- AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

Bicycle Boulevard Planning & Design
by David Wieser 16 Jul '09

16 Jul '09

This report is intended to serve as a planning and conceptual design guide for planners, engineers, citizens, advocates, and decision makers who are considering bicycle boulevards in their community. Data for this guide was developed from literature review, case study interviews, and input from a panel of professional experts. Download the 6 MB document at: http://www.ibpi.usp.pdx.edu/guidebook.php

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It's not about the speed
by Stacy Matwick 16 Jul '09

16 Jul '09

Interesting article. What kind of Galapagos finch are you? http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/ethicallivingblog/2009/jul/16/cycling… Cheers Stacy Matwick Information Centre International Institute for Sustainable Development 161 Portage Ave. E., 6th floor Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 0Y4 Voice: (204)958-7755 Fax: (204)958-7710 Email: smatwick(a)iisd.ca Library website: http://www.iisd.org/ic/ "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read" Groucho Marx "Life is like a bicycle, to keep your balance your must keep on moving" Albert Einstein

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Story on CBC on walking and cycling to work
by Erik Dickson 14 Jul '09

14 Jul '09

Interesting story from CBC on walking or cycling to work. http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/07/14/fitness-walk-bike-commute.html 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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Fw: Report now available on Built Environment
by Jessie Klassen 13 Jul '09

13 Jul '09

Strong emphasis on AT in this report on the built environment from the Social Planning Council of Cambridge in Ontario. Jessie Klassen Workplace TDM Resource Conservation Manitoba jessie(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca (204) 925-3772 Resource Conservation Manitoba: Living Green, Living Well Practical solutions for yourself, your community and the environment Green Commuting, Environmental Education, Reducing Waste, Composting Resource Conservation Manitoba is a registered charity. Please consider making a donation. This Ontario report may be of interest. (Trish, could you circulate to PANS?) Laura Donatelli Knowledge Development & Exchange Analyst Public Health Agency of Canada Telephone: (204) 789-7407 Fax.: (204) 789-7878 laura_donatelli(a)phac-aspc.gc.ca Mailing Address: Manitoba and Saskatchewan Regional Office 1015 Arlington Street Winnipeg, MB R3E 3R2 ----- Forwarded by Laura Donatelli/HC-SC/GC/CA on 2009-07-13 09:55 AM ----- Leslie Payne/HC-SC/GC/CA To 2009-07-13 09:52 PHAC Ontario Integrated Strategy AM cc PHAC Regional KDE Network, Gregory Butler/HC-SC/GC/CA@HWC Subject Report now available on Built Environment Colleagues, Please note that the final report from the PHAC (ONT-NUN) funded work on the built environment is now available electronically. It has some very useful information and a number of case studies from the region. It is also available on the Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition website. (See attached file: Our CommunitiesOurHealthOurFuture.pdf) Leslie Leslie Payne Knowledge Development and Exchange Analyst | Analyste du développement et de l'échange des connaissances Public Health Agency of Canada | Agence de la santé publique du Canada 180 Queen Street West, 11th Floor Toronto, Ontario M5V 3L7 Tel|Tél: 416-973-6710 Fax|Téléc: 416-973-0009

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Vancouver - Burrard Bridge lane given to cyclists
by David Wieser 11 Jul '09

11 Jul '09

It's interesting to watch all the news coverage on one lane being given to cyclists in Vancouver, BC. Here is an interesting article with lots of good quotes. Such as "The bridge doesn’t just carry traffic, it carries addicts." http://www.vancouversun.com/travel/Column+Chaos+Mayhem+World+Know+Would+Tha… It's also interesting to read the comments people are writing on any articles on the lane closure, not too pretty. David

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Important public event on Parking & Downtown Development
by Jessie Klassen 08 Jul '09

08 Jul '09

Hi everyone, Please come out to this important event brought to you by Downtown Biz. Please spread the word! The Role of Parking as a Catalyst for Downtown Development An information session with Dennis Burns, Senior Vice President of the Studies and Operations Consulting Group for Carl Walker, Inc., a national parking design and consulting firm General Public Information Session July 15th, noon-1:30pm Globe Cinema, 3rd level, Portage Place Areas of Focus for the Presentations will include: 1. Role of parking – public and private – in a major city 2. How parking affects city growth, and how city growth affects parking 3. How to densify parking, turn surface spaces to garage spaces 4. Zoning and planning tools and techniques to leverage parking for growth 5. Parking vs. Transit OR Parking + Transit 6. The role of parking in transit oriented development 7. How to deliver public parking to modern businesses in a growing city 8. Parking supply and demand – how much is enough? 9. The role of municipal parking or a parking authority in a major city 10. Triggers to sparking private development of public parking facilities – 3 P or other model 11. The importance of setting proper meter rates for on and off street parking to drive retail For more info: Visit http://www.downtownwinnipegbiz.com//home/events/role_of_parking/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- Windows Live helps you keep up with all your friends, in one place.

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Fw: Active Transportation - Canada: July 6, 2009
by Beth McKechnie 07 Jul '09

07 Jul '09

----- Original Message ----- From: Michael Haynes To: undisclosed recipients: Sent: Monday, July 06, 2009 9:10 PM Subject: Active Transportation - Canada: July 6, 2009 Active Transportation - Canada features a regular posting of news articles, studies, reports, and other items that have relevance in this field, with previous postings available in an archive. In addition, pictures of existing Active Transportation infrastructure from communities across Canada will be profiled each week. The following items have recently been posted to the Active Transportation - Canada Blog. To view in more detail, go to: http://activetransportation-canada.blogspot.com **************************************************************************************************** AT Infrastructure Example: La Vallee QC - Rails with Trails 1.. Edmonton: Local Motion - Eco-Friendly Transportation 2.. Website - 20's Plenty For Us 3.. City adds 2,000 new Bixi bikes 4.. Newsletter - Bike Walk News Vancouver Island July 2009 5.. Let's learn to travel together 6.. How Portland Bureau Of Transportation plans for bike corrals 7.. Mayor considers pedestrian-cyclist crossing parallel to Burrard Bridge 8.. Conference - 2nd Safe Routes to School National Conference 9.. Book Review: Bike Messenger 10.. Owen Sound needs more pedestrians and less car traffic 11.. Government of Canada Celebrates Grand Opening of New Central Valley Greenway 12.. Bicycle-Only Subway Cars Planned 13.. Bike-trail betrayal alleged 14.. Amsterdam: More Trips by Bike than by Car 15.. Dieppe takes lead on bike lanes 16.. St. Laurent's new look 17.. Fliers call for drivers to blockade Sunrise Century cyclists 18.. W.H.O. Examines Traffic as Health Hazard 19.. Iqaluit bridge for pedestrians only, environment minister says 20.. Scenes from the Tour la Nuit 21.. City’s pedestrian plan boosts sidewalk spending 22.. Object of desire or necessary evil? 23.. Mayor wants better cycle plan 24.. Most kids earn failing grade on exercise, report finds 25.. Cycling to the Summit 26.. What do you think about scooter style e-bikes? 27.. Vision council doubles spending on cycling 28.. Longboards, a new trend in skateboarding, are designed for comfortable long-distance riding 29.. Skateboarders go wild 30.. Arrests follow swarm of skateboarders 31.. Rural Community Active Transportation Workshop **************************************************************************************************** A reminder e-mail of new postings will be sent no more often than once per week. To continue to receive these updates, you need take no action. Should you not wish to receive updates, please return this e-mail with "Unsubscribe" in the Subject area. Interested in an AT workshop in your community? For more information, please contact: Michael Haynes Director, TransActive Solutions activetransportation(a)rogers.com 613.424.2803

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Webinar - Counting Bicyclists and Pedestrians
by Jessie Klassen 02 Jul '09

02 Jul '09

Hi All, Come and join us for a free webinar on Counting Bicyclists and Pedestrians, taking place July 15th at 2pm in the Eco-Centre boardroom (303 Portage Ave, 3rd Floor). More information below. Please RSVP to jessie(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca or 925-3772. Hope to see you there! Jessie Klassen Workplace TDM Resource Conservation Manitoba jessie(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca (204) 925-3772 Resource Conservation Manitoba: Living Green, Living Well Practical solutions for yourself, your community and the environment Green Commuting, Environmental Education, Reducing Waste, Composting Resource Conservation Manitoba is a registered charity. Please consider making a donation. Webinar: "Counting Bicyclists and Pedestrians" Wednesday, July 15 · 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. EDT Accurate demand and usage data for bicycle and pedestrian facilities can influence policy and funding decisions and strengthen grant requests. In the past, lack of data has limited the ability to justify investments in bicycle and pedestrian facilities. In this one-hour webinar, participants will learn about the latest tools and research for forecasting bicycle and pedestrian demand and use. While there are well-established methodologies for conducting traffic counts, performing household travel surveys and modeling travel demand for vehicles, no such standards exist for nonmotorized modes. Presenters Michael Jones, Principal, and Jennifer Donlon, Senior Planner, of Alta Planning + Design, will discuss advances in count technology and demand analysis, including: - The latest pedestrian and bicycle automatic counters - Which technology is right for your count - Techniques for extrapolating hourly counts to forecast demand at specific times of day or year - The National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project Also in this webinar, Daniel Sauter, of Urban Mobility Research in Zurich, will present an overview of his Walk21 pre-conference session, "Measuring Walking, Part III: Performance indicators and methods for monitoring and benchmarking," which will address ongoing efforts to establish international standards for the collection, analysis and dissemination of qualitative and quantitative techniques for measuring walking.

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Bike Racks available at all Jazz Festival Venues
by Mark Cohoe 30 Jun '09

30 Jun '09

Hi, Just a quick note to let everyone know that the Winnipeg Jazz Festival has arranged to have bike racks placed at all of their venues for this year's festival. At most venues, the racks have a TD Jazz Festival flag to make them stand out. There will also be bike parking at the closing weekend at Old Market Square. Please remember to bring a lock with you for the bikes. Mark

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in motion Walking Rally - Sunday, July 5th
by Deanna Betteridge 30 Jun '09

30 Jun '09

The ParticipACTION Sun Life - Inspire the nation tour is coming to Winnipeg on Sunday, July 5th to deliver a clear and simple message to the city - it's time to get active and move more! Visit the Inspirational Booth to get a FREE pedometer, interact with tour staff and record a video about how you've added more movement to your life, so you can inspire others to do the same. Your story could be featured in a television commercial. The Inspirational Booth will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Join ParticipACTION, Sun Life Financial and local partners, Winnipeg in motion and Manitoba in motion, as we inspire Manitobans to get moving by holding an in motion Walking Rally. Gather your friends and family and come out for a FUN, FREE, FAMILY scavenger hunt for your chance to win prizes. Date: Sunday, July 5th Time: 1:00 p.m. Location: Assiniboine Park - near the Duck Pond For additional information, please visit www.winnipeginmotion.ca or call Winnipeg in motion at 940-3648. ** Sign-up to receive Winnipeg in motion email updates www.winnipeginmotion.ca/signup/ ** ------------------------------------------------------------- Deanna Betteridge, M.Sc. in motion Coordinator 2 - 189 Evanson St. Winnipeg, Manitoba R3G 0N9 204-940-3264 (w) 204-232-3297 (c) 204-940-8409 (f) E-mail: dbetteridge(a)wrha.mb.ca Web site: www.winnipeginmotion.ca This email and/or any documents in this transmission is intended for the addressee(s) only and may contain legally privileged or confidential information. Any unauthorized use, disclosure, distribution, copying or dissemination is strictly prohibited. If you receive this transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately and return the original. Ce courriel et tout document dans cette transmission est destiné à la personne ou aux personnes à qui il est adressé. Il peut contenir des informations privilégiées ou confidentielles. Toute utilisation, divulgation, distribution, copie, ou diffusion non autorisée est strictement défendue. Si vous n'êtes pas le destinataire de ce message, veuillez en informer l'expéditeur immédiatement et lui remettre l'original.

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Streetfilms - A park from the midst of its pavement
by David Wieser 29 Jun '09

29 Jun '09

Yet another fantastic film from streetfilms. This one involves removing cars from a major intersection and the placing of street furniture in the street. Allowances are made for street cars to travel through at 17th / Castro / Market in San Francisco. After 17 years of planning, installation occured over a 72 hour period, from cars to pedestrian friendly streetscape. http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/san-francisco-carves-a-park-from-the-mi… I would be curious to hear about where you think this could occur in Winnipeg, such as Albert / McDermot / Bannatyne area. This network isn't a discussion based forum, so feel free to e-mail me if you have a suggestion and I'll compile a list and reply back. David Wieser

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WFP: Winnipeg can become cycling city
by Beth McKechnie 27 Jun '09

27 Jun '09

Winnipeg Free Press: June 27, 2009 Editorials Winnipeg can become cycling city Cycling groups now say they feel they were sold a bill of goods because of a flawed feature in the overall plan. A gap in the route at the Osborne Street rail underpass will separate the northern and southern sections of the bicycling path, forcing cyclists from both directions to use the narrow sidewalks or the roadway beneath the CN Rail tracks. Cyclists, of course, already use the underpass, but the bike trail will funnel many more people into a potentially dangerous bottleneck with pedestrians and motorists. For its part, the city says it will rebuild the entire underpass sometime in the future, but it's not in the budget now. In the meantime, civic traffic engineers have a variety of ideas for solving the problem on a short-term basis, including dedicating one sidewalk for pedestrians and the other for bikes, and possibly even expanding a sidewalk, but they are unsatisfactory answers to a problem that has been on the table for many years. It is also hard to imagine cyclists sharing a single sidewalk in a safe manner. The three levels of government are spending $138 million for the first phase of the Southwest Transit Corridor, but they should dig a little deeper to ensure the project is done right now, rather than waiting for the crumbling underpass to die of old age. If not, they may want to consider other options, rather than building a pathway with a giant pothole in the middle. The province has already said it's prepared to help with extra cash. It is in the city's interest to get more motorists out of their cars and onto buses. Another way to get people to leave their cars at home is to develop good infrastructure for cyclists. In fact, there's no reason why Winnipeg can't develop a reputation as a cycling city, which would be a significant promotional tool. Some skeptics say the city's severe winters are an obstacle to achieving that goal, but the observation is uninformed. Minneapolis is a winter city, too, yet it has been named the No. 2 cycling city (after Portland) in the United States, boasting 65 kilometres of dedicated bike lanes along city streets, and 130 kilometres of off-street bicycle paths. That's in addition to other measures to encourage and support cycling. As a result, an estimated 7,200 people regularly commute to work by bicycle, including many in the winter. The city has pledged that by 2020, everyone will have convenient access to a cycling route. Winnipeg already has many passionate cyclists, but the lack of infrastructure is a deterrent to convincing more people to give it a try. The average person is just too intimidated by the poor roads and close proximity to cars to consider travelling very far by bicycle. The city has been talking about rapid transit for decades. Now that we are ready to begin a small leg of the project, let's get started on the right foot. A transportation initiative that discourages cyclists is no way to launch a project that wants to get cars off the road and encourage alternative modes of transportation.

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Have your say - AT consultations this week
by Beth McKechnie 23 Jun '09

23 Jun '09

[excerpted from a Winnipeg Trails Association mailing] Have your say on pedestrian and cycling issues at three different events taking place this week: June 23 - Bishop Grandin Greenway WEST of the Red River - Winnipeg Technical College - Henlow Bay http://www.winnipegtrails.ca/2009/05/13/community-consultation-bishop-grand… June 24 - Building the Network - Red River Campus - Princess Street http://www.winnipegtrails.ca/2009/05/12/building-the-network-public-open-ho… June 25 - Silver Ave. Pathway - Heritage Victoria Community Centre - Sturgeon Rd http://www.winnipegtrails.ca/2009/05/10/silver-avenue-pathway/

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[Bike to the Future] "Where's the Pathway in BRT?"
by Beth McKechnie 23 Jun '09

23 Jun '09

[Circulated on behalf of Bike to the Future...] Help inform Winnipeggers about a critical gap in the City's Active Transportation network and get a free ice cream! Join us this Thursday June 25th at noon at the South Osborne Underpass for a press conference highlighting the sudden and fundamental change in the Southwest Rapid Transit Corridor. Background For years the rapid transit project has been mandated to include an integrated Active Transportation Pathway. In the current plans, the pathway has become disconnected by the South Osborne Underpass. The fragmented remnants of the pathway will lead motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians into conflict. Paul Jordan, Chair of the Winnipeg Trails Association, along with representatives from the Winnipeg Trails Association, The Forks, the Prairie Pathfinders walking club, Bike to the Future, Winnipeg Rapid Transit Coalition, Manitoba Cycling Association, and One Green City are undertaking an awareness campaign to inform the public of this fundamental change. Paul and others will hold a short press conference on the Active Transportation component of the Southwest Rapid Transit Corridor project followed by a walk through the underpass and free Banana Boat ice cream on the other side. This is one of the most critical "choke points" of the Active Transportation Network. If must be addressed now. We hope you can attend. Please share this message with your contacts. Press Release PDF Letter to Premier Doer PDF Letter to Mayor Katz PDF The Gap in the City's SW Rapid Transit Corridor bikeway plan (May 23rd) The Gap -- diagram PDF Curt Hull Bike to the Future, Treasurer http://biketothefuture.org

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Bike to Work Day registration push
by Beth McKechnie 16 Jun '09

16 Jun '09

*Please post widely* Register NOW for Bike to Work Day! Only 4 days left to go! Friday, June 19th, 2009 On-line registration for this FREE event is now open at http://biketoworkdaywinnipeg.org/registrations/new. Great prizes! Pancake Breakfast! Group Rides! Bike Oases! Refer a friend and have more chances to win! The more friends you refer, the more times your name gets entered in the prize draws. The event this year is bigger and better! Events of the day include: Manitoba Lotteries Pancake Breakfast - 7-9 am June 19th, 2009 7-9 am, Forks Market Join us for food, music, entertainment and company the morning of Bike to Work Day! The first 300 cyclists to arrive will receive a free pancake breakfast. *NEW This Year!* Bike Oases - 6:30 - 9:00 am Stop by your local neighbourhood Oasis on your way to work for some snacks and refreshments provided by Edna Fedya Restaurant. Then, once you're energized you can Catch the Wave (see below for more information) downtown to the Pancake Breakfast with other cyclists! Oasis Locations (check out www.biketoworkdaywinnipeg.org for a visual map coming soon!) Natural Cycle Oasis - at Polo Park (on Portage Avenue) Free Press Oasis - Northgate Shopping Centre (on McPhillips) Manitoba Public Insurance Oasis - Kildonan Crossing (Narin at Lagimodiere - Moxies Parking Lot) Alter Ego Sports Oasis - Edna Fedya Restaurant in Smart Park (off Chancellor) at the University of Manitoba *NEW This Year!* Catch the Wave Bike Waves (escorted group rides) will be leaving from each Oases at 7:15 am and going to the Forks. Route details are posted at www.biketoworkdaywinnipeg.org. Cyclists are welcome to join up with or leave the wave at any time along the route. If you're already a rider - come out to show how many of us there are out there! If you're not a rider - come out to ride safely in a group. Bike Waves will be lead by experienced cyclists bringing valuable safety tips for newer riders. Check out www.biketoworkdaywinnipeg.org for more information, great photos, fun maps and more exciting information about Bike to Work Day 2009!

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Building the Network Public Open House
by Erik Dickson 09 Jun '09

09 Jun '09

Hello Everyone, Please see the attached invitation to the Building the Network Public Open House on Wednesday June 24 from 4:00 - 8:00 PM at Red River College Princess Street Campus, CGA Manitoba Room, P-107 Main Floor. Please feel free to distribute to your email mailing groups, post to websites and print copies of the poster to put up. Please contact me if you have any questions. Hope to see you all on the 24th! 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 editorial cartoon: share the road
by Beth McKechnie 08 Jun '09

08 Jun '09

In today's Winnipeg Free Press...

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Bike to Work Day Volunteers!
by Beth McKechnie 04 Jun '09

04 Jun '09

[please help spread the word...] VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED FOR BIKE TO WORK DAY! Visit www.biketoworkdaywinnipeg.org for more information! June 19th, 2009 will be the second annual Bike to Work Day in Winnipeg. This day cannot happen with out the energy of volunteers and we need you! We still need approximately 60 volunteers for Bike to Work Day itself! Those interested in volunteering should contact kristin(a)marrcc.com with their name and preferred volunteer placement (see below). Volunteers will be entred to win a volunteer-only prize package, and will be invited to a Volunteer-only Appreciation Event in the evening with food, drink, music and merriment. Volunteers will also receive a distinct Bike to Work Day t-shirt and have the satisfaction of contributing to an exciting and worthwhile event. Bike to Work Day 2009 will consist of the Manitoba Lotteries Pancake Breakfast at the Forks, and we will have four Bike Oases (with food, drink and swag) located at Polo Park, the U of M, North Gate Shopping Centre and Kildonan Crossing (visit www.biketoworkday.org for detailed information about location). Bike Waves (escorted group rides) will run from the Oases to the Forks in the morning. We need volunteers in the following capacities: Pancake Breakfast - 2-shifts (6:30 - 7:45; 7:45 - 9:00) - 51 volunteers! traffic directors at the Forks site: 8 x2 registration 10 x2 registration table coordinator 1 - to fill both shifts bike valet 4 x2 shirt hand-out person 1 x2 Door entrance counter 1 x2 Spare 1 x2 Bike Oases - one shift 6:00 - 9:00 am - 4 volunteers! U of M 1 to staff Oasis; Polo Park 1 to staff Oasis; Northgate 1 to staff Oasis; Kildonan Crossing 1 to staff Oasis; Evening Appriciation Event - 3 shifts - 5-6 pm; 6-7 pm; 7-8 pm Door Security 1 x3 -- o _`\(,_ ......... (_)/ (_)

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Ped & bike image library
by Beth McKechnie 02 Jun '09

02 Jun '09

Looking for images of pedestrians and cyclists? The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) image library is US-based but offers free high res images. See more info below, along with usage guidelines and a call for photo submissions. -cheers, Beth ------------------------ PBIC News Brief June 1, 2009 http://www.walkinginfo.org/newsroom/2009-06-01.cfm PBIC launches updated image library Submit your images for chance to win a free retro-reflective pants strap! CHAPEL HILL, NC The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center announces the launch of the updated and redesigned pedestrian and bicycle image library at www.pedbikeimages.org The PBIC Image Library is a searchable collection of free, high-quality images relating to walking and bicycling. Visitors to the site may use the images in any non-commercial projects including web pages, presentations and reports. There are no per-image costs, royalties, or extra payments for the images, but users must adhere to the Usage Guidelines posted on the site at www.pedbikeimages.org/usage.cfm The updated site features hundreds of fresh images of people, transportation facilities, and livable places in the US and in more than 10 other countries. The images can be searched for using keywords, or users can browse by popular search terms. Users can also search for images from specific states or countries, photos taken by a particular photographer, or for a specific format or print quality. The PBIC would like to encourage users to submit http://www.pedbikeimages.org/submit.cfm their own pedestrian and bicycle-related photos. For the next 6 weeks starting on June 1, users who submit their own related images will be automatically entered in a weekly random drawing. Users will be entered into the drawing for each image they submit, so your odds of winning increase as you submit more photos. The winning recipient for each week will receive one PBIC retro-reflective bike pants strap. The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center is funded through the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and maintained by the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center. -- Laura Sandt Research Associate, UNC Highway Safety Research Center Associate Director, Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center 730 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Suite 300 / Campus Box 3430 Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3430 Tel 919.962.2358 Fax 919.962.8710 sandt(a)hsrc.unc.edu www.walkinginfo.org www.bicyclinginfo.org.

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Active Transportation - Canada: June 1, 2009
by Beth McKechnie 01 Jun '09

01 Jun '09

----- Original Message ----- From: Michael Haynes Sent: Monday, June 01, 2009 9:02 AM Subject: Active Transportation - Canada: June 1, 2009 Active Transportation - Canada features a regular posting of news articles, studies, reports, and other items that have relevance in this field, with previous postings available in an archive. In addition, pictures of existing Active Transportation infrastructure from communities across Canada will be profiled each week. The following items have recently been posted to the Active Transportation - Canada Blog. To view in more detail, go to: http://activetransportation-canada.blogspot.com **************************************************************************************************** AT Infrastructure Example: Moncton NB - Mayor unveils new "Share the Road" signs 1.. Website - Germany: Revolution on Two Wheels 2.. Article - Toronto: Campaign woos newcomers 3.. Article - Montreal: Fighting for the right of way 4.. Article - Get walking or cycling, says local committee 5.. Article - New bike lanes planned for Ajax cyclists 6.. Article - Active transportation combines bikes, transit 7.. Article - Toronto council passes plan to narrow Jarvis in favour of bike lanes 8.. Conference - The 5th Montreal Citizen Summit 9.. Event - Vancouver: Velo-City: Vancouver & the Bicycle Revolution 10.. Event - Toronto: World-renowned Danish architect and urban design visionary Jan Gehl to speak in Toronto 11.. Article - Arizona: Skateboarding joins PE curriculum 12.. Video - How Bicing changed the way Barcelona moves 13.. Book Review - “Pedaling Revolution: How Cyclists Are Changing American Cities” 14.. Newsletter - UK: Cycle Digest 15.. Report - UK: New Dept for Transport Consultation Paper on 20 mph for residential streets **************************************************************************************************** A reminder e-mail of new postings will be sent no more often than once per week. To continue to receive these updates, you need take no action. Should you not wish to receive updates, please return this e-mail with "Unsubscribe" in the Subject area. Interested in an AT workshop in your community? For more information, please contact: Michael Haynes Director

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Orioles Bike Cage Employment Opportunity
by Beth McKechnie 01 Jun '09

01 Jun '09

Employment Opportunity - Orioles Bike Cage Community Engagement Officer (Contractor) Orioles Bike Cage (444 Burnell Street) is a community-owned bicycle resource centre. We strive to create a bicycle-friendly community where everyone has a reliable bike and the skills to maintain it and to share our knowledge of bicycle repair in a welcoming environment. The Bike Cage is seeking a part-time, 4-month, contract Community Engagement Officer. This position will be of interest to an outgoing, self-motivated person with strong communication skills and a passion for community and for bikes. The Community Engagement Officer will co-design and deliver community outreach/involvement, volunteer coordination and a children’s bike event. Contract requirements are estimated at 20 hours per week; contract value is $4,000. Applications are due June 12, 2009. Send to OriolesBikeCage(a)gmail.com or to: Attn: Orioles Bike Cage, c/o Daniel McIntyre/St. Matthews Community Association, 444 Burnell Street, Winnipeg MB, R3G 2B4 Complete job description: http://oriolesbikecage.googlegroups.com/web/OBC+Community+Engagement+Contra… Orioles Bike Cage web site: http://www.bikecage.ca/

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G&M: The new key to the city: Bikes (May23'09)
by Beth McKechnie 26 May '09

26 May '09

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/travel/the-new-key-to-the-city-bikes/ar… The new key to the city: Bikes Montreal's Bixi program lets visitors rent a bike for an hour or a day. Cities and hotels are inviting guests to cruise around like locals, and Montreal's new bike-sharing program is leading the way On the streets of Montreal, where visitors once flocked to watch Formula One cars race through the streets, you can now cruise the city on two wheels. That is, on one of the 3,000 sleek bicycles in the city's new bike-sharing program. Launched this month, Bixi is North America's largest and most innovative bike-sharing program, billed as a green, cheap method of getting around. With the city's 450 kilometres of bike paths, you can cruise around like a local. "Tourists are most welcome to use the system and experience the city the way local residents do," Tourisme Montreal's Patrick Guidote says. As urban cycling gains in popularity, following the European example, cities and hotels are offering bike-sharing and bike paths - along with bikes as amenities for guests - as a way to attract visitors and open up a new tourism experience. With the $15-million Bixi - the name blends the words "bicycle" and "taxi" - Montreal is building on its potential for visitors. In an online video, Tourism Montreal blogger "Tamy" recommends pedalling to places slightly off the beaten path: Jean-Drapeau Park, for instance, where you can bike on the F1 Gilles Villeneuve track and then stop for a dip at the Jean-Drapeau beach. The formula for such programs is simple. In Montreal, riders use a member's key or credit card to unlock a bike, pedal it around town and return it to one of 300 solar-powered docking stations. The sturdy aluminum bikes have three speeds, raised handlebars, lights, and tires built for urban cycling. They're also theft-resistant - and come with a modest rental price. The first 30 minutes of every ride is free. After that, it costs from $1.50 for an hour to $5 for a full day of cycling. Bixi is modelled after programs in Europe, including Berlin, Barcelona and particularly Paris. After two years of operation in Paris, a city of 2.2 million, the Vélib' program has clocked 42 million riders - thanks in part to tour guides who lead visitors around the Latin Quarter by bike. If success is based on longevity and popularity, then Bycyklen in Copenhagen is perhaps the biggest success story. Copenhagen brands itself as the City of Cyclists, and 36 per cent of locals travel by bicycle; the city is aiming for 50 per cent by 2015. Founded in 1995, Bycyklen was the first large-scale urban bike-share program featuring specially designed bikes. And it's free: Riders leave a $4.25 deposit, which is refunded when they return the bikes. Its tourism board weaves promotional campaigns with tips on how to experience the city like a local and boasts about its extensive network of bike paths, which expands every year. According to bike-sharing consultant Paul DeMaio, Montreal and other cities are likely to see bike-sharing programs become a favourite mode of transport for visitors. "Tourism improves when visitors can rely on the local transit network, including bike-sharing, rather than needing a car rental," he says. "Tourists get to experience a city more up close when they're biking. They can smell the aromas of the bakeries and enjoy urban life, rather than be frustrated about being stuck in traffic and worried about where to find parking." Given the growth of bike-sharing globally, that sort of experience should be a common part of city tourism within a few years. London plans to unveil its 6,000-bicycle-strong share program by 2010. Boston, Minneapolis, Denver, San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia and Phoenix have announced programs for the near future. In New York, the quintessential urban jungle, the city has conducted a comprehensive study to assess the potential for a bike-sharing program. And this summer, the neighbourhood group Alliance for Downtown New York is running its second annual Bike Around Downtown program, which provides the public with bicycle rentals (free for members, and anyone can register online to be a member), including helmets and baby seats. Some of the hippest hotels in North America are also getting in on the action. In New York, the Hotel Gansevoort invites guests to hop on their fleet of ultramodern Puma bicycles, complete with helmets. Chicago's James Hotel stocks trendy Paul Frank-designed bikes for adults and kids that are perfect for a ride down Lake Shore Drive. And in Miami Beach, where visitors are used to seeing fancy cars vying for attention along Ocean Drive, The Raleigh hotel encourages guests to cruise along the boardwalk with their own set of wheels. Bike-sharing programs are designed for short trips, which means there has to be a critical mass of activities that are accessible by bike in order for tourists to embrace the trend, says Jennifer Keesmaat, a founding partner of Office for Urbanism, a Toronto-based planning and design firm. "Cyclists don't stay on their bikes," she says, "They use cabs, buses and their feet to get around, so a network of paths has to tie all of the pieces together." Local governments have to invest in constructing bike lanes, trails and good signage, she argues, before they implement bike-sharing programs. Detroit seems to be getting the idea. This month, it officially unveiled the Dequindre Cut, a walking and cycling trail on an abandoned rail line just outside downtown. It has three access points: the Detroit riverfront, the established residential community of Lafayette Park, and the southern end of Eastern Market, a historic district that is home to a farmers market and restaurants. In a general sense, Keesmaat argues, a strong environment for urban cycling improves a city for its residents and acts as a major draw for visitors. "People measure cities by how easily they can get around. If you're sitting in traffic for hours, you generally don't want to be on the road," Keesmaat says. "But if you're cycling on safe, well-signed bike lanes, feeling the breeze and seeing the sights en route, then you'll be a lot happier where you are." * * * Pack your bags BICYCLE-SHARING PROGRAMS Bixi, Montreal www.bixi.com Vélib, Paris www.velib.paris.fr Bycyklen, Copenhagen www.bycyklen.dk Bike Around Downtown, New York www.downtownny.com/bikearound HOTELS WITH BICYCLE AMENITIES Proximity Hotel Greensboro, N.C.; 336-379-8200; www.proximityhotel.com. Offers complimentary use of its bicycles to explore the nearby eight-kilometre Greenway trail. Raleigh Hotel Miami Beach; 305-534-6300; www.raleighhotel.com. Hotel Gansevoort New York; 212-206-6700; www.hotelgansevoort.com. James Hotel Chicago; (312) 337-1000; www.jameshotels.com. Lorien Hotel & Spa Alexandria, Va.; 877-956-7436; www.lorienhotelandspa.com. Special to The Globe and Mail

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Cycling route working session - June 2
by Beth McKechnie 22 May '09

22 May '09

[Forwarded on behalf of Erik Dickson, Marr Consulting Services] Please see below an invitation to a Working Session on developing cycling route improvements in Winnipeg for June 2, 2009. Please note the registration deadline of May 31, 2009.

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Globe & Mail: A battle of wheels
by Beth McKechnie 22 May '09

22 May '09

Andre Picard's Second Opinion A battle of wheels The leisurely Tour de l'Île has been criticized for not aligning itself with a charity. Is the promotion of physical activity - in this case cycling - a worthy cause in itself? Of course it is http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/a-battle-of-wheels/article114516… Andre Picard Monday, May. 18, 2009 04:24PM EDT On June 7, more than 30,000 cyclists will take to the streets for the annual Tour de l'Île, a leisurely 50-kilometre jaunt around the Island of Montreal. The event, organized by the non-profit group Vélo Québec, is designed to promote cycling as a healthy family activity and an alternate form of transportation. But, above all, it's supposed to be fun and liberating, the one day of the year when bikes can roll through the city streets unencumbered by cars. Not surprisingly, the Tour de l'Île has had to deal with a backlash from motorists. While the event closes only a fraction of Montreal's streets, and it does so on a quiet Sunday in June, it does lead to some delays for drivers. As a result, some municipalities (the Island of Montreal is home to an incomprehensible mix of boroughs, towns, cities and political fiefdoms) and surrounding suburban communities have banned the Tour de l'Île. It is not coincidental that the most vocal opponents of the activity are commuter havens, where cars rule the roost. But organizers and supporters of the Tour de l'Île have seen through these self-serving complaints and soldiered on, adjusting the course route in deference to the anti-cycling lobby. But now the Tour de l'Île is dealing with a new line of attack: Complaints that the event is not associated with charitable fundraising. Murray Levine, founder of the Philanthropic Athletes Foundation, has led a dogged campaign against the Tour de l'Île, arguing, among other things, that the event should not get tax dollars and taxpayer-supported services (namely police and street cleaners). He argues that this investment - about $600,000 a year - is unfathomable. Mr. Levine wants the Tour banned, unless it aligns itself officially with a charity and promotes fundraising. This line of attack conveniently ignores the fact that taxpayers - even the cyclists - pay billions of dollars each year to maintain the road network and that the only thing car drivers donate daily is air pollution. Just as curious is that Mr. Levine has targeted the Tour de l'Île and not made a big stink about other state-supported, traffic-disrupting events like the Montreal Marathon, the Jazz Festival, the Santa Claus parade, the St-Jean Baptiste parade and so on that do not actively raise money for charity either. Regardless of his ulterior motive - Mr. Levine is, after all, a professional fundraiser - the gadfly raises an intriguing philosophical question. Is the promotion of physical activity - in this case cycling - a worthy cause in itself? Of course it is. Further, should the promotion of physical activity and alternative forms of transport get state support? Again, in a society where obesity and lifestyle-related chronic illnesses are epidemic and where our reliance on fossil fuels is destructive, it is indeed a good investment. Charities play an important role in Canadian society and they have found many creative ways of raising funds. The marriage of healthy activities like biking and raising money for cancer research (the Ride to Conquer Cancer) or running marathons and raising awareness of childhood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma (Team in Training) is often inspirational. Charity - the giving of one's money or time - is, by definition, voluntary. It should not be mandatory. Many people participating in the Tour de l'Île will use the event as an occasion to raise money for charity and that's wonderful, and they are in no way prevented from doing so. But people should be able to lace up their shoes and saddle up on bikes without setting out to cure cancer or save the world. To suggest that the Tour should not have access to Montreal streets and to city services if they do not actively promote charitable giving is preposterous. What Mr. Levine is suggesting, while no doubt well-intentioned, reflects a much larger problem: The commodification of daily life. Not every activity of daily living needs to have a commercial purpose. Every breath we take need not be associated with the generation of economic activity, either commercial or non-profit. We don't need ads plastered on every sidewalk and subway platform. We can have city parks that are not festooned with the ads of their corporate sponsors. We can have buildings in our public institutions that do not sell off their naming rights in the name of charity. We can run marathons for the sheer masochistic pleasure without having to pester our friends for sponsorship. We can walk our dogs without it being a protest march against dog fighter Michael Vick. And we can bike around the Island of Montreal for a day without it having to be a guilt trip. In our high-octane society, there is, in fact, a refreshing purity to the Tour de l'Île. Cars run riot in the city 3641/2 days a year. Charitable fundraising takes place every single day of the year, and at a furious pace. But on June 7, on the streets of Montreal, there will be a welcome respite: Cycling for the sake of cycling; breathing for the sake of breathing. Families hanging out together without, as a prerequisite, the systemic badgering of friends and relatives for sponsorship. The Tour de l'Île is the type of investment we should make in ourselves and our cities far more often and far more purposefully.

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Friday morning laugh
by Stacy Matwick 22 May '09

22 May '09

Just a little something something that made me smile - thought you'd all enjoy. http://www.boingboing.net/2009/05/21/howto-plant-a-handle.html Posted by Cory Doctorow, May 21, 2009 9:42 PM "Instructables user FriendOfHumanity has a little HOWTO for installing a windowbox planter on the handlebars of your bike. I dunno, I'd be worried about doing a faceplant (worse yet, if you planted chickpeas, you might falafel your bike) (I did that once and I falafel about it)." http://www.instructables.com/id/Bicycle-Window-Box--For-the-transient-garde… Cheers Stacy Matwick Information Centre International Institute for Sustainable Development 161 Portage Ave. E., 6th floor Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 0Y4 Voice: (204)958-7755 Fax: (204)958-7710 Email: smatwick(a)iisd.ca Library website: http://sd-cite.iisd.org<http://www.iisd.org/> "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read" Groucho Marx "Life is like a bicycle, to keep your balance your must keep on moving" Albert Einstein

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