- AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

Snow Trek 2011 - starts THIS Sunday! (please forward)
by Beth McKechnie 12 Jan '11

12 Jan '11

*2011 Snow Trek – 2nd Annual winter in motion*…starts THIS SUNDAY! As the mercury plunges and the snow settles around us, your first instinct may be to hibernate until spring. But, get up off the couch, put down the remote, and discover the real potential of Winnipeg's winter by joining us at the 2nd annual "Snow Trek - winter *in motion* ". It promises to be *THREE fun-filled Sunday afternoons* for the whole family (all ages) to get outside for some cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, tobogganing, winter walking and outdoor winter play. You are encouraged to come out to *any* & *all* of the Snow Trek 2011 dates & locations. *No Experience, No Problem!* We are offering FREE cross-country ski instruction. *No Equipment, No Problem!* We will have a limited supply of FREE cross-country skis & snowshoes for you to use (ID required) at all four locations. *Too Young, Too Old!* No such thing...Everybody Welcome! *What*: Snow Trek – 2nd Annual Winter *in motion* *When & Where: * *1st Sunday - January 16, 2011* Assiniboine Park Duck Pond Fort Whyte Alive (1961 McCreary Rd) *2nd Sunday - January 23rd, 2011* Windsor Park Nordic Centre (10 Des Meurons St.) *3rd Sunday - February 13th, 2011* Living Prairie Museum (2795 Ness Ave.) *Time:* 12:00 - 4:00pm (at all four locations) *Who:* All Welcome! *Cost:* FREE! For more information and a detailed schedule, be sure to check out http://www.winnipeginmotion.ca/snow_trek_2011/ or call Winnipeg *in motion*at 940-3648. See you on the trails! 2011 Snow Trek – 2nd Annual winter *in motion* is a community event put on by many community partners - Thank you! ********************* ** Sign-up to receive Winnipeg in motion email updates http://www.winnipeginmotion.ca/signup/ ** ------------------------------------------------------------- Deanna Betteridge, BESS, M.Sc. *in motion* Coordinator 2 - 189 Evanson St. Winnipeg, Manitoba R3G 0N9 204-940-3264 (w) 204-232-3297 (c) 204-940-8409 (f) E-mail: dbetteridge(a)wrha.mb.ca Web site: www.winnipeginmotion.ca This email and/or any documents in this transmission is intended for the addressee(s) only and may contain legally privileged or confidential information. Any unauthorized use, disclosure, distribution, copying or dissemination is strictly prohibited. If you receive this transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately and return the original. Ce courriel et tout document dans cette transmission est destiné à la personne ou aux personnes à qui il est adressé. Il peut contenir des informations privilégiées ou confidentielles. Toute utilisation, divulgation, distribution, copie, ou diffusion non autorisée est strictement défendue. Si vous n'êtes pas le destinataire de ce message, veuillez en informer l'expéditeur immédiatement et lui remettre l'original. -- *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/memberships/>

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[At-network] TDM & Special Events webinar: Wed., Jan 12th, Noon-1 pm, EcoCentre
by Beth McKechnie 05 Jan '11

05 Jan '11

Green Action Centre will be hosting the following ecoMOBILITY (Transport Canada) webinar on Special Events & TDM (Transportation Demand Management) on Wed, Jan. 12th. If you would like to join us, please let me know at * beth(a)greenactioncentre.ca*. Hope you can join us! cheers, Beth 925-3772 ------------------------------ Webinar: * Special Events & TDM *Date: *Wednesday, Jan. 12, Noon to 1:00 p.m. CST * Location: *EcoCentre boardroom, 303 Portage Ave, third floor* (enter via elevator inside front doors of MEC) Sporting events, concerts, town celebrations…they all involve a lot of people trying to get to the same place at the same time. How can you sustainably plan transportation for these types of events? How can you convince attendees to walk, cycle, or take public transit to special events instead of using their cars? In order to manage dramatically increased transportation demand during the 2010 Olympic Games, TransLink (Metro Vancouver's regional transportation authority) and its partners set the ambitious goal of reducing vehicle use by at least 30% during the Games. In this ecoMOBILITY webinar, JoAnn Woodhall from TransLink will speak about the highly successful measures put in place to not only transport Olympic spectators, volunteers, and staff, but also to provide local commuters and businesses with travel options that would keep commuters, customers, and goods moving during the Games. She will also discuss the monitoring and measurement of these initiatives, and how the quantitative data TransLink obtained is helping to prove the value of transportation demand management in Vancouver. -- *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/memberships/>

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WFP: $18-M remake for Osborne Bridge - Focus on cyclists, peds, art (Dec.17'10)
by Beth McKechnie 17 Dec '10

17 Dec '10

{Winnipeg Free Press] $18-M remake for Osborne Bridge Focus on cyclists, pedestrians, art By: Geoff Kirbyson A newly rehabilitated Osborne Bridge will have separate spaces for cyclists and pedestrians, as well as an artistic component to fit in with the eclectic neighbourhood, according to plans unveiled Thursday evening. A smattering of area residents and users of one of the city's busiest bridges discovered active transportation will be the central theme of a planned $18-million renovation. Construction, which is scheduled to begin in April, will feature one three-metre-wide walkway and two two-metre-wide bike paths. [image: The Osborne Bridge, shown in artist’s conception.] Enlarge Image <http://media.winnipegfreepress.com/images/artistosborne.jpg> The Osborne Bridge, shown in artist’s conception. To accommodate these features, the bridge will be widened by about five feet by extending the overhangs and replacing the existing wide median with a narrower barrier. Matt Chislett, bridge projects engineer for the city's public works department, said the city decided against a joint pedestrian-cycling lane. "We have a high percentage of people in the area with vision impairment or who use seeing-eye dogs and we didn't want them sharing space with cyclists," he said at an information open house at Holy Rosary Church. Chislett said making the bridge safer for people on foot has been a concern since a vehicle jumped the curb and killed a pedestrian in the late 1980s. He said the renovation will prolong the lifespan of the bridge for another 75 years. The Osborne Bridge was built in 1975. Replacing the bridge would cost about $25 million, he said. Chislett said he and his team will take the most recent public feedback and potentially "tweak" bridge plans. The current schedule calls for the east side of the bridge to be closed in April, with construction finishing up in October. The following spring, the same thing will happen to the west side. During both construction periods, traffic flows in both directions will be restricted to a total of three lanes, he said. "It's going to be a snarl," he said, noting 40,000 vehicles cross the bridge every day. Most of the time, two lanes will head south, with one going north. During morning rush hours, however, it will be reconfigured with two lanes heading north. Chislett said an artist has been hired to incorporate art into the bridge's design, such as the handrails or at the end of the bridge. "We want to make it an esthetically pleasing bridge to fit the neighbourhood," he said. About 60 people came through the open house during the first three of four hours Thursday night. Gerald, whose family operates a business in the area and who asked that his last name not be published, said he appreciated the chance to voice his opinions on the project design. He said he was confident it would not result in the public relations disaster that accompanied last fall's introduction of traffic circles in several neighbourhoods. He said he believes the bigger problem is traffic flow in Osborne Village, used by people from other neighbourhoods simply passing through on their way home from downtown. "I think they should tunnel under the Osborne overpass and come up under the river by the (Legislative Building)," he said. geoff.kirbyson(a)freepress.mb.ca -- *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/memberships/>

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Employment opportunities with Green Action Centre - December 2010
by Beth McKechnie 08 Dec '10

08 Dec '10

***PLEASE POST WIDELY - apologies for cross-posting*** * * *GREEN ACTION CENTRE* EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY; two positions available December 3, 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------- *Active and Safe Routes to School Program Intern* ------------------------------------------------------------- *Application deadline:** *Monday, December 13 2010** *Start date:** *Thursday, January 6 2011 *End date: *Friday, March 18 2011 * * These positions being funded through the YMCA’s Post-Secondary Graduate Youth Eco Internship Program (PSYEIP) with funding provided by the Government of Canada. This program places unemployed youth aged 15 to 30 from diverse backgrounds into paid internship opportunities within the private, non-profit, public, and charitable service sectors in Canada with a focus on the environment and community*. Applicants must meet ALL eligibility criteria for the program in order to be considered:* - between 15 and 30 years of age (inclusive) at the time of placement; - not receiving Employment Insurance benefit; - a graduate of a post-secondary education program; - be unemployed; or underemployed (working 20 hours or less on a regular basis); or working in a job that does not match your area of educational study; - out of school; - a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person on whom refugee status has been conferred; - legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial/territorial legislation and regulations; - have a social insurance number; - be willing to complete a Police Records Check. *Note: Youth who previously participated in the Youth Eco Internship Program will not be considered* * * Green Action Centre is a non-profit, charitable community organization currently seeking *two program interns* for our Active and Safe Routes to School (ASRTS) program. The interns will actively encourage walking and cycling as healthy alternatives for getting kids to and from school by working closely with teachers, parents, school staff and students at selected Manitoba elementary schools. The interns will be involved in the lead up to Clean Air Day in June, and the coordination of a regional meeting of Active and Safe Routes to School practitioners in Manitoba. The interns will work closely with the Active and Safe Routes to School Program Team on the planning and delivery of events, and will act as supports for other areas of the program including policy development, in-class workshops and education, best routes to school mapping, report writing, fundraising and materials development. *RESPONSIBILITIES* * * · Promotes elementary school participation in the annual Clean Air Day Walk to School (June) · Assists with the administration and coordination of the poster contest linked to Clean Air Day · Communicates with schools to encourage environmentally friendly travel year-round through surveys, telephone conversations and site visits as well as ASRTS program components such as the Walking School Bus, Walking Wednesdays Club and Neighbourhood Walkabouts · Maintains a database and contact list of participating schools and community partners · Researches, prepares and distributes kit materials such as fact sheets, checklists, surveys, brochures, posters, and resources · Monitors project-related expenses · Writes reports and assists in preparing proposals and applications · Assists with website development through the Green Action Centre content-managed system – writing updates and blog posts related to Active and Safe Routes to School-related items. · Compiles, publishes and distributes the quarterly Active and Safe Routes to School newsletter *“Off on the Right Foot”* · Assists with the coordination of a regional training event for Active and Safe Routes to School practitioners in Manitoba (involving invitations, managing registrations, preparing materials, taking minutes and assisting with follow-up reporting). *QUALIFICATIONS* Must be self-motivated, reliable and able to work collaboratively and individually. *Must meet the requirements of the Post-Secondary Youth Eco-Internship Program administered through the YMCA.* *Key qualifications include:* · Self-initiator with excellent interpersonal and time management skills · Professional writing, editing, research and communication skills · Commitment to work in a collaborative setting to achieve common goals · Experience in organizing events and workshops · Background in areas such as communications / social marketing / community development / environmental or health education / urban planning, GIS, social change / non-profit project work · Familiar with Community Based Social Marketing concepts (see www.cbsm.com) · Ability to handle multiple tasks in a brisk work environment with a flexible schedule · Knowledge of internet-based communication and research tools · Experience in organizing promotional events, and creativity in developing advertising and media campaigns · Experience in proposal and report writing · Ease in giving public presentations and speaking with media · Demonstrated commitment to the goals of ecological sustainability and sustainable transportation · Understanding of urban transportation, planning and environmental issues · Experience working with teachers, parents, administration and staff in an elementary school setting an asset · Experience with GIS or other mapping software an asset *ABOUT THE POSITION* * Direct applications by Monday, December 13 2010 to:* ASRTS Hiring Committee Green Action Centre 303 Portage Avenue, 3rd Floor, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2B4 E-mail: asrts(a)greenactioncentre.ca *Green Action Centre*: Green Action Centre is a non-profit, non-governmental organization directed by an elected community Board. Green Action Centre’s mission is to promote ecological sustainability through environmental education and the development of sustainable alternatives to unsustainable current practices. Further information about Green Action Centre projects and activities is available on our web site www.greenactioncentre.ca. -- *Jackie Avent* Active and Safe Routes to School Green Action Centre 204.925.3773 www.greenactioncentre.ca Green Action Centre is a non-profit organization. Please consider making a donation. *Coming to the EcoCentre?* (3rd floor, 303 Portage Avenue at Donald Street; Take the elevator to the third floor of the MEC building) Winnipeg transit stops and bicycle racks are located in front of MEC

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Bike Boxes webinar - Wed, Dec. 15, 2-3 pm, EcoCentre
by Beth McKechnie 01 Dec '10

01 Dec '10

Green Action Centre will be hosting the following APBP (Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals) webinar on "Bike Boxes" on Wed, Dec. 15th. If you would like to join us, please let me know at * beth(a)greenactioncentre.ca*. See you then! -thanks, Beth (925-3772) ------------------------------ Webinar: * Bike Boxes *Date: *Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. CST * Location: *EcoCentre boardroom, 303 Portage Ave, third floor* (enter via elevator inside front doors of MEC) The webinar will have two main sections: - The evolution of bike box design, citing examples in the UK and northern Europe, and including a discussion of details such as coordinating traffic signals, signal phasing, and cost/durability of different materials. - A presentation about Portland, Oregon’s, study of how bike boxes perform for motorists and bicyclists at ten locations. Although there are bike boxes in a number of U.S. cities now, Portland has probably done the most experimentation and evaluation. *Presenters: * Webinar presenters will be Christopher Monsere, Assistant Professor at Portland State University, and Tom Bertulis, formerly of the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, and now a doctoral student at Northeastern University. Hope you can join us! -- Beth McKechnie Workplace Commuter Options Green Action Centre 204.925.3772 www.greenactioncentre.ca Green Action Centre is a registered charity. Please consider making a donation <https://www.canadahelps.org/DonationDetails.aspx?cookieCheck=true> . *Coming to the EcoCentre?* (3rd floor, 303 Portage at Donald, MEC bldg) Enter via the elevator just inside MEC's front doors Bike racks are located in front of the building Find your bus route with Winnipeg Transit's online trip planner Navigo<http://www.winnipegtransit.com/en/navigo>

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City of Winnipeg transportation survey
by Beth McKechnie 30 Nov '10

30 Nov '10

In case you hadn't heard, the City of Winnipeg is in the process of developing a Transportation Master Plan. You can find information presented at a recent Open House along with a link to a survey on the future of transportation in Winnipeg here: http://transportation.speakupwinnipeg.com/ If you want to go straight to the survey, see: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/winnipegtmp The feedback received from the survey will help inform the plan, so it's definitely worth taking a few minutes to complete. cheers, Beth -- Beth McKechnie Workplace Commuter Options Green Action Centre 204.925.3772 www.greenactioncentre.ca Green Action Centre is a registered charity. Please consider making a donation <https://www.canadahelps.org/DonationDetails.aspx?cookieCheck=true> . *Coming to the EcoCentre?* (3rd floor, 303 Portage at Donald, MEC bldg) Enter via the elevator just inside MEC's front doors Bike racks are located in front of the building Find your bus route with Winnipeg Transit's online trip planner Navigo<http://www.winnipegtransit.com/en/navigo>

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Nova Scotia looking to pass one-metre rule
by Beth McKechnie 30 Nov '10

30 Nov '10

Nova Scotia is looking to be the first in Canada to "*require drivers to leave one meter of open space between the vehicle and bicyclist when passing *". Other proposed amendments to their Motor Vehicle Act include to: - define 'cyclist' and 'bicycle lane' - prohibit vehicle parking in a bicycle lane - make it an offence to fail to yield to a cyclist in a bicycle lane - redefine cycling on the extreme right - allow drivers of vehicles to cross a centre line to pass a bicycle, if the driver can do so safely - require cyclists to ride single file and in the same direction of the traffic Full details: http://spacingatlantic.ca/2010/11/18/keep-those-wheels-turning-cycling-ackn… -- Beth McKechnie Workplace Commuter Options Green Action Centre 204.925.3772 www.greenactioncentre.ca Green Action Centre is a registered charity. Please consider making a donation <https://www.canadahelps.org/DonationDetails.aspx?cookieCheck=true> . *Coming to the EcoCentre?* (3rd floor, 303 Portage at Donald, MEC bldg) Enter via the elevator just inside MEC's front doors Bike racks are located in front of the building Find your bus route with Winnipeg Transit's online trip planner Navigo<http://www.winnipegtransit.com/en/navigo>

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Fwd: Active Transportation - Canada: November 30, 2010
by Beth McKechnie 30 Nov '10

30 Nov '10

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Michael Haynes <activetransportation(a)rogers.com> Date: Tue, Nov 30, 2010 at 10:49 AM Subject: Active Transportation - Canada: November 30, 2010 Dear Listserv Members: Thirty-five (35) new items have been posted on the Active Transportation-Canada Website during the month of November. A complete list of titles may be found in the "Blog Archive" box, located on the right margin of the Website. some highlights include: - 2011 World Record Walk<http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf9723> - Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation Papers<http://torontocat.ca/main/> - Ted Talks - James H Kunstler dissects suburbia<http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/james_howard_kunstler_dissects_suburbia.h…> - Reality vs. Myth: The "dangers" of Dutch cycle paths<http://hembrow.blogspot.com/2010/11/reality-vs-myth-dangers-of-dutch-cycle.…> - Vancouver selected as the host of the Velo-city Global 2012 conference<http://www.velo-city2012.com/> Active Transportation Canada URL: http://activetransportation-canada.blogspot.com A "Search" function is available on the site. You will find this at the bottom of the page. With nearly 1,00 items posted on Active Transportation - Canada, there are links available to dozens of studies and hundreds of news items from communities across Canada and the world. If anyone has a problem reading this message, please let me know. I welcome suggestions for posts, so if you have news items featuring your community, please share them with the more than 500 subscribers to Active Transportation-Canada. Thank you. Michael Haynes Director TransActive Solutions -- Beth McKechnie Workplace Commuter Options Green Action Centre 204.925.3772 www.greenactioncentre.ca Green Action Centre is a registered charity. Please consider making a donation <https://www.canadahelps.org/DonationDetails.aspx?cookieCheck=true> . *Coming to the EcoCentre?* (3rd floor, 303 Portage at Donald, MEC bldg) Enter via the elevator just inside MEC's front doors Bike racks are located in front of the building Find your bus route with Winnipeg Transit's online trip planner Navigo<http://www.winnipegtransit.com/en/navigo>

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WFP: City bike routes going on Google next week (Nov.23'10)
by Beth McKechnie 23 Nov '10

23 Nov '10

City bike routes going on Google next week By: Adam Wazny The snow and ice suggest otherwise, but life for the Winnipeg cyclist just became a little easier. In an announcement at the Sustainable Mobility Conference in Ottawa Monday, Internet search engine giant Google has added Winnipeg to its list of Canadian cities that will have bike routes available online for those looking for the best path to take on two wheels. With Google Bike Directions, scheduled to be added to Google Maps during the next week, users can pore over city-fed bike maps using the popular web atlas to chart a course for their daily commute. Comprehensive maps of various bike routes and paths are already available on the city's website, but Winnipeg Trails Association director Janice Lukes was thrilled to find out Google has added the city to its new mapping feature. "We have all this new infrastructure and many people don't know where it is," she said. "This will encourage those who are looking to get out on the weekends or do a little riding after work." What has the cycling community excited about the Google Maps addition is the reach it will have to those contemplating ditching their vehicle for a bike. Jeff Martin, owner of Alter Ego Sports, feels the undecided might finally decide to switch to a two-wheeler permanently, thanks to Google Maps. Not every trail or dedicated bike lane is visible from behind the wheel, he notes, so not everyone is up to speed with the layout of the city's active transportation framework. "For the serious cyclist, they're going to ride their bikes regardless," he said. "But for the inexperienced rider, this will show them they can get from point A to point B in a safe way, especially for winter riding." Google Bike Directions works like this: A click on the bicycle icon shows a dark green line indicating a bike-only path. A lighter green line signals a dedicated bike lane and a dotted line shows a city street that doesn't have a dedicated bike lane, but could still be suitable for riding. The city planned to spend $20.4 million dollars on 36 bike-and-pedestrian projects under a federal stimulus program this year. Cold weather cut six of those projects short, with completion scheduled for 2011. Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver, Calgary, Gatineau and Waterloo are the other Canadian cities involved in Google's announcement. Bike-trail data for U.S. markets was added to Google Maps earlier this year. adam.wazny(a)freepress.mb.ca -- Beth McKechnie Workplace Commuter Options Green Action Centre 204.925.3772 www.greenactioncentre.ca Green Action Centre is a registered charity. Please consider making a donation <https://www.canadahelps.org/DonationDetails.aspx?cookieCheck=true> . *Coming to the EcoCentre?* (3rd floor, 303 Portage at Donald, MEC bldg) Enter via the elevator just inside MEC's front doors Bike racks are located in front of the building Find your bus route with Winnipeg Transit's online trip planner Navigo<http://www.winnipegtransit.com/en/navigo>

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G&M: Sidewalk experiments drive new ideas about urban public space
by Beth McKechnie 19 Nov '10

19 Nov '10

[Great article in the Globe & Mail about sidewalks and a whole "new era of sidewalk sociology". -cheers, Beth] *Full article with photos & videos:* http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/americas/lane-storming-cities-dri… Sidewalk experiments drive new ideas about urban public space SIRI AGRELL From Thursday's Globe and Mail Published Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010 8:10PM EST A line has been drawn in the battle over city streets. On a busy Manhattan morning this spring, a comedy troupe drew a chalk divide down the edge of Fifth Avenue, creating one lane for “tourists” and another for “New Yorkers.” It was just a joke, but the news quickly spread around the world and inspired copycat initiatives. The changing look of city sidewalks >From Lebanon to Calgary, the humble pavement has recently emerged as new frontier in urban warfare. It is a way for cities to demonstrate their personality and environmental cred, and take sides in the war between driver and pedestrian. But it is not, as San Francisco has forcefully pointed out with a ballot initiative approved earlier this month, a place to sit down. “We’re truly at the launch of a new science of creating walkways,” said Dan Burden, an urban planner and the creator of the non-profit group Walkable Communities. “They do a lot more work than just move people from place to place. We’re starting to see the sidewalk as a system that drives the successful social life of a street.” The popularity of the New York experiment was a signal that citizens are ready for bold thinking when it comes to urban design, he said, no longer content to cede the sidewalk to municipal authorities. In London and Toronto, business owners have paid out of pocket to make their sidewalks more attractive and easier to navigate by funding a sidewalk redesign and enforcing an invisible “shopper’s lane.” In a response to citizen complaints, Montreal is taking steps to make sure sidewalks are quickly cleared of snow while Lebanon is trying to keep them free of cars. Concrete, too, is losing favour, being replaced with recycled tiers, tamped earth and fine grain materials that come in a variety of colours. In the future, Mr. Burden predicts the “hardscape” of city sidewalks will be softened with materials like grasscrete, porous blocks that allow natural vegetation to work its way through. The sidewalk may end, but innovation has just begun. *MANHATTAN* *What:* In May, the comedy group Improv Everywhere spray painted a line down the middle of Fifth Avenue, demarcating lanes for “New Yorkers” and “tourists.” Fake department of transportation “employees” directed tourists to the left, telling them, “You can take pictures and go as slow as you want.” *Pros:* Pedestrians were also asked for their feedback on the initiative, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. Even Mayor Michael Bloomberg thought the idea was “cute.” *Cons:* For busy New Yorkers, the idea didn’t go far enough. As the Web site Gothamist suggested, “Now we just need a lane for strollers and people who text while walking, and we'll be all set.” *Lessons for other cities:* Anger over sidewalk slowpokes is no joke. *LONDON* *What*: Inspired by the New York experiment, a group of business owners in the city’s Oxford Street district introduced a “shoppers lane” along store fronts this fall, with employees encouraging tourists to stay out of the way of locals. They plan to lobby to have the lane officially incorporated into city tourist maps next year. *Pros:* With more than 200 million visitors a year, nearby residents “absolutely love the idea” of a shoppers lane, according to Jace Tyrell, spokesperson for the New West End Company, which represents 600 local business owners. *Cons:* The lane is not actually marked on the sidewalk, and is not officially sanctioned or enforced by city council. Instead, New West End is advertising the rogue idea on tourist maps and enforcing it with the help of Red Caps, a group of employees who provide information and directions on the street. *Lessons for other cities*: You don’t need a bylaw to change the way cities work. Even without official enforcement, Mr. Tyrell said the system is embedding itself in the public consciousness. “It’s like the escalator, where people stand to one side or the other depending on whether or not they’re walking,” he said. “We hope over time, this will become a behavioural thing and people will just do it naturally.” *PORTLAND, ORE.* *What: *Under the direction of the Office of Transportation, 13th Avenue was redesigned as a curbless street, where the sidewalk and roadway are one level but paved with different coloured materials. *Pros:* Popular in Scandinavia, curbless streets have been shown to actually change the way people drive through “psychological traffic slowing” making neighbourhoods more pedestrian friendly. *Cons:* Short vertical posts called bollards that mark the line between street and sidewalk have been blamed for damaging cars. *Lessons for other cities:* Studies have shown curbless streets slow traffic by an average of nine kilometres an hour. An analysis of five years of traffic statistics in one California town found that the only pedestrian injuries occurred on streets that did have curbs. *CALGARY* *What: *In October, the city started replacing asphalt sidewalks with recycled rubber tires, as part of a one-year pilot program. *Pros:* The material won’t crack, reduces storm runoff, absorbs sound and is more comfortable for runners. City transportation engineer Blanka Bracic said public feedback on the city’s blog and 311 line has been overwhelmingly positive. *Cons: *Some residents are worried that the product’s uneven surface will make snow removal difficult. *Lessons for other cities:* Unlike traditional asphalt, the rubber sidewalk does not require the roots of nearby trees to be excavated. Ms. Bracic said that cutting down trees to lay new sidewalk is a major source of citizen complaints. The material costs the same as concrete, but is also cheaper to maintain. *TORONTO* *What: *The recently completed Bloor Street Transformation Project. *Pros: *The project has widened and beautified the sidewalks using Quebec granite, mature trees, improved street furniture and manicured flowerbeds. *Cons:* The project took more than three years to complete, snarling traffic on a major city street. *Lessons for other cities:* Inspired by Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, the project was championed by the Bloor Street BIA, who contributed $20-million to the project. *LEBANON* *What: *Last month, various municipalities launched a crackdown on vehicles parked on sidewalks. *Pros: *The move is a response to growing chorus of complaints, many from the disabled and mothers with young children, noting that pedestrians are forced to walk on the road because of the popular practice of parking on sidewalks. *Cons:* Street vendors who deal food and other goods from their parking spots complain that their business is being ruined. *Lessons for other cities:* Previous efforts by Lebanese authorities to clear sidewalks of cars have failed due to the objections of merchants, who were given no alternative location from which to vend their wares. *SAN FRANCISCO* *What: *Proposition L, a city wide ordinance passed on Nov. 2 that bans people from sitting of lying on sidewalks between the hours of 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. Those caught breaking the law face fines, community-service sentences and even jail time. *Pros:* Dubbed the Sit/Lie ordinance, the idea was a response to a recent escalation of aggressive panhandling in the iconic Haight-Ashbury neighbourhood. Police can now take action against an individual without having to wait for a complaint from the public, according to Ted Loewenberg, president of the Haight Ashbury Improvement Association. “This gives police the ability to pay attention the kind of behaviours we’re worried about,” he said. *Cons: *Those opposed to Prop L say it unfairly targets the homeless. *Lessons for other cities: *The measure was passed through a ballot initiative included in the Nov. 2 election, and garnered the support of 55 per cent of voters. Mr. Loewenberg said city council had originally opposed the idea, which was proposed by chief of police. *MONTREAL* *What:* The city announced in early November that it will deploy quick reaction snow clearing brigades to specific pedestrian-packed sidewalks this year to keep downtown businesses moving. *Pros:* Main sidewalks in the busy downtown area of Ville Marie and the Plateau district will be completely cleared within 12 hours of a snowfall, with the city setting aside $262,000 for trucks and $150,000 for salaries to fund the rapid deployment teams. Michael Applebaum, the city executive committee member responsible for snow clearing, said the cost of leaving the sidewalks clogged is much higher, as it puts a freeze on tourism, restaurants and the retail business. “We’re a winter city. Our priority has to be to make sure people can get around,” he said. “We can’t stall the economy.” *Cons: *The city wants to have a strict 24-hour deadline for snow removal in place throughout the city by 2014, but they can’t enforce the deadlines until their contracts with private snow removal companies come up for renegotiation. *Lessons for other cities: *Mr. Applebaum, who is also borough mayor of Côte des Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, says technology has dramatically shortened citizen’s patience with city services.**Because they can report city issues on cellphones and via e-mail, they expect an immediate response, even when it comes to fighting Mother Nature.

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