- AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

Colin Fast: Hit the Gas on Slowing Down
by Beth McKechnie 23 Feb '15

23 Feb '15

[In case you missed this piece, as I did, when it appeared in the print version of Metro Winnipeg on Feb 3/15.] Slow down Winnipeg: Lowering the speed limit to 40 km/h is a no-brainer http://metronews.ca/voices/policy-frog/1277917/slow-down-lowering-the-speed… If this is an average week in Winnipeg at least a half-dozen pedestrians and a couple of cyclists will end up in hospital after being hit by a car or truck. Yet despite the fact hundreds of residents are being injured or killed every year, the city has refused to take the most basic step toward improving road safety: reducing the default speed limit. Ignoring the issue not only creates a real danger for pedestrians, but it leaves Winnipeg in the dust on an emerging public policy trend toward slowing traffic down. New York, London and Paris all lowered their speed limits last year to between 32 km/h and 40 km/h. Edinburgh just approved lowering its limit to 32 km/h and San Francisco — already at 40 km/h — is looking at doing the same. Within Canada, campaigns are underway to lower speed limits in some Calgary neighbourhoods, Victoria recently cut the speed to 40 km/h on several streets, and the Ontario government announced last week it will hold public consultations on reducing the default speed limit to 40 km/h across the entire province. Politicians like Ottawa’s mayor Jim Watson and Thunder Bay’s mayor Keith Hobbs have already backed the proposal and said they want lower limits in their communities. “You see some cars going 60 and 70 km/h down a residential street and you cringe at what could happen — a child hit or killed, a pet, a senior citizen,” Watson told Metro Ottawa. But when 40 km/h speed limits were raised at Winnipeg city council in 2013, the administration dismissed the idea and councillors pretty much shrugged and moved on. To be fair, council did approve 30 km/h school speed zones around the same time, but those might be more confusing than effective. In addition to providing only part-time protection (7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, September to June), they also create a patchwork of speed limits in residential areas. For example, along Kingsway in River Heights the speed limit changes four times in seven blocks as the road passes two elementary schools. While “keep ’em on their toes” is one way to deal with speeders, it might not be the best option for creating long-term behavioural changes. A consistent 40 km/h speed limit on all residential streets — secondary roads, not major thoroughfares — would only delay drivers by a few seconds, but it would significantly improve safety and quality of life in Winnipeg’s residential neighbourhoods. Let’s hope our civic leaders speed up and get on board the slow-down movement. *Colin Fast is a communications specialist and freelance journalist in Winnipeg. He drives at 40 km/h through his neighbourhood and doesn’t care how much you honk. Find him on Twitter(a)policyfrog.*

1 0

Another good reason to walk and bike
by Beth McKechnie 23 Feb '15

23 Feb '15

Interesting to see that physical inactivity is even way more damaging than obesity, and that even "healthy weight" individuals would greatly benefit from walking or cycling. (Okay, nothing shockingly new but it might motivate some.) * * * * * *Lack of exercise responsible for twice as many deaths as obesity * A brisk 20 minute walk each day could be enough to reduce an individual’s risk of early death, according to new research published today. The study of over 334,000 European men and women found that twice as many deaths may be attributable to lack of physical activity compared with the number of deaths attributable to obesity, but that just a modest increase in physical activity could have significant health benefits. See more at: http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/lack-of-exercise-responsible-for-twice-a…

1 0

Halifax advocates hand their city an entire protected bike lane plan on a platter
by Beth McKechnie 20 Feb '15

20 Feb '15

Halifax advocates hand their city an entire protected bike lane plan on a platter February 18, 2015 For biking believers both inside and outside of government, the playbook has become familiar. Lobby city planners to make a bike network plan. Get it funded. Make it as forward-thinking and ambitious as possible. Once you've drawn a bunch of lines on the city's official map, select the most important projects and start to fight political battles street by street, compromising every step of the way with those who argue that biking facilities don't need to be *that* common or *that* comfortable or *that* direct — forcing elected officials to weigh the needs for this parking lane or that turn lane one block at a time. It's a time-tested strategy, and it can certainly get results. But this winter in Halifax, a handful of volunteer biking advocates decided to try turning the process upside down. Read article <http://www.peopleforbikes.org/blog/entry/advocates-hand-halfiax-an-entire-p…> -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | 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/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://canadahelps.org/>

1 0

Peg City Car Co-op job posting
by Beth McKechnie 19 Feb '15

19 Feb '15

*** Please share widely *** *Peg City Car Co-op seeks Member Services Coordinator* To help with our growing membership and network of carshare vehicles, we need a dependable person who gets carsharing and how it works. Someone who is committed to and understands the individual, environmental and community benefits of "Bike. Walk. Bus. And Sometimes, Drive." The Member Services Coordinator is the main point of contact for Peg City Car Co-op members and is responsible for ensuring that members are satisfied with the carshare service as a practical, convenient and cost-effective alternative to private vehicle ownership. *Find details here.* <http://pegcitycarcoop.ca/2015/02/peg-city-car-co-op-seeks-member-services-c…> Deadline for submission:* 9pm, Thursday, March 5th*

1 0

Get involved with Jane's Walk 2015
by Beth McKechnie 19 Feb '15

19 Feb '15

*** Please share widely *** Hi everyone, The planning committee for Jane's Walk Winnipeg 2015 is looking for new blood! Each year our number of walks grows and the topics become more diverse. Check out some of last year's 24 walks <http://www.janeswalk.org/canada/winnipeg/> – from "Ballads and Boulevards" to "History and Heroes". This year's Jane's Walk weekend is May 2 and 3. What does the planning committee do? Mostly, we help recruit and assist walk leaders, including an orientation evening, and promote the weekend's walks. *Join us for our next meeting: * *Monday, February 23rd, *5-6:30pm *EcoCentre boardroom (3rd floor-303 Portage Ave, MEC bldg)* Background: Jane’s Walk celebrates the ideas and legacy of urbanist Jane Jacobs <http://www.janejacobswalk.org/about-jane-jacobs-walk/meet-jane-jacobs/> by getting people out exploring their neighbourhoods and meeting their neighbours. Free walks held on the first weekend of May each year are led by locals who want to create a space for residents to talk about what matters to them in the places they live and work. All walks are given and taken for free. thanks! Beth -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | 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/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://canadahelps.org/>

1 0

Portage Daily Graphic: Active Transportation plan stalled
by Beth McKechnie 17 Feb '15

17 Feb '15

Active transportation plan stalled By Svjetlana Mlinarevic <http://www.portagedailygraphic.com/author/svjetlana-mlinarevic>, The Graphic Tuesday, February 17, 2015 http://www.portagedailygraphic.com/2015/02/17/active-transportation-plan-st… City of Portage la Prairie councillors recently defeated a motion to implement an active transportation plan for the city. Administrators had recommended the city award the development of an active transportation plan to MMM Group Ltd. for $51,840. Councillors defeated the motion during their regular council meeting on Feb. 9 as most felt it was costing the city too much money. “I completely support the city’s efforts to address and properly plan active transportation initiatives in our community. I do have some concerns though with our ability to fund the projects at hand and I’m just wondering whether or not this is an item, that while we did send out an RFP, should not be appended until after we’re done our debt management plan,” said finance chair Coun. Brent Budz, who was the first to strike down the recommendation. The city issued a request for proposals (RFP) for consulting services for the master plan and received three proposals, with MMM ultimately being chosen by staff as the best choice (it is currently working on the Saskatchewan Avenue revitalization plan). MMM’s plan would assess the needs of residents; would involve discussions with stakeholders; develop an active transportation network plan; develop on and off-street route design standard; develop a phasing plan; identify maintenance requirements and development standards; prepare a public communication and education plan; develop land use policies and land development standards; and prepare cost estimates. The process would also include a public open house. The city budgeted $20,000 for the plan with additional funds coming from potential grants from the province ($20,000); small communities transportation fund, and the community planning assistance program. Administration would defer a $30,000 budgeted item until the grant money is received from the province in order for the project to proceed. The final report would have been completed by the end of June. Budz further compared the active transportation plan to the Saskatchewan Avenue and Island Park bridge plans and said it would be difficult for the city to accomplish all of the projects in an appropriate amount of time. Coun. Brent Froese disagreed with Budz’ lumping of the active transportation plan in with the larger projects. “The fact is that we’ve already been spending money on active transportation ever since the construction of the Crescent path and even longer. We have committed in our debt management plan monies per year for, I believe, the next 15 years. So, it’s not as if we’re talking about an unplanned expenditure. “We’re already spending this money. I also understand that there have been monies donated and waiting to be applied to this project, specifically by the Rotary Club, and there may be other monies that are kind of sitting and waiting for this plan to be finished. “I don’t feel comfortable holding this back on the grounds that this is like the bridge and Saskatchewan Avenue. This is an attempt to plan what we are kind of already doing and maybe we’re already a little late in the planning stage,” said Froese. Mayor Irvine Ferris said there has been an active transportation committee working on this for more than two years and asked director of operations Kelly Braden for his thoughts. “There is an active transportation committee group that has been working on this and it seems to be proceeding without a real plan in place,” said Braden. “It has developed a sketch but every year council has been allocating about $10,000 a year for active transportation. I recommended that we put a plan together, in advance, and then follow that plan for the next 10 or 20 years.” Braden added that the debt management plan has about $500,000 already allocated to active transportation, pathway upgrading and redevelopment for the next 10 years. “That’s one of the reasons I want to put a plan together before we go $50,000 a year .... before we spend that kind of money there should be a plan in place,” said Braden. Espey asked if the city could use university students to develop a plan as the city had done for the Saskatchewan Avenue project as it would be cheaper. City manager Jean-Marc Nadeau said it might not be possible as the students are selective in what projects they take on because they don’t want to take away from the private sector. “We can ask, but my expectation is that they will likely say, ‘No,’” said Nadeau. Coun. Wayne Wall said he felt Espey’s proposal was not above board. “I have a bit of a problem with asking for proposals from consultants and then going out to students and saying, ‘Hey, can you do it cheaper than this?’ from an ethical point-of-view,” he said. svjetlana.mlinarevic(a)sunmedia.ca

1 0

Trails Manitoba RFP
by Beth McKechnie 17 Feb '15

17 Feb '15

[On behalf of Trails Manitoba...] Trails Manitoba is seeking the services of a researcher to conduct an *Environmental Scan of Trail Products for Manitoba’s Trans Canada Trail*. Details are contained in the link below, including the closing date for proposals of March 9, 2015. http://trailsmanitoba.ca/2015/02/trails-manitoba-rfp-environmental-scan-tra…

1 0

AT Webinar CHANGE OF DATE: New Tools for Estimating Walking and Bicycling Demand
by Beth McKechnie 17 Feb '15

17 Feb '15

*** PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATE *** Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg invite you to join us for a local viewing of the following APBP webinar: *New Tools for Estimating Walking and Bicycling Demand. * This webinar viewing takes place in the EcoCentre boardroom (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave) and will be followed by group discussion of local applications. RSVPs appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! cheers, Beth * * * * * New Tools for Estimating Walking and Bicycling Demand *Thursday, February 25th, 2-3 p.m., EcoCentre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Boardroom* NCHRP project 08-78 developed new methods for estimating bicycle and pedestrian demand for planning and project development. The project’s final report is NCHRP 770, a guidebook that presents an array of methods for a variety of planning applications, with context and instruction on their selection and use. This webinar will focus on a new tool outlined in NCHRP 770 that enables practitioners to estimate demand from the interaction of land use and transportation. The new *multimodal accessibility tool *allows planners to include all modes of travel in an analysis that also examines changes in the pattern of land use or the travel network to determine which strategy, or combination of strategies, provides the greatest return. This session will review the limitations of current models for estimating demand, describe the research behind the development of the new tool, and give examples of how the model is being used at regional, corridor, and neighborhood levels. *Presenter:* - J. Richard Kuzmyk, Principal, Renaissance Planning Group

1 1

FW: WRENCH job posting
by Dave Elmore 12 Feb '15

12 Feb '15

Please see job posting for the WRENCH and forward to your contacts/networks. Thanks Dave o _ ( \ _ (X)\ /(X) From: wrenchprogram(a)gmail.com [mailto:wrenchprogram@gmail.com] On Behalf Of Patrick Krawec Sent: February-11-15 5:03 PM To: Dave Elmore; Mark Cohoe; Lea G Subject: WRENCH job posting Hello people, Attached is a new job posting from the WRENCH. If you folks would be kind enough to post it on your posting pages that would be awesome. Thanks, Pat -- Patrick A. Krawec, Executive Director The Winnipeg Repair Education and Cycling Hub 1057 Logan Ave. Winnipeg, MB R3E 3N8 <http://www.TheWrench.ca/> www.thewrench.ca 204-296-3389

1 0

The Cost of Urban Sprawl Invitation
by Beth McKechnie 12 Feb '15

12 Feb '15

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Melanie Andrushko <melanie(a)downtownwinnipegbiz.com> Date: Wed, Feb 11, 2015 at 4:35 PM Good afternoon, An exciting speaker is coming to Winnipeg and you’re invited! Sponsored by the Province of Manitoba, the City of Winnipeg, CentreVenture and the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ. Please see the invitation and details below. Regards, *Melanie Andrushko* Project Coordinator: Placemaking & Transportation *Downtown Winnipeg BIZ* 426 Portage Avenue | Winnipeg, MB | R3C 0C9 Tel: 204-958-4629 | Fax: 204.958.4630

1 0