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PCU Centre hosts active transportation conference
by Beth McKechnie 22 Mar '12

22 Mar '12

PCU Centre hosts active transportation conference By Robin Dudgeon http://www.portagedailygraphic.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3507800 Participants from across the province gathered at the PCU Centre, Wednesday, for the Provincially sponsored Gaining Ground: Connecting People and Knowledge conference on active transportation and recreation. Participants got to hear two keynote addresses: one from Lawrence D. Frank, professor and J. Armand Bombardier Chair in Sustainable Transportation at the University of British Columbia and a second from Michael Arthur, Manager of Physical Activity at the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness. The former spoke on the health and climate change impacts of transportation and land use decisions while the latter spoke on the Nova Scotia experience with active transportation. There were also three sessions for the spectators to take part in: Spotlight in Manitoba where three Physical Activity Coalition of Manitoba (PACM) pilot communities – Thompson, St. Malo, and Morden - shared their experience with active transportation; Pecha Kucha gave six presentations on topics like building trails, making maps, school travel planning, and car-free events; finally, a panel discussed the Greater Strides: Taking Action on Active Transportation publication which contained recommendations to the Manitoba government from the Province’s Active Transportation Advisory Group. Coun. Irvine Ferris attended the conference and said he thought it was great that Portage could host the conference just as the City is working to extend the walking and biking paths in the city. For the full story see Thursday's edition of the Portage Daily Graphic.

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Distinctive bike stolen at hospital
by Beth McKechnie 22 Mar '12

22 Mar '12

*Thought I'd share this in case anyone happens to spot this distinctive stolen bike...* One baby born, another stolen Thieves take dad's bike during visit to hospital By: Gabrielle Giroday Jacques Marcoux wants to know if anyone has seen his baby -- a beloved bike stolen while he was visiting his newborn daughter in the hospital. The 27-year-old new father was inside the St. Boniface Hospital spending time with little Amélie when an electric grinder was used to bust the U-Lock securing his bike. [image: It's not the first time this bike has been stolen.] It's not the first time this bike has been stolen. (SUBMITTED PHOTO) The bike went missing last Friday night or Saturday morning, only hours after Amélie was born. "If it wasn't for the fact that I was so kind of still on a high from having a kid, I'd be way more p - off and bothered," said Marcoux, who's had the bike for over a decade. "But it's kind of muted because I have this newborn, who's really awesome." The bike, a 2001 Devinci Podium purchased for $1,600, has an unusual history and has hit the headlines before. In 2007, a bike courier who saw two thieves with Marcoux's distinctive-looking bike on Main Street got it back after confronting the pair and returned it to him. Marcoux said the bike has mallet pedals and deep-dish aluminum rims. This time, Marcoux has offered a $150 reward to get the bike back. He said removing the bike would have taken some effort -- and the thief or thieves left something behind. "To my surprise, there was actually an extension cord running from the bike rack, across the entire front entrance lawn of the hospital," said Marcoux, who estimated more the cord was more than 20 metres long. "They actually abandoned the cord and took off with my bike." Marcoux said he's hopeful it will be returned after alerting the city's cycling community. "I'm actually somewhat optimistic that it's going to come up at some point," he said. gabrielle.giroday(a)freepress.mb.ca

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City starts street sweeping a month early due to warm weather
by Beth McKechnie 20 Mar '12

20 Mar '12

Good news for everyone getting out on their bikes... ** *From:* City-MediaInquiry *Sent:* Monday, March 19, 2012 2:46 PM *Subject:* City of Winnipeg News Release - City starts street sweeping a month early due to warm weather [image: Description: cid:image001.png@01CD05DE.9597E210]**** ** ** For Immediate Release**** Monday, March 19, 2012**** ** ** *City starts street sweeping a month early due to warm weather***** * Cleanup efforts focus on Downtown and regional streets ***** **** *Winnipeg, MB.* - Warmer than average temperatures have allowed the City of Winnipeg to get an early start on spring cleanup this year as crews focused street sweeping efforts Downtown on Sunday night and will continue tonight. Also, beginning Tuesday night, the street sweeping operation will be expanded to include all regional streets across the city including bridges and underpasses.**** **** It is expected this preliminary cleanup operation will use about 75 pieces of heavy equipment and will take about two weeks to complete. **** **** Once this initial round of sweeping on main routes has been completed, sweeping efforts will shift to the remaining streets, sidewalks, back lanes, parks, and boulevards which will get underway on a city-wide basis in mid-April, weather permitting. **** **** "We’ve never started street sweeping operations in March, but warm weather, a quick melt and dry conditions have allowed the City to start sweeping Downtown and on main routes about a month ahead of schedule," said Ken Boyd, Manager of Streets Maintenance. "This initial round of street sweeping will remove sand and other debris from main routes and will help to control dusty conditions.”**** **** During spring clean-up operations the City places temporary "no parking" signs to restrict on-street parking on some streets that are scheduled to be cleaned. When these signs are in place on a city street, motorists are urged to move their vehicles to alternative parking locations during the posted times. Vehicles parked in violation of the temporary parking ban may be ticketed and towed. **** Motorists and pedestrians are asked to use caution around heavy equipment which will be operating throughout the city over the coming weeks.**** ** ** - 30 -**** ** ** Media inquiries should be directed to the City of Winnipeg Media Inquiry Line at 204-986-6000 or via email at MediaInquiry(a)winnipeg.ca**** ** ** Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/cityofwinnipeg<http://www.facebook.com/cityofwinnipeg> **** ** ** Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/cityofwinnipeg<http://www.twitter.com/cityofwinnipeg> **** ** ** ** ** ** **

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Bicycle Valet Winnipeg: Program Coordinator - job posting
by Kevin Miller 15 Mar '12

15 Mar '12

Bicycle Valet Winnipeg: Program Coordinator - job posting About Bicycle Valet Winnipeg <http://www.bicyclevaletwinnipeg.ca/> Bicycle Valet Winnipeg is a project of <http://biketothefuture,org> Bike to the Future that offers a bicycle valet at events around Winnipeg. Bicycle Valet reduces traffic and parking congestion while encouraging Active Transportation in Winnipeg. Having a safe and free place to park their "wheels" will encourage people to choose an active lifestyle and increase the use of Winnipeg's growing Active Transportation infrastructure. About the position Bicycle Valet Winnipeg is looking for someone with an interest in business, a passion for active transportation, and a commitment to making Winnipeg a bike-friendly city. The Program Coordinator is the leader of Bicycle Valet Winnipeg and the primary point of contact for sponsors, event promoters, media volunteers, and the public. This position is responsible for all aspects of the business, including entering into sponsorship agreements, drafting grant applications, recruiting and coordinating volunteers for events, and ensuring materials are delivered, set-up, torn-down, and returned safely to storage. Compensation includes a base amount of $416.67 for 30 hours work per month, an office allowance of $125 per month, and incentives equal to 10% of successful sponsorships and grant applications. A flexible work schedule is required. Resumes and cover letters can be sent to <mailto:loren@biketothefuture.org> Loren Braul, Bike to the Future Co-Chair. Application Deadline: March 30, 2012 <http://biketothefuture.org/attachments/0000/1750/2012-03-15_bvw_program coordinator_contract.pdf> Bicycle Valet Winnipeg: Program Coordinator - contract __________________ Kevin Miller <mailto:kevin@biketothefuture.org> kevin(a)biketothefuture.org Bike to the Future, Secretary <http://biketothefuture.org/> biketothefuture.org

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Transit planners look to gondolas to put an end to urban gridlock (National Post)
by Beth McKechnie 13 Mar '12

13 Mar '12

Over the top: Transit planners look to gondolas to put an end to urban gridlock Tristin Hopper<http://news.nationalpost.com/author/tristinhopper/> Mar 9, 2012 *For photos, see*: http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/03/09/over-the-top-transit-planners-look-… Calgary’s Foothills Medical Centre, the largest hospital in Alberta, suffers from what transit planners call a “last mile” problem. The city’s LRT line can get commuters within sight of the hospital at the University of Calgary, but the remaining two kilometres are a maddening jumble of freeways and suburbs. To close the gap, it is either a half-hour walk or a winding bus trip that stops at the hospital’s front curb. Annoying during the summer months, the trip is downright miserable in a minus 40 windchill. Toronto-based urban planner Steven Dale came last month to Calgary with a pitch: Why not simply leapfrog over the road network? While buses and trains slip and stall in the slush below, a cable-suspended gondola could soar above the congestion, depositing commuters into a receiving area built right into the hospital building. For years, gondolas have been dismissed as the purview of ski resorts and amusement parks. Yet, cleaner than buses, cheaper than subways and less intrusive than streetcars, modern gondolas are increasingly breaking out of their kitschy role and hitting drawing boards as the ideal way to close the gaps and relieve the bottlenecks of North American transit networks. “Just literally go right over top of it,” said Mr. Dale. In the early 1970s, a new housing development was nearing completion on New York City’s Roosevelt Island when planners realized it would still be a few years before a subway link to the island would be finished. In its place, New York transit planners proposed an unorthodox solution: Ship in a couple of trams from Europe and temporarily winch commuters to Manhattan on a cable strung over the East River. The island’s several thousand residents soon became enamoured with their temporary tram, however. In 1989, when local authorities came to tear it down, the citizenry blocked their way. “It’s safe, it’s smooth, it’s clean, it’s wheelchair accessible, it’s a great tourist attraction — we love it,” said Judith Berdy, president of the Roosevelt Island Historical Society. Forty years later, the iconic red tram remains one of only two transit gondolas in North America, the other being a $57-million aerial tram opened five years ago in Portland, Ore. “For some reason, people see gondolas as science fiction, it’s just way too much to swallow,” said Bryce Tupper, a Vancouver-based engineer specializing in gondola transit. Every day, thousands of Vancouverites get to work on computer-controlled elevated trains and Montrealers board rubber-tired metro cars to speed underneath the icy waters of the St. Lawrence River. But amazingly, to the average city planner, the humble gondola remains in the same realm as flying cars and Jetsons-style pneumatic tubes. “The vast majority of people have never contemplated using a gondola as public transit,” said Mr. Dale. Mr. Dale was a post-grad when his girlfriend invited him to spend a summer in her central Switzerland hometown. On a mountain hike one day, she suggested they cut the ascent time by boarding a gondola. Hesitatingly stepping aboard the “terrifying, rickety” Second World War-era gondola, Mr. Dale saw a truck cruising along a mountain service road directly below them. The mundane sight stirred the young urban planner. “I thought, ‘Oh, there’s no traffic 25 feet in the air,’” he said. ** Back home in Toronto, he began a secret file on transit gondolas and aerial trams. (A gondola features cabins suspended from a continuously circulating cable while an aerial tram consists of two counterbalanced cabins shuttling back and forth.) “I wasn’t telling anyone because I knew how ridiculous the idea was,” he said. Gondolas are high capacity, he found. A large, transit-ready gondola can carry 6,000 people per hour per direction (a standard measurement of transit capacity). By contrast, a Toronto streetcar at rush hour can only accommodate one-third that many. Most importantly, gondolas are a bargain. No tunnels, no tracks, no traffic congestion; all a gondola needs are a few towers, a power station and a length of cable. Direct comparisons are hard to make, said Mr. Dale, but generally a gondola is only a third to half the cost of a light-rail line. Two years ago, Mr. Dale’s company, Creative Urban Projects, went live with GondolaProject.com, which he describes as the first English-language website disseminating gondola-related information. “It’s no coincidence that in the last two years since we’ve been doing this website, virtually every major market, virtually every major market within Canada has already begun to explore the technology.” As part of planning for Canada’s bicentennial, Ottawa mulled the idea of a gondola connecting Parliament Hill with the Canadian Museum of Civilization across the Ottawa River in Hull, Que. In 2009, TransLink, Vancouver’s regional transit authority, commissioned a feasibility study for a gondola connecting the Vancouver suburb of Burnaby to the mountaintop campus of Simon Fraser University. Currently, the alternative is a steep, winding bus ride. “We burn a lot of diesel going up the mountain, and a lot of brake pads going down,” TransLink spokesman Ken Hardie told Postmedia in 2010. And if the rain falls too hard or the roads ice over (a four-times yearly occurrence), Translink suspends service, effectively trapping the student body. But boutique solutions are only the beginning for the gondola. Once commuters are comfortable with the idea of getting to work about 12 metres above street level, then cities can really get serious about pumping up their transit grids with airborne cables. Although the average North American has only seen the technology used to bridge a pair of distant landmarks, gondolas can go over rivers, underground, over mountains and through buildings. “There’s a system in Singapore where the intermediary station is on the eighth floor of a skyscraper,” said Mr. Dale. One plan imagined by Mr. Dale on Gondola Project.com involves a cheap, four-station gondola line used to relieve pressure on Bloor-Yonge, the packed intersection of Toronto’s two primary subway lines. The concept of a “Downtown Relief Line” has captivated Toronto subway riders for decades, but has never achieved a go-ahead. Gondolas could be a quick fix. Then, once the technology has “proved its worth,” said Mr. Dale, the Toronto Transit Commission could string additional lines to the city’s notoriously hard-to-reach Exhibition Place and Toronto Island Airport. In South America, multi-station gondola lines have already emerged as social tools to connect the continent’s hilly, crowded metropolises. In Rio de Janeiro last year, officials opened a six-station gondola line carrying passengers over the winding, dangerous streets of the city’s infamous favelas. In Medellin, Colombia, two full-length gondola lines have now been installed to bring people from the region’s marginalized neighbourhoods to the city’s business hub. The area “now has more dignity and the quality of life has improved. Before there was practically no hope; for me this is a miracle,” Luz Marina Giraldo, a community leader in the Comuna 13 slum, was quoted as saying in the Latin American Herald Tribune. Of course, South American cities do not have to navigate the same issues of privacy. Subways operate unseen and even an elevated train can be blocked out with some shrubbery, but gondolas give commuters a bird’s eye view of the patios and bedroom windows of the homeowners below. Privacy “might be one of the biggest limiting factors out there,” said Mr. Tupper, who worked on the Burnaby plan and the Peak 2 Peak, a $51-million, four-kilometre-long gondola running between Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain. In April 2007, four months after the grand opening of the Portland Aerial Tram, commuters noticed a large “F––– THE TRAM” banner tied to one of the rooftops below — homeowner Justin Auld’s crude protest against the carloads of people suddenly peering into his backyard. The banner was easier than giving the middle finger to the tram every time it passed, he told a local TV station. In June 1956, on the invitation of Walt Disney, Los Angeles’ Swiss Consul General journeyed to the recently opened Disneyland to inaugurate the park’s newest attraction: the Swiss-built Skyway, a $300,000 gondola line. A Disneyland staple until its dismantling in the 1990s, passengers would get aboard a two-seat steel “bucket” in Fantasyland, climb through the Matterhorn, pass over the submarine lagoon and disembark three and a half minutes later at a terminus in Tomorrowland. Just like the Disneyland monorail and the PeopleMover, Walt Disney imagined the Skyway as a taste of things to come. In an interview prior to the ride’s opening, the Disney founder described gondolas as “a transportation system of the future,” according to the 1995 book Disneyland: The Nickel Tour. Instead of inspiring a new generation of urban planners, however, all the Skyway did was spur legions of Disneyland imitators. Soon, the Skyway’s Swiss manufacturer was filling orders for marina, zoos and amusement parks all across the United States. In 2001, planners in Oakland, Calif., broached the idea of using a gondola to plug the city’s transit grid to a development taking shape across the harbour at an abandoned naval station. The proposal was greeted with eye-rolls. “At first I thought it was a complete nutty idea,” said Tony Bruzzone, a San Francisco-based transportation planner for planning firm ARUP, which would later work on the Portland Aerial Tram. “I thought ‘it’s an amusement park ride, it won’t stand up to real service.’” Looking closer, however, Mr. Bruzzone and others were soon won over, although the development was derailed by land-use concerns and the 2008 financial meltdown. “When you research it, there are definitely advantages,” said Mr. Bruzzone. Mr. Dale often fears that his clients see him as a real-life Lyle Lanley, the Music Man-esque character on The Simpsons who cons the people of Springfield into buying a monorail. Ironically, if gondolas are ever going to be criss-crossing the downtowns of Canada, Mr. Dale said he will need to frame the technology in terms that are as boring and utilitarian as possible; no more thrilling than buses, streetcars or subways. “It’s just another tool — we’re not gondola nuts,” he said. *National Post* *thopper(a)nationalpost.com*

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Bristol, UK introduces 20mph speed limit
by Beth McKechnie 09 Mar '12

09 Mar '12

[On the heels of America Walks releasing their two papers on slowing down speeds comes this article from the UK...] Bristol's residential roads to have blanket 20mph speed limit <http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/people/Bristol%20Evening%20Post/profile.html> Bristol Evening Post<http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/people/Bristol%20Evening%20Post/profile.html> Thursday, March 08, 2012 http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Bristol-s-residential-roads-blanket-20mph-sp… <http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Bristol-s-residential-roads-blanket-20mph-sp…> A BLANKET 20mph speed limit is set to be introduced on Bristol's residential roads. The city will be one of the first in the country to bring in the reduced limit on all but the busiest main roads. The £2million scheme, which is expected to be phased in over three years from the autumn, is aimed at making roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Bristol transport chief Tim Kent said: "Even a reduction in speed of 5mph can make the difference between life and death. "This is not about putting a police officer on every corner and making sure people drive at 19-and-a-half miles per hour. This is about improving the quality of people's lives by making roads safer for children to use, encouraging them to walk to school and for people of all ages to walk and cycle." The ruling Liberal Democrats are committed to a citywide 20mph speed limit and set aside £150,000 towards the project in this year's budget, despite the worst cuts in the council's history. Mr Kent, the cabinet councillor in charge of transport, said he was confident that a 20mph speed limit would mean that it would become the norm for people to drive more slowly. He said if people felt safer to walk or cycle, then it would help to relieve congestion and reduce carbon emissions because they would be using their cars less frequently. "We would obviously not introduce 20mph on the city's busiest roads but where there are borderline cases, we would want this considered by the Neighbourhood Partnerships," he said. The council is keen to go ahead with the new limit following positive results from two pilot 20mph zones in the east and south of the city. They covered a total of 500 roads and 30,000 homes and although they relied mostly on 20mph signs and no police enforcement or expensive traffic-calming measures, the council says there is evidence to show that drivers have been slowing down. A council monitoring report on the pilot schemes said: "The overall results show that 'signs only' 20mph has been accompanied by a small but important reduction in daytime vehicle speeds, an increase in walking and cycling counts, especially at weekends, a strengthening of public support for 20mph, maintenance of bus journey times and reliability, and no measurable impact on air quality or noise." It goes on to say that during the first 12-month period of the trial zones, the number of road casualties went down by five in Bristol East but actually went up by eight in Bristol South. The council's highway experts say it was too early to draw any conclusions about the impact on casualty figures. But according to national research, the chances of a pedestrian being killed in a road accident drop four-fold if they are hit by a vehicle travelling at 20mph, compared to one at 40mph. The report says: "As a general principle, the 20mph programme is a means of creating a culture where driving too fast in residential streets is seen as unacceptable. There is already strong evidence that speeding in residential streets is viewed as the number one antisocial behaviour." The feedback from residents shows that 89 per cent of them are in favour of a 20mph speed limit on residential streets, the report said. And more than two-thirds (70 per cent) of them are in a favour of a citywide ban. But the figure drops to just over half (56 per cent) for a 20mph limit on main roads. The report goes on to say that residents are frustrated about the level of speed enforcement on busy streets. It says: "This is encouraging as it reflects the enthusiasm among residents for lower speed limits on their streets but it is something that must be discussed with Avon and Somerset Police if we are to move forward with a citywide roll-out of a scheme that is fully supported by residents." National guidelines from the Department for Transport say that 20mph speed limits should be self-enforcing and there should be no expectation on the police to provide extra enforcement beyond their normal routines, unless specifically agreed. In South Gloucestershire, there are a handful of 20mph speed limits – mostly in areas close to schools – but the general view is to consider them only when they have been urged by residents who are prepared to monitor them. Over the past ten years 20mph zones were introduced in 16 areas but it is understood that these were brought in where traffic-calming measures were already in place. A citywide ban would mean that many main roads would be exempt because it would be impractical to enforce a 20mph speed restriction on the likes of the A4 Bath Road or the M32. Some busy roads such as West Street in Bedminster and Whiteladies Road are already so jammed with traffic at peak times that drivers could not travel at more than 20mph even if they wanted to. The Bristol South pilot scheme covers about 200 roads in Bedminster, Lawrence Hill, Southville and Windmill Hill, was introduced in May 2010 while the Bristol East scheme, which covers 300 roads in Ashley, Easton, Eastville, Lawrence Hill and St George West, was brought in five months later. Road safety charity Brake has been campaigning for 20mph zones to increase the chances of drivers being able to stop in time to avert accidents, and Portsmouth is believed to be the only other city in the country to have introduced a citywide 20mph speed limit.

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You're invited - Creative Commuting Ambassador Training
by Jessie Klassen 08 Mar '12

08 Mar '12

*Creative Commuting Ambassador Training * You are invited to a FREE, half-day interactive workshop on becoming a Creative Commuting Ambassador at your workplace! Get the tools and guidance to help improve commuter options on-site and support your coworkers to get the most out of their commutes. *Hands-on training and resources you'll get at the workshop:* - Training in bike route planning - Experience with all the latest Winnipeg Transit tools - An evaluation of your workplace's existing commuter options - A folder filled with tools and resources relevant to your workplace - Ideas for a simple project to apply these tools and resources right away *2 dates to choose from!* Tuesday, April 3rd, 8:45 am - 12:00 pm Thursday, April 19th, 12:45 pm - 4:00 pm * Workshop location*: EcoCentre boardroom (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave) *Register today by contacting Beth McKechnie or Jessie Klassen at 925-3772 or beth(a)greenactioncentre.ca/ jessie(a)greenactioncentre.ca. *

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Barrel Shopping
by Anders Swanson 08 Mar '12

08 Mar '12

[Yes . . this article *is *related to active transportation. The author, Bruce Krentz, is the Regional Health Promotion Coordinator for the Burntwood Health Authority up in Thompson. This is also a scoop, not a forward: Bruce kindly gave permission to make this list its first official venue for publication (before it gets published elsewhere up north). Enjoy. - Anders] * * *Barrel Shopping* * * Brothers and Sisters I am sure you are wondering why I called you all here today. You are wondering what sort of demon I need to exorcise, wondering why in particular you were called to assist with the procedure. Wondering why now… why here…what did I do to deserve this? Let me make it all as clear as a chocolate shake. I thought it was crazy too. I knew I wasn’t the first. I knew I wasn’t the only; but that still didn’t make it a good idea. Even if ten other people had gone over the falls in a barrel and lived, was it really wise for me to go barrel shopping… I think not. But, never once having been accused of being smart, I headed out with my credit card in hand and visions of being number eleven. My barrel was a two wheeler, with only one speed, disc brakes, a mountain bike frame and pedals to get me there. My “peddly”, like me, is perched happily in the middle of the quality bell curve it is so far from the top of the line you couldn’t even see it from there but also a step up on Walmart’s deal of the week. In this case, Niagara Falls was four whole seasons of riding. Partly on a dare, partly wanting to walk the talk as a Health Promo guy and partly because I just didn’t know any better, I committed to a year of cycling to work. I need not remind you this little daily jaunt happens to be in the same pin hole on the map as the Ford Extreme Cold Weather Test Facility and the Global Aerospace Center for Icing and Environmental Research (*GLACIER*) . I started in September…how pleasant, cool fall mornings the leaves turning color. With some light gloves and a jacket that could break the wind (not a jacket that could break wind…now that would be something) life was grand. To make an extremely long story pretty short I am safely over the precipice out of the fast water and bobbing along in the run out of the falls, and life is still grand. Now it is August and almost time to bust that jacket back out with no reservations about another date with father winter. Back to my little sermon and the reason we are gathered here today. I won’t even begin to pretend that cycling 365 days a year is for everyone, but it could certainly be for more people. Committing to riding absolutely every day is for only a “special” few, and I almost made it. Four times I used a vehicle to get to work and none because of the weather. Sometimes, as they should, family commitments came before my personal madness. . Consider being the next one over the edge. From my experience, of the five work days each week finding three to comfortably saddle up would be easier than deciding what to have for lunch. As you map your decent, don’t feel like you have to throw away your car keys and shred you bus pass. Don’t hesitate to take the worst days or months off but push beyond the sunniest summer day. The whole winter is not -40 and in fact much of it isn’t even -20. Like doing anything on this spinning little ball of rock, if you want excuses they are never far away, hair, clothes, sweating, cold…they are all out there. None are insurmountable challenges but they don’t come quite as easy as firing up the SUV. I will concede that my serious lack of hair is generally not something I parade out on the front page but it did give me a bit of a leg up in this venture. Someone once said you can’t be mad while riding a bicycle. The stress relief, fresh air, exercise and the happy feeling of helping the environment, all make it worth-while. I know that sounds like some sort of hippy mantra but I didn’t start out looking for that stuff, it found me, so please pass me my tie-dyed t-shirt. For me, that bundle of joy outweighs the hassle of dressing for the seasons and looking like a geek in the eyes of the SUV’ers. My other pleasant discoveries included: - Studded tires, yes you heard me right studded bicycle tires. They make riding on the packed snow and ice feel like a day-off. - It is a commute not a race, you don’t run everywhere you go in a day, and you don’t have to pedal as hard as you can. This is big help with all the sweating concerns. - You don’t need as many warm or expensive specialized clothes as you think, a jacket and pants that break wind (I had to use that one once more) have served me just fine. Once you are moving even -40 is pleasant. O.K. maybe that is a little over the top but it makes for some good bragging to the in-law’s down south. - Snowboard helmet and goggles. I saw it with my own eyes Brothers and Sisters, the falls look pretty big from the top but once you are down at the bottom they aren’t so bad. Give it a try, buy a good helmet, find the right tie dyed duds and keep riding after the leaves are off of the trees. By: Bruce Krentz

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Resources: Why We're Stuck at High Speed and How Communities are Slowing Down
by Beth McKechnie 08 Mar '12

08 Mar '12

[Two excellent new resources from America Walks <http://americawalks.org/>that were just released yesterday...] We know that speed impacts safety and livability; but there are very few resources available to help local communities navigate the challenging process to reduce auto speeds in their neighborhoods. These two papers will provide support in helping communities reclaim their streets, allowing children, families and aging adults to walk safely. Find our press release here<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1109476185779&s=8067&e=0011A7bH6Mt5N0TKZs3HANZ…>. - *Why We're Stuck at High Speed, and What We're Going to Do About It<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1109476185779&s=8067&e=0011A7bH6Mt5N3n70Xnpr-6…> * - How Communities are Slowing Down<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1109476185779&s=8067&e=0011A7bH6Mt5N1hy3BvD_L5…> Sincerely, Scott Bricker, Executive Director America Walks

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Two webinars Wed, March 28th - Maintenance Programs & Empowering Women to Bicycle
by Beth McKechnie 07 Mar '12

07 Mar '12

Green Action Centre and Bike to the Future invite you to join us on Wednesday, March 28th for a local viewing of two APBP webinars:* "*Best Practices in Maintenance Programs*" *and *"Empowering Women to Bicycle for Transportation"*. Both take place at the EcoCentre (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave) and will be followed by group discussion. Come for one or both of the webinars. Please note: The Maintenance Programs webinar was originally scheduled for March 21st but will be presented as a recording on March 28th instead. Come out to the PACM conference <http://pacm.ca/> on March 21st! As always, RSVPs appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then. cheers, Beth 925-3772 * * * * * Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) presents: Best Practices for Maintenance Programs Wednesday, March 28th • 12:45 to 1:45 pm CST Efficient and cost-effective maintenance of pedestrian facilities is an important safety measure. Attend this webinar to learn why maintenance programs are important, and how to make the case for maintenance at budget time; how to overcome the barriers to implementing a good maintenance program; and how to develop the elements of a program that includes both routine maintenance and responding to hazards. Best practices for inspection, replacement and snow removal will be discussed, as well as findings from recent research into pedestrian facility maintenance. The session will include a preview of the new FHWA publication, "A Guide for Maintaining Pedestrian Facilities for Enhanced Safety," due to be published by the end of 2012. The webinar will also include information related to maintenance of bicycle facilities. Presenters: Tom Huber, Senior Planner, Toole Design Group; Arthur Ross, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, City of Madison, Wisconsin. Empowering Women to Bicycle for Transportation Wednesday, March 28th • 2:00 to 3:30 pm CST Take in APBP's annual Women Cycling webinar and learn what it will take to empower women to bicycle for transportation at the same level that men do. Visit APBP's Women Cycling Project <http://www.womencyclingproject.info/>website where you can read the final reports on the Women Cycling Survey, view the 2010 and 2011 webinars on the Women Cycling phenomenon, and enjoy the winning photos from the Women Cycling photo contest.

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Public Forum - Keep Winnipeg Greenspace Ours March 19
by Beth McKechnie 29 Feb '12

29 Feb '12

[Given the connection between AT and greenspace, thought this might be of interest. -cheers, Beth] You are invited to the following public forum about keeping Winnipeg’s greenspace’s green including the Windsor Park and St. Boniface golf courses along the Seine River. Save Our Seine is a founding member of OURS, one of the event sponsors. If you know someone who might be interested, please forward this invitation to them. * Public Forum – Keep Winnipeg Greenspace Ours **When: *Monday, March 19, 2012 *Where: *St Mary’s Road United Church at 613 St. Mary’s Road. Winnipeg, MB (map < http://maps.google.ca/maps?q=613+St+Marys+Road,+Winnipeg,+MB&hl=en&ll=49.86…'s+Rd,+Winnipeg,+Division+No.+11,+Manitoba&t=m&z=15<http://maps.google.ca/maps?q=613+St+Marys+Road,+Winnipeg,+MB&hl=en&ll=49.86…>> ) *Time: 7:00 to 9:30 pm Description: Public forum on Winnipeg greenspace. Panelists and audience participation. Discussion regarding the potential sale and development of city owned golf courses. Co-sponsored by OURS-Winnipeg and Council of Women of Winnipeg. *For info, visit www.ours-winnipeg.com <http://www.ours-winnipeg.com> and www.councilofwomen-winnipeg.ca <http://www.councilofwomen-winnipeg.ca> Denis De Pape Volunteer Vice President – Save Our Seine

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YOUR input on Active Transportation plans accessing the new football stadium at U of M
by Janice Lukes 29 Feb '12

29 Feb '12

I encourage you to attend an upcoming open house and comment on the ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ASPECT of the 'Event Day Management Plan' being presented over the next few days by the City of Winnipeg, U of M and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and BBB Stadium Incorporated. The City of Winnipeg, Province of Manitoba and Government of Canada have invested $10's of Millions into Active Transportation (AT) infrastructure in south Winnipeg enabling some of the City's best cycling and walking connectivity. This is an unprecedented opportunity to showcase AT investment's as a viable transportation choice - and to encourage and reap the benefits of active transportation in an environment challenged by limited vehicle parking: - it is important these AT investments be shown as TRANSPORTATION CHOICES in 'The Stadium Event Day Management Plan' - it is important that ENCOURAGEMENT through marketing and promotional plans for AT be incorporated into ' 'The Stadium Event Day Management Plan' ie: similar to the marketing and promotional plans put in place around taking transit to a football game Please take some time to attend one of these open houses - and offer your comments related to the ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ASPECT of the 'Event Day Management Plan' Public engagement for soliciting feedback on the Event Day Management Plan for the new Football Stadium at the UM: http://winnipeg.ca/cao/media/news/nr_2012/nr_20120228.stm#2 February 29, 2012 Dalhousie School, 262 Dalhousie - Library, 400 pm - 8:30 pm March 3, 2012 CANAD INN Fort Garry, 1824 Pembina Highway - Ambassador A, 1000 am - 300 pm March 5, 2012 CANAD INN Garden City, 2100 McPhillips Street - Ambassador A, 430 pm - 800 pm March 6, 2012 Access Transcona, 845 Regent - Room 163, 430 pm - 800 pm March 7, 2012 Sturgeon Heights Community Centre, 210 Rita Street, 430 pm - 800 pm March 8, 2012 Bronx Park Community Centre, 720 Henderson - HobNobs Cafe, 430 pm - 800 pm thank you Janice Lukes Manager, Special Projects Winnipeg Trails Association c/o Rivers West - Red River Corridor Inc 235-614 Des Meurons Street Winnipeg, MB R2H 2P9 Cell (204) 952-4222 Fax (204) 943-7915 <mailto:jlukes@shaw.ca> jlukes(a)shaw.ca winnipegtrails.com Member of City of Winnipeg Active Transportation Advisory Committee Past Chair, Province of Manitoba Active Transportation Advisory Group

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Active Transportation Plans Up and Down the Red River Corridor?
by Anders Swanson 28 Feb '12

28 Feb '12

*[In the lead-up to an exciting conference <http://pacm.ca/> in Portage la Prairie in March, I thought it worth circulating just a few examples of how active transportation is indeed "gaining ground" outside Winnipeg, be it under the auspices of health, tourism, recreation or anything else. I will limit myself to a few divergent posts between now and March 21st, but I encourage everyone to share any stories they might come across. Below is a message from Rivers West in an excerpt from the Manitoba Recreational Trails Association's brand new newsletter<http://www.mrta.mb.ca/documents/winter2012.pdf>. Text in bold is my emphasis. - Anders] * "Vision 2030 - Master Development Plan for Red River Corridor Submitted by Julie Turenne-Maynard Rivers West concentrates its efforts along the length of the Red River corridor in Manitoba, from Emerson at the international border north to Netley Marsh at Lake Winnipeg. Rivers West's vision is to make Manitoba's Red River corridor a destination. The mandate of Rivers West is to develop and implement a long-term strategy focusing on the development, promotion and management of the natural, tourism, cultural/heritage and recreational resources of the Red River from Emerson to Lake Winnipeg.Rivers West will work with stakeholders to create and promote a corridor along Manitoba's Red River that connects people with communities and attractions as well as the conservation, recreation, economic and tourism resources of the corridor. Master Plan The Master Plan is intended to accommodate and integrate the local plans and enhancements of each of the various stakeholders, creating a clear picture of what the destination would offer in 20 years. This could include incremental greenway and natural environment enhancements, *comprehensive active transportation and recreational plan*, culture and heritage product, hospitality facilities, as well as infrastructure. It is also critically important that the Master Plan consider and incorporate the Canadian Heritage Rivers System document A Management Approach for the Red River in Manitoba. Overall, the intent is to:  evoke images of a specific unified destination;  ensure that incremental projects are consistent with the long term vision;  strengthen support and commitment among stakeholders;  provide a lens through which priorities can be set and resources allocated;  clarify the Red River Corridor’s position in the marketplace while establishing a focus for marketing and promotion. This is a significant undertaking that will require the assistance of consultants to identify all current plans and expectations among stakeholders and to develop a unifying plan that has the support of all stakeholders. Rivers West is engaging consultants to execute the work. Stakeholders will be approached in Spring 2012 to provide input in the process. Public Consultation meetings will be organized. Please check the www.riverswest.ca website for updates." -- Anders Swanson Active Transportation Project Coordinator Physical Activity Coalition of Manitoba | www.pacm.ca activetransportation(a)pacm.ca

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Good for Business - benefits of making streets more bike & ped friendly (2011, AU)
by Beth McKechnie 27 Feb '12

27 Feb '12

[snipped from the Executive Summary...] Good for Busine$$ is a discussion paper for built environment professionals and business people to show the positive financial benefits of making streets more walking and cycling friendly. This report asserts that a well-designed, quality street environment that promotes walking, cycling and public transport is good for business. “… it would be advantageous to local businesses to support measures aimed at attracting more pedestrians and bus passengers to the local shopping centre rather than car users … wider pavements (sidewalks) and traffic restraint measures should result in attracting more regular, dedicated custom to the area and have a positive impact on retailers and customers alike.” The Heart Foundation (SA) commissioned this discussion paper to bring together the evidence around the financial benefits to retailers and residents in making commercial streets morewalking and cycling friendly. Walking and cycling to local shops is good for business and good for the local economy and is essential to the success of revitalisation strategies. Streetscape enhancements add value to an area and are associated with higher rents and the attraction of new businesses. In addition there is good evidence to show that improving walking and cycling environments raises private property values by significant amounts. http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/GoodforBusinessFI… [Thanks to Susanne Dewey Povoledo for sharing this resource. -Beth]

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The end of the road for motormania
by Beth McKechnie 21 Feb '12

21 Feb '12

[Thanks to Aaron Russin and Melissa Dupuis at Peg City Car Co-op<http://pegcitycarcoop.ca/>for sharing this article. -Beth] The end of the road for motormania 16 August 2011 by *Fred Pearce*<http://www.newscientist.com/search?rbauthors=Fred+Pearce> *Something unexpected is happening to our car-crazy culture. What are the forces driving us out of motoring?* IS THE west falling out of love with the car? For environmentalists it seems an impossible dream, but it is happening. While baby boomers and those with young families may stick with four wheels, a combination of our ageing societies and a new zeitgeist among the young seems to be breaking our 20th-century car addiction. Somewhere along the road, we reached "peak car" and are now cruising down the other side. Peak car takes several forms. Sales of new cars have almost halved<http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/html/tab…>in the US, down from nearly 11 million in 1985 to about 5.5 million in 2009. We shouldn't take much notice of that, though. Cars last longer these days, and sales go up and down with the economy. But we have hit peak car ownership, too. And, more to the point, peak per-capita travel. The phenomenon was first recognised in *The Road... Less Traveled*<http://www.brookings.edu/reports/2008/1216_transportation_tomer_puentes.aspx>, a 2008 report by the Brookings Institution in Washington DC, but had been going on largely unnoticed for years. Japan peaked in the 1990s. They talk there of "demotorisation". The west had its tipping point in 2004. That year the US, UK, Germany, France, Australia and Sweden all saw the start of a decline in the number of kilometres the average person travelled in a car that continues today. In Australia, car travel peaked in every city in 2004 and has been falling since (*World Transport Policy and Practice*, vol 17, p 31<http://www.eco-logica.co.uk/pdf/wtpp17.2.pdf>). It is a similar picture in the UK, where per-capita car travel is down 5 per cent since 2004. What could be driving us off the road? Fuel costs and rising insurance premiums may be a factor. And urban gridlock, combined with an absence of parking places and congestion charging, makes the car a dumb way to move around in cities where there are public transport alternatives. In the US, however, the decline of the car is most dramatic not in the gridlocked city centres but in the car-dependent suburbs. In sprawling cities like Atlanta and Houston where the automobile is king, driving is down by more than 10 per cent. Of course the end of the love affair with the car may just be a sign of the economic times: the much-discussed "hollowing out" of the middle classes, with jobs available at the top and bottom of society, but less so for the white-collar workers. Still, a study by Lee Schipper of the Global Metropolitan Studies unit at the University of California, Berkeley, found that while rising wealth correlates with more travel up to a per-capita income of $30,000, beyond that the link breaks down (*Transport Reviews*, vol 31, p 357 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01441647.2010.518291>). Demographics is a more likely explanation. It is surely no accident that peak car happened first in Japan, which has the world's oldest population. Pensioners do not drive to work, and many don't drive at all. There is also the rise of people like me, "virtual commuters" who work from home via the internet. Besides work habits, leisure lifestyles are also changing. The biggest fall in car use in the US is among people under 35. The fraction of American 17-year-olds with a driver's licence has fallen from about three-quarters to about half since 1998. Twenty-somethings have recently gone from driving more than the average to driving less. Social scientists detect a new "culture of urbanism". The stylish way to live these days is in inner-city apartments. The suburbs suck. Richard Florida<http://www.creativeclass.com/creative_class/2010/06/04/the-great-car-reset/>, an urban studies theorist at the University of Toronto in Canada, points out that the young shop online, telecommute, live in walkable city neighbourhoods near public transport and rely more on social media and less on face-to-face visiting. Given those changes, they can think of better ways to spend their money than buying a car. Phil Goodwin at the University of the West of England in Bristol says the same applies to the UK, where young people are the most prominent in dropping out of the great car society. Maurie Cohen, an environmental scientist at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, says "Gen Y-ers are quite cool to the automobile." The modern James Dean is a rebel without a car. Meanwhile, use of everything else, from bikes and buses to trains and trams, is still going up. But even that trend may reverse. Schipper says we may be approaching a point of "peak travel" of all sorts. People just won't see the need to move around so much. Of course, environmentalists shouldn't get carried away. In the developing world, the car boom is only now getting under way, despite gridlock in cities from Shanghai to São Paulo. That trend makes any claim of an impending global peak car far-fetched. The industrialised world still has plenty of less-green trends too. Falling car occupancy is one. In the US, the average car on the average journey carries 1.7 people, half a person less than in 1970. So even if we individually travel less, our cars may travel just as much. Likewise, the continuing trend for bigger and more powerful cars is wiping out the gains from more fuel-efficient vehicles. And sometimes we simply replace driving with flying. But the good news is that those straight lines on the planners' graphs predicting ever rising car-kilometres and ever-worsening carbon emissions from internal combustion engines are being proved wrong. Planners need to take note. And, if they have any sense, they will start to reinforce these trends with improved public transport, an end to urban sprawl and more investment in inner cities. Some think car use will revive if and when economies recover. But it looks like something more profound is going on. Florida calls it a "great reset" in society that will have profound consequences - not least for the environment. Even our most treasured consumer aspirations can have a peak. Enough can be enough. *Fred Pearce is New Scientist's environment consultant* * http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21128255.600-the-end-of-the-road-for-… *

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First annual Ice It To Work Day - Friday, Feb 17th
by Beth McKechnie 15 Feb '12

15 Feb '12

*Winnipeg's first annual Ice It To Work Day!* *Friday, February 17th, 6:30-9:00 a.m. * Join us on the Assiniboine Credit Union River Trail<http://www.rivertrail.ca/wp/>and skate, ski, snowshoe, bike, run or walk TO WORK! * * Energize yourself at one of the four “Cocoa Fire Pit Stops’! Experience the allure of the river trail in the early morning hours – this picturesque commute along the Assiniboine River is an exceptional Winnipeg way to start your day. First 100 commuters to stop by a Cocoa Fire Pit will receive free special surprises and gifts! Count your Ice It To Work Day km towards Bougeons en hiver: The Jack Frost Challenge! <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/bougeons-en-hiver/> Stop by Green Action Centre's fire pit at Balsam to get your Blue Loonie<http://www.downtownwinnipegbiz.com/home/getting_around/blue_loonie/>for a free bus ride to work and a chance to win cozy wool socks! Snap your pic (with or without props, as you prefer) for the "First Annual Ice It To Work Day Hall of Fame" on our website. Pick up a bike map at the Bike to the Future / Winnipeg Trails Association fire pit, enjoy a tasy rice krispie square at the Actif Epica / Winnipeg *in motion* stop, and enter to win free passes for the Festival du Voyageur while you groove to the music at the The Forks fire pit. Spread the word and see you on the ice!

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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! 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.

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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 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…

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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 Mayoral candidates, the Prime Minister, Greater Manchester Police, the Italian insurance industry.] ‘Give cyclists a head-start at traffic lights’ - Article<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3315346.ece#tab-1> - Online app: readers’ cycle stories<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3315346.ece#tab-5> A 'ghost bike' memorial for Dan Cox, 28, who died in a collision with a lorry at a Hackney junction a year ago Times photographer, Mikael Buck - Recommend (14)<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3315346.ece#> - Print<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3315346.ece#> - Email<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3315346.ece#> - Share<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3315346.ece#> - - Follow stories about - Cities fit for cycling<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3315346.ece#> What's this<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3315346.ece#> - [image: A Ghost Bike left for Dan Cox on the corner of Kingsland Road and Dalston Lane] A 'ghost bike' memorial for Dan Cox, 28, who died in a collision with a lorry at a Hackney junction a year ago Times photographer, Mikael Buck *Rhoda Buchanan* and *Kaya Burgess* Last updated February 10 2012 12:01AM Cyclists would have a five-second head-start on other traffic at dangerous junctions and all cycle lanes would be reviewed for safety if Ken Livingstone is re-elected as Mayor of London. Mr Livingstone made his pledge as the *Times* campaign for safer cycling amassed a total of 25,000 written pledges of support, and more than 1,300 letters were written to MPs urging them to support the campaign and attend a parliamentary debate. Greater Manchester Police also gave their backing to the campaign, joining a growing list of politicians, celebrities and businesses who support the call for “Cities fit for cycling”. A debate in the House of Lords this week also suggested that ministers consider mimicking a new scheme in Paris that would allow cyclists in Britain to run through red lights if they are turning left at a T-junction. About 70 per cent of cycling fatalities are at junctions and many occur when cyclists are forced to pull away from green lights alongside lorries whose drivers do not see cyclists in their blind spots. The *Times* campaign is calling for the 500 most dangerous junctions in the country to be identified and improved, installing measures such as phased traffic lights where appropriate. In the House of Lords, in a debate raised by Baroness Gardner of Parkes, a Conservative peer, the question of cutting the bureaucracy involved in installing Trixi mirrors, which are fitted to traffic lights to allow lorry drivers to see into their blind spots, was also raised, though dismissed by Earl Attlee, the Transport Minister. Lady Gardner argued that granting permission to cyclists to go through red lights in certain situations could cut fatalities and serious injuries. She suggested that more women were killed than men by lorries turning left at junctions because they “wait at the red lights and men go through them”. Lord Attlee said that he had not heard of the Paris experiment to let cyclists go through a red light, which was given the go-ahead this week. The Government was “aware of the hypothesis” that more women were killed or seriously injured on bikes than men, he said, adding: “It’s difficult to extract measurable data to formulate policy or to make effective regulations.” Mr Livingstone, who is campaigning for Labour against Boris Johnson in London’s mayoral election, dismissed the cost of introducing phased traffic lights across the capital, citing the Mayor’s £13 billion budget. “To give cyclists a five-second advantage is a relatively simple thing to do,” he said. “You’ve got to do it everywhere where there is a risk to cyclists.” Kulveer Ranger, Mr Johnson’s director of environment, said: “Over the past four years the Mayor has been directly responsible for an unprecedented investment and focus on cycling in the capital.” Cycling lobby groups in the US, Australia, France, South Africa and the Netherlands have backed “Cities fit for cycling” this week, and a group of bloggers has written to Italian newspapers asking them to support and copy the *Times* campaign. http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3315346.ece It's enough to make motorists see rouge! Paris to allow cyclists to run red lights in bid to cut accidents - Cyclists will be allowed to turn right or go straight ahead, even when a traffic light is on red - But they will have to give way to pedestrians, and traffic coming from the left - They will be held responsible if there is an accident By PETER ALLEN<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=&authornamef=Peter+Allen> Last updated at 10:24 PM on 7th February 2012 - Comments (109)<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2097882/Paris-allow-cyclists-run-re…> - Share<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2097882/Paris-allow-cyclists-run-re…> - - - - Paris is to become one of the first major capital cities in the world to officially allow cyclists to ride through red lights. The radical measure, which is intended to cut down on accidents, will be studied by city and town planners in numerous other countries outside France, including Britain. At the moment, thousands of cyclists in cities like Paris and London regularly break red lights, but risk fines for doing so. [image: Trial period: Paris is to become one of the first major capital cities in the world to officially allow cyclists to ride through red lights] Trial period: Paris is to become one of the first major capital cities in the world to officially allow cyclists to ride through red lights Councillors in the French capital have voted to adopt the measure following a three-year campaign by cycle associations. It will allow those on bicycles to turn right or go straight ahead, even when a traffic light is on red. But they will have to give way to pedestrians, and traffic coming from the left. Crucially, they will also be held responsible if there is an accident. More... - You can't park there! The moment pranksters slapped a parking ticket on giant SNOWBALL<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2097854/You-park-The-moment-prankst…> Tests on the potentially chaotic measure will start on around 15 crossroads over the next few weeks, before the scheme is fully implemented, so as to cover up to 1,700 Paris crossroads. Red and yellow signposts posted on traffic light poles will inform cyclists that they can ignore the lights in designated 30km per hour zones. The official justification for the new rule reads: ‘Experience shows that adding specific traffic lights for cyclists can create confusion for motorists.’ [image: Bold measure: Cyclists will be able to turn right or go straight ahead, even when a traffic light is on red. But they will have to give way to pedestrians, and traffic coming from the left] Bold measure: Cyclists will be able to turn right or go straight ahead, even when a traffic light is on red. But they will have to give way to pedestrians, and traffic coming from the left The measure is also being tested in the cities of Bordeaux, Strasbourg and Nantes, where Paris city hall has noted there have been ‘no rise in the number of accidents.’ Paris has a Velib bike hire scheme which means thousands of amateur cyclists regularly fill the streets. There have been a number of deaths and serious injuries, with police often blaming the most serious accidents on bikes competing with heavy vehicles at traffic lights. Cyclists can be crushed in blind spots by lorries turning. Bicycles failing to accelerate away as fast as motorised vehicles are also a cause of constant problems. Opposition to the regulations have come from numerous road safety bodies, with Paris councillor Laurence Douvin saying: ‘If pedestrians, cyclists, motorbike users and car drivers don't respect each other, the introduction of these practices could increase the risks in Paris.’ The British Highway Code states that cyclists must obey ‘all traffic lights and traffic signals’. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2097882/Paris-allow-cyclists-run-re… Motorcycles, Bicycles Can Run Red Lights Under New Law [image: Red Light] (Credit: AP) Filed UnderHeard on WBBM 780<http://chicago.cbslocal.com/category/watch-listen/heard-on-wbbm-780/> , Local <http://chicago.cbslocal.com/category/news/local/>,News<http://chicago.cbslocal.com/category/news/> , Syndicated Local <http://chicago.cbslocal.com/category/syndicated-local/>,Watch + Listen <http://chicago.cbslocal.com/category/watch-listen/> Related TagsBicycles <http://chicago.cbslocal.com/tag/bicycles/>, Illinois<http://chicago.cbslocal.com/tag/illinois/> , law <http://chicago.cbslocal.com/tag/law/>,motorcycles<http://chicago.cbslocal.com/tag/motorcycles/> , Red Lights <http://chicago.cbslocal.com/tag/red-lights/>,Traffic Lights<http://chicago.cbslocal.com/tag/traffic-lights/> Don't Miss This *CHICAGO (CBS)* — Illinois motorcycles and bicycles will be allowed to run red lights starting in 2012, but only in certain instances. Motorcycles and bicycles often aren’t big enough to trigger magnetic sensors that switch traffic lights from red to green, WBBM Newsradio’s Alex Degman reports. That could mean the riders either break the law and run the red light, or wait until another vehicle comes along. State Rep. Dan Beiser (D-Alton) says the new law means bikers can go through a red light if they wait a reasonable amount of time, but that amount isn’t yet defined. “A reasonable amount of time, which was not defined in the bill, will be 120 seconds,” says Beiser. “So two minutes, that’s what we’ve come to agreement on and that was part of the governor’s concern.” The governor issued an amendatory veto of the measure because he wanted a set amount of time the vehicles must wait. But lawmakers overrode the veto, assuring the governor’s office it would be addressed during the upcoming session. The law applies to municipalities with fewer than 2 million people, meaning it wouldn’t apply in Chicago. http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/12/30/motorcycles-bicycles-can-run-red-lig… Italy praises Times Cities fit for cycling campaign - Article<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3313654.ece#tab-1> - Slideshow<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3313654.ece#tab-4> - Graphic: London’s cycling blackspots<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3313654.ece#tab-5> - Recommend (5)<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3313654.ece#> - Print<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3313654.ece#> - Email<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3313654.ece#> - Share<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3313654.ece#> - - Follow stories about - Cities fit for cycling<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3313654.ece#> What's this<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3313654.ece#> *James Bone* Rome Last updated February 8 2012 5:29PM Italy’s insurance industry has praised *The Times* safe cycling campaign, saying it offers a model for Italy too, where there are twice the number of deaths. The head of the ANIA Foundation for Road Traffic Safety, established by the country’s insurance firms, issued a statement pledging his support for *The Times*’ move. “Making people aware of road safety through the media is fundamental for reducing the number and gravity of accidents. The campaign launched by *The Times* for the protection of cyclists in Great Britain should be an example for all of how public institutions, private associations and the media should work together to combat what is the greatest tragedy of our country — road accidents,” said Umberto Guidoni, the foundation’s secretary-general. “If a big newspaper like *The Times *has taken a position like this, starting a real battle for respect of the rules of the road, it’s desirable that in our country there should be a similarly strong media campaign.” Mr Guidoni said Italy had 11 million bicycles and came third in Europe in the number of cyclists killed, behind only Germany, with 462, and Poland, with 280. “The protection of the weakest road users is a common problem throughout the world. Cyclists and pedestrians are the categories most at risk of being run over. In 10 years 1,275 cyclists have been killed on British streets and, according to European statistics, there were 104 victims in 2010 in accidents involving bicyles,” he said. “In Italy, the situation is even worse: In 2010 263 cyclists died (6 per cent of the total deaths); and 2,556 died over the course of the last decade. “That is more than double the number recorded in Britain. This shows our country must still do much in terms of prevention, as well as communication and awareness.” The ANIA Foundation is pushing for the introduction of a crime of vehicular homicide in Italy in cases where the driver is in an altered psychological state or driving well over the speed limit. “The position taken by the ANIA Foundation and other institutions on the need to establish the crime of vehicular homicide in some cases has begun to produce its first results,” he said. “A man who killed a 24-year-old woman while driving under the influence of drugs has been sentenced by the appeal court in Milan to 14 years for voluntary manslaughter. The sentence overturned the trial court’s sentence of four years for culpable manslaughter. This is only a first step.” Contribute to the campaign by pledging support, writing to your MP and sharing a story <http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/contact/>

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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 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…

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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, February 17 for the first Ice It To Work Day<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ice-it-to-work-day/>. Register at www.greenactioncentre.ca or call us at (204) 925-3775 or 1-866-394-8880 (toll free) for more information. A Co-Actif Epica<http://actifepi.ca/>Event. * * * * * *Soyez actif en participant à « Bougeons en hivers : The Jack Frost Challenge! »* *Inscrivez-vous maintenant – débute ce samedi!* Bougeons en hiver : The Jack Frost Challenge! est un nouvel événement célébrant l’hiver manitobaine! Inscrivez-vous en équipe d’une à cinq personnes pour faire le patinage, la bicyclette, la raquette ou la marche d’un total collectif de 130km sur une durée d’une semaine, du 11 au 17 février, 2012. Vous aurez la chance de gagner des prix. Les participants de Winnipeg peuvent se promener sur le Sentier d'hiver Assiniboine Credit Union, le vendredi 17 février, pour le premier Ice it to Work Day <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ice-it-to-work-day/>. Inscrivez-vous au www.greenactioncentre.ca ou pour plus d’information composez le 1-866-394-8880 (sans frais) ou le (204) 925-3775. -- *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/>

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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 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/>

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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 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

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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 while maintaining the interests of other road users. The Forum continues to develop the program of sharing research, best practices, and creative solutions for designing and implementing safe and inviting streets for everyone. The themes and program for the upcoming conference have incorporated feedback from 2011 attendees and is focusing on providing direct experience with implementing Complete Streets, including policy, tools, and examples. The conference will provide numerous opportunities to learn from, consult with, and network with professionals with Complete Streets experience across North America. *The goal of the 2012 Complete Streets Forum is to accelerate the implementation of Complete Streets across Canada.* We invite all professionals working to improve our communities, cities, and urban landscape for all road users, including, cycling, walking, and transit, of all ages and abilities to join us. The presentations and workshops will be of particular interest to planners, transportation officials, public health professionals, engineers, urban designers, architects, landscape architects, developers, accessibility and mobility experts, emergency responders, taxi drivers, non-profits, and more. Read more: http://www.tcat.ca/completestreetsforum2012 -- *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/>

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