- AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

WFP: There's much to emulate in Portland (Apr.19'10)
by Beth McKechnie 19 Apr '10

19 Apr '10

Winnipeg Free Press - The View from the West There's much to emulate in Portland By: The Economist The city most comparable to Portland might be Vancouver in Canada, reckons Sam Adams, Portland's mayor, although "we look to Amsterdam, Helsinki and Stockholm" for ideas. Ethan Seltzer, a professor of urban planning in Portland, thinks little Freiburg, in Germany, is the best comparison, with its similar obsessions about recycling, sustainability, public transit and bicycling. Others pick Zurich, which, like Portland, has a view of snow-capped mountains, orderly (bordering on staid) streets with trams, even the same peculiar fondness for direct democracy and tolerance of assisted suicide. This might seem odd for a city on the American West Coast that once was the terminus of the Oregon Trail and has a cowboys-and-rodeos heritage. The locals, in fact, enjoy feeling odd: "Keep Portland weird," say bumper stickers on the city's cars, which all seem to be hybrid-electric vehicles. "Keep Portland sanctimonious," mumble a few contrarians, while others savour the irony that Portland had to steal the slogan from Austin, Texas. But on the whole, Portlanders not only love their city but believe that it is, and ought to be, a model for the rest of North America. Adams has personally contributed by becoming the first (though no longer the only) openly gay mayor of a big American city, and even surviving a recall attempt after a sex scandal (he is now confronting another). Adams has a vision of progressive urbanism: a city where most people cycle or ride the streetcar, recycle what they consume, exist in harmony with nature and live in communities rather than the suburban sprawl of cities such as Los Angeles, Houston, Phoenix or Atlanta. Nature, in fact, is the main draw for the mostly young and single newcomers to this city, almost the fastest-growing on the West Coast, says Joe Cortright, a Portland economist: the ocean to the west; the Cascade Mountains to the east; and the high desert beyond them. The vineyards of pinot noir and chardonnay along the Willamette Valley are all within a manageable drive. In Portland, "business casual" means wearing a fleece. The area's main industrial cluster is "activewear," led by Nike and Columbia Sportswear and including thousands of smaller companies. The environment is also the main theme of public policy. The biggest force in local politics is not a party (Democrats in effect rule without opposition) but cyclists. The bike lanes are impressive and getting even better now as streets get "bioswales," patches of turf and shrub that capture and filter storm water and simultaneously calm traffic and separate pedestrians and cyclists from the Priuses. Those who can't bike are encouraged to use public transport, which is free downtown. Adams says Portland's success is "totally replicable." But much of it seems to be an unintended consequence of land-use policies dating back to 1973. Back then, Oregon adopted "urban-growth boundaries" to preserve the farmlands that were then the mainstay of Oregon's economy. Over time, the rationale for UGBs changed to "don't Californicate Oregon" i.e., don't become Los Angeles, a freeway sprawl with no centre. The result has been unusually compact living, which is in turn easily served by public transport. But cities with sprawling, California-style layouts will find it tougher to make people use public transport. Phoenix, for example, has an excellent light-rail system, but it is often empty. And it may be even tougher for such cities to get their residents to live more closely together. Joel Kotkin, a Los Angeles-based demographer and author, thinks places like Portland, San Francisco and Boston have become "elite cities," attractive to the young and single, especially those with trust funds, but beyond the reach of middle-class families who want a house with a lawn. Indeed Portland, for all its history of western grit, is remarkably white, young and childless. Most Americans will therefore continue to migrate to the more affordable "cities of aspiration" such as Houston, Atlanta or Phoenix, thinks Kotkin. As they do so, they may turn decentralized sprawl into quilts of energetic suburbs with a community feeling. That is not to belittle Portland's vision. It is a sophisticated and forward-looking place. Which other city can boast its main attraction is a bustling independent bookstore (Powell's) and medical students can go from one part of their campus to another by gondola, taking their bikes with them? Other cities will see much to emulate. Minneapolis, for example, this month displaced Portland as Bicycling magazine's most bike-friendly city ("they got extra points for biking in the snow," grumble Adams' staff). Adam Davis of Davis, Hibbitts & Midghall, a Portland polling firm, says Oregonians like to consider themselves leaders but also exceptions. They are likely to remain both. ------- End of Forwarded Message ------- Beth McKechnie Green Commuting Initiatives Workplace TDM Coordinator Resource Conservation Manitoba Tel: (204) 925-3772 www.resourceconservation.mb.ca

1 0

Webinar invite: Bicycle Parking Best Practices - Apr 21, 2-3 pm
by Beth McKechnie 13 Apr '10

13 Apr '10

Resource Conservation Manitoba will be hosting the following webinar on bicycle parking on April 21st. If you would like to join us, please RSVP to beth(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca as space is limited. Should be an informative session. Thanks! Webinar: Bicycle Parking Best Practices Date: Wednesday, April 21, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. CST Location: EcoCentre boardroom (303 Portage Ave, third floor - enter via elevator inside front doors of MEC) Bicycle parking programs are essential for communities striving to encourage bicycling for transportation as well as recreation. Convenient, easily used, and secure bicycle parking encourages people to ride and helps legitimize cycling as a transportation mode by providing parking opportunities equal to motorized modes. Attend this webinar to learn about the Association for Pedestrian and Bicycle Professional's (APBP) recommended practices for bicycle parking. In this one-hour session, lead author APBP Board Member Eric Anderson will present APBP's newly updated Bicycle Parking Guidelines, 2nd Edition, with special emphasis on two hot topics: in-street bicycle parking and implementing bicycle parking programs. The session will begin with an overview of changes in the new guide and a review of bicycle parking basics. In the second part of the session, Mr. Anderson will discuss the advantages and challenges of in-street bicycle parking (replacing car parking spaces with bicycle parking spaces), including design guidelines and program elements. Examples from several communities will be presented, with details about concept, site selection, community support, design, installation and maintenance. The presentation will conclude with a description of the nuts and bolts of municipal bike parking programs. Drawing on the experiences of cities nationwide, attendees will learn useful strategies for identifying locations, managing construction, and maintaining bicycle parking racks. Eric Anderson is a member of the APBP Board of Directors and the lead author of Bicycle Parking Guidelines, 2nd Edition. He has nine years of experience in the bicycle and pedestrian transportation field, spanning agency, consulting, and advocacy roles. Before assuming his role as Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator for the city of Berkeley, Calif., he worked for Alta Planning + Design. He previously served as the Director of Planning for the Marin County Bicycle Coalition where he was involved with the planning and implementation of bicycle and pedestrian projects at the regional, county, and local level as well helping to develop the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program. * * * * * Beth McKechnie Green Commuting Initiatives Workplace TDM Coordinator Resource Conservation Manitoba (204) 925-3772 beth(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca 303 Portage Ave, Third Floor Winnipeg, MB R3B 2B4 www.resourceconservation.mb.ca

1 0

Disraeli Open House
by Erik Dickson 09 Apr '10

09 Apr '10

Hello Everyone, You are invited to attend the Disraeli Public Open House. Active Transportation is a part of this project. There are two dates and locations. Elmwood Tuesday, April 13, 2010 Bronx Park Community Centre 131 Chelsea Place 4 pm to 7 pm Point Douglas Wednesday, April 14, 2010 Norquay Community Centre 65 Granville Street 4 pm to 7 pm The new Disraeli Bridges to replace the existing 50-year-old structures that span the Red River and the CP Rail mainline will rejuvenate a critical piece of Winnipeg's transportation infrastructure. The Information Open Houses will present detailed descriptions and visual renderings of one of Winnipeg's most attractive and innovative engineering projects. You'll be able to discuss any questions you may have with City engineers and representatives of Plenary Roads Winnipeg, the group the City has chosen to design, build and maintain the new bridges. Regards, Erik Dickson B.Sc. (Hons) Marr Consulting Services 8th Floor - 136 Market Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0P4 Phone: (204) 927-3456 ext. 242 Fax: (204) 927-3443 Please consider our environment before printing this message.

1 0

WFP: Opposition kills Omand's Creek bridge (Apr.5'10)
by Beth McKechnie 05 Apr '10

05 Apr '10

Latest News Opposition kills Omand's Creek bridge By: Melissa Martin A beloved neighbourhood sledding hill may live to see many more winters, as the city shies away from a proposed $1-million bridge over Omand's Creek. Last week, Wolseley residents received word that the city's active transportation planners won't push for the bridge to be part of the city's $20-million active transportation initiative. This came after 500 area residents crammed into a March 18 community meeting at Portage Avenue Mennonite Church to voice their concerns about the bridge, which would cover part of a popular sled hill in Omand Park. A final decision will be made by city council in the coming weeks, but the city's active transportation co-ordinator agreed that the bridge isn't exactly the most popular item right now. "It's really important that all these projects fit into the neighbourhood," Kevin Nixon said. "We're not about to jam something into the neighbourhood that the neighbourhood can't accept." Of the original five options on the table for Omand's Creek Park, upgrades to lighting and pathways were favoured by more people at the March 18 meeting than any of four bridge-related plans, one of which would have improved the existing footbridge. Only four per cent approved of the hilltop-spanning bridge. melissa.martin(a)freepress.mb.ca

1 0

WFP Editorial: Cycling his way to a legacy (Apr.5'10)
by Beth McKechnie 05 Apr '10

05 Apr '10

Editorials Cycling his way to a legacy Legacies are a funny thing. You never know how or for what you will be remembered after you're gone. Often it's for something completely unforeseen. The late Winnipeg mayor Steve Juba is still famous for championing something that was never even built, a Jetsons-cool rapid-transit monorail system. Former mayor Glen Murray was scorned for his "million-dollar toilet" on the Esplanade Riel, but then again, the elegant bridge has become one of Winnipeg's most beloved landmarks. Mr. Murray is also renowned -- or reviled, depending on one's perspective -- for his $100,000 Get Together Downtown events, which drew thousands to Portage and Main for fun. Mayor Sam Katz's legacy remains to be seen. But curiously enough, it may be for something he, too, could never could have envisioned. Over the last five years, an "active transportation" lobby in the city has slowly gained ground. The goal is to create throughout the city a network of cycling commuter trails. It's a pretty basic philosophy. Create better and safer ways to travel through the city on two wheels, or two feet, and fewer people may drive. That in turn leads to less traffic on the roads, better air quality, healthier people. Winnipeg has been way behind on this trend, despite its easily cycled (i.e. flat) terrain. Calgary has some 900 kilometres of bike routes. Until recently, Winnipeg had about 100. But under Katz's watch, the city has extended that network to some 275 kilometres. Only four years ago, the city's spending on active transportation was $200,000. It's now up to $3.5 million, a huge increase on trails, bike lanes and pedestrian path upgrades. Did the mayor launch his first election campaign in Spandex and a bike helmet, vowing to transform the city into a less car-dependent, more active-transportation mecca? Well, no. He took office in 2004 and immediately cancelled a proposed rapid-transit system. But Mr. Katz has come a long way since then. He has changed his tune on rapid transit; after years of debate, construction for the Southwest Rapid Transit Corridor finally began last summer. And just three months ago, the city pledged $6.8 million (matched by the province and the federal government's infrastructure fund, to a total of $20.4 million) to create dozens more people-friendly routes in Winnipeg. One of these projects made the news recently when Wolseley residents opposed the size and scale of a proposed bridge over Omand's Creek. Judging by the debate that ensued, there's a growing passion for active transportation. It's relatively new, and it's nowhere near critical mass, but it's gaining momentum. Mayor Katz's city doesn't hold expensive Get Togethers. But it did sponsor a Ciclovia last year, a $50,000 bike-and-pedestrian street festival that was such a hit, four more Sunday festivals are planned this summer. It started sponsoring Bike to Work Day in 2008, in which thousands -- including Mr. Katz -- proudly participated. And trail advocates were both pleased and surprised last fall when the mayor boldly vowed to buy up more abandoned rail lines to transform into bike trails. "They make ideal active-transportation routes," he said. Mr. Katz has never been regarded as a visionary. His reputation is that of a pragmatist and a promoter rather than a leader. But there is no doubt the wheels have started to turn at city hall -- inspired, no doubt, by a growing number of Winnipeggers bent on making the city a more bike-friendly place. So it's a funny thing that the man who's taken so much heat over things like rapid transit or Assiniboine Park condos may find himself with a surprising legacy years from now. A greener, cleaner city, built one kilometre at a time.

1 0

FW: Lead a Jane's Walk in your neighbourhood
by Lisa Scharf 31 Mar '10

31 Mar '10

Invitation - lead a Jane's Walk in your neighbourhood! http://janeswalk.net/ Be part of a celebration of walking, getting people out of their cars, and sharing stories about our vibrant neighbourhoods - please find more details pasted below. Please also pass on the word to anyone you think might be interested in leading a walk in their neighbourhood or favourite area/aspect of Winnipeg. The walks take place the weekend of May 1 & 2 and are typically around 1-1/2 hours long. The time slots are set up so that participants have time to get from one to another, as many folks go to at least a couple in one day (10-11:30, 12:30-2:00, and 3:00-4:30). Evening walks are also possible although no one in Winnipeg has done that yet. As a budget-free, 100% volunteer effort, we rely on viral promotion and earned media to get people out to the walks (about 500 total each of the past 2 years for our 10-12 walks). thanks! Beth 925-3772 ________________________________ ************************************************************************ **** Checked by MailWasher server (www.Firetrust.com) WARNING. No FirstAlert account found. To reduce spam further activate FirstAlert. This message can be removed by purchasing a FirstAlert Account. ************************************************************************ **** </CENTER

1 0

FW: Volunteers needed - Spring Bicycle Counts
by Lisa Scharf 31 Mar '10

31 Mar '10

Volunteers Needed for Spring Bike Counts For the past three years, volunteers from Bike to the Future have been counting cyclists, and to a lesser extent, pedestrians, at key locations in Winnipeg during morning and afternoon rush hours. The counts take place during the first week of April, May and June. If anyone is able to help out by volunteering to do a two hour shift during at least one of these time periods, please let get in touch with Jeremy at prolog(a)mts.net <mailto:prolog@mts.net> and he will fill you in on the details. Each year Bike to the Future produces a report on the numbers of cyclists and posts it on their web site. These counts have proved to be very useful. This year, for example, the bike and pedestrian counts were used in public meetings concerning the rehabilitation of the Osborne bridge. We were able to show the public and the planners how many cyclists travel across the bridge, how many use the sidewalks, which direction they go, and even how many pedestrians use the bridge. They were also used when City Council recently decided to add cycletracks along a key stretch of Pembina Highway. With many upcoming cycling infrastructure projects this year and in future years it is important to continue to have good baseline data on the numbers of cyclists. - Jeremy Hull, Bike to the Future ************************************************************************ **** Checked by MailWasher server (www.Firetrust.com) WARNING. No FirstAlert account found. To reduce spam further activate FirstAlert. This message can be removed by purchasing a FirstAlert Account. ************************************************************************ **** </CENTER

1 0

Year 2 report - Bike Lanes, On-Street Parking and Business
by Lisa Scharf 31 Mar '10

31 Mar '10

The Clean Air Partnership recently released "Bike Lanes, On-Street Parking and Business - Year 2 Report: A Study of Bloor Street in Toronto's Bloor West Village". Year 2 Report: http://torontocat.ca/main/sites/all/files/BikeLanes_Parking_Business_Blo orWestVillage.pdf If you haven't already seen the intial report, here's the link: Initial Report (Feb 2009): http://www.cleanairpartnership.org/pdf/bike-lanes-parking.pdf cheers, Beth Green Commuting Initiatives Resource Conservation Manitoba www.resourceconservation.mb.ca ************************************************************************ **** Checked by MailWasher server (www.Firetrust.com) WARNING. No FirstAlert account found. To reduce spam further activate FirstAlert. This message can be removed by purchasing a FirstAlert Account. ************************************************************************ **** </CENTER

1 0

City of Winnipeg Active Transportation Open Houses and Drop-in Workshop
by Erik Dickson 31 Mar '10

31 Mar '10

Good Morning Everyone, There are several upcoming Public Open Houses and Community Drop-Ins scheduled as part of the Active Transportation Infrastructure Stimulus Project. For more information regarding the upcoming open houses as well as previous open houses, please visit: http://www.winnipeg.ca/publicworks/MajorProjects/ActiveTransportation/HikeIt BikeItLikeIt.asp 5 events listed below: Public Open House: East Kildonan / Elmwood This session is an opportunity to share your thoughts and ideas on proposed changes to Brazier and Roch Streets. Tuesday, April 6 6 pm - 8 pm Miles Macdonell Collegiate 757 Roch Street Public Open House: Jubilee / Hay Wednesday April 7 4 pm - 8 pm Fort Rouge Leisure Centre 625 Osborne Public Open House: New routes in the Transcona area: Thursday, April 8 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm St. Michael's Parish Hall 400 Day Street * Transcona Trail * Dugald * Pandora Public Open House: Nassau: Thursday, April 8 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Crescent Fort Rouge United Church 525 Wardlaw Ave Community Drop-In Workshop: North End Bikeway System Thursday, April 15 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Ralph Brown Community Centre 460 Andrews Street The open house will be drop-in format (come any time between 5:00 and 8:00) but the workshop will follow this schedule: * 5:00 Powers (Sutherland to Leila) * 5:45 Manitoba / Pritchard / Flora (Keewatin to Main) * 6:30 Church / Machray (Keewatin to Main) * 7:15 King / Charles / Flora (King to Selkirk) If you have any questions please feel free to call me. Have a good day! Regards, Erik Dickson B.Sc. (Hons) Marr Consulting Services 8th Floor - 136 Market Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0P4 Phone: (204) 927-3456 ext. 242 Fax: (204) 927-3443 Please consider our environment before printing this message.

1 0

City of Winnipeg Active Transportation Open House
by Erik Dickson 08 Mar '10

08 Mar '10

Hi everyone, Please see the attached poster regarding an upcoming Active Transportation Public Open House. If you can't open the attachment please see below. Regards, Erik Dickson B.Sc. (Hons) Marr Consulting Services 8th Floor - 136 Market Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0P4 Phone: (204) 927-3456 ext. 242 Fax: (204) 927-3443 Please consider our environment before printing this message. Public Open House Thursday, March 25, 2010 4 pm - 7 pm Portage Avenue Mennonite Brethren Church ~ 1420 Portage Avenue New routes in the Downtown / West End / St. James areas: Yellow Ribbon Trail (Silver Avenue) Moray Sherwin Berry Sherbrook / Maryland St. Matthews York / St. Mary This session is an opportunity to view information on the proposed plans for new active transpiration facilities in the Yellow Ribbon Trail (Silver Avenue), Moray, Sherwin, Berry, Sherbrook / Maryland, St. Matthews,York / St. Mary areas. The Active Transportation Infrastructure Stimulus Program involves the creation of 35 routes that range from multi-use pathways to bike boulevards.When they are completed by the end of this year,Winnipeggers will be able to access 375 km of active transportation routes.The $20.4 million program is funded equally by the Federal, Provincial and City governments. For more information about the 2010 Active Transportation Infrastructure Stimulus Program, or to provide feedback on the Active Transportation Blog, please visit: www.winnipeg.ca

1 0