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London cycling could increase tenfold after lockdown, says TfL
by Charles Feaver 08 May '20

08 May '20

Cycling in London could increase tenfold and pavements could be widened to allow for <https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/22/uk-will-need-social-distancin g-until-at-least-end-of-year-says-whitty> physical distancing and queueing outside shops, under plans to overhaul the capital's streets post-lockdown. As part of the <https://www.theguardian.com/uk/london> London Streetscape plans, new walking and cycling routes along major corridors would be fast-tracked , including temporary cycle lanes along routes such as the busy thoroughfare of Euston Road. .. But the office of the London mayor, <https://www.theguardian.com/politics/sadiq-khan> Sadiq Khan, said millions of journeys a day would need to be made by other means, with London's public transport capacity potentially running at a fifth of pre-crisis levels. If people were to switch even a small fraction of those journeys to cars, Khan said, London risked grinding to a halt, air quality would worsen and road danger would increase. The mayor and <https://www.theguardian.com/uk/transport> Transport for London (TfL) said they would work with boroughs to focus on three areas: * The "rapid construction" of a strategic cycling network, using temporary materials, with new routes, aimed at reducing crowding on public transport. * A "complete transformation" of local town centres so that people can walk and cycle where possible, including widening footways on high streets so that people can safely queue outside shops. * Reducing traffic on residential streets and creating "low-traffic neighbourhoods". <https://www.theguardian.com/uk/tfl> TfL said its modelling suggested there could be a tenfold increase in distances cycled, and up to five times the amount of walking compared with pre-coronavirus levels, if travel demand returned. .. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/06/cycling-could-increase-five-fo ld-in-london-after-lockdown?CMP=share_btn_link

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Wpg Sun: Dropping speed limits best path to traffic ‘calming,’ says councillor (May6'20)
by Beth McKechnie 07 May '20

07 May '20

*Dropping speed limits best path to traffic ‘calming,’ says councillor* https://winnipegsun.com/news/local-news/dropping-speed-limits-best-path-to-… Changes to Winnipeg speed limits and new traffic safety measures could be on the horizon for city residents over the coming months. On Wednesday, a Standing Policy Committee report, advocated for “a whole new suite of traffic calming measures” was accepted by council – although the road to safer streets in Winnipeg is paved with controversy and complexity. The motion was partly in response to ongoing complaints filed by concerned residents regarding vehicle speed problems on city streets. Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverly West) said the report will align Winnipeg with many other jurisdictions regarding traffic safety initiatives. “There are many new approaches to traffic calming that many cities throughout the world are using,” she said. “One of the things that I’ve learned is traffic calming is very labour intensive, time-consuming and very expensive.” Lukes said that many Winnipeg streets were designed with cars at the top of the transportation pyramid – resulting in the need for traffic calming and road retrofits. “And expenses are being incurred,” she said. “Many of our streets are still being designed in a manner that does not encourage traffic calming. In my almost two decades of working on active transportation initiatives, I’ve never heard more public outcry than I have in the last few years.” To avoid wasting a fortune on road safety infrastructure, Lukes said the best way to bring about calmer streets is lowering speed limits. “Of course, there would be some initial investment for signage,” she said. “Cities all over the world are lowering speed limits on residential streets.” Coun. Ross Eadie (Mynarski) agreed with Lukes about the need for traffic calming but had his own take on excessive speed on Winnipeg streets. “The condition of the street dictates how fast people are driving,” he said. “Our streets are so bad that nobody’s actually speeding. They’re not speeding because there’s – I guess you could call them – natural decay speed bumps called potholes all over the place. I think it’s very important that public consultations do happen.” Cutting to the chase, Eadie said the biggest problem on Winnipeg streets is drivers who flout the rules. “And I’m not just going to blame drivers,” he said. “There are cyclists who don’t follow the rules of the road, and they cause problems for everybody as well. Everybody needs to follow the rules and do things appropriately. Driving is not a right, it’s a privilege. Police can’t be on every street and every block.” Coun. Sherri Rollins (Fort-Rouge East Fort Garry), said that a cost-benefit analysis leads her to believe that lowering residential speed limits to 30 km/hr is a “cheap alternative” to other, more costly, traffic safety initiatives like speed bumps. “I just want to acknowledge the budgetary reality that need not be if we just reduce speeds.” Coun. John Orlikow (River Heights – Fort Garry), said that if council decides to lower speed limits, residents will continue to “drive the road.” “We can arbitrarily say we should have 10 km/hr or 30 km/hr,” he said. “But the problem is we’re going to have to do some road modifications if we don’t want to have people driving at those speeds.” Orlikow said that safer streets can’t be predicated on a one-size-fits-all model. “We have to have many different facets to it,” he said. “But, it is a serious issue that we are facing.” Mayor Brian Bowman explained that creating safer streets is a long-term project that could take years. “I do obviously think that adopting new processes for triage, for analyzing and implementing requests for traffic calming measures is entirely appropriate at this stage.” jsnell(a)postmedia.com Twitter: @JamesWestgateSn

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WFP: Report puts more school-zone driving restrictions on city’s radar (May7'20)
by Beth McKechnie 07 May '20

07 May '20

Report puts more school-zone driving restrictions on city’s radar https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/ways-to-expand-30-kmh-zones-outline… SCHOOL-zone speed limits are here to stay and could be expanded in the future, according to a public service review from the City of Winnipeg. A review of all school-zone speeding tickets issued in 2018 in the East Kildonan and Transcona districts revealed the reduced 30 km/h limit appears to be achieving its goal of slowing drivers. Fewer speeding tickets were issued in those zones than in photo-radar areas near schools that didn’t have a lowered speed limit. Based on feedback from school administrators in six local school divisions, the report’s authors have flagged several school-zone changes the city could consider, including keeping lowered speed limits in effect all day, every day, not just during school hours; placing school-zone limits at middle schools and high schools; and expanding school-zone limits to streets that are near schools but not necessarily adjacent to school property. Those suggestions haven’t been officially put forward as recommendations, but the report notes some of the changes could be made with approval from city council and/or changes to municipal bylaws. The review, which was released as part of the agenda for next week’s East Kildonan-Transcona community committee meeting, was requested last spring by city councillor Shawn Nason (Transcona), who said he hears regular concerns about speeding in the ward, which contains several school zones, and he wanted to know the location of the problem areas. Nason said Wednesday he will review the report. “One of the things I was looking for was areas that were having increased photo-radar tickets, so that we could look at safety perspectives,” Nason said. The majority of speeding tickets issued near schools in the ward were via photo radar, on streets where there is no lowered speed limit. Very few tickets were handed out for speeding in 30 km/h school zones, according to the review. Most tickets were issued in “school areas” that have signs identifying them as such. The signs allow photo radar enforcement to happen there, but the posted speed limit is not lowered. The most common place to get a “school area” photo radar ticket was at northbound Plessis Road, north of Rosseau Avenue West. Of the total of 523 tickets issued in East Kildonan-Transcona in 2018, 198 tickets went to drivers in that spot. Another 104 speeding tickets were handed out near Polson School, at 491 Munroe Ave., which doesn’t have a lowered speed limit. Despite the 30-km/h limit in place outside of St. Joseph the Worker School, at 505 Brewster St., 25 speeding tickets were handed out there in 2018, making it the most commonly ticketed reducedspeed school zone in the neighbourhood. katie.may(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @thatkatiemay

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Bike counts are booming in North America
by Beth McKechnie 06 May '20

06 May '20

Happy Trails Terry Zdan *From:* Info Eco-Counter <info(a)eco-counter.com> *Date:* May 6, 2020 at 6:49:39 AM CDT Interactive dashboard, pop-up infrastructure, and more *Eco-Counter Newsletter, May 2020* View this email in your browser <https://info.eco-compteur.com/e/685233/ming-in-north-america-e-UNIQID/3hnyr…]> *Capturing the growth of cycling since COVID-19: Introducing our new interactive dashboard* If you have been out on a bike path or trail in the past month you've probably noticed something: *there are a lot of people out cycling right now*. We've seen news stories in Arlington <https://info.eco-compteur.com/e/685233/rowded-trails-during-covid-19-/3hnyt…>, New York <https://info.eco-compteur.com/e/685233/onavirus-nyc-bike-commute-html/3hnyw…>, Richmond <https://info.eco-compteur.com/e/685233/ckets-amidst-covid-19-pandemic/3hnyy…> and so many other places talking about how many people are cycling and walking. Today, we're proud to introduce our new interactive dashboard that tracks the impact of the pandemic on bike counts in North America and Europe. The analysis confirms our hypothesis: *cycling is booming*. Explore our interactive dashboard of bike counts here <https://info.eco-compteur.com/e/685233/BikeCounts2020/3hnz1/91848024?h=waUy…> Overall, *bike counts are significantly up across most regions in North America*. What really jumps out is the *strong growth (more than 50% increase in 6 out of 8 regions) in weekend bike counts*, suggesting a strong demand for recreational cycling at this time – a trend also seen in our European dataset. *We hope you enjoy the dashboard and find it useful for your work.* *Make it count on temporary and pop-up bike and pedestrian **infrastructure* More and more people are walking and biking, and in many cities across North America, active measures are being taken to give more space to cyclists, runners and pedestrians. Through t*emporary street closures, pop-up infrastructure and tactical urbanism,* planners everywhere are are acting fast <https://info.eco-compteur.com/e/685233/s-over-to-walkers-and-cyclists/3hnz3…>. Having the right data to understand how and when the temporary infrastructure is used is essential to *justify investments, maintain momentum, communicate with stakeholders and the media and much more. * Our automated bike and pedestrian counters are designed for rapid deployment and short-term studies. The battery powered Mobile MULTI <https://info.eco-compteur.com/e/685233/uits-multi-range-mobile-multi-/3hnz5…>, for example, counts and differentiates bicycles and pedestrians and can be* set up and moved in under 30 minutes*. Equally easy to install, the Easy-ZELT <https://info.eco-compteur.com/e/685233/produits-zelt-range-easy-zelt-/3hnz7…> bike counter (pictured above) is ideal for* 3-12 month count studies* and can be configured to a wide-variety of on street and separated cycling infrastructure. Get in touch to learn more about counting on pop-up infrastructure <info@eco-counter.com?subject=Re%3A%20Newsletter%20-%20learn%20more%20about%20temporary%20counting%20solutions&body=Hi%20Eco-Counter%2C%0A%0AFollowing%20your%20May%202020%20newsletter%2C%20i'd%20love%20to%20hear%20more%20about%20your%20temporary%20bike%20and%20pedestrian%20counting%20solutions.> *Download our new 'Quick Guide to Moving a PYRO-Box'* The PYRO-Box people counter is trusted by organizations around the world for short to long term count studies. While some of you put up the PYRO-Box <https://info.eco-compteur.com/e/685233/-produits-pyro-range-pyro-box-/3hnz9…> and leave it for years, others move the counter around every few weeks to gain a broad geographic understanding of counts. We've created a *handy new checklist guide to moving a PYRO-Box.* The guide covers a range of best-practices, including checking for ghost counts, renaming the counter in Eco-Visio and much more. Print out the guide and take it with you out on site! Download the PDF guide here <https://info.eco-compteur.com/e/685233/MoveAPYRO/3hnzc/91848024?h=waUyFlgsd…> Want to learn more about taking your bike and pedestrian data one step further? Get in touch <info(a)eco-counter.com?subject=Hi!%20I'd%20love%20to%20learn%20more.&body=Following%20the%20Eco-Counter%20newsletter%2C%20i'm%20interested%20in%20learning%20more%20about%20a%20data-driven%20approach%20to%20bike%20and%20pedestrian%20planning.>, our team is here ready to help you with your project. 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WFP: City eyes repairs, Arlington Bridge rebuild in limbo (May5'20)
by Beth McKechnie 05 May '20

05 May '20

City eyes repairs, Arlington Bridge rebuild in limbo https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/city-seeks-to-repair-arlington-brid… THE City of Winnipeg is seeking bids to extend the life of the Arlington Bridge — a century-old structure that has survived no shortage of criticism or construction since it was built in 1912. Last week, the city posted a request for tender for a contractor to undertake numerous structural steel-related repairs to the North End overpass. Among them: replacing eroding or corroded elements and installing new steel pieces, including diaphragms, support brackets and decking. The contractor would be required to temporarily support the floor beams framing to enable construction while the bridge is still open, according to the request. Bids will be accepted until May 22. For years, the city has sought technical expertise and community feedback on the future of the bridge, which was originally built to connect two Winnipeg neighbourhoods, the West End and North End, separated by the CP Rail yards. Since the 1940s, the bridge’s condition has been questioned, leading to countless temporary closures — as well as warnings of a permanent one. It was expected to be demolished this year. The latest posting comes almost one year since the city completed its “A Better Bridge for Arlington” project. “Today, the bridge is nearing the end of its usable life and must be replaced,” states a public engagement report posted on the city’s website in May 2019. Last year’s report expanded on a 2016 functional design study of the Arlington Street structure. The design study determined it was best to replace the bridge in its current location. Designs with accessibility standards, improved active transportation and better traffic flow in mind were submitted and considered. Two final proposals included three permanent traffic lanes (two northbound and one southbound), two unidirectional bike lanes and two sidewalks. However, the transformation of the viaduct remained in limbo because the project never received funding. The lowest estimated price tag for a replacement bridge is $319 million. In June 2019, a city report identified 22 major capital projects for the next decade — a new Arlington Bridge included — that totalled $4.9 billion. Mayor Brian Bowman said the report underlined the need for greater financial assistance from other levels of government. More recently, the city ranked upgrades to the aging North End sewage treatment plant, relocating its insect control centre, and replacing residents’ water meters as top infrastructure priorities. In a list of infrastructure priorities, the Arlington Bridge placed 31st. maggie.macintosh(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @macintoshmaggie

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WFP Sou'wester: Cleaning up the Bishop Grandin Greenway (May3'20)
by Beth McKechnie 04 May '20

04 May '20

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/souwester/Cleaning-up-the… Running alongside a major thoroughfare, it’s no surprise to see fast-food boxes and wrappers, bottles and cans, cardboard and plastic bags littering the Bishop Grandin Greenway in the spring. For years, the Friends of the Bishop Grandin Greenway have organized a spring clean-up event that sees community members remove thousands of kilos of garbage from the greenway. The greenway is a 4.7-kilometre long multi-use trail that stretches alongside Bishop Grandin Boulevard from the Red River to the Seine River, with connections into the Waverley Heights area. "In past years, we usually see 40 volunteers come out on a specific clean-up day," Nicole Grabowski, a Friends board member said. "Last year, we picked up 700 pounds (318 kilograms) of trash." This year, with the need to avoid contact to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the Friends cancelled the formal event and replaced it with a clean-up week from May 3 to 9. The Friends have attached garbage bags to the mileposts along the trail, which they are asking people to fill with garbage and debris as they travel the greenway. Once filled, the bags can be dropped at the mileposts — which are located near major intersections — or behind the service shed at the end of Glen Meadow St. (near the tunnel) or by the community garden. Bishop Grandin Greenway volunteers will collect the garbage bags throughout the week. "This is important to me, given what the greenway means. It’s a link to other active living paths in other parts of the city. You can see geese and other birds, and see a lot of people out enjoying the day, on bikes, roller blading and walking," Grabowski said. She is a resident of River Heights, but joined the board of the Friends a year ago in order to volunteer for a green project. Friends’ vice-president Derick Young has been a board member since 2009. He said the idea for the greenway came about 20 years ago when local seniors expressed dismay about the decline of green space in St. Vital. "People began working with the City of Winnipeg and the Winnipeg Trails Association, and they got the trail system put in place over the next eight years, along with a community garden," Young said, adding the greenway continues to be expanded. "We were supposed to hold a 20th anniversary event, but that had to be postponed until the fall," Grabowski said. The goal of the Friends is to restore the greenspace, and develop awareness of the area’s natural and historical value, he said. In the summer of 2019, they added a wildflower garden just west of St. Mary’s Rd., run by the Winnipeg Wildflower Project. The garden plot contains several different varieties of wildflowers and grasses from Prairie Originals. Once established, seed from the plot will be collected to grow native grasses and wildflowers elsewhere in the city. The trail now links with other trails extending to Sage Creek in the east, and to the Waverley West area. It will eventually join trails along McGillivray Boulevard and Sterling Lyon Parkway to form part of a city-wide active transportation network. For more information, see www.bishopgrandingreenway.com

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CBC: Why these advocates hope COVID-19 could lead to a more walkable, bikeable Winnipeg (May3'20)
by Beth McKechnie 04 May '20

04 May '20

COVID-19 has cut car traffic and made Winnipeg more bike-friendly — but will impacts last when lockdown lifts? https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-pedestrian-cyclist-covid-1… Strolling down any of Winnipeg's traffic-free streets over the past several days has been a "beautiful experience," in the eyes of Patrick Krawec. "You're seeing lots of people, lots of smiles, lots of children, lots of play," said Krawec, the executive director of the Winnipeg Repair Education and Cycling Hub, or WRENCH. Traffic restrictions from the City of Winnipeg on a handful of streets across the city <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/city-winnipeg-more-active-transport…> has turned them into physical distancing-friendly pedestrian and cycling paths for residents cooped up thanks to COVID-19. Temporary traffic restrictions on four streets were announced in April, with five more set to join on Tuesday, limiting vehicle traffic to one block, so people and families can walk and ride — while distancing — outside. "It is a very elegant, simple solution," Krawec said. "No costs, tons of savings and it was led by the people." Across the country, other cities have made similar moves, from a ban on cars <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/stanley-park-vancouver-phys…> in Vancouver's Stanley Park to reduced traffic lanes <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/biking-naheed-nenshi-covid-coronavir…> to make room for cyclists on some Calgary streets. Around the world, expansive, kilometres-long networks have sprung up in cities like New York, Paris, Lima and Bogota. Those, alongside tanking oil prices, have prompted some observers to wonder if COVID-19 could be a nail in the coffin of the car <https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200429-are-we-witnessing-the-death-of-…> . "It was like flicking a switch, and it achieved so many goals of community wellness," Krawec said of the changes he saw on closed streets in Winnipeg. "In a time of isolation, it has really brought people together, although they're staying apart." As Manitoba starts reopening Monday and restrictions roll back, Krawec and other advocates are hopeful the change in how Winnipeggers use and view their streets won't fade away. 'Reconnecting with nature' Cities across Canada and around the world have seen drops in traffic since the pandemic began <https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/satellite-images-no2-smog-gta-vancouver-1.…>, with wide swaths of the population staying home thanks to shutdowns and physical distancing measures. In Winnipeg, the traffic measurement company TomTom has recorded a congestion drop of 21 to 34 per cent <https://www.tomtom.com/en_gb/traffic-index/winnipeg-traffic/> during peak rush hour every day over the past week. Emptied streets combined with the need for physical distancing have thrown a sudden spotlight on decades of traffic-centred urban planning strategies, said Anders Swanson, executive director of the Winnipeg Trails Association. "You very quickly realize how the space has been allocated, as soon as you're walking down a 1.5 metre-wide sidewalk towards somebody [and] you're afraid of having them breathe on you," said Swanson on the phone from Finland, where he was stuck due to the pandemic. "You very quickly realize that you don't have anywhere to go to, except for this giant, wide street, which is right there and empty." Robin Cox, a professor of disaster and emergency management at Royal Roads University in Victoria, says that realization is being accompanied around the world by a greater value placed on getting outside. "We are witnessing in many areas, particularly urban environments, people … reconnecting with the value of nature to them and to their lives, as other aspects of their lives get more constrained," said Cox, who is also the director of the Resilience by Design Research Innovation Lab. The devastating global impacts of the pandemic have exposed or amplified fault lines in many sectors, she said — from social inequities on health outcomes to the fragility of global supply chains for food and medical supplies. It's also sparked a greater focus on health, particularly in how underlying conditions can influence the way individuals experience the disease, said Lawrence Frank, a professor in the school of population and public health at the University of British Columbia. Staying active can help prevent some of those pre-existing conditions, such as heart and lung disease, he said. "Myself and others have been doing lots of studies showing that active transportation contributes significantly to the reduction of chronic disease, reduces health-care costs," said Frank, who teaches sustainable transportation and health and runs the school's health and community design lab. When it comes to fighting chronic disease in general, and COVID-19 in particular, he said, "we think that investing in active transportation is, really, probably one of the best things we can do in the near- and long-term." Building back from crisis Global drops in traffic and air travel have been accompanied by a reduction in observed emissions. In late February, CO2 emissions in China dropped by 25 per cent <https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/covid-19-coronavirus-climate-carbon-emis…> after the country locked down entire cities and shut factories, highways and airports. The pandemic is now expected by some to lead to the biggest single-year CO2 emissions drop since the Second World War, according to the World Meteorological Organization. That group predicted COVID-19 would lead to a global drop of roughly six per cent by the end of this year. Scientists around the world have been clear these temporary drops won't make a dent <https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/covid19-co2-emissions-1.5521271> in long-standing climate issues. "We need to understand that the climate crisis is a health-care crisis that will impact, and has already impacted, health," Cox said. "And if this isn't a warning siren for that, then I'm not sure of what is." It's hard to say for sure whether temporary interventions like a few closed streets will translate to long-term policy change, said Cox. But hallmarks of communities that have faced disaster and come back better include slow, purposeful rebuilding, she said, along with early community engagement. Crises disrupt the "normal," she said, and should be followed by questions about what wasn't working. "We tend to be a reactive culture, whether it's health care or economics or whatever. And what we're seeing [about] that reactive culture is that it doesn't serve us well." 'Dipping one toe in the water' In Winnipeg, Swanson said he wants to see leaders do more for cyclists and pedestrians. Across Canada, he characterizes the policy moves made so far as focused on recreation, rather than transportation. "Most of the cities I've seen in Canada kind of made that same mistake, of only dipping one toe in the water — and Winnipeg, too," he said. Opening only a few streets at a time creates a destination, making it harder for people to stay distanced, he said. The Winnipeg Trails Association he heads is calling on the city to create an emergency cycling network and curbside lane dedications in its OpenStreets 2020 plan <https://www.winnipegtrails.ca/openstreets2020/>, to give more Winnipeggers access to trails to give commuters options as the economy reopens. Winnipeg Transit is reducing bus service and laying off 253 full- and part-time drivers <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-layoffs-transit-covid-19-1…> because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and city officials said last month ridership dropped 72 per cent compared to the same timeframe in 2019. "When you have an entire transportation system shut down in the middle of an emergency … you would think that you'd want to have some kind of serious backup plan in place," Swanson said. A spokesperson for the City of Winnipeg said in an emailed statement the city is collecting data on the current routes to track usage. "The city will re-evaluate at the end of May to determine if the designations need to be extended," he wrote. Like Krawec, he's hopeful the pandemic will leave a long-lasting shift in how Winnipeggers see their streets. "We've known that people want to walk and bike a lot more than they can, but they just feel concerned about traffic, basically," he said. "It becomes a kind of a vicious circle, and all of a sudden, that vicious circle got broken."

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Webinar: Dynamic Streets, Curbs, and Sidewalks in COVID-19
by Beth McKechnie 01 May '20

01 May '20

Join us next week for our upcoming webinar on dynamic streets, curbs, and sidewalks during the COVID-19 pandemic. WEBINAR Dynamic Streets, Curbs, and Sidewalks in COVID-19 May 7, 2020 from 2:00pm - 2:30pm ET <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> Previous plans to expand bike networks and more space for pedestrians are being fast-tracked as stay-at-home orders for COVID-19 demand more room for people to adequately practice social distancing while remaining active and making trips for essential goods and services. As cities move quickly, it is important for them to have tools to rapidly create these new policies and communicate them easily to mobility operators and the public. Cities across the world, from Oakland to Denver to Milan to Paris, are moving to free up more space for pedestrians and cyclists, often by accelerating existing plans. This webinar will discuss how cities are taking action and how new digital tools can support more dynamic management of their streets, curbs, and sidewalks. *Speakers:* *Rodney Stiles,* *Head of Policy, Populus* *Paul Lewis,** Vice President of Policy and Finance, Eno Center for Transportation* May 2020 07 REGISTER <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> *Connect with us and don't miss out on other great resources!* [image: Facebook] <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> Facebook <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> [image: Twitter] <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> Twitter <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> [image: VIEW UPCOMING WEBINARS] <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> VIEW UPCOMING WEBINARS <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> *Copyright © 2020 Eno Center for Transportation, All rights reserved.* You are receiving this email because you opted in to our email list. *Our mailing address is:* Eno Center for Transportation 1629 K St. NW Ste 200 Washington, DC 20006

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Stanley Park vehicles ban a ‘tremendous success,’ says park board GM
by Beth McKechnie 30 Apr '20

30 Apr '20

Making Stanley Park car free has been a “tremendous success” in transforming people’s experience of the park, according to the general manager of the Vancouver Park Board. Malcolm Bromley said Tuesday that the board is learning from its move to limit the seawall to people on foot, move cyclists onto Stanley Park Drive, and ban cars in the park. The change came into effect <https://vancouver.ca/news-calendar/park-board-to-close-stanley-park-to-vehi…> on April 8. “People have really loved it,” said Bromley. “It put a lot more people in a safe environment to cycle. It’s been transformational, really, for the experience of the park.” Any move to either create permanent car-free sections of set aside car-free days has to be measured against ensuring people can get to and from amenities such as restaurants at Prospect Point and Ferguson Point, he said. “Cycling has taught us something about how the park sounds and feels when it’s quiet,” Bromley said. “You notice more birds. It smells different. It feels different. It’s a very interesting experiment we’re doing in the name of the pandemic, and it’s teaching us some things.” Bromley said staff is collecting data on the number of cyclists on the roadway and pedestrians on the seawall and will be reporting back to the board about how to promote active transportation around the park. https://theprovince.com/news/local-news/covid-19-stanley-park-vehicles-ban-…

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Oregon drops use of 85th percentile for speed limits, adopts new rules
by Beth McKechnie 30 Apr '20

30 Apr '20

BikePortland.org reported on May 1st, traffic engineers in OR will no longer rely on an outdated and dangerous method for setting speed limits. Thanks to new rules adopted by the OR Transportation Commission last month ( https://bit.ly/2WndcT1 <https://pps.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a95a1ee6&id=…> , https://bit.ly/2YfI5ez <https://pps.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a95a1ee6&id=…>), the process for designating speeds has changed dramatically and now goes way beyond the traditional 85 percentile method, which said limits should be set at or under the speed at which 85% of drivers are currently driving. The new rule, which applies to all public roads except interstate freeways, adds many new factors into the decision-making process. When setting speeds, engineers will now have statutory guidance to consider dense urban contexts, presence of foot and bicycle traffic, demographics of road users, crash rate, public input, and other new factors. The adopted rule also introduces a fiftieth percentile rule along with new functional street classifications such as "urban mix," "urban core," and "suburban fringe" that allow engineers to further tune their analysis. It has also codified a list of recommended speeds for those new classifications. https://bit.ly/3cVKMG8 <https://pps.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c803e70a8ad33c13a95a1ee6&id=…>

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Making Safe Space for Cycling in 10 Days - A guide to temporary bike lanes
by Beth McKechnie 30 Apr '20

30 Apr '20

Berlin proves it is possible to build cycle infrastructure in 10 days The district of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg in Berlin stepped up to the challenge, building several temporary facilities in just 10 days and ensuring citizens could travel safely by bike while maintain recommended distances. Mobycon supported Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg in the development of these measures and were asked by the district to produce this guidebook: Making Safe Space for Cycling in 10 Day - A guide to temporary bike lanes from Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, Berlin <https://mobycon.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e2460a960f276acd64d34db3…>. This guide provides a good foundation for planning safe, temporary infrastructure that can be implemented almost immediately in towns and cities that do not currently offer enough space for cyclists. It serves as inspiration to cities worldwide that want to do something, but don’t know how to start.

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Portland launches 100-mile ‘Slow Streets Safe Streets’ COVID-19 response effort
by Beth McKechnie 29 Apr '20

29 Apr '20

The Portland Bureau of Transportation has revealed a plan to adapt the streets to the COVID-19 crisis. “The new strategy will repurpose streets, including closing them to car traffic, to make it easier and safer for Portlanders to practice physical distancing as the city recovers,” reads a statement just released by PBOT by way of Commissioner Chloe Eudaly. PBOT is proposing a series of steps and measured improvements for *neighborhood greenways, busy streets, and business districts*. The bureau will focus its initial efforts on areas of the city with the most pressing safety needs. https://bikeportland.org/2020/04/28/portland-launches-100-mile-slow-streets… -- Beth McKechnie (she/her) *| *Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your green living hub Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://www.gomanitoba.ca>

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Human Transit & Walkable Cities book sale | Webinar on Advocating For and Creating Effective Transit
by Beth McKechnie 29 Apr '20

29 Apr '20

Since 1984, we've been providing people like you solutions to inspire change. View this email in your browser <https://mailchi.mp/7d7bb2ebef7d/we-want-to-help-you-change-the-world?e=c148…> <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> Thanks for joining Jeff Speck and Jarrett Walker's 1/17/20 webinar hosted by Smart Growth Network and the Maryland Department of Planning. The full recording is posted for your reference <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…>. The books on which this webinar was based, *Walkable City Rules* <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> and *Human Transit* <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…>, can be invaluable resources as you look to apply these principles in your communities. You can grab the paperbacks or e-books for 30% off. 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But what makes for effective transit? How do you advocate for it? And how can cities utilize buses to create fast, frequent and reliable service? Join the Maryland Department of Planning and the Smart Growth Network as Christof Spieler <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…>, author of *Trains, Buses, People* <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…>, and Steven Higashide <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…>, author of *Better Buses, Better Cities* <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…>, explain how to make better use of our current transit systems in clear ways for decision-makers, philanthropists, activists, and public agency leaders. *Participants of the live webinar are eligible for 1.5 AICP CM credits.* Register <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> [image: Person holding a newspaper with outstretched arms.] <https://islandpress.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3bd33456aa62e826309ba…> *INSPIRE CHANGE WITH US* Island Press is proud to publish books by Jeff Speck and Jarrett Walker as well as many other authors. 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Bicyclist Facility Preferences and Effects on Increasing Bicycle Trips | Blurbs New | Blurbs | Main
by Zdan, Terry (MI) 28 Apr '20

28 Apr '20

http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/180560.aspx Happy Trails Terry Zdan

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Milan Limits Cars As Italian Cities Hope To Make Lockdown Environmental Changes Permanent
by Beth McKechnie 28 Apr '20

28 Apr '20

Milan Limits Cars As Italian Cities Hope To Make Lockdown Environmental Changes Permanent https://www.forbes.com/sites/rebeccahughes/2020/04/23/milan-limits-cars-as-… Cities in Italy have been recording cleaner air and significantly reduced pollution under coronavirus lockdown, and now plans are being made to maintain these environmental changes as life begins to return to normal. Milan in northwestern Italy has gone from chaos and traffic jams to silent streets in a few weeks under COVID-19 lockdown. Traffic congestion has fallen 30-75% and polluting nitrogen dioxide dropped 24% in March compared with the previous four weeks, according to the European Environment Agency. When lockdown begins to lift, Milan’s authorities have announced that the city will be introducing one of the most ambitious schemes in Europe to reduce traffic congestion in the center. “We are in an emergency and for phase two we must organize ourselves so all those who have to move to make the city work, do it in the safest way for them and to prevent contagion,” Marco Granelli, a deputy mayor for Milan, said in a statement. To avoid using crowded subways and buses, the city hopes to boost the use of bicycles and electric scooters so that residents won’t resort to using their cars. “We worked for years to reduce car use,” said Granelli. “If everybody drives a car, there is no space for people, there is no space to move, there is no space for commercial activities outside the shops.” Over the summer, 35 km of streets will be transformed to cater for cyclists and pedestrians. The *Strade Aperte* (open roads) plan will reallocate road space by introducing temporary low-cost cycle lanes and widened pavements. The new scheme will also see 30 kph speed limits and pedestrian and cyclist priority streets. As Rome prepares for phase two of the coronavirus emergency, it too is looking to switch to eco-friendly transportation. Mayor Virginia Raggi is promoting the use of bicycles and electric scooters to get around the city saying, “otherwise, we will be invaded by traffic, a prospect we must avoid.” In an interview with Radio Cusano Campus, Raggi explained: “We are working to privilege transport by bike and other ‘soft’ modes like scooters.” To help keep levels of pollution and traffic low, the city will see the creation of new cycle lanes. Raggi also stated that she had asked the government to “reopen bicycle shops quickly” and that she was “pushing to provide incentives for purchasing electric bikes.” Residents of Venice are also breathing cleaner air as polluting cruise ships are no longer docking in the city. The canals are still and in some places the water has become clearer as motorboat traffic has reduced. Many would like to see environmental measures imposed, such as resident Diana Vandeville who has started a petition <https://www.change.org/p/rinascita-di-venezia-post-covid-19?recruiter=18870…> calling for change. “Before the coronavirus lockdown, I could smell the pollution as I walked around,” says Vandeville. Vandeville’s petition proposes stricter controls on motorboat speed in order to reduce wake pollution, which damages building foundations and harms the lagoon eco-system by stirring up the sea and canal beds. Her petition also calls for switching to electric or hybrid engines and using biofuel. Italy is due to commence phase two of the coronavirus lockdown plan on May 4. The government has announced that some businesses and industries will be allowed to restart production in a bid to boost the crippled economy. Throughout May there will be gradual reopenings of clothes shops and restaurants for a takeaway service, although details are still to be released by premier Giuseppe Conte. Although the number of new cases of COVID-19 rose on Wednesday, the country is hoping that with adequate safety measures, some sense of normal life can tentatively resume.

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WFP: Active transportation group urges city to block traffic in some curb lanes (Apr25'20)
by Beth McKechnie 25 Apr '20

25 Apr '20

*Active transportation group urges city to block traffic in some curb lanes * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/coronavirus/active-transportation… THE city is being asked to block off curb lanes to vehicle traffic on many normally busy streets to clear more space for pedestrians and cyclists during the COVID-19 pandemic. Winnipeg Trails Association wants the city to give people using active transportation nearly exclusive 24-7 access to some stretches of key streets and lanes [map attached]. The organization said that should cause little disruption, since the traffic volume has dropped significantly. “Now there’s very little excuse to not (do this). Vehicle traffic is extremely low,” said Anders Swanson, the association’s executive director. Swanson said the need for biking and walking space will grow as Winnipeg Transit begins to reduce services after seeing its ridership plummet. The reduced frequency of buses could lead some to use other options, he said. “We need a comprehensive (transportation) network that works for everybody,” he said. The association suggests that buses be allowed to pick up and drop off passengers in the affected curb lanes, but not travel through them. Swanson is lobbying for the lanes to be placed on key stretches of St. Mary’s Road, Osborne Street, Pembina Highway, Jefferson Avenue and Burrows Avenue, among many other typically well-used routes. The association also wants the city to reduce residential street speed limits and add traffic-calming measures near homes. Council’s public works chairperson said he’s discussed the association’s request with city staff but no decision has been made. “Before we go forward with something, we want to make sure to get it right,” said Coun. Matt Allard (St. Boniface). The city will add some extra travel space for bikes and foot traffic in early May, limiting vehicle travel to one block between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily on five new routes. Allard said this will help ensure people can stay two metres apart, as health officials recommend. “This is a perfectly acceptable way to get your exercise while maintaining physical distancing requirements,” he said. Newly designated routes will be in place from May 5 until May 29 on Assiniboine Avenue (from Bedson Street to Westwood Drive), Churchill Drive (from Hay Street to Jubilee Avenue), Egerton Road (from Bank Avenue to Morier Avenue), Kildonan Drive (from both Helmsdale Avenue to Rossmere Crescent and Larchdale Crescent to Irving Place) and Kilkenny Drive (from Burgess Avenue to Patricia Avenue and Kings Drive.) The city will also extend previously announced bicycle/active-transportation routes to May 29. Drivers will also see the road-construction season kick off next month, with about 200 planned projects. Meanwhile, the city is cancelling its spring giveaway weekend for residents to lay out items marked “free” at the curb for others to collect; it had been scheduled May 9-10. COVID-19 is spread by droplets that leave a person’s mouth when they cough or sneeze, which could fall on the “free” items and then infect someone picking them up, said Jason Shaw, Winnipeg’s assistant chief of emergency management. Shaw said he’s also concerned Winnipeggers would roam through neighbourhoods in search of free items, despite being urged to stay home as much as possible. “The giveaway weekend encourages a lot of people to get out and about,” he said. Winnipeggers also won’t be able to collect free city-made compost any time soon, since social distancing has created delays at the 4R depots. Instead, that program has been indefinitely postponed. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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City expanding temporary bicycle/active transportation routes effective May 5 to May 29
by Beth McKechnie 24 Apr '20

24 Apr '20

City expanding temporary bicycle/active transportation routes effective May 5 to May 29 Released: 9:00 a.m. Winnipeg, MB – In an effort to assist with social distancing requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic, the City is further extending its annual bicycle and active transportation route schedule and expanding the temporary routes to include five new streets. “As the global pandemic continues to have an effect on our residents, I’m pleased to see an expansion of active transportation routes that can better facilitate physical distancing,” said Mayor Brian Bowman. “With ever-evolving circumstances related to COVID-19, the City is once again demonstrating its willingness and ability to innovate.” “It’s important that we provide Winnipeggers with safe spaces they can use to keep active while practicing social distancing,” said Councillor Matt Allard, Chairperson of the Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works. “I’m pleased that we were able to expand upon active transportation routes to give residents even more options to enjoy the outdoors as the weather begins to warm up this spring.” The following four streets in Winnipeg are currently designated as bicycle/active transportation routes, and will be extended until Friday, May 29, 2020: - Lyndale Drive - Cromwell Street to Gauvin Street - Scotia Street - Anderson Avenue (at St. Cross Street) to Armstrong Avenue - Wellington Crescent - Academy Road (at Wellington Crescent) to Guelph Street - Wolseley Avenue - Raglan Road to Maryland Street Winnipeggers are invited to take advantage of these additional 5 designated routes from Tuesday, May 5 until Friday, May 29, 2020: - Assiniboine Avenue - Bedson Street to Westwood Drive - Churchill Drive - Hay Street to Jubilee Avenue - Egerton Road - Bank Avenue to Morier Avenue - Kildonan Drive - Helmsdale Avenue to Rossmere Crescent & Larchdale Crescent to Irving Place - Kilkenny Drive - Burgess Avenue to Patricia Avenue and Kings Drive These designated routes limit motor vehicle traffic to one block throughout the designated area. The routes will be in place daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The City will re-evaluate at the end of May to determine if the designations need to be extended. Signs are posted on all approach roadways as notification that motorists are entering a bicycle/active transportation route. Signs are also posted at the end of the routes advising motorists that they are leaving the bicycle/active transportation route. It is important to note that these roads are not closed. Cyclists and pedestrians are reminded to use caution and continue to follow the rules of the road.

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WFP: City looking to close more streets to vehicles (Apr23'20)
by Beth McKechnie 23 Apr '20

23 Apr '20

City looking to close more streets to vehicles https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/coronavirus/city-to-close-six-mor… THE city is looking to expand its street closures to make space for people who want to get outside as the weather warms without fighting vehicle traffic. Coun. Matt Allard said as many as six streets are being prepared for similar restrictions to the ones imposed on four others earlier this month, which limit motor vehicle travel to one block between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. The infrastructure renewal and public works committee met Tuesday, where Allard (St. Boniface), chairman of the committee, said closures on Egerton Road, Churchill Drive, Kildonan Drive, Kilkenny Drive, Assiniboine Avenue and Glenwood Crescent are under consideration. Ryan Palmquist, a spokesman for Allard, said in an email the committee’s goal is to have the restrictions in place in the next two weeks and that the streets were chosen because of their similarities to Lyndale Drive, Scotia Street, Wellington Crescent and Wolseley Avenue, which are under the same restrictions 12 hours per day. The city plans to collect data on the restrictions in the future, Palmquist said.

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Open Streets Winnipeg proposal
by Anders Swanson 22 Apr '20

22 Apr '20

AT-Network: Winnipeg Trails has been working on developing a comprehensive response to emerging mobility concerns in this pandemic. We are supporting the efforts that have been announced thus far by the city of Winnipeg, and monitoring the emergence of the Open Streets movement across North America. With serious mobility issues looming regardless of the length of lockdown, we are hoping to advance the conversation and are seeking your input and help. Please see this and look for the links to offer feedback: https://www.winnipegtrails.ca/openstreets2020/ If you are inclined to share, please do so widely. Here are links to Twitter <https://twitter.com/WinnipegTrails/status/1252976273430896641>, Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/WinnipegTrails/posts/2905469946203199?__xts__%5B0%…> and Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/p/B_SrDn-AhKK/>. Anders WTA

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Upcoming webinars on Quick Build Networks (including Minneapolis)
by Beth McKechnie 22 Apr '20

22 Apr '20

*Webinar Announcement* Upcoming Webinars on Quick Build Networks *Quick Build Networks for All (Part 1) Tuesday, May 19, 2020* 1:00-2:30 pm Eastern Time Register Here <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> *Quick Build Networks for All (Part 2) Wednesday, May 20, 2020* 1:00-2:30 pm Eastern Time Register Here <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> Cities across the US are planning and prioritizing low-stress networks that support bicycling and walking, working to integrate active travel into their transportation system. This two-part webinar series will profile the experiences of several cities – Houston, Minneapolis, and San Jose – as they start turning their plans into action. Using rapid deployment and quick-build techniques, these cities are delivering multimodal facilities to support safety and comfort and broader community goals. Learn about their experiences with community engagement and maintenance, integrating equity, universal design, micromobility, and a host of other factors. Part I will explain the value of Quick Build approaches and highlight examples from around the globe, and feature a detailed case study from Houston. Part II will dive deeper into examples from Minneapolis and San Jose. Panelists include representatives from Toole Design; Harris County, TX; Minneapolis, MN; and San Jose, CA. ------------------------------ 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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Milan announces ambitious scheme to reduce car use after lockdown
by Beth McKechnie 21 Apr '20

21 Apr '20

Milan is to introduce one of Europe’s most ambitious schemes reallocating street space from cars to cycling and walking, in response to the coronavirus crisis. The city has announced that 35km (22 miles) of streets will be transformed over the summer, with a rapid, experimental citywide expansion of cycling and walking space to protect residents as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/21/milan-seeks-to-prevent-post-c…

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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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