- AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

WFP: City moves toward open summer streets (Apr22'21)
by Beth McKechnie 22 Apr '21

22 Apr '21

EPC votes to devote parts of 17 roadways to giving cyclists extra room this year City moves toward open summer streets https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/city-steps-toward-open-summer-stree… THE City of Winnipeg could offer even more open streets for cyclists this year, but it’s unclear if it will find a way to reopen them to pedestrians. Council’s executive policy committee voted Wednesday to devote sections of 17 roadways, up from a previously proposed 14, to provide extra room for … [View More]cyclists this year. The seasonal active transportation routes would limit vehicle access to just one block of travel at set hours and are currently slated to open as early as May 3 and last until Nov. 5. If council approves, a pilot program for most of the now-labelled “enhanced summer cycling routes” would operate that way from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Four of the routes are currently slated for weekend and holiday hours only, with exact times still being sorted out. The “open streets” concept was widely welcomed on 10 different street sections in 2020, as a way for both pedestrians and cyclists to enjoy safe, socially distanced recreation during the COVID-19 pandemic. To the disappointment of many, the current proposal doesn’t include pedestrians — because the city has since learned it violated the provincial Highway Traffic Act by inviting them to use last year’s routes. The act prohibits pedestrians from walking on roadways where a “reasonably passable” sidewalk is present. Coun. Matt Allard, public works committee chairman, said he’s hopeful the city can work out some kind of pedestrian access solution with the province, and pursue the cycling routes in the meantime. “In terms of this report (on) enhanced bicycle routes, I think it’s a step in the right direction that opens many new streets to cyclists and will calm the streets because of the limited vehicle traffic,” said Allard (St. Boniface). The councillor noted the current motion calls upon civic staff to report back on pedestrian access discussions with the province next month. A provincial minister has publicly stated the Manitoba government will “never” change the Highway Traffic Act to let a municipality mix pedestrians with vehicle traffic on such routes. Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler said Winnipeg could instead close a section of a street or lane to vehicles to reserve it for pedestrians and cyclists. He said the city would need to use road paint and add signs at every affected block to make the rule obvious. So far, councillors have not officially called for that change, though some believe the city should consider it. Coun. Markus Chambers (St. Norbert-Seine River) said all options should be explored to invite pedestrians back to the routes. “The success of this last year, the ability to have people out and about on the streets, that’s what we want to promote. So, if there’s a way we can do that safely, that’s our objective,” said Chambers. Mayor Brian Bowman stressed Winnipeggers should obey the current “rules of the road,” despite the fact they could walk on the active transportation routes last year. “The Highway Traffic Act is there to protect the safety of residents… and I think it’s important that we, as a municipal government, and citizens respect the legislation,” said Bowman. The mayor declined to weigh in on whether he thinks police should ticket pedestrians who walk on this year’s cycling routes. He also stopped short of stating whether or not he personally wants to restore foot traffic on the routes, only noting he supports discussing that option with the province. “We’re doing our best to navigate the legislation in a way that provides more recreation amenities for our residents.” joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga [View Less]

1 0

Free Webinar Next Week: Jeff Speck on Walkability Studies
by Beth McKechnie 21 Apr '21

21 Apr '21

What is a Walkability Study, and Why Should You Do One? WEBINAR, THURSDAY, APRIL 29 – 2:00 P.M. EDT ------------------------------ [image: What is a Walkability Study, and Why Should You Do One?] <https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVy…> What is a Walkability Study, and Why Should You Do One? *Thursday, April 29 at 2:00 p.m. EDT* *Participants of this live webinar are eligible for 1.5 AICP CM credits.* Join the Maryland Department of Planning and … [View More]

1 0

Canstar - The Times: Better active transportation options urged (Apr19'21)
by Beth McKechnie 19 Apr '21

19 Apr '21

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/times/Better-active-trans… Organizations are advocating for a connected walking and cycling network throughout Winnipeg. Organizers from Green Action Centre, Winnipeg Trails, Safe Speeds Winnipeg and Bike Winnipeg, along with fellow signatories, say an improved active transportation network would promote physical and mental well-being, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and address transportation inequity. Letters <https://greenactioncentre.… [View More]ca/> stating the request were sent to Mayor Brian Bowman, Premier Brian Pallister, and Saint Boniface-Saint Vital MP Dan Vandal earlier this month. Fearless R2W, a North End-based group concerned with child welfare, was one of the letter signatories. "Fearless R2W has a network of families who rely heavily on public transportation, walking, active transportation, and being able to have a safer way for themselves and their children to transport themselves in between home and school and work and leisure," spokesperson Michael Redhead Champagne told *The Times*. He said area residents praised the City of Winnipeg’s open streets project — which saw some streets blocked off for pedestrian and cyclist use only — last year and were hoping to see it expanded this summer. The city was planning to reboot the program in May of this year; however, a legal technicality may rule out pedestrians from using the open streets. Earlier this month, the public works department released a report that said Manitoba’s Highway Traffic Act prohibits pedestrian use of a roadway when a sidewalk is present. So, the "open" streets would be welcome to cyclists only. Mel Marginet, co-ordinator of the Green Action Centre’s sustainable transportation team, said the city needs to start implementing permanent solutions rather than temporary and recreational-based options. "At this point, we really need to move beyond a recreation response towards real transportation choice … and we just see that a connected walk/bike network is the logical next step that they need to do," Marginet said. "We really need to see some clear action, some political motivation and to just really get moving on offering all Winnipeggers transportation choice." Traffic volumes have been down at least 20 per cent during the pandemic. Organizers say now that the streets are emptier, it’s the ideal time to form new travel habits. The city released the Winnipeg Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies report in 2014. The document outlines opportunities to improve connectivity, convenience, safety and accessibility throughout the city. Marginet said the groups want the city to return to the strategies, identify gaps, and use temporary infrastructure to provide solutions until permanent change can be implemented. "As part of a modern growing city, the (m)ayor has and continues to support active transportation and the City’s Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies with significant annual investments since he was first elected in 2014," a spokesperson from the mayor’s office said in an email, adding that the mayor is optimistic about the federal government’s new active transportation fund. In March, the Canadian government announced an investment of $400 million over five years to help build new and expanded networks of pathways, bike lanes, trails and pedestrian bridges across the country. At press time, the federal government had not revealed how the funding will be allocated. [View Less]

1 0

WFP: Province refuses to amend law to let pedestrians and cyclists share Winnipeg roads (Apr17'21)
by Beth McKechnie 17 Apr '21

17 Apr '21

Province refuses to amend law to let pedestrians and cyclists share Winnipeg roads Back to Square 1 on open streets https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/provincial-law-blocks-citys-open-st… THE province has rejected calls to change the law to let Winnipeg welcome back pedestrians to “open streets” this year, arguing the city can mark out separate spaces for vehicles and foot traffic instead. However, a city councillor fears that option would force Winnipeg to start the entire concept … [View More]over from scratch. Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler said the province would never alter the Highway Traffic Act to let the city mix pedestrians with vehicle traffic. “The law is very clear and we’re not going to budge on the law…. We are not contemplating an exemption, either,” Schuler said. “We do not believe, as a government, that pedestrians and traffic are a good mix.” Last year, Winnipeg designated 10 sections of local streets where vehicle access was restricted to one block between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily to create space for pedestrians and cyclists to get outside for some fresh air at a safe social distance. Council is considering a proposal to test 14 more routes this year. But the new routes would be reserved for cyclists only, after the city discovered including pedestrians violated the Highway Traffic Act. The act prohibits pedestrians from walking on roadways where a “reasonably passable” sidewalk is present. Schuler said the city can offer active transportation access to both pedestrians and cyclists by closing a section of a street or lane to vehicular traffic. He said the city would need to use road paint and add signs at every affected block to make the rule obvious. Coun. Matt Allard, council’s public works chairman, said that concept isn’t a good fit for “open streets” because it would cut off vehicle access entirely. “We would have to look at every street, at how parking and traffic would be impacted. So it really would be a starting-from-scratch scenario,” said Allard. Ideally, Allard said he’d like to find a legal way to allow pedestrian access. Jim Berezowsky, Winnipeg’s public works director, said the city would need to complete a new round of public consultation before it could implement the province’s option. “We engaged with the public last year…. We would have to go back to that same community and ask these new questions,” said Berezowsky. Several groups are urging the city to find a way to restore pedestrian access. “People walking really did make up such a large percentage of the people who took part in our open streets program,” Mel Marginet, a co-ordinator with the Green Action Centre’s sustainable transportation team, told council’s public works committee Friday. “In Winnipeg, our sidewalks are narrow, they are often in poor shape where they exist at all. So relegating people to walking during a pandemic on narrow spaces fails in terms of accessibility and public health.” Marginet said it would be difficult for the city to keep pedestrians off cycling only routes. “This is going to create a lot of confusion and we don’t think it’s really possible or equitable to start ticketing people for walking,” she said. Emma Durand-Wood, an active transportation advocate, called it “mind-boggling” that pedestrians could suddenly lose this access. “We saw last year that (this) more or less worked fine,” said Durand-Wood. “This (change) just lacks common sense.” If the proposal is approved as is, this year’s seasonal active transportation routes would serve only cyclists and limit vehicular traffic to one block from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. That’s expected to begin as early as May 3 and continue until Nov. 5, pending consultation. The changes require full council approval. Council’s public works committee will vote on the matter Tuesday. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca [View Less]

1 0

Wpg Sun: Winnipeg should follow Edmonton's lead for active transportation routes: Schuler (Apr15'21)
by Beth McKechnie 17 Apr '21

17 Apr '21

https://winnipegsun.com/news/news-news/winnipeg-should-follow-edmontons-lea… Manitoba Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler says it’s possible for the city to move forward with its spring and summer Open Streets active transportation routes, but only under certain conditions that conform to the law and preserve safety. <http://www.gomanitoba.ca> Last year, to encourage residents to get outside during the pandemic, the City opened up multiple streets for cycling, walking and running. … [View More]Vehicles, which were limited to one block at a time from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., mixed with pedestrians and cyclists. However, a recent Winnipeg public service report said mixing pedestrians and vehicles is a contravention of section 143 (1) of Manitoba’s Highway Traffic Act. According to the City, the act prohibits pedestrians from using roads when sidewalks are present. As a result, this year’s Open Streets initiative will only be able to accommodate cyclists — relegating pedestrians to sidewalks. “There’s a little bit of confusion on the Highway Traffic Act and what it says in regards to what the city would like to do,” said Schuler, a regular active transportation route user who sometimes cycles 40 km a day. “We are not advocating the City does, or not does something. That has nothing to do with us. The question is, how do you mix pedestrians and traffic?” Schuler said where there’s a sidewalk, the usual recommendation is pedestrians use the sidewalk and cyclists share the road with vehicles. But there’s another way, he said. As demonstrated by the city of Edmonton, Winnipeg can section-off a piece of road, which could then be dedicated to pedestrians and cyclists. “It would have to be marked off by a painted line,” Schuler said. “We would recommend you do like Edmonton. I believe they bought 1,500 traffic cones and some planters, so that you really differentiate road traffic from pedestrian and cyclist traffic. But it can be done. The Highway Traffic Act does allow for it, but it has to be very clearly signed each and every block.” Schuler said the City has the authority to block off roads, like Wellington Crescent. Local traffic would be allowed, but he’s recommending a separate lane, exclusively for cyclists and pedestrians. “The mixing of traffic and pedestrians is a very dangerous situation,” he said. “So the Highway Traffic Act is very clear. When it comes to pedestrians, they must be separated, and it must be clearly marked and has to be done every block. The City of Winnipeg has the ability to do this, as does any municipality.” In a statement, a spokesperson for the city said they’re aware of their authority in terms of full or partial lane closures to restrict vehicle access. They said the city is committed to investigating safe, long-term solutions for shared streets, and would consider physical separation as a potential future, safe solution. jsnell(a)postmedia.com Twitter @JamesWestgateSn [View Less]

1 0

Together We Cycle | Architecture & Design Film Festival
by Beth McKechnie 16 Apr '21

16 Apr '21

Looking for something to do this weekend? Here's a film on the history of Dutch cycling as part of the Architecture & Design Film Festival at Cinematheque (online): https://adff.ca/films/2021/together-we-cycle/ 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 … [View More]

1 0

City Climate Plan lagging
by Charles Feaver 16 Apr '21

16 Apr '21

Glad we got coverage on this issue; it is shocking that the city was going forward to long term planning with a climate plan that did not meet the national standard, and nobody was raising a red flag. https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/bike-winnipeg-takes-aim-at-citys-25- year-plan-574217822.html A local community cycling advocacy group is asking the City of Winnipeg to align municipal plans moving forward with climate change targets in step with the rest of Canada and the world. … [View More]

2 1

WFP Analysis: ‘Speeding’ can have different meanings (Apr16'21)
by Beth McKechnie 16 Apr '21

16 Apr '21

‘Speeding’ can have different meanings https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/speeding-can-have-differ… EMMA DURAND-WOOD WHAT does it mean to be “speeding”? Does it mean you’re exceeding the posted speed limit? Driving too fast for conditions? Travelling at a speed that makes people outside your vehicle nervous or uncomfortable? Judging by the number of requests for traffic calming over the last several years, speeding is a huge problem throughout Winnipeg. Often, those … [View More]requests result in a traffic study being approved. What happens next? The city comes and sets up equipment to measure speeds over the course of a certain period. The findings are almost always the same: few drivers are actually exceeding the legal speed limit. Nevertheless, residents say there is a “speeding problem” on their street and they’re worried about it. Their concerns go unanswered because technically, there is no problem to address. People aren’t speeding. Nothing to worry about. No traffic calming is warranted. But lay people — everyday citizens in a neighbourhood — are trying to communicate feelings of concern about comfort and safety, but the only way to describe those feelings is with words such as “speeding” and “too fast” — concepts traffic engineers will measure in concrete numbers and compare against the posted speed limit. When neighbours say there’s a speeding problem on their street, what they are really saying is that the posted speed limit, which drivers are following, is too high. Just a few weeks ago, my youngest child mastered the two-wheeler. She’s now keen to spend every waking moment enjoying her newfound freedom. It’s a joy to witness, and fun that we can ride bikes together as family. But sadly, as parents, as we move throughout our neighbourhood, that enjoyment is tempered by a constant state of high alert as we try to anticipate every car’s movement, speed, direction and intention. As a driver, you might think to yourself, “I see that family riding bikes up there – I’ll be careful.” But as the parent outside the vehicle, with three kids in tow, I have no idea whether you see us, whether you’ll slow down, whether you’ll give us room to pass. It’s of zero comfort to me to know that you’re not going over the 50 km/h speed limit. The knowledge that “no one has died on this street” does not reassure me. The pandemic has unlocked an enormous appetite and enthusiasm for spending time in our own neighbourhoods. Bike sales are through the roof. Running shoes, too. We want to be outside and we want not just to be safe, but to be comfortable. We want to feel at ease going for a walk or a bike ride with a friend, with our senior parents, with our children, with our pets. Opponents of speed-limit reductions like to point out that residential streets aren’t where people are getting killed anyway. They suggest lowering speed limits tries to solve a problem that doesn’t exist, and will bring the city to a standstill because all the cars will have to drive around at a snail’s pace. Reality says otherwise. Most commuting is done on major arterials (or should be), not on residential streets. Lower speed limits will result in negligible increases in travel time. To the point of solving a problem that doesn’t exist, surely we’re not just waiting for tragedy to occur to prove otherwise? In truth, slower neighbourhood speeds are about so much more than just preventing collisions. Winnipeg’s adopted Climate Action Plan requires us to change the way people get around the city, given that nearly one-third of emissions come from personal vehicle use. Yet from Waverley West to St. Boniface to Weston, people say their neighbourhoods are a hostile place for walking or biking. How do we expect to convert more than one in every four car trips to other modes when people don’t feel at ease outside a vehicle? Imagine neighbourhoods with fewer exhaust fumes and cleaner air. Neighbourhoods where pavement lasts longer because more of the traffic involves bikes and people, not heavy vehicles. Imagine, too, quieter neighbourhoods where you can hear birdsong and have a chat with a neighbour from across the street without yelling: a reduction of 10 km/h in vehicle speeds results in a 40 per cent reduction in noise. Right now, many people seeking a pleasant and safe environment for walking must hop in the car and drive to a regional park. But if people simply drove more slowly, every neighbourhood in the city could have that calm and comfortable feeling. We also know from study after study that there’s a huge contingent — close to 45 per cent — of potential bike riders in the “interested, but concerned” category. They would like to ride, but are wary of existing conditions and therefore don’t. Those are the kinds of problems lower speed limits would solve. *Emma Durand-Wood is a volunteer with Safe Speeds Winnipeg, a grassroots group of people of all ages that are concerned about safety, comfort and sustainability in our neighborhoods.* [View Less]

1 0

WFP Editorial: A step backward for Open Streets initiative (Apr16'21)
by Beth McKechnie 16 Apr '21

16 Apr '21

A step backward for Open Streets initiative https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/a-step-backward-for-op… HAS the Open Streets pilot project arrived at a “Don’t Walk” sign for city pedestrians? The concept for seasonal active transportation across Winnipeg that began in 2020 restricted motor vehicles to travel for only one block on 10 different routes every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the spring, summer and fall, allowing for cyclists and pedestrians greater and safer access. … [View More] It was a pandemic-inspired expansion of a similar plan that has been in use for many years on summer weekends on Wellington Crescent and Wolseley Avenue. Open Streets proved to be welcome relief for Winnipeggers stuck at home during the COVID- 19 crisis. Walking or pedalling on Churchill Drive or Scotia Street along the Red River, or Egerton Road beside the Seine River, became a way to get some fresh air and exercise while enjoying the city’s scenery without having to dodge a procession of trucks and cars. The concept allowed for physical distancing for pedestrians, keeping sidewalks from getting crowded and becoming potential pandemic hot spots. The city’s public works committee will vote today on a proposal to extend the pilot project for a second year. If it receives approval from city council, it would begin May 3, on 14 streets around the city. While the cycling aspect of Open Streets is expected to roll on, the pedestrian part of the plan has stepped squarely into an administrative mud puddle. On Monday, city staff reminded councillors that allowing pedestrians to use roadways that have “reasonably passable” sidewalks, such as Wolseley Avenue and Wellington Crescent, contravenes the province’s Highway Traffic Act. They recommend pedestrians be excluded from these “enhanced summer cycling routes,” and should stick to sidewalks. However, crowding on sidewalks remains a COVID-19 concern, especially considering new information regarding outdoor transmission of the virus’s highly contagious variants. Excluding pedestrians from Open Streets flies in the face of the reasoning that launched the project in the first place. Apparently, the city either didn’t know about the provisions in the Highway Traffic Act or overlooked them when it gave the project the go-ahead last year. Public works director Jim Berezowsky said the city was looking out for Winnipeggers’ best interests when it launched the Open Streets project during 2020’s state of emergency. A year later, a provincial state of emergency remains in place, but legalities seem to have forced pedestrians’ best interests to take a step back. The recommendation also fails to recognize that pedestrians have walked on Wellington Crescent and Wolseley Avenue for years without facing enforcement or penalties when similar rules restricted motor vehicles on weekends. The notion of excluding pedestrians from Open Streets is bound to create resentment in those who strolled or jogged on those streets last year. They will no doubt be struck by the irony of a provincial act intended for motorists adding restrictions on those who choose to travel on foot. City officials are lobbying the province to amend the HTA to allow for Open Streets’ pedestrian plans, but legislative procedures, including a new bill and debates, are hardly a walk in the park. The city and province could take a forward step together by agreeing on an interim measure that would allow both cyclists and pedestrians to use Open Streets’ designated roads this year while providing motorists the restricted one block access to the streets. It would give city council and administration more time to gather information on whether Open Streets could become a permanent feature of Winnipeg summers, and grant pedestrians another opportunity to enjoy one of the few improvements on city life the pandemic has presented. [View Less]

1 0

Trading clunkers for electric bikes: France moves to offer financial incentive
by Beth McKechnie 15 Apr '21

15 Apr '21

https://www.reuters.com/technology/trading-clunkers-electric-bikes-france-m… France is offering the owners of old, exhaust-belching cars the opportunity to hand over their vehicles for scrap in return for a 2,500 euro ($2,975.00) grant to buy an electric bicycle. Lawmakers in the National Assembly have just approved the measure in a preliminary vote. It was an amendment to a draft climate bill passing through parliament that aims to reduce greenhouse emissions by 40% in 2030 from 1990 levels. … [View More]

1 0

More media coverage of Open Streets closed to pedestrians
by Beth McKechnie 14 Apr '21

14 Apr '21

https://globalnews.ca/news/7754372/city-considers-extending-active-transpor… https://winnipegsun.com/news/news-news/pedestrians-will-have-to-keep-off-ro…

1 0

WFP: Open streets may prohibit pedestrians (Apr13'21)
by Beth McKechnie 13 Apr '21

13 Apr '21

Second pilot project to test seasonal active transportation routes Open streets may prohibit pedestrians https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/open-streets-plan-to-sideline-pedes… WINNIPEG’S next round of “open streets” may be closed to foot traffic. A proposal calls for council to approve a second pilot project testing seasonal active transportation routes. Last year, the city limited vehicle traffic to one block from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily on 10 different sections of streets to create … [View More]space for cyclists and pedestrians to engage in physically distanced exercise. This year, the change would apply from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily on sections of 14 streets, from May 3 to Nov. 5, if council approves. However, pedestrians will not be invited this time, since doing so could violate the Highway Traffic Act. The act prohibits pedestrians from walking on roadways where a “reasonably passable” sidewalk is present. Jim Berezowsky, Winnipeg’s public works director, said the city wasn’t aware of the legal issue when it moved to quickly offer “open streets” last year. “We tried to operate in the best interests of (Winnipeggers) … under a state of local emergency,” Berezowsky said. City staff are now asking council to exclude pedestrians from what would be deemed “enhanced summer cycling routes,” though officials are also in talks with the province to try to amend the act so foot traffic can eventually resume. “What we would like to see is a safe opening with pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles,” said Berezowsky, who warned that may not occur in time for this year’s pilot project. Public works officials also refrained from making the routes a permanent, seasonal addition, since the “open streets” concept has only been tested since traffic plummeted due to the pandemic. Those who’ve lobbied for more active transportation options say cutting off pedestrian access would ignore a large portion of Winnipeggers the routes were meant to serve. “This again will force pedestrians to crowd on to very narrow sidewalks, so it misses that reallocation of (travel) space, which was the point of the open streets … This is very disappointing,” said Mel Marginet, a co-ordinator with the Green Action Centre’s sustainable transportation team. Marginet said she’s seen many residents safely use open streets to walk and run. “I experienced many of these streets as a pedestrian myself… Last year I went on multiple times a day and I didn’t get that sense (of a safety risk),” she said. The executive director of Bike Winnipeg, a group that conducted cyclist and pedestrian counts at open streets last year, said he’s also concerned about cutting off pedestrian access. “That will have a pretty big impact on the open streets. A lot of the counts we did showed, especially on … Wellington Crescent, there were really some huge uptakes from people walking on those corridors,” said Mark Cohoe. Cohoe said he hopes the province can provide the city with interim permission to allow pedestrians access to the routes during the pilot project. Coun. Matt Allard, the chairperson of council’s public works committee, said he ultimately wants the seasonal routes to return every year and include pedestrians. Still, he believes the current proposal offers an important step forward. “If I had my (way, the routes) would be permanent. But I think this is a step in the right direction. They were a tremendous success last year,” said Allard (St. Boniface). Other councillors said the pedestrian component is a critical aspect of the program. “It’s definitely disappointing that pedestrians are not included and, in fact, I think it changes the program altogether,” said Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan). In an email, Manitoba Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler said changing the Highway Traffic Act would require a new bill and legislative debate. He didn’t directly answer whether or not the province supports the city’s specific request. “The province remains open to exploring amendments to The Highway Traffic Act if a permanent and long-term need is identified that benefits all Manitobans,” said Schuler. Council’s public works committee will cast the first vote on the proposal on April 16, which also requires full council approval. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga [View Less]

1 0

CBC: Open streets return in Winnipeg pilot project, but routes closed to pedestrians (Apr12'21)
by Beth McKechnie 12 Apr '21

12 Apr '21

Open streets return in Winnipeg pilot project, but routes closed to pedestrians Public works department says Highway Traffic Act prohibits walking on future active transportation streets https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-bicycle-streets-open-route… A report from the city's public works department says pedestrians should not be allowed to use any of the streets closed to vehicles for a coming pilot project aimed at extending Winnipeg's Sunday/holiday active transportation routes. … [View More] The city has plans to reboot the popular program at the beginning of May with vehicular restrictions on 14 streets, but only cyclists — not pedestrians — can take advantage. The report from public works, made public Monday, says allowing pedestrians on those routes contravenes section 143 (1) of Manitoba's Highway Traffic Act (HTA). "The HTA currently prohibits pedestrian use of a roadway when a sidewalk is present on the street in question," reads the report. Thousands of Winnipeggers got some physically-distanced fresh air last year on several streets that were closed to most vehicular traffic. The city expanded its Sunday vehicular restrictions on four streets to seven days a week, and last spring added five more routes. Enthused by the response, last September city council directed public works staff to look at making some of the streets year-round active transportation routes <http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-city-open-streets-active-tr…> and expanding the program to other areas of the city. The recommendations from public works staff say a new pilot program in May 2021 could be undertaken "that excludes pedestrians on the streets," and says to communicate the change in policy, it should be "re-branded" as the enhanced summer cycling route pilot. Closures last year were a quick decision: Director The director of the city's public works department, Jim Berezowsky, says the streets were closed last year under the spectre of the COVID-19 pandemic and a desire to give residents some physically distanced exercise. "Things were happening where we had to make decisions on a daily basis to try and operate in the best interest of the public, and keeping people close to home and those considerations were our number one focus while we under that local state of emergency," Berezowsky said. The city will appeal to residents to obey the law and keep off the streets while on foot. "We are asking pedestrians to cooperate in a safe and efficient manner as it stands, while we work on a solution. We're reaching out to the public on that. We really do want their support on this so we can find a viable solution here," Berezowsky said. The chair of the infrastructure and public works committee was repeatedly asked if the proposed pilot would stop residents from walking on the designated routes, and repeatedly Matt Allard gave a similar answer. "I know that there are circumstances where pedestrians are legally allowed to engage the street," Allard said. Allard, who has championed the active transportation routes, acknowledged he's liked having the streets open to both cyclists and pedestrians. "Ideally, that would be the case. The director [of the public works department] has has an opinion on the matter. We're branding these holiday cycle routes in part based on that opinion from the director," Allard said. Allard said he would have more to say about the issue at a meeting of the committee on Friday. The popularity of the open streets project last year was highlighted in a survey done by the city. It found 65 per cent of the 5,600 respondents were positive about the routes. Berezowsky agreed monitoring the streets for breaches of the HTA would be the responsibility of the Winnipeg Police Service, and says if there are safety issues that are raised as the pilot project moves forward, his department will look at those locations "on a case-by-case basis." The 14 streets designated as part of the enhanced summer cycling route pilot program are: - Lyndale Drive – Cromwell Street to Gauvin Street. - Scotia Street – Anderson Avenue (at St. Cross Street) to Armstrong Avenue. - Wellington Crescent – Academy Road (at Wellington Crescent) to Guelph Street. - Wolseley Avenue – Raglan Road to Maryland Street. - Churchill Drive – Hay Street to Jubilee Avenue. - Egerton Road – Bank Avenue to Morier Avenue - Kildonan Drive – Helmsdale Avenue to Rossmere Crescent & Larchdale Crescent to Irving Place - Kilkenny Drive – Burgess Avenue to Patricia Avenue and Kings Drive. - Rover Avenue – Hallet Street to Stephens Street. - Youville Street – Eugenie Street to Haig Avenue. - Alexander Avenue – Arlington Street to Princess Street. - Ravelston Avenue – Plessis Road to Wayota Street. - Linwood Street – Portage Avenue to Silver Avenue. - Harbison Avenue West – Henderson Highway to eastern terminus. [View Less]

1 0

CBC: Vancouver to temporarily close streets alongside 3 schools to encourage active transportation (Apr11'21)
by Beth McKechnie 12 Apr '21

12 Apr '21

*Vancouver to temporarily close streets alongside 3 schools to encourage active transportation* https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/school-street-closures-vanc… The City of Vancouver will be closing the streets in front of three elementary schools starting Monday to encourage parents to use active transportation to pick up and drop off their children. One street running alongside each of Hastings, Lord Roberts and Van Horne elementary schools will be closed for 30 to 45 minutes … [View More]during peak pick-up and drop-off times. During that time, no motor vehicles will be allowed to enter or exit the affected block. The pilot starts Monday and will be in place until May 7. The city chose streets that allow nearby residents to still access their homes. It also has ensured reserved parking or designated pick-up and drop-off spots for parents or students with disabilities. 'We're really excited' Ian Rowe, chair of the Lord Roberts parent advisory council, says he and most parents were glad the city was trying something new to discourage driving. "School congestion, traffic and safety has been an issue every single year," Rowe said. "And so we're really excited." The pilot wasn't most parents' preferred option, Rowe says, in large part because it requires parent volunteers twice a day, every day, for it to work. Rowe says parents at the West End elementary school wanted permanent infrastructure changes instead, like continuing the separated bike lane along Comox Street in front of the school in order to make cycling a safer option. A few parents objected to the pilot, Rowe says, but the parent advisory council has been working with them to encourage use of the other two streets that flank the school where vehicular traffic will still be allowed. - Vancouver drivers now need to slow to 30 km/h in school zones, around the clock <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-drivers-now-need-…> "We're always going to have parents who need to drive," Rowe said. Health researcher Mariana Brussoni previously told CBC News <http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bike-to-school-1.5495851> that parents face many challenges trying to get their kids to school by foot or bike — including busy schedules, multiple drop-offs and schools that are too far away. School streets around the world Less than 25 per cent of students <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bike-to-school-1.5495851>across B.C. use active transportation to get to school, according to a written statement from the Ministry of Transportation last year. According to the city's webpage for the pilot <https://vancouver.ca/people-programs/school-streets.aspx>, so-called school streets are popular in several places around the world and they have been shown to create a safer environment for children, improve air quality and encourage active transportation. - Vancouver pilots 30 km/h 'slow zone' in Grandview-Woodland neighbourhood <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-pilots-slow-zone-…> In London, England, nearly 350 school streets have been implemented. The city says 81 per cent of parents there were supportive of the measures, which reduced nitrogen dioxide air pollution by 23 per cent. As a result, 18 per cent of parents reported driving less. The city says school streets were also implemented in Toronto and Edinburgh. [View Less]

1 0

WFP Analysis: Research supports reduced-speed initiative (Apr12'21)
by Beth McKechnie 12 Apr '21

12 Apr '21

*Research supports reduced-speed initiative * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/research-supports-reduce… OVER the last 10 years, six million vehicles have been added to Canadian roads, an increase of almost 20 per cent. Since the 1990s, the average vehicle horsepower has almost doubled, average vehicle weight has increased by 26 per cent, cars are 17 per cent larger and 80 per cent of vehicles sold in Canada today are trucks and SUVs. In Manitoba, more vehicles and larger, … [View More]faster vehicles has led to a 50 per cent increase in collisions resulting in injury during the past decade. On Winnipeg streets in 2019, the last available statistics, every second day a pedestrian or cyclist was struck and injured by a driver seriously enough to be reported. Every third day a pedestrian or cyclist was sent to hospital, and almost once a month one was killed. Across the country, nearly one out of every five people killed or seriously injured in vehicle collisions is not in a vehicle. All these statistics are inspiring a wave of change across Canada, as cities are one by one lowering speed limits on residential streets to make neighbourhoods safer for all road users, and more comfortable for pedestrians and cyclists. Montreal led the way in 2019 by making sweeping speed-limit changes across the city. Main streets were reduced from 50 km/h to 40 km/h and all residential streets were changed to 30 km/h. Edmonton and Calgary, famous for their car culture, followed suit and reduced residential speed limits to 40 km/h. Quebec City recently announced it will match Montreal and go to 30 km/h on most residential streets. Lowering speed limits to improve road safety is simple physics. The energy transferred in a collision increases with both mass and velocity — bigger vehicles moving faster cause more damage. In general, if a pedestrian is struck by a car travelling at 50 km/h, there is a 50/50 chance of survival, but when speeds are reduced to 30 km/h, almost all pedestrians survive and 30 per cent will not even suffer an injury, making that speed a magic number for advocates. Slower speeds also reduce stopping distances, from 28 metres at 50 km/h to 20 metres at 40 km/h and 13 metres at 30 km/h, which makes roads safer by reducing the likelihood of collisions. The City of Calgary predicts that by reducing residential speed limits to 40 km/h, as many as 450 vehicle collisions will be avoided each year. Research in several cities has proven that the science has real-world effects. A study in Toronto showed that between 2013 and 2018, lowering posted residential speed limits from 40 km/h to 30 km/h reduced pedestrian collisions by 28 per cent and severe injuries fell by two-thirds. In Edmonton, implementing 30 km/h school zones has reduced severe pedestrian collisions by almost half. A 20-year study in the U.K. demonstrated that 30 km/h zones were associated with a 42 per cent decrease in road casualties. Travelling 50 km/h protected by a 2,000-kilogram metal box may not feel fast, but for a pedestrian or cyclist, sharing the road with large, fast-moving vehicles can be unnerving; so much so that it’s a significant deterrent to active transportation for many people. Slower residential street traffic not only makes neighbourhoods safer; it also makes them comfortable and livable, inviting more people to engage in walking and biking. In response to mounting pressure for change in Winnipeg, Coun. Jeff Browaty recently commissioned a public survey to ask people if they want to drive slower. Not surprisingly, more than half of respondents said no. Coun. Browaty has been using the results as proof that Winnipeggers are opposed to this change. Digging beyond the headlines, however, those who support safer streets might see the results as a victory. Certainly, they provide reason for optimism. Even with the poll offering little context or background, 44 per cent of respondents supported reducing speed limits and only one-third were strongly opposed. In mature neighbourhoods where people walk and bike far more than they do in the outer suburbs, support was about twice as high. Without context, people hear reduced residential speed limits, especially 30 km/h, and picture themselves crawling around the city at a snail’s pace. In response to this misconception, Edmonton launched a successful public engagement process to outline the impacts. The city even created an app that allows people to input their destination and see the travel time difference with the new speed limits. In most cases trips were minimally affected. Consider that in Winnipeg, 25,000 vehicles per day are driven down Grant Avenue, and it has the same speed limit as the cul-de-sac your kids play street hockey on. Portage Avenue downtown is eight lanes wide and has the same speed limit as the two-lane street you back onto when pulling out of your garage. Presented with context, it seems illogical not to change the speed limits. Public-safety policy is not a popularity contest, and should be based on data, engineering and science, but Coun. Browaty’s recent poll shows there is a significant base of support for calmer streets. We take pride in our city of great neighbourhoods; by using this new polling information as a springboard to public consultation that broadens support even further, we can follow the lead of other cities and reduce residential speed limits to make those great neighbourhoods even better. *Brent Bellamy is senior design architect for Number Ten Architectural Group.* [View Less]

1 0

WFP: Wheels in motion on push for active transportation network (Apr9'21)
by Beth McKechnie 09 Apr '21

09 Apr '21

Wheels in motion on push for active transportation network https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/wheels-in-motion-on-push-for-active… IT’S time to make it as easy to cycle or walk throughout Winnipeg as it is to drive. That’s the message to Mayor Brian Bowman, Premier Brian Pallister and federal cabinet minister Dan Vandal, from a lobby group that has demanded they take urgent action to provide a connected network of cycling and walking routes throughout the city. “Right now, unless you … [View More]own a personal vehicle, your ability to get around Winnipeg to access employment, to access services, is really limited. You either have to use Winnipeg Transit … and your time for that trip is often twice or even four times as long as it would be for somebody in a personal vehicle. Or, if you travel on foot or by bike, you often have to face sections of your route that are very unsafe,” said Mel Marginet of the Green Action Centre, which is part of the campaign. Marginet said about 70 per cent of Winnipeg families surveyed by Green Action Centre said they live within three kilometres or less of their childrens’ schools. Only about 16 per cent said they walk or bike to get there, often due to safety concerns, she said. “People need safe ways to get to work, to school, to run their essential errands on foot and by bike and that’s really how we’re going to see… a response to our need for mode shift (from personal vehicle transportation to greener options),” she said. Ideally, the group hopes politicians will immediately take steps to add a temporary grid for a full active transportation network throughout the city, which would eventually be made permanent. Marginet welcomed Winnipeg’s temporary “open streets” but says such recreation options don’t help commuters. Nearly a dozen streets were designated as “open” in 2020, where vehicular traffic was limited to just one block from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily to make more room for cyclists and pedestrians. She said governments should also invest in active transportation to ensure equity, since Black, Indigenous and people of colour, as well as women and youth, are more likely to rely on transit, cycling and walking to reach their destinations. “(This is) really a response to those (Winnipeggers) to say that you matter in our society and that our transportation system should offer you comfortable choices as well,” Marginet said. Her organization, and representatives from 14 others, signed letters to lobby for the change, which were hand delivered to the politicians this week. Members of the group include several community organizations, as well as the superintendents of the Pembina Trails and Louis Riel school divisions. In an email, Mayor Bowman’s office said he continues to support Winnipeg’s pedestrian and cycling strategy and “remains open to looking at more ways the city can be innovative in its approach in the creation of new walking and cycling paths.” The statement did not promise specific action. In a written statement, a spokesperson for Manitoba Municipal Relations Minister Derek Johnson said his government spent $7.5 million to expand hiking and biking trails last year. The statement didn’t promise specific action on a connected active transportation network for Winnipeg, but noted the city could spend some of the $75.3 million in provincial capital funding it will receive this year on that purpose. Dan Vandal could not be reached for comment. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca [View Less]

1 0

Traffic Calming Request Process
by Beth McKechnie 05 Apr '21

05 Apr '21

[snipped from Councillor Lukes' newsletter] Speeding and Traffic Calming of Streets The public service has developed a new process to deal with requests for traffic calming of streets. Over the past few years, the public service has seen a dramatic increase in requests to investigate how to traffic calm residential and collector streets. The engineers have developed a six step process starting with a resident making a request. See details here: Traffic Calming <https://u2481139.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=-2FzUZWSuvR5fHvfuxBn3ORIuE0XH…>

1 0

The Herald: Federal funds committed to active transportation (Apr1'21)
by Beth McKechnie 02 Apr '21

02 Apr '21

Federal funds committed to active transportationLocal projects could benefit from federal strategy, $400m fund https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/herald/Federal-funds-comm… Although "if you build it, they will come" was written about a baseball diamond in an Iowa cornfield, it could very well have been writing about active transportation routes. In March, the federal government pledged $400 million towards the country’s first active transportation fund, and the development of … [View More]Canada’s first National Active Transportation Strategy. The purpose of the strategy, according to its official website, is to "co-ordinate active transportation investments that reflect best practice planning, design, regulations, and standards across levels of government, Indigenous communities, not-for-profits and the private sector." The announcement was great news for longtime proponents of AT. The Winnipeg Trails Association called the announcement: "Excellent news for all Canadian communities at a time we need it most." Local politicians also welcomed the announcement, noting a number of projects across the northeast that could benefit from the fund, though most expressed a cautious optimism that the money will find its way onto northeast streets. Daniel Blaikie, MP for Elmwood-Transcona, noted that northeast Winnipeg is home to a number of great active transportation routes, like the Northeast Pioneers Greenway and the Transcona Trail. However, getting from one to the other remains problematic. "These options help people engage in activities or commute to work without use of a vehicle," Blaikie said. "We need to work on those connecting nodes, so people can use that whole network in a seamless way that they can feel safe and comfortable and use a network that allows them to explore the community." Coun. Shawn Nason (Transcona) echoed those sentiments, adding that he would like to see funding go towards a number of projects in Transcona that have been delayed for too long, including an AT pathway along either Regent or Reenders to Panet Road. "Is there a way to figure that out in that section, a dedicated way to cycling?" Nason said, noting that finishing that route had been included in the 2018 budget, but was removed at the last minute. Nason would also like to see the AT route on Pandora, which currently ends at Day Street, completed, as well as a route through Canterbury Park connecting to the Transcona Trail. "If there’s a windfall, I’d like to see those connections made," Nason said. Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan), who sits on the city’s standing policy committee on infrastructure renewal and public works, said he’d like to access support "to plant additional trees along the Northeast Pioneer’s Greenway in North Kildonan." Coun. Jason Schreyer (Elmwood-East Kildonan) added that there are a pair of studies ongoing in his ward to improve bike routes, particularly along Roch Street. "I’m always into experiments, because if we don’t try things we can’t discuss them," Schreyer said. "What’s missing in the area is actually remarkably simple," said Michel Durand-Wood, an executive with the Glenelm Neighbourhood Association and author of the popular blog Dear Winnipeg... "We just need to focus on making it easier for residents to get to the stuff in our neighbourhood, like local businesses, services, parks, etc." Durand-Wood would like to see an investment in "more space for people," rather than cars, in local neighbourhoods. "Do we want a neighbourhood that is vibrant, accessible to all including seniors, children and those with disabilities, with tons of thriving local businesses that are easy to walk to?" he said. "Or do we want a place that is fast to drive through?" For more information on the federal program, visit infrastructure.gc.ca/trans/active-actif-eng.html [View Less]

1 0

WFP: Most city drivers want speed limit kept as is: poll (Apr1'21)
by Beth McKechnie 01 Apr '21

01 Apr '21

Most city drivers want speed limit kept as is: poll https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/most-city-drivers-want-speed-limit-… WINNIPEGGERS don’t want the speed limit lowered on residential streets, a new poll has found, despite a strong lobby effort to get city hall to slow drivers down. A Probe Research poll commissioned by Coun. Jeff Browaty asked 600 Winnipeggers about reducing the default speed limit on residential streets. A majority (56 per cent) said they opposed the change, while … [View More]44 per cent supported it. If given a chance to vote on a plebiscite to reduce the residential speed limit to 30 km/h from 50 km/h, 66 per cent said they would vote “no,” 26 per cent said they’d vote “yes” and eight per cent weren’t sure. Browaty (North Kildonan), who opposes lowering the limit, said the findings show most Winnipeggers agree with him. “It is pretty clear that… most of Winnipeg is opposed to the 30 (km/h speed limit) and lowering it in general,” he said. The councillor said he hopes the feedback will help to convince his council colleagues to keep the current residential speed limit. Last year, the majority of council members voted in favour of a one-year pilot project to test a 30 km/h speed limit on five residential streets, though no exact date has been set for that to begin. Browaty opposed the change. He said he remains convinced the city shouldn’t pursue speed reductions because roads are safe under the current limits. “I think there are a lot of responsible people who, on the more major local streets, will drive up to 50 km/h and can do so safely,” he said. “I hope these polling numbers will give an opportunity for my colleagues to reflect on what their constituents are thinking.” The Probe Research poll surveyed a random and representative sample of 600 Winnipeg adults online and by phone between March 10 and 21. The results are considered accurate within plus or minus 4.9 percentage points, with 95 per cent certainty. Winnipeg groups that have pushed council to reduce the speed limit argue the change is needed to improve safety. And that risk is why all speed limit decisions must be handled by experts, not guided by public opinion, said Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg. “We’re not putting fire regulations to a plebiscite, why are we putting traffic safety to a plebiscite? We lose lives in this city due to people getting hit by cars. It’s unfortunate and I think we want to make sure that goes down to zero,” said Cohoe. The World Health Organization says pedestrians have a 90 per cent chance of survival when hit by a car travelling at 30 kilometres per hour, but that drops to less than 50 per cent when the car travels at 45 km/h. Mel Marginet, a sustainable transportation co-ordinator for the Green Action Centre, said she’s not surprised by the opposition to a reduced speed limit, something for which she has advocated. “Change is always hard and… a majority of Winnipeggers get around by personal vehicles and few people experience their neighbourhood on foot or by bike. So I think we just minimize that threat or we don’t appreciate how intimidating that is,” said Marginet. She expects public support would grow for a reduced speed limit on residential streets once Winnipeggers try them out. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga [View Less]

1 0

WFP: Councillor suggests alternate use for school-zone speeding funds (Mar30'21)
by Beth McKechnie 30 Mar '21

30 Mar '21

Councillor suggests alternate use for school-zone speeding funds Take radar revenue, reconfigure roads: Allard https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/allard-wants-school-zone-speeding-r… A WINNIPEG city councillor hopes to spend photo radar revenue from school zones to reconstruct roads in ways that slow down the drivers in those areas. Coun. Matt Allard, council’s public works chairman, is calling for a staff report with options to reallocate that cash from the police budget to public … [View More]works. In a new motion, the councillor notes school-zone tickets have been criticized as a revenue generator and stresses more must be done to stop drivers from speeding near schools. “Some of the data indicates that there isn’t (enough) in terms of changes in driver behaviour despite the photo enforcement locations,” said Allard (St. Boniface). “What’s proven to work is actually reconfiguring the road where there’s a high volume of tickets.” He suggests the public service check out traffic-calming options to see what would work best in school zones with speeding concerns, which could include speed bumps or road narrowing. Allard said he doesn’t know how much revenue police could lose through the move, though he said budgets could be gradually altered to ease the loss. “I’m convinced that we need to do more than just photo enforcement. We need to follow that up with other road improvements in order for speeding to properly be addressed,” he said. The councillor said he believes photo radar vans have been effective at slowing down some speeders, but the city needs to take further action to address others. If the effort succeeds, that could eventually reduce or eliminate the need for photo enforcement, he said. “I think the program is a good one (but) I think it needs reform,” he said. The Winnipeg Police Service raised $9.6 million in photo-radar revenue in 2020, an amount that plummeted from an initial budget estimate of $15.8 million because of a drop in driving during the pandemic. City budgets don’t specify how much of the revenue is raised through school-zone enforcement. A total of 10 mobile units are assigned to conduct speed enforcement in zones around schools, playgrounds and construction, according to the WPS website. The number of school-zone tickets handed out has been inconsistent in recent years: 53,263 in 2016, 50,125 in 2017, 41,784 in 2018 and 41,793 in 2019. The lack of a clear downward trend shows ticketing hasn’t triggered a lasting improvement in driver behaviour, said Christian Sweryda, a law student and former WiseUp Winnipeg member who has long criticized the photo-enforcement program. “Personally, I see that tickets would drop as people get used to knowing where the vans are. And then, every year or two (police) have to change something to get the tickets back up,” said Sweryda. In an emailed statement, WPS spokesperson Const. Rob Carver declined to discuss what impact the budget change could have on the police service. “We will not speculate on the potential impact of budget proposals,” wrote Carver. *Allard’s motion is slated for a vote at the April 6 meeting of the Riel community committee.* Joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga [View Less]

1 0

Dangerous by Design 2021: Pedestrian Deaths Up 45% (US)
by Beth McKechnie 26 Mar '21

26 Mar '21

*Dangerous by Design 2021: Pedestrian Deaths Up 45%* The new edition of Dangerous by Design 2021 <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> from Smart Growth America reports that the number of people hit and killed by drivers while walking in the US increased by 45% in the last decade, and that the last four years have been the deadliest for pedestrian deaths since 1990. The report also highlights ongoing disparities in which groups of people are at … [View More]

1 0

Americans Drove Fewer Miles in 2020. Pedestrians Weren’t Any Safer. - WSJ
by Terry Zdan 23 Mar '21

23 Mar '21

https://www.wsj.com/articles/americans-drove-fewer-miles-in-2020-pedestrian…

1 0

CTV: Winnipeg planning to build more pedestrian bridges (Mar19'21)
by Beth McKechnie 21 Mar '21

21 Mar '21

https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/winnipeg-planning-to-build-more-pedestrian-brid… WINNIPEG -- With more and more Winnipeggers choosing to walk or cycle as a mode of transportation, the City of Winnipeg also has plans to add more pedestrian bridges around the city. According to Chris Baker, a City of Winnipeg senior active transportation planner, the city has two current priorities when it comes to pedestrian bridges. “The top priority is the Fort Rouge McFadden Bridge, connecting the Downtown to … [View More]

1 0

CBC: Winnipeg still considering whether to continue, or expand, active transportation route program (Mar19'21)
by Beth McKechnie 19 Mar '21

19 Mar '21

City reviewing pandemic program that was popular with users, but not always with residents on closed streets https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-city-open-streets-active-t… Thousands of residents pedalled and pounded the pavement of Winnipeg's "open streets" routes earlier in the COVID-19 pandemic — but decisions on what will happen with that initiative this spring are still on hold. The restrictive nature of public health orders in 2020, as the pandemic began, prompted the City … [View More]of Winnipeg last spring to expand its four regular Sunday/holiday bicycle routes <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/city-winnipeg-active-transportation…> to seven days a week. It later added several other locations <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/city-winnipeg-more-active-transport…> across the city. Sections of Lyndale Drive, Wellington Crescent, Wolseley Avenue and Scotia Street were, as usual, reserved for pedestrians and cyclists during daytime hours until the Thanksgiving weekend last year, with motor vehicle traffic limited to one block on those routes. The city added sections of Assiniboine Avenue, Churchill Drive, Egerton Road, Kildonan Drive and Kilkenny Drive to that list in April, and Vialoux Drive in July. They remained closed to daytime vehicle traffic <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-open-streets-closed-labour…> until the Labour Day weekend last year. Now, with temperatures rising and some health restrictions still in place, there are questions about where the city will take the program this year. Some feel limiting motor traffic on certain streets should not only be continued, but expanded. "Absolutely. It's been life changing to have a place where we can walk and we can actually space" apart to observe physical distancing, Debbie Kroeker said as she strolled with a friend down Wellington Crescent. "If we didn't have this, we couldn't walk with more than one person. So it's just a way to really energize the community." A report on the active transportation routes was ordered by city council last September, but the public administration has asked for, and received, extensions to finish the work — the latest being until the middle of April. Staff with the city's public works department are expected to find options for other streets across the city that could be closed on some basis to motor traffic, and recommendations for establishing year-round active transportation route. The chair of the city's public works and infrastructure committee is keen to get going on some sort of expansion of the program, and is chafing at the wait for feedback from staff. "I, for one, would like to see them open right now," said St. Boniface Coun. Matt Allard. "The public service has had two extensions to produce the report.… Seeing the snow melt and recalling the huge success last year, I'm really eager to get this going, and I don't see why we can't get it going right away." 'A lot of confrontations': Wellington resident Not everyone thinks expanding the program would be a good idea. One Wellington Crescent resident says turning her street into an active transportation route has prompted plenty of friction between cyclists and pedestrians, and residents trying to get to or from their homes. "The people that are using the street don't really have any regard to the people that live on the street and need to access the street," said Leanne (she declined to give her last name). "So there's been a lot of confrontations … you know, yelling at people for being on the street or having your vehicle when you're just trying to get to your driveway and get home." She says she filled out a city survey seeking feedback on the routes <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-open-streets-program-surve…> last year, and hopes some attention is paid to the residents. "Think of it from our point of view as well. We want everyone to be safe and walk, and it's a beautiful street and we want to enjoy it too, but we do live on it and we need to get our vehicles out," she said. Kroeker hopes the people who walk and bike the streets, and the residents along them, can find a way to use them together. "Everybody needs to dig a bit deeper and be tolerant and patient — and of course, please be respectful of our wonderful neighbours here and vice versa," she said. A spokesperson for the city's public works department called last year's open streets program "unprecedented" and said it was taking extra time to prepare the report on what to do next. "The additional time needed to present our recommendations has been a result of doing extensive due diligence in terms of consulting with stakeholders and working to ensure that any identified corridors are able to function as open streets," spokesperson Ken Allen said in an email. [View Less]

1 0

CBC: How pandemic bike lanes made some Canadian cities more accessible
by Beth McKechnie 19 Mar '21

19 Mar '21

Cycling advocates say temporary bike lanes should be made permanent https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/pandemic-bike-lanes-canada-1.5951863 Several Canadian cities set up temporary bike lanes to accommodate the pandemic cycling boom, and biking enthusiasts want the changes to stay. According to a survey <https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/200810/dq200810a-eng.htm> from Statistics Canada, more Canadians are now biking or walking to work than using public transit. After the … [View More]pandemic began last year, many viewed cycling as a safer alternative to being crammed together with others in small spaces and increasing the potential risk of contracting COVID-19. Research <https://findingspress.org/article/19069-the-impact-of-covid-19-cycling-infr…> from the University of Toronto published last month suggests the pandemic bike lanes improved access to jobs, parks and stores. Cycling advocates say the changes should be made permanent and expanded further — similar to what is being done in Europe. According to cycling advocacy organization Vélo Canada Bikes, several cities, including Moncton, Kitchener, Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, Victoria, Toronto, Calgary and Winnipeg have extended their bike lane networks since the pandemic began. In Montreal, Société du parc Jean-Drapeau, which runs the park area that includes Île Sainte-Hélène and Île Notre-Dame, opened a new, year-round cycling route this winter between the Jacques-Cartier and Concorde Bridges. In Calgary, 13 kilometres of roadway with vehicle traffic was temporarily closed to provide space for cyclists and pedestrians to use during the pandemic. In Toronto, 25 kilometres of new temporary bike lanes <https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-protect-yourself-others/covid…> were approved in June 2020 through ActiveTO <https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-protect-yourself-others/covid…> — an initiative that opened up streets for cyclists and pedestrians to have more space for physical distancing while spending time outdoors. "These benefits are all temporary, and that's why we have an ongoing push to keep ActiveTO, retain the routes beyond 2021 and keep expanding," said Keagan Gartz, executive director of bike lobby group Cycle Toronto. New bike lanes expand access In the U of T study <https://findingspress.org/article/19069-the-impact-of-covid-19-cycling-infr…>, researchers mapped the provincial capital's entire cycling network using city and survey data. It was discovered that the COVID-19 cycling lanes increased cyclists' road access to stores and jobs by 10.4 per cent to 22.3 per cent and increased access to parks by 6.3 per cent. In the study, the researchers classified each roadway based on how stressful it is to cycle on. Roads where a child might easily ride were ranked at the low end of the scale while dangerous, busy roads were pinned at the top. Using this ranking system, the researchers were able to measure the impact of new temporary bike lanes on accessibility. Middle-class neighbourhoods benefit most One of the other researchers leading the study, Shoshanna Saxe, said the areas with the most improved accessibility were those where new infrastructure built on existing networks. "The places where we connect new bike lanes to old bike lanes are the places that benefit the most," she said. "And that means that places in parts of the city that didn't already have bike lanes are starting off a little bit farther behind. And so we need to build more for those parts of the city faster." Brian Pincott, executive director of Vélo Canada Bikes, said more work needs to be done to create equal access to cycling networks. "They were in places that were nice to go for a bike ride, not in more socio-economically challenged neighbourhoods," he said. "We have to look at cycling as a tool for equity so that lower-income neighbourhoods can access safe cycling infrastructure to get around." The federal government recently announced Canada's first active transportation fund <https://www.canada.ca/en/office-infrastructure/news/2021/03/government-of-c…> in response to the need for safe, alternative transportation options. The $400-million National Active Transportation Fund will be spent over the next five years on projects such as new cycling paths and trails. Bike lanes not always welcome However, not all efforts to expand bike lanes have been well received. The Vancouver Park Board recently met with criticism for approving to reinstate a temporary bike lane <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-stanley-park-bike…> on Park Drive in Stanley Park. Last summer, the board opened up a lane dedicated to cyclists and pedestrians to make more room for physical distancing, restricting access to vehicles. The lane was later reconfigured to be shared between cyclists and cars as pandemic restrictions eased. Some argued that the addition of the new bike lane caused serious congestion as it forced the park's slow-moving horse-drawn carriages into a single car lane. Business owners in the area voiced concerns about customers being driven away by the closure. The public responded with a 27,000-signature petition in September demanding the park board reverse the decision. Pincott said that as municipalities develop new cycling infrastructure, they're learning more about which changes work. "We can always make adjustments, but we have to be open to trying," he said. Europe's investments in cycling U of T's Saxe said Canada should follow the lead of European cities in making temporary bike lane expansions permanent. "Around the world, we see examples of places that have said this is the future," she said. "This is how we get more people moving around in healthier, more environmentally-friendly ways. And Paris has been really leading the charge on that." According to the European Cyclists' Federation, 42 out of the 94 largest European cities have built new pandemic cycling networks and more than 400 kilometres of them are permanent. European cities have made significant investments in making it easier to travel by bike: - In Paris, Mayor Anne Hidalgo recently made the expansion of 50 temporary bike lanes permanent. - The European Cyclists' Federation's COVID-19 measures tracker <https://ecf.com/dashboard> shows that London, Milan and Granada, Spain, have put in the most cycling infrastructure since the pandemic began. - The British government announced funding <https://www.gov.uk/government/news/2-billion-package-to-create-new-era-for-…> last year for a new bus, cycling and walking initiative in England. That will provide 240 kilometres of permanent, protected bike lanes, as well as wider sidewalks, safer intersections and bus-only lanes by 2025. - Kraków, Poland, introduced five kilometres of pop-up bike lanesand has developed a five-year plan to connect all the city's districts with the centre. - Brussels imposed a 30 km/hr speed limit through most areas of the city at the start of the year and is conducting feasibility studies for a network of fast bike highways linking the city centre and the suburbs. - Barcelona has accelerated the construction of 160 kilometres of new or expanded bike paths, which will bring its bike network to 305 kilometres by 2024. Corrections - An earlier version of this story said the addition of a bike lane in Vancouver's Stanley Park forced cars, bikes, and horse-drawn carriages to share a single lane. In fact, bikes have their own lane while carriages and cars now share a single lane. Mar 18, 2021 12:17 PM ET [View Less]

1 0