- AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

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

1 0

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.

1 0

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.

1 0

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

1 0

Bike Parking in Chicago
by David Wieser 21 May '09

21 May '09

WOW, check out the bike parking facility they have had in Chicago since 2005. Could this be something similar to what is going to be built at the University of Winnipeg? Could this be what could be designed into the new Bombers stadium at the University of Manitoba for a bike valet? http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/bike-parking-respect-in-chicago-mcdonal… David Wieser

1 0

NYC's streets are to behave - New York Times, May 21, 2009
by Beth McKechnie 21 May '09

21 May '09

In the Future, New York Citys Streets Are to Behave Imagine narrow European-style roadways shared by pedestrians, cyclists and cars, all traveling at low speeds. Sidewalks made of recycled rubber in different colors under sleek energy-efficient lamps. Mini-islands jutting into the street, topped by trees and landscaping, designed to further slow traffic and add a dash of green. This is what New York City streets could look like, according to the Bloomberg administration, which has issued the citys first street design manual in an effort to make over the utilitarian 1970s-style streetscape that dominates the city. Article online at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/20/nyregion/20streets.html?_r=2&ref=todayspa… NYC street design manual at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/about/streetdesignmanual.shtml

1 0

NYC report - bringing back pedestrian streets
by Beth McKechnie 12 May '09

12 May '09

Interesting summary of New York City's experience in closing streets to cars and opening them to pedestrians and other AT users. Find the full report (55 pages, publ. March 2009) at: http://www.transalt.org/files/newsroom/reports/2009/walk_in_my_street.pdf -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Executive Summary In the summer of 2008, thousands of New Yorkers took a walk in the street. For a handful of weekends strung throughout the summer, several streets around New York City were opened to people instead of cars, bringing the idea of pedestrian streets back into the sun after a three-decade exile in history's dustbin. Transportation Alternatives studied this effort to reintroduce pedestrianization to the streets of New York, documenting three community-driven street events-Summer Space on Montague Street in Brooklyn, the 78th Street Play Street in Queens, and Williamsburg Walks on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn. The results paint a picture of a New York desperate for more public and community space, and New Yorkers ready to make the most of what they have: * Opening the street to people is a boon to local retail: Montague Street retailers experienced 26% higher sales during Summer Space than on comparable days in 2007, on average. * People who have experienced a pedestrian street want more: before the closure, 42% of respondents said they would visit Montague Street if it were closed to auto traffic; during the closure this number jumped by an additional 30%. * Pedestrianization improves visitors' perceptions of a street: the percentage of respondents who rated the pedestrian experience of Montague Street as "Good" or "Very Good" increased from 79% before the closure to 97% during. * Opening the street to people builds community: 100% of those surveyed at the 78th Street Play Street felt that the event "enhanced the park and farmers' market". * Pedestrian streets encourage walking: during the Williamsburg Walks event, 47% of those surveyed said that they had walked to the event, a 14% improvement over normal levels. The experiences of these three events points to a clear conclusion: thirty years after political expediency killed pedestrian streets in New York City, they are making a comeback. And with the help of dedicated, savvy community organizers, they are successfully bringing new open spaces into the communities that need them most.

1 0

Active & Green Spring 2009
by Jessie Klassen 08 May '09

08 May '09

Hello All and Happy Spring! (Apologies for cross-postings) Our new issue of Active & Green is out. Visit the link at: http://www.resourceconservation.mb.ca/news/pdfs/Active%20&%20Green%20Spring% 202009.pdf We hope you will share it widely with your colleagues, family and friends. Here are a few highlights from the Active & Green Spring 2009 issue: * Commuter Challenge and Be a Winner! * Clean Air Day on the Bridge * Take the Green Leap Forward * How to Host a Webinar * The Evidence is Mounting: New Studies Released * New City Bike Map Released * Let Otto Come To * Power to the Pedals Contest * Green Commuting Highlights from Elsewhere If for some reason you are not able to access the link, please contact us and we will email the pdf file directly or provide a hard copy for posting at your workplace. Stay Active & Green, Jessie Klassen Green Commuting Initiatives, Workplace Transporation Demand Management Tel: (204) 925-3772 Email: jessie(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca Resource Conservation Manitoba 303 Portage Ave, 3rd Floor Winnipeg, MB R3B 2B4 Fax: (204) 942-4207 web: www.resourceconservation.mb.ca

1 0

CFLRI resources: Making the Case for AT
by Beth McKechnie 08 May '09

08 May '09

http://www.cflri.ca/eng/active_transportation/index.php Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute: Making the Case for Active Transportation Information bulletins have been developed for professionals and community members who want to build a case for active transportation in their community. Academic, government and non-government sources are used to build a strong case for implementing active transportation opportunities at the local level. Canadian sources are used whenever available. All bulletins are available in English and French. Each bulletin includes evidence that supports the investment of time and resources for active transportation opportunities at the local level. They focus on designing communities for moving people and not cars. Recommended actions to increase and strengthen collaborative partnerships for active transportation are also included. Making the Case for Active Transportation: a.. # 1 - Health Benefits (download now) b.. # 2 - Barriers to Active Transportation (download now) c.. # 3 - Economic Benefits (coming soon) d.. # 4 - Environmental Benefits (coming soon) e.. # 5 - Built Infrastructure (coming soon) f.. # 6 - Safety (coming soon) g.. # 7 - Increasing Social Capital (download now) h.. # 8 - Role for Municipal Decision Makers (download now) Other AT resources from CFLRI: . Research File - Active Transportation (09-04): http://www.cflri.ca/eng/research_file/index.php . Lifestyle Tips - Active Transportation (2009 series): http://www.cflri.ca/eng/lifestyle/index.php

1 0

Bike article round-up
by Beth McKechnie 08 May '09

08 May '09

Bixi bikeshare launched in Montreal: http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/628997 NOW Magazine: It's a bike-friendly world http://www.nowtoronto.com:80/daily/story.cfm?content=169259 Globe and Mail: Pedal Power to the People: Ride on! http://www.theglobeandmail.com:80/servlet/story/LAC.20090502.STLEAH02ART134… CBC News: City to convert 1 traffic lane on Burrard Bridge for bicyclists (Vancouver) http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/05/07/bc-burrard-bike-…

1 0

MB News Release: Rondeau Appoints Members to New Active Transportation Advisory Group
by Beth McKechnie 08 May '09

08 May '09

Manitoba News Release ............................................................ May 7, 2009 RONDEAU APPOINTS MEMBERS TO NEW ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY GROUP Science, Technology, Energy and Mines Minister Jim Rondeau today appointed 11 people to the Active Transportation Advisory Group which will make recommendations for improving Manitoba's active transportation policy and infrastructure. "Having a strong active transportation policy improves our environment, complements our transportation systems, provides better recreation opportunities and enhances our personal and public health," said Rondeau. Appointed to the board are Janice Lukes (chair), Terry Zdan, Anders Swanson, Russell Wychreschuk, Tim Deacon, Marcela Rivera, Mark Cohoe, Pat Locken, Gary Ewen, Murray Haukaas and Steve Paulson. "The creation of the Active Transportation Advisory Group illustrates the province's recognition of the importance of investing in varied transportation choices," said Lukes. "Having transportation choices will have a positive impact on the health, environment and social aspects of our communities." Rondeau noted the group will look at provincial bicycle policy, development of multi-user recreational trails and ways to incorporate both recreational and commuter trails into an overall network. It will also make recommendations on improved signage, bicycle safety, cycling tourism and assess to the economic benefits of active transportation infrastructure. - 30 -

1 0

Active Transportation - Canada: May 7, 2009
by Beth McKechnie 07 May '09

07 May '09

From: Michael Haynes Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 2009 4:00 PM Subject: Active Transportation - Canada: May 7, 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: Lethbridge AB - Pdestrian/Cycling Bridge separated from busy road 1.. Resource - New Active Transportation Fact Sheets 2.. Event - Car-Free Vancouver Day 2009 3.. Article - Cyclists sought for project on improving Winnipeg pathways 4.. Article - Municipalities get moving on sustainable transportation 5.. Article - Montreal pedals past us 6.. Article - Toronto: Four Wheels Good, Two Wheels Bad 7.. Brochure - The Myths and Facts about “Shared Use” Trails in Nova Scotia 8.. Report - I Walk in My Street 9.. Article - Italian Government Spurs Bike Sales with Incentives 10.. Article - Seoul spends on bicycles 11.. Article - Calgary: School bans skateboards 12.. Report - Planning for Cycling: Report to Cycling England 13.. Article - Ireland: The tricky transition to two wheels 14.. Article - Scotland: More children walking to school 15.. Article - UK: Speed limit to be cut on A-roads in bid to save 1,000 lives **************************************************************************************************** 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

1 0

Commuter Challenge launch this Thurs, May 7 at the Forks Skateboard Plaza
by Beth McKechnie 04 May '09

04 May '09

Please join us to kick off the 10th annual Commuter Challenge! Thursday, May 7 at the The Forks, Skateboard Park at 10:00 am (Rain location will be under the centre pavilion tent or just inside the Forks Market in the Atrium) The Commuter Challenge is a national sustainable transportation event to celebrate Environment Week, May 31-June 6. This friendly competition encourages individuals in workplaces and schools to adopt "green" forms of transportation. Last year, over 13,000 Manitobans from more than 200 workplaces and schools participated! This year we're celebrating the 10th year of Commuter Challenge in Manitoba featuring a $10,000 grand prize in our "Be A Winner" promotion. Minister Jim Rondeau and Mayor Sam Katz will be speaking at the kick-off, encouraging Manitobans and Winnipeggers to participate in the Commuter Challenge, and highlighting the numerous environmental, social, economic and health benefits of active living and green commuting. Jackie Avent from Resource Conservation Manitoba, Megan Tate from the Winnipeg Foundation and Paul Jordan from The Forks will also be presenting. For more information about the Commuter Challenge, please contact: Becky Elko, Commuter Challenge Coordinator Resource Conservation Manitoba303 Portage Avenue, 3rd FloorWinnipeg, MB R3B 2B4 Phone: 204.925.3775 / Fax: 204.942.4207 www.resourceconservation.mb.ca

1 0

Ottocycle GPS study details
by Beth McKechnie 01 May '09

01 May '09

1 0

WFP: Winnipeg unveils three bike-friendly initiatives (Apr.30'09)
by Beth McKechnie 30 Apr '09

30 Apr '09

[Winnipeg Free Press] Winnipeg unveils three bike-friendly initiatives WINNIPEG The city has announced three bike-friendly initiatives for this spring: a new cycling map for Winnipeg, the upcoming Bike to Work Day in June, and a GPS project that will let hundreds of cyclists track their routes around the city. The 2009 Winnipeg Cycling Map replaces a 1999 version commissioned for the Pan-Am games, and is available at bike shops and other Winnipeg stores as of today. To find the nearest location, call 925-5686. The GPS project, dubbed OttoCycle, is run by the Centre for Sustainable Transportation and the City of Winnipeg. Over 900 cyclists can track their routes between May and October to see where potential cycling infrastructure could be built in Winnipeg. Anyone who cycles more than once a week is eligible, and can sign up by emailing Ottocycle(a)uwinnipeg.ca or calling 988-7182. Bike to Work Day falls on Friday, June 19 this year. More information is available at www.biketoworkdaywinnipeg.org.

1 0

The Times: Plan for bikeway Powers forward (Apr.30'09)
by Beth McKechnie 30 Apr '09

30 Apr '09

From: Canstar Community News (The Times) http://www.canstarnews.com/page/story/the_times/3867 Plan for bikeway Powers forward By Avi Saper April 30, 2009 Public input will be a key component of the citys plans to turn Powers Street into a bicycle boulevard by the end of the year, says Winnipegs active transportation czar. Were making a significant change to their neighbourhood, said active transportation co-ordinator Kevin Nixon. They have to be onside with whatever we decide to do. They have to understand it, and they have to be in favour of it. The North Winnipeg Commuter Cyclists, a group of bicycle activists that has been lobbying the city for two years to make Powers more bike-friendly, will be hosting a public meeting at Pritchard Park Community Centre beginning at 6:30 p.m. on May 14. Residents will be asked at the meeting for their thoughts on how to discourage non-local vehicle traffic from using Powers all the way from Flora Avenue to Leila Avenue while encouraging cyclists and pedestrians. That could mean reducing the number of four-way stops along Powers, installing traffic circles at intersections, narrowing certain sections of the road into chicanes and creating speed humps to slow down cars. Theres a degree of guesswork right now on how all this is going to work, said NWCC member Nona Pelletier. We have an opportunity to do something fantastic here and really change the look of the North End. Pelletier and her husband Greg Littlejohn, who is also a member of NWCC, said Powers is the ideal street for the project because plenty of pedestrians already walk on the road and cyclists use the route year-round. The idea isnt that were going to eliminate cars entirely, Pelletier said. That isnt our intention. The idea is to keep the cars going at the same speed as the bikes. Littlejohn said the eventual goal is to have a street that community members especially children can use on a regular basis to get anywhere they might need to go. In order for that to happen, the communitys safety concerns must be addressed, he said. There isnt that much traffic now (on Powers), Littlejohn said. But it is a street where stolen vehicle are sometimes driven, and some people come down here to avoid the possibility of a breathalyzer. The only comparable bike boulevard the city already has is Argue Street in Lord Roberts, which was created last year. Nixon says the city learned some valuable lessons on the importance of public consultation while working on that project, and will be making sure it hears from all residents by the end of June before proceeding on Powers. Trying to determine where traffic will go instead of Powers is a key consideration, Nixon said, as well as how easily pedestrians and cyclists will be able to get from one end of the street to the other. (This site has) a lot of good things going for it, he said. Theres a good crossing with a crosswalk at Selkirk, and Burrows and Inkster both have medians so youre only crossing one direction of traffic at a time. Residents and city planners are sharing an enthusiasm that the project will soon be a reality. Two years ago, the idea that Powers could be a bikeway didnt exist, Pelletier said. Nixon, who has been working on active transportation since July 2007, said city council is making it easy for him to do his job. Its an exciting time to have this job, he said. Theres a lot of political support for this right now.

1 0

Walking....The NEW Full Body Workout - May 22, 2009
by Deanna Betteridge 30 Apr '09

30 Apr '09

Hello, Can you please assist Winnipeg in motion by promoting the following FREE event and forwarding this information on to your networks? See you at the Library, Deanna ************************************************************************* Take Your Walk to the Next Level! Walking......The NEW full body workout. Walking is great exercise and most of us already walk a little bit every day. The benefits of walking are even greater when you use walking poles or add strength training to it. Join Deanna and Kristine of Winnipeg in motion and Ken Chura of Keenfit as they show you how to get more out of your every day walk. Ken will discuss the advantages of using walking poles and demonstrate how to use them. Deanna and Kristine will show you how to get a full body workout by using simple equipment and objects along your walking route. This session will be held on Friday, May 22, from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. in the Carol Shields Auditorium on the second floor of the Millennium Library. Admission is FREE and registration is NOT required - just wear comfortable clothing to join in the activities, or come to watch! Unable to attend? Visit www.winnipeginmotion.ca for great resources related to this session (& many others) to help you and your family get "in motion". Please feel free to pass this information on to your co-workers, family and friends. Contact Winnipeg in motion at 940-3648 for more information. ************************************************************************* Take Your Walk to the Next Level is part of "in motion Fridays", a series of monthly workshops that promote physical activity for better health. The in motion @ the Library series is sponsored by Winnipeg in motion and the Millennium Library. For a complete list of workshops, visit http://www.winnipeginmotion.ca/resources/in_motion_library . ** 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.

1 0

Streetfilms - Portland Bridge
by David Wieser 30 Apr '09

30 Apr '09

Just imagine a bicycle traffic jam on the new Disraeli Bike / Pedestrian Bridge. Check out the new Streetfilms video on the Hawthorne Bridge in Portland, Oregon. http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/portland-bike-rush-hour-on-the-hawthorn… 7000 + bicycle crossings per day 20% of the traffic on the bridge less than 10% of the space David Wieser

1 0

Take a Jane's Walk this weekend - May 2 & 3
by Beth McKechnie 29 Apr '09

29 Apr '09

Hope to see you out on a Jane's Walk this weekend! Check out all the walks at: http://janeswalk.net/participating_cities/winnipeg (Please share widely...)

1 0

City media launch Wed noon - cycling hot topics
by Beth McKechnie 28 Apr '09

28 Apr '09

[forwarded from Bike to the Future] The City of Winnipeg, along with their partners from Bike to the Future, the Winnipeg Trails Association, Climate Change Connection, One Green City, Resource Conservation Manitoba, the Manitoba Cycling Association, and The Centre for Sustainable Transportation will be announcing three exciting Active Transportation initiatives for 2009 on Wednesday April 29th at noon at the City Hall Courtyard: * Winnipeg Cycling Map 2009 will be available at bike shops throughout Winnipeg starting on Wednesday April 29th. http://biketothefuture.org/news/archives/2009/04/28/winnipeg-cycling-map-20… * A GPS cycling study called OttoCYCLE: Building Better Biking in Winnipeg will start on May 1st. http://biketothefuture.org/news/archives/2009/04/19/cycling-gps-mapping-pro… * The 2nd annual Bike to Work Day will be held on Friday June 19th. http://biketothefuture.org/events/archives/2008/12/20/ Mayor Sam Katz, City Councillor Russ Wyatt, City Active Transportation Coordinator Kevin Nixon, and representatives from each partner organization will be attending. A good turnout of cyclists will help launch these three initiatives on a very positive note. Kevin Miller Bike to the Future, Co-Chair http://biketothefuture.org

1 0

Fw: Active Transportation - Canada: April 22, 2009
by Beth McKechnie 22 Apr '09

22 Apr '09

I found the article on "The physics of why bicyclists hate stop signs" particularly interesting. If you want to go straight to the original essay/paper: http://blog.oregonlive.com/commuting/2009/04/physicsofstopping.pdf cheers, Beth ----- Original Message ----- From: Michael Haynes Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 9:14 AM Subject: Active Transportation - Canada: April 22, 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: Yellowknife NT - Frame Lake Walkway 1.. Report - Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center: Case Study Compendium 2.. Article - But the emperor has no clothes! 3.. Article - Urban design turning kids off being active 4.. Article - Go ahead, take a walk in the park 5.. Report - The physics of why bicyclists hate stop signs 6.. Article - Ottawa: Skateboarder contests city's helmet proposal 7.. Article - Australia: Eco suburb plan unveiled for city 8.. Video - L.A.’s Orange Line: Bus Rapid Transit (plus bike path!) 9.. Article - Thinner is better to curb global warming, study says 10.. Article - EU Digs Deep in Public Rental Bikes 11.. Article - University of Kentucky plans bicycle permit parking 12.. Article - South Korea: [President] Lee Highlights Plans to Promote Bicycle Use 13.. Article - Plan to reduce speed limit to 30km/h throughout most of Dublin city centre 14.. Article - Taiwan to promote bike tourism 15.. Article - Can Abu Dhabi be a pedestrian city? **************************************************************************************************** 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

1 0

Happy Earth Day
by Stacy Matwick 22 Apr '09

22 Apr '09

Interesting post with some good tips. http://www.good.is/post/bike-commuting-and-living-to-tell-about-it/ 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 Website: 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

1 0

WFP L2E: Make room for cyclists (Apr.21'09)
by Beth McKechnie 21 Apr '09

21 Apr '09

[Nicely expressed letter in today's Winnipeg Free Press. -cheers, Beth] Letters to the Editor Have your say:Make room for cyclists I work downtown and commute by bicycle along Pembina Highway. I do my best to be respectful of motor vehicle drivers and allow enough room for small vehicles to share the lane with me most of the time. However, due to potholes, gravel/sand build-up, and certain areas where lanes are narrow, I need to take the full lane along small stretches of my commute. For safe riding, this is recommended by the Canadian Cycling Association, and permissible under the Highway Traffic Act. I applaud most drivers, because they are respectful of my safety, and change lanes, or give me ample room within my lane as they pass by me. Unfortunately, I also face daily assaults on my safety by an angry few. Drivers speed by within inches of me, cut me off, honk, and even yell profanities. In fact, the other day I was flipped the bird twice on my way home. This message is aimed at those angry few. If I am taking the full lane, I am doing it for safety reasons. It is not intended to upset you, so please don't show your frustration by putting my life at risk. If you are a large truck or SUV driver, we almost certainly can never share a lane, even if I am far to the right. The width of your vehicle does not allow for a reasonably safety cushion of space between us. You need to change lanes to pass me. Again, I'm not trying to upset you by riding my bike, so please do not show your frustration by putting my life at risk. If you still feel frustrated and angry over having to share the road with me, rest assured, we are on the same side! I don't want to be on the road with you either, but I do not have any other options along Pembina Highway. So instead of aiming your anger at me, and thereby putting my life at risk, I suggest you funnel your anger into a letter to your city councillor demanding the city fast track cycling infrastructure. Then, I can be out of your hair and your lane once and for all. Sylvia Buchholz Winnipeg

1 0

TO posts 32% increase in biking to work
by Beth McKechnie 14 Apr '09

14 Apr '09

Toronto posts a 32% increase in biking to work between 2001-2006: http://www.bikingtoronto.com:80/2009/04/biking-to-work-in-toronto-increases… cheers, Beth

1 0

Fw: Active Transportation - Canada: April 8, 2009
by Beth McKechnie 09 Apr '09

09 Apr '09

----- Original Message ----- From: Michael Haynes Sent: Wednesday, April 08, 2009 8:41 AM Subject: Active Transportation - Canada: April 8, 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: Rails with Trails 1.. Conference - Toronto: Bike Summit 2009 2.. Article - Active transportation plan will wait til 2010 3.. Article - Vancouver set to launch bike sharing program 4.. Article - Transit use associated with better fitness, say Canadian researchers 5.. Report - Cycling on the Rise: Public Bicycles and Other European Experiences 6.. Article - Lakefront plan gives pedestrians top priority 7.. Article - Korea: Insurers urged to offer policies for bike riders 8.. Report - Chicago: Bicycle and Pedestrian Crashes in Illinois: 2004-2007 9.. Article - US: City to spend millions on walking paths, bike lanes 10.. Article - Vandalism Doesn't Damage Paris Cycle Hire Scheme 11.. Article - Hey, you! On the cell phone! Watch where you're walking! 12.. Article - Skateboarding at school? Fridley elementary says sure 13.. Article - Skateboarding and yoga boost PE 14.. Article - Skateboard park breaks ground this spring 15.. Article - Documentary deal eases pain of city fine **************************************************************************************************** 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

1 0