Transportation - Canada: August 4, 2009
by Beth McKechnie 05 Aug '09

05 Aug '09

----- Original Message ----- From: Michael Haynes To: undisclosed recipients: Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2009 4:27 PM Subject: Active Transportation - Canada: August 4, 2009 Active Transportation - Canada features a regular posting of news articles, studies, reports, and other items that have relevance in this field, with previous postings available in an archive. In addition, pictures of existing Active Transportation infrastructure from communities across Canada will be profiled each week. The following items have recently been posted to the Active Transportation - Canada Blog. To view in more detail, go to: http://activetransportation-canada.blogspot.com **************************************************************************************************** AT Infrastructure Example: Regina SK - Off Road Trail 1.. Website: Haliburton Share the Road 2.. Morrissy Bridge group pressing on 3.. Downtown Saskatoon to get painted bike lanes 4.. Drawings of pedestrian Peace Bridge released 5.. Fitness: Bits and bites for Bixi newbies 6.. First Ontario Bike Summit 7.. ‘Rumours’, misinformation on pedestrian plan cited 8.. More than one way to sustainability 9.. Bike lane experiment begins 10.. Million Euro Subsidy For Cycling In EU 11.. Bike escalator being considered 12.. The healthy, but risky, choice 13.. Pathway to be built on Calgary's east edge 14.. Bixi a des ailes 15.. Bike Among the Ruins **************************************************************************************************** A reminder e-mail of new postings will be sent no more often than once per week. To continue to receive these updates, you need take no action. Should you not wish to receive updates, please return this e-mail with "Unsubscribe" in the Subject area. Interested in an AT workshop in your community? For more information, please contact: Michael Haynes Director, TransActive Solutions MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "ca.mc883.mail.yahoo.com" claiming to be activetransportation(a)rogers.com 613.424.2803

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WFP article Aug. 5, 2009 p.B1
by Stacy Matwick 05 Aug '09

05 Aug '09

City will need to pedal harder Bike-path upgrade worthwhile; bike-sharing program necessary By: Dan Lett Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION 5/08/2009 Cyclists negotiate traffic at Main and Bannatyne Tuesday. The city and province must be congratulated for deciding to extend the bike-lane system, but that should just be a start. Once again Winnipeg is at a crossroads, only this time it's mounted on a bicycle as it stares down its destiny. At first blush, bike lanes may not seem like a make-it-or-break-it issue of urban planning. To be sure, increased use of bicycles is important for the environment and making cities work better. But in this town, the issue is typically portrayed as gravy -- not the meat and potatoes. However, this conventional wisdom wilts after visiting a city that embraces the bike, rather than just tolerates it. A city such as Montreal. It had been some years since I had spent quality time in Quebec's largest city, and while I always remember Montreal as a city that featured more than its fair share of bike commuters, the city has gone above and beyond in making itself bike-friendly. The first major development that I spotted were the buffered bike lanes. Not just white lines on the side of major routes downtown, but distinct two-way thoroughfares separated from vehicular traffic by a concrete median. Although it presents a challenge for pedestrians -- you have to look both ways, twice -- it is clearly safer and more efficient for cyclists. But Montreal also features a Bixi bike-sharing system that allows Montrealers to pick up bicycles in one location downtown and drop them off in another. The stations are located no more than 200 metres apart from each other. Racks of Bixi bikes can be found with alarming regularity; there are more than 3,000 bikes at 300 individual stations. One year of Bixi access is just $78, taxes included. In total, Bixi has 8,000 members. It registered about 250,000 individual rides last year. The system was named one of Time magazine's Top 50 inventions of 2008 and is being replicated in Toronto and Ottawa. It's not an entirely new idea, of course. Paris boasts a similar program, Velib, which supplies more than 20,000 bicycles throughout the core of the city. And each and every year, more and more cities are taking steps to promote bikes and public transit, especially in city cores that simply cannot absorb an endless supply of vehicular traffic. Which brings us back to Winnipeg. Congratulations must go out to the city and province for extending Winnipeg's dedicated bike-lane system and for including bike lanes alongside the new rapid-transit bus corridor. Unfortunately, there was a hitch. City traffic engineers could not find a cost-effective way of negotiating the Osborne Street underpass, which essentially cuts the downtown-bound bike lane in half. The underpass cannot be expanded to include a bike path, so cyclists would be forced to share the underpass with buses and other vehicular traffic at some risk. Cycling advocates cried foul, claiming that they weren't getting a safe, uninterrupted route from southern neighbourhoods into the downtown. The city has responded with a promise to rebuild the underpass some time in the future, but not in the near future. The absence of a solution for the Osborne underpass dilemma does not undo the good done by the city and province on this issue. It does, however, demonstrate Winnipeg's capacity for falling short on good ideas. It also suggests that civic officials are stuck in that mindset that says bike lanes are gravy, not meat and potatoes when it comes to urban planning. They would be wrong, of course. Bigger cities with greater population density have little choice but to consider radical approaches to moving people in and out of core areas. Winnipeg is not under that kind of pressure, but that does not mean we can take a leisurely approach. There is a downtown renaissance going on in this city, even if it is moving at a glacial pace, and one of the new trends is the growing number of people travelling downtown for work. The new Manitoba Hydro headquarters will be full by this fall. Red River College is expanding in the Exchange District and the University of Winnipeg is doing likewise. There are continuing rumours that another government entity (Manitoba Lotteries?) could occupy the top floors of the Hudson's Bay store at Memorial Boulevard and Portage Avenue. The time is right for the city to move aggressively on bike lanes, bike-sharing programs, and improvements to mass transit in and out of downtown. The rapid-transit program is a move in the right direction, but it should be coupled with efforts to make parking more expensive and rapid transit more affordable and convenient. And let's not forget safety. On Tuesday, two cyclists were struck by cars. Carnage like that is reason enough to look at alternatives. Modern, progressive cities move more people on bikes and rapid transit than in minivans and sedans. They do that because they have to. Winnipeg may not need the same kind of amenities for cyclists now. But we're going to need them soon and there's no good reason to put off the inevitable. dan.lett(a)freepress.mb.ca Find this article at: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/city-will-need-to-pedal-harder-52508…

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Active Transportation - Canada: July 20, 2009
by Beth McKechnie 30 Jul '09

30 Jul '09

----- Original Message ----- From: Michael Haynes To: undisclosed recipients: Sent: Monday, July 20, 2009 9:03 AM Subject: Active Transportation - Canada: July 20, 2009 Active Transportation - Canada features a regular posting of news articles, studies, reports, and other items that have relevance in this field, with previous postings available in an archive. In addition, pictures of existing Active Transportation infrastructure from communities across Canada will be profiled each week. The following items have recently been posted to the Active Transportation - Canada Blog. To view in more detail, go to: http://activetransportation-canada.blogspot.com **************************************************************************************************** AT Infrastructure Example: Halifax NS - Informal bike parking 1.. Arrest made, van seized after hit-and-run injures five cyclists 2.. New ACT Canada Newsletter 3.. Commuting by Bike or Foot Provides Heart Help for Men in Study 4.. Carless in Calgary 5.. Dufferin County Active Transportation and Trails (DCATT) Master Plan 6.. Chaos! Mayhem! The End of The World As We Know It! Would That Be Such A Bad Thing? 7.. Calgary - No plans to unveil new pedestrian bridge 8.. The pedestrian's guide to Toronto 9.. Clark County commission broaches idea of tax on bikes 10.. Eco Mobile à Laval launches "Try a Bike" - En Route to Active Transportation 11.. Victoria Walks 12.. Walking Promotion in NZ 13.. Dar plans for bicycle lanes to ease congestion 14.. Report: Reclaiming city streets for people 15.. Netherlands: e-Bikes Market Share Surging **************************************************************************************************** A reminder e-mail of new postings will be sent no more often than once per week. To continue to receive these updates, you need take no action. Should you not wish to receive updates, please return this e-mail with "Unsubscribe" in the Subject area. Interested in an AT workshop in your community? For more information, please contact: Michael Haynes Director, TransActive Solutions MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "ca.mc883.mail.yahoo.com" claiming to be activetransportation(a)rogers.com 613.424.2803

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