- AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

Slowing down cars
by Charles F 17 Jul '20

17 Jul '20

Good editorial in the globehttps://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/article-want-a-bett… across Canada are slowing down cars. Forty is the new 50. It is a win for people....Toronto is also moving to rein in drivers. Last year, it cut speeds on stretches of arterial roads to 50 km/h from 60. And this month, 50 speed cameras went live around the city near schools or other designated “safety zones.” These cameras were first installed late last year, but until now only dispatched warnings to offending drivers. The 50 cameras may only be a first step – there are about 800 schools in Toronto – but research shows automated enforcement causes drives to slow down...People are dying because urban planning has long overvalued cars and undervalued pedestrians. National data for 2018, released last week by Transport Canada, shows yet another year when drivers and their vehicles killed more than 300 people on foot....Zero pedestrians died in Helsinki and Oslo last year. The policy measures that achieved that feat are varied, but all centre around battling the primacy of the car. Lowering speed limits is key. Other changes include safer street design, road tolls, more expensive parking, and replacing much of the street parking with wider sidewalks and bike lanes. Investment in transit has spurred ridership. While Toronto has put up speed cameras around 6 per cent of the city’s schools, Oslo is testing “heart zones” where driving around schools is banned....The move toward automated enforcement, however, is key. Some critics believe drivers simply will not slow down, even if limits are lowered. But the threat of a costly speeding ticket surely is ample inspiration for many drivers to ease up on the gas pedal, making the city a safer and better place for everyone, at the most minor of inconveniences with fractional increases in travel time...Sent from my phone.

1 0

Steal This Idea: Scottish E-Bike Program
by Beth McKechnie 16 Jul '20

16 Jul '20

Scotland just re-upped its investment in e-bikes as part of an effort to boost pandemic-era mobility and flatten the COVID-19 curve — and smart U.S. states would be wise to follow its lead. The nation recently authorized a *fourth *round of funding to the E-Bike Grant program, which provides a raft of financial incentives to get Scots to replace car and transit commutes with bike rides. The allocation totals £900,000, or about $1.1 million. *Full story*: https://usa.streetsblog.org/2020/07/08/steal-this-idea-states-should-imitat…

1 0

WFP: Henderson Highway block to get makeover - #ReimagineElmwood (Jul16'20)
by Beth McKechnie 16 Jul '20

16 Jul '20

Henderson Highway block to get makeover https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/henderson-block-to-get-makeover-571… ELMWOOD community groups are joining forces to show residents the potential of a stretch of Henderson Highway. On July 25, Henderson between Noble and Hart avenues will be transformed to include bike lanes, parking, planters and seating for pedestrians. Glenelm Neighbourhood Association co-chairman Michel Durand-Wood said more than 1,500 people were surveyed about a five-year plan for the neighbourhood in 2018. “One of those priorities was addressing the difficulty experienced in getting around our own neighbourhood, especially for the many who get around on foot, bike, transit and with mobility aids or strollers,” Durand-Wood wrote in an email. The project, called #ReimagineElmwood, cost the eight community groups involved less than $400. Durand-Wood said a project that transformed Toronto’s Danforth Avenue last summer inspired the Elmwood project. “That was the a-ha moment that led to developing this project, that we could work in small steps, testing things out on a temporary basis, and building on what works,” he said. “There were quite a few locations that were specifically identified by the neighbourhood as troublesome to navigate, and we plan to work on them all. This is just the first of many projects.” He said the project will inspire people to make positive changes in the neighbourhood despite no municipal funding or influence. “Just by having neighbours working together, identifying what we want to improve, and taking small steps to try possible solutions out, we can make our neighbourhood better for the people who live here, even one block at a time,” he said. malak.abas(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: malakabas_

1 0

WFP Editorial: Giving green light to e-scooter pilot (Jul16'20)
by Beth McKechnie 16 Jul '20

16 Jul '20

Giving green light to e-scooter pilot https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/giving-green-light-to-… EVIDENCE that the pandemic has increased the need for low-cost transportation options can be seen through the windows of any passing Winnipeg Transit bus, where what’s immediately apparent is an unusually large number of empty seats. Ridership has dropped dramatically, as many virus-wary Winnipeggers now view buses as potential COVID-19 cocoons because passengers are seated closely, breathing the same air and touching the same poles, seats and doors. Alternatives to bus transport would be greatly appreciated by those reluctant former riders who don’t own personal vehicles, perhaps for budget or environmental reasons, but still have to get around town. A possible alternative might arrive in the form of electric scooters. City administration is currently studying the issue and recommended council ask the province to alter the Highway Traffic Act to allow a trial of e-scooters in Winnipeg. Council and the province would be well advised to approve the proposal, allowing the trial should proceed full speed ahead (or, at least, at the 30 km/h that is top speed for e-scooters). A novel transportation alternative for Winnipeg, e-scooters are already allowed in dozens of North American cities, including Montreal, Calgary and Edmonton. The experiences of these cities show the advent of e-scooters is not universally welcomed. In fact, for some people, it’s hate at first sight. Social media, including the popular Instagram account Scooters Behaving Badly, reveal that many automobile drivers resent sharing road space with the tiny motorized machines that tend to navigate traffic in unfamiliar ways. Some pedestrians also feel e-scooters create danger on sidewalks. Despite the many who sneer at e-scooters, however, others acknowledge that this new technology has advantages. E-scooters hardly pollute, they’re less expensive than traditional motorized vehicles and they take up far less space on streets in cities where they’re allowed on roadways. Calgary’s e-scooter pilot project, launched last July, limits e-scooter use to sidewalks, pathways and bike lanes. In Edmonton, authorized e-scooters are allowed on bike lanes, shared paths and streets with speed limits of 50 km/h or less, but not on sidewalks. Another possible source of irritation involves the ways in which idle e-scooters are left unattended in cities served by scooter-share companies such as Lime or Bird, which make e-scooters available to people who download an app. Customers use GPS technology to find an e-scooter near them, use their app and credit-card information to unlock the vehicle and, after reaching their destination, leave the e-scooter where it can be used by another rider. Special protocols are required during the pandemic. In Edmonton, the city’s 200 scooters are brought to five corrals nightly and sanitized, and there is an advertising campaign urging e-scooter riders to sanitize their hands before and after they use the machines. Winnipeg city administrators had earlier pondered whether the e-scooters in the trial would be supplied and managed by the city or by a third party company. It’s a wise course to leave the trial to an experienced company that knows how to deal with related issues, such as how to protect against theft and vandalism and what to do with e-scooters once the snow falls. Would Winnipeggers use e-scooters to a degree that makes them feasible in this city? The answer lies in a trial period that temporarily gives e-scooters the green light.

1 0

OurWinnipeg 2045 available for feedback
by Beth McKechnie 14 Jul '20

14 Jul '20

*[Please share widely! Submit your feedback to the City by August 10th.]*Planning for our shared future: City of Winnipeg seeking input on strategy for the sustainable growth of our city Released: 2:06 p.m. July 13, 2020 Engage Winnipeg website (for duration of engagement activities): *https://winnipeg.ca/OurWinnipeg2045 <https://winnipeg.ca/OurWinnipeg2045> | https://winnipeg.ca/notreWinnipeg2045 <https://winnipeg.ca/notreWinnipeg2045>* Winnipeg, MB – With Winnipeg on pace to grow by over 160,000 people in the next 20 years, the City of Winnipeg is determining how our city should grow in a way that builds community, improves quality of life, and ensures sustainability for the environment. The blueprint for how Winnipeg should grow has been detailed in strategic planning initiatives that the City is now looking for Winnipeg residents to share their views on. The City has developed its strategy for sustainable growth in two interconnected planning initiatives: *OurWinnipeg* – The City’s 25-year development plan, which provides a vision, goals, and policies intended to influence leadership and good governance, priority setting, the delivery of City services, how residents get around the city, and decisions about how Winnipeg grows. *OurWinnipeg* is required by the City of Winnipeg Charter, which requires the City to adopt, by by-law, a development plan that sets out long-term plans and policies. The current update of *OurWinnipeg* has been guided to this point by earlier public consultation, as well as input by the Community Advisory Committee. Complete Communities – Building on policies set out in *OurWinnipeg*, Complete Communities is a citywide secondary plan that guides growth, development, and land use in Winnipeg. Information and feedback opportunities for these initiatives are being presented together in order to provide a complete picture of how these planning documents propose to achieve the City’s goals for sustainable growth as the population of Winnipeg continues to climb. *The opportunity to engage online with the City of Winnipeg on these important initiatives will continue until Monday, August 10, 2020.* In light of current restrictions on in-person events, online discussion sessions will be held for both projects to present some of the main topics of discussion, and allow for questions to be asked of the project teams at the following times: Topic: OurWinnipeg: Sustainable Development Goals Format: Zoom meeting Date: Wednesday, July 22 Time: 7p.m. – 8:30p.m. (90 min) Topic: Complete Communities: Growing Sustainably Format: Zoom meeting Date: Wednesday, July 29 Time: 7p.m. – 8:30p.m. (90 min) To register and attend one of these sessions, please email city-engage(a)winnipeg.ca at least one day before the event you would like to attend. For more information on *OurWinnipeg* and Complete Communities, and to view the draft documents, please visit winnipeg.ca/ourwinnipeg <https://winnipeg.ca/Interhom/CityHall/OurWinnipeg/default.stm>. *To share your thoughts on how Winnipeg’s future is envisioned through these initiatives, please visit: winnipeg.ca/ourwinnipeg2045 <https://winnipeg.ca/OurWinnipeg2045>.*

1 1

Free Webinar on Applying Dutch Cycling Principles in the U.S.
by Beth McKechnie 13 Jul '20

13 Jul '20

*Webinar Announcement* Upcoming Webinar on Applying Dutch Cycling Principles in the U.S. *Translating Dutch Cycling Ideas to an American Context Tuesday, July 28, 2020* 11:30am-1:00pm Eastern Time Register Here <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> U.S. transportation planners and advocates have long admired the Netherlands’ cycling infrastructure and culture, and some make the trip across the Atlantic to observe its bustling bike lanes and traffic-calmed streets. But coming from a more sprawling, auto-oriented environment, it’s difficult to imagine replicating their success, where the average resident now pedals over 600 miles per year. Discover the key principles that were developed by the Dutch over those fifty years, draw out concrete lessons for America to follow their lead, and learn how some of these ideas are already being implemented in U.S. cities, as they face a crisis forcing many of them to reevaluate how they allocate space on their curbs and streets. This webinar is being organized by the Dutch Cycling Embassy, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Office of Infrastructure and Water Management, the League of American Bicyclists, and the Federal Highway Administration. ------------------------------ PBIC offers free, public webinars approximately every month. To register for upcoming webinars and to access archived presentations, please visit www.pedbikeinfo.org/webinars <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> . Follow the PBIC on Twitter <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> and Facebook <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> and join the discussion [image: https://twitter.com/pedbikeinfo?lang=en] <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> [image: https://www.facebook.com/pedbikeinfo] <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> [image: http://www.pedbikeinfo.org/index.cfm] <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> ------------------------------ Since its inception in 1999, PBIC's mission has been to improve the quality of life in communities through the increase of safe walking and bicycling as a viable means of transportation and physical activity. The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center is maintained by the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center with funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. ------------------------------ Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center 730 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Suite 300 Chapel Hill, NC 27599 Add us to your address book <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/vcard?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e453ab5d&…> Phone: 1.888.823.3977 Fax: 919.962.8710 www.pedbikeinfo.org <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> View this email in your browser <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…>

1 0

CTV News: The idea that could make Winnipeg more accessible to cyclists and pedestrians (Jul8'20)
by Beth McKechnie 13 Jul '20

13 Jul '20

https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/the-idea-that-could-make-winnipeg-more-accessib… WINNIPEG -- Several groups have joined forces to ask all levels of government to help make Winnipeg more accessible to cyclists and pedestrians. The Green Action Centre, Winnipeg Trails, Safe Speeds Winnipeg, and Bike Winnipeg are calling on the government to create a pop-up connected cycling network in Winnipeg. This would mean Winnipeg cyclists and pedestrians could access a safe route to get where they’re going no matter where they are in the city. “Right now in Winnipeg we do have some cycle routes and some of them are protected, but there’s giant gaps in that infrastructure,” said Mel Marginet from the Green Action Centre. “So for most folks, they can take a leisurely trip on their bike, maybe do a weekend trip with their kids, but the idea is that of being able to get to your essential services, to be able to get to your job, in the fall when the kids go back, for them to get to school." Marginet added, “There’s usually parts of the trip where they feel comfortable, but there’s always an intersection or perhaps a strip that’s a little bit scary and very intimidating, and because of that getting there on a bike or foot just seems inaccessible and impossible.” The groups sent out a letter in June -- addressed to Mayor Brian Bowman but also provided to the provincial and federal governments – asking for the connected network for walking and cycling. Marginet noted the letter was specifically addressed to Bowman as he has the most power in this situation. “It’s the municipal government that really has to champion and really has to prioritize this initiative,” she said. On Thursday, representatives from each of the groups will be delivering the letter to Bowman at Winnipeg City Hall, Minister Rochelle Squires at the Manitoba Legislative Building, and then the Office of MP Dan Vandal. Bowman has been invited to speak on the request, Squires will be available for comment, and Vandal won’t be available for comment but welcomes receiving the letter. “Right now always the go-to is just to build roads and highways and we just need to get beyond that,” Marginet said. *- With files from CTV’s Rachel Lagace*

1 0

Mississauga adopts new framework to keep peds and cyclists moving safely
by Beth McKechnie 13 Jul '20

13 Jul '20

City Adopts New Framework to Keep Pedestrians and Cyclists Moving Safely July 10, 2020 The City of Mississauga is moving forward with an Active Transportation COVID-19 Recovery Framework following approval of a report <https://pub-mississauga.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=2412…> that was brought to Council this week. Starting this summer, the City will introduce more short-term and long-term active transportation options for cyclists and pedestrians that allow for safe physical distancing. Residents can look forward to Quiet Streets that limit vehicle traffic, temporary road closures that provide more space for cyclists and pedestrians and 17.9 km of new separated and on-road bike lanes that will be installed by the end of the year. “Our efforts continue to build cities for people and ensure our residents can continue to travel safely and comfortably around our city while respecting physical distancing,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie. “It’s especially important now that we are in Stage 2 and are further reopening our economy that we provide residents with more ways to move. During this pandemic, communities like ours have seen cycling increase by as much as 60 per cent. This framework responds to those needs and will work to provide our residents with more options to travel around our City comfortably while providing relief for our busy sidewalks, multi-use trails and enhancing access to local amenities.” Throughout the spring, the City installed temporary active transportation lanes in Wards 4, 7 and 9 to give local pedestrians and cyclists more space to practise physical distancing. The framework allows for the introduction of more short-term options in the form of temporary road closures and Quiet Streets. Temporary road closures will help reduce crowding in Mississauga hotspots, particularly on weekends. Quiet Streets, which temporarily limit vehicle traffic to local traffic only, will provide more space for cyclists, walkers and runners to safely and comfortably use the road. “Active transportation will shape how residents move around Mississauga during recovery and beyond,” said Geoff Wright, Commissioner, Transportation and Works. “We’ll be expanding Mississauga’s cycling network long-term. By adding 17.9 km of new on-road bicycle lanes and separated bicycle lanes by the end of the year, we permanently increase the City’s on-road bicycle lane network by 30 per cent.” Based on data from Peel Public Health and the City’s transportation planning teams, locations for the projects outlined in the framework have been selected using criteria that includes: population density, vehicle ownership per household, commute distances and potential risk of COVID-19 exposure. Locations were also chosen to help fill gaps in Mississauga’s existing cycling network. In addition to consulting Peel Public Health, several key City strategic initiatives support the rapid expansion of the cycling network in Mississauga, including the Cycling Master Plan <https://yoursay.mississauga.ca/cycling-master-plan>, the Climate Change Action Plan <https://yoursay.mississauga.ca/climate-change>, the Transportation Master Plan <https://yoursay.mississauga.ca/transportation-masterplan> and Vision Zero. The Mississauga Cycling Advisory Committee was also consulted in the development of the framework. “Staff from across the organization have listened to residents and we recognize the immediate need for more options to travel safely by bike or foot, in both the long-term and the short-term,” said Helen Noehammer, Director, Infrastructure Planning and Engineering Services. “We’re reprioritizing our work plans and using relatively simple materials, available budget and existing contracts in order to accelerate this work.” No new funding is required for the projects identified in the framework. Estimated to cost $1.3 million, budget for the projects will come from existing funding sources, with $830,000 coming from the Federal Gas Tax Reserve Fund and $470,000 coming from the Development Charges Reserve Fund. Noehammer added, “The installation of additional cycling infrastructure will lead to operational impacts. We’re continuing to finalize what dedicated year-round maintenance of this infrastructure will look like, especially in the spring and winter.” To stay up-to-date on COVID-19 impacts on City services, visit mississauga.ca/recovery <https://web.mississauga.ca/city-of-mississauga-news/covid-19-recovery/> and follow the City on Twitter @citymississauga <https://twitter.com/citymississauga>. https://web.mississauga.ca/city-of-mississauga-news/news/city-adopts-new-fr…

1 0

The Metro: Making Furby Street safe for pedestrians (Jul8'20)
by Beth McKechnie 08 Jul '20

08 Jul '20

Making Furby Street safe for pedestrians https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/metro/Making-Furby-Street… A new initiative aims to make Furby Street safer for pedestrians. The Winnipeg Trails Association and West Broadway Community Organization have partnered to introduce “traffic calming measures” to the block of Furby Street between Westminster Avenue and Broadway. They will install a mobile planter on the street, which encourages drivers to slow down on their commutes home. The organizations are working with public works to design the measures, pending council approval. The City Centre community committee approved the project, which went to the infrastructure renewal and public works committee on July 7. While the motion works its way through council, the WTA has designed a prototype which it will present to the city. Anders Swanson, executive director of the WTA, said the prototype will serve as a visual reminder for drivers that they are moving through a residential street and they need to be mindful of pedestrians. “‘Traffic-calming measures’ is a very technical sounding term, what it really means is we’re helping to make our streets into a community asset. It’s a way to remind drivers that ‘hey, you’re entering a place where people are living, so maybe slow down,’” Swanson said. The WTA’s prototype is a wooden planter, placed along the side of Furby Street. Residents will be able to grow herbs and vegetables in it, with the bright greenery serving as a deterrent for speeding. Drivers will still be able to use the road, the WTA hopes that the increased greenery will catch their eye and remind them to be cautious. The proposal is part of their Healing Trails Program, a partnership with the West Broadway Community Organization to create a more walkable and accessible city. Greg MacPherson, executive director of the WBCO, is excited about the proposal. He said residents in West Broadway have been pushing for a more accessible city. “Our mandate is derived from public consultations, our biggest one being the five-year community plan. Through all of our surveys and consolations, residents in our neighbourhood want more infrastructure for active transportation,” MacPherson said. “That block of (Furby Street) is very busy, it’s one of the most densely populated streets in the area. There’s a lot of seniors, people with chronic health issues … They walk wherever they go. Having a bunch of cars speed through there is a huge concern for them.” MacPherson said in the 2018/2019 census, around 60 per cent of West Broadway residents community primarily by cycling or walking. The WBCO did a huge survey in 2016, going door to door asking residents what they want from their neighborhood. According to their survey, 90 per cent of residents wanted traffic calming measures of some kind. The City of Winnipeg has seen a push for active transportation routes throughout the city. Recently, council extended its Sunday/ holiday bicycle routes, closing some streets off to vehicle traffic until September. Organizations like the WTA and WBCO have been pushing for a more walkable city for years. MacPherson said Winnipeg is lagging far behind other cities when it comes to accessibility. “I’ve been to several other cities in Canada and around the world. I’m sorry to say, but Winnipeg is a little behind on this. You see cities everywhere that are starting to take active transportation more seriously, all the studies we have show it benefits our society,” MacPherson said. “I’d love to live in a city where I wasn’t reliant on motor vehicles to get from A to B. Not everyone can afford a car.” >From left: Janell Henry, Healing Trails’ program manager and Anders Swanson, Winnipeg Trails’ executive director, standing beside one of the planter box traffic-calming devices.

1 0

The Lance: Underpass beneath Fermor Avenue opens (Jul8'20)
by Beth McKechnie 08 Jul '20

08 Jul '20

City of Winnipeg opens underpass beneath Fermor Avenue Press release from June 8th: https://winnipeg.ca/cao/media/news/nr_2020/nr_20200608.stm#2 On June 8, Save Our Seine joined city councillors Matt Allard (St. Boniface) and Brian Mayes (St. Vital) and Bike Winnipeg’s Mark Cohoe) at the official opening of the new Fermor Tunnel. This was a day to celebrate. The tunnel allows people to walk or ride safely under Fermor Avenue. Just east of the tunnel, new trails under the refurbished bridge allow deer, other wildlife, and people to cross under the bridge and access the river. The new tunnel and river trails will enhance movement along the Seine River corridor. Canada’s history was built around its rivers. Indigenous people, voyageurs, fur traders, and European settlers used rivers to travel across the vast Canadian landscape. In Manitoba, people travelled on the rivers using canoes or paddlewheel steamboats to carry heavy goods. They walked and drove carts on muddy trails beside rivers. The rivers were transportation corridors that belonged to everyone. The long lot settlement pattern recognized the need for public movement along rivers. The land along the river’s edge was considered to be “common land.” During the development of our city, we lost sight of this history. We overlooked the value of rivers as travel corridors. We built roads, bridges, and buildings that now limit public access and block movement along river corridors. Save Our Seine’s goal is to enhance the Seine River as natural corridor for wildlife, active transportation, recreation, and tourism. The dream is to create a continuous trail from the Red River to the floodway. Today, disconnected trail fragments along the Seine River are interrupted by significant barriers. Fermor Avenue was one barrier. Highway 100 is another. Thanks to another transportation project, Highway 100 will not remain an obstacle. As part of a massive 25-year project to improve traffic flow and safety along the south perimeter, the province has agreed to replace the box culvert over the Seine River. This culvert is too narrow for the river channel. It is often blocked by debris or beaver dams that prevent canoes from passing. Terrestrial wildlife must walk or swim through the culvert or cross the busy highway. The new culvert will have room for a riverside trail. Just imagine, people will be able to walk, bike, or canoe along the river between Royalwood and St. Norbert. Deer will have a way to move safely under the highway. Although the timeline for the culvert replacement is still uncertain, we are already counting the days. Michele Kading is a community correspondent for St. Vital and the executive director of Save Our Seine.

1 0