- AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

Invitation Walking & Cycling Successes - Perspectives on 'building it right' January 25 2010
by Beth McKechnie 13 Jan '10

13 Jan '10

Message----- Original Message ----- From: Janice Lukes Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2010 6:33 AM Subject: Invitation Walking & Cycling Successes - Perspectives on 'building it right' January 25 2010 Hi all - A SUPER event to attend - please share with your members and ANYONE interested. Limited seating - we are expecting a very good turnout. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Walking & Cycling Success: Perspectives from communities who are 'building it right' As Manitoba positions to spend unprecedented funding on walking and cycling routes - please join us to hear perspectives from Quebec and Minneapolis communities who are 'building it right'. Monday January 25th, 2010 The Forks Food Court area, The Forks (Use entrance beside Pancake House) 6:30 pm: Registration & refreshments - limited seating. 7:00 pm: Opening remarks from the Government of Canada, Province of Manitoba and City of Winnipeg RSVP: BuildingItRight(a)mts.net Limited seating Visionary visual presentation by Anders Swanson, visual artist, global cycling advocate & recipient of Manitoba Eco-Networks' Environmental Award 2009. Province of Quebec: Celebrating 40 years of building 4,000+ km of bikeways in the Province Marc Jolicouer: Marc Jolicoeur has been research coordinator at Vélo Québec since 1995. Author of the Technical Handbook of Bikeway Design, he has served on numerous committees on bikeway safety and standards. He also coordinates technical support for the development of the Route Verte bicycle network. A professional engineer, he has been involved in transportation for over 15 years. An avid cyclist since childhood, he is a regular bicycle commuter in Montréal. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Recognized as one of the top 5 cycling cities in the U.S.A Jay Walljasper: Jay Walljasper, author of the Great Neighborhood Book, chronicles stories from around the world about how citizens and public officials are rolling up their sleeves to improve their communities. A year-round bike commuter in Minneapolis, he is an authority on livable communities and sustainable transportation initiatives. He is a senior fellow at Project for Public Spaces, a New York-based organization; a contributing editor at National Geographic Traveler magazine; and editor of OnTheCommons.org. As a social observer, he has been quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, National Public Radio and the Toronto Star. * * * * * * * Organized & sponsored by: Province of Manitoba www.gov.mb.ca The Forks www.theforks.com Winnipeg Trails Association www.WinnipegTrails.ca One Green City www.OneGreenCity.com Supporting Sponsors: City of Winnipeg www.winnipeg.ca/publicworks/MajorProjects/ActiveTransportation/ The Centre for Sustainable Transportation www.centreforsustainabletransportation.org Bike to the Future www.biketothefuture.org Prairie Pathfinders Walking Club www.prairiepathfinders.mb.ca Resource Conservation Manitoba www.resourceconservation.mb.ca Manitoba Cycling Association www.cycling.mb.ca Refreshment Sponsors: Marr Consulting Stantec

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WFP: New Disraeli plan satisfies drivers, cyclists (Jan.12'10) plus press release
by Beth McKechnie 12 Jan '10

12 Jan '10

Local New Disraeli plan satisfies drivers, cyclistsClosure avoided; bike, foot traffic to get own span By: Bartley Kives NORTHEAST Winnipeg motorists and cyclists both got what they want from the final design for a rehabilitated Disraeli Freeway: No extended closures during the construction period and a bike-and-pedestrian bridge that doesn't require a detour.The Disraeli Bridge over the Red River will be replaced by a brand-new, four-lane vehicle bridge with a sidewalk and a separate, lower span for bikes and pedestrians, the city announced on Monday, as it unveiled the configuration for the rehabilitation of the 1.1-kilometre Disraeli Freeway, which connects downtown to Elmwood. Motorists will be able to use the existing Disraeli Freeway during the construction of a new vehicle bridge over the Red as well as a new vehicle overpass above the CPR Keewatin line in Point Douglas. The new design replaces a previous rehabilitation plan that would have seen the busiest link between downtown and northeast Winnipeg closed for about 16 months. Northeast Winnipeg residents resented the proposed closing, while cyclists were annoyed by a plan to build a separate active-transportation span three blocks to the east. The new design was commissioned this fall, after the Manitoba government pledged to spend an additional $53.3 million on the Disraeli Freeway rehabilitation, effectively increasing the budget to around $195 million. City officials then asked three private construction consortia to come up with creative ways to spend that money. "We said, 'This is what our budget is; you guys come forward with the best possible solution,' " said Henry Hunter, the city's procurement manager on major projects. Winnipeg wound up choosing a design by a group called Plenary Roads Winnipeg, comprised of financier Plenary Group, PCL Constructors, Wardrop Engineering, Stantec Consulting and Borland Construction. Plenary Roads' design calls for a new Disraeli rail overpass to rise to the east of the existing overpass, while a new Disraeli Bridge will be built to the west of the existing span over the river. Piers from the existing bridge will be trimmed down and used for a new bike-and-pedestrian bridge, while roadways in Point Douglas, Elmwood and downtown will be reconfigured to match up to the new curving freeway design, according to a promotional video on the city's website. "Re-using the piers from the river bridge for active transportation is quite innovative," said North Kildonan Coun. Jeff Browaty, one of four city councillors who voted against the previous Disraeli plan. The rehabilitation plan remains a public-private partnership. The city plans to borrow money to spend $75 million up front, while the remaining $120 million will be financed by Plenary Roads, which will design and build the new freeway, then maintain it for 30 years. The city will then make service payments to cover both the capital costs and maintenance fees, Hunter said. While the city did not initially intend to build a new vehicle bridge over the Red River, the recession helped make the new design possible within a $195-million budget, Hunter said. "When we originally looked at this project, we were experiencing unprecedented cost escalations," he said, adding construction inflation has since cooled off. Construction on the project will begin in 2011 and likely be completed in 2013. It will take another year to finalize the design and obtain environmental approvals, Hunter said. The existing freeway is safe to use. "If it wasn't safe, it wouldn't be open," he said. bartley.kives(a)freepress.mb.ca ----------------------------------------------------------------------- For Immediate Release - Monday, January 11, 2010 Traffic along the Disraeli will Continue to Flow During Construction of the Disraeli Bridges Project Winnipeg, MB. - Winnipeggers will continue to drive over the Disraeli Bridges during construction of the Citys Disraeli Bridges Project under the terms of a proposal submitted by Plenary Roads Winnipeg, the team the City chose today as the projects preferred proponent. The proposed plan will see minimal disruption to motorists and features construction of a new separate Active Transportation (pedestrian/cycling) bridge over the Red River, built alongside a new vehicular bridge, allowing Winnipeggers to use all forms of Active Transportation while crossing the Red River, away from traffic. This was the highest scoring proposal and the best value for money choice in terms of costs and benefits, said Henry Hunter, the City of Winnipegs procurement process Lead for the Disraeli Bridges Project. Key features of the Plenary Roads Winnipeg proposal include: · During construction, traffic along the Disraeli will not be interrupted during peak travel times Mondays to Fridays, with a minimum of four travel lanes being available. · The existing bridges will be replaced with new structures. · The roadway will be realigned, and exits and entrances will be redesigned to allow for smoother traffic and pedestrian flow. · A separate new Active Transportation bridge will be built over the existing river bridge piers, providing an accessible, functional and aesthetically pleasing crossing of the Red River. This dedicated bridge will contribute to the Citys overall Active Transportation network. The Plenary Roads Winnipeg team comprises Plenary Group (Canada) Ltd., PCL Constructors Canada Inc., Wardrop Engineering Inc., Stantec Consulting Ltd. and Borland Construction Inc. The team has global and local experience. The Disraeli Bridges Project follows the design-build-finance-maintain (DBFM) model of procurement. Under this model, the private-sector partner is responsible for all financing, design, construction and maintenance costs during the term of the contract, which in the case of the Disraeli Bridges Project is 30 years. For its part, the City will make a commissioning payment and then annual performance-based service payments to the private-sector partner. The new bridges have a design life of 75 years. The Citys capital budgets have allocated a total of $195 million for the project. This is a preliminary estimate, and the actual amount may change as plans are finalized. The Governments of Canada and Manitoba have also contributed funding towards the Disraeli Bridges Project. The Disraeli Bridges were originally constructed in 1959/60 and have served the City for 50 years. Construction of the new Disraeli Bridges is expected to begin in 2011 following finalization of project agreements, detailed design and environmental approvals. -30- For more information about the Disraeli Bridges Project, visit: http://www.winnipeg.ca/DisraeliBridges

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Free Bicycle Mechanics Course for Teachers
by Stephanie Fulford 08 Jan '10

08 Jan '10

Last minute opportunity - there are a few spots left! Free Bicycle Mechanics Course for Teachers Interested in bike repair? Interested in learning about the basic systems of the bicycle and how to repair and maintain them? The Manitoba Student Transportation Network and Natural Cycle have partnered to offer a free bicycle mechanics course for teachers wanting to develop their repair and bike building skills. This offer is intended to help support the development of bike repair skills, workshops, cycling trips and other activities at YOUR local school or youth organization. We are offering this course free-of-charge because we believe in sustainability, and the bicycle as an efficient and accessible form of transportation for all age-groups and all income levels. So, have fun, and share your passion for bicycles where you can, when you can. Student to instructor ratio is 3:1. If we cannot accommodate everyone, we will keep your name on reference for the next course. DATES: Six consecutive Sundays starting January 17th, 2010 TIME: 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (15 hours total) LOCATION: Natural Cycle. Lower Level - 91 Albert Street. Winnipeg. To register, please email <mailto:cycleworks@naturalcycle.ca> cycleworks(a)naturalcycle.ca or call 957-5762 by THIS WEDNESDAY January 13th, 2010. Leave your name, phone number and the name of your school or organization. We will contact you shortly afterwards to confirm enrollment. Thank you! Stephanie Fulford Green Commuting Initiatives Resource Conservation Manitoba 303 Portage Avenue, 3rd Floor Winnipeg, MB R3B 2B4 Phone: 204.925.3774 Fax: 204.942.4207 www.resourceconservation.mb.ca

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BikePortland.org - Woman hit in unpainted bike lane not protected by law
by Beth McKechnie 23 Dec '09

23 Dec '09

Woman hit in unpainted bike lane not protected by law (December 18, 2009 - BikePortland.org) When Portlander Rob Daray witnessed a right-hook collision on his commute home last summer he thought it was obvious who was at fault. So did the police officer who cited the operator of the motor vehicle for "failure to yield to a bicycle." Even the woman driving the car admitted she made an abrupt right turn without checking her blind spots. But when the case came up in traffic court, the judge came to a different conclusion and now Mr. Daray and others familiar with this are worried that people who ride bicycles are vulnerable - not just on the street, but in the legal system as well. See full story at: http://bikeportland.org/2009/12/18/judge-woman-hit-in-unpainted-bike-lane-i…

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Active Transportation - Canada: December 18, 2009
by Beth McKechnie 22 Dec '09

22 Dec '09

Sampling of new items posted on the Active Transportation-Canada website (December 18, 2009)... Find more at: http://activetransportation-canada.blogspot.com * Pollution Probe announces support for Federal Government's announcement of Draft Regulation of GHG emissions from new vehicles http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/December2009/08/c9299.html * Cargo Bikes: Go Ahead And Bring The Kitchen Sink http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121034522 * Rumble at the Tim's drive-thru http://www.canadianbusiness.com/managing/strategy/article.jsp?content=20100… * Good news for Edmonton: City approves $22 million for AT over next 3 years; new AT Policy, Sidewalk Strategy and Bicycle Transportation Plan update http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/edmonton/2009/11/18/11785001-sun.html http://www.transformingedmonton.ca/index.php/2009/12/04/what-do-we-mean-by-…

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Snow Trek - January 17, 2010
by Deanna Betteridge 10 Dec '09

10 Dec '09

Hello, Can you please assist Winnipeg in motion and the Assiniboine South in motion Committee by publicizing the following FREE event and forwarding this information on to your networks? See you on the trails! Cheers, Deanna **************************************************** SAVE THE DATE! Snow Trek - 1st Annual Winter in motion Sunday, January 17, 2010 As the mercury plunges and the snow begins to fall, 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 first annual "Snow Trek - Winter in motion". It promises be a fun-filled afternoon for the whole family to get outside for some cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, skating, tobogganing and walking. No Experience, No Problem! We are offering FREE cross-country ski instruction and guided snowshoe hikes. 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! Come out and explore the new cross-country ski trails and winter walkways available in Winnipeg - from The Forks to Assiniboine Park and out to Fort Whyte Alive - over 50 kilometres of groomed ski trails! What: Snow Trek - Winter in motion When: Sunday, January 17, 2010 Time: 12:30 - 3:30pm Where: FOUR locations to choose from: Assiniboine Park Duck Pond Bourkevale Community Centre (100 Ferry Road) Fort Whyte Alive (Free admission for the event) The Forks Who: All Welcome! Cost: FREE! For more information and a detailed schedule check out www.winnipeginmotion.ca or call Winnipeg in motion at 940-3648. See you on the trails! Snow Trek - Winter in motion is a community event put on by the Assiniboine South in motion Committee and community partners - Thank you! ******************************************** ** Sign-up to receive Winnipeg in motion email updates www.winnipeginmotion.ca/signup/ ** ------------------------------------------------------------- Deanna Betteridge, 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.

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Fw: Active Transportation - Canada: November 18, 2009
by Beth McKechnie 24 Nov '09

24 Nov '09

----- Original Message ----- From: Michael Haynes Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 8:04 AM Subject: Active Transportation - Canada: November 18, 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: Corner Brook NL - Pedestrian Tunnel 1.. Report - Dangerous By Design 2.. City Streets a Mortal Threat to Pedestrians 3.. Councillors back $22M active transportation plan 4.. Pedestrian link urged west of 14th Street S.W. 5.. Winnipeg unveils $430M capital budget 6.. Burrard Bridge bike lane trial a success so far, survey finds 7.. Active-living co-ordinator hired 8.. Sidewalk snow shovelling to be enforced in Pelham 9.. Open house will give people chance to decide details of heritage trail 10.. Driving the Lane: Toronto Prepares for Public Bicycling 11.. Longboarding Reaches East Coast 12.. Miami's Visionary Zoning Plan 13.. Portsmouth [UK] – changing the way we share our streets 14.. City council to increase capacity of bike stations 15.. Has Japan designed the world's best bike shed? ************************************************************************************* 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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[Bike to the Future] More November news
by Bike to the Future 18 Nov '09

18 Nov '09

Hello Bike to the Future members and supporters. This newsletter contains the following items: 1. Minutes from our AGM and November Monthly Meeting 2. Speak Up Winnipeg: Call To Action report and Open Houses 3. Webinar: Building Political Will for Strong Bike/Walk Programs 4. Route 90 Corridor Study -- Public Open House #2 5. City Committee meetings to discuss the 2010 City of Winnipeg Preliminary Capital Budget 6. Membership 7. BttF Members' Night at the Mountain Equipment store 8. Cycling workshops at The Bike Dump Kevin Miller Bike to the Future, Co-Chair www.biketothefuture.org _____________________________ *Minutes from our AGM and November Monthly Meeting* The AGM and November Monthly Meeting minutes will be posted at http://biketothefuture.org/about/meetings in the next week. 2009-2010 Board of Directors <http://biketothefuture.org/about> ____________________________ *Speak Up Winnipeg: Call To Action report and Open Houses* Speak Up Winnipeg is the City's public forum for Winnipeggers to express their opinions about the future of our City, and how we can ensure it is sustainable, making Winnipeg a leader among cities. The Call to Action report will be presented at *8 Open Houses from Tuesday November 17th to Thursday November 26th*, or you can read the 55 page report online. Details<http://biketothefuture.org/news/archives/2009/11/13/speakup-winnipeg-call-t…> _____________________________ *Webinar: Building Political Will for Strong Bike/Walk Programs* Wednesday November 18th from 2:00 to 3:00 PM at the Manitoba Eco-Centre (3rd floor MEC building, Portage & Donald) Info <http://www.apbp.org/event/nov-09_webinar> If you are interested in attending (free), please contact Dave Elmore<dave(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca> . _____________________________ *Route 90 Corridor Study -- Public Open House #2* Thursday November 19th at Canad Inns Stadium (Winnipeg Sun Centre, 1465 Maroons Road) Drop-in from 4:00 to 8:00 PM Project info <http://winnipeg.ca/publicworks/MajorProjects/Route90> The more cyclists who attend and express a desire for really good cycling facilities as part of this expansion, the more likely that good cycling facilities will result. Public Open House #1<http://biketothefuture.org/events/archives/2009/01/22/route-90-widening----…> _____________________________ *City Committee meetings to discuss the 2010 City of Winnipeg Preliminary Capital Budget* Monday November 23rd at noon at the Eco-Centre (Portage & Donald)<http://biketothefuture.org/events/archives/2009/11/16/city-committee-budget…> Monday November 30th at noon at the Eco-Centre (Portage & Donald)<http://biketothefuture.org/events/archives/2009/11/16/city-committee-budget…> _____________________________ *Membership* Members of Bike to the Future agree with our mission and vision and support it. We are a volunteer-run, incorporated, non-profit organization that is only as strong as our membership. Please show your support for our work by becoming a member or renewing your membership. All memberships taken out in 2008 (and the complimentary memberships given out in 2009) are now due for renewal. Membership info<http://biketothefuture.org/get-involved/join-bike-to-the-future> *Use PayPal to purchase a new Bike to the Future membership or renew an existing Bike to the Future membership*<http://membership.biketothefuture.org/membership_paypal.html> *.* If you are not sure of your membership status, please contact BttF's Membership Committee Director <membership(a)biketothefuture.org>. _____________________________ *BttF Members' Night at the Mountain Equipment store* BttF's first Members' Night will be held at the Mountain Equipment Co-op store (Portage & Donald) on *Monday November 23rd from 7:30 to 9:00 PM*. (The store closes to the public at 7:00.) Activities include product knowlege sessions, a discussion forum, and a store merchandise discount of 10%. Details<http://biketothefuture.org/events/archives/2009/11/06/bttf-members-night-at…> _____________________________ *Cycling workshops at The Bike Dump* The Bike Dump is holding a series of free drop-in workshops on a variety of bike-related topics on the third Wednesday of every month at 6:00 PM. Please see http://bike-dump.ca. _____________________________ Our website at http://biketothefuture.org is updated often.

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Wpg Free Press - Road rage, cycling explode
by Janice Lukes 12 Nov '09

12 Nov '09

$20M in infrastructure hitting the streets and trails next year in Wpg - Kudos to the FreeP for yet another timely article - Road rage, cycling explode By: Meghan Daum Dr. Christopher Thompson, a driver who abruptly stopped his car in front of two cyclists in Los Angeles last summer, was found guilty of six felonies and a misdemeanor last week. The trial, which captivated the cycling community, revealed a particularly virulent form of road rage. Christian Stoehr suffered a separated shoulder and Ron Peterson shattered several teeth and broke and nearly severed his nose when the two hit the back of Thompson's Infiniti on a road in upscale Brentwood. Thompson, a former emergency-room physician who lives along the winding five-mile road, claimed that he was merely trying to take a photograph of Stoehr and Peterson, evidence of the way cyclists flout the law in the canyon and flip off residents. A police traffic investigator who arrived on the scene shortly after the incident testified that Thompson told him he "stopped in front to teach them a lesson." Suffice it to say that Thompson shouldn't be driving a support vehicle in the Tour de France. Two other cyclists testified that in March 2008, a motorist they believed to be Thompson made a similar maneouver, speeding ahead, then slamming on his brakes. One of these cyclists told the court that the driver tried to hit them again and then sped off, noting that the car was an Infiniti sedan and the licence plates spelled out an abbreviated form of the medical software company Thompson owns and matched those on his car. Obscene gestures, vanity plates -- it's all part of the romance of Southern California driving. Road rage? That's just the inflamed passion part of romance. But anyone who's been paying attention to the road lately probably has noticed a marked, even dizzying, increase in the number of bikes on U.S. streets. Suddenly, they're in bike lanes and traffic lanes, zipping through stoplights, careening around mountain passes and weaving along sidewalks. Census data show that between 2000 and 2008, the number of bicycle commuters increased by 43 per cent. And membership in competitive cycling clubs is on the rise, with USA Cycling reporting the number of licenced U.S. racers up 48 per cent since 2002. Despite the cozy, granola-esque community spirit this trend might evoke (think helmeted parents riding with their helmeted kids and women in flowing skirts peddling home from the farmers market with baskets full of French bread), the reality is more sobering. Cycling-related accident rates are decreasing, but cycling injuries are getting worse. That suggests that riders may be tangling with something more than a mere fall, like a car door or fender. Although most drivers, mercifully, don't harbor as much animosity as Thompson, I suspect there may be more of him out there than we think. Why? For starters, many people don't know what rights cyclists do and do not have, which pretty much makes them assume they have none. I was in this category myself until I consulted the bicycle laws in the California Vehicle Code and learned that a cyclist has "all the rights and is subject to all the provisions applicable to the driver of a vehicle." In other words, you're not supposed to dart through red lights on a bike (shame on you, 80 per cent of Lycra wearers in my neighborhood). But guess what: It's perfectly legal to occupy the entire lane, not just hang on the side, if you're going the same speed as traffic. The speed limit on Mandeville Canyon Road is 30 mph (it's 25 mph on most residential Los Angeles streets), which, according to the injured cyclists' GPS data, was about the speed they were traveling when Thompson stopped in front of them. In other words, if you're getting impatient with a "slow" cyclist in front of you, it's probably because you're speeding. So, now that you know, are you going to stop swearing at cyclists? My guess is no. Because there's a larger bone of contention here, which is that cyclists make a lot of us feel like lazy slobs. Whereas drivers sit in an air-conditioned bubble, expending only the energy required to press the gas pedal, tap the brake and change from a '70s classic-rock radio station to an '80s classic-rock station, cyclists are out in the actual elements doing actual exercise. Whereas drivers are consuming calories by eating an entire bucket of KFC over 10 blocks, cyclists are burning calories and consuming nothing but seaweed at home. Whereas drivers' carbon footprints grow more beast-like by the hour, cyclists create no exhaust other than the sweet fatigue they feel as they drift off to saintly sleep at night. Of course, moral superiority is insufferable, but you still shouldn't try to run it off the road. You might win on the street, but in court, it's different. Meghan Daum is an essayist and novelist in Los Angeles. --The Los Angeles Times Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 12, 2009 A15 Janice Lukes

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WFP: New diamond lanes open today (Nov.9'09)
by Beth McKechnie 09 Nov '09

09 Nov '09

Latest News New diamond lanes open today DIAMONDS are a transit rider and cyclist's best friend -- starting today. Diamond lanes, that is. As part of a comprehensive transit improvement plan approved by Winnipeg city council, new diamond lanes take effect today. The specially marked lanes are for transit vehicles, cyclists and right-turning vehicles -- which must turn right at the first opportunity -- during weekday peak periods. They're designed to improve the speed and reliability of transit service and motorists who misuse them face a minimum fine of $190.80 and two demerit points. The new lanes in effect today are located at: Portage Avenue: * Westbound from Colony to Strathcona (7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.) * Eastbound from Raglan to St. Mary (7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.) Main Street: * Southbound from Smithfield to Jarvis (7 a.m. to 9 a.m. only) * Northbound from Jarvis to Inkster (3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m only) Goulet Street: * Westbound from Youville to Tache (7 a.m. to 9 a.m. only) McPhillips Street: * Southbound from Hillock to William (7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.) New on-street parking restrictions will be also in effect to accommodate new diamond lanes on westbound Portage Avenue and on northbound Main Street. Diamond lanes were first implemented in Winnipeg in 1995. There are about 30 kilometres of reserved lanes on major corridors throughout the city. The $2-million diamond lane project is funded by the federal gas tax and the Public Transit Capital Trust (PTCT) "for projects that enhance transit service in communities across Manitoba," the city said in a press release.

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