April 2021 - AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

CTV: Open Streets returning to Winnipeg without pedestrians (Apr29'21)
by Beth McKechnie 30 Apr '21

30 Apr '21

*Open Streets returning to Winnipeg without pedestrians* https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/open-streets-returning-to-winnipeg-without-pede… WINNIPEG -- Starting next week, cyclists will once again have some roads in Winnipeg all to themselves. On Thursday, city council voted to move ahead with the Open Streets concept. This means that beginning on Monday, vehicle traffic will be limited to one block on select routes to allow cyclists to use the street. However, unlike last year when pedestrians and cyclists shared the widened roads, the current plan would only allow people on bikes. A report from the province says pedestrians are not allowed on the road where a sidewalk is present. "Walking on the street is wonderful and it should be allowed because right now because of the restrictions we can't go anywhere," said Gabriela Aguero, who enjoys jogging along Wolseley Avenue. "Some people don't own bikes and the sidewalks are so narrow, we cannot keep the distance on the sidewalk." The report recommends the city reach out to the province to change the law. "That is the law right now of the province. I think that we as a council and residents respect the legislation," said Mayor Brian Bowman. Despite the law, Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler said no legal changes would be needed and the city can just section off the street to separate vehicles from pedestrians and cyclists. "The City of Winnipeg is allowed to do anything they want to do as long as they do it safely," said Schuler. Aguero said no matter what happens, she will be using the street. "What option do we have? I don't want to run close to a mom who is carrying a baby in a carrier because I can't run with a mask," she said. The streets will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

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WFP: Resident groups want seven-day enhanced street access (Apr29'21)
by Beth McKechnie 29 Apr '21

29 Apr '21

Resident groups want seven-day enhanced street access https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/residents-associations-to-lobby-for… RESIDENTS associations are pushing for more access to two “open streets,” despite opposition from at least one city councillor. Members of multiple associations will lobby city council today to offer seven-day active transportation access on sections of Scotia Street and Rover Avenue. Those are two of 17 roads proposed to become “enhanced summer cycling routes” through a pilot project this year, where vehicular travel will be limited to one block during set hours. “Open streets” are meant to create more room for cyclists. “Having the seven-day access brought (Scotia) Street to life in a completely new way (last year) … The community support for the open routes has been very strong,” said Brent Johnson, secretary of the Luxton Residents Association. But last year’s “open streets,” included pedestrians. Since then, the city has discovered that allowing foot traffic to share the space with vehicles violates the Highway Traffic Act. This year, it’s proposed the routes be set aside for cyclists only. The act prohibits pedestrians from walking on roadways where a “reasonably passable” sidewalk is present. Scotia Street (from Anderson Avenue at St. Cross Street to Armstrong Avenue) and Rover Avenue (from Hallet to Stephens streets) are currently slated to offer enhanced cyclist access on Sundays and holidays only, a limit proposed by Coun. Ross Eadie (Mynarski). The groups hope to change that to seven days a week, as is proposed for most of the other cycling routes. Johnson said he regularly walks and bikes on Scotia Street in West Kildonan and believes that while the one-block limit can inconvenience drivers, the public benefit outweighs any downside. “There’s certainly a demand and desire for people to experience this part of the city in a different way. Why should we deny that in favour for convenience… for cars?” he asked. Johnson expects Rover Avenue, which he’s used to commute by bike, would also benefit from such access. “Rover is a vital link in the active transportation network that the city is slowly but surely developing,” he said. Daniel Guenther, president of the Garden City Residents Association, said Scotia Street also provided his neighbourhood with an outlet for physically distanced exercise last year. “With Scotia being the closest open street to Garden City… (it) definitely filled that void,” said Guenther. Coun. Eadie, who has lived in the Scotia Street area for 54 years, said he has received multiple complaints about the seven-day access, which city staff had initially proposed for the two routes this year. He said residents were concerned the vehicle travel limit interfered with delivery vehicles and buses last year. “The people who are for (this) are adamant (the route must be open) seven days and the people who are against (it) don’t want any days,” said Eadie. The councillor said he believes a switch to Saturday, Sunday and holiday access for Rover and Scotia is preferable. He plans to ask council to add Saturday access at its meeting today, where a final vote on the pilot project will take place. He expects that “compromise” would best address the needs of all residents. “I’m just moving to balance the ‘for’ and ‘against’ perspectives of people,” he said. Eadie said these routes should otherwise match the timelines of the seven day ones, by running from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., from as early as May 3 to Nov. 5. Eadie said he’s asked city staff to explore if Rover Avenue could have its speed reduced to 30 km/h, something active transportation advocates have lobbied for on residential streets. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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Canstar - Wolseley: Walk Bike project creates debate, concern
by Beth McKechnie 28 Apr '21

28 Apr '21

[Note: This same group is raising funds to try to stop the Wolseley Bike Walk Project https://ca.gofundme.com/f/halt-the-wolseley-walk-bike-project-now] Walk Bike project creates debate, concern BY TONY ZERUCHA SPECIAL TO CANSTAR WOLSELEY Not everybody is convinced increased active transportation measures are a good idea for Wolseley, but all sides agree that more public consultation should be done on the issue. The City of Winnipeg is currently designing the Wolseley to Downtown Walk Bike Project to improve travel choices, accessibility and connectivity in the area. The areas affected by the project include Wolseley Avenue, Westminster Avenue, Balmoral Street and Granite Way. According to the current plan, the interconnected section of Balmoral Street, Young Street and Westminster Avenue between Langside Street and Granite Way will see dedicated 1.8-metre bike lanes on both sides protected by adjustable curbs along with two 3.3-metre-wide traffic lanes. Beginning at Young Street, these will switch to one two-way bike lane on the south side of the street. Westminster Avenue between Langside and Chestnut streets will see two traffic lanes ranging in width between 3.2 and four metres, along with dedicated bike lanes on each side of the street. Some people in the neighbourhood believe the inconveniences of the changes far outweigh any benefits they provide. Ray Hignell, who’s lived in Wolseley for 40 years, is spokesperson for the Wolseley West Broadway Coalition, which recently delivered flyers throughout the neighbourhood. He believes the project will have negative net impact. “People are using the pandemic to promote this thing to say we should all ride bicycles,” Hignell said. “It’s a great inconvenience for everybody.” The WWBC fears the changes will make Wolseley a “car-unfriendly” neighbourhood with unintended side effects. With the narrower lanes, Hignell suspects traffic will back up on already busy streets during peak periods if it cannot move around cars waiting to turn. That will drive people to use side streets more frequently and take longer routes in a bid to avoid slowdowns. Pollution will increase and counter what some of the measures are supposed to address. The changes will also require the removal of 48 parking spots and loading zones. According to the City of Winnipeg, peak parking rates on Westminster occur between 10 a.m. and noon, when 70 per cent of spaces are full. Midday parking percentages on Chestnut, Walnut and Furby are 34, 60 and 75. The problem is worse on weekends and when events are held at area churches, Hignell said. The loss of parking spots will increase scarcity. “How would you like it if your street banned parking and you have friends over and there is nowhere to park?” Hignell asked. “It is a terrible deal. It’s a lot of parking spots to get rid of. Parking’s already tight there.” Wolseley Residents Association president Marianne Cerilli said her organization supports the open streets concept as a needed step to combat climate change. “The reason why we’re in support of open streets and the move to improve bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure is because we realize we have to change our transportation methods from individual car trips as much as possible,” Cerilli said. “Many understand the climate crisis and they want to bring a climate justice agenda to the neighbourhood.” Cerilli said cars are the second-highest emitters of greenhouse gases in the area and that society needs to understand the significant role they play in pollution. She disagrees with Hignell’s concerns about increased traffic. “They’re based on the assumption people won’t mode-shift,” Cerilli said. Cerilli said Wolseley is a very walkable neighbourhood with a good mix of residential development and small shops. She believes that addressing the issue of vehicles using the neighbourhood as a shortcut to Maryland Street would significantly reduce traffic volumes. Adrian Challis is the chair of the WRA’s transportation committee. He believes there is no way of knowing what the impact of the changes will be until they are made, even if only for a trial period. “I don’t see how anyone can have such a crystal ball to say those things will happen,” Challis said. “This is all highly speculative and is hard to know.” Like Cerilli, Challis said he is concerned about the climate and anything we can do to persuade people to use their cars less is a good thing. “I am a car driver, too,” Challis said. “But we can’t just use our cars, we have to make the neighbourhood conducive to walking and biking. “If I have to experience a little inconvenience (as a driver) I am OK with that.” The WWBC is also concerned about the impact of moving the No. 10 Wolseley bus route away from the area around Balmoral Hall School. The current route takes riders down Westminster from Evanson all the way to Broadway via Balmoral, but a proposed new route uses Wolseley and Maryland/ Sherbrook to connect to Broadway. That will affect many of the 2,000 people living near Balmoral Hall, Hignell said. “Many people have low incomes and they need the bus. That bus has been there for 93 years,” Hignell said. “This is going to be a great disservice to a lot of people.” Cerilli and Challis said moving the bus route is a legitimate concern but the impacts have not yet been studied. But this, too, may be an instance in which Winnipeg Transit tries the change to see what the effects are. “I don’t think anybody can confidently say that putting it on Wolseley is a good or bad idea. I think we have to try it,” Challis said. While the City of Winnipeg has held open houses, workshops and surveys, both the WRA and WWBC feel meaningful dialogue is lacking. Hignell believes more than half of residents do not know what changes are being considered as they did not receive notices or surveys. Many of those most affected by the changing bus route had no idea it’s coming. Longtime Wolseley resident Ray Hignell believes the costs of planned active transportation measures will do more harm than good, while Leona Fontaine says a proposed new route for the No. 10 bus will negatively affect many in the neighbourhood.

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Neighbourhood Greenway Streets Pilot Designs and Public Engagement
by Mark Cohoe 28 Apr '21

28 Apr '21

Hi, In case you missed this (I did), the city has opened up public engagement on the Neighbourhood Streets Pilot, complete with traffic calming plans. https://engage.winnipeg.ca/neighbourhood-greenway-reduced-speed-pilot?tool=… Mark

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Fwd: Thank you for attending Using Indicators to Track Walking and Cycling Progress
by Mark Cohoe 28 Apr '21

28 Apr '21

Hi Everyone, Here is the recording from the April APBP Webinar: Using Indicators to Track Walking and Cycling Progress. It gives details on a program put in place by Perburough, Ontario. A couple of interesting notes from the webinar: - They use a Transit Convenience Indicator based on an indicator they saw used in Winnipeg - They have someone dedicated to transportation demand management - Vehicle Kms travelled have remained - They saw a fairly sizable increase in cycling, which they link to an expanded cycling network Cheers, Mark Cohoe Executive Director Bike Winnipeg t: 204-894-6540 e: mark(a)bikewinnipeg.ca ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: APBP Webinars <customercare(a)gotowebinar.com> Date: Wed, Apr 21, 2021 at 6:01 PM Subject: Thank you for attending Using Indicators to Track Walking and Cycling Progress To: <mark(a)bikewinnipeg.ca> Thank you for attending the APBP webinar. We hope you found the content interesting and helpful. To claim AICP credit with the American Planning Association for viewing this live webinar, search for event ID #: 9214792 Please help APBP improve the webinar program by taking quick 2-minute survey. Click on this link or copy and paste it into your browser: https://apbp.memberclicks.net/webinar-evaluation-form Watch the webinar recording: https://login.filesanywhere.com/fs/v.aspx?v=8c6b658f5b657377aea0 AICP event number for viewing the on-demand recording: 9214795 Download the slides in PDF format: https://login.filesanywhere.com/fs/v.aspx?v=8c6b658f5b64747da3a5 Report PDF: https://www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/ATI-Repo… If you need an attendance certificate, the form is available for download: https://www.apbp.org/webinar-downloads Please forward these links to others who viewed the webinar at your site. Thank you again for participating! Please send your questions, comments and feedback to: webinars(a)apbp.org. You are receiving this email because you registered for this webinar. Your email address and personal information will be used by the Webinar organizer to communicate with you about this event and their other services. To review the organizer's privacy policy or stop receiving their communications, please contact the organizer directly. Stop GoToWebinar emails <https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/subscription.tmpl?organizer=10000000000057…> | Report spam <https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/reportSpam.tmpl?organizer=1000000000005727…> This email is sent on behalf of the organizer by GoToWebinar. 333 Summer Street | Boston, MA 02210 Privacy Policy <https://secure.logmein.com/home/en/policies/overview> | Anti-spam Policy <https://secure.logmein.com/home/en/policies/anti-spam-policy> | www.gotowebinar.com ©2021 LogMeIn, Inc.

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Upcoming webinars on behavior change and bicycle-friendly facilities
by Beth McKechnie 27 Apr '21

27 Apr '21

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Anna Walters <0000012ea70457d7-dmarc-request(a)listserv.usf.edu> Date: Tue, Apr 27, 2021 at 10:34 AM Hi there, Bikes Make Life Better is hosting or participating in two upcoming webinars that may be of interest to you. Both are free and open to all. *Upcoming Online Bike Forum: From Reticent To Regular Rider — Using A Behavior Change Model To Design Effective Bike Programs* As transportation professionals, we know motivating someone to ride a bike once — let alone for their daily commute — is tough. But what if we could use behavior change theory to help us design bike programs? At our next Online Bike Forum, Jessica Roberts, Principal at Alta Planning + Design, will share insights gleaned from the Stages of Change model, including how to deliver the right interventions at the right times; measuring program success; and more. DATE: April 29, 2021 TIME: 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM PT *REGISTER <https://bikesmakelifebetter.com/online-bike-forum-from-reticent-to-regular-…>* [image: OBF_alta+planning_intro_slide.png] *San Francisco Bicycle-Friendly Facilities Forum* Join Bikes Make Life Better Director Kurt Wallace Martin and other panelists for a lively presentation and discussion on bike-friendly facilities and how to prepare for the influx of new bike commuters at your workplace. Led by the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition and hosted by the SF Spare the Air Team. DATE: May 11, 2021 TIME: 11:00 AM – 12 PM PT *REGISTER* <https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAlfumgrjkoGNT80Gxs87578BGkLCrRZc…> [image: 176033610_4454571777890665_5104912781397308090_n.jpeg] Any questions, please let me know. :) Thanks, Anna -- <https://bikesmakelifebetter.com/animated-video/> Bikes Make Life Better <http://bikesmakelifebetter.com/> | 360.918.1109 <3609181109> Anna Walters | Marketing and Communications Manager ------------------------------

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WFP: Open Streets - route list (Apr22'21)
by Beth McKechnie 22 Apr '21

22 Apr '21

Where to make use of enhanced routes IF city council concurs, the following street sections will serve as enhanced summer cycling routes during a pilot program this year: ● Lyndale Drive: Cromwell to Gauvin streets ● Scotia Street: Anderson (at St. Cross Street) to Armstrong avenues (Sundays, holidays only) ● Wellington Crescent: Academy Road (at Wellington Crescent) to Guelph Street ● Wolseley Avenue: Raglan Road to Maryland Street ● Churchill Drive: Hay Street to Jubilee Avenue ● Egerton Road: Bank to Morier avenues ● Kildonan Drive: Helmsdale Avenue to Irving Place ● Kilkenny Drive/Kings Drive: Burgess to Patricia avenues ● Rover Avenue — Hallet to Stephens streets (Sundays, holidays only) ● Alexander Avenue: Arlington to Princess streets ● Ravelston Avenue: Wayoata to Brewster streets ● Linwood Street: Portage to Silver avenues ● Harbison Avenue West: Henderson Highway to its eastern end ● Rose Lake Court surrounding Rose Lake Green ● Assiniboine Avenue: Ferry to Winston roads ● Wellington Avenue: Maryland to Strathcona streets (Sundays, holidays only) ● Youville Street: Eugenie Street to Haig Avenue (Sunday, holidays only, once construction of Des Meurons Street is completed)

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WFP: City moves toward open summer streets (Apr22'21)
by Beth McKechnie 22 Apr '21

22 Apr '21

EPC votes to devote parts of 17 roadways to giving cyclists extra room this year City moves toward open summer streets https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/city-steps-toward-open-summer-stree… THE City of Winnipeg could offer even more open streets for cyclists this year, but it’s unclear if it will find a way to reopen them to pedestrians. Council’s executive policy committee voted Wednesday to devote sections of 17 roadways, up from a previously proposed 14, to provide extra room for cyclists this year. The seasonal active transportation routes would limit vehicle access to just one block of travel at set hours and are currently slated to open as early as May 3 and last until Nov. 5. If council approves, a pilot program for most of the now-labelled “enhanced summer cycling routes” would operate that way from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Four of the routes are currently slated for weekend and holiday hours only, with exact times still being sorted out. The “open streets” concept was widely welcomed on 10 different street sections in 2020, as a way for both pedestrians and cyclists to enjoy safe, socially distanced recreation during the COVID-19 pandemic. To the disappointment of many, the current proposal doesn’t include pedestrians — because the city has since learned it violated the provincial Highway Traffic Act by inviting them to use last year’s routes. The act prohibits pedestrians from walking on roadways where a “reasonably passable” sidewalk is present. Coun. Matt Allard, public works committee chairman, said he’s hopeful the city can work out some kind of pedestrian access solution with the province, and pursue the cycling routes in the meantime. “In terms of this report (on) enhanced bicycle routes, I think it’s a step in the right direction that opens many new streets to cyclists and will calm the streets because of the limited vehicle traffic,” said Allard (St. Boniface). The councillor noted the current motion calls upon civic staff to report back on pedestrian access discussions with the province next month. A provincial minister has publicly stated the Manitoba government will “never” change the Highway Traffic Act to let a municipality mix pedestrians with vehicle traffic on such routes. Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler said Winnipeg could instead close a section of a street or lane to vehicles to reserve it for pedestrians and cyclists. He said the city would need to use road paint and add signs at every affected block to make the rule obvious. So far, councillors have not officially called for that change, though some believe the city should consider it. Coun. Markus Chambers (St. Norbert-Seine River) said all options should be explored to invite pedestrians back to the routes. “The success of this last year, the ability to have people out and about on the streets, that’s what we want to promote. So, if there’s a way we can do that safely, that’s our objective,” said Chambers. Mayor Brian Bowman stressed Winnipeggers should obey the current “rules of the road,” despite the fact they could walk on the active transportation routes last year. “The Highway Traffic Act is there to protect the safety of residents… and I think it’s important that we, as a municipal government, and citizens respect the legislation,” said Bowman. The mayor declined to weigh in on whether he thinks police should ticket pedestrians who walk on this year’s cycling routes. He also stopped short of stating whether or not he personally wants to restore foot traffic on the routes, only noting he supports discussing that option with the province. “We’re doing our best to navigate the legislation in a way that provides more recreation amenities for our residents.” joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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Free Webinar Next Week: Jeff Speck on Walkability Studies
by Beth McKechnie 21 Apr '21

21 Apr '21

What is a Walkability Study, and Why Should You Do One? WEBINAR, THURSDAY, APRIL 29 – 2:00 P.M. EDT ------------------------------ [image: What is a Walkability Study, and Why Should You Do One?] <https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVy…> What is a Walkability Study, and Why Should You Do One? *Thursday, April 29 at 2:00 p.m. EDT* *Participants of this live webinar are eligible for 1.5 AICP CM credits.* Join the Maryland Department of Planning and the Smart Growth Network as Jeff Speck, one the nation’s leading pedestrian experts, explains his approach in Oklahoma City and other communities, how walkability studies are conducted, and how local planners can work with neighborhoods, business groups and citizens to complete similar studies of their own. *Please note* that this webinar is an hour later than our usual time. *Find out more and register for this free webinar via the link below.* Register for "What is a Walkability Study, and Why Should You Do One?" <https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVy…>

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Canstar - The Times: Better active transportation options urged (Apr19'21)
by Beth McKechnie 19 Apr '21

19 Apr '21

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/times/Better-active-trans… Organizations are advocating for a connected walking and cycling network throughout Winnipeg. Organizers from Green Action Centre, Winnipeg Trails, Safe Speeds Winnipeg and Bike Winnipeg, along with fellow signatories, say an improved active transportation network would promote physical and mental well-being, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and address transportation inequity. Letters <https://greenactioncentre.ca/> stating the request were sent to Mayor Brian Bowman, Premier Brian Pallister, and Saint Boniface-Saint Vital MP Dan Vandal earlier this month. Fearless R2W, a North End-based group concerned with child welfare, was one of the letter signatories. "Fearless R2W has a network of families who rely heavily on public transportation, walking, active transportation, and being able to have a safer way for themselves and their children to transport themselves in between home and school and work and leisure," spokesperson Michael Redhead Champagne told *The Times*. He said area residents praised the City of Winnipeg’s open streets project — which saw some streets blocked off for pedestrian and cyclist use only — last year and were hoping to see it expanded this summer. The city was planning to reboot the program in May of this year; however, a legal technicality may rule out pedestrians from using the open streets. Earlier this month, the public works department released a report that said Manitoba’s Highway Traffic Act prohibits pedestrian use of a roadway when a sidewalk is present. So, the "open" streets would be welcome to cyclists only. Mel Marginet, co-ordinator of the Green Action Centre’s sustainable transportation team, said the city needs to start implementing permanent solutions rather than temporary and recreational-based options. "At this point, we really need to move beyond a recreation response towards real transportation choice … and we just see that a connected walk/bike network is the logical next step that they need to do," Marginet said. "We really need to see some clear action, some political motivation and to just really get moving on offering all Winnipeggers transportation choice." Traffic volumes have been down at least 20 per cent during the pandemic. Organizers say now that the streets are emptier, it’s the ideal time to form new travel habits. The city released the Winnipeg Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies report in 2014. The document outlines opportunities to improve connectivity, convenience, safety and accessibility throughout the city. Marginet said the groups want the city to return to the strategies, identify gaps, and use temporary infrastructure to provide solutions until permanent change can be implemented. "As part of a modern growing city, the (m)ayor has and continues to support active transportation and the City’s Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies with significant annual investments since he was first elected in 2014," a spokesperson from the mayor’s office said in an email, adding that the mayor is optimistic about the federal government’s new active transportation fund. In March, the Canadian government announced an investment of $400 million over five years to help build new and expanded networks of pathways, bike lanes, trails and pedestrian bridges across the country. At press time, the federal government had not revealed how the funding will be allocated.

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WFP: Province refuses to amend law to let pedestrians and cyclists share Winnipeg roads (Apr17'21)
by Beth McKechnie 17 Apr '21

17 Apr '21

Province refuses to amend law to let pedestrians and cyclists share Winnipeg roads Back to Square 1 on open streets https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/provincial-law-blocks-citys-open-st… THE province has rejected calls to change the law to let Winnipeg welcome back pedestrians to “open streets” this year, arguing the city can mark out separate spaces for vehicles and foot traffic instead. However, a city councillor fears that option would force Winnipeg to start the entire concept over from scratch. Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler said the province would never alter the Highway Traffic Act to let the city mix pedestrians with vehicle traffic. “The law is very clear and we’re not going to budge on the law…. We are not contemplating an exemption, either,” Schuler said. “We do not believe, as a government, that pedestrians and traffic are a good mix.” Last year, Winnipeg designated 10 sections of local streets where vehicle access was restricted to one block between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily to create space for pedestrians and cyclists to get outside for some fresh air at a safe social distance. Council is considering a proposal to test 14 more routes this year. But the new routes would be reserved for cyclists only, after the city discovered including pedestrians violated the Highway Traffic Act. The act prohibits pedestrians from walking on roadways where a “reasonably passable” sidewalk is present. Schuler said the city can offer active transportation access to both pedestrians and cyclists by closing a section of a street or lane to vehicular traffic. He said the city would need to use road paint and add signs at every affected block to make the rule obvious. Coun. Matt Allard, council’s public works chairman, said that concept isn’t a good fit for “open streets” because it would cut off vehicle access entirely. “We would have to look at every street, at how parking and traffic would be impacted. So it really would be a starting-from-scratch scenario,” said Allard. Ideally, Allard said he’d like to find a legal way to allow pedestrian access. Jim Berezowsky, Winnipeg’s public works director, said the city would need to complete a new round of public consultation before it could implement the province’s option. “We engaged with the public last year…. We would have to go back to that same community and ask these new questions,” said Berezowsky. Several groups are urging the city to find a way to restore pedestrian access. “People walking really did make up such a large percentage of the people who took part in our open streets program,” Mel Marginet, a co-ordinator with the Green Action Centre’s sustainable transportation team, told council’s public works committee Friday. “In Winnipeg, our sidewalks are narrow, they are often in poor shape where they exist at all. So relegating people to walking during a pandemic on narrow spaces fails in terms of accessibility and public health.” Marginet said it would be difficult for the city to keep pedestrians off cycling only routes. “This is going to create a lot of confusion and we don’t think it’s really possible or equitable to start ticketing people for walking,” she said. Emma Durand-Wood, an active transportation advocate, called it “mind-boggling” that pedestrians could suddenly lose this access. “We saw last year that (this) more or less worked fine,” said Durand-Wood. “This (change) just lacks common sense.” If the proposal is approved as is, this year’s seasonal active transportation routes would serve only cyclists and limit vehicular traffic to one block from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. That’s expected to begin as early as May 3 and continue until Nov. 5, pending consultation. The changes require full council approval. Council’s public works committee will vote on the matter Tuesday. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Wpg Sun: Winnipeg should follow Edmonton's lead for active transportation routes: Schuler (Apr15'21)
by Beth McKechnie 17 Apr '21

17 Apr '21

https://winnipegsun.com/news/news-news/winnipeg-should-follow-edmontons-lea… Manitoba Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler says it’s possible for the city to move forward with its spring and summer Open Streets active transportation routes, but only under certain conditions that conform to the law and preserve safety. <http://www.gomanitoba.ca> Last year, to encourage residents to get outside during the pandemic, the City opened up multiple streets for cycling, walking and running. Vehicles, which were limited to one block at a time from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., mixed with pedestrians and cyclists. However, a recent Winnipeg public service report said mixing pedestrians and vehicles is a contravention of section 143 (1) of Manitoba’s Highway Traffic Act. According to the City, the act prohibits pedestrians from using roads when sidewalks are present. As a result, this year’s Open Streets initiative will only be able to accommodate cyclists — relegating pedestrians to sidewalks. “There’s a little bit of confusion on the Highway Traffic Act and what it says in regards to what the city would like to do,” said Schuler, a regular active transportation route user who sometimes cycles 40 km a day. “We are not advocating the City does, or not does something. That has nothing to do with us. The question is, how do you mix pedestrians and traffic?” Schuler said where there’s a sidewalk, the usual recommendation is pedestrians use the sidewalk and cyclists share the road with vehicles. But there’s another way, he said. As demonstrated by the city of Edmonton, Winnipeg can section-off a piece of road, which could then be dedicated to pedestrians and cyclists. “It would have to be marked off by a painted line,” Schuler said. “We would recommend you do like Edmonton. I believe they bought 1,500 traffic cones and some planters, so that you really differentiate road traffic from pedestrian and cyclist traffic. But it can be done. The Highway Traffic Act does allow for it, but it has to be very clearly signed each and every block.” Schuler said the City has the authority to block off roads, like Wellington Crescent. Local traffic would be allowed, but he’s recommending a separate lane, exclusively for cyclists and pedestrians. “The mixing of traffic and pedestrians is a very dangerous situation,” he said. “So the Highway Traffic Act is very clear. When it comes to pedestrians, they must be separated, and it must be clearly marked and has to be done every block. The City of Winnipeg has the ability to do this, as does any municipality.” In a statement, a spokesperson for the city said they’re aware of their authority in terms of full or partial lane closures to restrict vehicle access. They said the city is committed to investigating safe, long-term solutions for shared streets, and would consider physical separation as a potential future, safe solution. jsnell(a)postmedia.com Twitter @JamesWestgateSn

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Together We Cycle | Architecture & Design Film Festival
by Beth McKechnie 16 Apr '21

16 Apr '21

Looking for something to do this weekend? Here's a film on the history of Dutch cycling as part of the Architecture & Design Film Festival at Cinematheque (online): https://adff.ca/films/2021/together-we-cycle/ cheers, Beth -- Beth McKechnie (she/her) *| *Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> *Green Action Centre is located on the ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg, Ininew, Anishininiwag, Dakota, and Dene Peoples, and the homeland of* *the Métis Nation. We acknowledge that our water is sourced from Shoal Lake 40 First Nation and that our hydro is sourced from numerous First Nations here in Manitoba**. * Green Action Centre is your green living hub Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://www.gomanitoba.ca>

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City Climate Plan lagging
by Charles Feaver 16 Apr '21

16 Apr '21

Glad we got coverage on this issue; it is shocking that the city was going forward to long term planning with a climate plan that did not meet the national standard, and nobody was raising a red flag. https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/bike-winnipeg-takes-aim-at-citys-25- year-plan-574217822.html A local community cycling advocacy group is asking the City of Winnipeg to align municipal plans moving forward with climate change targets in step with the rest of Canada and the world. Charles Feaver, a volunteer with Bike Winnipeg, says the group has submitted a lengthy criticism of a draft municipal planning document, OurWinnipeg 2045. According to the city's website, the document, "is the city's 25-year development plan which is intended to guide everything the city does. It provides a vision, goals and policies intended to influence leadership and good governance, priority setting, delivery of city services, how residents get around in the city, and decisions about how the city grows." The problem, Feaver says, is the planning document draft is built upon Winnipeg's current climate targets, which are out of line with Canadian climate targets and international goals that hope to constrain global warming to 2 C above pre-industrial levels. The City of Winnipeg aims to reduce carbon emissions by 20 per cent by 2030 over 2011 levels, and by 80 per cent by 2050. Both targets fail to meet the thresholds needed to meet the Paris Agreement targets, or more ambitious targets that would constrain warming to 2 C.

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WFP Analysis: ‘Speeding’ can have different meanings (Apr16'21)
by Beth McKechnie 16 Apr '21

16 Apr '21

‘Speeding’ can have different meanings https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/speeding-can-have-differ… EMMA DURAND-WOOD WHAT does it mean to be “speeding”? Does it mean you’re exceeding the posted speed limit? Driving too fast for conditions? Travelling at a speed that makes people outside your vehicle nervous or uncomfortable? Judging by the number of requests for traffic calming over the last several years, speeding is a huge problem throughout Winnipeg. Often, those requests result in a traffic study being approved. What happens next? The city comes and sets up equipment to measure speeds over the course of a certain period. The findings are almost always the same: few drivers are actually exceeding the legal speed limit. Nevertheless, residents say there is a “speeding problem” on their street and they’re worried about it. Their concerns go unanswered because technically, there is no problem to address. People aren’t speeding. Nothing to worry about. No traffic calming is warranted. But lay people — everyday citizens in a neighbourhood — are trying to communicate feelings of concern about comfort and safety, but the only way to describe those feelings is with words such as “speeding” and “too fast” — concepts traffic engineers will measure in concrete numbers and compare against the posted speed limit. When neighbours say there’s a speeding problem on their street, what they are really saying is that the posted speed limit, which drivers are following, is too high. Just a few weeks ago, my youngest child mastered the two-wheeler. She’s now keen to spend every waking moment enjoying her newfound freedom. It’s a joy to witness, and fun that we can ride bikes together as family. But sadly, as parents, as we move throughout our neighbourhood, that enjoyment is tempered by a constant state of high alert as we try to anticipate every car’s movement, speed, direction and intention. As a driver, you might think to yourself, “I see that family riding bikes up there – I’ll be careful.” But as the parent outside the vehicle, with three kids in tow, I have no idea whether you see us, whether you’ll slow down, whether you’ll give us room to pass. It’s of zero comfort to me to know that you’re not going over the 50 km/h speed limit. The knowledge that “no one has died on this street” does not reassure me. The pandemic has unlocked an enormous appetite and enthusiasm for spending time in our own neighbourhoods. Bike sales are through the roof. Running shoes, too. We want to be outside and we want not just to be safe, but to be comfortable. We want to feel at ease going for a walk or a bike ride with a friend, with our senior parents, with our children, with our pets. Opponents of speed-limit reductions like to point out that residential streets aren’t where people are getting killed anyway. They suggest lowering speed limits tries to solve a problem that doesn’t exist, and will bring the city to a standstill because all the cars will have to drive around at a snail’s pace. Reality says otherwise. Most commuting is done on major arterials (or should be), not on residential streets. Lower speed limits will result in negligible increases in travel time. To the point of solving a problem that doesn’t exist, surely we’re not just waiting for tragedy to occur to prove otherwise? In truth, slower neighbourhood speeds are about so much more than just preventing collisions. Winnipeg’s adopted Climate Action Plan requires us to change the way people get around the city, given that nearly one-third of emissions come from personal vehicle use. Yet from Waverley West to St. Boniface to Weston, people say their neighbourhoods are a hostile place for walking or biking. How do we expect to convert more than one in every four car trips to other modes when people don’t feel at ease outside a vehicle? Imagine neighbourhoods with fewer exhaust fumes and cleaner air. Neighbourhoods where pavement lasts longer because more of the traffic involves bikes and people, not heavy vehicles. Imagine, too, quieter neighbourhoods where you can hear birdsong and have a chat with a neighbour from across the street without yelling: a reduction of 10 km/h in vehicle speeds results in a 40 per cent reduction in noise. Right now, many people seeking a pleasant and safe environment for walking must hop in the car and drive to a regional park. But if people simply drove more slowly, every neighbourhood in the city could have that calm and comfortable feeling. We also know from study after study that there’s a huge contingent — close to 45 per cent — of potential bike riders in the “interested, but concerned” category. They would like to ride, but are wary of existing conditions and therefore don’t. Those are the kinds of problems lower speed limits would solve. *Emma Durand-Wood is a volunteer with Safe Speeds Winnipeg, a grassroots group of people of all ages that are concerned about safety, comfort and sustainability in our neighborhoods.*

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WFP Editorial: A step backward for Open Streets initiative (Apr16'21)
by Beth McKechnie 16 Apr '21

16 Apr '21

A step backward for Open Streets initiative https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/a-step-backward-for-op… HAS the Open Streets pilot project arrived at a “Don’t Walk” sign for city pedestrians? The concept for seasonal active transportation across Winnipeg that began in 2020 restricted motor vehicles to travel for only one block on 10 different routes every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the spring, summer and fall, allowing for cyclists and pedestrians greater and safer access. It was a pandemic-inspired expansion of a similar plan that has been in use for many years on summer weekends on Wellington Crescent and Wolseley Avenue. Open Streets proved to be welcome relief for Winnipeggers stuck at home during the COVID- 19 crisis. Walking or pedalling on Churchill Drive or Scotia Street along the Red River, or Egerton Road beside the Seine River, became a way to get some fresh air and exercise while enjoying the city’s scenery without having to dodge a procession of trucks and cars. The concept allowed for physical distancing for pedestrians, keeping sidewalks from getting crowded and becoming potential pandemic hot spots. The city’s public works committee will vote today on a proposal to extend the pilot project for a second year. If it receives approval from city council, it would begin May 3, on 14 streets around the city. While the cycling aspect of Open Streets is expected to roll on, the pedestrian part of the plan has stepped squarely into an administrative mud puddle. On Monday, city staff reminded councillors that allowing pedestrians to use roadways that have “reasonably passable” sidewalks, such as Wolseley Avenue and Wellington Crescent, contravenes the province’s Highway Traffic Act. They recommend pedestrians be excluded from these “enhanced summer cycling routes,” and should stick to sidewalks. However, crowding on sidewalks remains a COVID-19 concern, especially considering new information regarding outdoor transmission of the virus’s highly contagious variants. Excluding pedestrians from Open Streets flies in the face of the reasoning that launched the project in the first place. Apparently, the city either didn’t know about the provisions in the Highway Traffic Act or overlooked them when it gave the project the go-ahead last year. Public works director Jim Berezowsky said the city was looking out for Winnipeggers’ best interests when it launched the Open Streets project during 2020’s state of emergency. A year later, a provincial state of emergency remains in place, but legalities seem to have forced pedestrians’ best interests to take a step back. The recommendation also fails to recognize that pedestrians have walked on Wellington Crescent and Wolseley Avenue for years without facing enforcement or penalties when similar rules restricted motor vehicles on weekends. The notion of excluding pedestrians from Open Streets is bound to create resentment in those who strolled or jogged on those streets last year. They will no doubt be struck by the irony of a provincial act intended for motorists adding restrictions on those who choose to travel on foot. City officials are lobbying the province to amend the HTA to allow for Open Streets’ pedestrian plans, but legislative procedures, including a new bill and debates, are hardly a walk in the park. The city and province could take a forward step together by agreeing on an interim measure that would allow both cyclists and pedestrians to use Open Streets’ designated roads this year while providing motorists the restricted one block access to the streets. It would give city council and administration more time to gather information on whether Open Streets could become a permanent feature of Winnipeg summers, and grant pedestrians another opportunity to enjoy one of the few improvements on city life the pandemic has presented.

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Trading clunkers for electric bikes: France moves to offer financial incentive
by Beth McKechnie 15 Apr '21

15 Apr '21

https://www.reuters.com/technology/trading-clunkers-electric-bikes-france-m… France is offering the owners of old, exhaust-belching cars the opportunity to hand over their vehicles for scrap in return for a 2,500 euro ($2,975.00) grant to buy an electric bicycle. Lawmakers in the National Assembly have just approved the measure in a preliminary vote. It was an amendment to a draft climate bill passing through parliament that aims to reduce greenhouse emissions by 40% in 2030 from 1990 levels. If adopted, France will become the first country in the world to offer people the chance to trade in an ageing vehicle for an electric or folding bicycle, the French Federation of Bicycle Users (FUB) said. "For the first time it is recognised that the solution is not to make cars greener, but simply to reduce their number," said Olivier Schneider of the FUB. -- Beth McKechnie (she/her) *| *Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> *Green Action Centre is located on the ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg, Ininew, Anishininiwag, Dakota, and Dene Peoples, and the homeland of* *the Métis Nation. We acknowledge that our water is sourced from Shoal Lake 40 First Nation and that our hydro is sourced from numerous First Nations here in Manitoba**. * Green Action Centre is your green living hub Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://www.gomanitoba.ca>

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More media coverage of Open Streets closed to pedestrians
by Beth McKechnie 14 Apr '21

14 Apr '21

https://globalnews.ca/news/7754372/city-considers-extending-active-transpor… https://winnipegsun.com/news/news-news/pedestrians-will-have-to-keep-off-ro…

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WFP: Open streets may prohibit pedestrians (Apr13'21)
by Beth McKechnie 13 Apr '21

13 Apr '21

Second pilot project to test seasonal active transportation routes Open streets may prohibit pedestrians https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/open-streets-plan-to-sideline-pedes… WINNIPEG’S next round of “open streets” may be closed to foot traffic. A proposal calls for council to approve a second pilot project testing seasonal active transportation routes. Last year, the city limited vehicle traffic to one block from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily on 10 different sections of streets to create space for cyclists and pedestrians to engage in physically distanced exercise. This year, the change would apply from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily on sections of 14 streets, from May 3 to Nov. 5, if council approves. However, pedestrians will not be invited this time, since doing so could violate the Highway Traffic Act. The act prohibits pedestrians from walking on roadways where a “reasonably passable” sidewalk is present. Jim Berezowsky, Winnipeg’s public works director, said the city wasn’t aware of the legal issue when it moved to quickly offer “open streets” last year. “We tried to operate in the best interests of (Winnipeggers) … under a state of local emergency,” Berezowsky said. City staff are now asking council to exclude pedestrians from what would be deemed “enhanced summer cycling routes,” though officials are also in talks with the province to try to amend the act so foot traffic can eventually resume. “What we would like to see is a safe opening with pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles,” said Berezowsky, who warned that may not occur in time for this year’s pilot project. Public works officials also refrained from making the routes a permanent, seasonal addition, since the “open streets” concept has only been tested since traffic plummeted due to the pandemic. Those who’ve lobbied for more active transportation options say cutting off pedestrian access would ignore a large portion of Winnipeggers the routes were meant to serve. “This again will force pedestrians to crowd on to very narrow sidewalks, so it misses that reallocation of (travel) space, which was the point of the open streets … This is very disappointing,” said Mel Marginet, a co-ordinator with the Green Action Centre’s sustainable transportation team. Marginet said she’s seen many residents safely use open streets to walk and run. “I experienced many of these streets as a pedestrian myself… Last year I went on multiple times a day and I didn’t get that sense (of a safety risk),” she said. The executive director of Bike Winnipeg, a group that conducted cyclist and pedestrian counts at open streets last year, said he’s also concerned about cutting off pedestrian access. “That will have a pretty big impact on the open streets. A lot of the counts we did showed, especially on … Wellington Crescent, there were really some huge uptakes from people walking on those corridors,” said Mark Cohoe. Cohoe said he hopes the province can provide the city with interim permission to allow pedestrians access to the routes during the pilot project. Coun. Matt Allard, the chairperson of council’s public works committee, said he ultimately wants the seasonal routes to return every year and include pedestrians. Still, he believes the current proposal offers an important step forward. “If I had my (way, the routes) would be permanent. But I think this is a step in the right direction. They were a tremendous success last year,” said Allard (St. Boniface). Other councillors said the pedestrian component is a critical aspect of the program. “It’s definitely disappointing that pedestrians are not included and, in fact, I think it changes the program altogether,” said Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan). In an email, Manitoba Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler said changing the Highway Traffic Act would require a new bill and legislative debate. He didn’t directly answer whether or not the province supports the city’s specific request. “The province remains open to exploring amendments to The Highway Traffic Act if a permanent and long-term need is identified that benefits all Manitobans,” said Schuler. Council’s public works committee will cast the first vote on the proposal on April 16, which also requires full council approval. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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CBC: Open streets return in Winnipeg pilot project, but routes closed to pedestrians (Apr12'21)
by Beth McKechnie 12 Apr '21

12 Apr '21

Open streets return in Winnipeg pilot project, but routes closed to pedestrians Public works department says Highway Traffic Act prohibits walking on future active transportation streets https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-bicycle-streets-open-route… A report from the city's public works department says pedestrians should not be allowed to use any of the streets closed to vehicles for a coming pilot project aimed at extending Winnipeg's Sunday/holiday active transportation routes. The city has plans to reboot the popular program at the beginning of May with vehicular restrictions on 14 streets, but only cyclists — not pedestrians — can take advantage. The report from public works, made public Monday, says allowing pedestrians on those routes contravenes section 143 (1) of Manitoba's Highway Traffic Act (HTA). "The HTA currently prohibits pedestrian use of a roadway when a sidewalk is present on the street in question," reads the report. Thousands of Winnipeggers got some physically-distanced fresh air last year on several streets that were closed to most vehicular traffic. The city expanded its Sunday vehicular restrictions on four streets to seven days a week, and last spring added five more routes. Enthused by the response, last September city council directed public works staff to look at making some of the streets year-round active transportation routes <http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-city-open-streets-active-tr…> and expanding the program to other areas of the city. The recommendations from public works staff say a new pilot program in May 2021 could be undertaken "that excludes pedestrians on the streets," and says to communicate the change in policy, it should be "re-branded" as the enhanced summer cycling route pilot. Closures last year were a quick decision: Director The director of the city's public works department, Jim Berezowsky, says the streets were closed last year under the spectre of the COVID-19 pandemic and a desire to give residents some physically distanced exercise. "Things were happening where we had to make decisions on a daily basis to try and operate in the best interest of the public, and keeping people close to home and those considerations were our number one focus while we under that local state of emergency," Berezowsky said. The city will appeal to residents to obey the law and keep off the streets while on foot. "We are asking pedestrians to cooperate in a safe and efficient manner as it stands, while we work on a solution. We're reaching out to the public on that. We really do want their support on this so we can find a viable solution here," Berezowsky said. The chair of the infrastructure and public works committee was repeatedly asked if the proposed pilot would stop residents from walking on the designated routes, and repeatedly Matt Allard gave a similar answer. "I know that there are circumstances where pedestrians are legally allowed to engage the street," Allard said. Allard, who has championed the active transportation routes, acknowledged he's liked having the streets open to both cyclists and pedestrians. "Ideally, that would be the case. The director [of the public works department] has has an opinion on the matter. We're branding these holiday cycle routes in part based on that opinion from the director," Allard said. Allard said he would have more to say about the issue at a meeting of the committee on Friday. The popularity of the open streets project last year was highlighted in a survey done by the city. It found 65 per cent of the 5,600 respondents were positive about the routes. Berezowsky agreed monitoring the streets for breaches of the HTA would be the responsibility of the Winnipeg Police Service, and says if there are safety issues that are raised as the pilot project moves forward, his department will look at those locations "on a case-by-case basis." The 14 streets designated as part of the enhanced summer cycling route pilot program are: - Lyndale Drive – Cromwell Street to Gauvin Street. - Scotia Street – Anderson Avenue (at St. Cross Street) to Armstrong Avenue. - Wellington Crescent – Academy Road (at Wellington Crescent) to Guelph Street. - Wolseley Avenue – Raglan Road to Maryland Street. - Churchill Drive – Hay Street to Jubilee Avenue. - Egerton Road – Bank Avenue to Morier Avenue - Kildonan Drive – Helmsdale Avenue to Rossmere Crescent & Larchdale Crescent to Irving Place - Kilkenny Drive – Burgess Avenue to Patricia Avenue and Kings Drive. - Rover Avenue – Hallet Street to Stephens Street. - Youville Street – Eugenie Street to Haig Avenue. - Alexander Avenue – Arlington Street to Princess Street. - Ravelston Avenue – Plessis Road to Wayota Street. - Linwood Street – Portage Avenue to Silver Avenue. - Harbison Avenue West – Henderson Highway to eastern terminus.

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CBC: Vancouver to temporarily close streets alongside 3 schools to encourage active transportation (Apr11'21)
by Beth McKechnie 12 Apr '21

12 Apr '21

*Vancouver to temporarily close streets alongside 3 schools to encourage active transportation* https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/school-street-closures-vanc… The City of Vancouver will be closing the streets in front of three elementary schools starting Monday to encourage parents to use active transportation to pick up and drop off their children. One street running alongside each of Hastings, Lord Roberts and Van Horne elementary schools will be closed for 30 to 45 minutes during peak pick-up and drop-off times. During that time, no motor vehicles will be allowed to enter or exit the affected block. The pilot starts Monday and will be in place until May 7. The city chose streets that allow nearby residents to still access their homes. It also has ensured reserved parking or designated pick-up and drop-off spots for parents or students with disabilities. 'We're really excited' Ian Rowe, chair of the Lord Roberts parent advisory council, says he and most parents were glad the city was trying something new to discourage driving. "School congestion, traffic and safety has been an issue every single year," Rowe said. "And so we're really excited." The pilot wasn't most parents' preferred option, Rowe says, in large part because it requires parent volunteers twice a day, every day, for it to work. Rowe says parents at the West End elementary school wanted permanent infrastructure changes instead, like continuing the separated bike lane along Comox Street in front of the school in order to make cycling a safer option. A few parents objected to the pilot, Rowe says, but the parent advisory council has been working with them to encourage use of the other two streets that flank the school where vehicular traffic will still be allowed. - Vancouver drivers now need to slow to 30 km/h in school zones, around the clock <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-drivers-now-need-…> "We're always going to have parents who need to drive," Rowe said. Health researcher Mariana Brussoni previously told CBC News <http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bike-to-school-1.5495851> that parents face many challenges trying to get their kids to school by foot or bike — including busy schedules, multiple drop-offs and schools that are too far away. School streets around the world Less than 25 per cent of students <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bike-to-school-1.5495851>across B.C. use active transportation to get to school, according to a written statement from the Ministry of Transportation last year. According to the city's webpage for the pilot <https://vancouver.ca/people-programs/school-streets.aspx>, so-called school streets are popular in several places around the world and they have been shown to create a safer environment for children, improve air quality and encourage active transportation. - Vancouver pilots 30 km/h 'slow zone' in Grandview-Woodland neighbourhood <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-pilots-slow-zone-…> In London, England, nearly 350 school streets have been implemented. The city says 81 per cent of parents there were supportive of the measures, which reduced nitrogen dioxide air pollution by 23 per cent. As a result, 18 per cent of parents reported driving less. The city says school streets were also implemented in Toronto and Edinburgh.

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WFP Analysis: Research supports reduced-speed initiative (Apr12'21)
by Beth McKechnie 12 Apr '21

12 Apr '21

*Research supports reduced-speed initiative * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/research-supports-reduce… OVER the last 10 years, six million vehicles have been added to Canadian roads, an increase of almost 20 per cent. Since the 1990s, the average vehicle horsepower has almost doubled, average vehicle weight has increased by 26 per cent, cars are 17 per cent larger and 80 per cent of vehicles sold in Canada today are trucks and SUVs. In Manitoba, more vehicles and larger, faster vehicles has led to a 50 per cent increase in collisions resulting in injury during the past decade. On Winnipeg streets in 2019, the last available statistics, every second day a pedestrian or cyclist was struck and injured by a driver seriously enough to be reported. Every third day a pedestrian or cyclist was sent to hospital, and almost once a month one was killed. Across the country, nearly one out of every five people killed or seriously injured in vehicle collisions is not in a vehicle. All these statistics are inspiring a wave of change across Canada, as cities are one by one lowering speed limits on residential streets to make neighbourhoods safer for all road users, and more comfortable for pedestrians and cyclists. Montreal led the way in 2019 by making sweeping speed-limit changes across the city. Main streets were reduced from 50 km/h to 40 km/h and all residential streets were changed to 30 km/h. Edmonton and Calgary, famous for their car culture, followed suit and reduced residential speed limits to 40 km/h. Quebec City recently announced it will match Montreal and go to 30 km/h on most residential streets. Lowering speed limits to improve road safety is simple physics. The energy transferred in a collision increases with both mass and velocity — bigger vehicles moving faster cause more damage. In general, if a pedestrian is struck by a car travelling at 50 km/h, there is a 50/50 chance of survival, but when speeds are reduced to 30 km/h, almost all pedestrians survive and 30 per cent will not even suffer an injury, making that speed a magic number for advocates. Slower speeds also reduce stopping distances, from 28 metres at 50 km/h to 20 metres at 40 km/h and 13 metres at 30 km/h, which makes roads safer by reducing the likelihood of collisions. The City of Calgary predicts that by reducing residential speed limits to 40 km/h, as many as 450 vehicle collisions will be avoided each year. Research in several cities has proven that the science has real-world effects. A study in Toronto showed that between 2013 and 2018, lowering posted residential speed limits from 40 km/h to 30 km/h reduced pedestrian collisions by 28 per cent and severe injuries fell by two-thirds. In Edmonton, implementing 30 km/h school zones has reduced severe pedestrian collisions by almost half. A 20-year study in the U.K. demonstrated that 30 km/h zones were associated with a 42 per cent decrease in road casualties. Travelling 50 km/h protected by a 2,000-kilogram metal box may not feel fast, but for a pedestrian or cyclist, sharing the road with large, fast-moving vehicles can be unnerving; so much so that it’s a significant deterrent to active transportation for many people. Slower residential street traffic not only makes neighbourhoods safer; it also makes them comfortable and livable, inviting more people to engage in walking and biking. In response to mounting pressure for change in Winnipeg, Coun. Jeff Browaty recently commissioned a public survey to ask people if they want to drive slower. Not surprisingly, more than half of respondents said no. Coun. Browaty has been using the results as proof that Winnipeggers are opposed to this change. Digging beyond the headlines, however, those who support safer streets might see the results as a victory. Certainly, they provide reason for optimism. Even with the poll offering little context or background, 44 per cent of respondents supported reducing speed limits and only one-third were strongly opposed. In mature neighbourhoods where people walk and bike far more than they do in the outer suburbs, support was about twice as high. Without context, people hear reduced residential speed limits, especially 30 km/h, and picture themselves crawling around the city at a snail’s pace. In response to this misconception, Edmonton launched a successful public engagement process to outline the impacts. The city even created an app that allows people to input their destination and see the travel time difference with the new speed limits. In most cases trips were minimally affected. Consider that in Winnipeg, 25,000 vehicles per day are driven down Grant Avenue, and it has the same speed limit as the cul-de-sac your kids play street hockey on. Portage Avenue downtown is eight lanes wide and has the same speed limit as the two-lane street you back onto when pulling out of your garage. Presented with context, it seems illogical not to change the speed limits. Public-safety policy is not a popularity contest, and should be based on data, engineering and science, but Coun. Browaty’s recent poll shows there is a significant base of support for calmer streets. We take pride in our city of great neighbourhoods; by using this new polling information as a springboard to public consultation that broadens support even further, we can follow the lead of other cities and reduce residential speed limits to make those great neighbourhoods even better. *Brent Bellamy is senior design architect for Number Ten Architectural Group.*

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WFP: Wheels in motion on push for active transportation network (Apr9'21)
by Beth McKechnie 09 Apr '21

09 Apr '21

Wheels in motion on push for active transportation network https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/wheels-in-motion-on-push-for-active… IT’S time to make it as easy to cycle or walk throughout Winnipeg as it is to drive. That’s the message to Mayor Brian Bowman, Premier Brian Pallister and federal cabinet minister Dan Vandal, from a lobby group that has demanded they take urgent action to provide a connected network of cycling and walking routes throughout the city. “Right now, unless you own a personal vehicle, your ability to get around Winnipeg to access employment, to access services, is really limited. You either have to use Winnipeg Transit … and your time for that trip is often twice or even four times as long as it would be for somebody in a personal vehicle. Or, if you travel on foot or by bike, you often have to face sections of your route that are very unsafe,” said Mel Marginet of the Green Action Centre, which is part of the campaign. Marginet said about 70 per cent of Winnipeg families surveyed by Green Action Centre said they live within three kilometres or less of their childrens’ schools. Only about 16 per cent said they walk or bike to get there, often due to safety concerns, she said. “People need safe ways to get to work, to school, to run their essential errands on foot and by bike and that’s really how we’re going to see… a response to our need for mode shift (from personal vehicle transportation to greener options),” she said. Ideally, the group hopes politicians will immediately take steps to add a temporary grid for a full active transportation network throughout the city, which would eventually be made permanent. Marginet welcomed Winnipeg’s temporary “open streets” but says such recreation options don’t help commuters. Nearly a dozen streets were designated as “open” in 2020, where vehicular traffic was limited to just one block from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily to make more room for cyclists and pedestrians. She said governments should also invest in active transportation to ensure equity, since Black, Indigenous and people of colour, as well as women and youth, are more likely to rely on transit, cycling and walking to reach their destinations. “(This is) really a response to those (Winnipeggers) to say that you matter in our society and that our transportation system should offer you comfortable choices as well,” Marginet said. Her organization, and representatives from 14 others, signed letters to lobby for the change, which were hand delivered to the politicians this week. Members of the group include several community organizations, as well as the superintendents of the Pembina Trails and Louis Riel school divisions. In an email, Mayor Bowman’s office said he continues to support Winnipeg’s pedestrian and cycling strategy and “remains open to looking at more ways the city can be innovative in its approach in the creation of new walking and cycling paths.” The statement did not promise specific action. In a written statement, a spokesperson for Manitoba Municipal Relations Minister Derek Johnson said his government spent $7.5 million to expand hiking and biking trails last year. The statement didn’t promise specific action on a connected active transportation network for Winnipeg, but noted the city could spend some of the $75.3 million in provincial capital funding it will receive this year on that purpose. Dan Vandal could not be reached for comment. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Traffic Calming Request Process
by Beth McKechnie 05 Apr '21

05 Apr '21

[snipped from Councillor Lukes' newsletter] Speeding and Traffic Calming of Streets The public service has developed a new process to deal with requests for traffic calming of streets. Over the past few years, the public service has seen a dramatic increase in requests to investigate how to traffic calm residential and collector streets. The engineers have developed a six step process starting with a resident making a request. See details here: Traffic Calming <https://u2481139.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=-2FzUZWSuvR5fHvfuxBn3ORIuE0XH…>

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The Herald: Federal funds committed to active transportation (Apr1'21)
by Beth McKechnie 02 Apr '21

02 Apr '21

Federal funds committed to active transportationLocal projects could benefit from federal strategy, $400m fund https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/herald/Federal-funds-comm… Although "if you build it, they will come" was written about a baseball diamond in an Iowa cornfield, it could very well have been writing about active transportation routes. In March, the federal government pledged $400 million towards the country’s first active transportation fund, and the development of Canada’s first National Active Transportation Strategy. The purpose of the strategy, according to its official website, is to "co-ordinate active transportation investments that reflect best practice planning, design, regulations, and standards across levels of government, Indigenous communities, not-for-profits and the private sector." The announcement was great news for longtime proponents of AT. The Winnipeg Trails Association called the announcement: "Excellent news for all Canadian communities at a time we need it most." Local politicians also welcomed the announcement, noting a number of projects across the northeast that could benefit from the fund, though most expressed a cautious optimism that the money will find its way onto northeast streets. Daniel Blaikie, MP for Elmwood-Transcona, noted that northeast Winnipeg is home to a number of great active transportation routes, like the Northeast Pioneers Greenway and the Transcona Trail. However, getting from one to the other remains problematic. "These options help people engage in activities or commute to work without use of a vehicle," Blaikie said. "We need to work on those connecting nodes, so people can use that whole network in a seamless way that they can feel safe and comfortable and use a network that allows them to explore the community." Coun. Shawn Nason (Transcona) echoed those sentiments, adding that he would like to see funding go towards a number of projects in Transcona that have been delayed for too long, including an AT pathway along either Regent or Reenders to Panet Road. "Is there a way to figure that out in that section, a dedicated way to cycling?" Nason said, noting that finishing that route had been included in the 2018 budget, but was removed at the last minute. Nason would also like to see the AT route on Pandora, which currently ends at Day Street, completed, as well as a route through Canterbury Park connecting to the Transcona Trail. "If there’s a windfall, I’d like to see those connections made," Nason said. Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan), who sits on the city’s standing policy committee on infrastructure renewal and public works, said he’d like to access support "to plant additional trees along the Northeast Pioneer’s Greenway in North Kildonan." Coun. Jason Schreyer (Elmwood-East Kildonan) added that there are a pair of studies ongoing in his ward to improve bike routes, particularly along Roch Street. "I’m always into experiments, because if we don’t try things we can’t discuss them," Schreyer said. "What’s missing in the area is actually remarkably simple," said Michel Durand-Wood, an executive with the Glenelm Neighbourhood Association and author of the popular blog Dear Winnipeg... "We just need to focus on making it easier for residents to get to the stuff in our neighbourhood, like local businesses, services, parks, etc." Durand-Wood would like to see an investment in "more space for people," rather than cars, in local neighbourhoods. "Do we want a neighbourhood that is vibrant, accessible to all including seniors, children and those with disabilities, with tons of thriving local businesses that are easy to walk to?" he said. "Or do we want a place that is fast to drive through?" For more information on the federal program, visit infrastructure.gc.ca/trans/active-actif-eng.html

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WFP: Most city drivers want speed limit kept as is: poll (Apr1'21)
by Beth McKechnie 01 Apr '21

01 Apr '21

Most city drivers want speed limit kept as is: poll https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/most-city-drivers-want-speed-limit-… WINNIPEGGERS don’t want the speed limit lowered on residential streets, a new poll has found, despite a strong lobby effort to get city hall to slow drivers down. A Probe Research poll commissioned by Coun. Jeff Browaty asked 600 Winnipeggers about reducing the default speed limit on residential streets. A majority (56 per cent) said they opposed the change, while 44 per cent supported it. If given a chance to vote on a plebiscite to reduce the residential speed limit to 30 km/h from 50 km/h, 66 per cent said they would vote “no,” 26 per cent said they’d vote “yes” and eight per cent weren’t sure. Browaty (North Kildonan), who opposes lowering the limit, said the findings show most Winnipeggers agree with him. “It is pretty clear that… most of Winnipeg is opposed to the 30 (km/h speed limit) and lowering it in general,” he said. The councillor said he hopes the feedback will help to convince his council colleagues to keep the current residential speed limit. Last year, the majority of council members voted in favour of a one-year pilot project to test a 30 km/h speed limit on five residential streets, though no exact date has been set for that to begin. Browaty opposed the change. He said he remains convinced the city shouldn’t pursue speed reductions because roads are safe under the current limits. “I think there are a lot of responsible people who, on the more major local streets, will drive up to 50 km/h and can do so safely,” he said. “I hope these polling numbers will give an opportunity for my colleagues to reflect on what their constituents are thinking.” The Probe Research poll surveyed a random and representative sample of 600 Winnipeg adults online and by phone between March 10 and 21. The results are considered accurate within plus or minus 4.9 percentage points, with 95 per cent certainty. Winnipeg groups that have pushed council to reduce the speed limit argue the change is needed to improve safety. And that risk is why all speed limit decisions must be handled by experts, not guided by public opinion, said Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg. “We’re not putting fire regulations to a plebiscite, why are we putting traffic safety to a plebiscite? We lose lives in this city due to people getting hit by cars. It’s unfortunate and I think we want to make sure that goes down to zero,” said Cohoe. The World Health Organization says pedestrians have a 90 per cent chance of survival when hit by a car travelling at 30 kilometres per hour, but that drops to less than 50 per cent when the car travels at 45 km/h. Mel Marginet, a sustainable transportation co-ordinator for the Green Action Centre, said she’s not surprised by the opposition to a reduced speed limit, something for which she has advocated. “Change is always hard and… a majority of Winnipeggers get around by personal vehicles and few people experience their neighbourhood on foot or by bike. So I think we just minimize that threat or we don’t appreciate how intimidating that is,” said Marginet. She expects public support would grow for a reduced speed limit on residential streets once Winnipeggers try them out. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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