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WFP Editorial: Time to park cars outside parks (Apr20'20)
by Beth McKechnie 20 Apr '20

20 Apr '20

*Time to park cars outside parks * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/coronavirus/time-to-park-cars-out… AS the pandemic grinds on and confinement in our homes becomes bleak at times, Winnipeg’s abundant green spaces offer a therapeutic escape. It’s unfortunate motorized vehicles are allowed to intrude. A temporary ban on cars, trucks and motorcycles from city parks would go a long way toward helping pedestrians enjoy outings while still keeping the required physical distance. Pedestrians in parks could use the full width of the the roadways to keep a safe space from each other. Vancouver did it with Stanley Park on April 8, banning vehicles from its world-class park so pedestrians can walk on roads and enjoy the tonic of the natural world while remaining distanced from other people. Minneapolis-St. Paul has banned vehicle traffic from three of its parkways. Portland, Ore., has closed 10 of its parks to cars and trucks. Similar sensible measures are underway in U.S. cities including Cleveland, Philadelphia and Denver. Like all urban centres struggling to contain COVID-19, these cities banned vehicles from green spaces because of two pragmatic realities: 1) it’s physically and mentally healthy for people to enjoy the rejuvenating effects of nature as a break from being cooped up under stressful circumstances; and 2) city parks can accommodate a lot of people safely, with everyone heeding physical distancing guidelines, as long as vehicles are removed so pedestrians have room to spread out. Personally, the need to bar vehicles from Winnipeg parks was clear last weekend when my wife and I, in dire need of fresh air and exercise, walked the two-kilometre loop around Kildonan Park, the green-space jewel in north Winnipeg. The main walking path is a rind of the roadway’s edge, only one metre wide, so walkers are separated from traffic only by lines painted on asphalt. The vehicle traffic is often bumperto- bumper, so close that walkers could literally touch moving vehicles. With pedestrians at Kildonan Park squeezed into such narrow paths, we couldn’t adhere to the physical distancing guidelines as we met and passed other pedestrians. The vehicles also marred our walk in other ways. The constant din of vehicle engines erased the soothing sounds of birds and the wind blowing through branches. The smell of exhaust fumes overpowered the delicate scents of grass and tree foliage springing into new life. I’m told some pedestrians who use Assiniboine Park feel the same way. If vehicles were barred, people in search of a pandemic panacea would be better able to appreciate the sights, sounds and smells of the natural world. Some of our area’s most precious green spaces have been closed or changed by COVID-19 restrictions. The showcase gathering at Birds Hill Provincial Park, the Winnipeg Folk Festival, was cancelled on Tuesday, but the park itself remains open for people who want trees to massage their minds (although washroom facilities at Birds Hill remain closed). Unfortunately, Fort Whyte Alive is completely closed (perhaps the geese are wondering when the humans will flock back). Winnipeg is fortunate to have more than 1,200 neighbourhood, community and regional parks, and this pandemic crisis is a time when they are needed more than ever. Banning vehicles from parks to allow pedestrians room to roam is the natural next step after the city decided earlier this month to designate four streets in Winnipeg as bicycle/active transportation routes. Sections of Lyndale Drive, Scotia Street, Wellington Crescent and Wolseley Avenue have been largely freed from vehicles, so the space is free and clear for pedestrians, joggers and cyclists. Winnipeg’s green spaces have long been urban treasures that greatly enhance the quality of life by providing mini-oases amid the buildings, concrete roads and parking lots. That said, the trees that tower over Winnipeg’s green spaces have had a tough time in recent years, battered by the triple assault of Dutch elm disease, the emerald ash borer and a freak ice story in October that damaged or destroyed tens of thousands of trees. The mayor had planned a planting spree called the Million Tree Challenge to restore the giant sentinels, but now the roles can be reversed. Trees can restore us. Plenty of evidence shows connecting with nature can refresh our brains, relieve tension and brighten grim moods. These healing properties are particularly appealing to the many Winnipeggers whose lives have been disrupted by pandemic measures and might make one feel a bit stir-crazy after weeks of sitting at home and watching the walls. Winter-weary Manitobans traditionally have a zealous appreciation for spring and summer, but our usual methods of enjoying the warmer weather — cottages, camping, restaurant patios, picnics and festivals — have been cancelled, prohibited or declared inadvisable. City green spaces remain open, however, and if vehicles are banned from entry, our parks offer the breathing space we need to recuperate before returning to our residences to resume our submission to the necessary discipline of confinement. carl.degurse(a)freepress.mb.ca *Carl DeGurse is a member of the Free Press editorial board.*

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East London council to block cars to protect cyclists and pedestrians from speeding drivers during pandemic
by Beth McKechnie 16 Apr '20

16 Apr '20

[*It seems the propensity to speed with the lower traffic volumes reaches far and wide*.] East London council to block cars to protect cyclists and pedestrians from speeding drivers during pandemic An east London council could be the first in the UK to cut rat running traffic on neighbourhood streets in a bid to ease pressure on its parks and pavements, as part of emergency plans to help people walk and cycle safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. https://road.cc/content/news/emergency-measures-stop-rat-running-drivers-an… A Hackney councillor has “crowdsourced” potential locations from residents on social media, and the council is in the process of creating a shortlist - but they are 100% planning to “filter” a number of residential streets to protect people from a growing number of speeding drivers on the borough’s roads. The council will use low-cost planters and bollards on selected streets to allow walking and cycling through trips, and access to key workers and emergency vehicles, but preventing people driving through – a process known as filtering. According to the government, traffic levels on London’s main roads have dropped by 63% during the crisis. Hackney Councillor, Jon Burke, said: “By creating those temporary liveable, healthy streets we could also be reducing pressure on some of our green spaces, as we approach some of the warmer months. If we heavily restrict the vehicles on the public highway people will be able to walk in the middle of the road safely, while socially distancing.” Burke wants to “use this as a teachable moment to see what’s possible around road closures”. He said: “We haven’t got weeks to deliver it, we need to deliver it now, because this crisis is happening now,” he says. The council will treat the changes like an “ongoing event” during the crisis, and after the restrictions on movement are lifted they will ask residents if they want the changes made more permanent. “I think we can create healthy urban environments in this moment. We might realise, with the support of the public, which might be able to stay afterwards, when we return,” he says. “This is in inflection point in our future, we are running around making sure vulnerable people have enough food but we aren’t doing something about the 40,000 people that are dying each year because of air pollution.” Although other councils may be quietly considering similar measures, Cllr Burke is the first politician in the UK to announce any action so far. Temporary cycle lanes on main roads won’t be part of Hackney’s plans, however, due to concerns over emergency vehicle access. There are also concerns over increased levels of speeding during the crisis. Cllr Burke says on 30mph roads across London, average speeds are now 37mph. “We have noticed a significant up-tick in speeding on our 20mph roads,” he says. “The kinds of speeds we usually see at night when the roads are empty, we are now seeing in the day.” He says while “the responsible drivers have heeded the government advice”, many of those still driving are behaving badly. Burke argues there is a case to “heavily fine and remove licenses of those individuals”. The council will create a shortlist of locations on Monday, and a final decision will need approval from the cabinet and Hackney mayor. Cllr Burke says they will have the final list on 20 April. Burke adds: “I think we have just got to throw stuff up against the wall and see what sticks, adding there is a risk that otherwise, “by the time we have got around to doing this the crisis will be over and we will be back to business as usual.” London’s walking and cycling commissioner, Will Norman, says there are no citywide plans to implement emergency cycle lanes during the crisis. Norman said: “The Mayor and the Government’s clear message is that Londoners should stay at home to save lives. Our continued investment in walking and cycling over the past four years is making it easier and safer for critical workers to get to where they need to be and we’ve ensured that NHS staff, care workers and the police can use our Santander Cycles hire bikes free of charge.” “Any temporary cycle lanes on TfL’s road network would not be effective at keeping people safe without major changes to junctions. These changes would need to be installed by a significant number of on-site workers and the Mayor has made it clear that construction workers – including those who were constructing new cycleways - should not be travelling at this time.” He adds road traffic has halved, making it easier to take advantage of quieter streets to cycle. “We would remind drivers that breaking the speed limit is dangerous and especially reckless during this time of national crisis. Robust action will be taken against drivers who put themselves and others at risk.”

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Cycling Industries of Europe - online conference
by Anders Swanson 16 Apr '20

16 Apr '20

Coming up April 28th, if interested. Full agenda: https://cyclingindustries.com/fileadmin/user_upload/CIE_2020_Summit_Draft_A… Registration here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cycling-industries-europe-2020-summit-registra… [Anders note: Cycling is booming in many places worldwide. Beyond staying on top of the future of the cycling industry in crazy times, this esoteric event may be of particular general interest to some due to the keynote from the Deloitte global head of research and technology. Sharing this here as a unique chance to get a very specific view of what the future holds. Also you may appreciate Philippe Crist as moderator, and the panel featuring a few interesting MEPs who'll be looking at it from a EU-level strategic perspective. I'm personally interested to learn more about Karima Delli, a young French Green MEP, daughter of Algerian immigrants and younger than me who was tapped to lead the Volkswagen emissions scandal inquiry and now chairs the EU's transport and tourism committee.] <https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cycling-industries-europe-2020-summit-registra…> This event is *free.* Stay healthy. -a

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WFP: Waverley West speed-limit cut given red light (Apr16'20)
by Beth McKechnie 16 Apr '20

16 Apr '20

Waverley West speed-limit cut given red light https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/waverley-west-speed-limit-cut-shelv… A PROPOSED three-year pilot project to reduce the speed limit on residential streets in Waverley West is set to be put in park. The councillor for the area, Janice Lukes, said she will tell councillors on the public works committee on Monday to put aside her motion for now. The proposal involved reducing the speed limit to 30 km/h. Lukes said it makes no sense to implement that when people are staying home and children are away from school because of the fight against COVID-19. “With Waverley West only having three or four specific entrances into it, I thought, ‘Let’s try for a pilot project on speeds here,’” she said on Wednesday. “We have a lot of speeding cars, but in light of the pandemic, what is most needed now is seeing more streets open for cycling and pedestrian access. Is (the pilot project) important now? No. There are other things the public works department could do, including identifying which streets can be closed.” The idea was to drop the speed limit on residential streets in Bridgwater Forest, Bridgwater Lakes, Bridgwater Trails, Bridgwater Town Centre, South Pointe and Prairie Pointe. Coun. Matt Allard, chairman of the committee, said it makes sense to delay the pilot project. “We do have a residential, citywide, street report coming… in June,” Allard said. “Not all roads are created equal in Winnipeg. We have priority one, two, three streets, we have streets with different engineering, we have high-speed streets (and) residential streets. I think all of this needs to be considered and there needs to be a response that makes sense citywide.”

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WFP: Enjoying the great outdoors during the COVID-19 era (Apr15'20)
by Beth McKechnie 15 Apr '20

15 Apr '20

Enjoying the great outdoors during the COVID-19 era https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/health/enjoying-the-gr… IN times of high anxiety and uncertainty, many people turn to physical activity as a means of stress relief. With gym closures and the city’s parks a little too crowded to keep a safe physical distance, many people are turning to the city streets to get their fitness fix by walking, running, biking and even — depending on snowfall — skiing. Though the April weather is unpredictable, here are five places Winnipeggers are getting a breath of fresh air right now, and you can join them — just make sure to stay at least two metres apart. *Harte Trail, Charleswood* Ridge Romanshin, 23, is an apprentice stage manager in Winnipeg’s temporarily closed theatre scene. To keep himself busy, he’s been going for plenty of walks in his neighbourhood of Charleswood, which boasts a semi-rural atmosphere full of trails and places to walk. Though Romanshin admits that some of the sidewalks are still icy — he’s been walking on the roads instead — he does have one favourite place: Harte Trail. The 6.5-kilometre walkway is part of the Trans Canada Trail and, according to Romanshin, is in decent shape for this time of year. “There are some pretty icy patches but it seems to be melting quickly,” he says. “The gravel is starting to show.” *Wellington Crescent* “My running route is the Wellington-Wolseley loop,” says Jack Maier. “I live about a block away from Wellington Crescent in North River Heights, so that’s where I start.” The route has served 22-year-old Maier well for the past three years, but spring weather and increasingly large numbers of people outside initially made it trickier than usual for Maier to maintain a safe distance and stay dry. “The sidewalks are soaked right now,” he says, “especially the central walking path on Wellington, which has basically turned to mud. Your options are running on the road or trying to leap and sidestep over the puddles.” Just a few days after Maier took to running on the road to stay dry, the city opened the seasonal Sunday and holiday bike routes to cyclists and pedestrians seven days a week, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. The four roadway closures are Wellington Crescent between Academy Road and Guelph Street; Lyndale Drive between Cromwell Street and Gauvin Street; Scotia Street between Anderson Avenue and Armstrong Avenue; and Wolseley Avenue between Raglan Road and Maryland Street. Motor vehicles are restricted to one block of travel on these routes. *Central sidewalks* For people living in Winnipeg’s central neighbourhoods, the best trails seem to be the ones right outside the front door: sidewalks. While many folks in suburban areas report a higher number of pedestrians than usual, Charlene Van Buekenhout, who lives in the West End, has noticed the opposite. “The sidewalks are slushy, icy nightmares,” says Van Buekenhout, “but there haven’t been many people out.” Van Buekenhout has even noticed one huge positive: “People have been waving to us from inside their houses, which never happens,” she says. “That’s been a nice development.” Pedestrian activity in the West End, Downtown and the Exchange District is light, so if you live in one of these neighbourhoods, there’s a good chance physical distancing won’t be a problem. *La Barriere Park* “The sidewalks suck,” says Dolores Rintoul, “but the streets being virtually free of vehicles means we can walk on the road in a lot of cases.” Rintoul joins the ranks of many other pedestrians who have found sidewalks too icy, too wet or too narrow and have instead taken to walking on the road… but her partner goes one step further. “My partner goes for a ski by the river every couple of days, or to La Barriere Park.” While skiing may be out of the question now that the snow has mostly melted, Rintoul says that La Barrière Park — located south of Winnipeg in Ritchot — has plenty of room (and 2.9 km of trails) to safely move around and get some vitamin D. *Bike riding, anywhere* “The average city sidewalk is 1.5 metres (wide), and the recommended amount of space that individuals must have between them is a minimum of two metres,” says Mel Marginet of the Green Action Centre. “To ensure Winnipeggers are safe when walking and biking, the city must act quickly to reallocate road space.” While Winnipeggers wait for additional safe spaces to walk, there’s no better time to start cycling now that traffic has been reduced, and many bike shops in the city, such as Natural Cycle at 91 Albert St. in the Exchange, are still open as of Monday morning to help with all of your cycling needs. A complete list of bike routes in Winnipeg is available at wfp.to/bikeroutes frances.koncan(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @franceskoncan

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Fwd: Community engagement, but digital
by Mark Cohoe 14 Apr '20

14 Apr '20

This might be interesting as a number of projects moving forward (Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies update, Transportation Master Plan update, Leila Ave, University Crescent) may need to look into virtual engagement opportunities. Mark Cohoe Executive Director Bike Winnipeg t: 204-894-6540 e: mark(a)bikewinnipeg.ca ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: The Form-Based Codes Institute at Smart Growth America < info(a)formbasedcodes.org> Date: Tue, Apr 14, 2020 at 12:48 PM Subject: Community engagement, but digital To: <mark.e.cohoe(a)gmail.com> Problems viewing this message? Read it online. <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=d7XL7jbGMG%2Fz%2…> [image: Form-Based Codes Institute, a program of Smart Growth America] <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=QzlAuTvkcH7gx%2F…> <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=hjSbJlHDlMvjZLR0…> When in-peron engagement isn't possible A webinar series on virtual tools and techniques for community engagement How can community leaders continue to engage stakeholders and other members of the public in important local decisions when staying safe means staying home? The Form-Based Codes Institute at Smart Growth America and MSU National Charrette Institute <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=P3wGuos2ULwaobNL…> are partnering to deliver a series of three webinars to provide local leaders, developers and advocates with tools and examples for staying in touch, sharing ideas, and getting interactive feedback to keep critical decisions moving forward. Many of these techniques, while essential in this time of separation, have the potential to engage new, hard-to-reach segments of the community, and will be useful, even beyond this current crisis. Join us for the webinar and see how you can stay in touch and keep the wheels turning! *WEBINAR #1: Charrettes go virtual: Missoula, Montana hosts an online charrette to advance a community vision* <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=9TW%2Bo7DN%2Bsw3…> <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=EKeTfrlyZx5jZHKK…> Join us on April 28 when charrette organizers, Dover, Kohl and Partners <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=soonoVmHauB7o1q3…> (DKP), and local planners from Missoula, Montana describe how they successfully pivoted a long-planned community visioning effort for the Mullan Area Master Plan <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=8O13XtiNEyPjuCIe…> to a fully virtual format, designed to simulate the interactive and interpersonal experience of the “live” charrette. This new approach, created by DKP, uses a variety of online tools to generate thoughtful, place-sensitive solutions using high-quality design and urban planning best practices. Webinar speakers will share how the virtual charrette was structured, how the city prepared, the outcomes, and the pros and cons of using this virtual format. Webinar presenters include: - *Jason King*, AICP, CNU-A, Principal, Vice President, Project and Charrette Manager, Dover, Kohl & Partners - *Bill Lennertz*, Lead Trainer for NCI - *Tom Zavitz*, AICP, City of Missoula, Development Services Plan to join us for future webinars in the series when we will discuss other tools and strategies for virtual online community engagement. Announcement to come soon! This webinar <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=PXQ99mjCBdLMhx24…> has been approved for 1.0 continuing education hours by the AIA, and 1.0 certificate maintenance credits by AICP, and 1.0 professional development hour by ASLA (LA CES). Looking for more webinars? FBCI offers dozens of special topic webinars targeted to a range of audiences. Take advantage of reduced fees to maximize your social distance learning! <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=xQQ%2BuLY%2FpjeZ…> Top: Illustration and possible development scenario for the Hiawatha Farm Square Neighborhood in Missoula, MT (Image: Dover, Kohl & Partners) [image: Follow FBCI on Twitter] <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=Iqeosz%2BMwGplFM…> [image: Become a fan of SGA on Facebook] <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=%2BmhQf7UQvA%2Fi…> Know someone who might like receiving news from FBCI? Signing up is easy <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=7IT0qFbQzs9P9%2B…>. You have received this email from the Form-Based Codes Institute, a program of Smart Growth America. Click here to manage your subscription or unsubscribe <http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=ezsyWReE%2BkQE6L…> .

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Pop-up bike lanes help with coronavirus physical distancing in Germany
by Beth McKechnie 13 Apr '20

13 Apr '20

*Thanks to Lawrence Bird for the share...* Pop-up bike lanes help with coronavirus physical distancing in Germany Road markings redrawn after cyclists demand more space to comply with Covid-19 rules https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/13/pop-up-bike-lanes-help-with-c… German cities are redrawing road markings to create “pop-up” cycle lanes for the duration of the Covid-19 lockdown, as cyclists demand more space to physically distance on their commutes to work. Local authorities in the Kreuzberg district of Berlin trialled a temporary widening of two cycle lanes on 27 March, arguing it would help cyclists keep the required 1.5-metre distance apart while car traffic was down owing to Germany’s coronavirus restrictions. On Friday, the council declared the pilot scheme a success because it had improved cycling safety while not hindering traffic. An expansion of the scheme on further roads in Kreuzberg, as well as in the Schöneberg and Tempelhof districts, is planned for the coming weeks. The council said it had used removable tape and mobile signs to mark out the expanded lanes, which can be removed when the current restrictions on movement are lifted. Residents in 133 other German cities have formally submitted applications for similar pop-up bike lanes to their local authorities on the back of a campaign by Environmental Action Germany <https://www.theguardian.com/world/germany> (DUH), an environmental NGO. The campaign group cites new research <https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/07/climate/air-pollution-coronavirus-covid.…> linking air pollution to higher coronavirus death rates as an argument for redrawing infrastructure across the country. “The coronavirus is showing us that clean air is an indispensable asset,” said DUH’s chair, Jürgen Resch. “It is now especially important to temporarily make it more important for people to move safely on their bikes. This will help improve air quality, enables exercise in fresh air while keeping a safe distance and avoids unnecessary accidents.” Proponents of the scheme cite the Colombian capital, Bogotá, as the example to emulate, where the mayor, Claudia López, opened up nearly 72 miles (117km) of new bike routes in mid-March in the hope of reducing congestion and person-to-person contact. In Berlin, opposition politicians from the pro-business Free Democratic party have described the pop-up cycle lane plans as an “unnecessary provocation” by the bike lobby, saying they will have little practical use. German states have encouraged the use of bicycles in spite of the current restrictions, under which gatherings of more than two people are banned, with exceptions for families. “The use of a bicycle allows citizens to meet the requirements for minimising contact,” a spokesperson for the transport ministry in Thuringia told the German news agency dpa. In Germany, bike repair shops are currently exempt from state-ordered closures because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Three federal states, Berlin, Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, have also allowed bike vendors to stay open.

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WFP Editorial: Reduced vehicle traffic creates opportunity (Apr13'20)
by Beth McKechnie 13 Apr '20

13 Apr '20

Reduced vehicle traffic creates opportunity https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/reduced-vehicle-traffi… THE city has extended seasonal limitations of motor-vehicle traffic on certain streets, including Wolseley Avenue, Wellington Crescent, Lyndale Drive and Scotia Street. Motorists will be limited to one block from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays, allowing the streets to be used by cyclists and pedestrians. It’s a good idea, with vehicle traffic down due to business and school closures and many people staying in place and working from their homes rather than commuting. The decrease has had an effect: Manitoba Public Insurance processed 4,108 fewer claims last month than in the same period in 2019, a direct result of fewer vehicles being on the road. That’s a lot of damage and injury being avoided. Now, with vehicle traffic reduced and more people out for walks or bike rides as other entertainment and exercise options are shuttered, it raises an interesting question: what do we want to use our streets for? In the neighbourhoods where the newly-extended traffic limitations have opened up long stretches for safe walking and cycling, Winnipeggers are being given an opportunity to find out. Maintaining safe social distancing on sidewalks can be a challenge when one of the few options still available to people during this period of restricted activity is going for a walk or a run. Crowded sidewalks don’t allow for two metres of distance when passing whether one is walking, jogging or using a wheelchair. Some pedestrians take advantage of additional space on the less-traveled streets. But safe distances must be maintained, even when cyclists are added to the mix. Cars take up the greatest amount of space, and in Winnipeg’s traffic flow, the vast majority of motor vehicles in motion have only one occupant. If we could trade some of those single-occupant cars and trucks for bicycles, we would suddenly find there is a whole lot more space for everyone. In addition to the reduction in injuries from motor-vehicle collisions, there are also obvious exercise-related health benefits to having more space for walking, riding and other non-motorized pursuits. Skeptics may point out that once physical distancing and self-isolation requirements are relaxed, all those cars will be back on the road. The likelihood of that is high, since our city is largely designed with motor-vehicle traffic in mind, and other factors such as winter snow and ice can make cycling a challenge for some. But why not consider this brief respite from rat-race traffic a trial run? With fewer cars on the streets, we might learn some unexpected lessons about using them in different ways. In addition to the obvious appeal of a reduction in motor-vehicle accidents, there’s also the benefit of getting to know our neighbourhoods better, including where our local businesses are and what they have to offer. It’s easier to stop and look in the window when you’re not zooming past at the motor-vehicle speed limit or looking for parking. Such benefits extend beyond the specific streets where vehicle traffic is being temporarily restricted, which might prompt one to wonder why we aren’t using more of our infrastructure in different ways. Perhaps it’s time to consider adding protected bike lanes to more of Winnipeg’s streets. As we experience new options for walking and biking, some might be inclined to conclude that motor vehicle traffic doesn’t have to return to what it was pre-pandemic. We’ve been given a chance to try out a healthier, greener approach to getting around, and many of us just might prefer it.

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CBC: Are physical distancing measures giving bikes a new lease on life? (Apr12'20)
by Beth McKechnie 12 Apr '20

12 Apr '20

Are physical distancing measures giving bikes a new lease on life? https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/what-on-earth-newsletter-cycling-covid-1… To slow the spread of coronavirus, we've had to physically distance ourselves from others, which has meant a lot of lifestyle changes, including the way we get around. Getting into an enclosed bus or train with other passengers — or even a taxi or ride-hailing service with a driver — is no longer a recommended option. To make matters worse, many transit agencies are cutting back service. Yet many people still have to get to work and medical appointments. Meanwhile, we're being told to stay home as much as possible, but also to get fresh air and exercise (while gyms are closed). An influx of park visitors — many of whom weren't physically distant enough from each other — has caused governments to close parking lots at national, provincial and local parks. The solution to this conundrum? In many cases, it's getting on a bike. New Yorkers have already done this in droves, with *bike shops reporting double the sales* <https://gothamist.com/news/bike-shop-business-booming-covid-19-takes-new-yo…> they normally get at this time of year. Meanwhile, *bike repair shops in the U.K* <https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/24/uk-bicycle-shops-and-repairer…>. also say business is booming. In Canada, so many people are cycling in cities like Winnipeg and *Calgary* <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/biking-naheed-nenshi-covid-coronavir…> that the municipalities are closing some lanes and roads to vehicles to give cyclists (and pedestrians) more space. Meanwhile, bike shops remain open as many provincial governments have recognized them as an essential service. Brian Pincott, executive director of Vélo Canada Bikes, a group that promotes cycling and advocates for infrastructure to make the activity safer, said that kind of government support is welcome. He noted that many urban, lower-income people don't have other good transportation options right now. "So it is also a matter of equity to be able to have the appropriate infrastructure in place for people to actually go about their day-to-day [lives]," he said. The COVID-19 pandemic has inadvertently improved cycling conditions by taking a lot of automobiles off the road. Pincott said the car-centric design of our cities often discourages people from taking a two-wheeler. "Now that there are a lot fewer cars on the road, more and more people are seeing that cycling is a viable choice," he said. "It's a great family activity." But will the boost in cycling last after the pandemic is over and physical distancing measures are lifted? Pincott thinks it depends on whether governments continue to make it safer and easier for people to ride their bikes. He thinks this is a great opportunity for cities to create space for it. In the meantime, he hopes as the weather gets warmer, people will take advantage of the "perfect time" to get on their bikes. "It's impossible not to be happy when you're getting around on your bike," he said. "And God knows we need a little bit of happiness." — *Emily Chung*

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Simple centerline hardening can increase pedestrians safety
by Beth McKechnie 11 Apr '20

11 Apr '20

*[Thanks to Terry Zdan for the share]* IIHS study finds simple centerline hardening can make left turns safer for pedestrians <https://www.greencarcongress.com/2020/04/20200410-iihs.html> Bollards and rubber curbs that prevent drivers from cutting across intersections at a diagonal can make streets safer for pedestrians, according <https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/simple-infrastructure-changes-make-left-tu…> to a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Such “centerline hardening” forces drivers to turn more slowly at close to a right angle by blocking the diagonal path through the crosswalk. In Washington, D.C., the infrastructure changes reduced the number of times drivers had to swerve or brake suddenly or pedestrians had to dodge out of the way by 70%, said IIHS Senior Research Transportation Engineer Wen Hu, the author of the paper. The calming infrastructure also resulted in a reduction in average left-turn speeds and decreased the odds that drivers made the turn at speeds exceeding 15 mph.

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FW: FYI Men pose more risk to other road users than women
by Charles Feaver 08 Apr '20

08 Apr '20

While the headline references gender, vehicle type is also relevant and the interaction between gender and vehicle type particularly so. Men pose more risk to other road users than women Greater gender equity in road transport jobs might help lessen risks Date: April 6, 2020 Source: BMJ Summary: Men pose more risk to other road users than women do and they are more likely to drive more dangerous vehicles, reveals the first study of its kind, published online in the journal Injury Prevention. The findings prompt the researchers to suggest that greater gender equity in road transport jobs, overall, might help lessen these risks. Road safety analysis has traditionally focused on an individual's injury risk from their own use of a particular type of transport rather than the risk that might be posed to others. To try and plug this knowledge gap, the researchers drew on four sets of official data for England for the period 2005-15: police injury statistics (Stats19); Road Traffic Statistics; National Travel Survey data; and Office for National Statistics population/gender figures. They used the data to analyse the risks posed to other road users from bicycles, cars and taxis, vans, buses, lorries and motorbikes per billion vehicle kilometres travelled, and categorised by road type -- major and minor roads in urban and rural areas -- and gender. In terms of absolute numbers, cars and taxis were associated with most (two-thirds) of fatalities to other road users. But a comparison of fatalities per distance travelled shows that other vehicles might be even more dangerous. Lorries were associated with one in six deaths to other road users: each km driven was associated with more than five times the number of such deaths than each km driven in a car. There was a similarly high death toll for buses per km driven. Despite their small size, motorbikes also put other road users at high risk. Each km driven was associated with around 2.5 times more deaths to other parties than was each km driven in a car. In urban areas, most of those deaths -- 173 over the entire study period -- were pedestrians. Policy-makers should ensure that measures to discourage car use don't inadvertently encourage a shift to motorbike transport, suggest the researchers. At the other end of the scale, cycling seems relatively safe for others: it was associated with fewer deaths to other parties per km ridden than all the other types of transport, with just one other death per billion km cycled. Analysis of the data by gender showed that men posed a significantly higher risk to other road users for five of the six vehicle types studied. For cars and vans, the risk posed by male drivers was double that posed by women per km driven, rising to four times higher for lorry drivers, and more than 10 times higher for motorbike riders. In a linked podcast, lead researcher Dr Rachel Aldred, points out that driving jobs tend to be male dominated, citing the high death toll to other road users associated with lorries, 95% of which are driven by men. While lorries in general are dangerous vehicles, male lorry drivers pose a particularly high risk compared to female lorry drivers, she adds. "Greater gender equity would have a positive impact on these injuries," she suggests, adding that: "Policy-makers should be looking to measure the risk posed to others, and how to reduce it." The researchers conclude: "We suggest policy-makers consider policies to increase gender balance in occupations that substantially involve driving, given the greater likelihood that other road users will be killed if men rather than women are driving or riding." _____ Story Source: <https://www.bmj.com/company/newsroom/men-pose-more-risk-to-other-road-users…> Materials provided by <http://www.bmj.com/> BMJ. Note: Content may be edited for style and length. _____ Journal Reference: 1. Rachel Aldred, Rob Johnson, Christopher Jackson, James Woodcock. How does mode of travel affect risks posed to other road users? An analysis of English road fatality data, incorporating gender and road type. Injury Prevention, 2020; injuryprev-2019-043534

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WFP: Vehicle restrictions to remain in place until start of May (Apr7'20)
by Beth McKechnie 07 Apr '20

07 Apr '20

Vehicle restrictions to remain in place until start of May https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/coronavirus/city-imposes-half-day… THE return of sunny weather came just in time for new motor-vehicle limits starting today in hopes of making it easier for people getting out of the house to safely maintain social distancing. As of Monday, Lyndale Drive, Scotia Street, Wellington Crescent and Wolseley Avenue will limit motor-vehicle traffic daily to one block from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The new restrictions, originally announced by City of Winnipeg emergency operations manager Jason Shaw on March 31, is an expansion of designated bicycle and active transportation routes that are in place on Sundays and holidays from June to September. Signage warning motorists of the restrictions began going up on Scotia Street Monday, which saw its own share of walkers, some of whom took to the roads. Derek Dexter, a Luxton resident, called the restrictions “a great idea.” “My wife and I actually thought of it about two days before the city implemented it,” he said. “In the summer this is always closed on Sundays, so people are used to using it as a bike path and a walking path.” While he said he had seen “the odd group” still mingling, the neighbourhood seemed to have picked up the message of physical distancing. “For the most part, I’ve seen people changing sides of the street and jumping from the sidewalk to the street to keep their distance,” he said. He said he hoped the restrictions would expand beyond a few Winnipeg streets. “I think they could implement this on other streets in the city as well, just to give you that space to walk,” he said. “We often find we’re walking and trying to zig-zag from one side to the other to keep that social distancing, and if the whole street is closed down it just makes that easier.” Shaw said in the original announcement that expanding routes eventually was not off the table. “We need to balance this approach out to make sure that it works first, and we know these routes are familiar,” he said. Andrea Janzen, a school psychologist out for a walk on her lunch break, said that familiarity would likely mean the restrictions wouldn’t affect the traffic activity on the street. “I don’t know what the people feel like who live here on this particular street,” she said. “This street doesn’t get a lot of traffic anyways, I don’t know that it will really change a lot.” However, she said she hopes it sends a message to drivers. “I’m going to walk this street regardless, whether there’s a road blockade or not,” she said. “I think it’s probably just good for people who are out driving who are not from the area to be aware that they need to be more cautious.” Jane Casey, an instructor at the University of Manitoba, said she hadn’t heard about the blockades going up but was used to them in the neighbourhood. “If people can walk down the middle of the road, and be able to have that comfortable distance, that would be a good thing,” she said. The restrictions will be in place until the beginning of May, when they’ll be re-evaluated and possibly extended. malak.abas(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: malakabas_

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WFP Analysis: Rethinking infrastructure after the pandemic (Apr6'20)
by Beth McKechnie 06 Apr '20

06 Apr '20

Rethinking infrastructure after the pandemic https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/coronavirus/rethinking-infrastruc… IN our desperate battle to slow the spread of the coronavirus, almost four billion people, half the world’s population, are living under stay-at- home orders. In a rare united effort, governments, industry and citizens alike are working together to combat a common global enemy. The scale and speed of societal change left in its wake would have been unthinkable only a few weeks ago. As we move through and out of this fight, the power of this new social cohesion presents us with an opportunity to boldly rebuild a country that is more economically resilient, environmentally sustainable, socially just and physically healthier. Cities will be at the front lines of this opportunity, and rethinking the way we move around them will be fundamental to these goals. We have suddenly learned the importance of physical distancing, and with more people out walking, we are also learning how little pedestrian space there actually is in our cities. Across the world, streets are being closed to cars, as cities scramble to create temporary public space for people to access sunlight and fresh air while maintaining safe distances from each other. As the increased need for easily accessible space to walk and ride a bike becomes more permanent, so will these solutions. With everyone at home, increased pedestrian and cycling space is important for exercise and public health, but as time goes on, it will become increasingly vital for connectivity, to access employment, education and recreation. The coronavirus pandemic will likely have long-term impacts on transit use, and we must find a way to replace that mobility. In Winnipeg, people take a combined 170,000 trips every day on the bus. The social, environmental and economic impact of losing any part of that could be devastating. Creating infrastructure that allows people to safely walk and bike to access their daily needs can be a big part of the response. Winnipeg is well prepared to quickly implement a bold new mobility plan. The city’s 20-year Pedestrian and Cycling Strategy provides a visionary blueprint which, if implemented, would respond to many of our immediate needs, and make Winnipeg an active-transportation leader in North America as we move forward. The design includes 80 kilometres of protected bike lanes crossing every neighbourhood in the city, including a 13-lane downtown grid, as well as hundreds of kilometres of new sidewalks, sidewalk widening and renewal, and off-street pathways. The plan also includes several active transportation bridges. With typical construction costs being 80 to 90 per cent less than a vehicle bridge, they could affordably introduce a new network of connectivity between Winnipeg’s divided neighbourhoods. Strategically located bridges could provide easy walking and cycling access to greenspace between communities — for example, connecting St. Vital Park to Pembina Highway, or Kildonan Park to Henderson Highway. With well-located pedestrian bridges, shops on Wolseley’s Westminster Avenue could be a nine-minute walk from the shops on Academy Road; the Osborne strip could be a seven-minute walk from Norwood Flats, or a 10-minute walk to the restaurants on Sherbrook Street. The estimated cost to build the entire 20-year plan is pegged at $330 million, which sounds daunting, but within the scope of current and future federal stimulus initiatives, doing it all at once is bold but not unrealistic. Rebuilding our economy after the pandemic will be critical, and active transportation construction has proven to be one of the best infrastructure investments possible, in terms of job creation and economic return. A comprehensive study at the University of Massachusetts showed that because they use more labour and fewer materials, and the materials they do use are more often locally produced, bicycle infrastructure projects can create up to 11.4 jobs for every $1 million invested — 46 per cent more than car-only road projects, with pedestrian-only projects falling somewhere in-between. A comprehensive active-transportation network could be implemented quickly on a temporary basis, following the Pedestrian and Cycling Strategy, and then transitioned to permanent as the pandemic slows and economic stimulus is prioritized. Reduced driving would lower greenhouse-gas emissions and air pollution, a potential carrier of airborne viruses, and improve physical health, which can strengthen immune systems and reduce pre-existing conditions. The coronavirus pandemic is a stark warning that we are part of a delicate, interwoven ecosystem, and if we push it too hard, it breaks. Our response requires both immediate solutions, and preparation for a long fight. We must also consider future pandemics and, most importantly, this must be a wake-up call to finally address the looming climate crisis, before it becomes a similar global emergency. Governments can work together now to make active transportation an important part of the solution across Canada, helping to get us through this crisis today and helping to meet our economic, environmental and public-health needs in the world we build when it is over. *Brent Bellamy is creative director at Number Ten Architectural Group.*

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NZ encourages (and funds) tactical urbanism
by Beth McKechnie 06 Apr '20

06 Apr '20

Covid-19 is having a significant impact on our transport systems and services. The Innovating Streets programme can make a contribution by providing councils with an opportunity to adapt their streets to better support active and safe transport needs, while following official advice about people movement. https://www.nzta.govt.nz/roads-and-rail/innovating-streets/about/pilot-fund/

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WFP: No way to cross Portage and Main (Apr5'20)
by Beth McKechnie 05 Apr '20

05 Apr '20

*City closes downtown skywalks, underground concourse due to COVID-19 pandemic* * No way to cross Portage and Main * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/coronavirus/no-way-to-cross-porta… CROSSING the street at Portage and Main just became an even bigger obstacle. As of Friday evening, the city shut the doors to the entire downtown overhead walkway system, along with the underground concourse at Portage and Main until further notice as a health precaution due to COVID-19. To make it to the other side of the windy intersection, pedestrians will be required to locate the nearest street level crossing. People voiced their opinions on social media over the weekend, with a common argument being everyone should be staying home anyway so the added restrictions at Portage and Main is a non-issue. Brent Bellamy, a senior design architect for Number Ten Architectural Group, couldn’t disagree more. “We may be in a crisis situation, but people still need to access medical appointments, fill prescriptions, buy groceries, get exercise, air and sunlight,” Bellamy said. “Many are still working in essential services. Many of these people need to catch the bus, or walk to their employment. We have very deliberately made the choice that even when the 70,000 workers and 25,000 students are not downtown, the 17,000 people who live there must cross the city’s central intersection by going underground. If we are going to live with that choice we must ensure that option is available to everyone, always, first and foremost for those with mobility challenges, because the alternatives are unrealistic and quite honestly shameful in a modern city like ours.” Forcing people to go outside and walk an extra block or two to get to a crosswalk might not be a major inconvenience for some, but for seniors and people with disabilities, it can make a simple errand difficult, especially with this week’s snowfall. With the snow buildup and the construction going on outside the office building at 201 Portage Ave., it’d be nearly impossible for someone in a wheelchair to navigate around the building and for people to stay six feet apart. “When you actually look at how far it is just to cross the street ‘one block over,’ it is the equivalent of walking between two and four-and-half lengths of a football field, depending on which direction you are coming from,” Bellamy said. “If you are in a wheelchair, or a senior, or just about anyone actually, that is an unreasonable distance.” Bellamy adds these obstacles are nothing new. Even when the skywalk and underground are open, it isn’t easy for people to get around. “The intersection being inaccessible right now is news because it is caused by a pandemic, but the fact that it is inaccessible is the reality almost more often than not. The ramps inside the concourse have been closed for the last month because the roof is leaking across them. Before that, one of the elevators was broken and took months to repair. Before that, the sprinkler system in the concourse burst and an elevator was closed off. Every day after business hours and on weekends, the elevators in the office buildings required to access the concourse are closed. Every single day,” Bellamy said. “If we are going to force people in a wheelchair to use four elevators and two ramps to get across the street, they should at least work.” The barriers at Portage and Main have been the great debate in town for years. Oly Backstrom, the president and CEO of SCE LifeWorks, said issues like this one wouldn’t exist if people would simply be allowed to cross the street. But to him, bringing light to the city’s recent decision goes much further than making another point as to why the barriers should be gone. “I don’t want to get bogged down in that specific issue because Portage and Main is a bit of a lightning rod. But to me, it’s symbolic of how society views accessibility, and even how people are viewing accessibility issues during this pandemic,” said Backstrom, who asked his Twitter followers to remember the current scenario the next time there’s a Portage and Main debate. “Some comments and responses to my original tweet seem to indicate that ‘Buddy, there’s a pandemic going on. Why are you tweeting about this?’ Kind of implying that concerns around accessibility should take a back seat to the pandemic. (The pandemic) has got us all sick with worry, but my argument would be the stakes are even higher during emergencies like this pandemic when it comes to accessibility.” In the 2018 civic election, opening up Portage and Main was put to a vote. The answer was a resounding “no” with 65 per cent of voters wanting to leave the downtown hub as is. “The people most impacted by the barriers, whether it be people with disabilities, or people who live downtown, for the most part, were pretty clear about how they felt about opening it up,” Backstrom said. “But it was put to a vote for all Winnipeggers, including those who are not directly impacted by that negatively on a day-to-day basis. So, I look forward to the day when a leader reassesses and makes the right decision and makes Portage and Main accessible.” taylor.allen(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @TaylorAllen31

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Eco-Counter webinar: Using bike data
by Beth McKechnie 02 Apr '20

02 Apr '20

*Eco-Counter Webinar Invite, April 2020* View this email in your browser <https://info.eco-compteur.com/e/685233/alk-about-data-693113-e-UNIQID/39xcn…]> *Taking the conference virtual - join us for a webinar!* As many of you know, last month's National Bike Summit <https://info.eco-compteur.com/e/685233/summit/39xcq/78701155?h=m36sN4VvgxH0…> in Arlington, Virginia, was cancelled due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. The conference, however, has gone virtual! We were supposed to host a *breakout session on applying bike data* during the second day of the conference. The good news is that this session will now happen as a *webinar - free and open to anyone!* *So you have bike data, now what?* *Tuesday April 7th, 2020 - 3-4PM (ET)* Click here to register for the free webinar <https://info.eco-compteur.com/e/685233/register-2632832675602503435/39xcs/7…> *About the webinar:* >From automated counters to GPS trace data, demographic surveys to crash statistics, data plays an increasingly pivotal role in cycling planning. What can transportation professionals, researchers and advocates actually do with all of that data? Where is a good place to start? What are some quick wins? During this data session, learn from industry experts, advocates and practitioners about ways in which bike data can be leveraged in order to achieve meaningful, tangible changes in your community. We look forward to seeing you there! [image: Facebook] <https://info.eco-compteur.com/e/685233/EcoCounter-/39xcv/78701155?h=m36sN4V…> [image: Twitter] <https://info.eco-compteur.com/e/685233/Eco-Counter/39xcx/78701155?h=m36sN4V…> [image: Website] <https://info.eco-compteur.com/e/685233/2020-04-02/39xcz/78701155?h=m36sN4Vv…> Copyright © 2020 Eco-Counter. 3981 Saint-Laurent Blvd, Suite 604 | Montreal, QC | H2W 1Y5 Office: 1-514-849-9779 | Toll Free: 1-866-518-4404

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Metro Vancouver State of Cycling Report
by Beth McKechnie 02 Apr '20

02 Apr '20

>From HUB Cycling: We recently released our State of Cycling report <https://bikehub.ca/research/the-state-of-cycling-in-metro-vancouver> on Metro Vancouver in BC, which comprises 23 Jurisdictions/municipalities. This report was developed in partnership for our regional transportation authority, TransLink. The report looks at cycling rates, safety, gender balance, supportive policies, network change, accessibility of safe routes and more for each area. Some highlights: - The report classifies every bike facility (over 15K GIS segments) across all 23 municipalities by level of comfort ranging between comfortable for most, some, few or very few - A bicycle type classification system was developed with input from all member municipalities, TransLink and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (similar to a DOT), providing the framework to classify each facility type - 46% of the network is comfortable for most people, and 65% of people live within 400m of a comfortable bikeway - The length of the bikeway network has nearly tripled in 10 years from 1,700 km (2009) to 4,600 km (2019) - This is meant to be a benchmarking report, allowing us to measure progress against this baseline with each new iteration

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WFP: Sunday bike routes open daily next week (Apr1'20)
by Beth McKechnie 01 Apr '20

01 Apr '20

Sunday bike routes open daily next week SEASONAL Sunday and holiday bike routes will open to cyclists and pedestrians seven days a week as part of the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The four city roadways typically reserved for bicycle traffic and active transportation use on Sundays and holidays throughout the summer will have limited motor vehicle traffic beginning April 6. Lyndale Drive, between Cromwell Street and Gauvin Street; Scotia Street, between Anderson Avenue and Armstrong Avenue; Wellington Crescent, between Academy Road and Guelph Street; and Wolseley Avenue, between Raglan Road and Maryland Street will be restricted to through-traffic daily between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Signs will be posted on all approach roadways and exits to notify motorists they are entering and exiting an active transportation route and vehicle traffic is limited to one block throughout the designated area. While traffic volumes are lowered, the city is reminding cyclists and pedestrians that roads are not closed and to use caution and follow the rules of the road. The expanded active transportation route schedule is in effect until May 3. The public’s adherence to physical-distancing recommendations to maintain two metres of separation between individuals on these routes will be monitored by the city officials. City-owned athletic fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, ball diamonds and skate parks will remain closed until further notice, in accordance with the provincial public health order to limit gatherings of people to no more than 10 individuals. Community centres are also being told to discourage programming on their properties.

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WFP: BLUE line brings rapid transit to southwest
by Beth McKechnie 31 Mar '20

31 Mar '20

*BLUE line brings rapid transit to southwest* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/souwester/BLUE-line-bring… Starting April 12, a dedicated 11-kilometre transitway will open in the southwest, giving bus riders a faster, easier commute. BLUE is a new rapid transit line that will provide frequent, reliable, high-speed service between Winnipeg’s downtown, the University of Manitoba and St. Norbert, according to Adam Budowski, a transit planner with Winnipeg Transit. The idea of rapid transit was first introduced in Winnipeg in the 1970s, with city council acting on it in the early 2000s when a task force was established. The first stage was opened in 2012 with the 3.6 km-long rapid transitway running from Queen Elizabeth Way to Jubilee Avenue. Planning for stage two of the transitway began in 2012, with most of the construction completed by the end of 2019. "A big piece of this has been route planning," Budowski said. "We started developing route plans for the transitway about two years ago and started doing public engagement in the spring of 2019." Transit "hollowed out" a retired bus, equipped it with poster boards and drove this Ideas in Motion bus to transit hubs and community events to catch people during their daily activities, according to Budowski. They also received responses via email, for a total of around 1,000 responses. "We’ve designed a high frequency line in a well-planned area, with 14 new community feeder routes. People can wait at heated shelters which also feature digital displays for real-time bus information. The transitway is designed to move large numbers of people to where they want to go, quickly and in a way that avoids congestion on Pembina Highway," Budowski said, adding that there will still be buses running on Pembina for those needing local transportation. The City of Winnipeg has been working on weekends to change the bus route signs in the southwest. The transit stops now feature a blue sign showing the new route numbers, and an orange, temporary sign showing the old route numbers. "We want people to know that their current bus is still coming, and get them used to the new routes that will launch April 12," he said, adding there are around 1,500 bus stop signs being changed. Funding for the BLUE line included $163.8 million from the City of Winnipeg, $93.3 million from the province and $163.3 million from the federal government.The BLUE line will feature 28 new articulated buses, which can carry around 100 passengers each. Each bus will feature a front rack that can carry two bikes. There will also be bike lockers at each station and bike racks. "The buses will run approximately every four to five minutes during rush hour," Budowski said. Passengers will be able to park their cars and hop onboard a bus, thanks to more than 1,000 park and ride spots installed at Seel Station and Clarence Station. The parking spots are available for special events at attractions along the BLUE Rapid Transit Line, including Investors Group Field, and are provided free of charge for anyone using Transit services. For those interested in active transportation, such as biking or walking, a protected and accessible path runs the full length of the transitway, connecting to existing active routes. It will be illuminated at night to enhance safety and visibility. Winnipeg Transit mailed information brochures to 75,000 households in the southwest, as well as putting up information signs at 86 bus stations in the downtown regarding route changes. For more information on the BLUE transitway and route changes, see winnipegtransit.com/en/service/blue-rapid-transit/ To start planning bus routes, use the Navigo Trip Planner at winnipegtransit.com/en/navigo and type in April 12 as the date you want to make a trip.

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WFP: Active transportation changes seen as part of virus response (Mar31'20)
by Beth McKechnie 31 Mar '20

31 Mar '20

Active transportation changes seen as part of virus response https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/active-transportation-changes-seen-… BARRICADES for seasonal Sunday and holiday road closures could go up early this year to make space for pedestrians and cyclists struggling to keep their distance as Winnipeggers head outdoors amid the COVID-19 crisis. A spokesman for the City of Winnipeg said Monday that officials are considering whether to provide pedestrians access to roadways and enhanced active transportation routes as physical distancing becomes a challenge on sidewalks in some communities. “There’s just no way possible in areas where there is density on beautiful days that we can maintain the physical distance,” Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverley West) said. “We didn’t have a wicked winter, but we want to get outside, the sun is shining, the snow is melting.” Lukes says she’s formally asked the mayor’s office and the city’s interim chief administrative officer to implement road or lane closures for people to get outside and maintain the two metres of distance between individuals recommended by public health officials. “We’ve got thousands and thousands of kilometres of roadway in the city, the traffic volumes are down: take to the streets, take to the residential roads,” she said. The city did not accommodate a request for an interview Monday but said in an email that more information on road closures and pedestrian access will be released this week. City owned playgrounds, recreation centres and picnic shelters have been closed as part of the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but parks remain open at this time. On Friday, Mayor Brian Bowman said city officials are reviewing what outdoor recreation options can be made available to the public. “We’re trying collectively as governments to ensure that while we’re telling people to get outside and social distance, we’re not shrinking the available public spaces that they can spread out,” he said. Over the weekend, the City of Calgary closed vehicular lanes alongside popular pedestrian corridors to traffic in anticipation of people heading outdoors to take advantage of warm weather. The locations of the temporary closures were not promoted to avoid crowds of people congregating at select spots. Each May, the city restricts through-traffic on four roads on Sunday and holidays and give cyclists priority. The restrictions are in place for Lyndale Drive, Wolseley Avenue, Scotia Street and Wellington Crescent from Academy Road to Guelph Street. “We’ve already got a framework, let’s put it in play seven days a week for now,” Lukes said. “The thing is, people are going to go outside whether you want them to or not. So we need to make it safe for them and we need to reinforce social distancing.” Winnipeg Trails executive director Anders Swanson said enhancing the city’s overall active transportation network throughout the duration of the COVID-19 response will be critical to ensure the safe movement of people across the city. “If you have to take half the people off the bus to maintain physical distancing for the next however many months, we’re going to need some sort of system,” Swanson said. “We’ve been calling for this for decades, but this is a life changing moment,” Swanson said. “The space is there and it would be not just impractical to not rededicate that space to people so that they can move, but it would be rude to not do that now.” Separated and dedicated lanes for pedestrians and cyclists, addressing “mode gaps,” and speed limit changes should all be considered as quickly as possible, he said. “The simplest message is to stay home if you can,” Swanson said. “We’re not trying to say the most important thing is for everyone to go out for a jog. “But what we’re voicing is the concern that when you make rules to recognize walking and cycling is very competitive with a transit trip, if necessary, given the right infrastructure,” he said. danielle.dasilva(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Today: Virtual Cycling conference with great speakers - Digital Worldbike
by Anders Swanson 31 Mar '20

31 Mar '20

Good morning, Apologies for the late notice, but there is a conference with some terrific speakers happening today from 1-6pm Central European time. Organized pre-pandemic, its perfect timing for a virtual conference on a topic that offers a rare glimmer of hope. You can see the program here (skip to section 3 for the urbanism/transport stuff): https://twitter.com/DigiWorldBike/status/1244897866046484480 You can register here, free, to enter the virtual conference: https://t.co/k1BFYPvSC7?amp=1 Or check out the a live stream: https://t.co/yEDKeBfYXi?amp=1 As I send this, Marco te Brömmelstroet (fietsprofessor and head of the urban cycling institute at the University of Amsterdam) is talking about the language of mobility. Again, apologies for the short notice. Enjoy! Anders

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BBC News: Climate change: vision for future UK transport
by Charles F 29 Mar '20

29 Mar '20

UK transport minister says it's time to reduce car - driving...How do we get Canada/ manitoba | Winnipeg leadership to adopt this direction sooner rather than later?Climate change: 'Gob-smacking' vision for future UK transport - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52064509* Disclaimer *The BBC is not responsible for the content of this email, and anything written in this email does not necessarily reflect the BBC's views or opinions. Please note that neither the email address nor name of the sender have been verified.Sent from my phone.

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CROW Design Manual - free webinars (Urban Cycling Institute)
by Beth McKechnie 28 Mar '20

28 Mar '20

The CROW 'Design Manual for Bicycle Traffic' is widely regarded by experts as the best bikeway engineering guide in the world. In the coming weeks, the Urban Cycling Institute will offer a series of free webinars, each focused on one chapter of the book. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-17vjmIkwG8

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WFP: UMSU votes yes on U-Pass
by Beth McKechnie 28 Mar '20

28 Mar '20

*VOTES YES ON U-PASS * THE University of Manitoba Students’ Union says Winnipeg Transit’s U-Pass program will continue at the school. The UMSU board of directors has voted in favour to “save” the U-Pass program, at an increased rate of $200/full-time student per term, up from $136.25/term — a hike the City of Winnipeg said is needed to cover costs.

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Globe & Mail: Coronavirus is reshaping the way we get around cities (Mar25'20)
by Beth McKechnie 26 Mar '20

26 Mar '20

Coronavirus is reshaping the way we get around cities https://www.theglobeandmail.com/drive/mobility/article-coronavirus-is-resha… The rising need for social distancing has been changing how we get around cities – and whether we get around at all. Right now, schools and some businesses are closed and more people are working from home to try to slow the COVID-19 outbreak. That means less traffic and fewer people taking transit. “There’s a huge reduction in traffic and urban personal travel,” says Lawrence Frank, a professor of public health at the University of British Columbia (UBC). In some places, the need to keep space between us is leading to a push, at least temporarily, for more active ways to get around. *Bogota, for instance, added 76 kilometres of temporary bike lanes to its 550-km bike network.* *“They took some of their transit lanes and gave them to cyclists – this is a smart idea and their weather allows it,” says Ahmed El-Geneidy, a professor at McGill University’s School of Public Planning. “When you cycle, you’re distanced from other people.”* *If the crisis continues for a longer period of time, El-Geneidy says he expects Canadian cities, including Toronto and Montreal, to look into temporarily adding more bike lanes.* “If you’re not sick, you can take a walk around the block – you can take a bicycle ride as long as you’re staying away from people,” El-Geneidy says. “I’m not an expert in public health, but if we have congestion on cycling routes, then it’s useless.” LONG-TERM CHANGES? But what happens after all this is finally over and we don’t need to keep two metres away from each other? “It will change something – what it will change, I don’t know for sure,” El-Geneidy says. “It can be a good time now to try biking and walking, and maybe in some places, we could see a return to more corner stores that people can walk to because people don’t want to take their cars or transit.” Although, it’s also possible that the roads could be more crowded, at least temporarily, with individual vehicles than ever because some people will be spooked off public transit. “Transit is not bad – we cannot allow this to be used to say that we shouldn’t be taking collective forms of transportation,” UBC’s Frank says. “That’s ridiculous. This is a short, unprecedented situation and we had time to react in advance.” REDUCTION IN POLLUTION? In China and Italy <https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/covid-19-air-pollution-1.5501810>, one side-effect of people staying home because of COVID-19 is a drastic reduction in air pollution, Frank says. According to the most recent Global Burden of Disease study, an estimated 3.4 million people worldwide died prematurely because of outdoor air pollution in 2017. During the lockdown, Frank expects China and Italy to see a drop in deaths from chronic diseases that are caused or worsened by pollution. “This shows us that how we get around has a dramatic effect on pollution,” Frank says. “We’re monitoring COVID-19 and it’s terrifying, but at the same time, it might be that more lives were saved because of the reduction in vehicle use and air pollution.” When these temporary restrictions end, this could be used as an opportunity for governments to change how we get around cities. They could invest more in transit, electrification and active transportation, including cycling , e-scooters and e-bikes, Frank says. That would mean more urban density instead of increasing sprawl out to the suburbs, Frank says. People who get around by walking or cycling instead of solely in vehicles are, generally. healthier overall. “You want to design a transportation system and lay out your cities so that there’s less vulnerability should something like this happen again,” Frank says. “We’d have to think past a contagious epidemic and make cities more conducive to biking and walking. It could have an incredible impact on chronic disease.”

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