- AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

[At-network] TDM & Special Events webinar: Wed., Jan 12th, Noon-1 pm, EcoCentre
by Beth McKechnie 05 Jan '11

05 Jan '11

Green Action Centre will be hosting the following ecoMOBILITY (Transport Canada) webinar on Special Events & TDM (Transportation Demand Management) on Wed, Jan. 12th. If you would like to join us, please let me know at * beth(a)greenactioncentre.ca*. Hope you can join us! cheers, Beth 925-3772 ------------------------------ Webinar: * Special Events & TDM *Date: *Wednesday, Jan. 12, Noon to 1:00 p.m. CST * Location: *EcoCentre boardroom, 303 Portage Ave, third floor* (enter via elevator inside front doors of MEC) Sporting events, concerts, town celebrations…they all involve a lot of people trying to get to the same place at the same time. How can you sustainably plan transportation for these types of events? How can you convince attendees to walk, cycle, or take public transit to special events instead of using their cars? In order to manage dramatically increased transportation demand during the 2010 Olympic Games, TransLink (Metro Vancouver's regional transportation authority) and its partners set the ambitious goal of reducing vehicle use by at least 30% during the Games. In this ecoMOBILITY webinar, JoAnn Woodhall from TransLink will speak about the highly successful measures put in place to not only transport Olympic spectators, volunteers, and staff, but also to provide local commuters and businesses with travel options that would keep commuters, customers, and goods moving during the Games. She will also discuss the monitoring and measurement of these initiatives, and how the quantitative data TransLink obtained is helping to prove the value of transportation demand management in Vancouver. -- *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: $18-M remake for Osborne Bridge - Focus on cyclists, peds, art (Dec.17'10)
by Beth McKechnie 17 Dec '10

17 Dec '10

{Winnipeg Free Press] $18-M remake for Osborne Bridge Focus on cyclists, pedestrians, art By: Geoff Kirbyson A newly rehabilitated Osborne Bridge will have separate spaces for cyclists and pedestrians, as well as an artistic component to fit in with the eclectic neighbourhood, according to plans unveiled Thursday evening. A smattering of area residents and users of one of the city's busiest bridges discovered active transportation will be the central theme of a planned $18-million renovation. Construction, which is scheduled to begin in April, will feature one three-metre-wide walkway and two two-metre-wide bike paths. [image: The Osborne Bridge, shown in artist’s conception.] Enlarge Image <http://media.winnipegfreepress.com/images/artistosborne.jpg> The Osborne Bridge, shown in artist’s conception. To accommodate these features, the bridge will be widened by about five feet by extending the overhangs and replacing the existing wide median with a narrower barrier. Matt Chislett, bridge projects engineer for the city's public works department, said the city decided against a joint pedestrian-cycling lane. "We have a high percentage of people in the area with vision impairment or who use seeing-eye dogs and we didn't want them sharing space with cyclists," he said at an information open house at Holy Rosary Church. Chislett said making the bridge safer for people on foot has been a concern since a vehicle jumped the curb and killed a pedestrian in the late 1980s. He said the renovation will prolong the lifespan of the bridge for another 75 years. The Osborne Bridge was built in 1975. Replacing the bridge would cost about $25 million, he said. Chislett said he and his team will take the most recent public feedback and potentially "tweak" bridge plans. The current schedule calls for the east side of the bridge to be closed in April, with construction finishing up in October. The following spring, the same thing will happen to the west side. During both construction periods, traffic flows in both directions will be restricted to a total of three lanes, he said. "It's going to be a snarl," he said, noting 40,000 vehicles cross the bridge every day. Most of the time, two lanes will head south, with one going north. During morning rush hours, however, it will be reconfigured with two lanes heading north. Chislett said an artist has been hired to incorporate art into the bridge's design, such as the handrails or at the end of the bridge. "We want to make it an esthetically pleasing bridge to fit the neighbourhood," he said. About 60 people came through the open house during the first three of four hours Thursday night. Gerald, whose family operates a business in the area and who asked that his last name not be published, said he appreciated the chance to voice his opinions on the project design. He said he was confident it would not result in the public relations disaster that accompanied last fall's introduction of traffic circles in several neighbourhoods. He said he believes the bigger problem is traffic flow in Osborne Village, used by people from other neighbourhoods simply passing through on their way home from downtown. "I think they should tunnel under the Osborne overpass and come up under the river by the (Legislative Building)," he said. geoff.kirbyson(a)freepress.mb.ca -- *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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Employment opportunities with Green Action Centre - December 2010
by Beth McKechnie 08 Dec '10

08 Dec '10

***PLEASE POST WIDELY - apologies for cross-posting*** * * *GREEN ACTION CENTRE* EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY; two positions available December 3, 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------- *Active and Safe Routes to School Program Intern* ------------------------------------------------------------- *Application deadline:** *Monday, December 13 2010** *Start date:** *Thursday, January 6 2011 *End date: *Friday, March 18 2011 * * These positions being funded through the YMCA’s Post-Secondary Graduate Youth Eco Internship Program (PSYEIP) with funding provided by the Government of Canada. This program places unemployed youth aged 15 to 30 from diverse backgrounds into paid internship opportunities within the private, non-profit, public, and charitable service sectors in Canada with a focus on the environment and community*. Applicants must meet ALL eligibility criteria for the program in order to be considered:* - between 15 and 30 years of age (inclusive) at the time of placement; - not receiving Employment Insurance benefit; - a graduate of a post-secondary education program; - be unemployed; or underemployed (working 20 hours or less on a regular basis); or working in a job that does not match your area of educational study; - out of school; - a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person on whom refugee status has been conferred; - legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial/territorial legislation and regulations; - have a social insurance number; - be willing to complete a Police Records Check. *Note: Youth who previously participated in the Youth Eco Internship Program will not be considered* * * Green Action Centre is a non-profit, charitable community organization currently seeking *two program interns* for our Active and Safe Routes to School (ASRTS) program. The interns will actively encourage walking and cycling as healthy alternatives for getting kids to and from school by working closely with teachers, parents, school staff and students at selected Manitoba elementary schools. The interns will be involved in the lead up to Clean Air Day in June, and the coordination of a regional meeting of Active and Safe Routes to School practitioners in Manitoba. The interns will work closely with the Active and Safe Routes to School Program Team on the planning and delivery of events, and will act as supports for other areas of the program including policy development, in-class workshops and education, best routes to school mapping, report writing, fundraising and materials development. *RESPONSIBILITIES* * * · Promotes elementary school participation in the annual Clean Air Day Walk to School (June) · Assists with the administration and coordination of the poster contest linked to Clean Air Day · Communicates with schools to encourage environmentally friendly travel year-round through surveys, telephone conversations and site visits as well as ASRTS program components such as the Walking School Bus, Walking Wednesdays Club and Neighbourhood Walkabouts · Maintains a database and contact list of participating schools and community partners · Researches, prepares and distributes kit materials such as fact sheets, checklists, surveys, brochures, posters, and resources · Monitors project-related expenses · Writes reports and assists in preparing proposals and applications · Assists with website development through the Green Action Centre content-managed system – writing updates and blog posts related to Active and Safe Routes to School-related items. · Compiles, publishes and distributes the quarterly Active and Safe Routes to School newsletter *“Off on the Right Foot”* · Assists with the coordination of a regional training event for Active and Safe Routes to School practitioners in Manitoba (involving invitations, managing registrations, preparing materials, taking minutes and assisting with follow-up reporting). *QUALIFICATIONS* Must be self-motivated, reliable and able to work collaboratively and individually. *Must meet the requirements of the Post-Secondary Youth Eco-Internship Program administered through the YMCA.* *Key qualifications include:* · Self-initiator with excellent interpersonal and time management skills · Professional writing, editing, research and communication skills · Commitment to work in a collaborative setting to achieve common goals · Experience in organizing events and workshops · Background in areas such as communications / social marketing / community development / environmental or health education / urban planning, GIS, social change / non-profit project work · Familiar with Community Based Social Marketing concepts (see www.cbsm.com) · Ability to handle multiple tasks in a brisk work environment with a flexible schedule · Knowledge of internet-based communication and research tools · Experience in organizing promotional events, and creativity in developing advertising and media campaigns · Experience in proposal and report writing · Ease in giving public presentations and speaking with media · Demonstrated commitment to the goals of ecological sustainability and sustainable transportation · Understanding of urban transportation, planning and environmental issues · Experience working with teachers, parents, administration and staff in an elementary school setting an asset · Experience with GIS or other mapping software an asset *ABOUT THE POSITION* * Direct applications by Monday, December 13 2010 to:* ASRTS Hiring Committee Green Action Centre 303 Portage Avenue, 3rd Floor, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2B4 E-mail: asrts(a)greenactioncentre.ca *Green Action Centre*: Green Action Centre is a non-profit, non-governmental organization directed by an elected community Board. Green Action Centre’s mission is to promote ecological sustainability through environmental education and the development of sustainable alternatives to unsustainable current practices. Further information about Green Action Centre projects and activities is available on our web site www.greenactioncentre.ca. -- *Jackie Avent* Active and Safe Routes to School Green Action Centre 204.925.3773 www.greenactioncentre.ca Green Action Centre is a non-profit organization. Please consider making a donation. *Coming to the EcoCentre?* (3rd floor, 303 Portage Avenue at Donald Street; Take the elevator to the third floor of the MEC building) Winnipeg transit stops and bicycle racks are located in front of MEC

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Bike Boxes webinar - Wed, Dec. 15, 2-3 pm, EcoCentre
by Beth McKechnie 01 Dec '10

01 Dec '10

Green Action Centre will be hosting the following APBP (Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals) webinar on "Bike Boxes" on Wed, Dec. 15th. If you would like to join us, please let me know at * beth(a)greenactioncentre.ca*. See you then! -thanks, Beth (925-3772) ------------------------------ Webinar: * Bike Boxes *Date: *Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. CST * Location: *EcoCentre boardroom, 303 Portage Ave, third floor* (enter via elevator inside front doors of MEC) The webinar will have two main sections: - The evolution of bike box design, citing examples in the UK and northern Europe, and including a discussion of details such as coordinating traffic signals, signal phasing, and cost/durability of different materials. - A presentation about Portland, Oregon’s, study of how bike boxes perform for motorists and bicyclists at ten locations. Although there are bike boxes in a number of U.S. cities now, Portland has probably done the most experimentation and evaluation. *Presenters: * Webinar presenters will be Christopher Monsere, Assistant Professor at Portland State University, and Tom Bertulis, formerly of the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, and now a doctoral student at Northeastern University. Hope you can join us! -- Beth McKechnie Workplace Commuter Options Green Action Centre 204.925.3772 www.greenactioncentre.ca Green Action Centre is a registered charity. Please consider making a donation <https://www.canadahelps.org/DonationDetails.aspx?cookieCheck=true> . *Coming to the EcoCentre?* (3rd floor, 303 Portage at Donald, MEC bldg) Enter via the elevator just inside MEC's front doors Bike racks are located in front of the building Find your bus route with Winnipeg Transit's online trip planner Navigo<http://www.winnipegtransit.com/en/navigo>

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City of Winnipeg transportation survey
by Beth McKechnie 30 Nov '10

30 Nov '10

In case you hadn't heard, the City of Winnipeg is in the process of developing a Transportation Master Plan. You can find information presented at a recent Open House along with a link to a survey on the future of transportation in Winnipeg here: http://transportation.speakupwinnipeg.com/ If you want to go straight to the survey, see: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/winnipegtmp The feedback received from the survey will help inform the plan, so it's definitely worth taking a few minutes to complete. cheers, Beth -- Beth McKechnie Workplace Commuter Options Green Action Centre 204.925.3772 www.greenactioncentre.ca Green Action Centre is a registered charity. Please consider making a donation <https://www.canadahelps.org/DonationDetails.aspx?cookieCheck=true> . *Coming to the EcoCentre?* (3rd floor, 303 Portage at Donald, MEC bldg) Enter via the elevator just inside MEC's front doors Bike racks are located in front of the building Find your bus route with Winnipeg Transit's online trip planner Navigo<http://www.winnipegtransit.com/en/navigo>

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Nova Scotia looking to pass one-metre rule
by Beth McKechnie 30 Nov '10

30 Nov '10

Nova Scotia is looking to be the first in Canada to "*require drivers to leave one meter of open space between the vehicle and bicyclist when passing *". Other proposed amendments to their Motor Vehicle Act include to: - define 'cyclist' and 'bicycle lane' - prohibit vehicle parking in a bicycle lane - make it an offence to fail to yield to a cyclist in a bicycle lane - redefine cycling on the extreme right - allow drivers of vehicles to cross a centre line to pass a bicycle, if the driver can do so safely - require cyclists to ride single file and in the same direction of the traffic Full details: http://spacingatlantic.ca/2010/11/18/keep-those-wheels-turning-cycling-ackn… -- Beth McKechnie Workplace Commuter Options Green Action Centre 204.925.3772 www.greenactioncentre.ca Green Action Centre is a registered charity. Please consider making a donation <https://www.canadahelps.org/DonationDetails.aspx?cookieCheck=true> . *Coming to the EcoCentre?* (3rd floor, 303 Portage at Donald, MEC bldg) Enter via the elevator just inside MEC's front doors Bike racks are located in front of the building Find your bus route with Winnipeg Transit's online trip planner Navigo<http://www.winnipegtransit.com/en/navigo>

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Fwd: Active Transportation - Canada: November 30, 2010
by Beth McKechnie 30 Nov '10

30 Nov '10

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Michael Haynes <activetransportation(a)rogers.com> Date: Tue, Nov 30, 2010 at 10:49 AM Subject: Active Transportation - Canada: November 30, 2010 Dear Listserv Members: Thirty-five (35) new items have been posted on the Active Transportation-Canada Website during the month of November. A complete list of titles may be found in the "Blog Archive" box, located on the right margin of the Website. some highlights include: - 2011 World Record Walk<http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf9723> - Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation Papers<http://torontocat.ca/main/> - Ted Talks - James H Kunstler dissects suburbia<http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/james_howard_kunstler_dissects_suburbia.h…> - Reality vs. Myth: The "dangers" of Dutch cycle paths<http://hembrow.blogspot.com/2010/11/reality-vs-myth-dangers-of-dutch-cycle.…> - Vancouver selected as the host of the Velo-city Global 2012 conference<http://www.velo-city2012.com/> Active Transportation Canada URL: http://activetransportation-canada.blogspot.com A "Search" function is available on the site. You will find this at the bottom of the page. With nearly 1,00 items posted on Active Transportation - Canada, there are links available to dozens of studies and hundreds of news items from communities across Canada and the world. If anyone has a problem reading this message, please let me know. I welcome suggestions for posts, so if you have news items featuring your community, please share them with the more than 500 subscribers to Active Transportation-Canada. Thank you. Michael Haynes Director TransActive Solutions -- Beth McKechnie Workplace Commuter Options Green Action Centre 204.925.3772 www.greenactioncentre.ca Green Action Centre is a registered charity. Please consider making a donation <https://www.canadahelps.org/DonationDetails.aspx?cookieCheck=true> . *Coming to the EcoCentre?* (3rd floor, 303 Portage at Donald, MEC bldg) Enter via the elevator just inside MEC's front doors Bike racks are located in front of the building Find your bus route with Winnipeg Transit's online trip planner Navigo<http://www.winnipegtransit.com/en/navigo>

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WFP: City bike routes going on Google next week (Nov.23'10)
by Beth McKechnie 23 Nov '10

23 Nov '10

City bike routes going on Google next week By: Adam Wazny The snow and ice suggest otherwise, but life for the Winnipeg cyclist just became a little easier. In an announcement at the Sustainable Mobility Conference in Ottawa Monday, Internet search engine giant Google has added Winnipeg to its list of Canadian cities that will have bike routes available online for those looking for the best path to take on two wheels. With Google Bike Directions, scheduled to be added to Google Maps during the next week, users can pore over city-fed bike maps using the popular web atlas to chart a course for their daily commute. Comprehensive maps of various bike routes and paths are already available on the city's website, but Winnipeg Trails Association director Janice Lukes was thrilled to find out Google has added the city to its new mapping feature. "We have all this new infrastructure and many people don't know where it is," she said. "This will encourage those who are looking to get out on the weekends or do a little riding after work." What has the cycling community excited about the Google Maps addition is the reach it will have to those contemplating ditching their vehicle for a bike. Jeff Martin, owner of Alter Ego Sports, feels the undecided might finally decide to switch to a two-wheeler permanently, thanks to Google Maps. Not every trail or dedicated bike lane is visible from behind the wheel, he notes, so not everyone is up to speed with the layout of the city's active transportation framework. "For the serious cyclist, they're going to ride their bikes regardless," he said. "But for the inexperienced rider, this will show them they can get from point A to point B in a safe way, especially for winter riding." Google Bike Directions works like this: A click on the bicycle icon shows a dark green line indicating a bike-only path. A lighter green line signals a dedicated bike lane and a dotted line shows a city street that doesn't have a dedicated bike lane, but could still be suitable for riding. The city planned to spend $20.4 million dollars on 36 bike-and-pedestrian projects under a federal stimulus program this year. Cold weather cut six of those projects short, with completion scheduled for 2011. Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver, Calgary, Gatineau and Waterloo are the other Canadian cities involved in Google's announcement. Bike-trail data for U.S. markets was added to Google Maps earlier this year. adam.wazny(a)freepress.mb.ca -- Beth McKechnie Workplace Commuter Options Green Action Centre 204.925.3772 www.greenactioncentre.ca Green Action Centre is a registered charity. Please consider making a donation <https://www.canadahelps.org/DonationDetails.aspx?cookieCheck=true> . *Coming to the EcoCentre?* (3rd floor, 303 Portage at Donald, MEC bldg) Enter via the elevator just inside MEC's front doors Bike racks are located in front of the building Find your bus route with Winnipeg Transit's online trip planner Navigo<http://www.winnipegtransit.com/en/navigo>

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G&M: Sidewalk experiments drive new ideas about urban public space
by Beth McKechnie 19 Nov '10

19 Nov '10

[Great article in the Globe & Mail about sidewalks and a whole "new era of sidewalk sociology". -cheers, Beth] *Full article with photos & videos:* http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/americas/lane-storming-cities-dri… Sidewalk experiments drive new ideas about urban public space SIRI AGRELL From Thursday's Globe and Mail Published Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010 8:10PM EST A line has been drawn in the battle over city streets. On a busy Manhattan morning this spring, a comedy troupe drew a chalk divide down the edge of Fifth Avenue, creating one lane for “tourists” and another for “New Yorkers.” It was just a joke, but the news quickly spread around the world and inspired copycat initiatives. The changing look of city sidewalks >From Lebanon to Calgary, the humble pavement has recently emerged as new frontier in urban warfare. It is a way for cities to demonstrate their personality and environmental cred, and take sides in the war between driver and pedestrian. But it is not, as San Francisco has forcefully pointed out with a ballot initiative approved earlier this month, a place to sit down. “We’re truly at the launch of a new science of creating walkways,” said Dan Burden, an urban planner and the creator of the non-profit group Walkable Communities. “They do a lot more work than just move people from place to place. We’re starting to see the sidewalk as a system that drives the successful social life of a street.” The popularity of the New York experiment was a signal that citizens are ready for bold thinking when it comes to urban design, he said, no longer content to cede the sidewalk to municipal authorities. In London and Toronto, business owners have paid out of pocket to make their sidewalks more attractive and easier to navigate by funding a sidewalk redesign and enforcing an invisible “shopper’s lane.” In a response to citizen complaints, Montreal is taking steps to make sure sidewalks are quickly cleared of snow while Lebanon is trying to keep them free of cars. Concrete, too, is losing favour, being replaced with recycled tiers, tamped earth and fine grain materials that come in a variety of colours. In the future, Mr. Burden predicts the “hardscape” of city sidewalks will be softened with materials like grasscrete, porous blocks that allow natural vegetation to work its way through. The sidewalk may end, but innovation has just begun. *MANHATTAN* *What:* In May, the comedy group Improv Everywhere spray painted a line down the middle of Fifth Avenue, demarcating lanes for “New Yorkers” and “tourists.” Fake department of transportation “employees” directed tourists to the left, telling them, “You can take pictures and go as slow as you want.” *Pros:* Pedestrians were also asked for their feedback on the initiative, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. Even Mayor Michael Bloomberg thought the idea was “cute.” *Cons:* For busy New Yorkers, the idea didn’t go far enough. As the Web site Gothamist suggested, “Now we just need a lane for strollers and people who text while walking, and we'll be all set.” *Lessons for other cities:* Anger over sidewalk slowpokes is no joke. *LONDON* *What*: Inspired by the New York experiment, a group of business owners in the city’s Oxford Street district introduced a “shoppers lane” along store fronts this fall, with employees encouraging tourists to stay out of the way of locals. They plan to lobby to have the lane officially incorporated into city tourist maps next year. *Pros:* With more than 200 million visitors a year, nearby residents “absolutely love the idea” of a shoppers lane, according to Jace Tyrell, spokesperson for the New West End Company, which represents 600 local business owners. *Cons:* The lane is not actually marked on the sidewalk, and is not officially sanctioned or enforced by city council. Instead, New West End is advertising the rogue idea on tourist maps and enforcing it with the help of Red Caps, a group of employees who provide information and directions on the street. *Lessons for other cities*: You don’t need a bylaw to change the way cities work. Even without official enforcement, Mr. Tyrell said the system is embedding itself in the public consciousness. “It’s like the escalator, where people stand to one side or the other depending on whether or not they’re walking,” he said. “We hope over time, this will become a behavioural thing and people will just do it naturally.” *PORTLAND, ORE.* *What: *Under the direction of the Office of Transportation, 13th Avenue was redesigned as a curbless street, where the sidewalk and roadway are one level but paved with different coloured materials. *Pros:* Popular in Scandinavia, curbless streets have been shown to actually change the way people drive through “psychological traffic slowing” making neighbourhoods more pedestrian friendly. *Cons:* Short vertical posts called bollards that mark the line between street and sidewalk have been blamed for damaging cars. *Lessons for other cities:* Studies have shown curbless streets slow traffic by an average of nine kilometres an hour. An analysis of five years of traffic statistics in one California town found that the only pedestrian injuries occurred on streets that did have curbs. *CALGARY* *What: *In October, the city started replacing asphalt sidewalks with recycled rubber tires, as part of a one-year pilot program. *Pros:* The material won’t crack, reduces storm runoff, absorbs sound and is more comfortable for runners. City transportation engineer Blanka Bracic said public feedback on the city’s blog and 311 line has been overwhelmingly positive. *Cons: *Some residents are worried that the product’s uneven surface will make snow removal difficult. *Lessons for other cities:* Unlike traditional asphalt, the rubber sidewalk does not require the roots of nearby trees to be excavated. Ms. Bracic said that cutting down trees to lay new sidewalk is a major source of citizen complaints. The material costs the same as concrete, but is also cheaper to maintain. *TORONTO* *What: *The recently completed Bloor Street Transformation Project. *Pros: *The project has widened and beautified the sidewalks using Quebec granite, mature trees, improved street furniture and manicured flowerbeds. *Cons:* The project took more than three years to complete, snarling traffic on a major city street. *Lessons for other cities:* Inspired by Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, the project was championed by the Bloor Street BIA, who contributed $20-million to the project. *LEBANON* *What: *Last month, various municipalities launched a crackdown on vehicles parked on sidewalks. *Pros: *The move is a response to growing chorus of complaints, many from the disabled and mothers with young children, noting that pedestrians are forced to walk on the road because of the popular practice of parking on sidewalks. *Cons:* Street vendors who deal food and other goods from their parking spots complain that their business is being ruined. *Lessons for other cities:* Previous efforts by Lebanese authorities to clear sidewalks of cars have failed due to the objections of merchants, who were given no alternative location from which to vend their wares. *SAN FRANCISCO* *What: *Proposition L, a city wide ordinance passed on Nov. 2 that bans people from sitting of lying on sidewalks between the hours of 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. Those caught breaking the law face fines, community-service sentences and even jail time. *Pros:* Dubbed the Sit/Lie ordinance, the idea was a response to a recent escalation of aggressive panhandling in the iconic Haight-Ashbury neighbourhood. Police can now take action against an individual without having to wait for a complaint from the public, according to Ted Loewenberg, president of the Haight Ashbury Improvement Association. “This gives police the ability to pay attention the kind of behaviours we’re worried about,” he said. *Cons: *Those opposed to Prop L say it unfairly targets the homeless. *Lessons for other cities: *The measure was passed through a ballot initiative included in the Nov. 2 election, and garnered the support of 55 per cent of voters. Mr. Loewenberg said city council had originally opposed the idea, which was proposed by chief of police. *MONTREAL* *What:* The city announced in early November that it will deploy quick reaction snow clearing brigades to specific pedestrian-packed sidewalks this year to keep downtown businesses moving. *Pros:* Main sidewalks in the busy downtown area of Ville Marie and the Plateau district will be completely cleared within 12 hours of a snowfall, with the city setting aside $262,000 for trucks and $150,000 for salaries to fund the rapid deployment teams. Michael Applebaum, the city executive committee member responsible for snow clearing, said the cost of leaving the sidewalks clogged is much higher, as it puts a freeze on tourism, restaurants and the retail business. “We’re a winter city. Our priority has to be to make sure people can get around,” he said. “We can’t stall the economy.” *Cons: *The city wants to have a strict 24-hour deadline for snow removal in place throughout the city by 2014, but they can’t enforce the deadlines until their contracts with private snow removal companies come up for renegotiation. *Lessons for other cities: *Mr. Applebaum, who is also borough mayor of Côte des Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, says technology has dramatically shortened citizen’s patience with city services.**Because they can report city issues on cellphones and via e-mail, they expect an immediate response, even when it comes to fighting Mother Nature.

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Planning, transport and health inequalities
by Mike Tutthill 15 Nov '10

15 Nov '10

Planning, transport and health inequalities This British website presents case studies of what can be achieved when places utilise planning and transport to tackle the social determinants of health. But they also highlight the limits of what these environment-focused professions can do. The website is regularly updated as shown by the two most recent cases studies presented: The London Borough of Waltham Forest and the Stoke-on-Trent City Council http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=23261408 Mike Tutthill Information & Access Coordinator HEALTH in COMMON 100-6 Donald Street Winnipeg, MB R3L 0K6 tel: 204.949.2002 1.800.731.1792 fax: 204.284.2404 email: <mailto:mtutthill@healthincommon.ca> mtutthill(a)healthincommon.ca web: <http://www.healthincommon.ca> www.healthincommon.ca +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ December E-Newsletter deadline is November 19. <http://www.facebook.com/pages/Health-in-Common/120069149875> Health in Common on Facebook * Please consider the environment before printing this email. Coming to Health in Common? By bicycle: Bicycle parking is located behind the building. By Winnipeg transit: Routes 62, 65, 66, 68, 70 By car: Two visitor parking spaces are available at the back of the building. Street parking (restrictions): Bell Avenue (1hr 9h00 - 17h30), Clarke Street (none); Lewis (none); Cauchon (none); River (none west of Clarke).

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Women Cycling Survey report
by Beth McKechnie 09 Nov '10

09 Nov '10

The Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) is a non-profit organization committed to increasing bicycling and walking as modes of transportation in the U.S. In the spring of 2010, APBP conducted an online questionnaire to investigate the factors that would induce women to bicycle more for transportation. The final report can be downloaded at: http://www.trb.org/PedestriansAndBicyclists/Blurbs/Womens_Cycling_Survey_An… Here's the summary: Cycling behavior appears to be influenced by size of community. While women from the suburbs and rural areas were less likely to use their bicycles for daily trips, they cycled longer distances (over 60 miles) than women from other communities. Rural and suburban women also constituted the highest percentage of respondents to report “always” wearing a helmet. Finally, *women from large cities were most receptive to the addition of bike lanes as a means to start/increase their cycling*. As a result, interventions to increase women’s cycling must take into account the areas in which women live. Despite the difference in cycling behaviors due to community size, safety and infrastructure concerns were prevalent in nearly all subgroups. The operation of motorized vehicles, (especially distracted driving) dominate women’s safety concerns about cycling. Furthermore, infrastructure change, particularly the addition of more bike lanes, appears to be a primary factor for increasing women’s cycling. Though these findings warrant additional qualitative research, it is likely that intervention planning to promote cycling as a form of daily transportation needs to address the issues of distracted driving and the addition of more bike lanes. -- Beth McKechnie Workplace Commuter Options Green Action Centre 204.925.3772 www.greenactioncentre.ca Green Action Centre is a registered charity. Please consider making a donation <https://www.canadahelps.org/DonationDetails.aspx?cookieCheck=true> . *Coming to the EcoCentre?* (3rd floor, 303 Portage at Donald, MEC bldg) Enter via the elevator just inside MEC's front doors Bike racks are located in front of the building Find your bus route with Winnipeg Transit's online trip planner Navigo<http://www.winnipegtransit.com/en/navigo>

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Open House - Winnipeg Transportation Master Plan, Nov 13, 10-3
by Beth McKechnie 08 Nov '10

08 Nov '10

*Please note the upcoming Open House taking place Saturday, November 13, at the Convention Centre:* Source: http://www.speakupwinnipeg.com/ Winnipeggers are invited to meet with City of Winnipeg Staff and share their ideas and views regarding three important City initiatives: - *The City of Winnipeg’s Transportation Master Plan* - The City’s Parks, Places and Open Spaces Strategy - A Sustainable Winnipeg: Measurement and Accountability - Call to Action update Whether you are stopping by as part of your attendance at the concurrent SpeakUp on Garbage Expo, or just taking a few minutes in your day to stop by, we would be pleased to meet you and continue the conversation about the future of our city. - *10:00 am – 3:00 pm* - *Millennium Suite, Second Floor Winnipeg Convention Centre* cheers, Beth -- Beth McKechnie Workplace Commuter Options Green Action Centre 204.925.3772 www.greenactioncentre.ca Green Action Centre is a registered charity. Please consider making a donation <https://www.canadahelps.org/DonationDetails.aspx?cookieCheck=true> . *Coming to the EcoCentre?* (3rd floor, 303 Portage at Donald, MEC bldg) Enter via the elevator just inside MEC's front doors Bike racks are located in front of the building Find your bus route with Winnipeg Transit's online trip planner Navigo<http://www.winnipegtransit.com/en/navigo>

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Friendly reminder: Get Your Green On - Sat, Nov. 6 at The Academy
by Beth McKechnie 02 Nov '10

02 Nov '10

Come out and "Get Your Green On" this Saturday at The Academy in Osborne Village! When:* Saturday, November 6th, 8:00 pm *Venue:* The Academy (437 Stradbrook Ave** at Osborne)* * Tickets are only $10, available at:* - Mountain Equipment Co-op, 303 Portage Avenue. - Music Trader, 97 Osborne Street - McNally Robinson, 1120 Grant Avenue. - Green Action Centre, 303 Portage Ave - 3rd Floor Hope to see you there! (plus apologies for duplicate postings) Beth 925-3772 [image: Poster Nov 6'2010.jpg] -- Beth McKechnie Workplace Commuter Options Green Action Centre 204.925.3772 www.greenactioncentre.ca Green Action Centre is a registered charity. Please consider making a donation. *Coming to the EcoCentre?* (3rd floor, 303 Portage at Donald, MEC bldg) Enter via the elevator just inside MEC's front doors Bike racks are located in front of the building Find your bus route with Winnipeg Transit's online trip planner Navigo<http://www.winnipegtransit.com/en/navigo>

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Grist: Are cyclists really a lawless bunch?
by Beth McKechnie 28 Oct '10

28 Oct '10

Interesting posting on how a NYC study is recommending the use of bike boxes to address a problem with cyclists and red light compliance. There's a link in the posting to the study and I've highlighted the particularly relevant paragraphs below. -cheers, Beth * * * * * In New York’s bike lanes, who are the real scofflaws?by Elly Blue October 25, 2010 http://www.grist.org/article/2010-10-25-in-new-yorks-bike-lanes-who-are-the… Those scofflaw bicyclists!" You hear that phrase a lot, or a version of it. It's true that, at least in New York City, there's probably a scofflaw in any given bike lane at any given time. But chances are high it's not the person on the bicycle. So observed the staff of Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer when he sent them out to 11 bike lanes <http://www.mbpo.org/release_details.asp?id=1681>in Manhattan to record every single traffic infraction occurring in the lanes. The unscientific results (download them here<http://www.mbpo.org/free_details.asp?id=225>) evoke a vivid, chaotic, and very New York streetscape. While reading it, you can almost hear the honking in the background. The report shows that 741 of the 1,700 total infractions recorded -- more than a third -- involved people walking or standing in a bike lane. On one block where this type of thing was particularly rampant, a collision was observed between a person on a bike and a person stepping into the bike lane. Of the infractions, 353 involved the bike lane being blocked outright. Most of these impediments were motor vehicles, some parked and others moving, fast. Of these, 18 percent were taxis and limos and 13 percent were publicly owned vehicles. Particularly of note in the report were a school bus that idled in one bike lane for seven minutes and examples of "unmarked Police vehicles in apparent non-emergency situations cutting through protected bike lanes." Additionally, there were 77 instances of someone opening a car door into the bike lane, causing a bicyclist to swerve into car traffic. Cyclists were observed riding in violation as well. Some 242 were seen going the wrong way in the lane (including one two-hour period at one block where there was more wrong-way than right-way traffic), and 237 were seen proceeding against a red light. None of this is surprising, given Manhattan's thriving pedestrian culture, high population, and density. People were spilling off of sidewalks and into car traffic long before bike lanes were a gleam in the city's eye, and likewise people were looking for creative places to park and shortcuts around traffic since traffic congestion was invented. People on bicycles, meanwhile, have simply been trying to get where they're going in one piece. There's a tendency to talk about people who ride bikes as though they're a lawless bunch of yahoos. This study is a breath of fresh air in showing that no, they are simply, like all other people, responding to an environment that doesn't always serve their needs. When you're driving, the extra space a bike lane offers is a matter of mobility and convenience; if you're riding a bike, it's a matter of being seen and staying alive. People run red lights on bikes not out of wanton disrespect for the world's moral order, but because when you're riding in a sea of cars occupied by people who probably don't notice or care about your existence, you're much safer getting as far ahead as possible. *So it's a relief to hear that the study's policy recommendation to address red-light compliance is not enforcement or even education but installing more bike boxes<http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/27/streetfilms-return-of-bike-box/>. A bike box -- basically a space between the stop line for cars and the crosswalk where someone on a bike can wait for the light to change in a more visible position -- provides a safer and more comfortable alternative to running the light, rather than penalizing or reforming behavior that's already motivated by safety.* *(In the meantime, the New York Police Department has announced a campaign to crack down <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/22/nyregion/22bike.html?_r=1>on cyclists who run lights and ride on the sidewalk.) * *Other recommendations in the study are worth reading. They include dedicating an enforcement patrol to keep the bike lanes free for bikes to use (currently this is done by clowns<http://www.streetfilms.org/clowns-liberate-bike-lanes/>); better parking management so that delivery vehicles always have reserved spaces; more signage; an awareness campaign for taxi users; and more bike lanes that are physically separated from traffic.* New York City's push for bicycle infrastructure in the last two years is bold, comparatively speaking. But New York, and other cities with similar ambitions to increase cycling mode share, need to think beyond bike lanes. Narrow strips of pavement wedged in as an afterthought onto streets that are still very much designed and operated for the convenience of motor vehicle traffic will never do anything but continue to marginalize (and, in the eyes of the public, criminalize) people who use them. Imagine what might happen if people riding bikes and walking were extended the same engineering courtesies that have created an environment where anyone can drive a car through the city and expect to survive. The equation needs to be reversed. Only when people have enough space to walk and bike around the city in safety and comfort should consideration be given to the free flow of private automobiles driven in from wealthy suburbs<http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/08/where-do-manhattan-auto-commuters-com…> . The Manhattan Borough president's call to "respect the lane, clear the path" is a compelling one that needs to be heard by every person idling, driving, walking, or riding the wrong way in the bike lane. But most of all, it needs to be heard by people at work deciding the future of the city's streets. Elly Blue is a bicycle activist living in Portland, Oregon. -- Beth McKechnie Workplace Commuter Options Green Action Centre 204.925.3772 www.greenactioncentre.ca Green Action Centre is a registered charity. Please consider making a donation <https://www.canadahelps.org/DonationDetails.aspx?cookieCheck=true> . *Coming to the EcoCentre?* (3rd floor, 303 Portage at Donald, MEC bldg) Enter via the elevator just inside MEC's front doors Bike racks are located in front of the building Find your bus route with Winnipeg Transit's online trip planner Navigo<http://www.winnipegtransit.com/en/navigo>

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Get Your Green On - Sat, Nov. 6 at The Academy
by Beth McKechnie 22 Oct '10

22 Oct '10

[Apologies for duplicate postings] * "Get your Green On" at Green Action Centre's fundraiser/party! * Enjoy great music, hands-on activities, and lots of green fun! (You may have met us before as Resource Conservation Manitoba.) Take in performances by the melodic Keri Latimer of Juno Award winning group Nathan, and Winnipeg’s latest dance-floor sensation LeBeato and DJ Cyclist. Mix your own green cleaning or personal care products, and pick from crafty and experiential packages in our locally-focused silent auction. Come out and bring your friends! *When: Saturday, November 6th, 8:00 pm Venue: The Academy (437 Stradbrook Ave** at Osborne)* * Tickets are only $10, available at:* - Mountain Equipment Co-op, 303 Portage Avenue. - Music Trader, 97 Osborne Street - McNally Robinson, 1120 Grant Avenue. - Green Action Centre, 303 Portage Ave - 3rd Floor Hope to see you there! [image: Poster Nov 6'2010.jpg] -- Beth McKechnie Workplace Commuter Options Green Action Centre 204.925.3772 www.greenactioncentre.ca

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Vancouver selected for major international cycling conference
by Beth McKechnie 21 Oct '10

21 Oct '10

City of Vancouver News Release Oct. 19, 2010 *Vancouver selected for major international cycling conference* Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson today thanked European Cycling Federation President Manfred Neun for selecting Vancouver as the host of the prestigious Velo-city Global 2012 conference, the first time the event has been held outside of Europe since 1996. “Velo-city will bring together hundreds of planners, transportation experts and cycling specialists from around the world to discuss the fast-growing role of cycling in urban transportation,” said Mayor Robertson. “We are very excited that the European Cycling Federation has selected Vancouver for its global conference in 2012. “Hosting a major international conference like Velo-city is a good boost for our local economy, and it’s a great opportunity to showcase Vancouver’s bike infrastructure to the world's leading transportation experts.” An estimated 1,000 conference delegates and their guests will attend the conference, which will be held in June 2012 at a Vancouver location yet to be selected. The Vancouver bid for the conference was prepared by the City of Vancouver, Tourism Vancouver, TransLink and the VeloWorks Cycling Society. “Cycling is already an important travel mode in Metro Vancouver, and TransLink has partnered with the City, the province and the federal government in major infrastructure upgrades to make it an even better option for more people,” said TransLink’s vice president of Customer and Public Engagement, Bob Paddon. “TransLink is pleased to support the 2012 Velo-city conference.’ “Bravo to the City of Vancouver, TransLink and VeloWorks for their efforts in bringing the 2010 Velo-City conference to Vancouver,” said Rick Antonson, president and CEO of Tourism Vancouver. “Not only will Velo-City generate business for the local tourism industry, it reinforces Vancouver’s reputation as a clean and green travel destination with exceptional offerings for cyclists.” *Media Contact* Corporate Communications 604.871.6336 media(a)vancouver.ca >From Jack Hans-Jurgen (Jack) E.H. Becker Velo-city Global 2012 Director President - VeloWorks Cycling Society 3303-1033 Marinaside Cr. Vancouver, B.C., V6Z 3A3 604-681-5744 becker(a)thirdwavecycling.com www.thirdwavecycling.com thirdwavecyclingblog.wordpress.com Skype: hjeh.becker

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Bicycle parking guide for Cdn municipalities and employers
by Beth McKechnie 20 Oct '10

20 Oct '10

In case you haven't seen it, Transport Canada's "Bicycle end-of-trip facilities guide for Canadian municipalities and employers" (April 2010) is available at: http://www.tc.gc.ca/media/documents/programs/betf.pdf -- Beth McKechnie Workplace Commuter Options Green Action Centre 204.925.3772 www.greenactioncentre.ca Green Action Centre is a registered charity. Please consider making a donation. *Coming to the EcoCentre?* (3rd floor, 303 Portage at Donald, MEC bldg) Bike parking: Bike racks are located in front of MEC Enter via the elevator just inside MEC's front doors -- Beth McKechnie Workplace Commuter Options Green Action Centre 204.925.3772 www.greenactioncentre.ca Green Action Centre is a registered charity. Please consider making a donation. *Coming to the EcoCentre?* (3rd floor, 303 Portage at Donald, MEC bldg) Enter via the elevator just inside MEC's front doors Bike racks are located in front of the building Find your bus route with Winnipeg Transit's online trip planner Navigo<http://www.winnipegtransit.com/en/navigo>

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FW: News Release: Manitoba Helps Launch First-in-Canada, Year-Round Commuter Challenge
by Mike Tutthill 15 Oct '10

15 Oct '10

-----Original Message----- From: News Media Services [mailto:nmservices@leg.gov.mb.ca] Sent: Friday, October 15, 2010 12:19 PM To: mtutthill(a)healthincommon.ca Subject: News Release: Manitoba Helps Launch First-in-Canada, Year-Round Commuter Challenge Manitoba News Release ............................................................ October 15, 2010 MANITOBA HELPS LAUNCH FIRST-IN-CANADA, YEAR-ROUND COMMUTER CHALLENGE - - - Program Encourages Climate-friendly Transportation Every Day: Blaikie Manitobans demonstrated an outstanding commitment to environmentally friendly transportation, finishing at the top of this year's national Commuter Challenge, and now the program is being expanded to operate year-round in the province, Conservation Minister Bill Blaikie announced today. "Congratulations to all who participated in Commuter Challenge 2010," said Blaikie. "More than 8,000 Manitobans showed they can make a big difference by using active and sustainable transportation, resulting in cleaner air, healthier citizens and communities, and moving us another step toward reducing our collective carbon footprint." Manitobans logged more than 700,000 green kilometres earlier this year during the national Commuter Challenge. This action reduced greenhouse-gas emissions by about 200 tonnes, the equivalent of burning more than 60,000 litres of motor vehicle fuel. In addition, more than 9,000 students from 62 schools across Manitoba participated in the event. To encourage Manitobans to continue choosing active and climate-friendly transportation, the province is providing the Green Action Centre (formerly Resource Conservation Manitoba) with support to operate the Commuter Challenge year-round. The new program will provide participants with ongoing feedback on the benefits of climate-friendly commuting choices through the Green Action Centre's made-in-Manitoba, online tracking tool located at www.greenactioncentre.ca. A $100,000 contribution from the Manitoba Climate Change Action Fund, a component of the Sustainable Development Innovations Fund, will support a number of sustainable transportation programs including the year-round Commuter Challenge. "We invite all Manitobans to take part in the new Manitoba Year-round Commuter Challenge," said Randall McQuaker, executive director of the Green Action Centre. "We are pleased to partner with the province to expand the week-long national challenge to a year-round initiative here at home, a first in Canada." The year-round commuter challenge will encourage Manitobans to leave their vehicles at home and walk, cycle, take public transit, carpool or share rides instead of driving to work alone. - 30 - ==== UNSUBSCRIBE Instructions ==== You received this e-mail as a result of your voluntary subscription to the Government of Manitoba News Release List. You are currently subscribed to "Manitoba News" as: mtutthill(a)healthincommon.ca. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.gov.mb.ca/cgi-bin/press/release.pl click "here" and follow the directions or send a blank email to: mailto:leave-60500-68011.8ccad65256e5ab831f9181cccd08ab11@mailmanager.leg.go v.mb.ca

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Active Transportation - Canada: October 7, 2010
by Beth McKechnie 12 Oct '10

12 Oct '10

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Michael Haynes <activetransportation(a)rogers.com> Date: Thu, Oct 7, 2010 at 7:57 PM Subject: Active Transportation - Canada: October 7, 2010 Twenty-five (25) new items have been posted on the Active Transportation-Canada Website today. A complete list of titles may be found in the "Blog Archive" box, located on the right margin of the Website. There are new studies, videos and Active Transportation news items from communities across Canada. Active Transportation Canada URL: http://activetransportation-canada.blogspot.com A "Search" function is available on the site. You will find this at the bottom of the page. With more than 900 items posted on Active Transportation - Canada, there are links available to dozens of studies and hundreds of news items from communities across Canada and the world. If anyone has a problem reading this message, please let me know. I welcome suggestions for posts, so if you have news items featuring your community, please share them with the more than 500 subscribers to Active Transportation-Canada. Thank you. Michael Haynes Director TransActive Solutions 613.424.2803 -- Beth McKechnie Workplace Commuter Options Green Action Centre 204.925.3772 www.greenactioncentre.ca Green Action Centre is a registered charity. Please consider making a donation. *Coming to the EcoCentre?* (3rd floor, 303 Portage at Donald, MEC bldg) Enter via the elevator just inside MEC's front doors Bike racks are located in front of MEC

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Grist: There's safety in numbers for cyclists
by Beth McKechnie 12 Oct '10

12 Oct '10

[Of course, reduced crash rates with increased numbers of cyclists would hold true here, too. You can find this article online at: http://www.grist.org/article/2010-10-11-theres-safety-in-numbers-for-cyclis…, Beth] How we roll There’s safety in numbers for cyclistsby Elly Blue In U.S. cities, there are a lot more people out bicycling than just a few years ago. You might reasonably think that the bicycle crash rate would skyrocket as more people, from wobbly new riders to the outright safety-averse, take to the streets on two wheels. It's a fine, common-sense assumption -- that happens to be wrong. Research has been steadily showing, actually, that the more people are out there riding bicycles, the safer bicycling becomes. As ridership goes up, crash rates stay flat. It's happening in Portland (see page 11 of this report<http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/bikecount2009reportfinal…>[PDF]). It's happening in New York City<http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/06/05/safety-in-numbers-its-happening-in-ny…> . Much of the ridership increase is due to cities' investments in bicycle-specific infrastructure. But the efficacy of that infrastructure for safety is often questioned. And there's one theory -- based on a growing body of data -- that suggests that a few painted lines on the road, bike racks, and traffic lights form only part of the safety equation. And maybe a smaller part than we tend to assume. The phenomenon, dubbed "safety in numbers," was first identified in 2003, in an academic paper <http://www.cycle-helmets.com/safety_in_numbers2.pdf> by public health researcher Peter Jacobsen [PDF]. After being asked by officials in Pasadena, Calif., if their city "was a dangerous place to bicycle," Jacobsen began looking at crash data from various communities where bicycle ridership had fluctuated over time. What he found surprised him: The number of crashes involving bikes correlated with the number of riders in a community. As ridership fluctuated, so did the crash rate. More riders, fewer crashes; fewer riders, more crashes. This happened too abruptly, Jacobsen decided, to be caused by slow-moving factors like infrastructure development and cultural change. Bicycling becomes safer *when* the number of riders increases, he concluded, at least in part *because* the number of riders increases. The inverse happens, as well. One data set Jacobsen looked at covered 49 years of biking history in the United Kingdom. Those numbers showed that cycling became safer during the oil crisis of the 1970s, caused by the OPEC oil embargo. Once the crisis ended, both ridership and safety dropped. This all must sound terribly wonky. Actually, it's been revolutionary. The idea of Safety in Numbers has slowly built up steam in traffic safety circles since Jacobsen introduced it. Supporting data<http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080903112034.htm>continues to quietly (and sometimes dramatically<http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=46B9E06D-FC8E-9007…>) roll in from around the world, influencing mainly traffic engineers and planners who are trying to figure out how to improve bicycle safety. Bicycle safety is often seen in a sort of vacuum. Helmets tend to dominate the conversation, with visibility -- lights and bright clothing -- taking a close second. More sophisticated conversations get deep into infrastructure: Which is better, sharrows, bike lanes, or separated cycle tracks? We discuss educating cyclists in defensive riding techniques and the rules of the road. These are all good and important efforts. The problem is what's missing. Here's the core of Jacobsen's analysis, from the 2003 "Safety in Numbers" report: Whose behavior changes, the motorist's or that of the people walking and bicycling? It seems unlikely that people walking or bicycling obey traffic laws more or defer to motorists more in societies or time periods with greater walking and bicycling. Indeed it seems less likely. ... Adaptation in motorist behavior seems more plausible. So why might this be the case? When there is a serious bicycle crash, it almost always involves someone driving a car. There are any number of ways drivers become involved in these crashes, primarily involving speed, turning, and the myriad distractions that are common behind the wheel. But when there are a lot of bicyclists on the road, according to this theory, drivers take notice. They become more attentive, slow down, pass more cautiously, double-check their blind spots, expect the unexpected. They sense that the road has become a more complicated place, and adjust their behavior accordingly. As a result, the road becomes safer, presumably for everyone. Safety in numbers is an important idea that has shifted the way planners and engineers think about bicycle safety. But it won't be the final word. We will doubtless see this idea bandied back and forth for some time, especially as academic interest in bicycling and walking increases. As data improves we'll likely see a more complex relationship emerge among ridership, safety, infrastructure, laws, and culture. Whatever the variables, as Jacobsen told me in a requisitely wonky email, "The bigger SIN story is that those cities /countries that have encouraged bicycling have been rewarded with more trips by bike, and not just a non-linear increase in injuries, but a decrease in injuries." That's huge. Safety in numbers will prove over time, I suspect, to be the first major theory based on objective data that can break down the double standard we all pedal under. Jacobsen's research calls into question the foundation of a system in which the convenience of driving is exalted above the basic safety and mobility of people walking and bicycling.

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ecoMOBILITY Webinar: Implementing Social Marketing
by Beth McKechnie 08 Oct '10

08 Oct '10

** Hello everyone: In case you are interested, the following FREE webinar on "Changing Transportation Behaviours: A Social Marketing Guide" takes place this coming Wednesday, October 13 from Noon-1pm CST. I'm hoping it will be of particular interest to Manitoba folks, as I will be presenting on the WinSmart Community-Based Travel Marketing pilot project that we ran in the Riverview/Lord Roberts/River Heights neighbourhoods from 2007-2009. That project resulted in increased numbers of trips made by cycling, walking and carpooling, and reduced numbers of trips made by driving alone for participating households. Hope you can join us (from the comfort of your own computer) next week. Details follow below -- please share with anyone else you think might be interested. cheers, Beth * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Transport Canada's ecoMOBILITY Program is pleased to invite you to a free bilingual webinar entitled "Implementing Social Marketing" to be held on Wednesday, October 13, 2010, from 1-2pm EST. This webinar will present "Changing Transportation Behaviours: A Social Marketing Planning Guide", a new guide designed to help TDM planners and other transportation practitioners implement effective social marketing campaigns. Please note that the presentation will not focus on the theory behind community-based social marketing (CBSM) but will rather address the practical application of CBSM. Following the presentation on the new guide, Beth McKechnie, Workplace TDM Coordinator from Resource Conservation Manitoba, will present the results from the social marketing aspects of Winnipeg's WinSmart Showcase, one of the projects funded by Transport Canada's Urban Transportation Showcase Program (UTSP). This project included a social marketing pilot, which was remarkably successful in bringing about modal shifts despite Winnipeg's harsh winter weather and entrenched car culture. Follow this link http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/tce to sign up for the webinar. Please feel free to forward this invitation to your colleagues. Best regards, The ecoMOBILITY team http://www.tc.gc.ca/ecomobility *************** Le programme écoMOBILITÉ de Transports Canada a le plaisir de vous inviter à un Webinaire (séminaire en ligne) gratuit et bilingue, intitulé «Mise en œuvre de marketing social» qui se tiendra le mercredi 13 Octobre 2010 de 13 à 14 h HNE. Ce webinaire présentera «Modification des habitudes de transport: guide de planification de marketing social», un nouveau guide conçu pour aider les planificateurs de la GDT et autres intervenants du milieu des transports à mettre en œuvre des campagnes efficaces de marketing social. Veuillez noter que la présentation ne sera pas axée sur la théorie du marketing social communautaire (MSC) mais plutôt sur l'application pratique du MSC. Suite à la présentation sur ce nouveau guide, Beth McKechnie, coordonnatrice de la GDT en milieu de travail chez «Resource Conservation Manitoba», présentera les résultats des aspects du marketing social de «WinSmart: la ville de Winnipeg», l'un des projets financés par le Programme de Démonstration en Transport Urbain (PDTU) de Transports Canada. Ce projet a inclu un projet pilote de marketing social, qui a été un succès remarquable dans la réalisation de transferts modaux, malgré les hivers peu cléments de Winnipeg et la culture bien établie d'usage des voitures. Suivez ce lien http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/tcf pour vous inscrire au webinaire. N'hésitez pas à transmettre cette invitation à vos collègues. Salutations, L'équipe écoMOBILITÉ http://www.tc.gc.ca/ecomobilite -- Beth McKechnie Workplace Commuter Options Green Action Centre 204.925.3772 www.greenactioncentre.ca Green Action Centre is a registered charity. Please consider making a donation. *Coming to the EcoCentre?* (3rd floor, 303 Portage at Donald, MEC bldg) Enter via the elevator just inside MEC's front doors Bike racks are located in front of the building

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Reminder: Mayoral Candidates Forum on Downtown (Thurs Oct 7 5:30)
by Beth McKechnie 06 Oct '10

06 Oct '10

Hello everyone: Friendly reminder about tomorrow's mayoral candidates forum on downtown – an excellent opportunity to discuss the positives of (and need for) pedestrian and bicycling infrastructure in Winnipeg. cheers, Beth <http://login.greatbignews.com/agents/linkTrack.cfm?mid=060508015E&eid=50554…> RSVP on Facebook!<http://login.greatbignews.com/agents/linkTrack.cfm?mid=060508015E&eid=50554…>

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Job Postings: Mechanical Director and Programming Director for the Winnipeg Repair Education and Cycling Hub (The WRENCH)
by Stephanie Fulford 30 Sep '10

30 Sep '10

Hello All, Please find attached 2 job postings for The WRENCH. The WRENCH is a newly established non-profit organization that has developed out of a partnership between individuals, community groups, and the City of Winnipeg. We envision a city where people of all ages, genders, ethnicities and economic backgrounds are empowered to build, maintain, and use bicycles. Our mission is to make bicycles and cycling accessible to the public by providing programming, education and resources for community members and organizations while supporting new and existing community bike shops. Application Deadline: Thursday, October 7th, 2010 -- *Stephanie Fulford* Green Action Centre 204.925.3774 www.greenactioncentre.ca Green Action Centre is a non-profit organization. Please consider making a donation.

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Backpack with Turning Signals for Bikes
by Erik Dickson 30 Sep '10

30 Sep '10

Check out this interesting new backpack with LED lights to indicate left and right turns: http://66.196.80.202/babelfish/translate_url_content?.intl=fr&lp=fr_en&trurl =http%3a%2f%2fwww.fubiz.net%2f2010%2f09%2f29%2fseil-bag%2f#more-104802 Regards, Erik Dickson B.Sc. (Hons) Marr Consulting Services 8th Floor - 136 Market Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0P4 Phone: (204) 927-3456 ext. 242 Fax: (204) 927-3443 Please consider our environment before printing this message.

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WFP: Causes of congestion (Sept.29'10)
by Beth McKechnie 29 Sep '10

29 Sep '10

Winnipeg Free Press Letters to the Editor: Have your say *Causes of congestion* Re: *Bragging rights gone* (Letters, Sept. 27). Tim Kwiatkowski's argument that diamond lanes and red-light cameras have caused increased commute times in Winnipeg is completely illogical. There are two real causes of this, in fact. One deals with drivers. There are more cars and trucks on the roadways than ever before (a high proportion of which are driver-only, i.e. without passengers), more impatient drivers who are cutting others off and getting into accidents, and drivers who are (still!) illegally operating a cellphone and adding to the accident rates. The other cause is city planning and outward migration. The uncontrolled and accelerating suburban sprawl (despite a low rate of population growth) without consideration for public transportation makes it next to impossible for people to take the bus, further clogging the roads with more cars and trucks. Kwiatkowski's argument is completely off-base. The reason driving times have increased is because of increased automobile traffic, not because of a few buses or cyclists. Stephen Berg Winnipeg * * * * * *Bragging rights gone* There was a time, not too long ago, when most Winnipeggers could brag about the pleasure of being able to get from any Point A to Point B in less than 20 minutes of driving. Those days are long since gone. Thanks to the advent of diamond lanes and red-light camera intersections, we now have much longer, smoggier and costly commutes to and from work. We can see the bottlenecked effect on our roadways daily. I could see putting up with the costly bumper-to-bumper traffic if the changes implemented were practical and cost-effective. But such is not the case. It doesn't make sense to force all road traffic into three-quarters of available traffic lanes during the busiest periods of the day, just to maintain a free lane for the occasional transit bus, bicycler or pedestrian on roller blades. I thought this is why we had restricted parking during rush hour. Furthermore, would it have been difficult to implement a yield to transit bus law to expedite the bus traffic? And we know that the red-light camera intersections are not influencing an over-all decline in traffic accidents. I feel that reasonable forethought was not given to these issues. I can say that the current administration has not secured my vote in the upcoming civic election. I know my pocketbook is hurting and our bragging rights are gone. Maybe it is time for change? TIM KWIATKOWSKI Winnipeg -- Beth McKechnie Workplace Commuter Options Green Action Centre 204.925.3772 www.greenactioncentre.ca Green Action Centre is a registered charity. Please consider making a donation. *Coming to the EcoCentre?* (3rd floor, 303 Portage at Donald, MEC bldg) Enter via the elevator just inside MEC's front doors Bike racks are located in front of MEC

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