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WFP: Enjoying the great outdoors during the COVID-19 era (Apr15'20)
by Beth McKechnie 15 Apr '20

15 Apr '20

Enjoying the great outdoors during the COVID-19 era https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/health/enjoying-the-gr… IN times of high anxiety and uncertainty, many people turn to physical activity as a means of stress relief. With gym closures and the city’s parks a little too crowded to keep a safe physical distance, many people are turning to the city streets to get their fitness fix by walking, running, biking and even — depending on snowfall — skiing. Though the April weather is unpredictable, here are five places Winnipeggers are getting a breath of fresh air right now, and you can join them — just make sure to stay at least two metres apart. *Harte Trail, Charleswood* Ridge Romanshin, 23, is an apprentice stage manager in Winnipeg’s temporarily closed theatre scene. To keep himself busy, he’s been going for plenty of walks in his neighbourhood of Charleswood, which boasts a semi-rural atmosphere full of trails and places to walk. Though Romanshin admits that some of the sidewalks are still icy — he’s been walking on the roads instead — he does have one favourite place: Harte Trail. The 6.5-kilometre walkway is part of the Trans Canada Trail and, according to Romanshin, is in decent shape for this time of year. “There are some pretty icy patches but it seems to be melting quickly,” he says. “The gravel is starting to show.” *Wellington Crescent* “My running route is the Wellington-Wolseley loop,” says Jack Maier. “I live about a block away from Wellington Crescent in North River Heights, so that’s where I start.” The route has served 22-year-old Maier well for the past three years, but spring weather and increasingly large numbers of people outside initially made it trickier than usual for Maier to maintain a safe distance and stay dry. “The sidewalks are soaked right now,” he says, “especially the central walking path on Wellington, which has basically turned to mud. Your options are running on the road or trying to leap and sidestep over the puddles.” Just a few days after Maier took to running on the road to stay dry, the city opened the seasonal Sunday and holiday bike routes to cyclists and pedestrians seven days a week, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. The four roadway closures are Wellington Crescent between Academy Road and Guelph Street; Lyndale Drive between Cromwell Street and Gauvin Street; Scotia Street between Anderson Avenue and Armstrong Avenue; and Wolseley Avenue between Raglan Road and Maryland Street. Motor vehicles are restricted to one block of travel on these routes. *Central sidewalks* For people living in Winnipeg’s central neighbourhoods, the best trails seem to be the ones right outside the front door: sidewalks. While many folks in suburban areas report a higher number of pedestrians than usual, Charlene Van Buekenhout, who lives in the West End, has noticed the opposite. “The sidewalks are slushy, icy nightmares,” says Van Buekenhout, “but there haven’t been many people out.” Van Buekenhout has even noticed one huge positive: “People have been waving to us from inside their houses, which never happens,” she says. “That’s been a nice development.” Pedestrian activity in the West End, Downtown and the Exchange District is light, so if you live in one of these neighbourhoods, there’s a good chance physical distancing won’t be a problem. *La Barriere Park* “The sidewalks suck,” says Dolores Rintoul, “but the streets being virtually free of vehicles means we can walk on the road in a lot of cases.” Rintoul joins the ranks of many other pedestrians who have found sidewalks too icy, too wet or too narrow and have instead taken to walking on the road… but her partner goes one step further. “My partner goes for a ski by the river every couple of days, or to La Barriere Park.” While skiing may be out of the question now that the snow has mostly melted, Rintoul says that La Barrière Park — located south of Winnipeg in Ritchot — has plenty of room (and 2.9 km of trails) to safely move around and get some vitamin D. *Bike riding, anywhere* “The average city sidewalk is 1.5 metres (wide), and the recommended amount of space that individuals must have between them is a minimum of two metres,” says Mel Marginet of the Green Action Centre. “To ensure Winnipeggers are safe when walking and biking, the city must act quickly to reallocate road space.” While Winnipeggers wait for additional safe spaces to walk, there’s no better time to start cycling now that traffic has been reduced, and many bike shops in the city, such as Natural Cycle at 91 Albert St. in the Exchange, are still open as of Monday morning to help with all of your cycling needs. A complete list of bike routes in Winnipeg is available at wfp.to/bikeroutes frances.koncan(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @franceskoncan

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Fwd: Community engagement, but digital
by Mark Cohoe 14 Apr '20

14 Apr '20

This might be interesting as a number of projects moving forward (Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies update, Transportation Master Plan update, Leila Ave, University Crescent) may need to look into virtual engagement opportunities. Mark Cohoe Executive Director Bike Winnipeg t: 204-894-6540 e: mark(a)bikewinnipeg.ca ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: The Form-Based Codes Institute at Smart Growth America < info(a)formbasedcodes.org> Date: Tue, Apr 14, 2020 at 12:48 PM Subject: Community engagement, but digital To: <mark.e.cohoe(a)gmail.com> Problems viewing this message? Read it online. <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=d7XL7jbGMG%2Fz%2…> [image: Form-Based Codes Institute, a program of Smart Growth America] <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=QzlAuTvkcH7gx%2F…> <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=hjSbJlHDlMvjZLR0…> When in-peron engagement isn't possible A webinar series on virtual tools and techniques for community engagement How can community leaders continue to engage stakeholders and other members of the public in important local decisions when staying safe means staying home? The Form-Based Codes Institute at Smart Growth America and MSU National Charrette Institute <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=P3wGuos2ULwaobNL…> are partnering to deliver a series of three webinars to provide local leaders, developers and advocates with tools and examples for staying in touch, sharing ideas, and getting interactive feedback to keep critical decisions moving forward. Many of these techniques, while essential in this time of separation, have the potential to engage new, hard-to-reach segments of the community, and will be useful, even beyond this current crisis. Join us for the webinar and see how you can stay in touch and keep the wheels turning! *WEBINAR #1: Charrettes go virtual: Missoula, Montana hosts an online charrette to advance a community vision* <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=9TW%2Bo7DN%2Bsw3…> <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=EKeTfrlyZx5jZHKK…> Join us on April 28 when charrette organizers, Dover, Kohl and Partners <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=soonoVmHauB7o1q3…> (DKP), and local planners from Missoula, Montana describe how they successfully pivoted a long-planned community visioning effort for the Mullan Area Master Plan <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=8O13XtiNEyPjuCIe…> to a fully virtual format, designed to simulate the interactive and interpersonal experience of the “live” charrette. This new approach, created by DKP, uses a variety of online tools to generate thoughtful, place-sensitive solutions using high-quality design and urban planning best practices. Webinar speakers will share how the virtual charrette was structured, how the city prepared, the outcomes, and the pros and cons of using this virtual format. Webinar presenters include: - *Jason King*, AICP, CNU-A, Principal, Vice President, Project and Charrette Manager, Dover, Kohl & Partners - *Bill Lennertz*, Lead Trainer for NCI - *Tom Zavitz*, AICP, City of Missoula, Development Services Plan to join us for future webinars in the series when we will discuss other tools and strategies for virtual online community engagement. Announcement to come soon! This webinar <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=PXQ99mjCBdLMhx24…> has been approved for 1.0 continuing education hours by the AIA, and 1.0 certificate maintenance credits by AICP, and 1.0 professional development hour by ASLA (LA CES). Looking for more webinars? FBCI offers dozens of special topic webinars targeted to a range of audiences. Take advantage of reduced fees to maximize your social distance learning! <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=xQQ%2BuLY%2FpjeZ…> Top: Illustration and possible development scenario for the Hiawatha Farm Square Neighborhood in Missoula, MT (Image: Dover, Kohl & Partners) [image: Follow FBCI on Twitter] <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=Iqeosz%2BMwGplFM…> [image: Become a fan of SGA on Facebook] <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=%2BmhQf7UQvA%2Fi…> Know someone who might like receiving news from FBCI? Signing up is easy <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=7IT0qFbQzs9P9%2B…>. You have received this email from the Form-Based Codes Institute, a program of Smart Growth America. Click here to manage your subscription or unsubscribe <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=ezsyWReE%2BkQE6L…> .

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Pop-up bike lanes help with coronavirus physical distancing in Germany
by Beth McKechnie 13 Apr '20

13 Apr '20

*Thanks to Lawrence Bird for the share...* Pop-up bike lanes help with coronavirus physical distancing in Germany Road markings redrawn after cyclists demand more space to comply with Covid-19 rules https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/13/pop-up-bike-lanes-help-with-c… German cities are redrawing road markings to create “pop-up” cycle lanes for the duration of the Covid-19 lockdown, as cyclists demand more space to physically distance on their commutes to work. Local authorities in the Kreuzberg district of Berlin trialled a temporary widening of two cycle lanes on 27 March, arguing it would help cyclists keep the required 1.5-metre distance apart while car traffic was down owing to Germany’s coronavirus restrictions. On Friday, the council declared the pilot scheme a success because it had improved cycling safety while not hindering traffic. An expansion of the scheme on further roads in Kreuzberg, as well as in the Schöneberg and Tempelhof districts, is planned for the coming weeks. The council said it had used removable tape and mobile signs to mark out the expanded lanes, which can be removed when the current restrictions on movement are lifted. Residents in 133 other German cities have formally submitted applications for similar pop-up bike lanes to their local authorities on the back of a campaign by Environmental Action Germany <https://www.theguardian.com/world/germany> (DUH), an environmental NGO. The campaign group cites new research <https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/07/climate/air-pollution-coronavirus-covid.…> linking air pollution to higher coronavirus death rates as an argument for redrawing infrastructure across the country. “The coronavirus is showing us that clean air is an indispensable asset,” said DUH’s chair, Jürgen Resch. “It is now especially important to temporarily make it more important for people to move safely on their bikes. This will help improve air quality, enables exercise in fresh air while keeping a safe distance and avoids unnecessary accidents.” Proponents of the scheme cite the Colombian capital, Bogotá, as the example to emulate, where the mayor, Claudia López, opened up nearly 72 miles (117km) of new bike routes in mid-March in the hope of reducing congestion and person-to-person contact. In Berlin, opposition politicians from the pro-business Free Democratic party have described the pop-up cycle lane plans as an “unnecessary provocation” by the bike lobby, saying they will have little practical use. German states have encouraged the use of bicycles in spite of the current restrictions, under which gatherings of more than two people are banned, with exceptions for families. “The use of a bicycle allows citizens to meet the requirements for minimising contact,” a spokesperson for the transport ministry in Thuringia told the German news agency dpa. In Germany, bike repair shops are currently exempt from state-ordered closures because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Three federal states, Berlin, Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, have also allowed bike vendors to stay open.

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WFP Editorial: Reduced vehicle traffic creates opportunity (Apr13'20)
by Beth McKechnie 13 Apr '20

13 Apr '20

Reduced vehicle traffic creates opportunity https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/reduced-vehicle-traffi… THE city has extended seasonal limitations of motor-vehicle traffic on certain streets, including Wolseley Avenue, Wellington Crescent, Lyndale Drive and Scotia Street. Motorists will be limited to one block from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays, allowing the streets to be used by cyclists and pedestrians. It’s a good idea, with vehicle traffic down due to business and school closures and many people staying in place and working from their homes rather than commuting. The decrease has had an effect: Manitoba Public Insurance processed 4,108 fewer claims last month than in the same period in 2019, a direct result of fewer vehicles being on the road. That’s a lot of damage and injury being avoided. Now, with vehicle traffic reduced and more people out for walks or bike rides as other entertainment and exercise options are shuttered, it raises an interesting question: what do we want to use our streets for? In the neighbourhoods where the newly-extended traffic limitations have opened up long stretches for safe walking and cycling, Winnipeggers are being given an opportunity to find out. Maintaining safe social distancing on sidewalks can be a challenge when one of the few options still available to people during this period of restricted activity is going for a walk or a run. Crowded sidewalks don’t allow for two metres of distance when passing whether one is walking, jogging or using a wheelchair. Some pedestrians take advantage of additional space on the less-traveled streets. But safe distances must be maintained, even when cyclists are added to the mix. Cars take up the greatest amount of space, and in Winnipeg’s traffic flow, the vast majority of motor vehicles in motion have only one occupant. If we could trade some of those single-occupant cars and trucks for bicycles, we would suddenly find there is a whole lot more space for everyone. In addition to the reduction in injuries from motor-vehicle collisions, there are also obvious exercise-related health benefits to having more space for walking, riding and other non-motorized pursuits. Skeptics may point out that once physical distancing and self-isolation requirements are relaxed, all those cars will be back on the road. The likelihood of that is high, since our city is largely designed with motor-vehicle traffic in mind, and other factors such as winter snow and ice can make cycling a challenge for some. But why not consider this brief respite from rat-race traffic a trial run? With fewer cars on the streets, we might learn some unexpected lessons about using them in different ways. In addition to the obvious appeal of a reduction in motor-vehicle accidents, there’s also the benefit of getting to know our neighbourhoods better, including where our local businesses are and what they have to offer. It’s easier to stop and look in the window when you’re not zooming past at the motor-vehicle speed limit or looking for parking. Such benefits extend beyond the specific streets where vehicle traffic is being temporarily restricted, which might prompt one to wonder why we aren’t using more of our infrastructure in different ways. Perhaps it’s time to consider adding protected bike lanes to more of Winnipeg’s streets. As we experience new options for walking and biking, some might be inclined to conclude that motor vehicle traffic doesn’t have to return to what it was pre-pandemic. We’ve been given a chance to try out a healthier, greener approach to getting around, and many of us just might prefer it.

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CBC: Are physical distancing measures giving bikes a new lease on life? (Apr12'20)
by Beth McKechnie 12 Apr '20

12 Apr '20

Are physical distancing measures giving bikes a new lease on life? https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/what-on-earth-newsletter-cycling-covid-1… To slow the spread of coronavirus, we've had to physically distance ourselves from others, which has meant a lot of lifestyle changes, including the way we get around. Getting into an enclosed bus or train with other passengers — or even a taxi or ride-hailing service with a driver — is no longer a recommended option. To make matters worse, many transit agencies are cutting back service. Yet many people still have to get to work and medical appointments. Meanwhile, we're being told to stay home as much as possible, but also to get fresh air and exercise (while gyms are closed). An influx of park visitors — many of whom weren't physically distant enough from each other — has caused governments to close parking lots at national, provincial and local parks. The solution to this conundrum? In many cases, it's getting on a bike. New Yorkers have already done this in droves, with *bike shops reporting double the sales* <https://gothamist.com/news/bike-shop-business-booming-covid-19-takes-new-yo…> they normally get at this time of year. Meanwhile, *bike repair shops in the U.K* <https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/24/uk-bicycle-shops-and-repairer…>. also say business is booming. In Canada, so many people are cycling in cities like Winnipeg and *Calgary* <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/biking-naheed-nenshi-covid-coronavir…> that the municipalities are closing some lanes and roads to vehicles to give cyclists (and pedestrians) more space. Meanwhile, bike shops remain open as many provincial governments have recognized them as an essential service. Brian Pincott, executive director of Vélo Canada Bikes, a group that promotes cycling and advocates for infrastructure to make the activity safer, said that kind of government support is welcome. He noted that many urban, lower-income people don't have other good transportation options right now. "So it is also a matter of equity to be able to have the appropriate infrastructure in place for people to actually go about their day-to-day [lives]," he said. The COVID-19 pandemic has inadvertently improved cycling conditions by taking a lot of automobiles off the road. Pincott said the car-centric design of our cities often discourages people from taking a two-wheeler. "Now that there are a lot fewer cars on the road, more and more people are seeing that cycling is a viable choice," he said. "It's a great family activity." But will the boost in cycling last after the pandemic is over and physical distancing measures are lifted? Pincott thinks it depends on whether governments continue to make it safer and easier for people to ride their bikes. He thinks this is a great opportunity for cities to create space for it. In the meantime, he hopes as the weather gets warmer, people will take advantage of the "perfect time" to get on their bikes. "It's impossible not to be happy when you're getting around on your bike," he said. "And God knows we need a little bit of happiness." — *Emily Chung*

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Simple centerline hardening can increase pedestrians safety
by Beth McKechnie 11 Apr '20

11 Apr '20

*[Thanks to Terry Zdan for the share]* IIHS study finds simple centerline hardening can make left turns safer for pedestrians <https://www.greencarcongress.com/2020/04/20200410-iihs.html> Bollards and rubber curbs that prevent drivers from cutting across intersections at a diagonal can make streets safer for pedestrians, according <https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/simple-infrastructure-changes-make-left-tu…> to a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Such “centerline hardening” forces drivers to turn more slowly at close to a right angle by blocking the diagonal path through the crosswalk. In Washington, D.C., the infrastructure changes reduced the number of times drivers had to swerve or brake suddenly or pedestrians had to dodge out of the way by 70%, said IIHS Senior Research Transportation Engineer Wen Hu, the author of the paper. The calming infrastructure also resulted in a reduction in average left-turn speeds and decreased the odds that drivers made the turn at speeds exceeding 15 mph.

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FW: FYI Men pose more risk to other road users than women
by Charles Feaver 08 Apr '20

08 Apr '20

While the headline references gender, vehicle type is also relevant and the interaction between gender and vehicle type particularly so. Men pose more risk to other road users than women Greater gender equity in road transport jobs might help lessen risks Date: April 6, 2020 Source: BMJ Summary: Men pose more risk to other road users than women do and they are more likely to drive more dangerous vehicles, reveals the first study of its kind, published online in the journal Injury Prevention. The findings prompt the researchers to suggest that greater gender equity in road transport jobs, overall, might help lessen these risks. Road safety analysis has traditionally focused on an individual's injury risk from their own use of a particular type of transport rather than the risk that might be posed to others. To try and plug this knowledge gap, the researchers drew on four sets of official data for England for the period 2005-15: police injury statistics (Stats19); Road Traffic Statistics; National Travel Survey data; and Office for National Statistics population/gender figures. They used the data to analyse the risks posed to other road users from bicycles, cars and taxis, vans, buses, lorries and motorbikes per billion vehicle kilometres travelled, and categorised by road type -- major and minor roads in urban and rural areas -- and gender. In terms of absolute numbers, cars and taxis were associated with most (two-thirds) of fatalities to other road users. But a comparison of fatalities per distance travelled shows that other vehicles might be even more dangerous. Lorries were associated with one in six deaths to other road users: each km driven was associated with more than five times the number of such deaths than each km driven in a car. There was a similarly high death toll for buses per km driven. Despite their small size, motorbikes also put other road users at high risk. Each km driven was associated with around 2.5 times more deaths to other parties than was each km driven in a car. In urban areas, most of those deaths -- 173 over the entire study period -- were pedestrians. Policy-makers should ensure that measures to discourage car use don't inadvertently encourage a shift to motorbike transport, suggest the researchers. At the other end of the scale, cycling seems relatively safe for others: it was associated with fewer deaths to other parties per km ridden than all the other types of transport, with just one other death per billion km cycled. Analysis of the data by gender showed that men posed a significantly higher risk to other road users for five of the six vehicle types studied. For cars and vans, the risk posed by male drivers was double that posed by women per km driven, rising to four times higher for lorry drivers, and more than 10 times higher for motorbike riders. In a linked podcast, lead researcher Dr Rachel Aldred, points out that driving jobs tend to be male dominated, citing the high death toll to other road users associated with lorries, 95% of which are driven by men. While lorries in general are dangerous vehicles, male lorry drivers pose a particularly high risk compared to female lorry drivers, she adds. "Greater gender equity would have a positive impact on these injuries," she suggests, adding that: "Policy-makers should be looking to measure the risk posed to others, and how to reduce it." The researchers conclude: "We suggest policy-makers consider policies to increase gender balance in occupations that substantially involve driving, given the greater likelihood that other road users will be killed if men rather than women are driving or riding." _____ Story Source: <https://www.bmj.com/company/newsroom/men-pose-more-risk-to-other-road-users…> Materials provided by <http://www.bmj.com/> BMJ. Note: Content may be edited for style and length. _____ Journal Reference: 1. Rachel Aldred, Rob Johnson, Christopher Jackson, James Woodcock. How does mode of travel affect risks posed to other road users? An analysis of English road fatality data, incorporating gender and road type. Injury Prevention, 2020; injuryprev-2019-043534

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WFP: Vehicle restrictions to remain in place until start of May (Apr7'20)
by Beth McKechnie 07 Apr '20

07 Apr '20

Vehicle restrictions to remain in place until start of May https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/coronavirus/city-imposes-half-day… THE return of sunny weather came just in time for new motor-vehicle limits starting today in hopes of making it easier for people getting out of the house to safely maintain social distancing. As of Monday, Lyndale Drive, Scotia Street, Wellington Crescent and Wolseley Avenue will limit motor-vehicle traffic daily to one block from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The new restrictions, originally announced by City of Winnipeg emergency operations manager Jason Shaw on March 31, is an expansion of designated bicycle and active transportation routes that are in place on Sundays and holidays from June to September. Signage warning motorists of the restrictions began going up on Scotia Street Monday, which saw its own share of walkers, some of whom took to the roads. Derek Dexter, a Luxton resident, called the restrictions “a great idea.” “My wife and I actually thought of it about two days before the city implemented it,” he said. “In the summer this is always closed on Sundays, so people are used to using it as a bike path and a walking path.” While he said he had seen “the odd group” still mingling, the neighbourhood seemed to have picked up the message of physical distancing. “For the most part, I’ve seen people changing sides of the street and jumping from the sidewalk to the street to keep their distance,” he said. He said he hoped the restrictions would expand beyond a few Winnipeg streets. “I think they could implement this on other streets in the city as well, just to give you that space to walk,” he said. “We often find we’re walking and trying to zig-zag from one side to the other to keep that social distancing, and if the whole street is closed down it just makes that easier.” Shaw said in the original announcement that expanding routes eventually was not off the table. “We need to balance this approach out to make sure that it works first, and we know these routes are familiar,” he said. Andrea Janzen, a school psychologist out for a walk on her lunch break, said that familiarity would likely mean the restrictions wouldn’t affect the traffic activity on the street. “I don’t know what the people feel like who live here on this particular street,” she said. “This street doesn’t get a lot of traffic anyways, I don’t know that it will really change a lot.” However, she said she hopes it sends a message to drivers. “I’m going to walk this street regardless, whether there’s a road blockade or not,” she said. “I think it’s probably just good for people who are out driving who are not from the area to be aware that they need to be more cautious.” Jane Casey, an instructor at the University of Manitoba, said she hadn’t heard about the blockades going up but was used to them in the neighbourhood. “If people can walk down the middle of the road, and be able to have that comfortable distance, that would be a good thing,” she said. The restrictions will be in place until the beginning of May, when they’ll be re-evaluated and possibly extended. malak.abas(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: malakabas_

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WFP Analysis: Rethinking infrastructure after the pandemic (Apr6'20)
by Beth McKechnie 06 Apr '20

06 Apr '20

Rethinking infrastructure after the pandemic https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/coronavirus/rethinking-infrastruc… IN our desperate battle to slow the spread of the coronavirus, almost four billion people, half the world’s population, are living under stay-at- home orders. In a rare united effort, governments, industry and citizens alike are working together to combat a common global enemy. The scale and speed of societal change left in its wake would have been unthinkable only a few weeks ago. As we move through and out of this fight, the power of this new social cohesion presents us with an opportunity to boldly rebuild a country that is more economically resilient, environmentally sustainable, socially just and physically healthier. Cities will be at the front lines of this opportunity, and rethinking the way we move around them will be fundamental to these goals. We have suddenly learned the importance of physical distancing, and with more people out walking, we are also learning how little pedestrian space there actually is in our cities. Across the world, streets are being closed to cars, as cities scramble to create temporary public space for people to access sunlight and fresh air while maintaining safe distances from each other. As the increased need for easily accessible space to walk and ride a bike becomes more permanent, so will these solutions. With everyone at home, increased pedestrian and cycling space is important for exercise and public health, but as time goes on, it will become increasingly vital for connectivity, to access employment, education and recreation. The coronavirus pandemic will likely have long-term impacts on transit use, and we must find a way to replace that mobility. In Winnipeg, people take a combined 170,000 trips every day on the bus. The social, environmental and economic impact of losing any part of that could be devastating. Creating infrastructure that allows people to safely walk and bike to access their daily needs can be a big part of the response. Winnipeg is well prepared to quickly implement a bold new mobility plan. The city’s 20-year Pedestrian and Cycling Strategy provides a visionary blueprint which, if implemented, would respond to many of our immediate needs, and make Winnipeg an active-transportation leader in North America as we move forward. The design includes 80 kilometres of protected bike lanes crossing every neighbourhood in the city, including a 13-lane downtown grid, as well as hundreds of kilometres of new sidewalks, sidewalk widening and renewal, and off-street pathways. The plan also includes several active transportation bridges. With typical construction costs being 80 to 90 per cent less than a vehicle bridge, they could affordably introduce a new network of connectivity between Winnipeg’s divided neighbourhoods. Strategically located bridges could provide easy walking and cycling access to greenspace between communities — for example, connecting St. Vital Park to Pembina Highway, or Kildonan Park to Henderson Highway. With well-located pedestrian bridges, shops on Wolseley’s Westminster Avenue could be a nine-minute walk from the shops on Academy Road; the Osborne strip could be a seven-minute walk from Norwood Flats, or a 10-minute walk to the restaurants on Sherbrook Street. The estimated cost to build the entire 20-year plan is pegged at $330 million, which sounds daunting, but within the scope of current and future federal stimulus initiatives, doing it all at once is bold but not unrealistic. Rebuilding our economy after the pandemic will be critical, and active transportation construction has proven to be one of the best infrastructure investments possible, in terms of job creation and economic return. A comprehensive study at the University of Massachusetts showed that because they use more labour and fewer materials, and the materials they do use are more often locally produced, bicycle infrastructure projects can create up to 11.4 jobs for every $1 million invested — 46 per cent more than car-only road projects, with pedestrian-only projects falling somewhere in-between. A comprehensive active-transportation network could be implemented quickly on a temporary basis, following the Pedestrian and Cycling Strategy, and then transitioned to permanent as the pandemic slows and economic stimulus is prioritized. Reduced driving would lower greenhouse-gas emissions and air pollution, a potential carrier of airborne viruses, and improve physical health, which can strengthen immune systems and reduce pre-existing conditions. The coronavirus pandemic is a stark warning that we are part of a delicate, interwoven ecosystem, and if we push it too hard, it breaks. Our response requires both immediate solutions, and preparation for a long fight. We must also consider future pandemics and, most importantly, this must be a wake-up call to finally address the looming climate crisis, before it becomes a similar global emergency. Governments can work together now to make active transportation an important part of the solution across Canada, helping to get us through this crisis today and helping to meet our economic, environmental and public-health needs in the world we build when it is over. *Brent Bellamy is creative director at Number Ten Architectural Group.*

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NZ encourages (and funds) tactical urbanism
by Beth McKechnie 06 Apr '20

06 Apr '20

Covid-19 is having a significant impact on our transport systems and services. The Innovating Streets programme can make a contribution by providing councils with an opportunity to adapt their streets to better support active and safe transport needs, while following official advice about people movement. https://www.nzta.govt.nz/roads-and-rail/innovating-streets/about/pilot-fund/

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