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Reminder: Winnipeg Climate Action Plan - Feb 27 Public Priorities Workshop
by Beth McKechnie 20 Feb '18

20 Feb '18

Recognizing that climate change is a serious global environmental problem, the City of Winnipeg is moving forward to formulate a community climate action plan, an initiative called the Winnipeg Climate Action Plan: Planning for Climate Change. Acting for People. In November 2017, stakeholders were invited to provide input into the development of the Plan. The intent of the initial phase was to create a climate vision for the City, introduce target-setting, and begin talking about climate actions. We are now inviting the public to an evening workshop where we will discuss and provide input on the draft climate actions that we have developed to date. Your participation will help to prioritize actions the City and the community partners to help reduce GHG emissions. Please see the official news release below and the attached event postcard for more detail. We look forward to seeing you there! Lindsay Mierau Office of Sustainability * * * * * For Immediate Release Tuesday, February 13, 2018 *Public invited to help shape Winnipeg's Climate Action Plan* Winnipeg, MB - The City of Winnipeg is inviting residents to a public workshop to help provide input on actions being proposed as part of Winnipeg's Climate Action Plan: Planning for Climate Change. Acting for People. The purpose of this process is to develop strategies that will lead to a community-wide climate action plan to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In November 2017, the City launched the project with a public kick-off event at The University of Winnipeg. Over 70 residents attended, and provided ideas and input into Winnipeg's climate vision and targets. A follow up Facebook Live event aimed to gather more specific input about climate actions related to buildings, land use, transportation and waste in Winnipeg. "The feedback we have received from the public and our Climate Action Advisory Committee has been used to draft climate targets and actions. We have undertaken additional analysis to help prioritize these actions. Now it's time for the public to tell us if we have got it right," said Lindsay Mierau, Environmental Coordinator with the City's Office of Sustainability. Residents are invited to a public engagement session on February 27, 2018 at 6 p.m. which will allow citizens to review and provide feedback about the draft Action Plan. This will be the final opportunity for residents to participate in the process before it goes to Council for consideration in the spring. * Public Engagement Session:* * Date: Tuesday, February 27, 2018 * Time: Doors open at 5:45 p.m.; session runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. * Location: North Centennial Community Centre, 90 Sinclair Street Please RSVP by February 23, 2018 at climateactionreview.eventbrite.ca< http://www.climateactionreview.eventbrite.ca> or call 204-986-6978 to register. The Plan is funded by a Federation of Canadian Municipalities Green Municipal Fund grant totalling $94,875. For more information on the project, please visit winnipeg.ca/climateaction<http://www.winnipeg.ca/ climateaction>. -30- Media inquiries should be directed to the City of Winnipeg Media Inquiry Line at 204-986-6000 or via email at City-MediaInquiry(a)winnipeg.ca Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/cityofwinnipeg Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/cityofwinnipeg

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APBP Webinar: Be Creative! Art, Placemaking and Funding | Feb. 21st
by Beth McKechnie 20 Feb '18

20 Feb '18

*** Friendly reminder re tomorrow's webinar on creative placemaking *** Greetings, Please join Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg on *Wednesday, February 21st*, for a group viewing of the monthly APBP webinar in the EcoCentre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/uncategorized/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-o…> boardroom followed by discussion for those who wish to stay. RSVPs appreciated but not necessary. -- *Next webinar: February 21, 2018, 2-3pm* *Be Creative! Art, Placemaking and Funding* Creative placemaking projects that help to transform communities into lively, beautiful, and resilient places with the arts at their core. Panelists will speak about grant funding opportunities for placemaking projects such as through the National Endowment for the Arts’ Our Town grant program. The Our Town program is investing in projects that bring diverse partners together to integrate the arts into community revitalization work. Panelists will also discuss case studies and solutions highlighted in Smart Growth America's recent field scan: Arts, Culture and Transportation: A Creative Placemaking Field Scan <http://t4america.org/maps-tools/creative-placemaking-field-scan>. *Presenters:* Katherine Bray-Simons, Design Specialist, National Endowment for the Arts Ben Stone, Director of Arts & Culture, Smart Growth America -- *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) 925-3777 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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Montreal wants to make full stops optional for cyclists
by Beth McKechnie 15 Feb '18

15 Feb '18

Montreal wants to make full stops optional for cyclists Other proposed Highway Safety Code updates include stiffer penalties for dooring http://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/montreal-wants-to-make-full-stop… You might have heard this before: Montreal wants stiffer penalties for dooring, and it wants cyclists to be permitted to merely slow down at stop signs. Those were among the recommendations the city unveiled as part of its brief to Quebec’s transportation ministry as it goes through the process of reforming the province’s Highway Safety Code. Marianne Giguère, who is charged with the active transportation file (biking, walking, skateboarding) for Mayor Valérie Plante’s administration, said it is time for the code to reflect the reality that already exists on the city’s streets. She said cyclists now rarely make full stops at intersections, and doing so can be considered dangerous at certain times. While she said cyclists will still have to yield for pedestrians, she wants to remove the obligation to stop and she wants the province to allow cyclists to also turn right on red lights. “This is already recognized in many cities around the world for drivers,” Giguère said. “In Montreal, we have chosen not to do this, for good reasons. But for cyclists, we should also give them the rights that are more appropriate for their way of getting around, while still making sure they respect the most vulnerable (which are pedestrians).” Giguère said the law must be amended to protect the most vulnerable, but it must also recognize that cars are a much greater risk than bicycles on the road. Giguère said the city also wants cyclists injured by an opening car door to be eligible to apply for compensation from the province’s licence bureau. To do that, the law has to be changed to classify dooring incidents as accidents. Currently, only those injured by moving vehicles are eligible for compensation from the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec. The Plante administration detailed other changes it would like to see in the code to make streets safer, including forcing all trucks in the province to be equipped with side skirts, which could prevent pedestrians or cyclists from falling under trucks if they are in a collision, a measure for which safety advocates have been advocating for many years. The measures announced Wednesday were similar to those announced by former mayor Denis Coderre’s administration in September of 2015. <http://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/city-proposes-new-rules-for-cycl…> The province has been considering changes to its Highway Safety Code for nearly four years. Reacting to a rash of cyclists killed or injured in collisions with cars <http://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/velo-quebec-concerned-after-thre…> in July of 2014, then transport minister Robert Poëti put in place a round table comprised of cycling- and road-safety advocates including former racer and cycling-safety advocate Louis Garneau. Poëti promised the changes would be in place by the end of 2015. Three transport ministers and four years later, the only change to the code has been to implement a rule that cars must give one metre of room when passing cyclists, or 1.5 metres when the speed limit is higher than 50 kilometres per hour. The province also increased the maximum fine for opening a door into a cyclist to $300 from $30. Late last year, the province introduced Bill 165 <http://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/new-road-safety-bill-aims-to-cra…>, which imposes stiffer fines for distracted driving, and also puts in place more restrictions for new drivers and those with learner’s permits. The province has called for input about the law, and the city responded with a brief unveiled Wednesday <http://ville.montreal.qc.ca/pls/portal/docs/page/prt_vdm_fr/media/documents…> . Among the other measures requested by the city are: • to allow children to ride their bikes on sidewalks. • to increase the fines for cyclists, with stiffer fines reserved for the most dangerous infractions. • redefine the types of vehicles that can use bike paths to include other types of active transportation, like skateboards. • make it illegal to cycle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. • revise the definition of a bicycle to allow front baskets and rear hitches. • revisit the rules to allow the SAAQ to cover collisions involving non-motorized vehicles. For drivers of motorized vehicles, the city is asking the province: • to review the rules surrounding dynamic signs on the sides of roads to limit distractions. • to add reading and eating to the list of tasks that are considered to be distracted driving. • to impose strict fines and clear conditions for people driving under the influence of marijuana. • to allow the city to deploy automated technology to manage traffic. The city also wishes for the province to allow for the adoption of pilot projects to test automated cars on the streets. Speaking to reporters Wednesday afternoon, Plante said she’d like to see the province adopt rules that better reflect the reality of living in Montreal, and perhaps adopt different rules for both urban and rural settings. She said doing so will improve the lives of cyclists, pedestrians and drivers. “Montreal is a cycling city and we’re recognized around the world for that,” Plante said. “We are proposing accommodations to facilitate fluidity and security. We’ll see how that will be seen by Quebec.” jmagder(a)postmedia.com

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APBP Webinar: Be Creative! Art, Placemaking and Funding | Feb. 21st
by Heather Mitchell 14 Feb '18

14 Feb '18

Greetings, Please join Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg on *Wednesday, February 21st*, for a group viewing of the monthly APBP webinar in the EcoCentre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/uncategorized/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-o…> boardroom followed by discussion for those who wish to stay. RSVPs appreciated but not necessary. Best, Heather -- *Next webinar: February 21, 2018, 2-3pm* *Be Creative! Art, Placemaking and Funding* Creative placemaking projects that help to transform communities into lively, beautiful, and resilient places with the arts at their core. Panelists will speak about grant funding opportunities for placemaking projects such as through the National Endowment for the Arts’ Our Town grant program. The Our Town program is investing in projects that bring diverse partners together to integrate the arts into community revitalization work. Panelists will also discuss case studies and solutions highlighted in Smart Growth America's recent field scan: Arts, Culture and Transportation: A Creative Placemaking Field Scan <http://t4america.org/maps-tools/creative-placemaking-field-scan>. *Presenters:* Katherine Bray-Simons, Design Specialist, National Endowment for the Arts Ben Stone, Director of Arts & Culture, Smart Growth America -- *Heather Mitchell * Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> | 3rd floor, 303 Portage Avenue (204) 925-3777 ext:107 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 <https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/green-action-centre/>. <http://canadahelps.org/> <https://www.gomanitoba.ca/Public/Home.aspx>

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Portage Daily Graphic: AT path well used even in winter (Feb.7'18)
by Beth McKechnie 08 Feb '18

08 Feb '18

Active transportation path a winter walkway http://www.portagedailygraphic.com/2018/02/07/active-transportation-path-a-… Even during the winter, it’s a popular way to get across town. The Fisher Avenue active transportation pathway that was completed last summer continues to see strong usage even during the dead of winter. “It’s been a decent winter for us and pretty easy to maintain,” says Brian Taylor, City of Portage's manager of public works. “We use a skid-steer to do the clearing. We’ll use a bucket if it’s drifted in but if it’s just a mist or light dusting we can put a broom attachment on to clear it off.” Just one employee oversees the care of the walking path, which is cleared as required, along with the outdoor rinks the city is in charge of. Bikers and runners alike can be seen taking advantage of the path that runs parallel to the tracks across much of town. “I use little grippers under my runners but the path is in such awesome shape I probably don’t need them, you can even see asphalt in most spots,” says Glory Waldner, who makes use of the path almost daily. “I’ve actually been running and had the plow come up behind me to pass, so the city is out when they’re needed. I’m just so happy they’re keeping it clean for us that use it as often as we do.” The Fisher Avenue active transportation pathway is completely paved from 18th Street NW to 6th Street NE and was completed in July 2017.

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WFP: Attention to bike lane lacking, cyclists say (Feb.1'18)
by Beth McKechnie 01 Feb '18

01 Feb '18

*Lacklustre snow removal most common concern raised* * Attention to bike lane lacking, cyclists say * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/attention-to-bike-lane-lacking-cycl… IT’S been almost four years since the City of Winnipeg installed its first protected bike lane on Sherbrook Street, yet drivers continue to park in its midst, blocking theway for cyclists. Regular snow clearing of the lane has also been lacklustre, according to cyclists, even though the adjacent street is designated Priority 1 on the city’s list. Coun. Jenny Gerbasi (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry) says she noticed four cars parked in the Sherbrook bike lane just this week. “There’s no clear barrier, like a cement barricade, to make sure that cars don’t park in the lane,” Gerbasi said Wednesday. “It’s harder to see in the winter visually, especially if the snow isn’t plowed very well.” The councillor said city staff saw her tweet about the incident Monday and are now looking into the matter. She suggested the city might consider installing a barrier to alert drivers they shouldn’t park directly next to the curb. Signage in the area is fairly clear. A graphic image of a car designates drivers can park for free for two hours between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday; a cyclist logo next to the car image indicates there’s a black diamond lane for bikes on the right. At least one driver was parked in the bike lane Wednesday morning, causing cyclist Grace Mac Ewan to swerve closer to traffic. Mac Ewan said she bikes the stretch daily and although vehicles are sometimes obstacles, the snowclearing — or lack thereof — is worse. The vehicle she avoided belonged to Lewis Rackham, a retired resident of Whyte Ridge who told the Free Press he parked there for a 10-minute errand because he didn’t know any better. “I didn’t see anything — oh, shoot,” he said, noticing one of the signs. “I was thinking, ‘Well, there’s nobody here.’” Mark Cohoe, director of advocacy group Bike Winnipeg, said most cyclists’ issue with the Sherbrook Street protected lane isn’t dodging parked cars, though delivery vans and taxis are usually the guilty culprits parking there from what he’s seen and heard. Poor and irregular snow clearing of the bike lane is more controversial, he said. “Ninety-five per cent of the time, I don’t have a problem with vehicles in there,” Cohoe said. “The snow clearing has definitely been an issue, moreso on the Maryland (Street bike lane) side than the Sherbrook side.” Driving by the aforementioned spots Tuesday and Wednesday, Cohoe’s assertion rang true. The Sherbrook bike lane was slushy in spots and Maryland’s lane was snow-covered and hard to spot at all. Cheryl Anderson, the city’s acting director of street maintenance, said the bike lanes were scheduled to be plowed Wednesday afternoon. Anderson called the snow-clearing process for active transportation trails “a bit confusing, because if the active transportation is right on the roadway, it would be (plowed) similar to a roadway.” But if the trail is removed from the road, such as a sidewalk or the Sherbrook protected lane is, it could take longer to plow since it would require different (namely smaller) equipment. If the city wants to encourage active transportation, including all-season cycling, Cohoe said clearing bike lanes and pathways needs to be a top priority. Otherwise, the mushy or slippery lanes can become a safety hazard. “It causes problems, obviously, to not have (the Sherbrook and Maryland bike lanes) available in winter. There’s a lot of use with people going to Health Sciences Centre and the University of Winnipeg, who do try to make use of that. It’s a pretty important connection,” he said. Gerbasi said driver awareness of bike lanes such as on Sherbrook Street “is kind of a cultural change that needs to happen.” “I think it is happening, but it’s happening a little bit slowly in some cases,” she said. “But the more we put in this kind of infrastructure, themore it will become the norm and people will get used to it.” jessica.botelho(a)freepress.mb.ca

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CBC: Beet juice and cheese brine to replace corrosive road salt
by Beth McKechnie 27 Jan '18

27 Jan '18

For winter maintenance nerds (and deep down, aren't we all in Winnipeg?), check out this CBC segment on the use of beet juice and cheese brine to replace corrosive road salt. The first half gets into why road salt is detrimental (eats concrete curbs, kills boulevard trees, rusts cars and bikes, drains into our waterways). To hear about alternatives, start at the 10 minute mark. http://www.cbc.ca/listen/shows/the-current/segment/15509655 cheers, Beth -- *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) 925-3777 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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Friday read: Has Vancouver become bike-friendly enough?
by Beth McKechnie 26 Jan '18

26 Jan '18

With our own civic election coming up this October, a little food for thought from Vancouver... Has Vancouver become bike-friendly enough?The Courier talks to Modacity’s Melissa Bruntlett about the state of cycling in the city and what she hopes the next election will bring http://www.vancourier.com/community/has-vancouver- become-bike-friendly-enough-1.23147444 -- *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) 925-3777 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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History of car centric roads
by Charles Feaver 20 Jan '18

20 Jan '18

On the weekend, the Globe and Mail published a good opinion piece that tells the history of cars taking over the roads from pedestrians. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/walking-shouldnt-be-life-threatening -even-for-phonezombies/article37668637/

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Webinar reminder: Why Don't We do it in the Road - Implementing Open Streets
by Beth McKechnie 16 Jan '18

16 Jan '18

*Friendly reminder about tomorrow's webinar. Great to see a Canadian example included in the presentations.* * * * * * Please join Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg on Wednesday, January 17th for a group viewing of the monthly APBP webinar in the EcoCentre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/uncategorized/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-o…> boardroom followed by discussion for those who wish to stay. RSVPs appreciated but not necessary. Best, Heather -- *Next webinar: January 17, 2018, 2-3pm* *Why Don't We do it in the Road - Implementing Open Streets* Join us for the first APBP webinar of 2018 where they'll discus implementing Open Streets in the U.S. and Canada. 8 80 Cities representatives will introduce the Open Streets concept and give some context of the program in North America. Representatives from Toronto, Ontario and Macon, Georgia will discuss how they went from wanting to do Open Streets to implementing it, and how they built relationships to get the program off the ground. Join this webinar to hear tools & lessons from folks who have been successful in launching Open Streets. *Presenters:*David Simor, 8 80 Cities Rachel Hollar, Walk Bike Macon Jeff Chong, Open Streets Toronto -- *Heather Mitchell * Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> | 3rd floor, 303 Portage Avenue (204) 925-3777 ext:107 <(204)%20925-3777> 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 <https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/green-action-centre/>. <http://canadahelps.org/> <https://www.gomanitoba.ca/Public/Home.aspx>

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