- AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

Invest in Less: Peg City Car Co-op new Video!
by Shoni Litinsky 19 Nov '12

19 Nov '12

Are you interested in seeing more sustainable transportation options in Winnipeg? Do you want to see less congestion, fewer cars, less parking pressure and less pollution? We share your vision, and that is why as a group of volunteers, we started Peg City Car Co-op which now has 4 vehicles in three neighbourhoods that meet the needs of more than 100 members. We can create more opportunities for biking, busing, and walking in our city and enable individuals to live car-free or car-light. Over the next* 2 years*, our co-op would like to expand into new neighbourhoods and have* 11 vehicles *that serve the transportation needs of *350 members. * *You can help get us there* **Peg City now has investment shares available for purchase! If you would like to see carsharing grow in Winnipeg, and help us reach our expansion goals, this will make it happen. We have been approved as an eligible enterprise under the Province of Manitoba’s *Community Enterprise Development (CED) Tax Credit Program. *<http://pegcitycarcoop.us2.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=6e29483972e08a58af…> *What does this mean, you ask? Well it means that come tax time, *you will be eligible to claim a tax credit of *30% of the amount of* your investment. This is an opportunity to do good for your community (while getting something in return). How great is that? *Learn about the investment shares, and view our new video: * www.vimeo.com/pegcitycarcoop/invest www.pegictycarcoop.ca/invest Thank you, Shoni Litinsky Board Member, Peg City Car Co-op

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Dr Karen K Lee MD MHsc FRPCPC
by Zdan, Terry (MIT) 19 Nov '12

19 Nov '12

http://www.iuhpe.org/uploaded/Regions/NARO/20110608_Symposium/1_FitCity_KLe… Thank you and regards Terry Zdan BA MEDes Policy & Service Developemnt Manitoba Infrastructure & Transportation 1520 215 Garry Street Winnipeg MB R3C 3P3 P 204 945 7381 C 204 227 3724 E Terrry.Zdan(a)gov.mb.ca

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FW: Pedestrian LOS for Unsignalized Crossings (plus Spreadsheet Tool)
by Zdan, Terry (MIT) 19 Nov '12

19 Nov '12

Tools you can use. This compliments the US 2010 Highway Capacity Manual. From: Parks, Jamie Sent: Friday, November 16, 2012 10:13 AM To: members(a)lists.apbp.org<mailto:members@lists.apbp.org> Subject: Pedestrian LOS for Unsignalized Crossings (plus Spreadsheet Tool) Hi All, Apologies in advance for a long, but hopefully helpful email. Most of you are likely aware of the new multimodal LOS procedures in the 2010 Highway Capacity Manual that produce LOS A-F scores for pedestrians and bicycles along street segments and at signals. Fewer people (or so it seems to me) know that the HCM also has a new method for Pedestrian LOS at Unsignalized Crossings (found in Chapter 19: Two-Way Stop-Controlled Intersections). The method uses traffic volumes, crossing distance, and the likely yielding behavior resulting from any traffic control devices that may be present (e.g., rapid flash beacons) to estimate pedestrian delay which in turn determines the LOS grade. Default yield rates for common treatments are provided based on NCHRP 562 and other research, but can be supplemented/adjusted based on local experience. The intent is to complement the NCHRP 562: Pedestrian Safety at Unsignalized Crossings and FHWA Safety Effects of Marked versus Unmarked Crosswalks studies to (1) provide positive guidance on what treatments are likely to be most effective for a given location and (2) demonstrate the need for/impact of crossing investments using a readily understood metric (i.e., LOS). A quick example of how this works for a road diet and rapid flash beacon applied to a 4-lane undivided highway: Before Conditions: 4-lanes, undivided 44 foot crossing distance 2,000 vehicles per hour 10% yield rate (based on standard marked crosswalk) Results: Delay = 600s, LOS = F Note: actual pedestrians would not wait 10 minutes to cross here. They would likely walk to the nearest signal, pick a small gap in traffic and run, or cross "frogger-style" where they do not wait for the entire roadway is clear to begin crossing. The point is that any of these results are extreme inconveniences to pedestrians, and potential safety hazards. Conversion to 3-lane section with median island: 2-lanes, divided 11 foot crossing distance (x2 for each stage) 1,000 vehicles per hour (x2 for each stage) 10% yield rate Results: Delay = 15s, LOS = C Conversion to 3-lane section with Median Island (plus Rapid Flash Beacon): 2-lanes, divided 11 foot crossing distance (x2 for each stage) 1,000 vehicles per hour (x2 for each stage) 80% yield rate (based on rapid flash beacon research) Results: Delay = 4s, LOS = A The results show dramatic improvements for pedestrians from the road diet, which could be used to justify the expense or demonstrate the benefits of such a conversion (especially useful if the conversion were to degrade auto LOS). Compared to the urban streets Ped LOS, the methodology is easy to apply and generally provides intuitive results (for instance, road diets actually DEGRADE urban streets ped LOS in many cases). Of course I may be biased, since I helped develop the unsignalized methodology! Anyway, the biggest downside to the unsignalized methodology is that is requires a lot of math (probability associated with yielding across multiple lanes, etc.), and it recently came to my attention that unfortunately none of the 2010 HCM software yet includes the methodology. To that end, I have created what I hope is a user-friendly spreadsheet/computational engine to implement the procedures. With this spreadsheet, getting results takes only a couple minutes (I spent 4 minutes putting together the example shown above). I've placed a copy of the spreadsheet on my Dropbox here: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/92064587/Ch19_PedLOS.xlsx. Please take a look, play around with it, and see what you think. I've left everything unprotected so that people can what's going on, check the formulas, and alter it for their purposes, but please use caution not to disrupt the calculations! If you've read this far, thanks for bearing with me. Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions. Best, Jamie Jamie Parks, AICP Complete Streets Program Manager City of Oakland | Public Works Agency | APWA Accredited Agency 250 Frank H Ogawa Plaza, Ste 4314 | Oakland, CA 94612 (510) 238-6613| (443) 235-6873 Mobile Report A Problem | Public Works Agency Call Center | (510) 615-5566 www.oaklandpw.com<http://www2.oaklandnet.com/Government/o/PWA/Connect/ReportaProblem/index.htm> | pwacallcenter(a)oaklandnet.com<mailto:pwacallcenter@oaklandnet.com> | Mobile app: SeeClickFix<http://www.seeclickfix.com/oakland/>

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AT and cardiovascular disease risk factors in US Adults
by Beth McKechnie 19 Nov '12

19 Nov '12

Active Transportation and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in U.S. AdultsGregg L. Furie<http://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797%2812%2900602-2/abstract#>, MD, MHS | Mayur M. Desai<http://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797%2812%2900602-2/abstract#>, PhD, MPH Download full pdf: http://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797%2812%2900602-2/abstract Background Evidence of associations between active transportation (walking and bicycling for transportation) and health outcomes is limited. Better understanding of this relationship would inform efforts to increase physical activity by promoting active transportation. Purpose This study examined associations between active transportation and cardiovascular disease risk factors in U.S. adults. Methods Using the 2007-2008 and 2009-2010 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), adults (N=9933) were classified by level of active transportation. Multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses controlled for sociodemographic characteristics, smoking status, and minutes/week of non-active transportation physical activity. Analyses were conducted in 2011. Results Overall, 76% reported no active transportation. Compared with no active transportation, mean BMI was lower among individuals with low (-0.9, 95% CI= -1.4, -0.5) and high (-1.2, 95% CI= -1.7, -0.8) levels of active transportation. Mean waist circumference was lower in the low (-2.2 cm, 95% CI= -3.2, -1.2) and high (-3.1 cm, 95% CI= -4.3, -1.9) active transportation groups. The odds of hypertension were 24% lower (AOR=0.76, 95% CI=0.61, 0.94) and 31% lower (AOR=0.69, 95% CI=0.58, 0.83) among individuals with low and high levels of active transportation, respectively, compared with no active transportation. High active transportation was associated with 31% lower odds of diabetes (AOR=0.69, 95% CI=0.54, 0.88). Active transportation was not associated with high-density lipoprotein level. Conclusions Active transportation was associated with more-favorable cardiovascular risk factor profiles, providing additional justification for infrastructure and policies that permit and encourage active transportation.

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(no subject)
by Dave Elmore 19 Nov '12

19 Nov '12

http://road.cc/content/news/70705-campaign-launched-nationwide-20mph-speed-l imit-road-safety-week-begins Campaign launched for nationwide 20mph speed limit as Road Safety Week begins Simon_MacMichael <http://road.cc/users/simon-macmichael> , November 19, 2012 <http://road.cc/content/image/834-20mph415x275jpg> http://road.cc/sites/default/files/imagecache/preview_500/images/%5bparent-n ode-gallery-title%5d/20mph_415x275.jpg A number of charities led by Sustrans have joined forces to launch a campaign calling for 20mph to be made the default speed limit on roads in built-up areas. The campaign, GO 20 <http://www.go20.org> , is launched today to coincide with the start of Road Safety Week, which continues until next Sunday 25 November. While some local authorities in England have already introduced 20mph speed limits on all or some of their roads - Oxford and Portsmouth, for instance, have city-wide limits, while Merseyside is introducing it on an area by area basis - Brake and the organisations that have joined it the campaign are calling for such a limit to be introduced nationwide. In the meantime, they are asking more local authorities to implement the speed limit, as well as appealing to motorists to reduce their speed to 20mph when driving near schools, shops and residential areas. A survey of 8,000 schoolchildren aged 7-11 years conducted by Brake, Brain Injury Group and Specavers ahead of Road Safety Week and the launch of GO20 found: Seven in 10 (70%) say they would be able to walk and cycle more if roads in their neighbourhood were less dangerous More than three-quarters (77%) say drivers need to slow down around their home and school Four in 10 (43%) say they have been hit or nearly hit while walking or cycling, and more than half (54%) worry about being hurt by traffic when out and about 72% said they would like to walk and cycle more than they do at present 75% would like more traffic-free cycle paths in their area, while 61% would like more footpaths, pavements and crossings, which they could use to get to school, the park, shops or to see friends 38% said they are not allowed to walk unaccompanied and 47% said they are not allowed to cycle unaccompanied. Brake and the other charities involved in the initiative, which besides Sustrans include Living Streets, the National Heart Forum, 20's Plenty for Us, Campaign to Protect Rural England and Ramblers, say that implementing the lower speed limit would result in: Fewer casualties: at 20, drivers have much more time to react, to help them stop in time if they need to, like if a child runs out. Studies show that when 20 limits replace 30, it means fewer casualties among pedestrians and cyclists. More walking and cycling: danger from traffic is a major barrier in enabling more people to walk and cycle. Town and city-wide 20 limits have resulted in more people walking and cycling. Healthier, happier people: More walking and cycling means healthier people, and more enjoyable outdoors activity for kids and adults. It helps communities interact and be communities. Less pollution: GOing 20 means lower emissions from vehicle journeys. Plus if more people can switch their commute or school run to foot or bike, it means less polluting traffic. Lower costs: Poor health from inactivity costs society dearly. Road casualties cost even more, due to the suffering and burden on health and emergency services. Preventing casualties and improving health means GOing 20 pays for itself many times over. It also helps people save money by choosing the cheapest ways to get about: foot and bike. Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive of Brake, said: "GO 20 is all about enabling people to walk and cycle without fear or threat. "If we are to bring about a 2012 legacy of more active communities, we need to make our streets and communities safer places. "Fleet operators can play an essential role in bringing this about, by ensuring their drivers always put protecting people first, and understand the vital importance of slowing down. "Our main message in Road Safety Week is appealing to drivers to stay well within limits, and slow down to 20 around homes, schools and shops. "It makes roads safer for walking and cycling, and makes little difference to journey times. "It's great so many fleet operators are getting involved and helping to communicate this and other life-saving messages this year. "We urge other employers to register on the Road Safety Week website to get our free guidance on managing driver speed." The campaign will be formally launched at 1030 this morning with a walking and cycling street party at William Tyndale Primary School in the London Borough of Islington, the first in London to introduce a borough-wide 20mph peed limit. Malcolm Shepherd, chief executive of Sustrans, commented: "A 20mph national speed limit would save lives and make our streets better places to socialise, play, walk and cycle. "It would also improve our health, tackling obesity and heart disease as well as reducing the burden on the NHS. "A 20mph limit is already in place in many parts of the country, but a postcode lottery where children are safer in some areas than others is not acceptable. "A new national limit would save money for public health, education and transport budgets, and the Government should now act to lower speeds on streets where we live, work and play." Thanks Dave o _ ( \ _ (X)\ /(X)

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Kickstand SOLD OUT - Invitation: We Ride Here - Public Symposium at the Forks Friday Evening Nov. 23
by Anders Swanson 16 Nov '12

16 Nov '12

[ Although the kickstand Bicycle Policy Training Sessions are now sold out (and then some), we've added an exciting element that is made for to the public. This is a great opportunity for you to meet our out-of-town guests, get involved and celebrate. Space is somewhat limited, so arrive early. Please see the press release and poster attached (with text pasted below). Also, if you are a winter cyclist coming from the south end of the city, and would like to join us for a ride to the forks, there is a group leaving from the U of M's Welcome centre at 5:45. - Anders ] PRESS RELEASE *The World’s Love Affair with The Bicycle Comes to The Forks: European and Canadian Experts Share in Public Forum * Public “We Ride Here” Symposium at The Forks, Friday November 23rd, 7 pm – 9 pm Winnipeg, Manitoba -- Winnipeg is fast becoming one of our country’s bike-friendly cities and that fever is spreading throughout the province to towns like Morden, Thompson and Portage la Prairie. But, what would it take for our province to rival places like Denmark and the Netherlands where it’s ingrained in the culture and the psyche of its people? The “We Ride Here” symposium provides the answers. International cycling and city design gurus from Copenhagenize (Denmark) and Mobycon (Netherlands) are in Winnipeg to deliver a SOLD OUT two-day workshop, KICKSTAND, for professionals and leaders from across the Province. But, when the design workshop ends, participants and presenters will be heading to The Forks to celebrate and share what they’ve learned with the general public. “This is a great opportunity to come out and learn from some of the masters,” says Anders Swanson, local organizing committee chair, “They truly understand what it takes to plan and build a bicycle-friendly community that works for everyone. And, they understand how to do it in all seasons. They’re experts and we can learn so much from them.” “We’re excited by the enthusiasm and energy we’ve encountered in Winnipeg and look forward to contributing to making things happen,” says Angela van der Kloof of Mobycon. “Cycling is a perfect way to get around for children, adults, youngsters, and the elderly. It gives everyone independence, it saves everyone money and it is fun. Streets can be designed in such a way that it is safe for everybody to do so. Elderly people should not have to fear their lives on a bicycle. Children should once again be raised with bicycles and be able to use them all the time.” *The “We Ride Here” public symposium is an evening of culture, film, speeches, exciting announcements, refreshments, door prizes, and one lucky winner will get a grand-prize of a Dutch Van Gogh bike, courtesy of the Honorary Consul of the Netherlands.* “We are looking forward to not only hearing from the experts, but also to hearing ideas from our own community,” says Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike to the Future. “This is a chance for us all to learn, share, experience and make our cities and towns all that they can be for cyclists of all abilities and interest.” Open to everyone. Capacity is limited to 120 people. Parking for bikes (and cars) is free. -30- The Kickstand Sessions take place Thursday November 22nd & Friday November 23rd @ the University of Manitoba Event Centre. Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of best practice bicycle-related implementations and how to market them, and an opportunity for a continued partnership with both Dutch and Danish experts. Mobycon is Netherlands-based independent research and consulting company with 25 years of experience in traffic, transport and mobility. Mobycon’s multi-disciplinary team consists of traffic planners and engineers, urban and rural planners, economists and human geographers. Copenhagenize is a Denmark-based consulting company specializing in urban cycling and liveable cities. They approach every job from the human perspective - using design, anthropology, sociology and common sense as their points of departure. For more information please contact: Anders Swanson Kickstand liaison in Winnipeg 204-797-1962 andersswanson(a)gmail.com

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AT Webinar: Road Diets and Ped Safety, Tues, Nov. 20, 1:00-2:30 pm, EcoCentre
by Beth McKechnie 15 Nov '12

15 Nov '12

Green Action Centre invites you to join us for a local viewing of the upcoming FWHA / PBIC webinar at the EcoCentre (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave) followed by group discussion of local applications.* *Detailed description provided below. *Road Diets and Pedestrian Safety** Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012 | 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. CST* RSVPs are appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! Please note that this is a free webinar, so you can also register individually if you prefer (https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/893317730<http://cts.vresp.com/c/?UNCHighwaySafetyRese/3084cb0a2d/01de1edd15/cd2d73d7…> ).* * cheers, Beth 925-3772 * * * * * * * FHWA (Federal Highway Administration) and PBIC (Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center) Announce Webinar on Pedestrian Safety and Road Diets CHAPEL HILL, NC — The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) announce a free webinar on “road diets,” which are one of the nine proven countermeasures<http://cts.vresp.com/c/?UNCHighwaySafetyRese/3084cb0a2d/01de1edd15/339b6599…>that FHWA is heavily promoting nationally. ** Road diets, or the reallocation of road space through reduction in the number of regular traffic lanes, are of interest to communities that may be seeking to reduce traffic speeds, reduce crashes, improve accessibility for pedestrians and bicyclists, or achieve a number of other benefits. This webinar will present information about the safety benefits of road diets, particularly to pedestrians, and highlight examples of road diet implementation in the United States. Libby Thomas, a researcher at the UNC Highway Safety Research Center, will provide a brief presentation on some of the research findings related to road diets. She will discuss many of the safety benefits of road diets, which have been shown to reduce crashes among all road users. Mike Sallaberry, Transportation Engineer at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, will discuss the road diet experience in San Francisco, California. San Francisco has implemented more road diet projects within its 47 square miles than any other city in North America. This portion of the presentation will give some brief background on the history of road diets in San Francisco, focusing on how and why they are used. Mike will discuss how road diets have been used to create space for bikeways, pedestrian facilities, and transit, as well as how they are used for traffic calming purposes and to add landscaping and storm water management features to a street. The presentation will touch on some of the benefits of road diets but will focus more on how to get them approved, especially when they are controversial. Gina Coffman, of Toole Design Group, will discuss the road diet experience in Seattle, Washington. The City of Seattle has successfully implemented over 30 road diets. Before and after evaluations have indicated up to 70 percent reduction in injury collisions and 90 percent reduction in aggressive speeders on corridors where such projects have been implemented. Gina’s presentation will explore the history, research, planning and design of road diets, offering tips to build stakeholder support through public process. Seattle case studies will include before and after data showing changes in traffic and bicycle volume, neighborhood diversions, speeding and collisions over the years. The presenters will also participate in a question and answer session to discuss how to address barriers to implementation and answer questions from the attendees. This webinar is one of the free webinars that FHWA offers quarterly as part of its Pedestrian Safety Focus States and Cities initiatives. FHWA's Safety Office is trying to aggressively reduce pedestrian deaths by focusing extra resources on the states and cities with the highest pedestrian fatalities and/or fatality rates. Webinar archives for this series, as well as listings of upcoming sessions, can be found at http://www.walkinginfo.org/training/pbic/pedfocus_webinars.cfm<http://cts.vresp.com/c/?UNCHighwaySafetyRese/3084cb0a2d/01de1edd15/a2c00bae…> .

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Cycling is good for business
by Dave Elmore 15 Nov '12

15 Nov '12

<http://bikeyface.com/> Bikeyface <http://bikeyface.com/2012/11/02/not-cyclists/> NOT-CYCLISTS There has been a move to build more infrastructure for cyclists here. However, with limited space on the road, this comes at a cost. which has local businesses concerned. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/bikeyface/8146881645/> People But there is the issue. How can you tell how you tell a driving customer from a walking customer from a biking customer? Especially when a cyclist is not a "cyclist". <http://www.flickr.com/photos/bikeyface/8146916476/> People .just like a driver is not a "driver." They are both customers. But drivers tend to pass through towns, and those on bike or on foot will spend time at local businesses. And the goal of business is to get more customers, and bike infrastructure will bring more of these not-cyclists down their particular street- with things to do, money to spend, time to stop. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/bikeyface/8146881719/> People Ultimately it's not about biking, but creating a neighborhood where people will stop biking. and stay a while.

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Bike to the Future's Annual General Meeting and Achievements Celebration
by Kevin Miller 14 Nov '12

14 Nov '12

All of Bike to the Future's members and supporters are invited to attend our 2012 Annual General Meeting & Achievements Celebration on Tuesday November 20 from 5:30 to 6:30 at the <http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=145+pacific+ winnipeg&sll=49.891235,-97.15369&sspn=30.739621,100.986328&ie=UTF8hq=&hn ear=145+Pacific+Ave,+Winnipeg,+Division+No.+11,+Manitoba&z=16> Sport for Life Centre. Our <http://biketothefuture.org/events/archives/2012/09/19/november-monthly- meeting> November Monthly meeting will commence immediately after the AGM. For AGM details (including the meal menu, the agenda, and the nominated slate of directors), see biketothefuture.org/events/archives/2012/09/19/2012-annual-general-meeti ng-and-achievements-celebration. Kevin Miller Bike to the Future, Secretary <http://biketothefuture.org> biketothefuture.org

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Call for Abstracts: Bicycle Urbanism
by Beth McKechnie 13 Nov '12

13 Nov '12

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS *The International Bicycle Urbanism Symposium will take place at the College of Built Environments, University of Washington, Seattle from June 19-22, 2013.* You are invited to submit abstracts for papers dealings with: Ways that cities can best encourage and accommodate bicycle use 20-30 years in the future Leading research that addresses bicycle use and effects of innovation in infrastructure and programs Best practices and how these can inform long-term planning for bicycle use. Intended participants include planning and design professionals, researchers, bicycle advocates, and public officials. Selected papers will be edited for one or more referred books. A fuller description of the Symposium and its program can be found at www.be.washington.edu/bicycleurbanism. Questions can be addressed at bikeurb(a)uw.edu.

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Transport Canada to look at bike safety benefits of truck side skirts
by Dave Elmore 13 Nov '12

13 Nov '12

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/transport-canada-to-look-at-bik e-safety-benefits-of-truck-side-skirts/article5040530/ Transport Canada to look at bike safety benefits of truck side skirts Renata D'Aliesio The Globe and Mail Published Wednesday, Nov. 07 2012, 1:14 PM EST Canada's transport regulator is assessing whether aerodynamic side skirts attached to trucks to boost fuel efficiency could also save lives in road crashes by preventing pedestrians and cyclists from falling beneath the bone-crushing big rigs. The question is a key one and adds a new twist to the long-standing debate about whether the country should follow the example of Europe and Japan and require truckers to install side guards, which are heavier than skirts and often a drain on fuel but are specifically designed to protect people. Ontario Chief Coroner Andrew McCallum made the case for these guards this summer and again in September after analyzing the circumstances of 224 cyclist and pedestrian deaths. The coroner pointed to a National Research Council (NRC) report, completed for Transport Canada, that noted cyclist deaths and serious injuries involving the side of trucks dropped substantially in the United Kingdom - deaths by 61 per cent and serious injuries by 13 per cent - after side guards were introduced. Transport Canada, for its part, has continually rejected calls for a side-guard regulation, saying there isn't adequate evidence to suggest the guards would significantly improve safety in Canada. Not long ago, though, the regulator had planned to study side guards as rigorously as it is now examining side skirts, show government documents obtained through access-to-information legislation. Those plans and several draft recommendations were shelved. According to Transport Canada spokeswoman Kelly James, the NRC study "did not provide sufficient justification to warrant further testing." Ontario deputy chief coroner Dan Cass finds the regulator's position on side guards disappointing. Still, Dr. Cass, who led the probe of cycling fatalities, is encouraged that Transport Canada is looking at the possible safety benefits of side skirts. Working with the NRC, Transport Canada plans to start a cold-weather analysis of skirts this fall, a test that is expected to span two winters. "This is an issue that obviously has grabbed a lot of people's attention," Dr. Cass said, adding he would support skirts if they prove as effective as guards. "Anything that's done to try and improve public safety and lessen the likelihood of more cyclists being caught under the rear wheels of trucks . is a positive step in my mind." The contentious side-guard debate flared up last Nov. 7 with the death of Toronto cyclist Jenna Morrison. Ms. Morrison, who was five months pregnant, was on her way to pick up her five-year-old son from school when her bike collided with a truck turning right. Falling beneath the gap between the truck's front and rear wheels, Ms. Morrison was crushed to death. Her family and friends believe a side guard could have made the difference between life and death. They're not alone. Between 2006 and 2010, 18 of the province's 129 cyclist fatalities involved heavy trucks, with half of the victims dragged, pinned or run over by rear wheels after striking a truck's side, the Ontario coroner review revealed in June. Side guards might have prevented these deaths, the coroner concluded. For now, however, Transport Canada has no plans to resurrect its shelved side-guard study. After completing a look at countries that regulate guards, the NRC, a government agency, was planning to do a second phase of study that involved testing the effectiveness of different types of guards, but Transport Canada nixed that review. The NRC had also proposed a series of "next steps" in its phase-one draft. Those recommendations, however, were dropped from the final March, 2010 report after a review by Transport Canada. According to the draft, also obtained through access-to-information legislation, NRC's recommendations included performing crash tests with dummies to determine whether side guards can prevent serious injuries to pedestrians and cyclists and evaluating how the guards perform in heavy snow and ice. Another recommendation proposed the creation of a green trailer program to offset the added weight of the guards. NRC declined to speak about its side-guard research, directing questions to Transport Canada. Ms. James of Transport Canada said the draft recommendations were not included in the final NRC report because "the draft report made it clear to Transport Canada that side guards were not demonstrated to be substantially effective or beneficial." There are other factors at play, too. The regulator is conducting a cost-benefit analysis of requiring side barriers on trucks. It has also raised the side-guard issue with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. With thousands of trucks streaming across the border daily, the two countries have pledged to harmonize their truck regulations. The United States does not require side guards and is not pursuing research or proposing a regulation on this front, Ms. James noted. The Canadian Trucking Alliance, which is opposed to making side guards mandatory, won't comment on Transport Canada's study of side skirts until it is complete. The organization believes other safety measures, such as adding bike lanes and enhancing share-the-road education campaigns, would be more effective than regulating side guards. But for Ron Freeman, a cyclist whose pelvis was crushed by the rear wheels of a furniture-delivery truck, installing side guards is part of the solution. A dozen years after his accident in Toronto, he still wonders whether a guard would have reduced the severity of his injury. He has undergone 10 surgeries and expects he'll need another hip replacement soon. "Had there been a side guard in place on the trailer, I would not have been crushed," Mr. Freeman said. "My life would be different." Bicyclist and pedestrian casualties involving a heavy truck in Canada, 2004-2008 Cyclist fatalities Total: 53 Known side: 6 Possible side: 4 Cyclist injuries Total: 689 Known side: 114 Possible side: 166 Pedestrian fatalities Total: 145 Known side: 7 Possible side: 6 Pedestrian injuries Total: 1,080 Known side: 81 Possible side: 121 Source: Transport Canada

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Manitoba Capital Region Transportation Master Plan Open Houses
by Mark Cohoe 11 Nov '12

11 Nov '12

Hi, Just passing on information on the three scheduled open houses for the Manitoba Capital Region <http://www.manitobacapitalregion.ca/default.asp> Transportation Master Plan. You can view the newsletter for the Transportation Master Plan here <http://www.manitobacapitalregion.ca/downloads/Newsletter-November2012.pdf>. It does seem odd that no open houses have been scheduled in Winnipeg. To me, that indicates that the planners are focusing far more on how to move people living outside of Winnipeg into and out of the city, neglecting the impact that any additional traffic will have on residents of Winnipeg or the potential desire of anyone in Winnipeg without access to a care to visit a destination outside of the city. Location: Selkirk, Manitoba Date: Tuesday, November 20, 2012 Venue: Selkirk Recreational Complex Banquet Hall, 180 Easton Drive Time: 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Location: Lorette, Manitoba Date: Wednesday, November 21, 2012 Venue: Club Les Bles D'or 1254 Dawson Rd. Time: 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Location: Headingley, Manitoba Date: Thursday, November 22, 2012 Venue: Headingley Community Centre Auditorium, 5353 Portage Ave. Time: 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Note . All three events include the same content Mark

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Roundabout and Traffic Calming Circle Video
by Erik Dickson 09 Nov '12

09 Nov '12

Scatliff+Miller+Murray is very pleased to present a new educational video produced for the City of Winnipeg. The 3D animation video provides tips for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists for walking, cycling, and driving at intersections with roundabouts or traffic calming circles. The video is posted on the City's website here: http://winnipeg.ca/publicworks/InformationAndResources/TrafficControl/Rounda bout.asp Please share this video widely with your networks. Feel free to send me any questions, comments or ideas; I'd love to discuss what we can do in future videos for you or your organizations. Have a nice weekend! Kind regards, Erik Dickson Suite 1120 - 201 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3B 3K6 ph: (204) 927-3444 ext. 242 fax: (204) 927-3443 web: www.scatliff.ca blog: http://scatliff.tumblr.com Please consider our environment before printing this message.

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Australian Planning Checklist for Cycling
by Mark Cohoe 09 Nov '12

09 Nov '12

Hi, I just came across this and thought it might be of interest. One of the things about it that I find most interesting is that "the checklist is based on the requirements of the Victorian Planning Provisions and associated engineering design guidelines." I'll have to look that up :) Planning Checklist for Cycling <http://www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/general/bike-futures/94793/> Mark

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Fall 2012 Pedestrian Forum Newsletter
by Zdan, Terry (MIT) 08 Nov '12

08 Nov '12

The most recent edition of the Pedestrian Forum Newsletter<http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/pedforum/2012/fall/> is now posted. In this edition you will find information on: Update on Efforts in Pedestrian Safety Focus Cities and States Spotlight on Proven Countermeasures: Road Diet<http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/pedforum/2012/fall/#s1> Road Diet Case Study: Valencia Street, San Francisco<http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/pedforum/2012/fall/#s2> MAP-21 Provisions for Pedestrians<http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/pedforum/2012/fall/#s3> Walk Friendly Communities<http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/pedforum/2012/fall/#s4> Bicycle Road Safety Audits<http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/pedforum/2012/fall/#s5> Recent NHTSA Publications<http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/pedforum/2012/fall/#s6> New Tools and Resources from USDOT<http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/pedforum/2012/fall/#s7> Tamara Redmon Pedestrian Safety Program Manager Federal Highway Administration 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Room E71-303 Washington, DC 20590 Phone: 202-366-4077 fax: 202-366-3222 http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/ To receive updates on our latest program information, please use our e-subscription service. Click on the above weblink, then click on "e-subscribe" in the upper right hand corner. From there, subscribe to the areas you are interested in.

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AT webinar: Maps that Guide, Encourage and Inform - Wed, Nov 14, 2-3 pm, EcoCentre
by Beth McKechnie 08 Nov '12

08 Nov '12

Green Action Centre and Bike to the Future invite you to join us for a local viewing of the upcoming APBP and PBIC webinars at the EcoCentre (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave) followed by group discussion.* *Detailed description provided below.* * *Maps That Guide, Encourage and Inform* Wednesday, November 14th | 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. CST RSVPs are appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! cheers, Beth 925-3772 * * * * * * * The Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) presents: Maps that Guide, Educate and Inform How are maps evolving to meet community needs? This webinar presents two case studies of maps developed for urban trip planning for cyclists. Arlington County, Virginia, recently published an updated paper map; learn how planners resolved decisions about the map's purpose and audience, edited map data to create a network and focus on connectivity, and coordinated with an adjacent jurisdiction. The second case study, from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), is an online map that consolidates data from 101 cities and towns in the Greater Boston area to provide both route planning and an internal resource for planners to prioritize improvements and create a regional network. The presenter will discuss how MAPC collected and merged data from a variety of sources, issues of data storage and format, and the tools available to publish maps online. *View the Arlington County map here*: http://www.bikearlington.com/pages/maps-rides/ *View MAPC's map here*: http://trailmap.mapc.org/ *Presenters*: David Goodman, Bicycle and Pedestrian Programs Manager, Arlington County, Virginia, manages the WALKArlington and BIKEArlington programs. In this role he oversees the built environment that directly affects walkers and cyclists. David designs and implements pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure projects such as sidewalks, accessible curb ramps, crosswalks, trails and bike lanes. His work also involves establishing design standards and specifications as well as reviewing new development proposals and transportation projects. He is a Certified Planner as well as a Licensed Architect. Christian Spanring is a GIS Developer with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC). His focus is introducing innovative Open Source mapping and public engagement solutions to support MAPC's mission and projects. MAPC projects range from mapping tools (the MAPC Trailmap for pedestrian and bicycle facilities), engagement tools (the MBTA Budget Calculator) to a recreational park discovery application and data exploration tools like the MetroBoston DataCommon. Prior to MAPC, Christian worked as GIS Specialist for the Austrian Institute for Spatial Studies and Regional Planning and the Austrian Road Safety Board.

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Nov 14 webinar: Maps that Guide, Encourage and Inform
by Zdan, Terry (MIT) 08 Nov '12

08 Nov '12

All APBP members are receiving this message. Sign in to www.apbp.org with your username (shelyon) and private, case-sensitive, password. If you don't know your password, click here<http://www.apbp.org/link.asp?e=Sheila.A.LYONS@odot.state.or.us&job=752295&y…> to generate a reminder. Register now for APBP's November webinar: Maps that Guide, Encourage and Inform Wednesday, November 14 | 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Eastern time $50 per site for APBP members; $75 per site for non-members Register here: http://www.apbp.org/event/Nov-14_webinar<http://www.apbp.org/link.asp?e=Sheila.A.LYONS@odot.state.or.us&job=752295&y…> [http://www.apbp.org/resource/resmgr/images/nov-12_boston_map_sample.jpg]How are maps evolving to meet community needs? This webinar presents two case studies of maps developed for urban trip planning for cyclists. Arlington County, Viriginia, recently published an updated paper map; learn how planners resolved decisions about the map's purpose and audience, edited map data to create a network and focus on connectivity, and coordinated with an adjacent jurisdiction. The second case study, from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), is an online map that consolidates data from 101 cities and towns in the Greater Boston area to provide both route planning and an internal resource for planners to prioritize improvements and create a regional network. The presenter will discuss how MAPC collected and merged data from a variety of sources, issues of data storage and format, and the tools available to publish maps online. View the Arlington County map here: http://www.bikearlington.com/pages/maps-rides/<http://www.apbp.org/link.asp?e=Sheila.A.LYONS@odot.state.or.us&job=752295&y…> View MAPC's map here: http://trailmap.mapc.org/<http://www.apbp.org/link.asp?e=Sheila.A.LYONS@odot.state.or.us&job=752295&y…> Presenters: David Goodman, Bicycle and Pedestrian Programs Manager, Arlington County, Virginia, manages the WALKArlington and BIKEArlington programs. In this role he oversees the built environment that directly affects walkers and cyclists. David designs and implements pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure projects such as sidewalks, accessible curb ramps, crosswalks, trails and bike lanes. His work also involves establishing design standards and specifications as well as reviewing new development proposals and transportation projects. He is a Certified Planner as well as a Licensed Architect. Christian Spanring is a GIS Developer with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC). His focus is introducing innovative Open Source mapping and public engagement solutions to support MAPC's mission and projects. MAPC projects range from mapping tools (the MAPC Trailmap for pedestrian and bicycle facilities), engagement tools (the MBTA Budget Calculator) to a recreational park discovery application and data exploration tools like the MetroBoston DataCommon. Prior to MAPC, Christian worked as GIS Specialist for the Austrian Institute for Spatial Studies and Regional Planning and the Austrian Road Safety Board. This webinar will be recorded; a link to the recording will be e-mailed to participants within 48 hours after the live session. APBP has applied to the AICP for one Certification Maintenance credit for this session. APBP will provide an attendance certificate to APBP members who document their professional development hours. Each site license includes one phone connection (toll charges apply, or use VoIP), one Internet connection, one set of handouts for unlimited attendees in the same location, and access to the recording. (You may be required to download free software from Citrix GoToMeeting in order to participate in the webinar.) For more information, contact Debra Goeks (262-228-7025 or info(a)apbp.org). Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals PO Box 93 * Cedarburg, WI * 53012 262.228.7025 * info(a)apbp.org<mailto:info@apbp.org> www.apbp.org<http://www.apbp.org/link.asp?e=Sheila.A.LYONS@odot.state.or.us&job=752295&y…>

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Cardboard bike: YouTube
by Zdan, Terry (MIT) 08 Nov '12

08 Nov '12

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txSboSNQINs he wears a helmet...could be cardboard too From: at-network-bounces(a)lists.umanitoba.ca [mailto:at-network-bounces@lists.umanitoba.ca] On Behalf Of Dave Elmore Sent: November-08-12 9:44 AM To: at-network(a)lists.umanitoba.ca Subject: [At-network] Cardboard bike http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2012/11/cardboard-bicycles Cardboard bicycles Re-cycling Nov 7th 2012, 17:47 by The Economist online [cid:image001.jpg@01CDBD95.8A07B4B0] THE first bicycles were made of wood. After that, manufacturers used steel tubes. These days, for high-end bikes where weight is at a premium, they turn to aluminium alloys or even to carbon fibre. But Izhar Gafni, an amateur cyclist who owns a number of such high-end bikes, wonders whether the original inventors had a point. He proposes to go back to using wood-or, rather, a derivative of wood, namely cardboard. Mr Gafni, who is based in Ahituv, Israel, spent years trying to work out how to make a cardboard bicycle able to support the weight of a human being. The trick is twofold. First, he folds the cardboard-commercial-grade material, made from recycled paper-to increase its strength. (He worked out the exact pattern of folding for each of the machine's components using the principles of origami.) Then, once it is folded, he treats the result with a proprietary resin that holds it in shape and stiffens it, before cutting it into the form of the component required. A second application of resin renders the component waterproof, and a lick of lacquer makes it look good. The result, Mr Gafni claims, is stronger than carbon fibre. The bike's frame, wheels, handlebars and saddle are all made of cardboard in this way, and then fitted together. The tyres-again harking back to the early days of cycling-are composed of solid rubber, recycled from old car tyres. That makes the ride a little harder than if they were pneumatic, but means they cannot be punctured. The chain, whose design is based on the timing belt of a car, is also made from car-tyre rubber. The pedals are plastic recycled from bottles. And the brakes are also recycled materials, though Mr Gafni is not yet ready to disclose exactly what. The finished product weighs 9kg and can carry a rider weighing 220kg. Mr Gafni's target market is the poorer countries of the world. Since manufacturing the cardboard bike will, he reckons, cost $9-12 a unit, his velocipedes should find demand which metal bikes cannot. But people in rich countries may be interested too. In Tel Aviv, the commercial capital of Mr Gafni's native land, 2,000 stolen bikes were recently put on display by police, for their owners to claim. If bicycles cost less than the locks that chained them to lampposts, it might cease to be worthwhile stealing them.

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Cardboard bike
by Dave Elmore 08 Nov '12

08 Nov '12

http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2012/11/cardboard-bicycles Cardboard bicycles Re-cycling Nov 7th 2012, 17:47 by The Economist online http://media.economist.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/full-width/images/ 2012/11/blogs/babbage/20121110_stp504.jpg THE first bicycles were made of wood. After that, manufacturers used steel tubes. These days, for high-end bikes where weight is at a premium, they turn to aluminium alloys or even to carbon fibre. But Izhar Gafni, an amateur cyclist who owns a number of such high-end bikes, wonders whether the original inventors had a point. He proposes to go back to using wood-or, rather, a derivative of wood, namely cardboard. Mr Gafni, who is based in Ahituv, Israel, spent years trying to work out how to make a cardboard bicycle able to support the weight of a human being. The trick is twofold. First, he folds the cardboard-commercial-grade material, made from recycled paper-to increase its strength. (He worked out the exact pattern of folding for each of the machine's components using the principles of origami.) Then, once it is folded, he treats the result with a proprietary resin that holds it in shape and stiffens it, before cutting it into the form of the component required. A second application of resin renders the component waterproof, and a lick of lacquer makes it look good. The result, Mr Gafni claims, is stronger than carbon fibre. The bike's frame, wheels, handlebars and saddle are all made of cardboard in this way, and then fitted together. The tyres-again harking back to the early days of cycling-are composed of solid rubber, recycled from old car tyres. That makes the ride a little harder than if they were pneumatic, but means they cannot be punctured. The chain, whose design is based on the timing belt of a car, is also made from car-tyre rubber. The pedals are plastic recycled from bottles. And the brakes are also recycled materials, though Mr Gafni is not yet ready to disclose exactly what. The finished product weighs 9kg and can carry a rider weighing 220kg. Mr Gafni's target market is the poorer countries of the world. Since manufacturing the cardboard bike will, he reckons, cost $9-12 a unit, his velocipedes should find demand which metal bikes cannot. But people in rich countries may be interested too. In Tel Aviv, the commercial capital of Mr Gafni's native land, 2,000 stolen bikes were recently put on display by police, for their owners to claim. If bicycles cost less than the locks that chained them to lampposts, it might cease to be worthwhile stealing them.

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UPDATE - Pembina Hwy Buffered Bike Lanes
by Janice Lukes 07 Nov '12

07 Nov '12

Monday morning there was paint on Pembina identifying the north bound buffered bike lanes. The attached photos are self-explanatory. Lots continues to happen - lots still needs to happen for southbound bus stops / paving / paint! And was assured that yes, the poly posts will be installed this year - and attempts to clean snow around poly posts will occur. A phenomenal amount of underground work / logistics / etc. is occurring to install these buffered bike lanes. Unbelievable amount of manpower and work. Janice Lukes

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Webinar: Pedestrian Safety and Road Diets
by Shoni Litinsky 07 Nov '12

07 Nov '12

Please join Green Action Centre to watch the following webinar followed by discussion. Feel free to bring your lunch. RSVPs appreciated but not necessary. FHWA and PBIC Webinar on Pedestrian Safety and Road Diets *Road Diets and Pedestrian Safety** Tuesday, November 20, 2012 2:00 p.m. — 3:30 p.m. EDT* Road diets, or the reallocation of road space through reduction in the number of regular traffic lanes, are of interest to communities that may be seeking to reduce traffic speeds, reduce crashes, improve accessibility for pedestrians and bicyclists, or achieve a number of other benefits. This webinar will present information about the safety benefits of road diets, particularly to pedestrians, and highlight examples of road diet implementation in the United States. Libby Thomas, a researcher at the UNC Highway Safety Research Center, will provide a brief presentation on some of the research findings related to road diets. She will discuss many of the safety benefits of road diets, which have been shown to reduce crashes among all road users. Mike Sallaberry, Transportation Engineer at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, will discuss the road diet experience in San Francisco, California. San Francisco has implemented more road diet projects within its 47 square miles than any other city in North America. This portion of the presentation will give some brief background on the history of road diets in San Francisco, focusing on how and why they are used. Mike will discuss how road diets have been used to create space for bikeways, pedestrian facilities, and transit, as well as how they are used for traffic calming purposes and to add landscaping and storm water management features to a street. The presentation will touch on some of the benefits of road diets but will focus more on how to get them approved, especially when they are controversial. Gina Coffman, of Toole Design Group, will discuss the road diet experience in Seattle, Washington. The City of Seattle has successfully implemented over 30 road diets. Before and after evaluations have indicated up to 70 percent reduction in injury collisions and 90 percent reduction in aggressive speeders on corridors where such projects have been implemented. Gina’s presentation will explore the history, research, planning and design of road diets, offering tips to build stakeholder support through public process. Seattle case studies will include before and after data showing changes in traffic and bicycle volume, neighborhood diversions, speeding and collisions over the years. The presenters will also participate in a question and answer session to discuss how to address barriers to implementation and answer questions from the attendees. This webinar is one of the free webinars that FHWA offers quarterly as part of its Pedestrian Safety Focus States and Cities initiatives. FHWA's Safety Office is trying to aggressively reduce pedestrian deaths by focusing extra resources on the states and cities with the highest pedestrian fatalities and/or fatality rates. Webinar archives for this series, as well as listings of upcoming sessions, can be found at http://www.walkinginfo.org/training/pbic/pedfocus_webinars.cfm<http://cts.vresp.com/c/?UNCHighwaySafetyRese/3084cb0a2d/01de1edd15/a2c00bae…> . -- *Shoni Litinsky* | Active and Safe Routes to School Green Action Centre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Avenue* | *(204) 925-3773 Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/memberships/> _______________________________________________ AT-Network mailing list AT-Network(a)lists.umanitoba.ca http://lists.umanitoba.ca/mailman/listinfo/at-network -- *Shoni Litinsky* | Active and Safe Routes to School Green Action Centre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Avenue* | *(204) 925-3773 Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/memberships/> Find us here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/>

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WFP: Law on bicycle helmets soon (Nov.5'12)
by Beth McKechnie 05 Nov '12

05 Nov '12

Law on bicycle helmets due soon First offenders get off with quiz By: Steve Lambert WINNIPEG -- Manitoba's bicycle-helmet law will take effect within a few months, and first-time offenders will be able to avoid paying a fine by taking a new online safety quiz. Healthy Living Minister Jim Rondeau is finalizing the details of the law, which the legislature approved last spring. The aim, he said, is to promote helmet use while using penalties as something of a last resort. "Our goal is to actually not collect fines. Our goal would be for people to understand the law and put helmets on their head right away," Rondeau said in an interview. The law will require anyone under 18 to wear a helmet while riding a bicycle or face a $50 fine. But young cyclists caught in a first offence will be allowed to skip the fine by completing a test that will educate them about bicycling safety. "We're going to develop -- are developing -- a question-and-answer on bike safety that people can do as an alternative to paying a fine," Rondeau said. The law will come into effect before spring, he said, and be accompanied by a public-education campaign to make cyclists don helmets as automatically as motorists wear seatbelts. When the law takes effect, Manitoba will join provinces such as Ontario, where minors are also required to wear helmets. But Manitoba's approach stops short of laws in Nova Scotia and British Columbia that apply to adults as well. Physicians, the opposition Liberals and many cyclists have criticized the exemption for adults, who say kids watch what their parents do. "If I look at parents, they're going to be the example that kids will follow. And I think if you don't bring it in for everybody, you're going to wind up getting a bad example," said Charles Burchill, an avid cyclist who commutes by bicycle to his downtown job every day. Doctors Manitoba, the provincial medical association, has said a broader law would reduce the number of severe head injuries cyclists suffer every year. Rondeau is not ruling out an extension of the law to adults at some later time. "Those are discussions we'll have on the compliance and we will talk about further measures as we see compliance move forward. But right now, this is the next logical step -- to apply to children. Let's see what happens." -- The Canadian Press http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/law-on-bicycle-helmets-due-so…

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Bicycling Means Better Business
by Dave Elmore 04 Nov '12

04 Nov '12

http://www.utne.com/science-technology/bicycling-means-better-business.aspx? newsletter=1 <http://www.utne.com/science-technology/bicycling-means-better-business.aspx ?newsletter=1&utm_content=11.02.12+Science+and+Technology&utm_campaign=2012+ ENEWS&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email> &utm_content=11.02.12+Science+and+Technology&utm_campaign=2012+ENEWS&utm_sou rce=iPost&utm_medium=email Bicycling Means Better Business <http://www.utne.com/science-technology/bicycling-means-better-business.aspx > bike lane "Biking is definitely part of our strategy to attract and retain businesses in order to compete in a mobile world," says Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak as we glide across the Mississippi river on a bike-and-pedestrian bridge-one of two that connect downtown to the University of Minnesota. "We want young talent to come here and stay. And good biking is one of the least expensive ways to send that message." As we turn onto to a riverside bike path to inspect another span the mayor wants to convert to a bike-ped bridge, he recounts a recent conversation. "I was having dinner with a creative director that a local firm was eager to hire for a key post. He was an American living in Europe, and we spent most of the evening talking about the importance of biking and walking to the life of a city," Rybak says, smiling. "He took the job." Minneapolis has invested heavily in biking-creating a network of off-street trails criss-crossing the city, adding 180 miles of bike lanes to city streets with plans to double that, launching one of the country's first large-scale bikeshare programs, and creating protected lanes to separate people riding bikes from motor traffic-which is why it lands near the top of all lists ranking America's best bike cities. That "ratchets up" the city's appeal to businesses in many fields, Rybak says. "We moved from the suburbs to downtown Minneapolis to allow our employees to take advantage of the area's many trails and to put the office in a more convenient location for commuting by pedal or foot," explained Christine Fruechte, CEO of large advertising firm Colle + McVoy, in a newspaper op-ed. "Our employees are healthier, happier and more productive. We are attracting some of the best talents in the industry." David A. Wilson, who directs 1,600 employees at the Minneapolis office of the Accenture management consulting company, says good biking opportunities are important to the well-educated 25-35 year-olds he seeks to hire. "Five years ago, I don't think business people were even thinking about bikes as a part of business. Today it's definitely part of the discussion." He notes that Accenture recently relocated their Boston and Washington, D.C. offices from suburbs to the city to offer employees better opportunities for biking, walking and transit. A Creative Generation Loses Its Car Keys Young people today are driving significantly less than previous generations, according to a flurry of recent reports. Even Motor Trend magazine notes that young professionals flocking to cities today are less inclined to buy cars and "more likely to spend the money on smartphones, tablets, laptops and $2,000-plus bikes." Annual miles traveled by car among all 16- to 34-year olds dropped 23 percent from 2001 to 2009 according to a study from the "Frontier Group" think tank-and that does not even count the past three years of recession and $4 gallon gas. The Federal Highway Administration found the miles traveled by drivers under 30 dropped from 21 percent to 14 percent of the total between 1995 and 2009. These young people represent the "creative class" talent pool that many companies covet. That's why civic, business and political leaders in cities around the country are paying attention to the next generation's wishes for lively, livable places to work and play. This means diverse cultural opportunities, plentiful cafes and restaurants, a tolerant social climate, a variety of housing choices and ample transportation options like biking-not only for commuting to work, but also for recreation after work and, in some cases, over the lunch hour. Richard Florida, the economic forecaster who coined the phrase "creative class," recently described these sought-after workers in the Wall Street Journal <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444914904577619441778073340.h tml> as "less interested in owning cars and big houses. They prefer to live in central locations, where they can rent an apartment and use transit or walk or bike to work." Florida sees bicycling as critical for thriving cities, which is why he joined New York City's heated debate last year about the proliferation of bike lanes across the city. "New York has became a haven for creative-class professionals," he wrote in the Daily News, which makes good biking facilities important to the city's future. He added that biking remains important to workers in creative fields even as they grow older. "When they put their kids in child seats or jogging strollers, traffic-free bike paths become especially important to them." Thirty-three executives at New York high-tech companies-including Foursquare, Meetup and Tumblr-also weighed in on biking issues, urging Mayor Bloomberg to "support a bikeshare system as a way to attract and retain the investment and talent for New York City to remain competitive in the fast growing digital media and internet-oriented economy." Bloomberg agreed, and the bikeshare program begins next March with 7,000 bikes for rent. The City That Bikes Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel was elected last year on an aggressive platform of bringing new tech and creative businesses to the city. When he scored a major coup this summer with Google-Motorola Mobility's announcement that it was moving more than 2,000 jobs from a suburban campus to the heart of the city, Emanuel explained," One of the things that employees look [at] today is the quality of life and quality of transportation because of the ease that comes with it. And that ease is having trains as a choice, buses as a choice and bikes as a choice getting to and from work." The City of Chicago's Chief Technology Officer John Tolva says it's no coincidence that Google-Motorola Mobility's new home in the Merchandise Mart is right next to Kinzie Street, the city's first green lane-where bike lanes are physically separated from rushing traffic to make riders feel safer and more comfortable on the road. This idea of creating protected space for people on bikes, borrowed from Northern European countries where bikes account for 10-30 percent of trips, is now spreading throughout the U.S. Martha Roskowski-director of the Green Lanes Project, which promotes protected bike lanes across the country-explains, "Cities that want to shine are building these kind of better bike facilities as part of a suite of assets that attract business. And they find that bike infrastructure is cheap compared to new sports stadiums and lightrail lines, and can be done much faster." George Washington University business professor Christopher Leinberger, a leading authority on real estate who predicted the current urban boom in a series of articles for the Atlantic magazine, points out "Biking is no longer just a niche for the macho guys. It's for a lot of people now. Ideally, we should have a 20-25 percent mode shift for bikes in cities. Great urban spaces are all about choices, including in transportation." Leinberger marvels at how bicycles are changing Washington, D.C., where he lives. "Bikes have been a critical part of D.C.'s turnaround. They are putting in protected bike lanes which does a lot more to encourage riding than just a white line of paint between people and a one-ton vehicle." Ellen Jones, director of Washington's Downtown Business Improvement District, says, "It's just crazy how biking has taken off here, especially the new bikeshare system which a lot of people are using for commuting." We spoke after she returned from an appointment with managers of a high-tech company wanting to rent an old warehouse downtown. "A lot of their employees bike to work and they were concerned about whether they could easily get their bicycles upstairs. When bicycling is part of the final decision on where a company relocates, then we know its impact." The boom in biking is also creating opportunities in the real estate sector. Jair Lynch, founder and CEO of a DC real estate development and construction company, declares, "We don't work in places that aren't near bike lanes." Even in the slow economy, $200 million in new apartments are currently under construction adjacent to the Midtown Greenway in Minneapolis, a bike "freeway" cutting through the south side of the city. Another benefit businesses see for locating in bike-friendly locations is a break on health insurance costs. QBP, a bike parts distributor in the Minneapolis area employing 600, offered a series of incentives for employees to commute by bike and discovered an unexpected bonus-a 4.4 percent reduction in health care costs, totaling $170,000 a year. Tracy Pleschourt-partner at Carmichael Lynch, an ad agency in downtown Minneapolis that promotes biking-is excited about the possibilities of the just-launched Zap program, which electronically documents bike trips using on-bike RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) devices and trail-edge sensors. Right now the program offers only gift certificates and discount gear as prizes for frequent biking, but insurers are looking at it as a way to reward health-conscious companies with lots of employees riding bikes. Boosting the Business Climate Beyond Big Cities & Bike Meccas Bikes are improving the business climate even in cities not ranked as bike capitals or large metropolitan regions. Mayor Lee Leffingwell of Austin, Texas, said, "I certainly recognize the environmental, public health and quality of life benefits that more bicycling can bring our city, but I also value the contribution to the economy that comes with the provision of smart transportation options that attract major employers to Austin." Austin is ambitiously expanding its bike infrastructure; its first green lane opened last spring, one of 10 planned for the city. Cirrus Logic, a computer chip company that depends on specially trained engineers, moved to downtown Austin last summer from an outlying location "to become more attractive as an employer," says PR director Bill Schnell. "We can't just pluck anybody for our jobs. The people we want are mostly younger, and biking is part of the equation for them." CEO Tyson Tuttle relocated Silicon Labs, which designs integrated circuits for computers, to downtown Austin five years ago to be close to the city's bike trail system. It was one of the first of many tech companies that are now in the area. Tuttle, who himself sometimes rides to work, says it was a smart move. "Biking on the trails is something a lot of employees enjoy, and when people think about joining the company it's a big draw. It also helps with wellness and fitness." You might think that Memphis would be the last place in America to believe bikes can take us down the path to prosperity. In 2008, with not a single bike lane inside the city limits, Memphis was named one of the three "Worst Cities for Cycling in America" by Bicycling magazine (alongside Dallas and Miami). That prompted the city to stripe a few lines of bike lanes, but it landed on the three worst cities list again in 2010 (this time joined by Birmingham and Jacksonville). This year Bicycling honored Memphis as the "most improved" city for bicycling. It was also named as one of six cities (along with Portland, Ore., San Francisco, Washington, Chicago and Austin) to receive support from the Bikes Belong Foundation's Green Lane Project in creating a network of protected bike lanes to serve as best practices for other cities to follow. What happened? For one thing Mayor A C Wharton became a champion of biking, announcing, "We believe in the power of bicycle facilities to enhance the health, economy and safety of our community." He hired a bike-pedestrian coordinator for the city and put plans into motion that led to more than 60 miles of bike lanes. Memphis business leaders began talking about the importance of biking to city's future. Shepherd Tate-an attorney at the large Bass, Berry & Sims law firm-puts it plainly. "There's no question about it. Biking makes a difference in attracting talent." Eric Matthews, CEO of Launch Memphis and two other initiatives to nurture and attract new businesses, notes, "Biking correlates with entrepreneurs." The city, already home to the world famous St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, is positioning itself to become a center for new biomedical firms. "My job is to convince emerging companies that they can get the workers they want to come here," says Dr. Steven Bares, President of the Memphis Bioworks Foundation, an initiative to bring emerging health companies to Memphis. "The bike is part of the overall strategy to compete for talent." Jay Walljasper, author of The Great Neighborhood Book and All That We Share: A Field Guide to the Commons, chronicles urban life for a variety of publications. His website: www.JayWalljasper.com <http://www.jaywalljasper.com/> . This article was originally published on GreenLane Project <http://greenlaneproject.org/blog/view/198> . Photo courtesy Spencer Thomas <http://www.flickr.com/photos/spencerthomas/> , licensed under Creative Commons <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en> . Read more: <http://www.utne.com/science-technology/bicycling-means-better-business.aspx #ixzz2BINaPSdr> http://www.utne.com/science-technology/bicycling-means-better-business.aspx# ixzz2BINaPSdr

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Bike benefit calculator
by Leah Goertzen 03 Nov '12

03 Nov '12

Follow this link to find an interesting to calculate what biking may be worth to you: http://www.cbc.ca/manitoba/features/biking/ Leah Goertzen Physical Activity Coalition of Manitoba info(a)pacm.ca

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Vancouver cycling stats
by Charles Feaver 03 Nov '12

03 Nov '12

Vancouver has some impressive cycling numbers: According to the October 30 Vancouver Metro, http://metronews.ca/news/vancouver/421260/vancouver-breaks-away-from-the-cyc ling-pack/ Vancouver is a tour de force when it comes to cycling in the region. According to new bike use statistics released by TransLink for Bike to Work Week Monday, 12.1 of every 100 trips taken in the City of Vancouver are now on bicycle. Behind the pace setter, Richmond leads a tightly packed peloton with a much lower rate of 3.1 trips per 100. "The numbers seem very impressive," said Vision Vancouver Coun. Geoff Meggs. "We did what everybody said we needed to do to make it work, and that's build safe cycling infrastructure." Vancouver has more than 400 kilometres of bike lanes, about 10 of which are separated. That number is expected to grow substantially as the city hopes to make cycling, walking or public transit account for two thirds of all trips in the city. Those modes accounted for 40 per cent of trips in 2008. Transportation 2040 Plan, which outlines those goals and strategies, will be presented to city council Tuesday morning. ... Overall, TransLink says the number of bike-only trips in the region have increased 26 per cent between 2008 and 2011, 106,500 trips from 84,300. In Vancouver, the amount of trips increased 35 per cent during the same period, 55 per cent of which were to and from work. ... Interestingly, men make up the vast majority of cyclists - 71 per cent. TransLink's vision, outlined in the Regional Cycling Strategy, is a 10 per cent cycling mode share by 2040. Its mode share is currently the highest recorded, at 1.8 per cent of all trips.

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