- AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

Who Needs a Massive RV When You Can Build an Army of $1, 200 Bicycle Campers and Be Free - autoevolution
by Terry Zdan 22 Jun '22

22 Jun '22

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/who-needs-a-massive-rv-when-you-can-buil…

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Rethink roads to save lives
by Charles F 22 Jun '22

22 Jun '22

Today's Globe and Mail editorial Rethink roads to save liveshttps://globe2go.pressreader.com/article/281689733487416Sent from my phone.

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CBC: Winnipeggers call for more reliable bus service as gas prices continue to surge
by Beth McKechnie 22 Jun '22

22 Jun '22

In case anyone missed this spot on article: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-transit-efficient-1.6491239

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This Thursday, Winnipeg Cycling Archive Wrap Party!
by Beth McKechnie 21 Jun '22

21 Jun '22

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Kate Sjoberg <wrenchprogram(a)gmail.com> Date: Tue, Jun 21, 2022 at 9:39 AM [image: 2021-WRENCH-ARCHIVES-SOCIAL-WRAPUP.jpg] Hi everyone! Over the past few seasons, project lead Jon Benson has been collecting archival material that shows the history of cycling activity and activism in Winnipeg. We've really enjoyed learning the stories that have come in and being reminded of different Winnipeg curiosities, challenges, and achievements. Part of what we hoped to do, aside from reconnecting at a time of continued relative isolation, was to demonstrate the long time and ongoing commitment Winnpeggers have made to create a cycling city. This came through, big time! We want to celebrate! Jon is organising a party at the Edge Gallery, which will include display of some of the submissions as well as story telling from a number of contributors. Join us/please share! Thursday June 23 from 7-9pm at the Edge Gallery. Storytellers will include: Peter Obendoerfer Beth McKechnie Merrill Grant Stephanie Chow Allis Kolynchuk Konrad Krahn (Winnipeg City Archives) Please bring your mask! And feel free to share this invitation to anyone who may be interested. Thanks very much to the City of Winnipeg Archives, the Winnipeg Foundation, and archivist Sarah Story for helping us make this happen! The WRENCH The Winnipeg Repair Education and Cycling Hub 1057 Logan Ave. Winnipeg, MB R3E 3N8 Treaty 1 Territory, Homeland of the Metis Nation www.thewrench.ca 204-296-3389

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Globe editorial on car v. bike battle over open streets
by Charles F 15 Jun '22

15 Jun '22

The problem with Toronto’s ActiveTO program is its popularity. And the problem with the most prominent part of ActiveTO – the reason Toronto City Council is under pressure to kill it – is that it’s been the most popular and successful part of the program....In the summer of 2020, Toronto on some weekends banished cars from short stretches of a few streets.The biggest and longest of these routes involved the eastbound lanes of Lake Shore Boulevard West. Six kilometres of pavement, running from the massed condo towers of Humber Bay Shores to the massed condo towers of Liberty Village, Fort York and Harbourfront, were turned over to bikes and walkers. The result? The city found that “more people use Lake Shore Boulevard West to bike, go for a walk or run when the ActiveTO closures are in place when compared to motor vehicle volumes when closures are not in place.”...Turning half the lanes on Lake Shore West over to bikes, rollerblades and walkers was a regular occurrence on weekends in the summer of 2020. But by the summer of 2021, the program was scaled back – fewer days, shorter hours, a shorter route. As of 2022, it’s an endangered species. Toronto City Council is facing demands to terminate with extreme prejudice, and you can see why. If it continues, more people will hear about it, more people will use it and then, well, imagine how bad things could get.And taking away three or four lanes, one or two days a week, undermines the idea that streets are for cars and everyone else is an interloper. Here’s what happens: A drive from Etobicoke to downtown on the Gardiner that took 14 minutes in 2019 took up to 29 minutes on some ActiveTO weekends in 2021.That’s 15 extra minutes for a few thousand drivers, a couple of dozen days a year; in return, hundreds of thousands of people in the crowded neighbourhoods Lake Shore West passes through got a temporary urban park. Fair trade, or dangerous precedent?...(note ironic tone ! )https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/article-activeto-has-been-a-brilliant-success-so-of-course-the-war-on-the-car/Sent from my phone.

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CBC: Waterloo to reduce speed limits to 30 km/h on city streets (Jun13'22)
by Beth McKechnie 15 Jun '22

15 Jun '22

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/waterloo-speed-limits-low… Waterloo will reduce speed limits on city streets to 30 km/h. In a 5-3 vote, councillors approved the move Monday during a council meeting. Staff had recommended lowering speed limits from 50 km/h to 40 km/h on most streets with a drop to 30 km/h around schools, but Ward 2 Coun. Royce Bodaly introduced a motion to lower limits on collector and residential streets to 30 km/h. "In short, it works," Bodaly said of lowering speed limits to increase pedestrian and cyclist safety. "Somebody going 75 km/h in front of a neighbourhood park or a school or just on any residential street, in my opinion, they should be subject to a stunt driving charge, and they would be if we went to 30, but would not if we went to 40." He said he'd like to see Waterloo "drive the culture change" on city streets and accept a Feb., 2020 Stockholm Declaration on Road Safety recommendation <https://www.who.int/news/item/17-05-2021-streets-for-life-campaign-calls-fo…> to lower speed limits to 30 km/h globally. Jason Thistlethwaite, who is co-president of the Uptown West Neighbourhood Association, told councillors the association did consultations with residents and people were supportive of the idea of lowering speed limits. "Reduction to 30 km/h made sense as a deterrent against excessive speed. People felt that there was a difference between driving 60 in a 40 zone and 60 and a 30 zone," he told council. "The overwhelming response was the slower, the better." Hard decision for council: Mayor Ward 4 Coun. Angela Vieth said 30 km/h is "too inhibiting, too slow" and did not support Bodaly's motion. She said the city needs to be consistent with Kitchener, which has lowered speed limits to 40 km, and that there are other ways to slow vehicles down. "I think if we're animating the sidewalks, if we have interesting front yards and and we allow kids to play hockey or to walk on the street if they have to," Vieth said. "Add more activities rather than putting up signs all over the place. Mayor Dave Jaworsky also voted against the motion and explained after the vote that a split vote of council "is simply an indicator of how hard the decision actually was for council." He said his vote was to make sure for the next term of council "which will have a number of fresh faces," the decision would be more "palatable." "You never know what next council might do," he said. Waterloo is not alone to drop speed limits to 30 km/h. Banff, Alta., did it earlier this year <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/town-of-banff-drops-speed-limit-to-3…> and Ottawa lowered some streets <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-city-council-approves-30-km-h-…> in 2017. Staff will now work on a plan to phase in implementation over the next four years. It will cost an estimated $500,000 to changeover signs, a cost that will be brought before the new council when capital budget deliberations for 2023 get underway late this year.

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Green Action Centre hiring 2 sustainable transportation coordinators
by Beth McKechnie 14 Jun '22

14 Jun '22

*** Please share widely. Thanks! *** Green Action Centre is hiring two Sustainable Transportation Program Coordinators, one at full time (35 hours/week) with Active and Safe Routes to School and one part time (24 hours/week) with Workplace Commuter Options. Find details for both postings here <https://greenactioncentre.ca/featured/join-the-green-action-centre-team/>. *Apply by June 30, 2022, *to be part of a great team! cheers, Beth -- Beth McKechnie (she/her) *| *Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> *Green Action Centre is located on the ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg, Ininew, Anishininiwag, Dakota, and Dene Peoples, and the homeland of* *the Métis Nation. We acknowledge that our water is sourced from Shoal Lake 40 First Nation and that our hydro is sourced from numerous First Nations here in Manitoba**. * Green Action Centre is your green living hub Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://www.gomanitoba.ca>

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Put sound devices on bicycles too AKA bells.
by Terry Zdan 13 Jun '22

13 Jun '22

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/electric-vehicles-sound-blind-pedestr…

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Link between AT paths and public health
by Charles Feaver 10 Jun '22

10 Jun '22

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WFP: Planner seeks deep dive into pedestrian fatality data (Jun10'22)
by Beth McKechnie 10 Jun '22

10 Jun '22

*Planner seeks deep dive into pedestrian fatality data * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/deep-dive-into-pedestrian-fatality-… IN the wake of dozens of pedestrians and cyclists killed in Winnipeg crashes between 2012 and 2019, a new push to pinpoint the exact circumstances behind those deaths has emerged. The call to explore the grim details follows an analysis of the fatalities, shared during a presentation at the city’s public works committee Thursday. Jairo Viafara, a professional transportation planner, noted his analysis of city and Manitoba Public Insurance data found an average of four pedestrians were killed per year between 2012 and 2016 in Winnipeg, which rose to 5.6 per year for 2015 to 2019. During the same period, average collision deaths for cyclists fell to one from 2.2, while an average of 12.7 people within motor vehicles died due to crashes in each of those years. Viafara told the Free Press he believes active transportation safety efforts have focused heavily on cyclists in recent years. Protecting bike riders is a major priority but the City of Winnipeg must ensure that effort doesn’t distract from work needed to keep pedestrians safe, he added. “Our streets are not as safe (for pedestrians) as we are led to believe,” said Viafara. “We are being lulled into a (false) sense of safety.” His report notes the increase in pedestrian fatalities seems to be occurring as roads generally become safer for others. “In Manitoba, historically, traffic fatalities have been in steady decline over past decades. The significant increase in pedestrian fatalities seen within Winnipeg runs counter to the overall trend, and as such warrants significant attention,” it states. The planner was educated in Winnipeg and worked in his chosen field in the United States before returning to the Manitoba capital during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reading about local pedestrian safety concerns, Viafara said he was inspired to analyze the numbers. Multiple Free Press articles this year delved into several key safety concerns, as highlighted by traffic safety activist Christian Sweryda. For example, Sweryda noted he’s lobbied the city for more than a decade to add more eye-level lights at pedestrian crosswalks, claiming these are more visible to drivers. On Thursday, Viafara urged the city to take several steps to make travel safer for pedestrians,such as: evaluating alternative crossings at some intersections; identifying “unsafe pedestrian behaviours” to target with education; and considering adding pedestrian leading intervals to crosswalk signals (which would give pedestrians a head start of a few seconds to walk before a green light signals for vehicle traffic to begin travelling in the same direction). “We need to afford people the opportunity to actually walk safely in the city from the point of origin to their destination, (including) school children, senior citizens or people going to work,” said Viafara. Coun. Matt. Allard, chairman of the public works committee, said he agrees the increase in pedestrian fatalities poses a major concern. On Thursday, he shared a motion at public works committee that calls city staff to request monthly collision, death and injury data from MPI and the Winnipeg Police Service to share with councillors. It would also direct city staff to prepare two reports per year, along with monthly verbal reports, on detailed collision data. For each collision, that would aim to include the location, roadway surface, weather, fatality number, traffic volume and signal types, among other details. “We see pedestrian deaths on the rise… in this third-party report, so that’s concerning. And if you start adding up deaths and injuries, it becomes a much bigger issue. I think what’s being asked for here is more information, more quickly and more granularity on what happened, when,” said Allard. The motion notes city data shows at least 51 pedestrians and cyclists were killed in 2012-19 crashes, which Allard said may not include all incidents, such as some matters recorded by MPI. Allard said his goal is to get much more information on the circumstances surrounding collisions to support better informed decisions on how best to prevent them. The committee delayed the vote on the motion until next month. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca

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WFP: Living near multi-use paths brings heart health boost, study says (Jun9'22)
by Beth McKechnie 10 Jun '22

10 Jun '22

*Living near multi-use paths brings heart health boost, study says * CITIES that build safe and easy-to-access paths for walking, running and cycling can improve the heart health of residents who live nearby, a study led by the University of Manitoba suggests. The study looked at four multi-use paths that were built in Winnipeg between 2010 and 2012 in neighbourhoods that were already largely established. It examined provincial health data covering several years before and after, and found that after the trails were built, people who lived within 400 metres of the paths had lower rates of risks to cardiovascular health such as diabetes and high blood pressure. In essence, one of the study’s authors said, people are more likely to go for a walk, run or bike ride — and maybe ditch the car for a commute — if you give them dedicated space away from vehicle traffic to do so. “More and more people are living in urban centres, and we’re really interested in understanding which aspects of the environments that we build in these centres have health-promoting potential,” said Jon McGavock, a professor of pediatrics and child health at the university who is also an investigator with the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba. The study relied on the city’s electronic counters along the paths and found that the busier the path, the greater the reduction in cardiovascular risk factors. Overall, areas within 400 metres of the paths saw an eight per cent reduction in those factors. Near the Bishop Grandin Greenway — the busiest of the four paths — the reduction was close to 15 per cent. The paths that connect residential areas to schools and shopping centres saw the most use. The Bishop Grandin Greenway links high-density neighbourhoods and sprawling suburbs to the University of Manitoba, the football stadium where the Canadian Football League Winnipeg Blue Bombers play, and a large shopping centre. “Because they’re so connected to other things, people use them to go to work, go to school, go do groceries, that sort of thing,” McGavock said. “That would be the… thing that we would try to promote to other cities is, take a look at — when you’re doing your next build — what are the destination points that people are going to (go to).” The study was funded by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and done in conjunction with the City of Winnipeg and the non-profit Winnipeg Trails Association. — The Canadian Press

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WFP Community Review: Options for modernization of Henderson Highway (Jun8'22)
by Beth McKechnie 08 Jun '22

08 Jun '22

Options for modernization of Henderson Highway The City of Winnipeg is looking for input into its modernization of Henderson Highway north of Chief Peguis Trail, which aims to improve safety, traffic flow, and livability from Gilmore Avenue to the north city limit at Glenway Avenue. According to the city, recommendations are sought on a number of items, including: introducing a median on Henderson Highway to manage access and improve safety; improving pedestrian and cycling infrastructure; and replacing the existing Bunn’s Creek crossing structure. According to the city, “the designs presented … are based on technical analysis and traffic studies, as well as what was heard through stakeholder meetings and public participation in a mapping tool that looked at what matters most to road users and residents in terms of safety, efficiency, and accessibility along the corridor.” For more information, or to provide feedback, visit winnipeg.ca/henderson

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Wirld bike day last week
by Terry Zdan 07 Jun '22

07 Jun '22

https://electricautonomy.ca/2022/06/03/e-bike-canada-world-bike-day/

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WFP: Never too old to learn to ride a bike (Jun6'22)
by Beth McKechnie 06 Jun '22

06 Jun '22

*Life-changing program gets parents pedalling* Never too old to learn to ride a bike https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/never-too-old-to-learn-to-ride-a-bi… FOR Jubril Adeyemoh, it’s never quite worked to say that anything in his life is as easy as riding a bike. The 39-year-old immigrant, who moved to Winnipeg two years ago, never got a chance to learn how to ride a bike in his home country of Nigeria. Arriving in Canada, he was struck by the many paths and trails Winnipeg had to offer. “Where I live, there is a lawn, there is a walkway at the back of my house, and I see a whole lot of people ride bicycles,” Adeyemoh said. “I’ve always wanted to also learn so that at least I can ride and enjoy the trip as well.” He and his family were settling down and making community connections when Adeyemoh received a fateful email advertising a free eight-week course, provided by the Louis Riel School Division’s René Deleurme Centre and the Winnipeg Repair Education and Cycling Hub (WRENCH), for parents and caregivers who wanted to learn to ride a bike. As the father of two young kids — one seven, one four — who regularly ride their bikes, he would jog alongside them or keep an eye on them in the park. They’d asked why he couldn’t ride with them, and he never had a proper answer. Joining the cycling course, he realised he wasn’t alone. “I won’t lie to you — a whole lot of other people came like me, that have not rode a bike in the past. And I was wondering if an eight-week period would be sufficient for us to learn,” he said. By the third week, Adeyemoh said a measure of progress was evident. When he surprised his kids with his new bike (provided by the program) and his new skills, they were delighted. “Even though I am still not that very good yet, considering we’ve had about five or six weeks with it, I’m sure with much more practise I’ll get much better,” he said. “But at least my children are very happy.” The program, funded through a federal community health initiative grant, has been a success. WRENCH and the Louis Riel School Division put up posters but had no idea what the level of interest would be, school division spokesperson Melissa Brown said. “Learning things as an adult is a little bit trickier, right? It’s a little harder. You have to get out of your comfort zone to take that chance and be vulnerable, and so we were really proud and happy that our community trusted us to take part in that experience,” Brown said. “That has been a little bit surprising, but very exciting.” There are 30 adults signed up for the program, who started with striders — bikes with the pedals removed to build balance and confidence — and are now working on brief leisure rides. Two other programs are in place for more intermediate riders. One is a bike mechanic course, also offered to parents and caregivers. The other is a leisure ride — meant to help encourage caregivers that are new to the community, or Winnipeg in general, to take to the St. Vital community trails. Participants are mainly newcomers, but range from young parents to seniors, and everyone goes home with a bike and helmet to keep. “Just seeing the response from our community has really just sparked our interest in how we can continue building on programming in the future and offer programs in the future years for our community,” Brown said. “When you see an adult take a chance and learn a new skill and have that pride and there’s something so liberating about riding a bike, it’s just such a rewarding program.” Adeyemoh is now looking into more advanced bike riding programs for adults. He’s taken to bike riding, but the chance to meet new people after pandemic-era social distancing while in a new country has been life-changing. He said he knows other adults who would love to take part in a similar program, and hopes it expands to fit more people’s schedules and reaches more people like him. “It was soft, it was gentle, it was fantastic. It was easy to learn,” he said. “And I will say I have grown as a person, not to even add the fact that I made a couple of friends also by converging every Tuesday morning.” Adeyemoh continues getting up bright and early Tuesday mornings to strap on his helmet and work on bike basics. What he’s gained goes far beyond pedals and wheels. “I don’t know how I can actually express how I feel about it,” he said. “But I’m so glad that I got that email, and I took the steps to take advantage of it.” malak.abas(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Shared street Bill 21 receives royal assent
by Beth McKechnie 03 Jun '22

03 Jun '22

Included in the bills that received royal assent Wednesday in Manitoba: ● Bill 21 (Highway Traffic Amendment and Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Amendment Act) authorizes municipalities to designate a street as a shared street in which drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and other users have equal priority and must share the road with a speed limit of not more than 20 km/h -- Beth McKechnie (she/her) *| *Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> *Green Action Centre is located on the ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg, Ininew, Anishininiwag, Dakota, and Dene Peoples, and the homeland of* *the Métis Nation. We acknowledge that our water is sourced from Shoal Lake 40 First Nation and that our hydro is sourced from numerous First Nations here in Manitoba**. * Green Action Centre is your green living hub Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://www.gomanitoba.ca>

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WFP: People-powered Pedal Pub party bike franchise takes happy hour on the road (Jun2'22)
by Beth McKechnie 02 Jun '22

02 Jun '22

SIP AND SPIN People-powered Pedal Pub party bike franchise takes happy hour on the road https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/sip--and-spin-576558052.html WINNIPEG’S newest pub crawl has wheels — and pedals, and a maximum speed of about eight kilometres per hour. If you’re in the Exchange District or Osborne Village, you might see Pedal Pub. It’s hard to miss: 15 people on a rectangular four-wheeled vehicle, possibly singing to music while pedalling the “party bike” onwards to their next drink stop. “We want to have fun with it,” said Rylan Adam, one of Pedal Pub Winnipeg’s owners. Pedallers hit up microbreweries and restaurants — up to four per two-hour tour — and cycle roughly 15 minutes between stops. Adam saw the party bike in action last August, when he was visiting Sioux Falls, S.D. “I thought, ‘Wow, that’s really cool, fun — I wonder if Winnipeg has something like that,’” he said. Winnipeg didn’t. So, he and friends Miguel Gauthier and Brandon Guenther looked into franchise opportunities: Pedal Pub has more than 60 locations across North America. The trio received funding through the Canadian Small Business Financing Program and a local credit union to buy three $85,000 bikes and cover franchise expenses. “We wanted to get (this) going as fast as possible,” Adam said. “We just kind of thought, coming out of COVID, everyone’s going to be amped to do something.” The bikes are perfect for special occasions like bachelorette parties, birthdays and corporate events, according to Pedal Pub Winnipeg’s owners. “We’re really focusing on the fact that we’re supporting local,” Adam said. “We’re… trying to bring life back into the businesses that have been hurt by COVID.” A trip through the Exchange District might mean visits to Johnny G’s, The Common, Local Public Eatery and Devil May Care Brewing Company. Over in Osborne, people can buy brews at the Toad in the Hole, Confusion Corner Bar and Grill, Low Life Barrel House and Sookram’s Brewing Company. “The timing couldn’t be better,” said Kevin Byrne, general manager of Confusion Corner Bar and Grill. “I think people are itching to get back out.” About six weeks earlier, Pedal Pub Winnipeg approached Byrne to add Confusion Corner to its roster of stops, Byrne said. “It’s a good partnership,” Byrne said while organizing his 20-table parking- lot patio Wednesday. “You get more people in here that haven’t been here for a long time, and you’re supporting someone else that’s trying to get something off the ground.” Pedal Pub Winnipeg doesn’t take a cut of the profits from bikers’ food and drink purchases. Patrons must finish their drinks before they resume pedalling, and they’re not committing the drinking- and-driving offence they would if they got behind a car’s steering wheel, according to the Winnipeg Police Service. “’Pedal Pub’ is considered a ‘vehicle’ under the (Highway Traffic Act) but does not constitute a ‘motor vehicle,’” Ally Siatecki, a WPS media-relations assistant, wrote in an email. A sober tour guide leads each group. The guide controls the bike’s direction and speed and has an electric assist motor to use if needed, but customers are expected to pull their own weight. “If you’ve got 10 people on there, say, then they need to be pedalling in order to make it move,” Adam said. Pedal Pub Winnipeg didn’t require any City of Winnipeg licences, according to spokesman Kalen Qually. “Similar companies would also not require licensing as long as they can confirm the vehicle they plan to use is compliant with existing regulations,” he wrote. The party bikes are too large for bike lanes and will operate on Winnipeg’s roadways instead, Qually wrote. Adam hopes to eventually have alcohol on the bikes. “We’re always in discussion with the LGCA (Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority),” he said, noting Calgary is among the Pedal Pub locations to offer brews and biking simultaneously. Tours begin Saturday. The bikes will travel on city streets from 11 a.m. to 9:15 p.m., though hours vary by day and location. Groups can book a bike for $549 Monday through Thursday and $599 Friday through Sunday. The company is offering individual-seat tours on Tuesday evenings at $60 a person. Riders must be at least 18. “It’s new experiences like this that help move our industry and Manitoba’s economy forward on our road to recovery,” Lindsay Egan, Travel Manitoba’s partnership manager, said at a news conference. Pedal Pub Winnipeg estimates each tour will elicit $1,200 in spending at local businesses. The bikes have five non-pedalling seats. Fietscafe, a Dutch manufacturer, makes the vehicles. gabrielle.piche(a)winnipegfreepress.com

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CTV News: Winnipeg cyclists irked with city's 'haphazard' clearing of bike lanes (May25'22)
by Beth McKechnie 26 May '22

26 May '22

https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/winnipeg-cyclists-irked-with-city-s-haphazard-c…

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WFP: City advised to reduce project design spending (May25'22)
by Beth McKechnie 25 May '22

25 May '22

City advised to reduce project design spending THE City of Winnipeg could impose strict criteria for when a project warrants a detailed design, following concerns it has spent millions exploring projects that don’t get built. “It’s city practice to do… functional designs, which are detailed designs of major infrastructure projects. And those things are done in advance of having funding for (the project). As a result, we have a number of them on the books that are designed but they’re not funded,” said Coun. Matt Allard. “We have several projects that have a lot of merit and several projects that should be built, if we had the money. However, if you add them up, it’s clear as day that we don’t have the funding.” Allard, who is council’s public works chairman, is calling for city staff to study the idea of putting conditions in place before money is spent on a functional design. He believes each project should have a class five (quite preliminary) cost estimate and a minimum of 40 per cent of its total price included in Winnipeg’s five-year capital budget forecast to qualify for that design. Allard’s motion calls for future functional designs to include a 30-year forecast of operating and maintenance costs for each project, as well as an assessment of how it will affect the city’s tax base, including the impact of properties acquired to make room for it. If public works agrees, the report would also explore options to have city staff to manage functional designs inhouse, without turning to consultants. “I’m trying to get more information on the table and I would like us to not spend money until we know that there’s a political desire to pursue a project,” said Allard. He estimates the city has spent several million dollars in recent years on consultant studies for major projects that remain unfunded, indefinitely postponed or cancelled. That includes $1.25 million to design a widening and grade separation for Marion Street. That project was abandoned in 2016, largely because its $566-million price was deemed too expensive, said Allard. “I think (these proposed changes are) tightening up our processes so that we don’t spend money before we need to do so,” Allard told his colleagues on the Riel community committee just before they approved the motion on Tuesday. “Why not save millions of dollars, do the political work and then actually build something?” The councillor told the Free Press additional design work on the William R. Clement Parkway, Arlington Bridge, Kenaston Boulevard and Chief Peguis Trail cost a combined $7.9 million, while the related projects have yet to be pursued. In an email, city spokesman Kalen Qually said the public service will review Allard’s specific motion. However, Qually said functional and preliminary design studies are needed to develop cost estimates that are “suitable for budgeting purposes.” He said such work often can’t be completed by city staff. “Many functional designs require specialized engineering expertise that may not exist within the public service. In addition, internal staff resources are not available to undertake the investigations necessary to develop many of these projects,” said Qually. The statement cautioned against deeming the functional design spending to be a waste. “Preliminary work may be completed well ahead of construction so it’s difficult to say certain projects won’t be completed,” he said. The public works committee will consider Allard’s motion on June 9. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca

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WFP: Cyclists urge city to prioritize major bike routes for street sweeping (May23'22)
by Beth McKechnie 23 May '22

23 May '22

Cyclists urge city to prioritize major bike routes for street sweeping Grinding their gears https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/grinding-their-gears-576527232.html AFTER carefully steering through a layer of road sand on key bike lanes to avoid losing their grip, some cyclists are urging the city to guarantee a quicker spring cleanup in the future. Bicycle commuters argue it’s time the busiest active transportation routes and on-road bike lanes are prioritized to promptly sweep away the debris. “At this time of year, the existing infrastructure … is not properly maintained and it makes it borderline impassable in a lot of spots,” said Evan Krosney, who regularly commutes to work by bike. “The winter that we’ve had has certainly exacerbated the problem this year but it is a recurring scene.” Krosney recently took his complaints to social media, tweeting images of the Maryland Street bike lane, between Broadway and Sara Avenue, which he said was still not cleaned up by Friday. “The bike lanes that are most heavily used seem to fall to the bottom of the priority list,” he said. Krosney is urging the city to prioritize major bike routes for street sweeping, in a similar fashion to the snow-clearing schedule, which bases the plowing order on the demand level for each type of route. Cyclist Julie Penner said she expected some delay on bike lane sweeping due to this year’s spring snowstorms. But she questions why her own quiet residential street was cleaned weeks ago, while at least part of a key bike route connecting Wolseley to the downtown was only partially cleared this week. “There were so many examples of … unsafe cycling conditions that I had to stop and just start taking pictures. In some areas, you kind of just have to cycle at a crawl basically, because if you’re going to be making turns and there’s so much gravel, you run the risk of wiping out,” said Penner. After tweeting her photos of the route, Penner received a social media response from the city that noted spring cleanup will continue until June 19, urging her to report any routes that aren’t cleared by that date. “It’s a month away. That to me is not acceptable,” said Penner. Active transportation advocates argue the city should give bike routes a higher spring cleaning priority because excess gravel and sand can prove more treacherous to bicycles than motorized vehicles. “(At some spots) there’s probably three inches of sand sitting in the bike lane and that’s more than enough to easily cause someone to lose control of their bike… If you’re making a turn, it’s very easy to lose that contact with the pavement. It’s almost like you’re back on ice,” said Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg. Cohoe said quicker cleaning of the routes would support Winnipeg’s goal to combat climate change by making it easier for more residents to switch from single-passenger vehicles to active transportation. Anders Swanson, executive director of the Winnipeg Trails Association, said spring cleaning delays pose a “chronic issue” for cyclists. “At some point… a proper bike lane network (must be) maintained to a standard that makes everybody feel safe and comfortable, period. And that includes not having a beach in the middle of a bike lane,” said Swanson. Current city policy does not set a demand- based priority system for street and bike lane sweeping. That differs from the standards for Winnipeg snow clearing, which require the busiest streets and active transportation routes to be cleared first, said Michael Cantor, the city’s manager of streets maintenance. Instead, a spring maintenance program targets set geographic zones for clearing, with the goal of ensuring entire areas can be cleaned up quickly while minimizing traffic and noise concerns, he said. “There’s no priority system, really. In spring cleanup, we are cleaning the (non-regional bus routes and collector streets) and (residential) streets during the days and the (major routes) during the night because of traffic. So we do everything at the same time,” said Cantor. He said it would be possible for council to change the policy and add a priority element for clearing the busiest bike lanes and paths but that would cost taxpayers more. “It’s a matter of resources and budget and what the city would like to do to do it faster and sooner. Bottom line, it’s always about funding,” said Cantor. The current spring cleanup process is expected to cost the city about $6 million this year and usually takes about six weeks to complete. Cantor noted inclement weather has played a key role in delaying the cleanup this year. The city wasn’t able to start street and path sweeping until May 1, when it’s usually able to do so by mid-April. Even after it finally stopped snowing and began warming up, a series of rainstorms caused some additional delays, Cantor said. The process is now expected to wrap up around June 24, instead of the usual June 1. “It’s really weather dependent and this a ripple effect from this interesting winter that we had, when we had lots of snow and melting snow, so it was wet all the time. And we had rain events, so it’s kind of a perfect storm happening for us,” he said. City crews had swept about 33 per cent of all Winnipeg bike lanes by Thursday afternoon. While cyclists have complained about some residential roads being swept before major bike lanes, Cantor said it’s tough to compare the two. He noted buffered bike lanes require smaller equipment to access, meaning they’re maintenance dates compete for resources with sidewalks, not roads. “We sweep all of the inventory within six weeks. There will be streets that will be swept on the last week and there will be bike paths that will be swept on the (last week),” said Cantor. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: Approved, paid-for bike, walking lanes didn’t appear when roads rebuilt (May21'22)
by Beth McKechnie 21 May '22

21 May '22

Approved, paid-for bike, walking lanes didn’t appear when roads rebuilt Missing: active pathways, millions to pay for them https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/missing-active-pathways-millions-to… ON paper, it seems like a pair of simple projects that could easily be done to move Winnipeg’s active transportation agenda forward. But like most things in the city, what is budgeted and what actually happens are two different things. In the case of the bike-lane and multi-use path projects, the cost of which total $2.2 million and were supposed to be completed last year, no one can clearly explain why the work wasn’t done. Or where the money went. The University Crescent road reconstruction project was launched with Phase 1 of construction beginning in 2021 and Phase 2 scheduled for this year. City council approved $9.9 million for the project, including $900,000 for a protected bike lane in the first phase, and $1.2 million for active transportation infrastructure in the second. But there was no bike lane when last year’s construction was completed. The council-approved 2015 pedestrian and cycling strategy identified the location (near the University of Manitoba) as one of the highest priorities in the city for active transportation infrastructure. Coun. Matt Allard, who chairs the public works committee, said he’s repeatedly asked that department and chief administrative officer Michael Jack what happened on the project and why the bike lane wasn’t built — to no avail. “I’m concerned. I’m frustrated. I’m waiting for answers,” said Allard (St. Boniface). “I’ve had multiple meetings with staff from the public works department. I’ve had a meeting with the CAO. I’ve requested a subsequent meeting with the CAO. “There is a lot of uncertainty in terms of what is going on, as it pertains to approved budgets, council policies and what has happened on the ground.” The city refused a Free Press request for an interview with staff about the University Crescent project. Instead, Ken Allen, communications co-ordinator for the public works department, sent a written statement. “The project is ongoing and certain sections have been completed. Work on completing the entire active transportation pathway is contingent on finalizing land acquisition and addressing land drainage issues,” Allen wrote. But he did not address the request for details on why the protected bike lane wasn’t built and what happened to the $900,000 set aside for its construction. Allard said the University Crescent project is not a one-off. The city’s budget set aside $1.3 million for a multi-use path on Keewatin Street near the Logan Avenue underpass, to be completed last summer as part of a road rehabilitation project. The path wasn’t built, and it’s not clear where the money went. In his written statement, Allen said the $1.3 million earmarked for the path had been “erroneously identified” in both the 2021 capital budget and the 2015 pedestrian and cycling strategy. In other words, the city set aside $1.3 million for an active transportation project — in both its 2015 long-term strategy document and its 2021 budget — by mistake. “With that said, a preliminary design study is underway to identify potential off-road active transportation options, including budget and scope, to connect Selkirk to Burrows. There will be no re-work required related to last year’s pavement rehabilitation,” Allen wrote. Allard said the issue is bigger than just the University Crescent and Keewatin Street examples. He points to a 2008 council motion and the council-approved 2015 pedestrian and cycling strategy, which state that building the city’s active transportation network will be tied to annual road work. “It was understood at the time that we voted on this, that we would build the network incrementally. So, piece by piece, the network would be built… using the road-renewal budget, and eventually we’d have a complete active transportation network,” Allard said. “I’ve been voting for budgets — budget after budget — with the understanding that, despite the very large, record spending on roads, in the event that roads were identified (by the 2015 strategy), that those roads would be getting active transportation treatments.” But he pointed to at least three other cases — on Roblin Boulevard, Hargrave Street and Day Street — where that work wasn’t done. “What’s concerning is we’ve got streets which have clearly identified, prescribed treatments for active transportation, and yet they didn’t happen. The streets got reconstructed and the active transportation isn’t there,” he said. “And I’m concerned and I’m frustrated that despite the budgets, despite the policies in place, the public service is renewing and rehabilitating these roads without the required active transportation components.” Dave Elmore, one of the founding directors of Bike Winnipeg, said the city’s pedestrian and cycling strategy is not ambitious enough. “We’re not seeing the kind of funding required to even meet their so-called award-winning strategy.… They’re simply not following through with the funding required to make it happen — not even close,” Elmore said. “The city has indicated that with road renewals, active transportation will be considered. But it hasn’t always happened. And it’s been disappointing to watch.” Allard said he has requested a report from the public works department explaining what active transportation projects are planned for this year, and what projects have not been done in the past — in contravention of the city’s 2008 and 2015 policies. The public service was given until September to produce the report. “If the issue is not council policy, if the issue is not council budgets, then the issue is with the public service, and the public service implementing council policy and council budgets as they are written… I have a number of outstanding questions,” he said. “There were projects constructed with explicit dollars assigned for active transportation. It wasn’t built and I don’t know where those monies are at… In a nutshell: I feel like I didn’t get what I paid for. I didn’t get what I voted for.” A request for comment sent to the Winnipeg Association of Public Service Officers was not responded to by deadline. Allard said he is hopeful answers will be forthcoming in September. If not, he said an audit would be the last available avenue to get to the bottom of what’s been going on. “Ultimately, I don’t just want answers. I want projects getting built,” he said. “I want projects getting built for the budgets we approved and the policies we approved.” ryan.thorpe(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @rk_thorpe

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WFP: Mayoral hopeful vows to bus, cycle and walk the climate walk (May20'22)
by Beth McKechnie 20 May '22

20 May '22

Mayoral hopeful vows to bus, cycle and walk the climate walk SHAUN Loney promises to walk, bike, bus or carpool to city hall if he’s elected to become Winnipeg’s next mayor. Loney expects the pledge, made Thursday, would allow him to leave most of the mayor’s $550 monthly transportation allowance unspent. “In my career working downtown, I have commuted actively or with transit. In fact, sometimes I skate or canoe, if I’ve got time. It’s my normal practice, but, primarily, I really want Winnipeggers who want a big-city transit system, who value active transportation, to know I am their candidate in this election,” he said. Loney said he hopes to spend just $50 per month of the allowance to load his Peggo card to use Winnipeg Transit instead. However, the current expense policy notes “normal daily travel between home and the normal work location (i.e. city hall)” is not an eligible expense for the mayor to claim, since the funding is meant to cover other costs, such as workday trips, mileage and parking. Loney said he would cover alternative travel expenses through his discretionary budget, if needed, while pursuing council changes to the policy itself. The social enterprise leader hopes his commitment will highlight the value of public and active transportation, options he will make future pledges to improve. “If we’re going to have a big-city public transportation system, Winnipeggers need to use it because it’s the best option for them... We want something that people take… because it’s faster, it’s cheaper and it’s more convenient,” he said. Over four years, he says reliance on public transportation, instead of a personal vehicle, could save thousands of dollars that could be used to purchase bus tickets for clients of non-profit support groups. That would also require a change to the current mayoral expense policy, which automatically diverts unspent funds to the city’s general revenues. Coun. Matt Allard, council’s public works chairman, welcomed the commitment to rely on greener transportation options to commute to city hall. “I think initiatives by leaders like that in the community, who are visible and who are able to promote that message, are good… as someone who is running for public office, (that example could) encourage other people to do it,” said Allard. The St. Boniface councillor said some residents have told him his own pledge to exclusively commute by Winnipeg Transit throughout January 2018 inspired them to follow suit. Four years later, he remains a regular bus rider. Seven other mayoral candidates have registered to run for mayor so far, including Jenny Motkaluk, Don Woodstock, Christopher Clacio, Rick Shone, Scott Gillingham, Robert-Falcon Ouellette and Idris Ademuyiwa Adelakun. Mayor Brian Bowman is not running for re-election. In an email, Gillingham said he frequently rides a bike or bus to work as the city councillor for St. James. Woodstock told the Free Press he “strongly supports” biking, walking and public transportation to get around, and he also owns an electric car. The remaining candidates could not be reached for comment. Winnipeggers will elect their next mayor and council on Oct. 26. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: Winnipeg pedestrian killed in hit, run and cyclist critically injured (May19'22)
by Beth McKechnie 19 May '22

19 May '22

Cyclist critically injured after being struck by garbage truck in separate incident Winnipeg pedestrian killed in hit, run https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/winnipeg-pedestrian-killed-in-hit-r… A PEDESTRIAN has died and a cyclist is in critical condition after two collisions in less than six hours on Winnipeg streets. City police had not yet identified the drivers in either of the apparent hit-and-runs, nor the woman who died, as of late Wednesday afternoon. Police said first responders went to the intersection of Henry and Higgins avenues at about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday for a report of a pedestrian collision. They found a seriously injured woman lying in the road; she later died in hospital. Traffic investigators have not yet identified the victim, police said Wednesday. She is described as Indigenous, 45 to 55 years old, with a small, thin build and shoulder-length salt-and-pepper hair. She was wearing brightly coloured galaxy-print sweatpants and a grey sweatshirt, with white, pink and yellow New Balance runners. She had “Klyde love you” tattooed on her right wrist and “Rohdy” in half of a red heart, as well as a star symbol tattooed on her left forearm. Police ask anyone with information to call the traffic division at 204-986-7085 or the police non-emergency line at 204-986-6222 after hours. A heavy police presence remained in the mostly industrial area near the Canadian Pacific rail yard early Wednesday, as a forensics officer photographed evidence markers laid out in the street. Hours later, in the West End, a cyclist was critically injured after he was struck by a garbage truck. Police said officers responded to a collision at the intersection of Erin Street and Sargent Avenue at about 5 a.m. The man, in his 30s, was taken to hospital. Initial investigation indicates the cyclist was struck by the truck, which then drove off, noting it’s too early to say whether the driver was aware of the collision, police said. It’s unclear what company the truck belonged to; traffic investigators are still seeking to identify it and the driver. When asked whether the red light camera in the area was operating at the time of the collision, a City of Winnipeg spokesman would not comment, instead directing the Free Press to police. As of mid-Wednesday, the one-way Erin Street remained blocked off to south-bound traffic, as debris sat strewn across the street. Two crumpled bicycles, both belonging to the injured cyclist, lay in the middle of the road, along with clothing. A forensics officer carrying a camera walked through the scene behind yellow tape, while other police stood watch in the area, before they packed the evidence into the back of a van. “It’s a bad corner, someone’s always running a light,” said Gerald Dudley, 65. “If you go on the corner over there, you’ll see all the auto parts, there’s pieces all over the place all the time.” Dudley, who has lived on nearby Clifton Street for 41 years, said he knows someone who was recently hit at the intersection while riding their bicycle by a driver who ran a red light. Police also asked anyone with information on the Erin Street collision to call the traffic division. erik.pindera(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @erik_pindera

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NHTSA estimates show traffic fatalities reached a 16-year high in 2021; up 10.5% over 2020 - Green Car Congress
by Terry Zdan 18 May '22

18 May '22

https://www.greencarcongress.com/2022/05/20220518-nhtsa.html Bike fataloties up 5%

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FW: [EXTERNAL] Free webinar – Encouraging active transportation for children
by Kristine Hayward 17 May '22

17 May '22

Hi AT folks. Upcoming webinar by Parachute on Encouraging AT for Children – May 31 and the theme for Safe Kids Week -May 30-June 5 is making roads and transportation safer for kids so they can #WalkBIkeAndWheel See information and links below. K Kristine Hayward (she/her) Physical Activity Promotion Coordinator Population Public Health Winnipeg Regional Health Authority 2nd floor - 490 Hargrave Street (currently working from home) Winnipeg, MB R3A 0X7 Telephone 204 232-7546 Fax 204 940-2690 Email khayward(a)wrha.mb.ca Bike racks are available in front of the building at the corner of Hargrave and McDermot. Plan your Winnipeg Transit trip: http://winnipegtransit.com/en/navigo Metered street parking and pay lots in the area – please note designated loading zones and spots requiring a disability permit. Follow Winnipeg in motion on Twitter - @wpginmotion<https://twitter.com/search?q=wpginmotion&src=typd> Check out our videos on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/user/Winnipeginmotion Scent Free Facility - visitors are asked to refrain from wearing perfumes/colognes/heavy-scented lotions/oils We are located on Treaty 1 Territory and the homeland of the Métis Nation. The water we drink comes from Shoal Lake First Nation. From: Parachute Vision Zero Network <info(a)parachute.ca> Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2022 9:05 AM To: Kristine Hayward <KHayward(a)wrha.mb.ca> Subject: [EXTERNAL] Free webinar – Encouraging active transportation for children [https://r20.rs6.net/on.jsp?ca=eeedbfdb-3d90-41c6-8562-d7c21b3a0af0&a=110361…] [https://files.constantcontact.com/81471b4f001/9a8d2976-3aa8-45a2-a823-d9aad…] Parachute Vision Zero presents: Encouraging active transportation for children [https://files.constantcontact.com/81471b4f001/8bc69cb7-39a8-4cb4-bdc7-a7351…] Tuesday May 31, 2022 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET Active transportation – such as waking, biking and wheeling – are sustainable forms of mobility that not only gets us to where we want to go, but also improve our physical and mental wellbeing. Join moderator Pamela Fuselli, President & CEO of Parachute, as we discuss how to create and sustain active spaces for children to get to and from school and move though their communities safely. Panel Dr. Leigh Vanderloo Scientific Director ParticipACTION Dr. Alison MacPherson Professor Faculty of Health York University Dr. Suzanne Beno Paediatric Emergency Medicine physician Hospital for Sick Children Register<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001ki302aZBZWYKIrnOdFgPDwfiNsAVHX0O9lE_bsqB9Xc…> More info at parachute.ca/webinar<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001ki302aZBZWYKIrnOdFgPDwfiNsAVHX0O9lE_bsqB9Xc…> Supported by Desjardins Safe Kids Week May 30 to June 5 promotes #WalkBikeAndWheel Check out and share our resources<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001ki302aZBZWYKIrnOdFgPDwfiNsAVHX0O9lE_bsqB9Xc…> and information to help parents and caregivers encourage their children to #WalkBikeAndWheel. Parachute’s vision is to make the roads safer so that every kid can walk, cycle or wheel to encourage mental, physical, social and emotional well-being. Find out more<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001ki302aZBZWYKIrnOdFgPDwfiNsAVHX0O9lE_bsqB9Xc…> [null]<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001ki302aZBZWYKIrnOdFgPDwfiNsAVHX0O9lE_bsqB9Xc…> Parachute | 150 Eglinton Ave. East, Suite 300, Toronto, Ontario M4P 1E8 Canada Unsubscribe khayward(a)wrha.mb.ca<https://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=un&m=001ZH8cm0mwpXVSIl5hbMkk5w%3D&…> Update Profile<https://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=oo&m=001ZH8cm0mwpXVSIl5hbMkk5w%3D&…> | Constant Contact Data Notice<https://www.constantcontact.com/legal/customer-contact-data-notice> Sent by info(a)parachute.ca<mailto:info@parachute.ca> powered by [Trusted Email from Constant Contact - Try it FREE today.]<http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp?cc=nge&rmc=VF21_3GE&pn=whiteboards…> Try email marketing for free today!<http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp?cc=nge&rmc=VF21_3GE&pn=whiteboards…> Disclaimer : This email (including any attachments or enclosed documents) is intended for the addressee(s) only and may contain privileged, proprietary or confidential information. Any unauthorized use, disclosure, distribution, copying or dissemination is strictly prohibited. If you receive this email in error, please notify the sender immediately, return the original (if applicable) and delete the email. Avis : Le présent courriel (y compris toute pièce jointe) est destiné à la personne ou aux personnes à qui il est adressé, et peut contenir des renseignements confidentiels, privés ou protégés par un privilège juridique. Toute utilisation, divulgation, distribution, copie ou diffusion non autorisée est strictement défendue. Si vous avez reçu le présent courriel par erreur, veuillez en informer immédiatement l’expéditeur, retourner l’original (le cas échéant) et supprimer ce courriel.

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WFP Analysis: More city than we can pay for (May16'22)
by Beth McKechnie 16 May '22

16 May '22

More city than we can pay for https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/more-city-than-we-can-pa… AS people in Winnipeg emerged from a long, frigid and snowy winter, they found a city with roads bearing a striking resemblance to the surface of the moon. This, despite the City of Winnipeg having had its highest road renewal budget in history for each of the last three years. With drought followed by flood, freezing followed by thaw, Manitoba gumbo has been having its way with our city’s roads. We can’t change the weather, or the soil, and significantly raising taxes wouldn’t be popular, so how will we ever manage our worsening pothole problem? There is one straightforward answer — build fewer roads and get more people to live on the ones we already have. The solution to managing potholes is simple math that reads like a Grade 9 pop quiz. If 10 taxpayers live on a street that is one kilometre long, each one pays to maintain 100 metres of road. If 10 taxpayers live on a street that is one and a half kilometres long, each one pays to maintain 150 meters of road. Every tax dollar being stretched more thinly by lower density means reduced maintenance and more potholes. It’s a simplistic example, but this is precisely what has happened in Winnipeg, and in most sprawling North American cities, over the last 50 years. Since the 1970s, Winnipeg’s low-density, suburban growth patterns have resulted in the population increasing by 37 per cent while the built area of the city has almost doubled. Each taxpayer today is responsible for about 40 per cent more land area and its corresponding infrastructure. Looking at infrastructure such as water pipes, according to the city, each Winnipegger today is responsible for nearly 2.5 times more length of pipe than they were in the 1940s, 70 per cent more than in the 1970s. The math is simple. We have built more city than we can pay for, and our moonscape roads are the result. Looking deeper, the math doesn’t get better. An excellent source of information regarding the cost of Winnipeg’s growth can be found at the Dear Winnipeg Blog (dearwinnipeg.com), written by Michel Durand-Wood. He found that the replacement cost for all of Winnipeg’s roads is about $17 billion, and if we maintain our current road renewal budgets, again, the largest in the city’s history, the replacement cycle will be more than 100 years. The only solution to our infrastructure deficit is to rethink what growth looks like in Winnipeg and begin embracing higher density and more diverse residential and commercial development in our existing neighbourhoods. Locating more development around infrastructure that is already in place, and less development on the periphery of the city that requires new infrastructure to be built, is the only way we will ever inch towards greater economic sustainability. The infrastructure in most need of replacement, for now, exists in older neighbourhoods. The combined sewer system is an important example. Replacing the system is non-negotiable and it will cost billions of dollars to do. To be most cost-effective, our goal must be to have as many people as possible using and paying for that new infrastructure, instead of spending money to replace it while also building new elsewhere. This example translates to all infrastructure and city services, including roads, pipes, sewers, fire halls, community centres, libraries, transit, snow clearing and everything the city pays for. The more taxpayers sharing it, the less costly and the better maintained it will be. By growing our existing neighbourhoods, we will also be investing in our most productive tax base. Despite being filled with high-value homes, new suburbs typically generate far less tax revenue than less-affluent inner-city neighbourhoods because of their lower overall density. Central neighbourhoods like Wolseley, West Broadway, Spence and Earl Grey generate between 50 and 80 per cent more taxes per hectare than new suburbs built on the edge of the city. Osborne Village generates more than twice as much tax revenue per hectare than Bridgwater, Whyte Ridge or Island Lakes. This is also true for commercial development. The single block of Corydon Avenue between Daly and Cockburn streets is lined with old, nondescript, two- and three-storey buildings and shops, but its collective assessed tax value is equal to a Costco in south Winnipeg that uses five times more land area, contributing significantly to the city’s overall footprint, infrastructure and maintenance costs. Not only does the compact nature of mature neighbourhoods produce more revenue, but it also significantly reduces the city’s cost to service them. A study by the Halifax Regional Municipality found that when all infrastructure and public services are calculated, an average home in a central neighbourhood costs $1,416 per year to support, compared to $3,462 in a distant suburb. By embracing density and infill growth, welcoming change in our neighbourhoods and creating policies that support a more compact urban form, we can grow our most productive tax base and spend less to service it. We can complain about soils, weather and construction techniques, but in the end the severity of our pothole problem comes down to simple math. The only solution is to change the equation. *Brent Bellamy is senior design architect for Number Ten Architectural Group.*

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