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WFP: Lower speed limit for student safety: councillor (Jul22'20)
by Beth McKechnie 23 Jul '20

23 Jul '20

Lower speed limit for student safety: councillor https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/lower-speed-limit-for-student-safet… CHILDREN are set to face a pandemic- caused “mobility emergency” when school resumes in September, sparking the need for immediate action to support active transportation alternatives, according to the Winnipeg Trails Association. “We’re looking forward to a September where there is a lot of uncertainty for parents. They’re being told to find (alternative modes of transportation to school buses) and really the alternatives that are mostly being (pointed to are) essentially the private automobiles,” said Anders Swanson, the association’s executive director. If all school bus demand shifts to personal vehicles, it could fuel major congestion and pollution around schools, said Swanson. In late June, Manitoba Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen said parents will be asked to drop off and pick up children from school every day to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 on school buses. Students whose parents are unable to provide any other transportation to school will be given priority bus seating. Swanson called on the city to quickly reduce the speed limit on all residential streets to 30 kilometres per hour, add traffic-calming measures and create neighbourhood cycling networks. He said those steps are critical to ensure kids can safely walk and cycle to their schools before classes resume. City council is set to vote on a 30 km/h speed reduction pilot project on at least five local streets this Thursday. Coun. Sherri Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry) said she also supports the call for city-wide 30 kilometre-per-hour residential speed limits. “There are going to be more children walking to school and riding their bikes to school. In order to make them a lot safer, we have to plan and act now,” said Rollins. The councillor, who chairs council’s protection and community services committee, promised to continue to lobby for a widespread speed limit reduction and more traffic-calming measures. She did not announce specific new steps to accomplish that goal on Tuesday. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP Metro: Traffic calming measures on Furby defeated (Jul22'20)
by Beth McKechnie 22 Jul '20

22 Jul '20

Traffic calming measures on Furby defeated The motion to install traffic calming measures on Furby Street has failed, as the standing policy committee on infrastructure renewal and public works voted against it on July 7. If passed, the motion directs public works to collaborate with several community organizations, such as the West Broadway Community Organization and Winnipeg Trails Association, to install garden planters along Furby Street. The planters were a pilot project aimed at making the street safer for pedestrians. According to the motion, public works would deliver a report about the project at the end of July. Coun. Matt Allard (St. Boniface) voted for the motion, with Coun. Devi Sharma (Old Kildonan) and Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan) voting against. During the meeting, public works was concerned over the timing of the project. Wolseley has several ongoing projects in the area, including consultations for the Wolseley Walk/Bike Downtown Project. Public works is concerned that the two projects could be misconstrued as being related, which could be seen as underhanded by the public. Councillors Sharma and Browaty cited these reasons for voting no. “I understand the councillor’s intentions ... I feel a little bit uncomfortable with what I just heard from public service. They’re meeting tonight, they’ve got a big project underway, now there’s this other big project coming forward. They’re not tieing together and communicating,” Sharma said. The planters would have been community gardens, residents would be able to grow herbs and vegetables, which would also remind drivers to slow down on the residential street. The WTA and the WBCO had already created a prototype of a planter, which would have been presented to public works. The motion was approved by the city centre community committee at its June 19 meeting. To view the meeting minutes, visit winnipeg.ca

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Streetsblog: How to Build Safe Routes to School During COVID-19
by Beth McKechnie 21 Jul '20

21 Jul '20

Outdoor transportation should be one of the safest ways to get to school this fall — but we need to make some design and policy changes first. https://usa.streetsblog.org/2020/07/20/how-to-build-safe-routes-to-school-d…

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Times: Should the speed limit on residential streets be lowered? by MLA Marcelino (Jul20'20)
by Beth McKechnie 20 Jul '20

20 Jul '20

Should the speed limit on residential streets be lowered? By: Malaya Marcelino - MLA for Notre Dame Posted: *07/20/2020 9:29 AM* | https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/times/forum/Should-the-sp… In Notre Dame there are far too many traffic accidents and collisions. Pedestrians are often seriously injured and there have also been fatalities, including those of young children. Our community is ready to make the streets safer for all of us, especially for our kids. That’s why I am working with Safe Speeds Winnipeg and promoting its #Love30on30 campaign to raise awareness of the benefits of lowering residential speed limits in our city. Our community has been very active in campaigning to reduce the residential speed limit. Many of you may have been seeing a team of dedicated volunteers out canvassing in the neighbourhood every Friday. There has been a fantastic response from the community. Signs have been put up to raise awareness and there are more folks wanting to promote this issue than Safe Speeds Winnipeg has signs. If you want one, please visit love30on30.org <https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/times/forum/love30on30.org> As part of the campaign, an event will be held on the 30th of every month to involve community members in the conversation. Last month, on June 30, a zumba class for seniors was held at Autumn House. It was a great day of socially distanced dance, exercise and music outdoors. This month, on July 30, a bike clinic is being offered at the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba on Isabel Street. The clinic will discuss bike and street safety and will also involve a giveaway from the Winnipeg Repair Education and Cycling Hub. WRENCH takes used bikes from the landfills and restores them to their former glory so that they are not going waste. The Green Action Centre, as part of its commitment to raising the profile of active transportation, also supports a 30 km/h default speed in residential areas. Volunteers from the GAC have developed an app called ETA, which enables you to punch in your route to see how long it would take you to travel to a destination if a reduced speed limit is put in place. In many cases, your trip by vehicle would only take one to two minutes longer with a reduced speed limit. Visit www.love30on30.org/eta/ to try it out. What are your thoughts on a 30 km/h default residential speed limit? Get in touch with my office at Malaya.marcelino(a)yourmanitoba.ca or call 204-788-0800. Stay safe and have a great summer.

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WFP: Pedalling through a pandemic (Jul20'20)
by Beth McKechnie 20 Jul '20

20 Jul '20

Spike in bike use saps supply, sees wannabe cyclists fixing up old rides Pedalling through a pandemic https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/health/pedalling-throu… AMID the darkness of the COVID-19 crisis, there has been a small bright light for many of us: bicycles. People are buying new ones, tuning up old ones and riding more than before. Bike shops have reported booming business, far above even the normally busy spring selling season. As people are venturing out in the warmer weather, commuters and recreational cyclists — even faithful riders who’ve been biking for years — are encountering a world they’ve never seen before: streets with less traffic and which are sometimes closed to automotive traffic altogether. COVID-19 has cancelled summer festivals, sports and travel. With so many activities no longer possible, people are turning to cycling and the pandemic has prompted commuters and families to go on bike-buying binges. Affordable bikes are in high demand right now. Entry-level bikes — anything under $1,000 — are pretty much sold out. “I’m down to less than 100 bikes in my building and most of them are over $3,000,” says Phil Roadley, owner of Bikes & Beyond, the Henderson Highway mainstay. The last time Roadley had fewer than 100 bikes in his building? “Um, never,” he says. “The lowest level of bikes I’ve ever gotten down to is maybe 350 or 400. I need 200 bikes for my store sales floor to look full.” Physical distancing has sparked an explosion in cycling as people are seeking alternative modes of transportation to stay mobile and active. Pandemic restrictions have finally given people the time and motivation to take up a new hobby. As a result, bike shops across North America, Europe and Australia are seeing record sales and facing supply shortages. “Sales were up 30 per cent through April and May, and 15 per cent up through June,” Roadley says. “Suppliers don’t have any inventory to ship me until August.” It’s fun, physically distant and good for you — no wonder cycling has soared in popularity. Since March, Roadley has sold about 1,500 bikes. It was around mid-May that inventory really started to thin out. “Kids’ bikes went first,” he says. “And then your basic mountain and commuter bikes under $1,000.” The room for growth in terms of new cyclists is massive. Prior to the pandemic, a small percentage of people biked or walked to work in Winnipeg, according to the 2016 census. The Statistics Canada data shows that “active transportation,” defined as walking or cycling to work, was used by 6.2 per cent of people in Winnipeg, just slightly behind Toronto at 6.7 per cent. But since our lives have been turned upside down, cycling has taken on a critical, sanity-saving role — a way to exercise when gyms are operating with limited hours and an inexpensive means of getting around in order to avoid crowded public transportation. Going for a bike ride has replaced grabbing a drink in a bar and has been used to persuade kids to go outside while parents are on conference calls at home. Bike sales aren’t the only things skyrocketing. So are requests for bike service, as riders are pulling old, neglected bikes out of garages and basements. Married couple Heather and Bill Quinn hadn’t been on their bikes in years — five years for Heather and more than a decade for Bill. “My sister donated me her bike a couple years ago,” Heather says. “It went into the garage and was never touched since.” But back in May, they got tired of walking the same route outside every day — so they decided to tune up their bikes that had been collecting dust in storage. Since then, they’ve become avid cyclists in their neighbourhood. “We started riding pretty regularly because we got tired of walking along Wellington Crescent and doing the same route into the park,” Bill says. “We also found that our ankles and hips were getting sore from walking on concrete all the time. Riding a bike has been easier on our bodies.” As new and returning cyclists venture outside, they’re noticing a different riding environment. A spike in biking has led some Canadian cities, such as Calgary, Edmonton, Victoria and Ottawa, to reduce traffic lanes and close off portions of roadways altogether. In Winnipeg, traffic restrictions from the City of Winnipeg on several streets have transformed roads into pedestrian- and cycling-friendly destinations. “With Wellington Crescent being used for active transportation, that really inspired me to do it,” Bill says. “We just saw so many people. I don’t know if I would have been as ready to hop on my bike if we didn’t have Wellington so close to us that we could do it without getting knocked over by a car.” The active transportation routes in Winnipeg, first announced in April, limit vehicular traffic to one block to create more room for pedestrians and cyclists while maintaining physical distancing. Recently, city council extended these temporary cycling and walking routes until Sept. 7 to accommodate the increased demand during the health crisis. The safety of the active transportation routes is also a draw for Bill’s wife. “We know a lot of people our age, in their 60s, who have taken up biking,” Heather says. “There have been broken shoulders and fractured ankles. Yes, we have designated bike lanes, but it’s kind of tricky. On Wellington Crescent, it’s so safe.” Canada isn’t the only country making changes. Expansive public safety and environmental measures have been announced in cities across the globe, including hundreds of miles of new bike lanes in Milan and Mexico City, as well as widening pavements and putting pedestrians first in neighbourhoods in New York and Seattle. While it has been hard to meet the demand for bikes, those who have access to one have also been reaping the health benefits. “Bike riding is another way to exercise. We’ll be in and out of the city all summer so we decided to freeze our gym memberships until September,” Bill says. “We were kind of doing the same thing at our own gyms and now we have something we can do together that takes us a little farther than walking, and we can exercise at the same time.” The retired couple spends a few weeks at a lake community every summer — this year, because of their new hobby, they were able to see more of it. “We’ve been going to Victoria Beach for years,” Bill says. “But because we have bikes this year, we’ve gone to places we’ve never been before because we can access it on our bikes.” They now go riding every other day and outings have become an adventure. “It’s kind of exhilarating to feel the wind in your hair and the bugs in your teeth and you can go farther and see more,” Heather says. “My next goal is the Harte Trail in Assiniboine Forest.” Whatever one’s reasons for getting back on a bicycle, it’s a pastime that offers many benefits during this turbulent time. “It’s something we can do together,” Bill says. “And it really does give you freedom to go places that you may not normally go.” Whether this is a temporary surge in cycling’s popularity or the start of a future where bikes become a more prominent form of transportation, the experiences cyclists have enjoyed over these last several weeks can’t be undone. “To bike to work requires a lot of bravery in our city; I admire those people. We’re new bikers so we haven’t explored all the cycling routes yet,” Heather says. “I’m sure there are a lot of possibilities of places to go and I’m looking forward to checking them all out.”’ sabrinacarnevale(a)gmail.com @SabrinaCsays

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Slowing down cars
by Charles F 17 Jul '20

17 Jul '20

Good editorial in the globehttps://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/article-want-a-bett… across Canada are slowing down cars. Forty is the new 50. It is a win for people....Toronto is also moving to rein in drivers. Last year, it cut speeds on stretches of arterial roads to 50 km/h from 60. And this month, 50 speed cameras went live around the city near schools or other designated “safety zones.” These cameras were first installed late last year, but until now only dispatched warnings to offending drivers. The 50 cameras may only be a first step – there are about 800 schools in Toronto – but research shows automated enforcement causes drives to slow down...People are dying because urban planning has long overvalued cars and undervalued pedestrians. National data for 2018, released last week by Transport Canada, shows yet another year when drivers and their vehicles killed more than 300 people on foot....Zero pedestrians died in Helsinki and Oslo last year. The policy measures that achieved that feat are varied, but all centre around battling the primacy of the car. Lowering speed limits is key. Other changes include safer street design, road tolls, more expensive parking, and replacing much of the street parking with wider sidewalks and bike lanes. Investment in transit has spurred ridership. While Toronto has put up speed cameras around 6 per cent of the city’s schools, Oslo is testing “heart zones” where driving around schools is banned....The move toward automated enforcement, however, is key. Some critics believe drivers simply will not slow down, even if limits are lowered. But the threat of a costly speeding ticket surely is ample inspiration for many drivers to ease up on the gas pedal, making the city a safer and better place for everyone, at the most minor of inconveniences with fractional increases in travel time...Sent from my phone.

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Steal This Idea: Scottish E-Bike Program
by Beth McKechnie 16 Jul '20

16 Jul '20

Scotland just re-upped its investment in e-bikes as part of an effort to boost pandemic-era mobility and flatten the COVID-19 curve — and smart U.S. states would be wise to follow its lead. The nation recently authorized a *fourth *round of funding to the E-Bike Grant program, which provides a raft of financial incentives to get Scots to replace car and transit commutes with bike rides. The allocation totals £900,000, or about $1.1 million. *Full story*: https://usa.streetsblog.org/2020/07/08/steal-this-idea-states-should-imitat…

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WFP: Henderson Highway block to get makeover - #ReimagineElmwood (Jul16'20)
by Beth McKechnie 16 Jul '20

16 Jul '20

Henderson Highway block to get makeover https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/henderson-block-to-get-makeover-571… ELMWOOD community groups are joining forces to show residents the potential of a stretch of Henderson Highway. On July 25, Henderson between Noble and Hart avenues will be transformed to include bike lanes, parking, planters and seating for pedestrians. Glenelm Neighbourhood Association co-chairman Michel Durand-Wood said more than 1,500 people were surveyed about a five-year plan for the neighbourhood in 2018. “One of those priorities was addressing the difficulty experienced in getting around our own neighbourhood, especially for the many who get around on foot, bike, transit and with mobility aids or strollers,” Durand-Wood wrote in an email. The project, called #ReimagineElmwood, cost the eight community groups involved less than $400. Durand-Wood said a project that transformed Toronto’s Danforth Avenue last summer inspired the Elmwood project. “That was the a-ha moment that led to developing this project, that we could work in small steps, testing things out on a temporary basis, and building on what works,” he said. “There were quite a few locations that were specifically identified by the neighbourhood as troublesome to navigate, and we plan to work on them all. This is just the first of many projects.” He said the project will inspire people to make positive changes in the neighbourhood despite no municipal funding or influence. “Just by having neighbours working together, identifying what we want to improve, and taking small steps to try possible solutions out, we can make our neighbourhood better for the people who live here, even one block at a time,” he said. malak.abas(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: malakabas_

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WFP Editorial: Giving green light to e-scooter pilot (Jul16'20)
by Beth McKechnie 16 Jul '20

16 Jul '20

Giving green light to e-scooter pilot https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/giving-green-light-to-… EVIDENCE that the pandemic has increased the need for low-cost transportation options can be seen through the windows of any passing Winnipeg Transit bus, where what’s immediately apparent is an unusually large number of empty seats. Ridership has dropped dramatically, as many virus-wary Winnipeggers now view buses as potential COVID-19 cocoons because passengers are seated closely, breathing the same air and touching the same poles, seats and doors. Alternatives to bus transport would be greatly appreciated by those reluctant former riders who don’t own personal vehicles, perhaps for budget or environmental reasons, but still have to get around town. A possible alternative might arrive in the form of electric scooters. City administration is currently studying the issue and recommended council ask the province to alter the Highway Traffic Act to allow a trial of e-scooters in Winnipeg. Council and the province would be well advised to approve the proposal, allowing the trial should proceed full speed ahead (or, at least, at the 30 km/h that is top speed for e-scooters). A novel transportation alternative for Winnipeg, e-scooters are already allowed in dozens of North American cities, including Montreal, Calgary and Edmonton. The experiences of these cities show the advent of e-scooters is not universally welcomed. In fact, for some people, it’s hate at first sight. Social media, including the popular Instagram account Scooters Behaving Badly, reveal that many automobile drivers resent sharing road space with the tiny motorized machines that tend to navigate traffic in unfamiliar ways. Some pedestrians also feel e-scooters create danger on sidewalks. Despite the many who sneer at e-scooters, however, others acknowledge that this new technology has advantages. E-scooters hardly pollute, they’re less expensive than traditional motorized vehicles and they take up far less space on streets in cities where they’re allowed on roadways. Calgary’s e-scooter pilot project, launched last July, limits e-scooter use to sidewalks, pathways and bike lanes. In Edmonton, authorized e-scooters are allowed on bike lanes, shared paths and streets with speed limits of 50 km/h or less, but not on sidewalks. Another possible source of irritation involves the ways in which idle e-scooters are left unattended in cities served by scooter-share companies such as Lime or Bird, which make e-scooters available to people who download an app. Customers use GPS technology to find an e-scooter near them, use their app and credit-card information to unlock the vehicle and, after reaching their destination, leave the e-scooter where it can be used by another rider. Special protocols are required during the pandemic. In Edmonton, the city’s 200 scooters are brought to five corrals nightly and sanitized, and there is an advertising campaign urging e-scooter riders to sanitize their hands before and after they use the machines. Winnipeg city administrators had earlier pondered whether the e-scooters in the trial would be supplied and managed by the city or by a third party company. It’s a wise course to leave the trial to an experienced company that knows how to deal with related issues, such as how to protect against theft and vandalism and what to do with e-scooters once the snow falls. Would Winnipeggers use e-scooters to a degree that makes them feasible in this city? The answer lies in a trial period that temporarily gives e-scooters the green light.

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OurWinnipeg 2045 available for feedback
by Beth McKechnie 14 Jul '20

14 Jul '20

*[Please share widely! Submit your feedback to the City by August 10th.]*Planning for our shared future: City of Winnipeg seeking input on strategy for the sustainable growth of our city Released: 2:06 p.m. July 13, 2020 Engage Winnipeg website (for duration of engagement activities): *https://winnipeg.ca/OurWinnipeg2045 <https://winnipeg.ca/OurWinnipeg2045> | https://winnipeg.ca/notreWinnipeg2045 <https://winnipeg.ca/notreWinnipeg2045>* Winnipeg, MB – With Winnipeg on pace to grow by over 160,000 people in the next 20 years, the City of Winnipeg is determining how our city should grow in a way that builds community, improves quality of life, and ensures sustainability for the environment. The blueprint for how Winnipeg should grow has been detailed in strategic planning initiatives that the City is now looking for Winnipeg residents to share their views on. The City has developed its strategy for sustainable growth in two interconnected planning initiatives: *OurWinnipeg* – The City’s 25-year development plan, which provides a vision, goals, and policies intended to influence leadership and good governance, priority setting, the delivery of City services, how residents get around the city, and decisions about how Winnipeg grows. *OurWinnipeg* is required by the City of Winnipeg Charter, which requires the City to adopt, by by-law, a development plan that sets out long-term plans and policies. The current update of *OurWinnipeg* has been guided to this point by earlier public consultation, as well as input by the Community Advisory Committee. Complete Communities – Building on policies set out in *OurWinnipeg*, Complete Communities is a citywide secondary plan that guides growth, development, and land use in Winnipeg. Information and feedback opportunities for these initiatives are being presented together in order to provide a complete picture of how these planning documents propose to achieve the City’s goals for sustainable growth as the population of Winnipeg continues to climb. *The opportunity to engage online with the City of Winnipeg on these important initiatives will continue until Monday, August 10, 2020.* In light of current restrictions on in-person events, online discussion sessions will be held for both projects to present some of the main topics of discussion, and allow for questions to be asked of the project teams at the following times: Topic: OurWinnipeg: Sustainable Development Goals Format: Zoom meeting Date: Wednesday, July 22 Time: 7p.m. – 8:30p.m. (90 min) Topic: Complete Communities: Growing Sustainably Format: Zoom meeting Date: Wednesday, July 29 Time: 7p.m. – 8:30p.m. (90 min) To register and attend one of these sessions, please email city-engage(a)winnipeg.ca at least one day before the event you would like to attend. For more information on *OurWinnipeg* and Complete Communities, and to view the draft documents, please visit winnipeg.ca/ourwinnipeg <https://winnipeg.ca/Interhom/CityHall/OurWinnipeg/default.stm>. *To share your thoughts on how Winnipeg’s future is envisioned through these initiatives, please visit: winnipeg.ca/ourwinnipeg2045 <https://winnipeg.ca/OurWinnipeg2045>.*

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Free Webinar on Applying Dutch Cycling Principles in the U.S.
by Beth McKechnie 13 Jul '20

13 Jul '20

*Webinar Announcement* Upcoming Webinar on Applying Dutch Cycling Principles in the U.S. *Translating Dutch Cycling Ideas to an American Context Tuesday, July 28, 2020* 11:30am-1:00pm Eastern Time Register Here <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> U.S. transportation planners and advocates have long admired the Netherlands’ cycling infrastructure and culture, and some make the trip across the Atlantic to observe its bustling bike lanes and traffic-calmed streets. But coming from a more sprawling, auto-oriented environment, it’s difficult to imagine replicating their success, where the average resident now pedals over 600 miles per year. Discover the key principles that were developed by the Dutch over those fifty years, draw out concrete lessons for America to follow their lead, and learn how some of these ideas are already being implemented in U.S. cities, as they face a crisis forcing many of them to reevaluate how they allocate space on their curbs and streets. This webinar is being organized by the Dutch Cycling Embassy, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Office of Infrastructure and Water Management, the League of American Bicyclists, and the Federal Highway Administration. ------------------------------ PBIC offers free, public webinars approximately every month. To register for upcoming webinars and to access archived presentations, please visit www.pedbikeinfo.org/webinars <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> . Follow the PBIC on Twitter <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> and Facebook <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> and join the discussion [image: https://twitter.com/pedbikeinfo?lang=en] <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> [image: https://www.facebook.com/pedbikeinfo] <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> [image: http://www.pedbikeinfo.org/index.cfm] <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> ------------------------------ Since its inception in 1999, PBIC's mission has been to improve the quality of life in communities through the increase of safe walking and bicycling as a viable means of transportation and physical activity. The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center is maintained by the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center with funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. ------------------------------ Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center 730 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Suite 300 Chapel Hill, NC 27599 Add us to your address book <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/vcard?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e453ab5d&…> Phone: 1.888.823.3977 Fax: 919.962.8710 www.pedbikeinfo.org <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> View this email in your browser <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…>

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CTV News: The idea that could make Winnipeg more accessible to cyclists and pedestrians (Jul8'20)
by Beth McKechnie 13 Jul '20

13 Jul '20

https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/the-idea-that-could-make-winnipeg-more-accessib… WINNIPEG -- Several groups have joined forces to ask all levels of government to help make Winnipeg more accessible to cyclists and pedestrians. The Green Action Centre, Winnipeg Trails, Safe Speeds Winnipeg, and Bike Winnipeg are calling on the government to create a pop-up connected cycling network in Winnipeg. This would mean Winnipeg cyclists and pedestrians could access a safe route to get where they’re going no matter where they are in the city. “Right now in Winnipeg we do have some cycle routes and some of them are protected, but there’s giant gaps in that infrastructure,” said Mel Marginet from the Green Action Centre. “So for most folks, they can take a leisurely trip on their bike, maybe do a weekend trip with their kids, but the idea is that of being able to get to your essential services, to be able to get to your job, in the fall when the kids go back, for them to get to school." Marginet added, “There’s usually parts of the trip where they feel comfortable, but there’s always an intersection or perhaps a strip that’s a little bit scary and very intimidating, and because of that getting there on a bike or foot just seems inaccessible and impossible.” The groups sent out a letter in June -- addressed to Mayor Brian Bowman but also provided to the provincial and federal governments – asking for the connected network for walking and cycling. Marginet noted the letter was specifically addressed to Bowman as he has the most power in this situation. “It’s the municipal government that really has to champion and really has to prioritize this initiative,” she said. On Thursday, representatives from each of the groups will be delivering the letter to Bowman at Winnipeg City Hall, Minister Rochelle Squires at the Manitoba Legislative Building, and then the Office of MP Dan Vandal. Bowman has been invited to speak on the request, Squires will be available for comment, and Vandal won’t be available for comment but welcomes receiving the letter. “Right now always the go-to is just to build roads and highways and we just need to get beyond that,” Marginet said. *- With files from CTV’s Rachel Lagace*

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Mississauga adopts new framework to keep peds and cyclists moving safely
by Beth McKechnie 13 Jul '20

13 Jul '20

City Adopts New Framework to Keep Pedestrians and Cyclists Moving Safely July 10, 2020 The City of Mississauga is moving forward with an Active Transportation COVID-19 Recovery Framework following approval of a report <https://pub-mississauga.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=2412…> that was brought to Council this week. Starting this summer, the City will introduce more short-term and long-term active transportation options for cyclists and pedestrians that allow for safe physical distancing. Residents can look forward to Quiet Streets that limit vehicle traffic, temporary road closures that provide more space for cyclists and pedestrians and 17.9 km of new separated and on-road bike lanes that will be installed by the end of the year. “Our efforts continue to build cities for people and ensure our residents can continue to travel safely and comfortably around our city while respecting physical distancing,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie. “It’s especially important now that we are in Stage 2 and are further reopening our economy that we provide residents with more ways to move. During this pandemic, communities like ours have seen cycling increase by as much as 60 per cent. This framework responds to those needs and will work to provide our residents with more options to travel around our City comfortably while providing relief for our busy sidewalks, multi-use trails and enhancing access to local amenities.” Throughout the spring, the City installed temporary active transportation lanes in Wards 4, 7 and 9 to give local pedestrians and cyclists more space to practise physical distancing. The framework allows for the introduction of more short-term options in the form of temporary road closures and Quiet Streets. Temporary road closures will help reduce crowding in Mississauga hotspots, particularly on weekends. Quiet Streets, which temporarily limit vehicle traffic to local traffic only, will provide more space for cyclists, walkers and runners to safely and comfortably use the road. “Active transportation will shape how residents move around Mississauga during recovery and beyond,” said Geoff Wright, Commissioner, Transportation and Works. “We’ll be expanding Mississauga’s cycling network long-term. By adding 17.9 km of new on-road bicycle lanes and separated bicycle lanes by the end of the year, we permanently increase the City’s on-road bicycle lane network by 30 per cent.” Based on data from Peel Public Health and the City’s transportation planning teams, locations for the projects outlined in the framework have been selected using criteria that includes: population density, vehicle ownership per household, commute distances and potential risk of COVID-19 exposure. Locations were also chosen to help fill gaps in Mississauga’s existing cycling network. In addition to consulting Peel Public Health, several key City strategic initiatives support the rapid expansion of the cycling network in Mississauga, including the Cycling Master Plan <https://yoursay.mississauga.ca/cycling-master-plan>, the Climate Change Action Plan <https://yoursay.mississauga.ca/climate-change>, the Transportation Master Plan <https://yoursay.mississauga.ca/transportation-masterplan> and Vision Zero. The Mississauga Cycling Advisory Committee was also consulted in the development of the framework. “Staff from across the organization have listened to residents and we recognize the immediate need for more options to travel safely by bike or foot, in both the long-term and the short-term,” said Helen Noehammer, Director, Infrastructure Planning and Engineering Services. “We’re reprioritizing our work plans and using relatively simple materials, available budget and existing contracts in order to accelerate this work.” No new funding is required for the projects identified in the framework. Estimated to cost $1.3 million, budget for the projects will come from existing funding sources, with $830,000 coming from the Federal Gas Tax Reserve Fund and $470,000 coming from the Development Charges Reserve Fund. Noehammer added, “The installation of additional cycling infrastructure will lead to operational impacts. We’re continuing to finalize what dedicated year-round maintenance of this infrastructure will look like, especially in the spring and winter.” To stay up-to-date on COVID-19 impacts on City services, visit mississauga.ca/recovery <https://web.mississauga.ca/city-of-mississauga-news/covid-19-recovery/> and follow the City on Twitter @citymississauga <https://twitter.com/citymississauga>. https://web.mississauga.ca/city-of-mississauga-news/news/city-adopts-new-fr…

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The Metro: Making Furby Street safe for pedestrians (Jul8'20)
by Beth McKechnie 08 Jul '20

08 Jul '20

Making Furby Street safe for pedestrians https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/metro/Making-Furby-Street… A new initiative aims to make Furby Street safer for pedestrians. The Winnipeg Trails Association and West Broadway Community Organization have partnered to introduce “traffic calming measures” to the block of Furby Street between Westminster Avenue and Broadway. They will install a mobile planter on the street, which encourages drivers to slow down on their commutes home. The organizations are working with public works to design the measures, pending council approval. The City Centre community committee approved the project, which went to the infrastructure renewal and public works committee on July 7. While the motion works its way through council, the WTA has designed a prototype which it will present to the city. Anders Swanson, executive director of the WTA, said the prototype will serve as a visual reminder for drivers that they are moving through a residential street and they need to be mindful of pedestrians. “‘Traffic-calming measures’ is a very technical sounding term, what it really means is we’re helping to make our streets into a community asset. It’s a way to remind drivers that ‘hey, you’re entering a place where people are living, so maybe slow down,’” Swanson said. The WTA’s prototype is a wooden planter, placed along the side of Furby Street. Residents will be able to grow herbs and vegetables in it, with the bright greenery serving as a deterrent for speeding. Drivers will still be able to use the road, the WTA hopes that the increased greenery will catch their eye and remind them to be cautious. The proposal is part of their Healing Trails Program, a partnership with the West Broadway Community Organization to create a more walkable and accessible city. Greg MacPherson, executive director of the WBCO, is excited about the proposal. He said residents in West Broadway have been pushing for a more accessible city. “Our mandate is derived from public consultations, our biggest one being the five-year community plan. Through all of our surveys and consolations, residents in our neighbourhood want more infrastructure for active transportation,” MacPherson said. “That block of (Furby Street) is very busy, it’s one of the most densely populated streets in the area. There’s a lot of seniors, people with chronic health issues … They walk wherever they go. Having a bunch of cars speed through there is a huge concern for them.” MacPherson said in the 2018/2019 census, around 60 per cent of West Broadway residents community primarily by cycling or walking. The WBCO did a huge survey in 2016, going door to door asking residents what they want from their neighborhood. According to their survey, 90 per cent of residents wanted traffic calming measures of some kind. The City of Winnipeg has seen a push for active transportation routes throughout the city. Recently, council extended its Sunday/ holiday bicycle routes, closing some streets off to vehicle traffic until September. Organizations like the WTA and WBCO have been pushing for a more walkable city for years. MacPherson said Winnipeg is lagging far behind other cities when it comes to accessibility. “I’ve been to several other cities in Canada and around the world. I’m sorry to say, but Winnipeg is a little behind on this. You see cities everywhere that are starting to take active transportation more seriously, all the studies we have show it benefits our society,” MacPherson said. “I’d love to live in a city where I wasn’t reliant on motor vehicles to get from A to B. Not everyone can afford a car.” >From left: Janell Henry, Healing Trails’ program manager and Anders Swanson, Winnipeg Trails’ executive director, standing beside one of the planter box traffic-calming devices.

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The Lance: Underpass beneath Fermor Avenue opens (Jul8'20)
by Beth McKechnie 08 Jul '20

08 Jul '20

City of Winnipeg opens underpass beneath Fermor Avenue Press release from June 8th: https://winnipeg.ca/cao/media/news/nr_2020/nr_20200608.stm#2 On June 8, Save Our Seine joined city councillors Matt Allard (St. Boniface) and Brian Mayes (St. Vital) and Bike Winnipeg’s Mark Cohoe) at the official opening of the new Fermor Tunnel. This was a day to celebrate. The tunnel allows people to walk or ride safely under Fermor Avenue. Just east of the tunnel, new trails under the refurbished bridge allow deer, other wildlife, and people to cross under the bridge and access the river. The new tunnel and river trails will enhance movement along the Seine River corridor. Canada’s history was built around its rivers. Indigenous people, voyageurs, fur traders, and European settlers used rivers to travel across the vast Canadian landscape. In Manitoba, people travelled on the rivers using canoes or paddlewheel steamboats to carry heavy goods. They walked and drove carts on muddy trails beside rivers. The rivers were transportation corridors that belonged to everyone. The long lot settlement pattern recognized the need for public movement along rivers. The land along the river’s edge was considered to be “common land.” During the development of our city, we lost sight of this history. We overlooked the value of rivers as travel corridors. We built roads, bridges, and buildings that now limit public access and block movement along river corridors. Save Our Seine’s goal is to enhance the Seine River as natural corridor for wildlife, active transportation, recreation, and tourism. The dream is to create a continuous trail from the Red River to the floodway. Today, disconnected trail fragments along the Seine River are interrupted by significant barriers. Fermor Avenue was one barrier. Highway 100 is another. Thanks to another transportation project, Highway 100 will not remain an obstacle. As part of a massive 25-year project to improve traffic flow and safety along the south perimeter, the province has agreed to replace the box culvert over the Seine River. This culvert is too narrow for the river channel. It is often blocked by debris or beaver dams that prevent canoes from passing. Terrestrial wildlife must walk or swim through the culvert or cross the busy highway. The new culvert will have room for a riverside trail. Just imagine, people will be able to walk, bike, or canoe along the river between Royalwood and St. Norbert. Deer will have a way to move safely under the highway. Although the timeline for the culvert replacement is still uncertain, we are already counting the days. Michele Kading is a community correspondent for St. Vital and the executive director of Save Our Seine.

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WFP: One step closer to 30 km/h (Jul8'20)
by Beth McKechnie 08 Jul '20

08 Jul '20

*ONE STEP CLOSER TO 30 KM/H * CITY council’s public works committee has voted largely in favour of a plan to test 30 km/h speed limits. The City of Winnipeg would also hire a consultant to study lowering the default speed limit for all residential roads, but only if council approves the cost in its 2021 budget process. If council approves the changes, the speed reduction would be tested on sections of streets with low-volume, low-speed traffic patterns, including sections of Roch Street, Eugenie Avenue, Warsaw/ Fleet avenues, Machray Avenue and Flora Avenue. However, the committee also moved to require each greenway change be subject to the area councillor’s approval before it is implemented. City staff would also be tasked to consult with councillors on where best to place additional speed-reduction trials, if council agrees.

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Toronto Based Speed Study - 30km/hr vs 40km/hr
by Mark Cohoe 07 Jul '20

07 Jul '20

Hi, I found this report today that looks at a 30km/hr vs 40km/hr speed reduction and compares collision and injury rates. It makes a pretty strong case for 30km/hr over 40km/hr, especially in a winter city. Effect of reducing the posted speed limit to30 km per hour on pedestrian motorvehicle collisions in Toronto, Canada - aquasi experimental, pre-post study <https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s12889-019-8139…> *Results*:Speed limit reductions from 40 km/h to 30 km/h were associated > with a 28% decrease in the PMVC incidencerate in the City of Toronto (IRR > = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.58–0.89). A non-significant 7% decrease in PMVC > incidence rates wereobserved on comparator streets that remained at 40 > km/h speed limits (IRR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.70–1.25). Speed limitreduction > also influenced injury severity, with a significant 67% decrease in major > and fatal injuries in the postintervention period on streets with speed > limit reductions (IRR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.13–0.85) compared with a 31% notstatistically > significant decrease in major and fatal injuries on comparator streets (IRR > = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.37–1.31). Theinteraction term for group and pre-post > comparisons was not statistically significant (p= 0.14) indicating that > there wasno evidence to suggest a pre-post difference in IRRs between the > intervention and comparator streets. > > *Conclusions*:Declines in the rate of PMVC were observed on roads with > posted speed limit reductions from 40 km/hto 30 km/h, although this > effect was not statistically greater than reductions on comparator streets. > Of note, in the results section they also note that while there was no difference between seasonal collision/injury rates on the 30km/hr streets, there was a marked seasonal difference on the 40km/hr roads, with winters having a far higher collision/injury rate. Mark Cohoe Executive Director Bike Winnipeg t: 204-894-6540 e: mark(a)bikewinnipeg.ca

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WFP: City testing of e-scooters up to province (Jul2'20)
by Beth McKechnie 06 Jul '20

06 Jul '20

*City testing of e-scooters up to province * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/city-testing-of-e-scooters-up-to-pr… A trial project deploying electric scooters throughout Winnipeg will require a green light from the province before any of the e-powered two-wheelers hit city streets. An administrative report on the standing policy committee on infrastructure renewal and public works meeting agenda Tuesday recommends the city ask the provincial government to approve a trial for e-scooters to operate on the city’s transportation network. The request is the first step toward opening the door to dockless scooter and “micromobility” operators, such as Bird Rides Inc. and Lime, in Winnipeg. Currently, provincial legislation prohibits electric scooters from using public right-of-ways in Manitoba. Dockless e-scooters and e-bikes have gained some popularity with urbanites throughout Canada for ease of access and ubiquitous availability. Electric scooters can be deployed — on boulevards, in parks and plazas — and rented through a smartphone application. Users can find a nearby scooter on the app, unlock and rent the vehicle with their phone, and then zoom to their destination, where they leave the scooter for the next user. “I’m pleased to see the public service has an open mind about asking the province of Manitoba to change the law concerning scooters,” said Coun. Matt Allard, chairman of the infrastructure renewal and public works committee. “I believe this technology could play a key role in our active transportation environment here in Winnipeg, giving people more options to get around outside of their cars.” A spokesman for the provincial government said Tuesday in an email statement e-scooters do not meet the definition of a motor vehicle or a bicycle under the Highway Traffic Act. “There is no means under the existing legislation to pilot test e-scooters and other new vehicle technologies,” the spokesman said. In March, the province introduced the Vehicle Technology Testing Act, which established a framework for testing autonomous vehicles and new vehicle technologies, he added. “Once the bill is passed and a regulatory framework is in place, consideration can be given to safely testing e-scooters and other vehicle technologies that do not currently conform with the (Highway Traffic Act).” City officials hoped to work with third-party micromobility operators to establish a short-term rental network for bikes and e-bikes, in addition to scooters, throughout Winnipeg, but following an expression of interest learned most major players only offer e-scooters. “It appears that, if the city is interested in the provision of micromobility options, the public service may have to take an active role as a stakeholder in the operation of this program,” the administrative report states. “The cost of such a program could be quite significant, but there appear to be merits to offering such a program as a city service.” The public service has asked for permission from council to develop a business case for a city-led program. “With the dramatic drop in Transit ridership due to COVID-19 and its uncertain future, we need to continue to develop other alternative transportation options for Winnipeggers who get around without a vehicle,” Allard said. “This could fit into this picture.” If passed by the standing policy committee, the report would move on to executive policy committee and council for consideration. danielle.dasilva(a)freepress.mb.ca

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WFP: Year-long test of 30 km/h proposed for five city streets (Jun30'20)
by Beth McKechnie 06 Jul '20

06 Jul '20

*Feedback from residents will help determine next steps* * Year-long test of 30 km/h proposed for five city streets* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/city-report-calls-for-testing-lower… WINNIPEG could soon test a 30 km/h limit on five streets and hire a consultant to study lowering the default speed limit for all residential roads. There’s no plan to lower any speed limits at this time, in part because the required signage would cost millions of dollars. A new public service report calls for a one-year reduced-speed trial, which would cost between $250,000 and $300,000. An exact date hasn’t been set for the trial, though it could occur in fall 2020 or spring 2021, said David Patman, the city’s manager of transportation planning. Patman hopes the test period will trigger plenty of feedback to help determine the city’s next steps. “We want to hear from as many people as we can about this because we know this is such a major issue for people in Winnipeg,” he said. Many Winnipeggers have publicly pushed council to reduce the city’s default 50 km/h speed limit to 30 km/h on residential roads, arguing that would reduce the risk of fatal crashes and heighten pedestrian and cyclist safety. By contrast, a petition against lowering the limit to 30 km/h has gathered more than 6,000 signatures. Patman said the trial project should attract broad input prior to any decision on a more permanent change. “We want to take a look at the feedback we get from doing this small trial, seeing how people feel when they’re travelling at 30 (km/h), if it’s something that people in Winnipeg can live with,” he said. If approved, the speed reduction would be tested on sections of streets with low-volume, low-speed traffic patterns. That would include Roch Street (from Poplar Avenue to Arby Bay), Eugenie Avenue (from St. Mary’s Road to Youville Street), Warsaw Avenue/Fleet Avenue (from Nassau Street to Lindsay Street), Machray Avenue (from Fife Street to Main Street) and Flora Avenue (from Sinclair Street to King Street). If council approves the proposal as is, the city would also hire a consultant to study the impacts of both 30 km/h and 40 km/h speed limits on all residential roads. No budget has been approved for that study. Coun. Matt Allard (St. Boniface), the chairperson of council’s public works committee, said he supports the trial project. “I think it’ll allow Winnipeggers the opportunity to think about it, try it and see how it works in the city,” said Allard. Patman estimates it would cost the city about $7.8 million to add enough signs to legally reduce the speed limits on all Winnipeg residential streets right now, due to provincial sign rules he deemed an impediment to lowering speeds more quickly. Currently, the Highway Traffic Act requires a fixed speed limit of less than 50 km/h to be signed on every affected Winnipeg street at the point that limit begins, after each intersection with a roadway (other than a back lane) and as close as possible to the intersection itself. The report suggests council ask the province to require fewer speed limit signs to reduce a street’s maximum speed. Allard said he’d prefer the city be granted the power to add “gateway signage,” which he defines as posting signs with a new default speed limit at the edge of a neighbourhood or city they apply to, should council actually approve one. Mark Cohoe, the executive director of Bike Winnipeg, deemed it “a little disappointing” that the city isn’t taking more action to reduce speed limits right now but said he’s glad to see a test project proposed. Cohoe said lower speed limits should make neighbourhoods safer and more inviting. “It goes beyond the safety issue, it’s also a noise issue, it’s a livability issue,” he said. Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverley West) said she’d prefer to see the city test a speed limit reduction throughout an entire neighbourhood instead. “I don’t really understand how using five streets is going to give them a comprehensive (view on this),” said Lukes. All of the changes would require full council approval. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: Birds of a feather fix bikes together (Jun29'20)
by Beth McKechnie 06 Jul '20

06 Jul '20

* Birds of a feather fix bikes together * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/wheelie-good-fun-571534962.html GREGORY Allan wants you to get on your bike and ride, and he and the other volunteers at Orioles Bike Cage will help make it happen. Located at 444 Burnell St., just north of St. Matthews Avenue, Orioles Bike Cage is a community bike repair shop. Its mission is to make cycling and bicycle repair knowledge accessible to all, and to remove barriers people face in keeping their bikes in working order. “I love working with the public. I love sharing knowledge. I love teaching people,” says Allan, who has volunteered at the shop for 10 years. “I really, really like bikes. I think they’re amazing machines,” the 31-year-old adds. “I love the community vibe we get at Orioles. Those feel-good community vibes for me are really important.” Community members can visit the shop every Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The workshop space provides shared tool access and recycled bike parts, as well as repair advice from volunteers. There is no cost for the service, but pay-what-you-can financial donations, donations of bike parts or in-kind labour are encouraged. For Aaron Maciejko, volunteering at the shop stems from a passion for social justice. “Orioles allows people to get transportation at an affordable price and empowers them to take charge in their lives,” says Maciejko, 41. “That’s important.” Maciejko first got involved at the shop seven years ago when he was getting into bike polo, a sport adapted from horse polo and played on bicycles. He has fond memories of building his first bike using a frame and spare parts he found at the shop. “I was looking for something I could use specifically for bike polo,” he says. “I’ve since gone on to build a number of other bikes.” Charles Pearce started volunteering at the Bike Cage in 2012 and says the community there keeps him coming back. “It’s very friendly,” says Pearce, 39. “It’s a good way to meet people.” In addition to volunteering at the shop, Pearce has also been involved with Meals on Wheels. He enjoys volunteering because giving back to the community is important to him. “It’s always good to offer help when people need it,” he says. “If everybody (were) just completely closed off, it’d be a pretty boring world.” More volunteers are needed to help at Orioles, Allan says. No experience as a bike mechanic is required to volunteer. “There’s a lengthy list of things we need done in the shop,” he says. “Cutting up rags, sorting parts, finding holes in tubes, dealing with scrap metal and scrap rubber, separating aluminum from steel, and on and on it goes.” Greeters are also being sought who will help welcome and orient community members who visit the shop, as well as people who are willing to represent the shop at special events. “Running the shop takes so many different roles and tasks,” he says. A volunteer orientation is set for Saturday, July 18. Anyone interested can email oriolesbikecage@gmail. com. Whether you want to volunteer or just need help with your bike, Pearce invites folks to support Orioles Bike Cage. “I’d encourage everybody to come out,” he says. “If you want to learn to fix your bicycle and all that, we’ll definitely show you how.”

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WFP: Council extends cycling, walking routes till Sept. 7 (Jun27'20)
by Beth McKechnie 06 Jul '20

06 Jul '20

(This is old news, as I'm catching up after a week away.) *Council extends cycling, walking routes till Sept. 7 * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/council-extends-cycling-walking-rou… AS Winnipeg city council extended temporary active transportation routes until September, one councillor successfully lobbied for his ward’s route to be removed. Coun. Kevin Klein (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood) called to close the route along Assiniboine Avenue, from Bedson Street to Westwood Drive, arguing some cyclists and pedestrians disregard “the basic rules of the road.” “We’ve had several close calls with bikes and pedestrians… It makes for a potential danger spot when someone is riding a bike or is walking,” he said Friday. Klein said the busy stretch of Assiniboine Avenue isn’t a good fit for such use, largely since it’s a bus route. Residents have complained of cyclists and pedestrians taking up the entire road and not allowing cars to pass, he said. The AT routes limit vehicular traffic to one block from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, to allow more room for cyclists and pedestrians. Klein’s motion to close the Assiniboine link, which council approved, also called for city staff to consult with him to find an alternative route in his ward. The councillor said he decided to call for the elimination of the route, after 84 residents signed such a petition, including 67 Assiniboine Avenue residents. At the same meeting, council voted unanimously to extend eight other AT routes: sections of Lyndale Drive, Scotia Street, Wellington Crescent, Wolseley Avenue, Churchill Drive, Egerton Road, Kildonan Drive and Kilkenny Drive. The extension will keep them open until Sept. 7, instead of July 6. Meanwhile, another councillor successfully called to have a route added in his ward. Coun. Ross Eadie (Mynarski) requested an AT route be placed on Rover Avenue, between Hallet and Stephens streets. The area is part of the North Winnipeg Parkway, which Eadie’s motion states is slated for medicine plant-filled boxes to help calm traffic in the area, as part of a reconciliation effort. The motion describes the area as well-suited to the change, with “no cross-traffic, low traffic volumes and low traffic speeds.” The routes were first promoted as an option for socially distanced exercise during the pandemic. — Joyanne Pursaga

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Edmonton fights back against the hidden costs of parking with the boldest plan in Canada
by Charles Feaver 02 Jul '20

02 Jul '20

Globe and mail editorial today: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/article-edmonton-fights-b ack-against-the-hidden-costs-of-parking-with-the/ .. Some cities have started to move away from parking requirements for new buildings, but they are doing it slowly, and usually only in specific circumstances. Edmonton, however, decided to go further. Last week, city council <https://myemail.constantcontact.com/News-Release---Edmonton-first-major-Can adian-municipality-to-eliminate-parking-minimums.html?soid=1127191170163&aid =hSRVUDLmF1Q> eliminated parking minimums from its zoning rules for all developments across the city, the first big city in Canada to do so. All Canadian cities should take inspiration. Edmonton is thinking about what kind of city it wants to be in 2050. To quote a guiding maxim of a famous former Edmontonian: "Skate to where the puck's going and not where it's been." .. Sadly, their front page points to another trend: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/article-here-in-my-car-i-feel-safest-of -all-and-in-a-covid-19-pandemic-it/ "Here in my car, I feel safest of all - and in a COVID-19 pandemic, it's the only way to live". Charles Feaver 11 Harvard Ave Winnipeg R3M 0J6 204.293.6332

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WFP: City scraps plan for one-way traffic on West Broadway streets (Jun25'20)
by Beth McKechnie 25 Jun '20

25 Jun '20

*City scraps plan for one-way traffic on West Broadway streets* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/city-scraps-plans-for-one-way-traff… THE city has scratched an idea to make two major West Broadway streets into one-way roads as it prepares to begin construction of a bike path in the area next year. In an email sent Tuesday to area residents, the city says it decided to keep vehicular traffic in both directions on Westminster Avenue, Balmoral Street, and Granite Way, from Langside Street to Osborne Street. Residents, parents of children at Balmoral Hall School, and members of the Granite Curling Club opposed one-way traffic. “You told us the project design balances the safety and needs of all road users in some ways, but that you were very concerned with some aspects — particularly one-way streets and their potential to increase traffic and decrease safety along some residential streets,” the email says. The city says it has decided to build a two-way protected bike lane on the east side of Balmoral Street and Young Street, instead of a bike path on either side of the street. However, to fit it in with vehicular traffic, it will reduce the width of the bike lane to 1.5 metres from 1.8 metres, and require the removal of six loading stalls on Westminster in front of Balmoral Hall. The design includes the addition of stop signs on Balmoral Street at Granite Way and the loss of 15 parking spaces on Granite Way. The city said it expects to have a detailed design contract by the end of the summer, with construction expected to begin next year. But, because of low traffic volume connected with the shutdown of nonessential businesses for weeks to slow the spread of COVID-19, the city has decided to hold off on the final design of the rest of the planned bike path along Westminster, from Langside Street to Chestnut Street in Wolseley, until September.

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WFP: Councillors urge city to boost safety by improving markings (Jun25'20)
by Beth McKechnie 25 Jun '20

25 Jun '20

Councillors urge city to boost safety by improving markings Faded paint lines not street smart https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/paint-by-numbers-councillors-push-f… WINNIPEG drivers have likely all faced the challenge: you want to stay in your lane but you’re not sure where it is. Snow-clearing, road sand and other Manitoba weather realities strip away paint that marks lanes, leaving just a few flecks of colour or blank pavement. It can take many weeks for city crews to repaint those lines each year. Two councillors are pushing for changes to that process, which they hope will make streets safer. Coun. Shawn Nason (Transcona) is calling on the city administration to provide options to “improve the permanency of lane markings,” in a motion set to be debated at the July 7 meeting of the public works committee. Nason said the current faded markings are barely, or not at all, visible, which could make motorists and cyclists more likely to compete for the same space. “This creates an unsafe situation, and we need to do a better job to ensure (that) there are properly marked trails on our roadways. Then the motoring public can (stay in) their proper lane,” he said. He believes the longevity of the paint is key to addressing the issue. “We need some permanency on our line-painting, that’s not just put down and washed away a few weeks or months later — something that can stay on the road over the winters,” said Nason. The City of Winnipeg website describes road markings as “an important, but often overlooked, safety feature... Painted lines keep traffic in lanes and serve as guide posts for passing, safety, crosswalks and stopping areas.” In 2013, a KPMG public works review offered recommendations for Winnipeg to improve its road markings, which the consultant found were often missing. “Reliance on a single, in-house crew that takes up to 34 weeks to remark the city’s streets implies that many roads are left unmarked for much of this time,” the report notes. KPMG suggested Winnipeg consider the use of longer-lasting paint, try out new technology, and possibly contract out work to address the problem. Meanwhile, Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverley West) said she’d like to see the city prioritize lane painting so intersections that have the most collisions get painted first. Lukes said she lobbies for new paint at the intersection of Kenaston and Mc-Gillivray boulevards each year, then waits weeks or months to see the work completed. “It’s still not painted and it’s (late) June. Last year, it was the middle of August,” said Lukes. “Personally, I just think high-collision intersections should be (the top) priority at all times.” A total of 1,352 crashes took place at Kenaston-McGillivray between 2015 and 2019, the most at any intersection, Manitoba Public Insurance figures show. Leila Avenue and McPhillips Street had the second-highest number of crashes (1,191). Lukes said high-crash locations tend to have crosswalks and may also offer bicycle lanes, so making their lane markers more visible would make all road users safer. She plans to soon raise her own motion for the city to paint its Top 10 highest-collision intersections before any other roads each year. The city’s website notes it still uses one lane-liner machine that paints about 1,000 kilometres of roadway lines and edges, including 1,061 intersections. In a written statement, city spokeswoman Julie Horbal Dooley said the complete process takes about 35 weeks, which isn’t finished some years due to weather and resource issues. The work itself is growing, Horbal Dooley said. “The number of lane markings in the city is increasing at a rapid pace as we add active transportation routes to the network and… some regional streets are remarked up to three times a year.” The statement noted paint options that are more durable have a “cost-prohibitive nature.” Horbal Dooley also noted the public works department does prioritize some repainting for sites that need it most and intersections that have the most traffic. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: Segway personal transporter hitting brakes on production
by Beth McKechnie 24 Jun '20

24 Jun '20

Segway personal transporter hitting brakes on production SEGWAY, which boldly claimed its two-wheeled personal transporter would revolutionize the way people get around, is ending production of its namesake vehicle. The Segway PT, popular with tourists and police officers but perhaps better known for its high-profile crashes, will be retired on July 15, the company said in a statement. “Within its first decade, the Segway PT became a staple in security and law enforcement, viewed as an effective and efficient personal vehicle,” said Judy Cai, Segway president, in a statement, noting that in the past decade it gained popularity with vacationers in major cities in North America, Europe, Asia, South America, and the Middle East. But the Segway, which carries a standing passenger on a wide platform, accounted for less than 1.5 per cent of the company’s revenue last year. The company said 21 employees will be laid off, another 12 employees will stay on for two months to a year and five will remain at the Bedford, New Hampshire facility. “This decision was not made lightly, and while the current global pandemic did impact sales and production, it was not a deciding factor in our decision,” Cai said. The transportation revolution that inventor Dean Kamen envisioned when he founded the company in 1999 never took off. The Segway’s original price tag of around US$5,000 was a hurdle for many customers. It also was challenging to ride because the rider had to be balanced at a specific angle for the vehicle to move forward. If the rider’s weight shifted too much in any direction, it could easily spin out of control and throw the rider off. They were banned in some cities because users could easily lose control if they were not balanced properly. “What did they think the market was when they built this, when they designed it?” asked Maryann Keller, principal at Maryann Keller & Associates. “My impression was they were talking about this as personal mobility. How could you think that something this large and expensive would be personal mobility?” Segway’s popularity may have peaked in early 2009 with the release of the Kevin James comedy Paul Blart: Mall Cop, where the titular Blart patrols a fictional mall on a Segway. Ten months after buying the company in 2009, British self-made millionaire Jim Heselden died after the Segway he was riding careened off a 30-foot cliff not far from his country estate north of London. He was 62 years old. In 2003, then president George W. Bush avoided injury after tumbling off a Segway at his parents’ summer home in Kennebunkport, Maine. A cameraman riding a Segway ran over Usain Bolt in 2015 as the Jamaican sprinter did a victory lap after winning a 200-metre race in Beijing. Bolt wasn’t injured and later joked about the incident. In 2017, Segway got into the scooter business, just as the light, inexpensive and easy-to-ride two-wheelers took over urban streets. Riders took 38.5 million trips on shared electric scooters in 2018, according to the National Association of City Transportation Officials. Segway’s foray into lightweight scooters may have been a sign that its original PT’s days were numbered. “It was probably over-hyped before it was launched, and when it was launched, it was like, this is not going to work on city sidewalks,” Keller said. — The Associated Press

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