- AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

Fwd: VCB's Sondo Vélo/Pedal Poll
by Dave Elmore 17 May '21

17 May '21

I'm sure everyone has likely heard about this, but in case you have not signed up yet. Cheers Dave o _ ( \ _ (X)\ /(X) ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Vélo Canada Bikes <admin(a)membership.canadabikes.org> Date: Mon, May 17, 2021 at 3:18 PM Subject: VCB's Sondo Vélo/Pedal Poll To: Dave Elmore <daveelmore12(a)gmail.com> <https://membership.canadabikes.org/EmailTracker/LinkTracker.ashx?linkAndRec…> *Sondo Vélo/Pedal Poll* Dear Dave, It's two weeks until the start of the 1st Canada Wide Bike Count! Not only are we doing the 1st country wide count, we are also looking who is riding and where. The data we collect will be used to advocate for more cycling for everyone, everywhere! So far we have almost 500 volunteers signed up coast to coast to coast! Join us for this important initiative. Sign up today: Pedal Poll/Sondo Vélo <https://membership.canadabikes.org/EmailTracker/LinkTracker.ashx?linkAndRec…> Happy Riding! (is there any other way??) Brian Brian Pincott Executive Director Directeur Executif he/him Vélo Canada Bikes ed(a)canadabikes.org 403-701-6335 @bpincott @Canada_Bikes Become a VCB Member <https://membership.canadabikes.org/EmailTracker/LinkTracker.ashx?linkAndRec…> Member Log In <https://membership.canadabikes.org/EmailTracker/LinkTracker.ashx?linkAndRec…> Unsubscribe <https://membership.canadabikes.org/Sys/Unsubscribe?et=CGi9kJ%2bKnivL%2fdAOy…>

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WFP: Cyclists ready to hit Winnipeg’s ‘open’ roads (May13'21)
by Beth McKechnie 13 May '21

13 May '21

Cyclists ready to hit Winnipeg’s ‘open’ roads https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/cyclists-ready-to-hit-winnipegs-ope… WINNIPEGGERS who are eagerly waiting to cycle down “open streets” this year wish the city could have put its pedal to the metal. On Wednesday, the city announced the long-awaited timeline to set up the routes, which were popular last year. Cyclist Zach Fleisher welcomed the move, but questioned why city council and staff couldn’t have implemented the plan sooner. “Especially during COVID, at this stage of the lockdown, there’s not much else to do and it would have been really, really nice (to use these),” he said. “For the life of me, I just can’t figure out why this isn’t a priority.” City council recently approved a pilot project that will limit vehicle traffic to one block on sections of 17 streets so cyclists have more room. Now known as “enhanced summer bike routes,” these were slated to begin as early as May 3 and last until Nov. 5, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, except for a few routes restricted to weekends and holidays. That’s an extension from the 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily hours offered last year. While none of the routes had the proper barricades and signs in place to officially begin operating on Wednesday, a city official announced that will soon change. Jim Berezowsky, Winnipeg’s public works director, said eight of the routes — on Rover Avenue, Scotia Street, Lyndale Drive, Wolseley Avenue, Kildonan Drive, Wellington Avenue, Wellington Crescent, and Assiniboine Avenue — will open by Saturday. The rest will be installed between May 17 and May 21. Fleisher said the traffic-calmed routes offered a much-needed pandemic reprieve last year, which he looks forward to using again under the current lockdown. “People don’t have a lot going on right now. You can’t go anywhere. You can’t even go to a patio with friends or stay (with friends) in the backyard,” he said. “Having the opportunity to ride my bike on weekends with my kid… is one of the few things (I could do) right now.” Julie Penner was also frustrated by the wait, as her family found biking together on Wolseley Avenue to be a rare “highlight of the pandemic” last year. “We’re already in mid-May, it’s going to be 23 C today. It’s the first day of remote schooling, I have two little kids at home and (this is needed),” said Penner on Wednesday morning. She said she’s excited to learn a timeline to open the routes is in place, especially after pandemic restrictions cut off sports and other activities for her kids. “Time is of the essence. People need things to do outside safely,” she said. Berezowsky said the routes couldn’t open by May 3 because the city needed to create new signs and education material to reflect key changes from last year’s routes, which council finalized in a vote on April 29. “This is a fundamental shift or change in understanding and we’ve got to make sure we get it right or we’re going to create conflict,” he said. Unlike last year’s “open streets,” the cycling routes won’t allow pedestrians, since the city has since discovered that doing so violated the Highway Traffic Act. The act prohibits pedestrians from walking on roadways where a “reasonably passable” sidewalk is present. The 2021 routes will also operate for longer hours. “We’re providing that information, education and awareness to the community about what’s happening, how you can use it and what you can’t do,” said Berezowsky. The city’s education efforts will include hand-delivered information to homes near the routes. Coun. Matt Allard, chairman of the public works committee, said council approved the program as quickly as it could. “I think council got the job done in plenty of time. We provided very clear direction to the public service,” said Allard. Ready to roll THE following summer cycling routes will open by May 15: ● Lyndale Drive: Cromwell to Gauvin streets ● Scotia Street: Anderson (at St. Cross Street) to Armstrong avenues (weekends, holidays only) ● Wellington Crescent: Academy Road to Guelph Street ● Wolseley Avenue: Raglan Road to Maryland Street ● Kildonan Drive: Helmsdale Avenue to Irving Place ● Rover Avenue — Hallet to Stephens streets (weekends, holidays only) ● Assiniboine Avenue: Parkside Drive to Ferry Road (weekends, holidays only) ● Wellington Avenue: Maryland to Strathcona streets (weekends, holidays only) THE following routes will open between May 17 and May 21: ● Churchill Drive: Hay Street to Jubilee Avenue ● Egerton Road: Bank to Morier avenues ● Kilkenny Drive/Kings Drive: Burgess to Patricia avenues ● Alexander Avenue: Arlington to Princess streets ● Ravelston Avenue: Wayoata to Brewster streets ● Linwood Street: Portage to Silver avenues ● Harbison Avenue West: Henderson Highway to its eastern end ● Rose Lake Court, surrounding Rose Lake Green ● Youville Street: Eugenie Street to Haig Avenue (after reconstruction of Des Meurons Street)

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Corvallis (OR) building map of shortcuts for peds & cyclists
by Beth McKechnie 13 May '21

13 May '21

https://democratherald.com/news/local/corvallis-building-map-of-shortcuts/a… Corvallis transportation officials want you to give them a shortcut. Or at least that’s what we’re calling them. The city of Corvallis, which sometimes is a bit wordy, is calling them “active travel corridors.” The concept works like this: There are routes folks take on bicycle and on foot that are off-limits to motorists. A street dead-ends, but the sidewalk continues, or a path exists through a park. Advantage active travelers! Here are a couple of examples: • Both Northwest Eighth Street and Northwest Seventh Street dead-end just south of the Linn-Benton Community Benton Center. But paths and sidewalks will take you right to the campus (see map). • Northwest Tyler Avenue dead-ends tantalizingly short of Harrison Boulevard. But a path exists to transport a cyclist or walker to Harrison. • A bridge over Dixon Creek will get you from Northwest Arthur Avenue to Northwest Arthur Place … and eventually to Kings Boulevard. • Porter Park, meanwhile, provides a pleasant pathway for a cyclist or pedestrian motivating between Garfield and Grant. Corvallis is collecting the ATCs to put on an interactive map (see information box for the link). Some of the routes even feature transit connections. “It’s a brand new transportation network that has been here for decades,” said Josh Capps, the city’s active transportation program specialist. “Throughout the years, Corvallis has been quietly developing neighborhood shortcuts for people walking, rolling and biking. These cut-throughs connect people to other valuable locations such as another street, a park, or a school. They shorten the trip for people traversing by active modes and enrich the travel experience.” The idea, Capps said, came from a project supported by the International Federation of Pedestrians “that really didn’t catch on. We took the initial idea and tweaked it a bit.” Capps says only Olympia, Washington, has a program anywhere near what Corvallis is offering. The city went live with its interactive map May 1 and began sifting through recommendations from residents that arrived by the dozen. Participation by the public was an important piece, Capps said. “We found many of these connections, but we knew that we couldn't possibly discover all of them on our own,” he said. “So, we wanted the community to tell us where they were. This helps for local knowledge but also gives people buy-in knowing they helped define the map.” Capps said that the program has been “very well received. We really thought that this was a campaign that would resonate with the community. We all have areas we know, but we didn’t know the whole thing.” The promotion is scheduled to end at the end of the month, but Capps said “we may leave it up longer. We see this as a living document, since new developments continue adding ATCs and we plan to keep the map as a permanent fixture on the city website. “Although it is developed as a stand-alone digital map, we are hoping to provide the ability to overlay the ATC map onto the online bike network map at some point to show how the two networks overlap and link up. There is a chance we could also add signs below dead-end street signs, for example, letting people know that a street continues for people walking and biking. “Last, down the line, I could also see pocket-sized maps being produced. But, we wouldn’t create these until only after our network is well identified.” And if a short-cut looks too good to be true, it just might be that you are encroaching on private property. “We don’t want to point people toward private property," Capps said. "We either view in person or use Google Streetview to look up each ATC that comes in. We also use tax lot information to determine if it meets our qualifications. If we find an ATC that cuts through private property, we mark it on the map with a red negative symbol. “This way it lets people know that we have seen the location, but we do not recommend it because it hasn’t met our qualifications, which usually means it is on private property.” TO PARTICIPATE Just go to https://www.corvallisoregon.gov/publicworks/page/active-travel-corridors anjd follow the directions. The city is giving away bike bandanas to 10 lucky contestants. For more information email josh.capps(a)corvallisoregon.gov

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WFP: Children’s charity seeks funding assistance to provide specialized bikes (May7'21)
by Beth McKechnie 07 May '21

07 May '21

Children’s charity seeks funding assistance to provide specialized bikes https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/childrens-charity-seeks-assistance-… AS the second summer without in-person fundraising and recreation programs approaches, the Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation wait list for specialized bikes built for children with disabilities has more than doubled. There are 25 children currently waiting for bikes; on most years, the number is around 10. Bikes can range from $1,500 to $6,500, are custom-built, and often include alterations for support and mobility. The bikes are worth every cent for the limitless opportunities they can provide a child with disabilities, said Adell Gauthier, fund development manager and event co-ordinator for the foundation. “A bike ride down the street, or even when bikes are used at school in gym class, they have incredible therapeutic benefits, physical benefits for children with disabilities,” she said. There’s an ever-present need for bike funding, as children grow and their needs change, but the COVID-19 pandemic has brought a new urgency. Fundraisers that would typically bring in thousands of dollars to the program have been cancelled, and programs the children would typically utilize in the summer have been shut down. “In the year that we are in, with the lack of physical fundraising events that we’ve been able to have, it’s been increasingly difficult to fund these items as quickly as we could like,” Gauthier said. For many of the families the foundation works with, picking up a standard bike at a big-box store isn’t a feasible option — specialized units take weeks to build, and as the weather gets warmer, the foundation’s hoping more will be funded in time for kids to get outside. “Part of our concern isn’t just about the funding, it’s about the time. We don’t want spring and summer to go by and for a child that’s been waiting for a bike to receive it when they can’t be outside using it,” Gauthier said. One family who knows the urgency all too well is Heather Lawless and her six-year-old son, Nolan, who uses a customized bike funded by a donor to the Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation. Lawless said it was “heartbreaking” to learn more children are going without what has been an invaluable resource for Nolan. “Whether you have the means or not to buy your kid a standard bike, there’s many ways that can happen for people of any means, but when it’s as specialized as this bike, that’s just not a thing,” she said. The bike Nolan uses is part of the therapy he receives, but its features aren’t just physical — Lawless said it has helped him connect with classmates, who will often join him on rides. “It fills a gap in mobility he just does not have without the aid of this type of equipment,” she said. malak.abas(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: malakabas_

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WFP Editorial: Enforcement should walk on the sensible side (May5'21)
by Beth McKechnie 05 May '21

05 May '21

EDITORIAL Enforcement should walk on the sensible side https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/enforcement-should-wal… EVEN for citizens who would never consider themselves to be scofflaws, some laws seem to invite scoffing. Beginning on Monday, motorized-vehicle traffic was restricted on sections of 17 Winnipeg streets under an initiative that used to be called “Open Streets,” when such sections were considered open to both pedestrians and cyclists. But city council recently changed the name to “enhanced summer cycling routes,” reflecting the fact the roadways will continue to be open to cyclists but, according to the letter of a law, pedestrians will instead remain confined to sidewalks. Pedestrians are sidelined by a previously disregarded clause in the Highway Traffic Act that prohibits walking on roadways where a “reasonably passable” sidewalk is present. Who knew? Clearly, not the city councillors who last year approved the Open Streets pilot project that welcomed pedestrians to pound the pavement normally dominated by motorized vehicles. For the record, a check of local obituaries would likely show the thousands of pedestrians who traversed the Open Streets last year all survived their strolls. Sometime between then and now, however, a city administrator — in a display of admirable but misdirected diligence — perused the legal intricacies of the HTA and informed councillors the formerly open streets must be closed to pedestrians. City officials are lobbying the province to amend the relevant HTA section, but legal changes are notoriously slow, so pedestrians won’t get legal authority to leave the sidewalk this summer. Until the law is changed, the hope is that authorities will use reasonable discretion and, frankly, pay no heed if a pedestrian happens to set foot on a designated roadway. Such common-sense enforcement of laws has plenty of precedents. For example, City of Winnipeg Bylaw 89 says people can’t spend more than 90 minutes in a city bus shelter, and no one in such shelters can smoke or consume alcoholic beverages. This bylaw is flouted regularly as people without homes cram into bus shelters, sometimes all night — a dire situation overlooked by authorities who presumably excuse the shelter occupancy as a consequence of larger social problems. It’s also against the law in Winnipeg to strike a sidewalk with a metal object, to go naked in your home if you leave the blinds up, or to hum while aboard a city bus. Sensible discernment dictates that a bus passenger’s illicit humming of Louis Armstrong’s What A Wonderful World should not be prosecuted; such prudent judgment should also apply to pedestrians ambling on streets formerly known as “open.” In the disheartening event that an overzealous official tickets a pedestrian, there would seem to be a strong legal defence. The relevant HTA section prohibits walking on roadways where a “reasonably passable” sidewalk is present. A case could be made that during a pandemic, when people are warned to stay two metres apart, a sidewalk occupied by other pedestrians is not “reasonably passable,” necessitating a temporary detour onto the road. Such a legal challenge should be unnecessary, however. Enforcement officers shouldn’t actively seek out rogue pedestrians and, should they see one, the best option might be to look the other way. When Charles Dickens employed the expression “The law is an ass” in his 1838 novel Oliver Twist, he wasn’t referring to the seat of human anatomy, but to the colloquial name for donkeys — which have traditionally been characterized as stubborn and stupid, so the phrase refers to a senselessly rigid application of a law. To police the Open Streets concept with a section of the HTA that was never intended for such a situation would warrant such a blunt Dickensian description. Such enforcement would be asinine, indeed.

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BC Active Transportation Design Guide
by Beth McKechnie 04 May '21

04 May '21

BC Active Transportation Design Guide <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001XABz4sbT7RtvCFXmvoFiNYfLIIWP8Pn3PlrxXeGJXF_5…> The Province of British Columbia and Urban Systems recently developed the BC Active Transportation Design Guide, which is a comprehensive set of planning and engineering guidelines offering recommendations for the planning, selection, design, implementation, and maintenance of active transportation infrastructure across the province.

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New Bicycle Friendly Communities Award Winners!
by Beth McKechnie 04 May '21

04 May '21

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Share the Road <bfc(a)sharetheroad.ca> Date: Tue, May 4, 2021 at 9:14 AM BFC Awards Today, STR and its partner, the Canadian Automobile Association, are pleased to announce 10 communities across Canada that have been awarded a new or higher BFC designation, and three communities that are being recognized with an honourable mention. Visit <https://sharetheroad.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a35ddfe96e5d144ea08…>Share the Road <https://sharetheroad.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a35ddfe96e5d144ea08…> for a complete list of Bicycle Friendly Communities and *click here* <https://sharetheroad.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a35ddfe96e5d144ea08…> for the news release. Silver awards go to: - Canmore, AB - Collingwood, ON - Cornwall, ON - Markham, ON - Oakville, ON - Thunder Bay, ON Bronze awards go to: - Calgary, AB - Kelowna, BC - Petawawa, ON - Saskatoon, SK Honourable mentions go to: - Bracebridge, ON - Port Alberni, BC - Stratford, ON The BFC Award Program helps communities evaluate how bicycle friendly their community is, celebrate progress, and work toward achieving higher-level awards over time. The Fall 2021 BFC round will open shortly and close on *October 8th, 2021*. Please contact the BFC Manager, Subha Ramanathan (*bfc(a)sharetheroad.ca <bfc(a)sharetheroad.ca>)* if you have any questions. Share the Road Cycling Coalition View this email in your browser <https://mailchi.mp/34c6c4663c7e/bicycle-friendly-communities-spring-2021-ap…> Share the Road <https://sharetheroad.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a35ddfe96e5d144ea08…> Bicycle Friendly Communities <https://sharetheroad.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a35ddfe96e5d144ea08…> Contact Us <bfc(a)sharetheroad.ca>

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WFP: ‘Open streets’ to open, but now only for cyclists (May1'21)
by Beth McKechnie 01 May '21

01 May '21

‘Open streets’ to open, but now only for cyclists https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/open-streets-to-open-with-caveat-57… IT’S official: 17 “open streets” will be offered to Winnipeggers this year, but remain reserved for cyclists only. Council cast a 15-1 final vote Thursday night to approve a 2021 pilot project of what are now called “enhanced summer cycling routes,” where vehicle traffic will be limited to one block to create more room for bike riders. Pedestrians won’t be included this time around, after the city discovered inviting them to use similar routes in 2020 actually violated the Manitoba Highway Traffic Act. The seasonal active transportation routes are slated to run from as early as May 3 until Nov. 5, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, except for a few routes that will be restricted to weekends and holidays. Despite the legal changes, Coun. Matt Allard, public works committee chairman, said the new routes mark a major step forward. “There’s a lot of benefits to what’s being proposed. It’s adding the enhanced (cycle) routes to the active transportation strategy. So it increases the scope of our active transportation strategy substantially,” said Allard (St. Boniface). Mayor Brian Bowman said he supports creating more space for active transportation, but shares provincial concerns. “Obviously, there’s safety considerations when pedestrians and vehicles are using the same space... those are paramount for me,” said Bowman. While many Winnipeggers have lobbied the city to restore the pedestrian access, the mayor said he’s still pursuing talks with the province to determine if or how that could occur. In the meantime, Bowman urged pedestrians to follow the act, which prohibits walking on roadways where a “reasonably passable” sidewalk is present. “There will be a need to communicate (that) as clearly as we can to everyone,” he said. While the routes have proven popular with many Winnipeggers, one councillor argued the city still hasn’t done a full and proper consultation. Coun. Kevin Klein (Charleswood-Tuxedo- Westwood), who voted against the plan, said he’s received complaints about disputes between those travelling on the routes. “Residents and cyclists and pedestrians get into arguments, and it becomes divisive,” said Klein. The councillor said he also suspects many pedestrians will continue to use the routes, no matter what the official rules are — and doubts the city has the resources to ticket them for doing so. “We’re basically doing something that is absurd, because we’re saying people are going to break the law but we support that,” he said. A few final routes will also be more limited than some residents wish. Members of multiple residents associations urged council to expand sections of Scotia Street and Rover Avenue to provide daily access. However, the final council vote will limit those roadways to weekends and holidays only, after Coun. Ross Eadie expressed concern about delivery vehicle and bus access in those areas. Junel Malapad is no stranger to Scotia Street’s pavement. An ultramarathon runner who regularly runs and bikes for charity, he often trains in the area. While on a bike ride Friday afternoon, Malapad called the decision to leave Scotia Avenue out of the list of routes open to cyclists daily “strange.” “I’ve lived in the North End all my life, and this is a route that I’ve always felt is accessible and (has) less traffic,” he said. The neighbourhood needs more time than weekends and holidays to get out and enjoy the warm weather, especially as COVID-19 case counts begin to rise again, Malapad said. “The opportunity right now, during COVID, it’s a big deal to be able to get outside and just walk freely, they’re closing down the gyms, which is understandable,” he said. “But this just loses the ability to get (outside for) mental health.” joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga *THE following areas will become enhanced summer cycling routes this year:* ● Lyndale Drive: Cromwell to Gauvin streets ● Scotia Street: Anderson (at St. Cross Street) to Armstrong avenues (weekends, holidays only) ● Wellington Crescent: Academy Road to Guelph Street ● Wolseley Avenue: Raglan Road to Maryland Street ● Churchill Drive: Hay Street to Jubilee Avenue ● Egerton Road: Bank to Morier avenues ● Kildonan Drive: Helmsdale Avenue to Irving Place ● Kilkenny Drive/Kings Drive: Burgess to Patricia avenues ● Rover Avenue — Hallet to Stephens streets (weekends, holidays only) ● Alexander Avenue: Arlington to Princess streets ● Ravelston Avenue: Wayoata to Brewster streets ● Linwood Street: Portage to Silver avenues ● Harbison Avenue West: Henderson Highway to its eastern end ● Rose Lake Court, surrounding Rose Lake Green ● Assiniboine Avenue: Parkside Drive to Ferry Road (weekends, holidays only) ● Wellington Avenue: Maryland to Strathcona streets (weekends, holidays only) ● Youville Street: Eugenie Street to Haig Avenue (after reconstruction of Des Meurons Street)

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CTV: Open Streets returning to Winnipeg without pedestrians (Apr29'21)
by Beth McKechnie 30 Apr '21

30 Apr '21

*Open Streets returning to Winnipeg without pedestrians* https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/open-streets-returning-to-winnipeg-without-pede… WINNIPEG -- Starting next week, cyclists will once again have some roads in Winnipeg all to themselves. On Thursday, city council voted to move ahead with the Open Streets concept. This means that beginning on Monday, vehicle traffic will be limited to one block on select routes to allow cyclists to use the street. However, unlike last year when pedestrians and cyclists shared the widened roads, the current plan would only allow people on bikes. A report from the province says pedestrians are not allowed on the road where a sidewalk is present. "Walking on the street is wonderful and it should be allowed because right now because of the restrictions we can't go anywhere," said Gabriela Aguero, who enjoys jogging along Wolseley Avenue. "Some people don't own bikes and the sidewalks are so narrow, we cannot keep the distance on the sidewalk." The report recommends the city reach out to the province to change the law. "That is the law right now of the province. I think that we as a council and residents respect the legislation," said Mayor Brian Bowman. Despite the law, Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler said no legal changes would be needed and the city can just section off the street to separate vehicles from pedestrians and cyclists. "The City of Winnipeg is allowed to do anything they want to do as long as they do it safely," said Schuler. Aguero said no matter what happens, she will be using the street. "What option do we have? I don't want to run close to a mom who is carrying a baby in a carrier because I can't run with a mask," she said. The streets will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

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WFP: Resident groups want seven-day enhanced street access (Apr29'21)
by Beth McKechnie 29 Apr '21

29 Apr '21

Resident groups want seven-day enhanced street access https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/residents-associations-to-lobby-for… RESIDENTS associations are pushing for more access to two “open streets,” despite opposition from at least one city councillor. Members of multiple associations will lobby city council today to offer seven-day active transportation access on sections of Scotia Street and Rover Avenue. Those are two of 17 roads proposed to become “enhanced summer cycling routes” through a pilot project this year, where vehicular travel will be limited to one block during set hours. “Open streets” are meant to create more room for cyclists. “Having the seven-day access brought (Scotia) Street to life in a completely new way (last year) … The community support for the open routes has been very strong,” said Brent Johnson, secretary of the Luxton Residents Association. But last year’s “open streets,” included pedestrians. Since then, the city has discovered that allowing foot traffic to share the space with vehicles violates the Highway Traffic Act. This year, it’s proposed the routes be set aside for cyclists only. The act prohibits pedestrians from walking on roadways where a “reasonably passable” sidewalk is present. Scotia Street (from Anderson Avenue at St. Cross Street to Armstrong Avenue) and Rover Avenue (from Hallet to Stephens streets) are currently slated to offer enhanced cyclist access on Sundays and holidays only, a limit proposed by Coun. Ross Eadie (Mynarski). The groups hope to change that to seven days a week, as is proposed for most of the other cycling routes. Johnson said he regularly walks and bikes on Scotia Street in West Kildonan and believes that while the one-block limit can inconvenience drivers, the public benefit outweighs any downside. “There’s certainly a demand and desire for people to experience this part of the city in a different way. Why should we deny that in favour for convenience… for cars?” he asked. Johnson expects Rover Avenue, which he’s used to commute by bike, would also benefit from such access. “Rover is a vital link in the active transportation network that the city is slowly but surely developing,” he said. Daniel Guenther, president of the Garden City Residents Association, said Scotia Street also provided his neighbourhood with an outlet for physically distanced exercise last year. “With Scotia being the closest open street to Garden City… (it) definitely filled that void,” said Guenther. Coun. Eadie, who has lived in the Scotia Street area for 54 years, said he has received multiple complaints about the seven-day access, which city staff had initially proposed for the two routes this year. He said residents were concerned the vehicle travel limit interfered with delivery vehicles and buses last year. “The people who are for (this) are adamant (the route must be open) seven days and the people who are against (it) don’t want any days,” said Eadie. The councillor said he believes a switch to Saturday, Sunday and holiday access for Rover and Scotia is preferable. He plans to ask council to add Saturday access at its meeting today, where a final vote on the pilot project will take place. He expects that “compromise” would best address the needs of all residents. “I’m just moving to balance the ‘for’ and ‘against’ perspectives of people,” he said. Eadie said these routes should otherwise match the timelines of the seven day ones, by running from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., from as early as May 3 to Nov. 5. Eadie said he’s asked city staff to explore if Rover Avenue could have its speed reduced to 30 km/h, something active transportation advocates have lobbied for on residential streets. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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Canstar - Wolseley: Walk Bike project creates debate, concern
by Beth McKechnie 28 Apr '21

28 Apr '21

[Note: This same group is raising funds to try to stop the Wolseley Bike Walk Project https://ca.gofundme.com/f/halt-the-wolseley-walk-bike-project-now] Walk Bike project creates debate, concern BY TONY ZERUCHA SPECIAL TO CANSTAR WOLSELEY Not everybody is convinced increased active transportation measures are a good idea for Wolseley, but all sides agree that more public consultation should be done on the issue. The City of Winnipeg is currently designing the Wolseley to Downtown Walk Bike Project to improve travel choices, accessibility and connectivity in the area. The areas affected by the project include Wolseley Avenue, Westminster Avenue, Balmoral Street and Granite Way. According to the current plan, the interconnected section of Balmoral Street, Young Street and Westminster Avenue between Langside Street and Granite Way will see dedicated 1.8-metre bike lanes on both sides protected by adjustable curbs along with two 3.3-metre-wide traffic lanes. Beginning at Young Street, these will switch to one two-way bike lane on the south side of the street. Westminster Avenue between Langside and Chestnut streets will see two traffic lanes ranging in width between 3.2 and four metres, along with dedicated bike lanes on each side of the street. Some people in the neighbourhood believe the inconveniences of the changes far outweigh any benefits they provide. Ray Hignell, who’s lived in Wolseley for 40 years, is spokesperson for the Wolseley West Broadway Coalition, which recently delivered flyers throughout the neighbourhood. He believes the project will have negative net impact. “People are using the pandemic to promote this thing to say we should all ride bicycles,” Hignell said. “It’s a great inconvenience for everybody.” The WWBC fears the changes will make Wolseley a “car-unfriendly” neighbourhood with unintended side effects. With the narrower lanes, Hignell suspects traffic will back up on already busy streets during peak periods if it cannot move around cars waiting to turn. That will drive people to use side streets more frequently and take longer routes in a bid to avoid slowdowns. Pollution will increase and counter what some of the measures are supposed to address. The changes will also require the removal of 48 parking spots and loading zones. According to the City of Winnipeg, peak parking rates on Westminster occur between 10 a.m. and noon, when 70 per cent of spaces are full. Midday parking percentages on Chestnut, Walnut and Furby are 34, 60 and 75. The problem is worse on weekends and when events are held at area churches, Hignell said. The loss of parking spots will increase scarcity. “How would you like it if your street banned parking and you have friends over and there is nowhere to park?” Hignell asked. “It is a terrible deal. It’s a lot of parking spots to get rid of. Parking’s already tight there.” Wolseley Residents Association president Marianne Cerilli said her organization supports the open streets concept as a needed step to combat climate change. “The reason why we’re in support of open streets and the move to improve bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure is because we realize we have to change our transportation methods from individual car trips as much as possible,” Cerilli said. “Many understand the climate crisis and they want to bring a climate justice agenda to the neighbourhood.” Cerilli said cars are the second-highest emitters of greenhouse gases in the area and that society needs to understand the significant role they play in pollution. She disagrees with Hignell’s concerns about increased traffic. “They’re based on the assumption people won’t mode-shift,” Cerilli said. Cerilli said Wolseley is a very walkable neighbourhood with a good mix of residential development and small shops. She believes that addressing the issue of vehicles using the neighbourhood as a shortcut to Maryland Street would significantly reduce traffic volumes. Adrian Challis is the chair of the WRA’s transportation committee. He believes there is no way of knowing what the impact of the changes will be until they are made, even if only for a trial period. “I don’t see how anyone can have such a crystal ball to say those things will happen,” Challis said. “This is all highly speculative and is hard to know.” Like Cerilli, Challis said he is concerned about the climate and anything we can do to persuade people to use their cars less is a good thing. “I am a car driver, too,” Challis said. “But we can’t just use our cars, we have to make the neighbourhood conducive to walking and biking. “If I have to experience a little inconvenience (as a driver) I am OK with that.” The WWBC is also concerned about the impact of moving the No. 10 Wolseley bus route away from the area around Balmoral Hall School. The current route takes riders down Westminster from Evanson all the way to Broadway via Balmoral, but a proposed new route uses Wolseley and Maryland/ Sherbrook to connect to Broadway. That will affect many of the 2,000 people living near Balmoral Hall, Hignell said. “Many people have low incomes and they need the bus. That bus has been there for 93 years,” Hignell said. “This is going to be a great disservice to a lot of people.” Cerilli and Challis said moving the bus route is a legitimate concern but the impacts have not yet been studied. But this, too, may be an instance in which Winnipeg Transit tries the change to see what the effects are. “I don’t think anybody can confidently say that putting it on Wolseley is a good or bad idea. I think we have to try it,” Challis said. While the City of Winnipeg has held open houses, workshops and surveys, both the WRA and WWBC feel meaningful dialogue is lacking. Hignell believes more than half of residents do not know what changes are being considered as they did not receive notices or surveys. Many of those most affected by the changing bus route had no idea it’s coming. Longtime Wolseley resident Ray Hignell believes the costs of planned active transportation measures will do more harm than good, while Leona Fontaine says a proposed new route for the No. 10 bus will negatively affect many in the neighbourhood.

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Neighbourhood Greenway Streets Pilot Designs and Public Engagement
by Mark Cohoe 28 Apr '21

28 Apr '21

Hi, In case you missed this (I did), the city has opened up public engagement on the Neighbourhood Streets Pilot, complete with traffic calming plans. https://engage.winnipeg.ca/neighbourhood-greenway-reduced-speed-pilot?tool=… Mark

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Fwd: Thank you for attending Using Indicators to Track Walking and Cycling Progress
by Mark Cohoe 28 Apr '21

28 Apr '21

Hi Everyone, Here is the recording from the April APBP Webinar: Using Indicators to Track Walking and Cycling Progress. It gives details on a program put in place by Perburough, Ontario. A couple of interesting notes from the webinar: - They use a Transit Convenience Indicator based on an indicator they saw used in Winnipeg - They have someone dedicated to transportation demand management - Vehicle Kms travelled have remained - They saw a fairly sizable increase in cycling, which they link to an expanded cycling network Cheers, Mark Cohoe Executive Director Bike Winnipeg t: 204-894-6540 e: mark(a)bikewinnipeg.ca ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: APBP Webinars <customercare(a)gotowebinar.com> Date: Wed, Apr 21, 2021 at 6:01 PM Subject: Thank you for attending Using Indicators to Track Walking and Cycling Progress To: <mark(a)bikewinnipeg.ca> Thank you for attending the APBP webinar. We hope you found the content interesting and helpful. To claim AICP credit with the American Planning Association for viewing this live webinar, search for event ID #: 9214792 Please help APBP improve the webinar program by taking quick 2-minute survey. Click on this link or copy and paste it into your browser: https://apbp.memberclicks.net/webinar-evaluation-form Watch the webinar recording: https://login.filesanywhere.com/fs/v.aspx?v=8c6b658f5b657377aea0 AICP event number for viewing the on-demand recording: 9214795 Download the slides in PDF format: https://login.filesanywhere.com/fs/v.aspx?v=8c6b658f5b64747da3a5 Report PDF: https://www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/ATI-Repo… If you need an attendance certificate, the form is available for download: https://www.apbp.org/webinar-downloads Please forward these links to others who viewed the webinar at your site. Thank you again for participating! Please send your questions, comments and feedback to: webinars(a)apbp.org. You are receiving this email because you registered for this webinar. Your email address and personal information will be used by the Webinar organizer to communicate with you about this event and their other services. To review the organizer's privacy policy or stop receiving their communications, please contact the organizer directly. Stop GoToWebinar emails <https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/subscription.tmpl?organizer=10000000000057…> | Report spam <https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/reportSpam.tmpl?organizer=1000000000005727…> This email is sent on behalf of the organizer by GoToWebinar. 333 Summer Street | Boston, MA 02210 Privacy Policy <https://secure.logmein.com/home/en/policies/overview> | Anti-spam Policy <https://secure.logmein.com/home/en/policies/anti-spam-policy> | www.gotowebinar.com ©2021 LogMeIn, Inc.

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Upcoming webinars on behavior change and bicycle-friendly facilities
by Beth McKechnie 27 Apr '21

27 Apr '21

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Anna Walters <0000012ea70457d7-dmarc-request(a)listserv.usf.edu> Date: Tue, Apr 27, 2021 at 10:34 AM Hi there, Bikes Make Life Better is hosting or participating in two upcoming webinars that may be of interest to you. Both are free and open to all. *Upcoming Online Bike Forum: From Reticent To Regular Rider — Using A Behavior Change Model To Design Effective Bike Programs* As transportation professionals, we know motivating someone to ride a bike once — let alone for their daily commute — is tough. But what if we could use behavior change theory to help us design bike programs? At our next Online Bike Forum, Jessica Roberts, Principal at Alta Planning + Design, will share insights gleaned from the Stages of Change model, including how to deliver the right interventions at the right times; measuring program success; and more. DATE: April 29, 2021 TIME: 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM PT *REGISTER <https://bikesmakelifebetter.com/online-bike-forum-from-reticent-to-regular-…>* [image: OBF_alta+planning_intro_slide.png] *San Francisco Bicycle-Friendly Facilities Forum* Join Bikes Make Life Better Director Kurt Wallace Martin and other panelists for a lively presentation and discussion on bike-friendly facilities and how to prepare for the influx of new bike commuters at your workplace. Led by the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition and hosted by the SF Spare the Air Team. DATE: May 11, 2021 TIME: 11:00 AM – 12 PM PT *REGISTER* <https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAlfumgrjkoGNT80Gxs87578BGkLCrRZc…> [image: 176033610_4454571777890665_5104912781397308090_n.jpeg] Any questions, please let me know. :) Thanks, Anna -- <https://bikesmakelifebetter.com/animated-video/> Bikes Make Life Better <http://bikesmakelifebetter.com/> | 360.918.1109 <3609181109> Anna Walters | Marketing and Communications Manager ------------------------------

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WFP: Open Streets - route list (Apr22'21)
by Beth McKechnie 22 Apr '21

22 Apr '21

Where to make use of enhanced routes IF city council concurs, the following street sections will serve as enhanced summer cycling routes during a pilot program this year: ● Lyndale Drive: Cromwell to Gauvin streets ● Scotia Street: Anderson (at St. Cross Street) to Armstrong avenues (Sundays, holidays only) ● 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 to Morier avenues ● Kildonan Drive: Helmsdale Avenue to Irving Place ● Kilkenny Drive/Kings Drive: Burgess to Patricia avenues ● Rover Avenue — Hallet to Stephens streets (Sundays, holidays only) ● Alexander Avenue: Arlington to Princess streets ● Ravelston Avenue: Wayoata to Brewster streets ● Linwood Street: Portage to Silver avenues ● Harbison Avenue West: Henderson Highway to its eastern end ● Rose Lake Court surrounding Rose Lake Green ● Assiniboine Avenue: Ferry to Winston roads ● Wellington Avenue: Maryland to Strathcona streets (Sundays, holidays only) ● Youville Street: Eugenie Street to Haig Avenue (Sunday, holidays only, once construction of Des Meurons Street is completed)

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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 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

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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 the Smart Growth Network as Jeff Speck, one the nation’s leading pedestrian experts, explains his approach in Oklahoma City and other communities, how walkability studies are conducted, and how local planners can work with neighborhoods, business groups and citizens to complete similar studies of their own. *Please note* that this webinar is an hour later than our usual time. *Find out more and register for this free webinar via the link below.* Register for "What is a Walkability Study, and Why Should You Do One?" <https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVy…>

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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.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.

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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 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

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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. 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

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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 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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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. Charles Feaver, a volunteer with Bike Winnipeg, says the group has submitted a lengthy criticism of a draft municipal planning document, OurWinnipeg 2045. According to the city's website, the document, "is the city's 25-year development plan which is intended to guide everything the city does. It provides a vision, goals and policies intended to influence leadership and good governance, priority setting, delivery of city services, how residents get around in the city, and decisions about how the city grows." The problem, Feaver says, is the planning document draft is built upon Winnipeg's current climate targets, which are out of line with Canadian climate targets and international goals that hope to constrain global warming to 2 C above pre-industrial levels. The City of Winnipeg aims to reduce carbon emissions by 20 per cent by 2030 over 2011 levels, and by 80 per cent by 2050. Both targets fail to meet the thresholds needed to meet the Paris Agreement targets, or more ambitious targets that would constrain warming to 2 C.

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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 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.*

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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. 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.

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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. If adopted, France will become the first country in the world to offer people the chance to trade in an ageing vehicle for an electric or folding bicycle, the French Federation of Bicycle Users (FUB) said. "For the first time it is recognised that the solution is not to make cars greener, but simply to reduce their number," said Olivier Schneider of the FUB. -- 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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