- AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

Webinar Downloads - Land Use Planning: Routine Inclusion of Bicycling and Walking in New Developments
by Mark Cohoe 15 Feb '12

15 Feb '12

Hi, The handouts for today's webinar are now available for download from the APBP web-site here <http://www.apbp.org/?page=Webinar_Downloads>. As always, Green Action Centre and Bike to the Future invite you to join us for a local viewing of the APBP webinar*"*Land Use Planning: Routine Inclusion of Bicycling and Walking in New Developments *" *at the EcoCentre (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave) followed by group discussion. RSVPs appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! … [View More]Cheers, Mark Cohoe Bike to the Future Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) presents: Land Use Planning: Routine Inclusion of Bicycling and Walking in New Developments Wednesday, February 15th . 2:00 to 3:30 pm CST Broad land use patterns and transportation policies determine whether walking and bicycling are not just possible, but practical and enjoyable. Understanding how the big picture works is essential for those engaged in regulating, designing and advocating for more sustainable transportation options. Attend this webinar to learn how land use policy and regulations are the basis for pedestrian and bicycle friendly communities, and what to look for in plan review. Through overview and examples of policy and regulations, and the experience of one small Wisconsin city (Fitchburg, pop. 20,000), you'll find out how innovative zoning codes and policies can help promote active transportation. People attending this webinar will learn about: * The connection between transportation and land use, and how it relates to Smart Growth * The importance of connectivity and the benefits of street networks * Smart Code/Form-based Code, including the Bicycle Module, as well as the urban-rural continuum of development contexts * Land use policy vs. regulations, including what can be regulated through zoning and subdivision standards * Examples of site designs and best practices for integrating design standards into land use regulations * The land use, development regulations, and bike/ped transportation elements of the Fitchburg, Wisconsin Comprehensive Plan. Presenters: John Cock, Associate/Regional Manager Southeast, Alta Planning + Design; Mike Lydon, Principal, The Street Plans Collaborative; Ahna Bijzak, Transportation Project Engineer, City of Fitchburg; and Susan Sloper, Community Planner, City of Fitchburg. Land Use Planning: Routine Inclusion of Bicycling and Walking in New Developments, are now available for download here. [View Less]

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The Manitoban: Active transport to connect east and west
by Beth McKechnie 13 Feb '12

13 Feb '12

Active transport to connect east and west *Posted * February 13th, 2012 *by* Jeremy Gregoire<http://www.themanitoban.com/contributor/jeremy-gregoire/> On Feb. 9 the University of Manitoba hosted a public session about an active transportation river crossing that will provide a direct connection between Fort Garry and St Vital. The pedestrian and cycle crossing will go over the Red River and enter Fort Garry near the U of M. During the session the City of Winnipeg and MMM Group Limited … [View More]provided professional consulting about the project. The U of M – St Vital active transportation project was initiated by the city and consists of a conceptual design study to identify viable options, locations and assess public opinion for a pedestrian and cycle crossing. A similar session was held Feb. 8 at the Dakota community centre in St Vital. “The City of Winnipeg is studying the feasibility of providing an active transportation crossing,” said Kenn Rosin, project manager of the study for the City of Winnipeg. “Optional possibilities and structure technology types need to be developed and evaluated,” Rosin added. In the two interactive sessions the public viewed display boards about the study and people were asked to provide answers to different questions regarding how they see the project and what impact it has on their daily life. They were also asked to fill out surveys. Luis Escobar, a representative from the City of Winnipeg, said there has been good feedback from the public on the project thus far. He said people are interested in seeing the project move forward and are happy to be asked for their input. “I believe approximately 200 to 300 persons attended the session on Feb. 8, I hope we will get the same attendance today,” said Escobar. Professionals from the city, MMM and Bike to the Future helped explain different options to the public. Mark Cohoe, manager of Bike to the Future and consultant for the project, said that many people have asked questions about how to get to the future crossing as a cyclist and what is the best solution to go from St Vital to the University. Colleen Plumton, professor in the faculty of kinesiology and recreation management, said she thinks the project is an excellent idea because it is important that there are more connections to the U of M. “In terms of pedways and active transportation we are far behind the times, we are far behind larger centres in Canada,” Plumton said. Plumton said she supports any project that improves active transportation in the city. Neil Johnson, a citizen of St. Vital, said the session was informative. “I think [it] is important to be aware of what’s going on in the neighbourhood, particularly in matters that can really impact the liveability of the neighbourhood and I want to make sure that my opinion was being heard,” he said. The consultants will analyse the information from the sessions and see if some options are more acceptable to the public. Once the decision is made the city will provide a report in June. http://www.themanitoban.com/2012/02/active-transport-to-connect-east-and-we… [View Less]

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letting cyclists run red lights for safety - not so crazy after all?
by Anders Swanson 12 Feb '12

12 Feb '12

Some interesting food for thought for your Sunday afternoon reading pleasure... [Below: Three recent articles from the Times of London, the UK Daily Mail and CBS Chicago, re: changes related to red lights emerging in London, Paris and the State of Illinois. Also of interest, note the structure and success of the broader "Cities fit for Cycling" campaign currently underway and run by the Times itself<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/>. Note the comments by both of London's … [View More]

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Vancouver School Board backs province-wide cycling Education
by Beth McKechnie 09 Feb '12

09 Feb '12

Vancouver School Board backs province-wide cycling education Pitch made by B.C. Cycling Coalition By Naoibh O'Connor, Staff writer February 8, 2012 The B.C. Cycling Coalition won Vancouver School Board support for a province-wide proposal to teach bicycle safety and education to youth. Trustees voted unanimously at a school board meeting Tuesday night in favour of a recommendation from the VSB's management co-coordinating committee, which suggested the board endorse, in principle, the … [View More]coalition's Right to Bike provincial youth cycling education framework. "What the cycling coalition has been doing is working on trying to develop province-wide curriculum for bike safety," trustee Mike Lombardi, chair of the management co-coordinating committee, told the Courier before the vote. "It's modelled on a program in England, apparently. It's very successful across the whole country. It teaches kids the basics of cycling_The coalition is in the process of trying to gather support [for its framework] through different agencies to be able to go to government to talk about securing funds to develop the comprehensive cycling education program." Lombardi said such curriculum would ensure instructors teach to a particular standard. In its package to the school board, the B.C. Cycling Coalition noted that the province has focused on cycling infrastructure and to a lesser degree promoting cycling awareness, but education is considered a critical component of cycling plans. "In the Netherlands, universally available cycling and traffic safety education are integral components of their cycling strategy that also includes infrastructure development and motor vehicle speed reduction," the coalition stated. "This complete strategy has resulted in very high levels of cycling with safety rates much better than Canada's." The coalition's youth cycling education framework involves a lead organization, supported by a board of partners and stakeholders, establishing and coordinating a standard for cycling skills and safety education for the entire province. A certification program tied to the standard would be licensed to parties interested in delivering certified cycling training and would include everything needed to deliver bicycling skills and safety training anywhere in B.C. The program would operate on a cost-recovery model. Lombardi maintains it's a great idea. "The idea is actually something that a number of us have been talking about for a while. That is, if we're going to be promoting cycling like we are, we need to start [training] very early and have curriculum for that," he said. "It's a very good idea. It's obviously promoting safety. It's promoting health. It's promoting kids cycling to school. We think it's got a lot of positive features to it. There was tremendous support at the [management coordinating] committee from everybody. Everybody felt it was something that was overdue and that it would be a very positive initiative." The VSB also voted in favour of presenting a similar resolution to the B.C. School Trustees Association annual general meeting. noconnor(a)vancourier.com Twitter: @naoibh © Copyright (c) Vancouver Courier http://www.vancourier.com/Vancouver+School+Board+backs+province+wide+cyclin… [View Less]

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CTV Winnipeg: Crosswalk buttons deactivated
by Beth McKechnie 08 Feb '12

08 Feb '12

[It appears traffic flow only includes motorists, not pedestrians. -Beth] *CTV Winnipeg: Crosswalk buttons deactivated* Pedestrians now have to wait for the traffic lights to change at regular intervals, rather than spurring the lights to change by pushing the buttons at many Winnipeg intersections. City officials hope the move will improve traffic flow. Jon Hendricks reports. http://watch.ctv.ca/news/top-picks/pushing-buttons/#clip615049

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Bougeons en hiver: The Jack Frost Challenge starts Saturday!
by Beth McKechnie 08 Feb '12

08 Feb '12

*Celebrate Winter with BOUGEONS EN HIVER: THE JACK FROST CHALLENGE! Register now - starts this Saturday!* Bougeons en hiver: The Jack Frost Challenge! is a new event celebrating winter in Manitoba. Sign up your team of 1 to 5 to skate, bike, ski, snowshoe, or walk a combined total of 130 km during the week of February 11th to 17th. Participants will be entered in a draw for ‘cool’ prizes. Winnipeggers can tally some of their kilometres on the Assiniboine Credit Union River Trail on Friday, … [View More]

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Webinar - Land Use Planning: Routine Inclusion of Bicycling and Walking in New Developments (Wed, Feb.15, 2-3:30, EcoCentre)
by Beth McKechnie 06 Feb '12

06 Feb '12

Green Action Centre and Bike to the Future invite you to join us for a local viewing of the APBP webinar* "*Land Use Planning: Routine Inclusion of Bicycling and Walking in New Developments *" *at the EcoCentre (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave) followed by group discussion. RSVPs appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! cheers, Beth 925-3772 Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) presents: Land Use Planning: Routine Inclusion of Bicycling and Walking in New … [View More]Developments Wednesday, February 15th • 2:00 to 3:30 pm CST Broad land use patterns and transportation policies determine whether walking and bicycling are not just possible, but practical and enjoyable. Understanding how the big picture works is essential for those engaged in regulating, designing and advocating for more sustainable transportation options. Attend this webinar to learn how land use policy and regulations are the basis for pedestrian and bicycle friendly communities, and what to look for in plan review. Through overview and examples of policy and regulations, and the experience of one small Wisconsin city (Fitchburg, pop. 20,000), you'll find out how innovative zoning codes and policies can help promote active transportation. People attending this webinar will learn about: - The connection between transportation and land use, and how it relates to Smart Growth - The importance of connectivity and the benefits of street networks - Smart Code/Form-based Code, including the Bicycle Module, as well as the urban-rural continuum of development contexts - Land use policy vs. regulations, including what can be regulated through zoning and subdivision standards - Examples of site designs and best practices for integrating design standards into land use regulations - The land use, development regulations, and bike/ped transportation elements of the Fitchburg, Wisconsin Comprehensive Plan. Presenters: John Cock, Associate/Regional Manager Southeast, Alta Planning + Design; Mike Lydon, Principal, The Street Plans Collaborative; Ahna Bijzak, Transportation Project Engineer, City of Fitchburg; and Susan Sloper, Community Planner, City of Fitchburg. -- *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) 925-3772 | Find us here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/memberships/> [View Less]

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WFP: Bridging the gap between suburbs (Feb.6'12)
by Beth McKechnie 06 Feb '12

06 Feb '12

Bridging the gap between suburbs Red River pedestrian crossing discussed By: Jen Skerritt Winnipeg is set to reignite talks about a decades-old idea to create a new pedestrian bridge across the Red River. This week, a firm hired by the city will hold public consultations on possible ways to create a pedestrian bridge or aerial tramway to connect the University of Manitoba with St. Vital. Enlarge Image <http://media.winnipegfreepress.com/images/3801693.jpg> While the idea of linking … [View More]the campus to the other side of the Red River has been discussed for years, the city has never moved ahead with a concrete plan. MMM Group project planner Misty Carson said they have come up with five proposed locations where the two sides of the river can connect, including possible links at King's Park, Henteleff Park and near the U of M law school. Carson said the firm is in the process of finalizing cost estimates for each option at each location, which it hopes to present at the community meetings. Right now, Carson said two options -- a pedestrian bridge and an aerial tramway -- are up for discussion. "We're very much at the beginning of understanding public favour and interest for something like this," Carson said. The notion of connecting the U of M campus with St. Vital last gained traction in 2007. A Winnipeg Transit report suggested it would cost about $3 million to build a 250-metre cable connection between the U of M and Henteleff Tree Nursery. At the time, a pedestrian bridge was estimated to cost between $12 million and $15 million. The idea failed to get the go-ahead at council's public works committee. This time around, St. Norbert Coun. Justin Swandel said he'd like to see the preliminary ideas focus on crossings that are doable and won't infringe on riverbank stability, soil or floodway operations. He said he suspects public feedback could be a "mixed bag," with residents and students who support the active transportation link and others who are resistant to change. However, he said he's interested in exploring the idea of some kind of pedestrian connection between the two sides. "I want to see what comes back out of this and see if we can get it focused," Swandel said. "What I don't like is jumping too far in too early, which is why we've got to get some feedback on this." U of M officials aren't sure what impact -- if any -- such a proposal would have on concerns about game-day traffic at the new stadium. Michelle Richard, director of campus planning, said it hasn't been considered as part of the game-day planning process. However, she said it would be an opportunity for the campus to connect with other parts of the community. "Our focus would be on finding ways to create linkages from the university and the broader community," she said. "This is a real opportunity to make those connections." City of Winnipeg spokeswoman Tammy Melesko said public feedback will be used to draft a report that outlines locations along the Red River where a pedestrian link could be built. Council's public works committee will review the report, which will contain cost estimates for each location, should the project move ahead. Some residents have already raised concerns. St. Vital Coun. Brian Mayes said Winnipeggers on his side of the river have expressed concern that a community garden group uses the green space at one of the proposed connections north of the U of M. Mayes said other homeowners worry people will park their cars and walk to the new football stadium on game days. Mayes said he's interested in looking at beefing up the pedestrian connection on Bishop Grandin Boulevard to make it easier for people to travel on bike and on foot. "It would benefit some people in St. Vital, but on the other hand, there seems to be a lot of opposition, even without considering the cost," Mayes said. jen.skerrit(a)freepress.mb.ca NOTE: You can fill out the MMM survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/activetransport [View Less]

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2012 Complete Streets Forum - Toronto, April 23rd
by Beth McKechnie 02 Feb '12

02 Feb '12

Complete Streets Forum 2012 From: Toronto Centre for Active Transportation (TCAT) Is walkability, bikeability, mobility, or livability part of your work? The 2012 Complete Streets Forum is TCAT's fifth annual active transportation conference taking place on April 23, 2012 at Evergreen Brick Works <http://tcat.ca/completestreetsforum2012/venue>. The Complete Streets Forum represents a holistic approach to active transportation policy and planning with a focus on cycling and walking … [View More]

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St. Vital gondola not off the ground yet (Wpg Sun)
by Beth McKechnie 02 Feb '12

02 Feb '12

St. Vital gondola not off the ground yet <http://www.winnipegsun.com/2012/02/01/st-vital-gondola-not-off-the-ground-y…> Winnipeg Sun http://www.winnipegsun.com/2012/02/01/st-vital-gondola-not-off-the-ground-y… Would you take a gondola from St. Vital to Fort Garry? The city's really asking. A survey regarding the proposed pedestrian crossing linking South St. Vital to the University of Manitoba presents a motorized gondola as one of four bridge design options. The survey also asks … [View More]

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Peg City Car Co-op Video 4: Sharing!
by Shoni Litinsky 31 Jan '12

31 Jan '12

Thank you all for following our Peg City Car Co-op<http://www.pegcitycarcoop.ca>video series! It has been fun to share these video's with you each week, and get so much feedback from others that bike, walk, bus, and sometimes drive to get around our city! Last weeks video featuring members Shauna, Ken, and little Savannah<http://vimeo.com/34311607>was inspiring, and hit home how personal costs are reduced without personal vehicle ownership - it is nice to see them comfortable in … [View More]

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Active & Green - Bike lab, transit apps, green teams & more
by Beth McKechnie 30 Jan '12

30 Jan '12

Hello everyone, Hope you enjoy our latest issue of Active & Green! If you are so inclined, you can link to the e-newsletter at: http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/active-green-winter-2012-4/. thanks, Beth Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.<http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a183a3f55cc&id=1a0cd2310f…> *Looking to improve commuter options<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…> at your … [View More]

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New study of economic and health benefits of cycling (Iowa)
by Beth McKechnie 30 Jan '12

30 Jan '12

*Economic and Health Benefits of Cycling in Iowa (University of Northern Iowa, Fall 2011*) This study identifies the economic and health impacts of bicycling in Iowa. Impacts are estimated based on spending by individual cyclists, bicycle specific retail sales, economic activity generated by bicycle organizations, and health cost savings in the State of Iowa. The study is based on primary data collected from individual cyclists, bicycle specific retail operators and bicycle organizations. … [View More]

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Active Transportation Canada - New Posts January 21, 2012
by Beth McKechnie 23 Jan '12

23 Jan '12

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Michael Haynes <activetransportation(a)rogers.com> Date: 21 January 2012 08:40 Subject: Active Transportation Canada - New Posts January 21, 2012 Happy New Year Active Transportation-Canada Listserv Members: Fifteen news items about Active Transportation have been posted on the Active Transportation-Canada Website today. Among the items included in these new articles: 1. Sweden Plans A Four-Lane Bike Superhighway<http://www.psfk.com/… [View More]

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[At-network] Reminder: Green Action Centre webinar - Tues, Jan. 24th, 1 pm
by Beth McKechnie 23 Jan '12

23 Jan '12

*Friendly reminder about tomorrow's webinar...* Join Green Action Centre staff for a free online webinar sharing highlights and stories from Fall 2011 conferences that we attended: - *Beth McKechnie: *Complete Streets, APBP Professional Development Seminar (Charlotte, North Carolina) - *Jackie Avent and Shoni Litinsky: *Walk 21 and ASRTS Summit (Vancouver, BC) - *Jessie Klassen: *ACT Canada Sustainable Mobility Summit (Vancouver BC) *1:00 pm, Tuesday January 24th, 2012* * * … [View More]

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Peg City Car Co-op Video Series #3 - Cost!
by Shoni Litinsky 23 Jan '12

23 Jan '12

I hope you all enjoyed last week's video featuring Chris<http://vimeo.com/34035969>on the utility of using Peg City Car Co-op <http://www.pegcitycarcoop.ca>, even if at times it is simply helpful to get him out of an awkward date! *This week, our video features a family story - Ken, Shauna, and little Savvy talk about how the co-op helped them save money, and even buy a house! * * * *See it here: http://vimeo.com/34311607* We have recently moved a vehicle to South Osborne<http:… [View More]

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Gaining Ground Conference - Registration open
by Cara Fisher 20 Jan '12

20 Jan '12

Gaining Ground: Connecting People and Knowledge Provincial Conference on Active Transportation and Recreation Wednesday March 21, 2012 at the PCU Centre in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba REGISTER TODAY! Visit www.pacm.ca to register and to view the full conference brochure. Hosted by the Physical Activity Coalition of Manitoba (PACM)

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[At-network] Bougeons en hiver: The Jack Frost Challenge! Feb.11-17, 2012
by Beth McKechnie 20 Jan '12

20 Jan '12

[Please share widely and sign up your own team of family, friends, co-workers! Poster attached. Thanks] * GET MOVING WITH BOUGEONS EN HIVER: THE JACK FROST CHALLENGE!* Bougeons en hiver: The Jack Frost Challenge! is a new event celebrating winter in Manitoba. Sign up your team of 1 to 5 to skate, bike, ski, snowshoe, or walk a combined total of 130 km during the week of February 11th to 17th. Participants will be entered in a draw for ‘cool’ prizes. Register at www.greenactioncentre.ca or … [View More]

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Green Action Centre webinar - Tues, Jan. 24th, 1 pm
by Beth McKechnie 19 Jan '12

19 Jan '12

Join Green Action Centre Staff for a free online webinar sharing highlights and stories from Fall 2011 conferences that we attended: - *Beth McKechnie: *Complete Streets, APBP Professional Development Seminar (Charlotte, North Carolina) - *Jackie Avent and Shoni Litinsky: *Walk 21 and ASRTS Summit (Vancouver, BC) - *Jessie Klassen: *ACT Canada Sustainable Mobility Summit (Vancouver BC) *1:00 pm, Tuesday January 24th, 2012* * * The webinar will take place on *WIMBA*, Green … [View More]

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ASRTS + STP: Four great webinar opportunities in January and February
by Beth McKechnie 19 Jan '12

19 Jan '12

There are four great webinar opportunities around Active and Safe Routes to School and School Travel Planning coming up! More details are below, but please feel free to join Green Action Centre staff for the Safe Routes to School and Traffic Reduction webinar on January 31st from noon-1pm at the Eco-Centre - 3rd Floor, 303 Portage Avenue. *Tuesday, January 24, 2012 (6:30 pm CT) One hour*Sustainable Happiness, Hope & Resiliency Presenters: Catherine O'Brien and Elin Kelsey Join Catherine O'… [View More]Brien and Elin Kelsey for an inspiring conversation about sustainable happiness, hope and resiliency. In the Summer 2011 issue of Green Teacher, Catherine and Elin introduced the concepts of sustainable happiness, hope and resiliency and why it's so important to move beyond "gloom and doom." In this webinar, they invite you to join them in a lively conversation about how these ideas are catching hold and causing ripples of optimism across the disciplines of environmental and sustainability education, health and well-being and conservation biology, and around the world. After short presentations, they will share some of the ways they are seeing this work moving out in the world so that participants can start to think of implications for their personal and professional life. *Suitability:* All formal and non-formal youth educators *Please register directly at:* http://greenteacherwebinarobrienkelsey2-eorg.eventbrite.com/ *Tuesday January 31st, 2012 (12pm CT) One hour**Pump Down the Volume: SRTS and Traffic Reduction* Presenters: Nancy Pullen-Seufert, Associate Director, National Center for Safe Routes to School Melissa Watford, Health Education Specialist, FirstHealth of the Carolinas Jason Goldsberry, Physical Education Teacher, Eagle Crest Elementary School, Longmont, CO Communities initiate Safe Routes to School programs for a variety of reasons. In an attempt to reduce the barriers for students to walk and bicycle to school, some programs focus on reducing traffic congestion and the number of cars around schools. In this sixty minute webinar, we will take a brief look at the problem of traffic congestion as it relates to SRTS and then focus on two SRTS programs that have had success in reducing congestion and measuring traffic reductions. The first program, Eagle Crest Elementary School's Step Often and Ride to School (SOAR) Program, surveyed families in order to understand travel patterns to school. After learning that 75 percent of students arrived by car, the program focused on increasing walking and bicycling rates through education and encouragement. After just one year, Eagle Crest saw a 40 percent reduction in motor vehicle traffic. The second program, Pinehurst Walks! from Pinehurst, NC, focused on encouraging the school's 650 students to become engaged as leaders in the effort to get more students walking to school. The Student Council presented neighborhood walkability recommendations to the Mayor and Village Council, resulting in a $150,000.00 allocation for a greenway to connect the elementary school to the Village. Their efforts also resulted in a 22 percent reduction in traffic volume on walking school bus days. Don't miss this chance to see how these two wonderful programs succeeding in traffic reduction efforts! This webinar is part of the Safe Routes to School Coaching Action Network Webinar Series, developed by America Walks and the National Center for Safe Routes to School. For more information please contact Michelle Gulley at mgulley(a)americawalks.org REGISTER NOW <https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/654857816> or join us at the Eco-Centre - 3rd Floor, 303 Portage Avenue from noon - 1 pm! * **Thursday February 2, 2012 (12 pm CT) One hour* *School Travel Planning: (Shared) Knowledge is Power!* Presented in collaboration with The CAPTURE Project, as part of the Green Communities Canada School Travel Planning Series. *Brief Description* Imagine being part of a national community where you have easy access to School Travel Planning stakeholders and can share information and learnings about your respective programs, policies or initiatives. CAPTURE (Canadian Platform to Increase Usage of Real-world Evidence) recently launched a freely accessible, knowledge exchange repository to find and share practice-based evidence in health promotion and chronic disease prevention. Looking beyond the published literature, CAPTURE seeks to harness the breadth of community-based knowledge and experience. *The CAPTURE Platform facilitates* · Connecting with colleagues around the corner or across the country · Sharing knowledge and wisdom from our health promotion and chronic disease prevention experiences · Documenting reflective practice learnings – knowledge which often remains untapped or difficult to find *The webinar will feature* · An orientation to the CAPTURE Platform with examples of School Travel Planning initiatives · Guidelines to capture and share reflective practice knowledge · How to enter the CAPTURE 10-minute Challenge - *and win an iPad 2! * *Presenter* Dayna Albert, M.A. Manager, Practitioner Engagement, The CAPTURE Project Dayna holds an MA in adult education and a BSc from the University of Toronto. Dayna has six years’ experience building organizational capacity in evidence-informed practice. Previously, she worked with the Ontario Public Health Association’s Towards Evidence-Informed Practice Program. She is a member of the Canadian Evaluation Society and the American Evaluation Association. *Who Should Attend?* All School Travel Planning stakeholders (i.e. program planners, municipal partners, school-based partners, funders etc.) who are interested in learning new ways to share their work, stay abreast of what others in the field are doing and understand how to capture and profit from their reflective practice learnings. *To register, please contact dayna.albert(a)thecaptureproject.ca and provide your name, email address and time zone.* * **Wednesday February 15, 2012 (11 am CT) One hour* *Project BEAT: Integrating the key lessons of time, space and gender into STP* A WIMBA presentation as part of the Green Communities Canada School Travel Planning Series Presenters: Michelle Stone and Guy Faulkner, University of Toronto. The BEAT (Built Environment and Active Transport – www.beat.utoronto.ca<http://physical.utoronto.ca/Beat.aspx>) project, funded by CIHR and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada was a large-scale, mixed methods and multidisciplinary research programme designed to explore how such a behavioural shift towards active school transport (AST) might be supported. In a series of sequential stages and studies we addressed AST at multiple levels – national, provincial (Ontario) and local (GTA). Our work has identified the prevalence and correlates of AST in Canada, and, has resulted in the creation of a unified theoretical model of AST and the built environment through examination of the personal, family, social and environmental correlates of active school transport. The objective of this webinar is to present some of the key lessons learned from the BEAT project including data on the relationship between school travel and objectively measured physical activity levels of children. Our focus will be on three key lessons that have implications for the School Travel Planning (STP) model. We classify these lessons as three interrelated themes of *time, space and gender:* *TIME*: The main purpose of STP is to help parents/guardians overcome perceptual barriers to the practice of actively traveling to school. These barriers typically focus on safety (e.g., traffic & stranger danger). However, the STP intervention itself does not explicitly address what appear to be key issues in school travel mode choice - the parental or caregiver ascription of convenience to the various travel modes available for school trips (i.e., the theme of “time”) and the level of independent mobility granted to the child. *SPACE*: Participation in AST varies regionally and also across different types of space or neighbourhood. STP work has traditionally targeted the school environment, while our research also suggests that features of the built environment around the home play a more significant role in the school travel mode decision-making process. *GENDER*: The school travel experience is very different for girls than it is for boys. Fewer girls engage in AST and parental perceptions regarding school travel are different for girls than they are for boys. Girls are granted less independent mobility than boys; the ramifications are likely contributing to the lower levels of physical activity and less outdoor play time observed in girls. Modifications to built form may affect girls differently than they would boys. Throughout this webinar, we will provide an overview of the evidence underpinning each theme and facilitate discussion on how each lesson is, or could be, integrated into STP implementation. *Please register directly with Sandra Jones, Green Communities Canada: scjones(a)telus.net* -- *Jackie Avent* Green Action Centre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/> | Active and Safe Routes to School 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/> [View Less]

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WFP: Consultation flawed: Katz
by Beth McKechnie 19 Jan '12

19 Jan '12

While I typically resist including personal comments when circulating articles, this one begs for context. The article below underscores the critical importance of pre- and post-construction counts. Users of the cycle track will certainly attest to its busyness but anecdotal evidence is not enough. It is also true that the full potential of the route was dampened this past year due to construction on Osborne Bridge, which will continue again this spring. But there now appears to be a pattern of … [View More]apology at City Hall regarding AT project construction. It is common, if not seemingly mandatory, in every city building pedestrian and cycling facilities, to have backlash, usually in the form of the "insufficient consultation" argument. Winnipeg is not unique in this regard but we do seem to be establishing a habit of backtracking afterward. -Beth Consultation flawed: Katz Short shrift for firms, public on bikeway plan By: Jen Skerritt Mayor Sam Katz admits the city could have done a better job consulting the public over a bikeway project one citizen has called a "theft of democracy." On Wednesday, council's executive policy committee reviewed an audit report that identified shortcomings in the consultation process over the Assiniboine Avenue bikeway. The report said area businesses were not included in the process and public notifications should have outlined the impact the project would have on traffic. The bikeway was part of Winnipeg's major active-transportation overhaul that saw the city try to complete 35 projects within an 18-month period to make use of federal stimulus dollars. It prompted a backlash from residents and businesses, and six companies near the Midtown Bridge filed a lawsuit to try to halt construction, saying the plan would cause traffic chaos in the neighbourhood. One plaintiff on Assiniboine said he was notified about the project by a notice taped to his door. Graham Hnatiuk, a citizen journalist, told EPC the city should seek a refund since the consultant the city hired to conduct public consultations did not contact residents for their input for the on-street bike lane. Hnatiuk said he became interested in the issue after he attended a public meeting about the bikeway in 2009, and most of the people who attended were bike lobbyists. The blogger said he complained to 311 about the consultation process, and department staff did not address his concerns. Hnatiuk said Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan) later helped forward his complaint directly to the city auditor. Hnatiuk said the bikeway is "sparsely used" in summer, and hundreds of cars that used the route during rush hour travel down an already gridlocked York Avenue instead. "We were right all along," he said. "The residents and businesses along Assiniboine Avenue have known all along that their input was never asked for." Bob Axford told EPC the City of Winnipeg has a governance problem and public consultations need to be improved. He suggested Winnipeg make changes to the way it approaches public consultations. "This is a complete theft of democracy," he said. Katz said he agrees that the consultant did not do a good job. He said the company had a short time frame to complete the public-consultation process due to the federal deadline. However, Katz said the firm shouldn't have taken the job if they could not complete it in the given time. He said everyone, including the mayor, councillors and the city, could have done a better job. "On this particular instance a very poor job was done," Katz said. jen.skerritt(a)freepress.mb.ca http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/consultation-flawed-katz-137654733.h… <jen.skerritt(a)freepress.mb.ca> [View Less]

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Province makes "Greater Strides" on AT
by Beth McKechnie 17 Jan '12

17 Jan '12

Great news from the Province of Manitoba! In the attached letter to Janice Lukes, Chair of the Province's Active Transportation Advisory Group (ATAG), Minister Dave Chomiak has confirmed they will be acting on three key recommendations of the report generated by ATAG: 1) Develop a provincial policy to support and encourage AT; 2) Appoint a provincial director for AT; and 3) Establish an on-going public stakeholder advisory committee. In addition, the Province had committed to and has … [View More]

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Webinar Handouts - Emerging Technologies for Ped and Bike Planning (Wed, Jan.18, 2-3:15, EcoCentre)
by Mark Cohoe 17 Jan '12

17 Jan '12

Hi, For anyone planning on attending the Emerging Technologies for Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning webinar tomorrow, handouts, slides, and a 41 page report are available for download here <http://www.apbp.org/?page=Webinar_Downloads>. Green Action Centre and Bike to the Future invite you to join us for a local viewing of the APBP webinar*"*Emerging Technologies for Pedestrian and Bicycle Planning*" *at the EcoCentre (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave) followed by group discussion. RSVPs … [View More]

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Peg City Car Co-op Video Number TWO!
by Shoni Litinsky 16 Jan '12

16 Jan '12

I hope you all loved Peg City Car Co-op <http://pegcitycarcoop.ca>'s last video featuring our member Amanda <http://vimeo.com/34035273> - is she not adorable? Next up in our series of four videos is Chris. Chris usually travels to work by bus and bike, but finds that the car co-op helps him live more simply, visit the suburbs, and get out of awkward situations! See it here: http://vimeo.com/34035969 Also, we have recently moved a vehicle to South Osborne<http://pegcitycarcoop.… [View More]

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Bike licences a no-go in Ottawa
by Beth McKechnie 15 Jan '12

15 Jan '12

*Bike licences a no-go in Ottawa: Report* By David Reevely, The Ottawa Citizen January 13, 2012 OTTAWA — Licensing bicycles is too expensive and cumbersome and provides negligible benefits anywhere it’s been tried, says a new report from Ottawa’s city staff. Orléans Councillor Bob Monette asked city officials to look into the idea at the beginning of the summer, when the segregated bike lanes on Laurier Avenue were opening and the rights of cyclists versus pedestrians and motorists were in … [View More]the news. He suggested that licensing bikes would provide a way to connect misbehaviour on the roads and paths to bikes’ owners, the way car licence plates help the police track down bad motorists. Also, a formal registry of bicycles would help the police return stolen and recovered bikes to their owners. Maybe, says the report the city has produced, but at a disproportionate cost. Several earlier looks at the idea of licensing bikes in Ottawa have concluded that the system would cost about $100,000 a year and would recover, at best, $40,000 in fees from cyclists. Worse, it would impose a barrier on would-be cyclists, who’d have to go through an extra layer of bureaucracy before they could legally ride — when the city actually wants people to take to their bikes because they don’t significantly contribute to traffic congestion and put less wear and tear on roads. Enforcing the rules would be extra complicated because Gatineau cyclists mix with Ottawans and it’d be difficult to put a licensing requirement on them, and the city would also have to find a way to make the licensing regime work with services like the National Capital Commission’s Bixi bike-rentals. “Given the foregoing limited benefits and significant challenges, and primarily based on the fact that bicycle licensing would act as a significant barrier to cycling, it is recommended that bicycle licensing not be implemented in the City of Ottawa,” the report concludes, though it notes that there might be some value in a voluntary registration system for recovering lost and stolen bikes. Some cities, including Ottawa, have had bike-licensing systems in the distant past, but no city of any size does now. Regina has such a bylaw on the books, but in practice it’s not enforced; the system has been handed off to a community association, which operates it like a voluntary registry. Besides Monette’s inquiry, there was virtually no political will for a licensing system at the city council table. Mayor Jim Watson said at the time that he’d oppose any effort to pass one. dreevely(a)ottawacitizen.com © Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Bike+licences+Ottawa+Report/5991981/story… -- *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) 925-3772 | Find us here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/memberships/> [View Less]

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