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The end of the road for motormania
by Beth McKechnie 21 Feb '12

21 Feb '12

[Thanks to Aaron Russin and Melissa Dupuis at Peg City Car Co-op<http://pegcitycarcoop.ca/>for sharing this article. -Beth] The end of the road for motormania 16 August 2011 by *Fred Pearce*<http://www.newscientist.com/search?rbauthors=Fred+Pearce> *Something unexpected is happening to our car-crazy culture. What are the forces driving us out of motoring?* IS THE west falling out of love with the car? For environmentalists it seems an impossible dream, but it is happening. While baby boomers and those with young families may stick with four wheels, a combination of our ageing societies and a new zeitgeist among the young seems to be breaking our 20th-century car addiction. Somewhere along the road, we reached "peak car" and are now cruising down the other side. Peak car takes several forms. Sales of new cars have almost halved<http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/html/tab…>in the US, down from nearly 11 million in 1985 to about 5.5 million in 2009. We shouldn't take much notice of that, though. Cars last longer these days, and sales go up and down with the economy. But we have hit peak car ownership, too. And, more to the point, peak per-capita travel. The phenomenon was first recognised in *The Road... Less Traveled*<http://www.brookings.edu/reports/2008/1216_transportation_tomer_puentes.aspx>, a 2008 report by the Brookings Institution in Washington DC, but had been going on largely unnoticed for years. Japan peaked in the 1990s. They talk there of "demotorisation". The west had its tipping point in 2004. That year the US, UK, Germany, France, Australia and Sweden all saw the start of a decline in the number of kilometres the average person travelled in a car that continues today. In Australia, car travel peaked in every city in 2004 and has been falling since (*World Transport Policy and Practice*, vol 17, p 31<http://www.eco-logica.co.uk/pdf/wtpp17.2.pdf>). It is a similar picture in the UK, where per-capita car travel is down 5 per cent since 2004. What could be driving us off the road? Fuel costs and rising insurance premiums may be a factor. And urban gridlock, combined with an absence of parking places and congestion charging, makes the car a dumb way to move around in cities where there are public transport alternatives. In the US, however, the decline of the car is most dramatic not in the gridlocked city centres but in the car-dependent suburbs. In sprawling cities like Atlanta and Houston where the automobile is king, driving is down by more than 10 per cent. Of course the end of the love affair with the car may just be a sign of the economic times: the much-discussed "hollowing out" of the middle classes, with jobs available at the top and bottom of society, but less so for the white-collar workers. Still, a study by Lee Schipper of the Global Metropolitan Studies unit at the University of California, Berkeley, found that while rising wealth correlates with more travel up to a per-capita income of $30,000, beyond that the link breaks down (*Transport Reviews*, vol 31, p 357 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01441647.2010.518291>). Demographics is a more likely explanation. It is surely no accident that peak car happened first in Japan, which has the world's oldest population. Pensioners do not drive to work, and many don't drive at all. There is also the rise of people like me, "virtual commuters" who work from home via the internet. Besides work habits, leisure lifestyles are also changing. The biggest fall in car use in the US is among people under 35. The fraction of American 17-year-olds with a driver's licence has fallen from about three-quarters to about half since 1998. Twenty-somethings have recently gone from driving more than the average to driving less. Social scientists detect a new "culture of urbanism". The stylish way to live these days is in inner-city apartments. The suburbs suck. Richard Florida<http://www.creativeclass.com/creative_class/2010/06/04/the-great-car-reset/>, an urban studies theorist at the University of Toronto in Canada, points out that the young shop online, telecommute, live in walkable city neighbourhoods near public transport and rely more on social media and less on face-to-face visiting. Given those changes, they can think of better ways to spend their money than buying a car. Phil Goodwin at the University of the West of England in Bristol says the same applies to the UK, where young people are the most prominent in dropping out of the great car society. Maurie Cohen, an environmental scientist at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, says "Gen Y-ers are quite cool to the automobile." The modern James Dean is a rebel without a car. Meanwhile, use of everything else, from bikes and buses to trains and trams, is still going up. But even that trend may reverse. Schipper says we may be approaching a point of "peak travel" of all sorts. People just won't see the need to move around so much. Of course, environmentalists shouldn't get carried away. In the developing world, the car boom is only now getting under way, despite gridlock in cities from Shanghai to São Paulo. That trend makes any claim of an impending global peak car far-fetched. The industrialised world still has plenty of less-green trends too. Falling car occupancy is one. In the US, the average car on the average journey carries 1.7 people, half a person less than in 1970. So even if we individually travel less, our cars may travel just as much. Likewise, the continuing trend for bigger and more powerful cars is wiping out the gains from more fuel-efficient vehicles. And sometimes we simply replace driving with flying. But the good news is that those straight lines on the planners' graphs predicting ever rising car-kilometres and ever-worsening carbon emissions from internal combustion engines are being proved wrong. Planners need to take note. And, if they have any sense, they will start to reinforce these trends with improved public transport, an end to urban sprawl and more investment in inner cities. Some think car use will revive if and when economies recover. But it looks like something more profound is going on. Florida calls it a "great reset" in society that will have profound consequences - not least for the environment. Even our most treasured consumer aspirations can have a peak. Enough can be enough. *Fred Pearce is New Scientist's environment consultant* * http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21128255.600-the-end-of-the-road-for-… *

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First annual Ice It To Work Day - Friday, Feb 17th
by Beth McKechnie 15 Feb '12

15 Feb '12

*Winnipeg's first annual Ice It To Work Day!* *Friday, February 17th, 6:30-9:00 a.m. * Join us on the Assiniboine Credit Union River Trail<http://www.rivertrail.ca/wp/>and skate, ski, snowshoe, bike, run or walk TO WORK! * * Energize yourself at one of the four “Cocoa Fire Pit Stops’! Experience the allure of the river trail in the early morning hours – this picturesque commute along the Assiniboine River is an exceptional Winnipeg way to start your day. First 100 commuters to stop by a Cocoa Fire Pit will receive free special surprises and gifts! Count your Ice It To Work Day km towards Bougeons en hiver: The Jack Frost Challenge! <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/bougeons-en-hiver/> Stop by Green Action Centre's fire pit at Balsam to get your Blue Loonie<http://www.downtownwinnipegbiz.com/home/getting_around/blue_loonie/>for a free bus ride to work and a chance to win cozy wool socks! Snap your pic (with or without props, as you prefer) for the "First Annual Ice It To Work Day Hall of Fame" on our website. Pick up a bike map at the Bike to the Future / Winnipeg Trails Association fire pit, enjoy a tasy rice krispie square at the Actif Epica / Winnipeg *in motion* stop, and enter to win free passes for the Festival du Voyageur while you groove to the music at the The Forks fire pit. Spread the word and see you on the ice!

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Webinar Downloads - Land Use Planning: Routine Inclusion of Bicycling and Walking in New Developments
by Mark Cohoe 15 Feb '12

15 Feb '12

Hi, The handouts for today's webinar are now available for download from the APBP web-site here <http://www.apbp.org/?page=Webinar_Downloads>. As always, Green Action Centre and Bike to the Future invite you to join us for a local viewing of the APBP webinar*"*Land Use Planning: Routine Inclusion of Bicycling and Walking in New Developments *" *at the EcoCentre (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave) followed by group discussion. RSVPs appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! Cheers, Mark Cohoe Bike to the Future Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) presents: Land Use Planning: Routine Inclusion of Bicycling and Walking in New Developments Wednesday, February 15th . 2:00 to 3:30 pm CST Broad land use patterns and transportation policies determine whether walking and bicycling are not just possible, but practical and enjoyable. Understanding how the big picture works is essential for those engaged in regulating, designing and advocating for more sustainable transportation options. Attend this webinar to learn how land use policy and regulations are the basis for pedestrian and bicycle friendly communities, and what to look for in plan review. Through overview and examples of policy and regulations, and the experience of one small Wisconsin city (Fitchburg, pop. 20,000), you'll find out how innovative zoning codes and policies can help promote active transportation. People attending this webinar will learn about: * The connection between transportation and land use, and how it relates to Smart Growth * The importance of connectivity and the benefits of street networks * Smart Code/Form-based Code, including the Bicycle Module, as well as the urban-rural continuum of development contexts * Land use policy vs. regulations, including what can be regulated through zoning and subdivision standards * Examples of site designs and best practices for integrating design standards into land use regulations * The land use, development regulations, and bike/ped transportation elements of the Fitchburg, Wisconsin Comprehensive Plan. Presenters: John Cock, Associate/Regional Manager Southeast, Alta Planning + Design; Mike Lydon, Principal, The Street Plans Collaborative; Ahna Bijzak, Transportation Project Engineer, City of Fitchburg; and Susan Sloper, Community Planner, City of Fitchburg. Land Use Planning: Routine Inclusion of Bicycling and Walking in New Developments, are now available for download here.

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The Manitoban: Active transport to connect east and west
by Beth McKechnie 13 Feb '12

13 Feb '12

Active transport to connect east and west *Posted * February 13th, 2012 *by* Jeremy Gregoire<http://www.themanitoban.com/contributor/jeremy-gregoire/> On Feb. 9 the University of Manitoba hosted a public session about an active transportation river crossing that will provide a direct connection between Fort Garry and St Vital. The pedestrian and cycle crossing will go over the Red River and enter Fort Garry near the U of M. During the session the City of Winnipeg and MMM Group Limited provided professional consulting about the project. The U of M – St Vital active transportation project was initiated by the city and consists of a conceptual design study to identify viable options, locations and assess public opinion for a pedestrian and cycle crossing. A similar session was held Feb. 8 at the Dakota community centre in St Vital. “The City of Winnipeg is studying the feasibility of providing an active transportation crossing,” said Kenn Rosin, project manager of the study for the City of Winnipeg. “Optional possibilities and structure technology types need to be developed and evaluated,” Rosin added. In the two interactive sessions the public viewed display boards about the study and people were asked to provide answers to different questions regarding how they see the project and what impact it has on their daily life. They were also asked to fill out surveys. Luis Escobar, a representative from the City of Winnipeg, said there has been good feedback from the public on the project thus far. He said people are interested in seeing the project move forward and are happy to be asked for their input. “I believe approximately 200 to 300 persons attended the session on Feb. 8, I hope we will get the same attendance today,” said Escobar. Professionals from the city, MMM and Bike to the Future helped explain different options to the public. Mark Cohoe, manager of Bike to the Future and consultant for the project, said that many people have asked questions about how to get to the future crossing as a cyclist and what is the best solution to go from St Vital to the University. Colleen Plumton, professor in the faculty of kinesiology and recreation management, said she thinks the project is an excellent idea because it is important that there are more connections to the U of M. “In terms of pedways and active transportation we are far behind the times, we are far behind larger centres in Canada,” Plumton said. Plumton said she supports any project that improves active transportation in the city. Neil Johnson, a citizen of St. Vital, said the session was informative. “I think [it] is important to be aware of what’s going on in the neighbourhood, particularly in matters that can really impact the liveability of the neighbourhood and I want to make sure that my opinion was being heard,” he said. The consultants will analyse the information from the sessions and see if some options are more acceptable to the public. Once the decision is made the city will provide a report in June. http://www.themanitoban.com/2012/02/active-transport-to-connect-east-and-we…

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letting cyclists run red lights for safety - not so crazy after all?
by Anders Swanson 12 Feb '12

12 Feb '12

Some interesting food for thought for your Sunday afternoon reading pleasure... [Below: Three recent articles from the Times of London, the UK Daily Mail and CBS Chicago, re: changes related to red lights emerging in London, Paris and the State of Illinois. Also of interest, note the structure and success of the broader "Cities fit for Cycling" campaign currently underway and run by the Times itself<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/>. Note the comments by both of London's Mayoral candidates, the Prime Minister, Greater Manchester Police, the Italian insurance industry.] ‘Give cyclists a head-start at traffic lights’ - Article<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3315346.ece#tab-1> - Online app: readers’ cycle stories<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3315346.ece#tab-5> A 'ghost bike' memorial for Dan Cox, 28, who died in a collision with a lorry at a Hackney junction a year ago Times photographer, Mikael Buck - Recommend (14)<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3315346.ece#> - Print<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3315346.ece#> - Email<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3315346.ece#> - Share<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3315346.ece#> - - Follow stories about - Cities fit for cycling<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3315346.ece#> What's this<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3315346.ece#> - [image: A Ghost Bike left for Dan Cox on the corner of Kingsland Road and Dalston Lane] A 'ghost bike' memorial for Dan Cox, 28, who died in a collision with a lorry at a Hackney junction a year ago Times photographer, Mikael Buck *Rhoda Buchanan* and *Kaya Burgess* Last updated February 10 2012 12:01AM Cyclists would have a five-second head-start on other traffic at dangerous junctions and all cycle lanes would be reviewed for safety if Ken Livingstone is re-elected as Mayor of London. Mr Livingstone made his pledge as the *Times* campaign for safer cycling amassed a total of 25,000 written pledges of support, and more than 1,300 letters were written to MPs urging them to support the campaign and attend a parliamentary debate. Greater Manchester Police also gave their backing to the campaign, joining a growing list of politicians, celebrities and businesses who support the call for “Cities fit for cycling”. A debate in the House of Lords this week also suggested that ministers consider mimicking a new scheme in Paris that would allow cyclists in Britain to run through red lights if they are turning left at a T-junction. About 70 per cent of cycling fatalities are at junctions and many occur when cyclists are forced to pull away from green lights alongside lorries whose drivers do not see cyclists in their blind spots. The *Times* campaign is calling for the 500 most dangerous junctions in the country to be identified and improved, installing measures such as phased traffic lights where appropriate. In the House of Lords, in a debate raised by Baroness Gardner of Parkes, a Conservative peer, the question of cutting the bureaucracy involved in installing Trixi mirrors, which are fitted to traffic lights to allow lorry drivers to see into their blind spots, was also raised, though dismissed by Earl Attlee, the Transport Minister. Lady Gardner argued that granting permission to cyclists to go through red lights in certain situations could cut fatalities and serious injuries. She suggested that more women were killed than men by lorries turning left at junctions because they “wait at the red lights and men go through them”. Lord Attlee said that he had not heard of the Paris experiment to let cyclists go through a red light, which was given the go-ahead this week. The Government was “aware of the hypothesis” that more women were killed or seriously injured on bikes than men, he said, adding: “It’s difficult to extract measurable data to formulate policy or to make effective regulations.” Mr Livingstone, who is campaigning for Labour against Boris Johnson in London’s mayoral election, dismissed the cost of introducing phased traffic lights across the capital, citing the Mayor’s £13 billion budget. “To give cyclists a five-second advantage is a relatively simple thing to do,” he said. “You’ve got to do it everywhere where there is a risk to cyclists.” Kulveer Ranger, Mr Johnson’s director of environment, said: “Over the past four years the Mayor has been directly responsible for an unprecedented investment and focus on cycling in the capital.” Cycling lobby groups in the US, Australia, France, South Africa and the Netherlands have backed “Cities fit for cycling” this week, and a group of bloggers has written to Italian newspapers asking them to support and copy the *Times* campaign. http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3315346.ece It's enough to make motorists see rouge! Paris to allow cyclists to run red lights in bid to cut accidents - Cyclists will be allowed to turn right or go straight ahead, even when a traffic light is on red - But they will have to give way to pedestrians, and traffic coming from the left - They will be held responsible if there is an accident By PETER ALLEN<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=&authornamef=Peter+Allen> Last updated at 10:24 PM on 7th February 2012 - Comments (109)<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2097882/Paris-allow-cyclists-run-re…> - Share<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2097882/Paris-allow-cyclists-run-re…> - - - - Paris is to become one of the first major capital cities in the world to officially allow cyclists to ride through red lights. The radical measure, which is intended to cut down on accidents, will be studied by city and town planners in numerous other countries outside France, including Britain. At the moment, thousands of cyclists in cities like Paris and London regularly break red lights, but risk fines for doing so. [image: Trial period: Paris is to become one of the first major capital cities in the world to officially allow cyclists to ride through red lights] Trial period: Paris is to become one of the first major capital cities in the world to officially allow cyclists to ride through red lights Councillors in the French capital have voted to adopt the measure following a three-year campaign by cycle associations. It will allow those on bicycles to turn right or go straight ahead, even when a traffic light is on red. But they will have to give way to pedestrians, and traffic coming from the left. Crucially, they will also be held responsible if there is an accident. More... - You can't park there! The moment pranksters slapped a parking ticket on giant SNOWBALL<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2097854/You-park-The-moment-prankst…> Tests on the potentially chaotic measure will start on around 15 crossroads over the next few weeks, before the scheme is fully implemented, so as to cover up to 1,700 Paris crossroads. Red and yellow signposts posted on traffic light poles will inform cyclists that they can ignore the lights in designated 30km per hour zones. The official justification for the new rule reads: ‘Experience shows that adding specific traffic lights for cyclists can create confusion for motorists.’ [image: Bold measure: Cyclists will be able to turn right or go straight ahead, even when a traffic light is on red. But they will have to give way to pedestrians, and traffic coming from the left] Bold measure: Cyclists will be able to turn right or go straight ahead, even when a traffic light is on red. But they will have to give way to pedestrians, and traffic coming from the left The measure is also being tested in the cities of Bordeaux, Strasbourg and Nantes, where Paris city hall has noted there have been ‘no rise in the number of accidents.’ Paris has a Velib bike hire scheme which means thousands of amateur cyclists regularly fill the streets. There have been a number of deaths and serious injuries, with police often blaming the most serious accidents on bikes competing with heavy vehicles at traffic lights. Cyclists can be crushed in blind spots by lorries turning. Bicycles failing to accelerate away as fast as motorised vehicles are also a cause of constant problems. Opposition to the regulations have come from numerous road safety bodies, with Paris councillor Laurence Douvin saying: ‘If pedestrians, cyclists, motorbike users and car drivers don't respect each other, the introduction of these practices could increase the risks in Paris.’ The British Highway Code states that cyclists must obey ‘all traffic lights and traffic signals’. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2097882/Paris-allow-cyclists-run-re… Motorcycles, Bicycles Can Run Red Lights Under New Law [image: Red Light] (Credit: AP) Filed UnderHeard on WBBM 780<http://chicago.cbslocal.com/category/watch-listen/heard-on-wbbm-780/> , Local <http://chicago.cbslocal.com/category/news/local/>,News<http://chicago.cbslocal.com/category/news/> , Syndicated Local <http://chicago.cbslocal.com/category/syndicated-local/>,Watch + Listen <http://chicago.cbslocal.com/category/watch-listen/> Related TagsBicycles <http://chicago.cbslocal.com/tag/bicycles/>, Illinois<http://chicago.cbslocal.com/tag/illinois/> , law <http://chicago.cbslocal.com/tag/law/>,motorcycles<http://chicago.cbslocal.com/tag/motorcycles/> , Red Lights <http://chicago.cbslocal.com/tag/red-lights/>,Traffic Lights<http://chicago.cbslocal.com/tag/traffic-lights/> Don't Miss This *CHICAGO (CBS)* — Illinois motorcycles and bicycles will be allowed to run red lights starting in 2012, but only in certain instances. Motorcycles and bicycles often aren’t big enough to trigger magnetic sensors that switch traffic lights from red to green, WBBM Newsradio’s Alex Degman reports. That could mean the riders either break the law and run the red light, or wait until another vehicle comes along. State Rep. Dan Beiser (D-Alton) says the new law means bikers can go through a red light if they wait a reasonable amount of time, but that amount isn’t yet defined. “A reasonable amount of time, which was not defined in the bill, will be 120 seconds,” says Beiser. “So two minutes, that’s what we’ve come to agreement on and that was part of the governor’s concern.” The governor issued an amendatory veto of the measure because he wanted a set amount of time the vehicles must wait. But lawmakers overrode the veto, assuring the governor’s office it would be addressed during the upcoming session. The law applies to municipalities with fewer than 2 million people, meaning it wouldn’t apply in Chicago. http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/12/30/motorcycles-bicycles-can-run-red-lig… Italy praises Times Cities fit for cycling campaign - Article<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3313654.ece#tab-1> - Slideshow<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3313654.ece#tab-4> - Graphic: London’s cycling blackspots<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3313654.ece#tab-5> - Recommend (5)<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3313654.ece#> - Print<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3313654.ece#> - Email<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3313654.ece#> - Share<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3313654.ece#> - - Follow stories about - Cities fit for cycling<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3313654.ece#> What's this<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3313654.ece#> *James Bone* Rome Last updated February 8 2012 5:29PM Italy’s insurance industry has praised *The Times* safe cycling campaign, saying it offers a model for Italy too, where there are twice the number of deaths. The head of the ANIA Foundation for Road Traffic Safety, established by the country’s insurance firms, issued a statement pledging his support for *The Times*’ move. “Making people aware of road safety through the media is fundamental for reducing the number and gravity of accidents. The campaign launched by *The Times* for the protection of cyclists in Great Britain should be an example for all of how public institutions, private associations and the media should work together to combat what is the greatest tragedy of our country — road accidents,” said Umberto Guidoni, the foundation’s secretary-general. “If a big newspaper like *The Times *has taken a position like this, starting a real battle for respect of the rules of the road, it’s desirable that in our country there should be a similarly strong media campaign.” Mr Guidoni said Italy had 11 million bicycles and came third in Europe in the number of cyclists killed, behind only Germany, with 462, and Poland, with 280. “The protection of the weakest road users is a common problem throughout the world. Cyclists and pedestrians are the categories most at risk of being run over. In 10 years 1,275 cyclists have been killed on British streets and, according to European statistics, there were 104 victims in 2010 in accidents involving bicyles,” he said. “In Italy, the situation is even worse: In 2010 263 cyclists died (6 per cent of the total deaths); and 2,556 died over the course of the last decade. “That is more than double the number recorded in Britain. This shows our country must still do much in terms of prevention, as well as communication and awareness.” The ANIA Foundation is pushing for the introduction of a crime of vehicular homicide in Italy in cases where the driver is in an altered psychological state or driving well over the speed limit. “The position taken by the ANIA Foundation and other institutions on the need to establish the crime of vehicular homicide in some cases has begun to produce its first results,” he said. “A man who killed a 24-year-old woman while driving under the influence of drugs has been sentenced by the appeal court in Milan to 14 years for voluntary manslaughter. The sentence overturned the trial court’s sentence of four years for culpable manslaughter. This is only a first step.” Contribute to the campaign by pledging support, writing to your MP and sharing a story <http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/contact/>

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Vancouver School Board backs province-wide cycling Education
by Beth McKechnie 09 Feb '12

09 Feb '12

Vancouver School Board backs province-wide cycling education Pitch made by B.C. Cycling Coalition By Naoibh O'Connor, Staff writer February 8, 2012 The B.C. Cycling Coalition won Vancouver School Board support for a province-wide proposal to teach bicycle safety and education to youth. Trustees voted unanimously at a school board meeting Tuesday night in favour of a recommendation from the VSB's management co-coordinating committee, which suggested the board endorse, in principle, the coalition's Right to Bike provincial youth cycling education framework. "What the cycling coalition has been doing is working on trying to develop province-wide curriculum for bike safety," trustee Mike Lombardi, chair of the management co-coordinating committee, told the Courier before the vote. "It's modelled on a program in England, apparently. It's very successful across the whole country. It teaches kids the basics of cycling_The coalition is in the process of trying to gather support [for its framework] through different agencies to be able to go to government to talk about securing funds to develop the comprehensive cycling education program." Lombardi said such curriculum would ensure instructors teach to a particular standard. In its package to the school board, the B.C. Cycling Coalition noted that the province has focused on cycling infrastructure and to a lesser degree promoting cycling awareness, but education is considered a critical component of cycling plans. "In the Netherlands, universally available cycling and traffic safety education are integral components of their cycling strategy that also includes infrastructure development and motor vehicle speed reduction," the coalition stated. "This complete strategy has resulted in very high levels of cycling with safety rates much better than Canada's." The coalition's youth cycling education framework involves a lead organization, supported by a board of partners and stakeholders, establishing and coordinating a standard for cycling skills and safety education for the entire province. A certification program tied to the standard would be licensed to parties interested in delivering certified cycling training and would include everything needed to deliver bicycling skills and safety training anywhere in B.C. The program would operate on a cost-recovery model. Lombardi maintains it's a great idea. "The idea is actually something that a number of us have been talking about for a while. That is, if we're going to be promoting cycling like we are, we need to start [training] very early and have curriculum for that," he said. "It's a very good idea. It's obviously promoting safety. It's promoting health. It's promoting kids cycling to school. We think it's got a lot of positive features to it. There was tremendous support at the [management coordinating] committee from everybody. Everybody felt it was something that was overdue and that it would be a very positive initiative." The VSB also voted in favour of presenting a similar resolution to the B.C. School Trustees Association annual general meeting. noconnor(a)vancourier.com Twitter: @naoibh © Copyright (c) Vancouver Courier http://www.vancourier.com/Vancouver+School+Board+backs+province+wide+cyclin…

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CTV Winnipeg: Crosswalk buttons deactivated
by Beth McKechnie 08 Feb '12

08 Feb '12

[It appears traffic flow only includes motorists, not pedestrians. -Beth] *CTV Winnipeg: Crosswalk buttons deactivated* Pedestrians now have to wait for the traffic lights to change at regular intervals, rather than spurring the lights to change by pushing the buttons at many Winnipeg intersections. City officials hope the move will improve traffic flow. Jon Hendricks reports. http://watch.ctv.ca/news/top-picks/pushing-buttons/#clip615049

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Bougeons en hiver: The Jack Frost Challenge starts Saturday!
by Beth McKechnie 08 Feb '12

08 Feb '12

*Celebrate Winter with BOUGEONS EN HIVER: THE JACK FROST CHALLENGE! Register now - starts this Saturday!* Bougeons en hiver: The Jack Frost Challenge! is a new event celebrating winter in Manitoba. Sign up your team of 1 to 5 to skate, bike, ski, snowshoe, or walk a combined total of 130 km during the week of February 11th to 17th. Participants will be entered in a draw for ‘cool’ prizes. Winnipeggers can tally some of their kilometres on the Assiniboine Credit Union River Trail on Friday, February 17 for the first Ice It To Work Day<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ice-it-to-work-day/>. Register at www.greenactioncentre.ca or call us at (204) 925-3775 or 1-866-394-8880 (toll free) for more information. A Co-Actif Epica<http://actifepi.ca/>Event. * * * * * *Soyez actif en participant à « Bougeons en hivers : The Jack Frost Challenge! »* *Inscrivez-vous maintenant – débute ce samedi!* Bougeons en hiver : The Jack Frost Challenge! est un nouvel événement célébrant l’hiver manitobaine! Inscrivez-vous en équipe d’une à cinq personnes pour faire le patinage, la bicyclette, la raquette ou la marche d’un total collectif de 130km sur une durée d’une semaine, du 11 au 17 février, 2012. Vous aurez la chance de gagner des prix. Les participants de Winnipeg peuvent se promener sur le Sentier d'hiver Assiniboine Credit Union, le vendredi 17 février, pour le premier Ice it to Work Day <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ice-it-to-work-day/>. Inscrivez-vous au www.greenactioncentre.ca ou pour plus d’information composez le 1-866-394-8880 (sans frais) ou le (204) 925-3775. -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre<http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/memberships/>

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Webinar - Land Use Planning: Routine Inclusion of Bicycling and Walking in New Developments (Wed, Feb.15, 2-3:30, EcoCentre)
by Beth McKechnie 06 Feb '12

06 Feb '12

Green Action Centre and Bike to the Future invite you to join us for a local viewing of the APBP webinar* "*Land Use Planning: Routine Inclusion of Bicycling and Walking in New Developments *" *at the EcoCentre (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave) followed by group discussion. RSVPs appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! cheers, Beth 925-3772 Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) presents: Land Use Planning: Routine Inclusion of Bicycling and Walking in New Developments Wednesday, February 15th • 2:00 to 3:30 pm CST Broad land use patterns and transportation policies determine whether walking and bicycling are not just possible, but practical and enjoyable. Understanding how the big picture works is essential for those engaged in regulating, designing and advocating for more sustainable transportation options. Attend this webinar to learn how land use policy and regulations are the basis for pedestrian and bicycle friendly communities, and what to look for in plan review. Through overview and examples of policy and regulations, and the experience of one small Wisconsin city (Fitchburg, pop. 20,000), you'll find out how innovative zoning codes and policies can help promote active transportation. People attending this webinar will learn about: - The connection between transportation and land use, and how it relates to Smart Growth - The importance of connectivity and the benefits of street networks - Smart Code/Form-based Code, including the Bicycle Module, as well as the urban-rural continuum of development contexts - Land use policy vs. regulations, including what can be regulated through zoning and subdivision standards - Examples of site designs and best practices for integrating design standards into land use regulations - The land use, development regulations, and bike/ped transportation elements of the Fitchburg, Wisconsin Comprehensive Plan. Presenters: John Cock, Associate/Regional Manager Southeast, Alta Planning + Design; Mike Lydon, Principal, The Street Plans Collaborative; Ahna Bijzak, Transportation Project Engineer, City of Fitchburg; and Susan Sloper, Community Planner, City of Fitchburg. -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre<http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/memberships/>

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WFP: Bridging the gap between suburbs (Feb.6'12)
by Beth McKechnie 06 Feb '12

06 Feb '12

Bridging the gap between suburbs Red River pedestrian crossing discussed By: Jen Skerritt Winnipeg is set to reignite talks about a decades-old idea to create a new pedestrian bridge across the Red River. This week, a firm hired by the city will hold public consultations on possible ways to create a pedestrian bridge or aerial tramway to connect the University of Manitoba with St. Vital. Enlarge Image <http://media.winnipegfreepress.com/images/3801693.jpg> While the idea of linking the campus to the other side of the Red River has been discussed for years, the city has never moved ahead with a concrete plan. MMM Group project planner Misty Carson said they have come up with five proposed locations where the two sides of the river can connect, including possible links at King's Park, Henteleff Park and near the U of M law school. Carson said the firm is in the process of finalizing cost estimates for each option at each location, which it hopes to present at the community meetings. Right now, Carson said two options -- a pedestrian bridge and an aerial tramway -- are up for discussion. "We're very much at the beginning of understanding public favour and interest for something like this," Carson said. The notion of connecting the U of M campus with St. Vital last gained traction in 2007. A Winnipeg Transit report suggested it would cost about $3 million to build a 250-metre cable connection between the U of M and Henteleff Tree Nursery. At the time, a pedestrian bridge was estimated to cost between $12 million and $15 million. The idea failed to get the go-ahead at council's public works committee. This time around, St. Norbert Coun. Justin Swandel said he'd like to see the preliminary ideas focus on crossings that are doable and won't infringe on riverbank stability, soil or floodway operations. He said he suspects public feedback could be a "mixed bag," with residents and students who support the active transportation link and others who are resistant to change. However, he said he's interested in exploring the idea of some kind of pedestrian connection between the two sides. "I want to see what comes back out of this and see if we can get it focused," Swandel said. "What I don't like is jumping too far in too early, which is why we've got to get some feedback on this." U of M officials aren't sure what impact -- if any -- such a proposal would have on concerns about game-day traffic at the new stadium. Michelle Richard, director of campus planning, said it hasn't been considered as part of the game-day planning process. However, she said it would be an opportunity for the campus to connect with other parts of the community. "Our focus would be on finding ways to create linkages from the university and the broader community," she said. "This is a real opportunity to make those connections." City of Winnipeg spokeswoman Tammy Melesko said public feedback will be used to draft a report that outlines locations along the Red River where a pedestrian link could be built. Council's public works committee will review the report, which will contain cost estimates for each location, should the project move ahead. Some residents have already raised concerns. St. Vital Coun. Brian Mayes said Winnipeggers on his side of the river have expressed concern that a community garden group uses the green space at one of the proposed connections north of the U of M. Mayes said other homeowners worry people will park their cars and walk to the new football stadium on game days. Mayes said he's interested in looking at beefing up the pedestrian connection on Bishop Grandin Boulevard to make it easier for people to travel on bike and on foot. "It would benefit some people in St. Vital, but on the other hand, there seems to be a lot of opposition, even without considering the cost," Mayes said. jen.skerrit(a)freepress.mb.ca NOTE: You can fill out the MMM survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/activetransport

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