- AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

Cyclists using the Jubilee underpass
by Beth McKechnie 14 Dec '18

14 Dec '18

From: Prowse, Dan <dcprowse(a)hydro.mb.ca> Please be advised that cyclists using the Jubilee underpass may be affected as follows: a) The underpass will be closed on the weekend for cyclists (and others) using the road from 20:00hrs 2018/12/14 to 04:00hrs 2018/12/17. b) During the week the project has been running a shuttle for pedestrians and cyclist who use the walkway during the demolishing of the old bridge abutment on the east side. Cyclists are permitted to use the road as normal but if a cyclist wishes to be treated as a pedestrian through the underpass, they would need to use the shuttle. By Monday (2018/12/17) it is expected there will be a safe walkway available for pedestrians/cyclists to use, removing the need for the shuttle. Regards, Dan

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CBC: 2-wheelin' with a tree: Cyclists put spin on Christmas tradition
by Beth McKechnie 14 Dec '18

14 Dec '18

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/cycling-christmas-tree-1.49… *S**E**A**S**O**N**’S **G**R**E**E**T**I**N**G**S* Terry Zdan BA MEDes Transportation Policy and Service Development Manitoba Infrastructure

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"The Surprising Power of Parking Management"
by Jeremy Hull 14 Dec '18

14 Dec '18

"*The Surprising Power of Parking Management*" (https://bit.ly/2SzKRVT ). This Reinventing Parking podcast includes a discussion by Paul Barter and Todd Litman concerning how parking management can help solve diverse urban problems. Put simply, conventional development practices require housing for cars not people, resulting in 2-6 off-street parking spaces per vehicle and a shortage of affordable housing. More efficient management can reduce the number of parking spaces needed to serve a destination, providing huge savings and benefits. Everybody wins! One of his comments, for example, is that the cost of a parking space in an urban area is more than the cost of the car that parks there. The general theme is that we usually pay for parking indirectly through taxes, cost of housing or the cost of a commercial development. Litman argues that instead of making parking "free" to users and providing more parking than the estimated need under these conditions, we should provide a more moderate supply of parking and deal with any excess parking demand through various management approaches, like sharing parking among users. He points out that cheap parking distorts people's transportation decisions, and that where the cost of parking is paid by users they decide to use or buy cars less often.

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WFP: Councillor pushes bike registration (Dec13'18)
by Beth McKechnie 14 Dec '18

14 Dec '18

*Database would allow police to determine if a theft has taken place* * Councillor pushes bike registration * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/councillor-seeks-mandatory-registra… COUN. Ross Eadie thinks mandatory registration could deter the theft of bikes and put a dint in the illegal street sale of methamphetamines. Eadie (Mynarski) is bringing a motion to today’s council meeting, which would direct the administration to draft amendments to the business bylaw and would compel retailers to input ownership and registration data onto the City of Winnipeg’s online bike registry when a bike is sold. Eadie said bike thefts are fuelling the illegal sale of meth and anything that can be done to hit drug dealers is worth the effort. “A hit of meth is selling for $10 and as low as $3,” said Point Douglas activist Sel Burrows, who joined Eadie for a news conference at city hall Wednesday afternoon. “Meth addicts will steal a bike and flip it to a dealer who will give them a hit of meth for it. The dealer then will sell the stolen bike for $80 or $90, depending on the bike.” In April, Eadie said city hall launched a voluntary online bike registry, where bike owners can input their bicycle’s serial number. Police can access that database if, during an investigation, they suspect a bike has been stolen. “The problem with this new system is hardly anyone knows the online registry exists,” Eadie said, adding only about 2,000 bikes have been added to the registry. “If police suspect a bike is stolen now, checking with the online registry isn’t going to help them because chances are it’s not registered,” Eadie said. There is a cost of $6.60 to input data on the city’s online bike registry. Several bikes can be registered per household and three photos of each bike may be posted. If recovered by police, the stolen bikes will be returned without additional charge. Registration can be done at: winnipeg.ca/bikeregistry The city says upwards of 3,000 bikes are stolen every year. While police recover about 1,000 bikes, less than one tenth are traced back to their owners and returned. Burrows said bikes are stolen in areas from around the downtown and then taken to meth dealers in his neighbourhood. “You see people riding a bike and pulling a second, very nice one along with them,” Burrows said. “You know the second bike is stolen, but if they’re stopped and questioned, they’ll just say it belongs to their brother. The bike’s not registered on the online registry, so the police can’t do anything.” Burrows said making bike registration compulsory will build up the number of bikes on the registry to the point where meth addicts and dealers won’t want to run the risk of getting caught holding a stolen bike. Eadie said he believes the registry cost could be lowered if more people used it. “When you reach a certain level of bikes being registered, the bad guys are going to stop stealing bikes because they know there’ll be a reasonable chance when the police stop them that the bike will be registered and they’ll be charged with possession of stolen goods,” Burrows said. “The fact police can charge them right on the spot with possession of stolen goods will mean they’ll stop stealing bikes.” aldo.santin(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Fwd: VTPI News - Fall 2018
by Jeremy Hull 13 Dec '18

13 Dec '18

This may be of interest to people. One of the comments, for example, is that the cost of a parking space in an urban area is more than the cost of the car that parks there. The general theme is that we usually pay for parking indirectly through taxes, cost of housing or the cost of a commercial development, for example. Litman argues that instead of making parking "free" to users and providing more parking than the estimated need under these conditions, we should provide a more moderate supply and deal with any excess parking demand through various management approaches, like sharing parking among users. He points out that cheap parking distorts people's transportation decisions, and that where the cost of parking is paid by users they decide to use or buy cars less often. ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Todd Litman <litman(a)vtpi.org> Date: Mon, Dec 10, 2018 at 5:00 PM Subject: VTPI News - Fall 2018 To: Todd Alexander Litman <litman(a)vtpi.org> ----------- * VTPI NEWS* ----------- * Victoria Transport Policy Institute* "Efficiency - Equity - Clarity" ------------------------------------- Fall 2018 Vol. 18, No. 4 ----------------------------------- The Victoria Transport Policy Institute is an independent research organization dedicated to developing innovative solutions to transportation problems. The VTPI website (www.vtpi.org ) has many resources addressing a wide range of transport planning and policy issues. VTPI also provides consulting services. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *PUBLISHED ELSEWHERE* ===================== "*The Surprising Power of Parking Management*" (https://bit.ly/2SzKRVT ). This Reinventing Parking podcast includes a discussion by Paul Barter and Todd Litman concerning how parking management can help solve diverse urban problems. Put simply, conventional development practices require housing for cars not people, resulting in 2-6 off-street parking spaces per vehicle and a shortage of affordable housing. More efficient management can reduce the number of parking spaces needed to serve a destination, providing huge savings and benefits. Everybody wins! "*The Best Tool for Reducing Traffic Deaths? More Transit!*" ( https://bit.ly/2QgB6yZ ). This StreetBlog column uses research from the report, "*A Hidden Traffic Safety Solution*" (https://bit.ly/2DS23z6 <https://disq.us/url?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F2DS23z6%3AJdYDBd86I24iMyVZrw…> ). "*A New Traffic Safety Paradigm*" (www.vtpi.org/ntsp.pdf <http://disq.us/url?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vtpi.org%2Fntsp.pdf%3AQ61Olh-IQNmq4…> ), provides additional information on the traffic safety benefits of more multimodal transport planning. "*CityLab University: Induced Demand*" (https://bit.ly/2Sy8rCd ). When traffic-clogged highways are expanded, additional trips generally fill much of the increased capacity. This article is based on our report, "*Generated Traffic: Implications for Transport Planning*" ( http://www.vtpi.org/gentraf.pdf ). "*Educated Millennial Population Growth in Cities and Its Impact on Transportation*" (https://bit.ly/2Pjgj8R ), by Sam Schwartz and Julia Fiore. This ITE Journal article describes the growing number of younger urban residents who want more affordable housing and transport options, based on VTPI’s affordability research (http://www.vtpi.org/aff_acc_hou.pdf ). "*Why the Transportation Energy Intensity of Buildings Matters*" ( https://bit.ly/2E9B455 ), by Alex Wilson and Paula Melton. This Building Green study points out that the energy used traveling to and from buildings (“transportation energy intensity”) often exceeds the energy used to run them, so accessible location is essential for truly efficient buildings. "*Rural Multimodal Planning: Why and How to Improve Travel Options in Small Towns and Rural Communities*" (https://bit.ly/2G5OtO9 ). This report that explores why and how to implement more multimodal planning in rural areas and small towns. Current trends are increasing demand for non-auto travel options in rural communities, including aging populations, rising poverty, growing health and safety concerns, and growing tourist industries. "*True Affordability: Critiquing the International Housing Affordability Survey*" (http://www.trb.org/main/blurbs/178166.aspx ). This report critically evaluates the *International Housing Affordability Survey*, which rates regional housing prices relative to incomes. "*Quantifying Social Costs and Benefits to Guide Individual Action*" ( https://bit.ly/2yODulZ <https://bit.ly/2yODulZ?fbclid=IwAR3c7ja1emEakkOEomIOy_hJuvIAGEhZzRA9XVXQvCQ…> ), by CityFi. This column uses VTPI analysis to compare the external costs of various transport modes, as a way to communicate the value of choosing more resource-efficient transport options. "*Cities Can Save $17 Trillion by Preventing Urban Sprawl*" ( https://bit.ly/2Dyx6Cr ) by the World Resources Institute. This column describes research in the New Climate Economy report, "Unlocking the Inclusive Growth Story of the 21st Century," which identifies practical ways to reduce climate emissions and achieving economic development and social equity goals. It uses data from the 2015 report, "Analysis of Public Policies That Unintentionally Encourage and Subsidize Urban Sprawl" ( https://bit.ly/1lWmroP ), which estimated that sprawl is conservatively estimated to cost the US at least 7% of national GDP. This report provides an encouraging message: environmental protection can be achieved in ways that increase economic efficiency, productivity and opportunity. "*The Effects of Long Commutes and What To Do About Them: An Annotated Bibliography*" (https://bit.ly/2Ptvo94 ), for CloseCommute Systems ( www.closecommute.com ). Closer Commutes identifies ways to reduce commute travel in multi-worksite employers, which collectively employ about 40% of the urban workforce. Recent *Planetizen Blogs* (www.planetizen.com/blog/2394 ): "*Planning for Crime Reduction*" (https://www.planetizen.com/blogs/101826 ). Few issues are more emotional, and therefore vulnerable to bad analysis, than urban crime risk. Solid research indicates that more compact and mixed development tends to increase neighborhood security. Jane Jacobs was right! This column includes some original analysis which compares murder, homicide and suicide rates by community type, which indicates that large cities have lower total risk than smaller cities, towns and rural areas. This indicates that Smart Growth is safer as well as healthier. "*Dynamic Planning for Affordability*" ( https://www.planetizen.com/blogs/100402 ) Conventional planning is static, designed to lock in existing land use patterns. We need more dynamic planning to respond to changing household needs and community goals. "*Win-Win Solutions for Climate Protection and Health*" ( https://www.planetizen.com/blogs/100874 ). The *Call to Action on Climate and Health* is an ambitious plan to achieve both global climate and health goals. Planners can help identify win-win solutions that provide multiple benefits and so can build broad implementation coalitions. "*How Filtering Increases Housing Affordability*" ( https://www.planetizen.com/blogs/100293 ). Good research indicates that building middle-priced housing increases affordability through "filtering," as some lower-priced housing occupants move into more expensive units, and over time as the new houses depreciate and become cheaper. Let’s be friends. Todd Litman regularly posts on his Facebook page ( www.facebook.com/todd.litman ). Befriend him now! * * * * * *BEEN THERE – DONE THAT* *======================* "*Urban Planning for Future Regional Sky Transit*" ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6B0QnjxWfw ). Video of May 12 presentation at the *2018 Sustainable Aviation Symposium* concerning the potential benefits of urban air taxis. "*City Talks Panel: Alternative Urbanisms in Victoria*" ( https://bit.ly/2QhQgUZ ). The University of Victoria’s Fall *City Talks* series kicked off September 20 with a panel discussion on alternative urbanisms including youth-driven indigenous land restoration, Support Network for Indigenous Women and Women of Colour, urban place-making, affordable Infill, and anarchist festivals. "*Driving Change: Technology and the Future of the Automated Vehicle*" ( https://bit.ly/2GwHvO2 ). Report includes evidence presented by Todd Litman to the *Canadian Senate Committee on Transport and Communications* concerning autonomous vehicle implementation. "*Healthy Solutions to Climate Risks*" presented September 12 at the *Global Climate and Health Forum* (www.globalclimateandhealthforum.org ), part of the *Global Climate Action Summit* (www.globalclimateactionsummit.org ) in San Francisco. This presentation highlighted win-win strategies that can reduce climate change emissions and achieve other health objectives including reduced local pollution, increased physical activity and fitness, reduced traffic accidents, and increased affordability and inclusivity. "*Preparing for A Changing Mobility Future: Emerging Planning Issues*" ( https://cura.osu.edu/nov9 ). November 9 presentation at Ohio State University Center for Urban and Regional Analysis (CURA). Includes video. *UPCOMING EVENTS* ======================= *98th Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting*, January 13-17, 2019, in Washington, DC. We will participate in several related events: "*Transportation Camp, DC*" (http://transportationcamp.org/events/dc2019 ) Saturday, January 12, 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM, Catholic University of America. A participatory "non-conference" that explores innovative transportation solutions. '*Multiple Perspective Gender Sensitive Quantitative and qualitative Data Analysis*' in "Bridge the Gap: Eliminating Gender Bias in Transportation Research" Workshop (https://annualmeeting.mytrb.org/Workshop/Details/10999 ). Date: Sunday, January 13, 2019 Time: 9:00 AM-12:00PM. '*Win-win Transportation Emission Reduction Strategies*' in "New Paradigm for Managing Emissions from Transportation Sources" ( https://annualmeeting.mytrb.org/Workshop/Details/10979 ). Date: Sunday, January 13, 2019 Time: 9:00 AM-12:00PM "*ITDP Sustainable Transport Award Ceremony*" (https://www.itdp.org ) Date: Tuesday, January 15, Time: 6:30-8:30pm, Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Ballroom C. A fun and inspiring event! "*Transforming Transportation 2019*" ( http://www.transformingtransportation.org ). January 17th - January 18th, 09:00 am - 17:00 pm, World Bank, Washington DC. This is an opportunity to learn and share with transportation practitioners from around the world. * * * * * *USEFUL RESOURCES* ================= "*Healthy Housing for All: How Affordable Housing is Leading the Way*" ( https://bit.ly/2QhhpaA ). This Urban Land Institute *Building Healthy Places Initiative* report explores how affordable and mixed-income developments can improve health outcomes. "*Kingston’s Double-digit Ridership Growth Over the past Few Years is Unusual *" https://bit.ly/2zKPGou ). Express buses, new route planning, and working with major employers can increase small city transit ridership. "*Modernizing Mitigation: A Demand-Centered Approach*" ( https://bit.ly/2TCxtBD ). This new guidebook by the State Smart Transportation Initiative and the Mayors Innovation Project, describes how to implement Transportation Demand Management (TDM) solutions to mitigate traffic impacts in particular situations. This is timely. Many jurisdictions, including California (https://bit.ly/2TCcAq6 <https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F2TCcAq6%3Ffbclid%3DIw…> ), Seattle (https://bit.ly/2KsE1i9 <https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F2KsE1i9%3Ffbclid%3DIw…> ), and Portland (https://bit.ly/2OWzTri <https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F2OWzTri%3Ffbclid%3DIw…> ), have vehicle travel reduction targets, and consumer surveys ( https://bit.ly/2IaBgDp ) indicate that many people want to live in walkable neighborhood where they can drive less and rely more on non-auto modes. TDM strategies respond to those growing demands. Advice to young planners: if you want job security become an expert in TDM planning and evaluation ( www.vtpi.org/tdm ). The future belongs to the efficient! "*2018 Voluntary National Reviews: Showcasing the Critical Role of the Transport Sector to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals*" ( http://www.slocat.net/vnr2018 ). This report analyzes how transport policies affect the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. "*Accessibility in Practice: A Guide for Transportation and Land Use Decision Making*" (https://bit.ly/2SsVZ6O ) by the State Smart Transportation Initiative. This report describes methods for evaluating access to destinations for local and reginal planning purposes. "*The Difference Between Mobility and Accessibility*" ( https://bit.ly/2qdr2rr ), by Daniel Herriges. Mobility refers to the distance you can travel in a given time period, accessibility refers to the number of destinations and activities you can reach in that time. The most productive places tend to be mobility-poor but access-rich. "*Equity and Mobility*" (https://bit.ly/2MtaBEB ), by engineer and illustrator Ryan Martinson, published in '*Transportation Talk*,' the journal of the Canadian Institute of Transportation Engineers. This 12-page comic can help practitioners understand and apply social equity concepts in transport planning. "*25 Great Ideas of New Urbanism*" (https://bit.ly/2G18IfG ). This free 204-page book by the Congress for New Urbanim (CNU) provides detailed information on innovative concepts that positively influenced planning and development. *"Moving Beyond the Car: Families and Transportation in Vancouver" *( https://bit.ly/2zilrEe ) by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. This report, based on interviews with parents, describes why many families want alternatives to driving, and how this can be achieved. *"Women’s Safety and Security: A Public Transport Priority"* International Transport Forum (https://bit.ly/2RF1IXl ). This report examines women's vulnerability when travelling, particularly by public transport, and ways to increase their safety, security and comfort. "*A Step-by-Step Guide for Fixing Badly Planned American Cities*" ( https://bit.ly/2Uwb0qu ). Jeff Speck’s new book, "Walkable City Rules" ( https://islandpress.org/book/walkable-city-rules ) describes why and how to improve urban walkability. For inspiration see, "Walking the City. <https://www.theguardian.com/cities/series/walking-the-city>'For Me, This is Paradise.' Life in the Spanish City that Banned Cars" ( https://bit.ly/2B1aB6s). "*Walking + Cycling in Vancouver 2016 Report Card*" (https://bit.ly/2ES0Dtf ). This comprehensive report evaluates Vancouver’s outstanding active transport program. It includes survey results indicating that walking, bicycling and public transit are 'social modes,' users have more friendly interactions than automobile occupants (although you probably knew that already!). Two excellent books by Professor David Levinson, are now available free: "*The End of Traffic and the Future of Access: A Roadmap to the New Transport Landscape*" (http://hdl.handle.net/2123/18972 ). This book discusses the concept of 'access' and its implications for more efficient and equitable cities. "*Spontaneous Access: Reflexions on Designing Cities and Transport*" ( http://hdl.handle.net/2123/18973 ). This book describes how to create a ‘spontaneous city’ that allows people to do what they want, when they want? "*Core Elements for Vision Zero Communities*" (https://bit.ly/2rowiZw ). This Vision Zero Network report can help practitioners and communities identify and implement practical ways to improve traffic safety. "*Investing in Walking, Biking, and Safe Routes to School: A Win for the Bottom Line*" (https://bit.ly/2SFfdqb ). "*Complete Streets Policies + Bicycle + Pedestrian Plans: Key Tools for Supporting Healthy, Active Communities*" (https://bit.ly/2BWNNqf ). These two reports for the *Safe Routes to School National Partnership* describe why and how to create communities where students can safely walk and bicycle to schools, including strategies for building local political support. "*Why Cities Must Tackle Single-Family Zoning*" (https://bit.ly/2QDU6Hm ), by Benjamin Schneider. As cities wake up to their housing crises, the problems with single-family-home residential zoning will become too egregious to ignore. "*Central City in Motion Plan Adopted by Portland City Council*" ( https://bit.ly/2QHDv5j ). This article describes how Portland’s Central City in Motion Plan (https://bit.ly/2G0PiHM ) will give more give priority to space-efficient modes in order to increase efficiency and equity. "*Report: Transit Attracts, Retains Jobs in Cities*" (https://bit.ly/2QIDkqo ). This report by the Chicago Metropolitan Planning Commission indicates that high quality transit helps attract and retain jobs by reducing consumer costs, traffic congestion, pollution and traffic accidents. "*Quantifying Co-benefits in Asia: Method and Applications*" ( https://bit.ly/2Swljsz ). This report gives policymakers and practitioners tools for predicting how climate change emission reduction strategies can help achieve other strategic development goals. Also see the *Asian Co-benefits Partnership* (http://www.cobenefit.org ), which supports information-sharing and coordination concerning co-benefits of various emission reduction strategies. * * * * * *Please let us know if you have comments or questions about any information in this newsletter, or if you would like to be removed from our email list. And please pass this newsletter on to others who may find it useful.* Sincerely, Todd Litman (litman(a)vtpi.org) Victoria Transport Policy Institute (www.vtpi.org) Office: 250-360-1560 | Mobile: 250-508-5150 1250 Rudlin Street, Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, CANADA Efficiency - Equity - Clarity

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18 'golden' questions - marketing by mobility attitudes
by Beth McKechnie 13 Dec '18

13 Dec '18

Hi everyone, Not the catchiest subject line, but it turns out there is compelling research on how to group people based on their responses to 18 'golden' questions about travel mode attitudes and preferences. Segmenting respondents into these groups allows you to target marketing messages around travel behaviour change and increase the likelihood of your message resonating with the person. The following links to the webinar recording, slides and the market-segment prediction tool: https://nitc.trec.pdx.edu/events/professional-development/webinar-11282018 Would be great to see these questions included in a Winnipeg-wide survey, such as the Winnipeg Area Travel Survey (WATS) that is apparently in the works (last completed in 2007). The ability to tailor messaging by segment and neighbourhood could be especially valuable in getting more people to switch from driving alone. cheers, Beth -- Beth McKechnie* | *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 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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AT Webinar: What Do You Do? Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator Skills (Wed Dec 12, 2-3pm)
by Beth McKechnie 07 Dec '18

07 Dec '18

Please join Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg for a group viewing of the monthly APBP webinar in the EcoCentre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/uncategorized/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-o…> boardroom. This will be followed by discussion for those who wish to stay. cheers, Beth *AT Webinar: Wed, Dec 12th, 2-3pm* *What Do You Do? Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator Skills* What exactly does a Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator do and what skills do they need to do their job effectively? On this webinar, you'll hear from a few Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinators from different cities and regions about their specific roles and how they differ from one another and what the key skills and capabilities are. We'll also discuss why its important to have someone in this role. *Presenters:* - David Henderson, Miami-Dade TPO - Shawn Smith, Regional Municipality of York

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WFP: Input sought for proposed Exchange District bike lane project (Dec5'18)
by Beth McKechnie 06 Dec '18

06 Dec '18

*Input sought for proposed Exchange District bike lane project * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/public-gets-chance-to-preview-propo… WINNIPEGGERS will get their chance today to weigh in on a proposed bike lane project in the Exchange District. The project, if approved, will result in a new protected bike lane on Princess Street, stretching from Higgins Avenue (near Siloam Mission) to William Avenue near (Red River College’s Roblin Centre). The information session at Roblin Centre is scheduled for today at 4 p.m. The public will have a chance to see the proposed designs, learn how feedback from consultations with stakeholders — including the Siloam Mission, RRC, Chinatown Development Corp. and Centre Venture — was incorporated and voice their opinions on the project. “It’s really important to get the public’s input,” project manager Mark Doucet said. “(We want to) make sure we’re balancing the needs of business owners and the traffic going through there.” Claire Li, who manages the Princess Street furniture store HUT K, said she thinks because that stretch of road isn’t connected to other nearby protected bike lanes in the neighbourhood, fewer people are using it. While Princess Street has painted bike lanes, the lack of concrete barriers between cars and bikes means cyclists may feel less safe — especially as the roads get slippery, Li said. For the past few months, HUT K employees have been tracking how many cyclists use the bike rack in front of the store, she said. Lately, those numbers are dropping. “There just aren’t bike lanes,” Li said. “Anything that supports other forms of transportation, and making it easier for bikers to feel safe and willing to bike the full Exchange, would be great.” Mark Cohoe, executive director of the advocacy group Bike Winnipeg, said getting more people cycling as a way to get around is a good approach to reducing greenhouse-gas emissions and decreasing traffic congestion downtown. Cohoe also pointed to a recent Probe Research survey, jointly commissioned by CAA Manitoba and Bike Winnipeg, in which more than one-third of respondents said they would cycle more if adequate infrastructure were in place. The survey also found nearly half of respondents felt Winnipeg should add more separated bike lanes along major routes. “We’ve got a ways to go, but we’re definitely making progress,” Cohoe said. “People really want to see (cycling) as something that’s a viable option for them. A lot of people — given the right opportunity, and the right infrastructure — would choose to bike to their destinations.” The city’s consultation and study on the proposed Princess Street bike lane project are just preliminary steps in the process, Doucet said. A final report — which will make adjustments based on feedback and include a cost estimate— should be completed in early 2019. “Once we see what the costs are, we will take that to (city) council,” Doucet said. “We’re hopeful that it’s a high priority.” caitlyn.gowriluk(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Wolseley to Downtown Walk Bike Project - Survey deadline
by Beth McKechnie 05 Dec '18

05 Dec '18

Still time to fill out the survey! ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Wolseley Downtown <WolseleyDowntown(a)intergroup.ca> Date: Tue, Dec 4, 2018 at 11:56 AM Subject: Wolseley to Downtown Walk Bike Project - Survey deadline To: Wolseley Downtown <WolseleyDowntown(a)intergroup.ca> Good Morning, Last chance to provide feedback during phase 1! The survey to provide your input on the Wolseley to Downtown Corridor Project will close on *December 6, 2018*. During phase 1 we are collecting input that will contribute to identifying the values and issues that are important to you when working on improvements to active transportation within the study area corridor. View background information about the project at the project webpage <https://www.winnipeg.ca/publicworks/pedestriansCycling/walkbikeprojects/wol…>, and fill out the survey <https://wolseley-walkbike.metroquest.ca/>. Thank you to everyone who has already provided input! The project team will enter phase 2 of the public engagement program in late winter 2019 to review and discuss design options and alternatives. For more information visit winnipeg.ca/walkbikeprojects <https://www.winnipeg.ca/publicworks/pedestriansCycling/walkBikeProjects/def…> .

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WFP: Legalize free-range parenting (Nov30'18)
by Beth McKechnie 01 Dec '18

01 Dec '18

*Legalize free-range parenting * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/legalize-free-range-pare… KATHARINA NUSS I AM encouraged by the amount of discussion and conversation that has been happening around whether the law should more explicitly allow children under 12 more independence. Dan Lett — in “ Protecting kids can mean awkward questions” (Nov. 3) — argues that protecting children requires diligence, and I fully agree with that. As I have said before, my issue is not with receiving a visit from a Child and Family Services worker — I understand and support CFS’s need to follow up when a concern is brought to their attention. What I take issue with is being told that it is not acceptable for children under 12 to be on their own under any circumstances, and that is the focus of the petition I started. Lett makes the argument that there is no harm done in being overly cautious, and that a few CFS visits that turn up no concern are a small price to pay, as it may keep some children from suffering serious neglect or abuse. It seems to be a sensible argument. However, this does not take into account that the status quo is not neutral, but is actually doing damage. It prevents children from engaging in activities that are key for healthy development. By denying our children opportunities to gradually learn independence, we put them at risk of a number of conditions and challenges. There is a sizable body of respectable research that demonstrates the importance of self-directed play, outdoor play, risk-taking and incremental independence for children’s physical, social, emotional and mental well-being. The Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health of Canada says, “Access to active play in nature and outdoors— with its risks — is essential for healthy child development. We recommend increasing children’s opportunities for self-directed play outdoors in all settings— at home, at school, in child care, the community and nature.” Psychology Prof. Peter Gray says, “Over the same decades that play has been declining, we have seen a well-documented increase in all sorts of mental disorders in childhood… five to eight times as many children today suffer from major depression or from a clinically significant anxiety disorder as was true in the 1950s.” ParticipAction has identified the protection paradox: “Children are overprotected in the name of safety, but trying to keep them safe by keeping them close and indoors may set them up to be less resilient and more likely to develop chronic diseases in the long run.” Dr. Mariana Brussoni et al. states that “The evidence… indicates that the overall positive health effects of increased risky outdoor play provide greater benefit than the health effects associated with avoiding outdoor risky play… (and) that risky play supportive environments promoted increased playtime, social interactions, creativity and resilience. These positive results reflect the importance of supporting children’s risky outdoor play opportunities as a means of promoting children’s health and active lifestyles.” As it stands right now, we have a law, enforced by CFS, which says kids cannot be unsupervised until the age of 12. Reality, however, paints a different picture of what we as a society deem normal and acceptable. Many children under 12 play outside without a parent hovering over them at all times — as they should, according to the research. Many children walk to school alone, or with friends or siblings, long before they are 12. School patrols are responsible for helping children (often under 12, often unaccompanied) navigate traffic before they are 12. If CFS tells parents that children under 12 should never be unsupervised, that means we are turning a blind eye to many such “violations” and the law is being enforced very selectively. What I am advocating is not for CFS to ignore a concern when it comes in. Rather, I would like to see a change in the law that explicitly allows for children to have these basic freedoms and learning opportunities, and which creates room for parental discretion based on the circumstances and an individual child’s maturity. That way, there is no basis for someone to call CFS solely because a parent is not hovering over their child every moment of their day. CFS then would not have to get involved in such a situation, which frees up valuable resources for them to attend to children and families that truly do need support and protection. Calls to CFS about children going to the local bakery, with a parent watching, are not, in fact, the ones that save lives, but ones that divert CFS resources from situations where the lives and safety of children are at risk. These situations only make parents and children anxious, and damage CFS’s reputation. To use an analogy: we do not aim to address the dangers of driving by saying that “staying out of a car is a small price to pay,” but rather by trying to balance the need for safety with people’s need to get places. Similarly, we should try to strike a balance here. I believe we need to find a way, while protecting all children’s safety and well-being, to also honour their need for healthy development. A change in the law would do both: it would give children the opportunities to develop the skills needed to become competent and confident in the world, while freeing up valuable CFS resources to focus on children and families that truly do need protection and support. Additionally, it would reflect the reality that our society already expects and allows our children to have gradually increasing independence before they are 12. *Katharina Nuss has started a petition to enact a “free-range parenting” law for Manitoba.*

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