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WFP: City gives frosty reception to reopened bridge over troubled water (Dec17'19)
by Beth McKechnie 17 Dec '19

17 Dec '19

*City gives frosty reception to reopened bridge over troubled water* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/city-gives-frosty-reception-to-reop… Plus CBC coverage: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/men-cleared-ice-omands-creek-bridge… THERE’S not much love at city hall for the two residents who did what the entire public works department was unable to: reopen the Omand’s Creek footbridge. Brad Hignell and Chris Beauvilain spent three hours Saturday morning clearing ice from the … [View More]footbridge — a key link in the active transportation network which connects Wolseley to River Heights and Assiniboine Park — which the City of Winnipeg had closed for safety concerns after an unusual late fall flood and freeze-up. While area residents may be grateful for not having to make a long cold walk or bike ride detour, the city was not impressed. “What the residents did at the Omand’s Creek footbridge, though well-intentioned, did not mitigate the public safety risk that existed at this location, as it went beyond simply clearing ice off the bridge surface,” a city spokeswoman said Monday in an email to the Free Press. “Opening and closing bridge structures can only be done by professional engineers; the residents who ultimately cleared and reopened the bridge had no way of knowing whether the structure was sound. Luckily, an inspection by our bridge engineers (Monday) morning confirmed that the bridge had not sustained any structural damage due to the ice nor subsequent unsanctioned clearing.” Despite what Hignell and Beauvilain had accomplished with a bit of sweat and hard work, the spokeswoman said conditions in the area had been simply unsafe for crews to access with their equipment. “Fluctuating water levels through late October and November caused overland flooding that formed thick, hazardous ice that — for weeks — expanded and contracted on, underneath and around the bridge,” she said. “This posed potential for damage to the bridge structure, which we were unable to inspect until the ice was cleared — a simple task in and of itself, but one the city decided not to undertake due to other, less easily mitigated hazards in the area. “When the ice formed, expanded, and contracted on the pathways, it created a two-layered system of thick, uneven surface that made the trail incredibly steep and unstable and also left a sharp drop-off leading onto the bridge. The risk of taking machinery down these pathways to adequately clear them and lay enough sand to create traction outweighed opening the area to foot and bike traffic through the winter.” City hall thus erected barricades, and forced those who used the route on foot and bike to take a long, windy detour, until Hignell and his friend (both of whom had studied engineering at university) grabbed a couple of picks, bars, shovels and a bucket of gravel. Ward Coun. Cindy Gilroy did not respond to questions on the bridge. Coun. Sherri Rollins, chairwoman of council’s protection, community services and parks committee, said she understood the two men’s frustration but said city hall opted to side with caution when safety is at stake. “Sometimes things are closed for reasons. Whether it’s high river levels, and this is a reality this year, where there’s a lot of paths and skating (closed) that isn’t about budgetary cutbacks, it’s about safety,” Rollins said. “I don’t want Winnipeggers to be confused by that.” Coun. Matt Allard, chairman of the public works committee, echoed that stance. “City staff did their job, and made a judgment call using the available information to ensure public safety,” he said in an email statement. Ironically, the public works department had envisioned such a scenario, and had proposed replacing the bridge in 2010 with one with greater river clearance. It dropped the idea in the face of overwhelming opposition from local residents. The civic spokeswoman said while the footbridge is structurally sound and safe to cross, the same can’t be said for the pathway on either side. Crews and heavy equipment were in the area Monday. “We urge anyone who chooses to use the pathway to please exercise caution and be aware of the steep incline and decline, as well as the uneven terrain,” the spokeswoman said. Anders Swanson, executive director of Winnipeg Trails Association, said the public works department appears to have done a good job keeping other parts of the active transportation network cleared this winter. “I don’t know why they gave up on the bridge,” Swanson said, adding the bike and pedestrian paths continue to be treated in a second-class fashion. “If there was a sewer line break or a big pothole in the middle of Portage Avenue, it wouldn’t be acceptable to stretch snow fencing across it and walk away.” — with files from Danielle DaSilva aldo.santin(a)freepress.mb.ca [View Less]

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WFP: Driver charged with death at crosswalk (Dec14'19)
by Beth McKechnie 14 Dec '19

14 Dec '19

*Driver charged with death at crosswalk * * Police allege novice motorist not supervised* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/driver-charged-in-crosswalk-death-o… A 31-year-old Winnipeg woman charged in connection with a collision at a crosswalk in March, in which a child was killed, was allegedly a novice driver who should not have been driving without supervision, police say. On Friday, Winnipeg police announced that Highway Traffic Act charges have been laid against the unidentified … [View More]driver in connection with the March 18 incident that killed a four-year-old girl and injured her mother. Genet Bruk and her daughter Galila were struck at the crosswalk at Isabel Street and Alexander Avenue, on their way to Dufferin School to meet her six-year-old son at lunch time. Galila later died in hospital and her mother is still recovering from her injuries, a family friend said Friday. The charges related to the collision include careless driving causing death, careless driving causing bodily harm, disobeying a traffic device and operating a vehicle as a novice driver without a supervising driver. The driver was released on an appearance notice, Winnipeg police said in a press release. It stated the Highway Traffic Act charges were laid at the direction of the Crown. The most serious charges — careless driving causing death and bodily harm — have a maximum penalty of up to two years in prison. It defines careless driving as driving “without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the highway.” Had the driver been charged under the Criminal Code of Canada, the penalties would have been much harsher and required the Crown to prove the driver was criminally negligent and driving in a way that’s a “marked and substantial departure from the standard of a reasonable driver.” “That would be driving with wanton disregard — so poorly and badly in a way nobody could possibly expect for someone to operate a vehicle,” said criminal defence lawyer Scott Newman, who has no connection to the case. “The Highway Traffic Act has a lower burden of proof.” Hearing that the driver has been charged nine months after the fatal collision was news to Dorota Blumczynksa, a friend of Galila’s mother and the executive director of IRCOM Isabel, where the Eritrean family has lived since arriving in Canada last January. “If there was a mistake made or inadequate training, or someone was not supposed to be driving, should a person be held to account for their actions? Absolutely,” said Blumczynska, who doesn’t know anything about the accused. “Nothing will bring Galila back, but it’s for the safety of others.” The child’s mother, Genet Bruk, now uses a wheelchair outside the home and a walker inside the home and is receiving physiotherapy, said Blumczynska, who’s had tea at the home several times and cries with the woman every visit. “She’s got a very, very long road to physical recovery. She hopes to walk again independently.” Emotionally and spiritually, she and her husband are coping, Blumczynska said. “They have found an enormous amount of comfort in their faith. They believe their daughter was called to be at God’s side. They’re able to make sense of their world in that way and come to some peace with this tragedy.” She hopes that news of the charges being laid may act as a deterrent and prevent more fatalities. “None of the children who witnessed that accident, none of my colleagues who accompanied the (victims) to hospital or saw Galila’s lifeless body will ever be the same,” she said. “I think it’s important to understand we are accountable to one another and responsible for one another.” carol.sanders(a)freepress.mb.ca [View Less]

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WFP: Omand’s Creek footbridge closed till spring due to ice (Dec14'19)
by Beth McKechnie 14 Dec '19

14 Dec '19

*Omand’s Creek footbridge closed till spring due to ice * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/hazardous-ice-closes-omands-creek-f… A well-used footbridge in Wolseley, considered an integral part of the active transportation network, will be closed until late spring. City crews blocked access to the footbridge over Omand’s Creek last week, after late-November flooding submerged the structure and froze into thick, hazardous ice, public works spokeswoman Julie Dooley said. “It’s completely … [View More]iced over, so it’s just not safe for people to walk over it,” she said. Every spring, the bridge is flooded when the Assiniboine River spills into the creek and submerges parts of Omand Park in Wolseley. Latefall flooding, however, is uncommon. Dooley said the crossing had been under ice for a few weeks before it was closed, and creek levels have since returned to normal. There’s no indication the structural integrity of the bridge has been affected, she said, yet the city won’t make an effort to restore public access this winter. “We appreciate the inconvenience of the closure but want to ensure all park users stay safe. Pedestrians can still access the other side of the bridge by rerouting down Raglan Street to Portage Avenue,” she said. Anders Swanson, executive director of Winnipeg Trails Association, said the closure is an example of deficiencies in the city’s maintenance of active transportation networks. “That bridge and the detour is indicative of a number of gaps in the city where we need things to be designed to accommodate all users, all year long,” Swanson said. The path through Omand Park is popular with cyclists, runners and pedestrians who use the footbridge to cross Omand’s Creek while out for walks with their dogs, running the popular Wolseley- Wellington loop or travelling between the Polo Park area and downtown. Without access to the crossing, people are choosing instead to traverse the heaved ice of the frozen creek, or head north on Raglan Street to Portage Avenue, and south again to the parkway to get to their destination, and neither option is ideal, Swanson said. “It really points to the fact that what are your alternatives? And when you have a city with the bare minimum of connectivity, every little piece counts,” he said. The bridge is also part of the North Assiniboine Parkway, which ties into the city’s planned active transportation network on Empress Street, part of a $22.83-million rehabilitation project of Empress Street and the overpass. It’s also a critical alternative to cycling on Portage Avenue, Swanson said. Given the importance of the bridge to the active transportation network, and the frequent flooding of the creek, more political attention could be paid to improving infrastructure in Omand Park, Swanson said. Raising the bridge to avoid chronic flooding would be a good starting point. danielle.dasilva(a)freepress.mb.ca [View Less]

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AT Webinar: Education and Encouragement - Bringing the Right People Together (Dec18th, 2-3pm)
by Beth McKechnie 12 Dec '19

12 Dec '19

Please join Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg for a group viewing of the monthly APBP webinar in the EcoCentre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/uncategorized/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-o…> boardroom. This will be followed by discussion for those who wish to stay. * * * * * Education and Encouragement: Bringing the Right People Together December 18 at 2:00pm What really changes a person’s behavior? How can agencies and activists help inform appropriate behavior on our streets and … [View More]

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CBC: Canmore will charge for downtown parking to keep bus service fare free (Dec8'19)
by Beth McKechnie 11 Dec '19

11 Dec '19

Canmore will charge for downtown parking to keep bus service fare free Parking downtown will cost $6 a day on weekdays starting summer 2020 ttps:// www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/canmore-parking-1.5388552 The Town of Canmore is hoping to alleviate congestion and fund its transit service by charging parking fees. Town council approved the change on Tuesday, which will affect those parking between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays, starting summer 2020. Parking downtown will cost $6 a day, or … [View More]

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WFP: Winnipeg pedals into Top 10 (Dec9'19)
by Beth McKechnie 09 Dec '19

09 Dec '19

*Fully linked grid would move city higher up Canadian list* *Winnipeg pedals into Top 10 * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/winnipeg-pedals-in-at-no-9-56596… ASK a random Canadian about Winnipeg’s reputation, and they’re more likely to mention the cold or crime than cycling. But new rankings from online real estate brokerage Redfin put Winnipeg squarely in the Top 10 Canadian cities for biking, tied with Toronto and Richmond, B.C. The rankings don’t qualify Winnipeg as a “biker’s … [View More]paradise” (for cities with a score of 90 and above) or even “very bikeable” (70 to 89 points). But Winnipeg’s 61-point score earns a modest “bikeable” status in Redfin’s view, a category for cities with “some bike infrastructure.” Redfin’s bike-score ratings are similar to its proprietary walk scores and transit scores, which are often mentioned on real estate listings. (The company acquired Walk Score in 2014. Winnipeg’s average Walk Score is just 53, while Toronto has a Walk Score of 71.) The company’s inaugural Canadian bike-friendliness ranking covered roughly 100 cities, Redfin’s lead economist, Taylor Marr, said. “We know from our years of experience that people really value walkability. They also value being close to transit increasingly... But also people really value bikeability, not only for the health benefits but also for the cost savings,” said Marr, who commutes by bike in his home city of Seattle. The bike-score rankings evaluated cities across four criteria — topography, cycling infrastructure such as bike lanes, the number of bikeable destinations and the share of the population that commutes by bicycle. Liz Shearer, co-chairwoman of cycling advocacy group Bike Winnipeg, said bike ridership is on the increase in Winnipeg, “and as infrastructure is built, so is ridership... When people feel safer, they ride more often, which shouldn’t come as a surprise.” But Winnipeg’s lack of a fully connected cycling grid keeps Manitoba’s capital from being a true leader in bikeability, she said. Shearer is concerned about the future of the 20-year active transportation strategy Winnipeg passed in 2015, saying the plan is being underfunded by the city. “We’ve gotten international recognition for this cycling and pedestrian plan, but words without action is just a dream,” Shearer said. “So if we’re not enacting and funding this type of plan properly, we’ll never reach its full potential.” The chilling spectre of Winnipeg winters is frequently invoked in public discourse around the city’s need for cycling infrastructure. Redfin’s Marr said the company’s scoring model didn’t account for weather directly, although the share of bike commuters serves as an indirect proxy, especially in North America. “(You) often see somewhat of a correlation in terms of places that are more weather-friendly for biking do have higher shares of people biking. What is really odd, though, is that you don’t necessarily see that relationship very strongly on an international scale,” he said, citing the cold weather cycling paradise of Copenhagen. Winnipeggers tend to wear their cold weather credentials as a “badge of honour,” Bike Winnipeg’s Shearer said. “So it’s surprising when I hear that people think we’re not able to embrace (winter cycling) as part of our lifestyles, and I do think that it is because there is a lack of infrastructure so that people can feel safe and protected,” she said. “If we were to be able to make cycling a safe and convenient option year-round, then the only barrier we’d have to face in taking our bikes out on a winter’s day is the same battle we already face every day that we leave our homes as Winnipeggers.” Shearer encouraged Winnipeggers to try winter cycling if they haven’t before, suggesting a test ride on a route that’s protected from traffic. “I don’t want anyone to feel like they’re pressured into trying something that makes them feel unsafe, but I would encourage people to try something new, and to see what routes are available to them — and if there isn’t a safe route to get them from A to B, who should they talk to, to make that happen?” Victoria led Redfin’s bike-friendliness rankings with a score of 80, followed by Vancouver (79) and Montreal (73). Redfin rates Minneapolis as the most bikeable city in the U.S., with a score of 84 points. solomon.israel(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @sol_israel [View Less]

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WFP: Slower speeds urged after pedestrian injuries (Dec6'19)
by Beth McKechnie 06 Dec '19

06 Dec '19

*Slower speeds urged after pedestrian injuries * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/slower-speeds-urged-after-pedestria… HOPES for a safer, more pedestrian- friendly Winnipeg drew about five dozen people to the Old Grace Housing Co-op on Thursday night to hear local advocacy group Safe Speeds Winnipeg make its case for lower speed limits. Clayton Rudy, presenter and Safe Speeds Winnipeg member, said the organization was founded after “so many incidents where people have been injured or … [View More]killed” on Winnipeg’s roads. “And that sparked a grassroots group to form to discuss the problem and explore some of the solutions.” Safe Speed Winnipeg’s key goal is convincing the city to reduce the default speed for Winnipeg roads from 50 kilometres an hour to 30 km/h unless otherwise posted. Back lane speed limits would be cut from 30 km/h to 15 km/h under the proposed policy. “Because there are thousands and thousands of kilometres of roads in the city, rather than going block-by-block through the whole city to see what needs to be lowered, the position of Safe Speeds Winnipeg is that the default should be lowered and then the city can raise the speed limits, or keep them as is in the case of higher-speed roads,” said Rudy, a private-sector transportation engineer whose presentation to the town hall focused on the science of pedestrian safety. “But it’s far more efficient and effective, to improve safety on the streets, to have a low default and then raise where it’s appropriate to do so.” Safe Speeds Winnipeg was among a number of groups that pushed Winnipeg’s public works committee to lower speed limits this past summer, after the provincial government allowed Manitoba municipalities to set speed limits on their own. Rudy said that effort didn’t succeed, although the public service has been assigned to study the matter. “Because of the amount of people and the frequency with which they’re injured or killed on the roads, it’s an urgent decision to make, and there’s no real need to wait for more reports and more studies to make that decision that the default should be lowered,” Rudy said in an interview before the town hall. Fellow presenter and Safe Speeds Winnipeg member Sylvia Buchholz believes the city’s willingness to at least reconsider speed limits is promising. “It’s a hard topic, right? People feel so passionate about it, but judging just by the tragedies that we’re reading in the news more and more, I think this is gaining public support,” she told the Free Press ahead of the event. In her presentation, Buchholz highlighted that her group’s proposal wouldn’t mean speeds would be limited to 30 km/h across the entire city, saying the policy would mostly affect residential areas. Cutting speed limits sounds like a good idea to attendee Allison Penner, a Wolseley resident who attended the meeting with her partner and nearly two-year-old son. She thinks improved infrastructure such as crosswalks and speed bumps would also help calm traffic in her neighbourhood. “Our kid is getting a little bit older, he’s going to be starting school in a couple years,” Penner said. “And we live right on Westminster, so we see how the traffic kind of just whips through, and it feels really unsafe.” Fellow meeting attendee Donald Swanson said he’s almost been hit by cars while crossing Portage Avenue, and also expressed concern about traffic on Sherburn Street where he lives. “On Sherburn Street, there’s a lot of kids, and they’re always playing in the front and people are whipping up and down,” he said. Coun. Scott Gillingham represents Winnipeg’s St. James ward, where two teenagers were injured Wednesday morning after being struck by a car at Ness Avenue and Woodlawn Street. He said he couldn’t attend the Thursday town hall but was open to the idea of reducing speed limits in residential neighbourhoods. “I don’t know if I support 30, but I’m certainly open to looking at something lower than 50 km/h on residential streets,” he said. MLA Lisa Naylor attended the event in her Wolseley constituency, and said pedestrian safety was an issue she heard about frequently while door knocking during the recent provincial election campaign. “The presentation tonight was really well done,” Naylor said. “I think they’re talking about a change across the entire city. I don’t feel like I have enough information to have an opinion on that, but I certainly think we would benefit by some lower speed limits in some areas of this neighbourhood, for sure.” solomon.israel(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @sol_israel [View Less]

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Distance driven per person still down from maximum in 2004 (US)
by Beth McKechnie 04 Dec '19

04 Dec '19

Would be interesting to see similar breakdown for Canada. The US numbers are trending upward but still below the max in 2004. See full article (with charts!) here: https://www.greencarcongress.com/2019/12/distance-driven-per-person-is-stil… - An increase of 40.9% from 1984 to 2004 (from 6,612 miles to 9,314 miles). - A decrease of 9.0% from 2004 to 2013 (from 9,314 miles to 8,472 miles). - An increase of 4.5% from 2013 to 2018 (from 8,472 miles to 8,855 miles). [image: … [View More]

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Request for Proposal for Professional Consulting Services for Winnipeg Area Transportation Master Plan - Core Framework Study
by Mark Cohoe 04 Dec '19

04 Dec '19

Sorry, that last email got sent before I wanted. The city has released an RFP <https://www.winnipeg.ca/matmgt/bidopp.asp#1243-2019>( https://www.winnipeg.ca/matmgt/bidopp.asp#1243-2019) for the Core Framework Study of its Transportation Master Plan. Project Milestones Task Milestone Date Project Work Plan February 16, 2020 Background, Existing Conditions, Challenges & Future Options August 31, 2020 Transportation Modelling of Future Options October 30, 2020 White … [View More]

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Request for Proposal for Professional Consulting Services for Winnipeg Area Transportation Master Plan - Core Framework Study
by Mark Cohoe 03 Dec '19

03 Dec '19

The city has posted an RFP for the Transportation Master Plan. Project Milestones: Task Milestone Date Project Work Plan February 16, 2020 Background, Existing Conditions, Challenges & Future Options August 31, 2020 Transportation Modelling of Future OptionsOctober 30, 2020 White Paper outlining key findings November 30, 2020Development of Draft TMP Core Framework Study January 29, 2021 Development of Cost Estimates, Benefit / Cost Analysis February 26, 2021 Final TMP Core Framework Report … [View More]

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WFP: Bike-building marathon brings community together to help children in need (Dec2'19)
by Beth McKechnie 02 Dec '19

02 Dec '19

*Putting the pedal to the metal * * Bike-building marathon brings community together to help children in need* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/putting-the-pedal-to-the-metal-5656… STAFF and volunteers at a community bicycle repair shop are aiming to make Christmas special for hundreds of children by giving them the gift of cycling. The WRENCH (Winnipeg Repair Education and Cycling Hub), an organization dedicated to making bicycles and cycling accessible to everyone, is holding its … [View More]ninth annual Cycle of Giving event on Dec. 7. The 24-hour event will bring volunteer mechanics together to build more than 350 bicycles that will be distributed to children in need. The bike-building marathon takes place at the Orioles Community Centre at 448 Burnell St. Longtime WRENCH volunteer Robert Schulz Sr. looks forward to volunteering at Cycle of Giving each year. For Schulz, it’s an opportunity to do something meaningful with his two children, Robert Jr., 14, and Chanel, 11. “This whole Cycle of Giving has allowed me to be a good dad… by spending time with (my children) and interacting with them doing the same activity,” Schulz says. “It’s drawn us closer together in a lot of ways.” A dedicated cyclist, Schulz is proud to say that each bicycle his family owns has been built at the WRENCH. His children are avid cyclists, something Schulz has encouraged because it contributes to environmental sustainability. Schulz is a teacher at École Luxton School, an elementary school in the North End. He works with a small class that’s typically made up of about eight boys, and his volunteerism at the WRENCH has influenced his work in the classroom. Each year, Schulz’s students build bicycles for themselves. They also build an additional bicycle that is gifted to a student they have never met. “It’s a magical day here at Luxton when the bikes are given out,” Schulz says. “What a great way to teach empathy, humility and sustainability.” Like Schulz, Kim Segal is looking forward to this year’s Cycle of Giving. Each year, the self-employed massage therapist tries to spend as many hours at the event as possible. “You meet so many different people from all walks of life,” Segal says. “I love the fact that at the WRENCH, everybody is equal.” Watching the pile of finished bikes grow during Cycle of Giving is exciting, she adds. “It’s emotional when you think of all the people that are benefiting from this. I can’t think of many things I have been involved with where it’s such an incredibly good feeling of giving back.” In addition to volunteer bike mechanics, Cycle of Giving relies on volunteer bike cleaners, card makers, food servers and site crew who help set up, maintain and tear down the workshop. Anyone interested in volunteering can visit thewrench.ca/cycle-ofgiving- 2019 for details. In conjunction with the event, the WRENCH is raising $30,000 for its year-round programming, says Patrick Krawec, the organization’s managing director. People can donate at thewrench.ca. Donations of children’s bicycles and parts are also welcome. Cycle of Giving is a joyful celebration for those who participate, Krawec says, adding that the gift of a bicycle can help the recipient imagine a better tomorrow. “The impact of these bicycles in the community cannot be overstated,” he says. [View Less]

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New Online Snow-Clearing Portal Launches (Nov30'19)
by Beth McKechnie 01 Dec '19

01 Dec '19

WINNIPEG - A new online portal was launched today, designed to make accessing snow clearing information easier for Winnipeggers. Winnipeg.ca/snow <https://winnipeg.ca/publicworks/snow/default.stm> includes winter parking ban information, a comprehensive FAQ, and – most notably – a new snow clearing status map for major snow plowing operations. Residents can now check on crews’ progress during major plowing operations and residential plowing operations by searching an address and viewing … [View More]

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Global News: Exchange District business owners fed up over ‘piecemeal’ development in the area (Nov29'19)
by Beth McKechnie 30 Nov '19

30 Nov '19

Exchange District business owners fed up over ‘piecemeal’ development in the area https://globalnews.ca/news/6234378/exchange-district-business-owners-fed-up… A group of Exchange District business owners are calling for a moratorium on development in the area, telling the city there needs to be a better plan in place for things like bike lanes, parking, and loading zones in the neighbourhood before work starts up again. The group, which includes former Blue Bomber and Shawarma Khan restaurant … [View More]owner Obby Khan, say recent changes made to the streets — in particular new bike lanes that have taken over parking spots and loading zones — have been bad for business. Khan says many are reporting a 20 to 30 per cent drop in business and he’s personally lost “six figures” since losing street parking across from his McDermot Avenue restaurant two years ago. “What are we trying to do? Are we trying to create a community or are we trying to create one way roads to get people out of the downtown core?” he said. “Do we want to make active transport or do we want to throw bike lanes in the middle of busy streets and get people out of the downtown core — What is the plan? What is the vision? “Us as business owners are feeling the squeeze right now without this plan.” Khan, along with the owners of King + Bannatyne and Bodegoes, canvassed the Exchange, getting signatures from a total of 67 local business-owners who echo their concerns. In a letter presented to Winnipeg’s mayor and council last week, the group calls for an end to “one-off interventions around parking, transportation, construction or development” in the Exchange until a comprehensive plan is created. They also want parking prices to drop from $3.50 to $2.50 in the area and to see recent street changes reversed. Khan stresses the group is not opposed to active transportation — in fact they welcome it — but want to see a plan put forward and more consultation with area businesses before work is done “We love the bike lanes, we are pro active transportation,” he said. “What we are not pro for is the design, implementation and roll-out without any real consultation of business and how the bike lanes were executed. What was the plan? What was the vision? Or did you just throw bike lanes down? “Stop doing piecemeal, stop putting in a loading zone here, stop putting in a light here or back-in parking here — what is the whole vision for the Exchange?” Khan said the group has gotten a good response from the city, and Mayor Brian Bowman said he is listening to the group’s concerns. “I appreciate the dialogue,” Bowman said Friday, telling 680 CJOB he’s working with business owners and the Exchange District BIZ to find solutions. “There’s been a lot of investments made in the downtown, including the Exchange, over the last few years and obviously we want to make sure that we’re doing our best to ensure that the businesses are as successful as possible. “We have some more work to do… finding the right balance is obviously key” In the meantime, Khan says if nothing changes, some businesses — including his — may look at leaving the Exchange District. “Everything needs to be looked at together to come up with a solution,” he said. “The Exchange is a vibrant, fun, beautiful area — we need to come up with a plan with the city, with urban designers, with residents, with business owners to make this work for everyone.” [View Less]

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WFP: Exchange District businesses petition city for master plan (Nov29'19)
by Beth McKechnie 29 Nov '19

29 Nov '19

*Issues with** parking, transportation, construction, development brought forward* *Exchange District businesses petition city for master plan * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/exchange-district-business-owners-p… DOZENS of Exchange District business owners frustrated with bike lanes popping up, loading zones taken away, and rising street parking rates have signed a petition asking the City of Winnipeg to hit the brakes. The group of 67 is asking the city put in place a moratorium … [View More]on any more changes for parking, transportation, construction or development before a comprehensive plan is put into place for the area, and following full consultation. As well, they are asking for pay parking to be rolled back to 2017 rates and the city to commit to “immediately modify the recent, radical, physical street changes” by looking at impact on businesses, traffic circulation, parking, and safety concerns. Ibrahim (Obby) Khan, one of the leaders of the petition and owner of Shawarma Khan restaurants, said Thursday he has seen business drop at his Exchange District location about 20 per cent in the past two years. “It’s almost a six-figure loss,” Khan said. “We’re all local businesses which have put our passion and money on the line in the city and we need city council to help us... We need to get back to having a master plan for the area.” The businesses to sign the petition include: Toad Hall Toys, Pan Am Boxing, King and Bannatyne, Warehouse Artworks, Mayberry Fine Art, King’s Head, Deer + Almond, Into the Music and Parlour Coffee. At a civic committee meeting earlier this week, Khan was even more blunt about the changes outside the doors of his restaurant. “I feel betrayed,” he told city councillors on the innovation and economic development committee. “I feel hurt and I put so much into my store and it is dying a slow death. “You said you wanted to revitalize our downtown core, and we feel though you have turned your backs on us.” Khan said area businesses are fully supportive of bike lanes, but there should have been an overall plan for the area before they were put in. “No rights on reds because of bike lanes implemented on these lanes,” he said. “I love the idea of bike lanes, but the rollout, design, implementation... is a catastrophe — it is killing businesses. “Was there thought put in to how it’s going to affect the business owners?” Former Winnipeg mayor Glen Murray, who lives, works and owns a business in the downtown, said he signed the petition because he believes the city needs an updated plan for the Exchange District. “I’m a 12-months-of-the-year cyclist,” Murray said. “We do want bicycling infrastructure in the area. But we need to have it better designed and organized... We are asking the mayor and council to put up a planning group. “Right now, it really looks like an evacuation plan there.” David Pensato, executive director of the Exchange District Business Improvement Zone, said the owners group is also concerned about the price of street parking in the area. Currently, the price set by the Winnipeg Parking Authority is $3.50 per hour in a large portion of the Exchange, but the city is looking at hiking it further. “It’s not supposed to be for revenue,” he said. Jeremy Davis, a spokesman for Mayor Brian Bowman, said the mayor has received the group’s letter and petition. “Mayor Bowman has met with area businesses and the Exchange District BIZ to discuss their concerns,” Davis said. “The mayor will continue to be actively engaged with the Exchange District BIZ to find solutions that can be acted upon for everyone’s benefit.” kevin.rollason(a)freepress.mb.ca [View Less]

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Measuring transportation success by improving people's access to jobs and services
by Beth McKechnie 27 Nov '19

27 Nov '19

*An excellent blog series from Transportation from America on how we currently measure the success of our road networks (i.e. vehicle speed) and how we should be measuring them (access to destinations, such as jobs and services). * MAKING ACCESS THE FOCUS OF TRANSPORTATION Catch up on a week spent focusing on "connecting people to jobs and services" The concept of measuring transportation success by improving people's access to opportunities <http://t4america.org/platform/>—not vehicle … [View More]speed—is often hard for people to wrap their heads around. Especially because we have been wrongly conditioned to believe that being able to drive fast equals a transportation system that works. That's why we spent last week unpacking our third principle <http://t4america.org/platform/> for transportation investment, connecting people to jobs and services. Here's what we discussed: *(1) Success is getting people where they need to go: *For decades, transportation departments have been measuring the wrong thing: vehicle speed. Instead of measuring the speed of a car, we should measure the success of our transportation system by how many jobs and services people can access safely, quickly and affordably. Read more on our blog > > <http://t4america.org/2019/11/19/its-time-to-define-transportation-success-b…> *(2) How bad metrics lead to even worse decisions: *When the top priority of our transportation investments is moving cars as fast as possible, the end product is streets that are wildly unsafe. This focus on vehicle speed and throughput is the result of outdated metrics that utterly fail to produce a transportation system that connects people to what they need every day. Read more on our blog > > <http://t4america.org/2019/11/18/destination-access-week-how-bad-metrics-lea…> *(3) To improve equity, we need to measure what matters: *Our current process for deciding which transportation projects to build only considers vehicles—entirely ignoring people walking, biking, or taking transit. This ignores the impacts on everyone not using a car, particularly low-income persons, people of color, and older adults. Read more on our blog > > <http://t4america.org/2019/11/20/to-connect-people-to-jobs-and-services-we-n…> *(4) How does measuring access actually work? *Our colleagues at the State Smart Transportation Initative explain how this new practice of measuring access (called "destination access" by academics and policy wonks) works in real life, and where and how is it already being used. Read more on our blog > > <http://t4america.org/2019/11/20/connecting-people-to-jobs-and-services-week…> *5) Rethinking shared mobility:* Be it a new mode, like dockless e-scooters, or a mode as fundamental as walking—all transportation decisions must focus on connecting people to jobs and services. The New Urban Mobility Alliance's Madlyn McAuilffe writes about how shared mobility technologies can focus on achieving this goal. Read more on our blog > > <http://t4america.org/2019/11/21/connecting-people-to-jobs-and-services-week…> *(6) The legislative path forward: *Local governments, states, and metropolitan planning organizations need support from the federal government to undertake this new approach of measuring people's access to jobs and services. It’s high time for Congress to make robust travel data and analysis tools available to transportation agencies. Read more on the blog > > <http://t4america.org/2019/11/21/connecting-people-to-jobs-and-services-week…> *(7) Why Des Moines wants Congress to step up:* The Des Moines Area MPO wants to fund projects that improve access the most. But—like most MPOs and local governments across the country—its budget for the technology that makes this possible is small. It’s time for Congress to help local communities invest in the right projects. Read more on the blog > > <http://The%20Des%20Moines%20Area%20MPO%20wants%20to%20make%20a%20shift%20to…> *(8) What happens when Jarrett Walker takes over your Twitter: *Who better to explain how far we've deviated from transportation's purpose—to connect people to opportunity—and how to get back on track than transit planner Jarrett Walker? Walker and his team are famous for helping cities across the world align their land use with transit goals. Check out the tweet highlights on our blog > > <http://t4america.org/2019/11/25/jarrett-walker-twitter-takeover/> [View Less]

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Toronto Star: Most peds and cyclists killed or seriously injured in Toronto hit in daylight, with clear visibility (Nov26'19)
by Beth McKechnie 27 Nov '19

27 Nov '19

*Amid arm-band backlash, police data shows most pedestrians and cyclists killed or seriously injured in Toronto are hit in daylight, with clear visibility* https://www.thestar.com/amp/news/gta/2019/11/26/amid-arm-band-backlash-poli… A weekend event where seniors were given fluorescent arm bands to help protect them from getting hit by cars has sparked a fierce backlash from safe streets advocates who say the measure amounts to “victim blaming.” Toronto Coun. James Pasternak was the latest to … [View More]cross advocates on Monday after he tweeted that high-visibility clothing or reflective gear is “a key part” of keeping everyone — including pedestrians, construction workers, cyclists and crossing guards — safe. Toronto police investigate the scene of an Oct. 13 crash in which two pedestrians and a baby in a stroller were struck at the intersection of Pharmacy Avenue and Ellesmere Road shortly before 11 a.m. The driver fled the scene, police said. (Rene Johnston / Toronto Star) That comment has prompted nearly 300 outraged responses <https://twitter.com/PasternakTO/status/1199016505343651841?s=20> from people who say asking pedestrians to wear reflective gear is at best a distraction from the city’s efforts to reduce traffic deaths. Several noted that a crossing guard <https://www.therecord.com/news-story/9734496-waterloo-crossing-guard-struck…> wearing a bright yellow and orange reflective vest was recently hit during daylight hours in Waterloo, and referenced recent crashes in which drivers plowed into (very visible) buildings. <https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2019/11/22/driver-arrested-after-15-cars-h…> “Wearing high visibility gear to protect yourself from negligent and reckless drivers is like asking people to wear fire-retardant pyjamas to bed just in case there’s a fire because someone was irresponsible with fire codes & safety,” said one typical response from Dale Thompson <https://twitter.com/daleethompson/status/1199349959826513920?s=20>. “In other words: This isn’t a pedestrian issue,” he wrote. The arm bands are supposed to make pedestrians, especially seniors who are the ones more likely to be hit, more visible to drivers. According to Toronto police data, most pedestrians and cyclists who are killed or seriously injured on city streets are hit by drivers in daylight hours with good visibility. Between 2007 and 2018, a majority — 1,413 in total — of killed or seriously injured pedestrians and cyclists were hit in daylight with clear visibility, the conditions in which an arm band would be unlikely to make a difference. Those conditions account for 51 per cent of the 2,741 pedestrians and cyclists have been killed or seriously injured over that period. The other 1,328 were hit under other conditions, from dusk to dawn, or in rainy, snowy, fogging or otherwise unclear visibility. Police and Coun. Cynthia Lai handed out hundreds of the armbands to seniors at Scarborough’s Woodside Square Mall on Saturday, part of an event in which officers shared safety tips like the importance of making eye contact with approaching drivers. Lai later defended the event to the Star saying everyone has a shared responsibility for road safety. This kind of effort is “textbook victim-blaming” that contributes to “misinformation” that pedestrians somehow contribute to their own deaths, said road safety advocate Jessica Spieker, a spokesperson for advocacy groups Friends and Families for Safe Streets. “To distribute arm bands to seniors flagrantly flies in the face of all of the evidence about road safety,” she said, adding that drivers and infrastructure are at fault he “vast majority” of the time. According to a city report on the same police data prepared as part of the city’s Vision Zero plan to reduce traffic deaths <https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/ie/bgrd/backgroundfile-134993.pdf>, aggressive and distracted driving contribute to a majority — 52 per cent — of all crashes that cause a death or serious injury on Toronto streets. Spieker said she is frustrated with the “agonizingly slow” progress on making streets safer under the city’s plan. Ahead of police board meetings last week, Toronto police <https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2019/11/21/toronto-police-board-reinstates…> pointed to how crashes have spiked as traffic enforcement has fallen over the last six years. Police pointed to a sharp decline in provincial tickets arguing that the board should reinstate a dedicated traffic enforcement squad, something it agreed to do on Thursday. Separate statistics also presented to the board show Toronto police charged fewer drivers with a criminal traffic offence in 2018 than in any year since the city’s amalgamation in 1998 <https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2019/11/22/even-as-collisions-rise-toronto…>. Toronto police Deputy Chief Peter Yuen also defended the arm band giveaway, saying Sunday it was planned as part of Pedestrian Safety Month for seniors, who are disproportionately hit. “Visibility is a key contributing factor in many pedestrian, road and traffic incidents,” he wrote in an email.“We’ll continue to do all we can to protect our communities and eliminate deaths and injuries on our roads.” Speaking to CBC Radio’s “Metro Morning” on Tuesday, Councillor Pasternak expanded on his reasoning for supporting giving out the armbands, telling host Matt Galloway that the main focus of Vision Zero is to get cars to slow down and making roadways safer, but there’s also a “public education” aspect. “And that’s why we’re encouraging people to, when they’re crossing, to make eye contact with vehicles as they stop, to put away the cellphone and look up as they’re crossing, wear bright clothing, and of course for all traffic to stop.” Pasternak, councillor for Ward 6 —York Centre, also chairs the Infrastructure and Environment Committee which oversees the city’s Vision Zero road safety plan. He rejects the idea that the arm bands are victim-blaming. “No one’s forcing anyone to take it,” he said. “Nobody’s playing blame here.” Insisting that Vision Zero is working, Pasternak admitted there’s “mayhem” on the roads. “And I don’t like using the word lawlessness, but to some degree people are totally disregarding signalized intersections, stop signs, speed limits, it’s a major problem,” he added. The World Health Organization, he noted, does encourage <https://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/publications/road_traffic/ma…> educating pedestrians about the importance of wearing light-coloured clothing and reflective materials. “If we can save one life by reflective clothing or reflective gear I think it’s worth it,” he added. Traffic deaths have not significantly declined in the city since council first adopted the Vision Zero plan in 2016, and both collisions and pedestrian deaths hit a high for recent data last year. Based on the Star’s count, 34 pedestrians have been killed in Toronto so far this year. *With files from Ed Tubb* *May Warren is a breaking news reporter based in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @maywarren11 <https://twitter.com/maywarren11>* [View Less]

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TAC Latent Demand for Active Transportation - Practitioner Survey (closes Nov 22)
by Beth McKechnie 21 Nov '19

21 Nov '19

*From:* Ronauq Sabharwal <Ronauq.Sabharwal(a)cima.ca> Good morning, The *TAC Transportation Planning and Research Standing Committee* is undertaking the project: *Methods for Estimating Latent Demand for Active Transportation*. Thank you to those who have already completed the survey. A reminder that the deadline is this Friday, November 22. The survey takes approximately ~15 minutes to complete. Your input will greatly help in understanding the existing research and develop … [View More]

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Fwd: SafeSpeedsWPG: We're on the gram and we're having a Town Hall!
by Dave Elmore 19 Nov '19

19 Nov '19

Please see the information below on a town hall planned for December 5th hosted by SafeSpeedsWPG and the Wolseley Residents Association. Thanks Dave o _ ( \ _ (X)\ /(X) Hi everyone! Please note, SafeSpeedsWPG and the Wolseley Residents Association are hosting a Town Hall with Green Action Centre on December 5th, 7 - 8:30pm at Old Grace Housing Co-op on Arlington Ave. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join the conversation about what safe residential speeds can do for … [View More]

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Micromobility guidance from other cities (bikeshares, e-scooters)
by Beth McKechnie 19 Nov '19

19 Nov '19

Hi everyone, Micromobility was a hot topic at the APBP conference in Portland this past August. They defined it as: bikeshare (docked or dockless) and e-scooters. Here is a summary of what we heard during panel presentations and on a tour. Speakers noted that e-scooters are still very new, joking about their lengthy experience being 1.5 years. For the short version, simply read the Top 10 insights and Top needs below. Or keep reading for lessons learned from a variety of cities along with … [View More]comments from vendors of bikeshares and e-scooters. And if you're visual, there's a video link at the end. cheers, Beth * * * * * *Top 10 insights on bikeshares and e-scooters* APBP Conference (Portland, OR) Aug 25-28, 2019 1. Bike lanes / paths / quiet streets preferred infra for e-scooter users 2. E-bikes the best bet for bikesharing 3. E-scooters considered the most financially viable opportunity for vendors 4. Incorrect parking and illegal sidewalk riding main complaints about e-scooters (along with speed) 5. Data sharing by vendors essential 6. Surcharges (or discounts) important to incentivize behaviour of both vendors and users 7. Low income programs and lowered barriers to access important (eg. PayNearMe, text-to-unload, distribution outside downtown)* 8. E-scooter collisions more frequent with first time users - intro training program helps 9. Staff time is significant to set up, permit vendors, and administer program 10. Ask for more from vendors (public ROW is valuable) ** Recommended to require this data breakout from vendors* * * * * * *Top needs for e-scooter introduction:* 1. Staff time 2. Regulation 3. Procurement framework (permitting vendors) 4. Fees to incentivize vendor and user behaviour 5. Set up data reporting standards 6. Continue to build out bikeway network (encourages ridership & safety) 7. Know that parking will be an issue 8. Work closely with other departments and regional partners, e.g. parks dept, universities Note: APBP is working on a micromobility policy statement that will include key factors for success and recommendations. * * * * * *Spokane* - They market it as "WheelShare <https://my.spokanecity.org/projects/wheelshare/>" (covering e-bikes and e-scooters) - Use one vendor only (Lime) - more of a partnership - Post-pilot settled on 100 e-bikes and 1200 e-scooters - Get 3.7 rides/day e-scooters and 1.5/day e-bikes (2019 to date) - #1 complaint - riding on downtown sidewalks (illegal but residents don't believe or know that). About 50% of users ride on dntn sidewalk (34% e-scooters and 16% e-bikes). - Also an issue with scooter parking blocking peds - Scoot Spokane First Ride program for new scooter users - Data from Lime helps them identify where there is demand/need for infrastructure *Minneapolis* - Branded as Nice Ride <https://www.niceridemn.com/> - 3100 bikes (combination docked and dockless, and now e-bikes) - Now looking to replace all of their pedal bikes with e-bikes - Scooters are not allowed on sidewalks anywhere - Helmet recommended but not required - Bike network pretty good and also used for scooters - Piloting scooter parking (painted stencil) within buffer zones of dntn bike lane grid - Scooters proving popular; only had 1 serious user injury to date (not life altering) - Vendor permits require distribution with 40% dntn and 30% in areas of concentrated poverty (i.e. less than $46K/yr) - Offer a reduced fare program - 35% of scooter users are new (i.e. they are not cyclists) - Avg trip length is 1.3 miles *Seattle* - Launched dockless bikeshare pilot in July 2017: - permitted private vendors - regulated operations - collected fees and data - wanted no cost to the city - Jump & Lime now operating in Seattle (Lyft permitted but haven't launched) - Looking to launch e-scooters in 2020 - Will permit up to 20,000 bikes but only 5-7K deployed at present - Want more e-bikes but they're more expensive and harder for vendors to provide - Offer low income programs and lowered barriers to access - Jump uses Uber gift card with text-to-unload; Lime uses PayNearMe <https://home.paynearme.com/> (7-11s) with text-to-unload - Data collection lesson learned - now wish they'd also required vendors to provide breakout of low income % usage - Partner with Outdoors for All Foundation <https://outdoorsforall.org/about-us/who-we-are/> (adaptive bikes, like Freedom Concepts <https://www.freedomconcepts.com/> does in MB) to allow more people to experience bikesharing - Bike parking - added ~150 new bike corrals in 2019 near transit and areas without bike parking (can be used for both bikeshare and personal bikes) - Logged almost 900,000 rides this year - Ongoing fleet audits & infractions: - Bikeshare parking - - 2% ADA violations - 10-20% obstruction hazards - 25-30% improperly parked - Bikeshare maintenance - - 1.5% safety maintenance issues - 4.8% not in good working order *Portland* - Now in their second pilot <https://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/77294> for e-scooter sharing - Not branded; 6 vendors operating in Portland - Lime, Bird, Spin, Razor (seated scooters), Shared, Bolt - Require data sharing and ensure the privacy of sensitive location data - Report from first pilot <https://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/article/709719> found: - 71% used e-scooters for transportation - 34% replaced driving and ride-hailing with scooter trips - 44% of users new to the bike lane - Positive response from 62% of Portlanders - Users prefer low-speed streets and bike lanes - Scooter program also popular with people of colour and low income - After first pilot, found that people wanted more access to scooters in more parts of the city as well as seated scooters - Complaints mostly around incorrect scooter parking and illegal sidewalk riding - Portland Tribune article (August 27, 2019) reported results for first 6 months of 2nd e-scooter pilot: - 253,690 trips logged during the first 10 weeks of program - 307,456 total miles logged by users - 46 emergency room trips linked to e-scooter crashes (source: Multnomah County Health Dept) - 16 reports of e-scooter collisions - 903 complaints sent to e-scooter vendors by the public regarding bad behaviour - 371 emails sent by the public to PBOT - 340 total fines and warnings issued by PBOT staff for illegal parking or riding on sidewalks - Vendor permits require deployment in areas outside dntn - Think scooters likely worth it even if it's eating a bit into bikeshare usage - If Portland decides to continue with e-scooters after the 2nd pilot, they may consider partnering with 1 vendor; if the results are still not clear they might continue with multiple vendors - *Additional learnings from Micromobility mobile conference tour:* - E-scooter users prefer using bike network to other streets - Avg trip length = ~0.6 mile - Scooters not allowed on park greenways along river (most popular/desirable route); lesson learned - talk to your parks dept in planning stages - Low income pass with debit/cash options available for both bikeshare and e-scooters but little uptake for e-scooters (difficult to access) - PBOT doesn't require speed cap on e-scooters (some cities cap anywhere from 5-15 mph) - Vendors are asked to incentive users to return scooters to a designated zone - PBOT provides surcharge discount to place scooters in neighbourhoods with less demand (e.g. 20 cent surcharge in Dntn Portland but 5 cents in East Portland) - Biketown <https://www.biketownpdx.com/> - have 5 motorized (e-assist) trikes to rebalance distribution of bikeshare; also have 2 big transit vans - trikes used to get the bikes to one station for van to pick up a bunch at once - Emissions tracking - this year PBOT is requiring reporting of VMT for redistribution (vans); also analyzing the life cycle of e-scooters to ensure there is an environmental ROI - E-bikes are a game changer (e.g. distance boundaries) but more challenging to rebalance as they're even heavier - Injuries - most scooter users who get injured do so on their first ride (but usually continue to ride) - State law requires helmets on scooters but not for bikes - Surcharges / fees charged to vendors and users goes to support program administration (but not enough to fund infra) - *Comments from other tour participants:* - Don't use Skip (battery explosions) - E-scooters hard on knees & back due to user's joints absorbing the shock; Lime coming out with front shocks <https://techau.com.au/lime-scooter-v3-adds-2-8-colour-display-bigger-wheels…> - Kelowna got around provincial legislation by passing a municipal by-law allowing e-scooters on specific multi-use pathways <https://infotel.ca/newsitem/kelownas-experiment-with-e-scooters-a-major-sum…> *San Francisco* - Offer both dockless bikeshare and e-scooters - 12-month pilot ends Oct 14, 2019 - 2 permittees - Skip and Scoot - Key metrics for pilot project: - Use (# trips & availability) - Safety and accessibility (collisions, lock-to, user education) - Equity and engagement (demographics, programming) - Number complaints / citations - Pilot found 42% of all trips replace auto trips - Lessons learned from pilot - - Ask for more from vendors (public ROW is valuable) - Even though vendors are responsible, the city is accountable (takes flack because it's public ROW) - 2/3 of scooters were stolen in the first few weeks of availability - Don't underestimate staff time needed (e.g. even once you've developed the permit requirements, scoring applications incredibly time intensive) *General notes from vendor presentations (Lime, Spin, Jump)* - Geofencing used to help enforce city regulations on use (e.g. scooters are not allowed on park greenways in Portland) - Micromobility helpful not only for first/last mile but also in areas not well served by transit - Vendors are interested in cities where there is good bike infra as it's critical for success (influences decision to come and to stay) - Also important is the city's attitude, i.e. openness to collaborate and interest in helping ensure viability - Lime rep noted that a low performing scooter market still does better than a high performing e-bike market (scooters are the real route for vendor viability) - 1/3 of Lime riders report an income $50K or less; Lime Access provides 50% discount to qualified individuals along with cash & non-smartphone options; also provide multilingual safety and rider education materials and hire from under-resourced communities. - Spin bought out by Ford last year - Jump Bicycles started out as Social Bicycles (Sobi) but then bought by Uber; now have both bikes and scooters - Jump's data shows only a 13% overlap between bike and scooter users, reinforcing experience elsewhere - Future - looking at kiosks where users can swap out batteries themselves * * * * * *APBP Portland: **Going Macro with Micromobility (panel video) * www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc13hqk7OeA This panel will explore the evolving landscape of micromobility and its integration into cities. Panelists from large and mid-size cities will discuss their experiences and approaches in working with private micromobility providers and adapting programs and facilities to new users and rules of the road. Micromobility providers will shed light on the factors involved in success and profitability, and their experiences as private companies operating in the public realm. Moderated discussions and audience questions will go deeper into the dynamics between public and private entities in the transportation realm, and challenge us to envision the streetscape of the future (including winners and losers in the race for mode share). 0:00 - Melissa May White, AICP, SSFM International, Inc. 1:54 - Rae-Leigh Stark, Toole Design 13:20 - Brandon Blankenagel, City of Spokane 20:34 - Alexander Kado, City of Minneapolis 29:25 - Joel Miller, Seattle Department of Transportation 39:18 - Briana Orr, Portland Bureau of Transportation 51:13 - Jamie Parks, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency 1:01:22 - City Panel Q&A 1:11:53 - Gabriel Scheer, Lime 1:22:45 - Kay Cheng, Spin 1:33:54 - Anne Brask, Jump 1:41:46 - Provider Panel Q&A 1:52:55 - William Henderson, RideReport 2:04:04 - Combined Panel Q&A Recorded at the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals conference in Portland, OR, August 28, 2019. [View Less]

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Free webinar: Traffic Safety and Its Relationship to Vision Zero (Dec 3)
by Beth McKechnie 19 Nov '19

19 Nov '19

Free Webinar: December 3 at 3:00 pm EDT Traffic Safety and Its Relationship to Vision Zero Register here <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001SDjc5cW1Fq9pJIwVXKTD75KK6wTp7TEB6sPvj-efsUXh…> There is growing interest in “traffic safety culture” (TSC) as a key factor to manage and sustain safe roadway transportation systems, especially as more jurisdictions adopt targets of zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries. However, the theory, terminology, and methods involved in addressing TSC come … [View More]

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AT Webinar: Aging in Place - Designing Communities to Support Mobility (Nov 20, 2-3pm)
by Beth McKechnie 14 Nov '19

14 Nov '19

Please join Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg for a group viewing of the monthly APBP webinar in the EcoCentre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/uncategorized/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-o…> boardroom. This will be followed by discussion for those who wish to stay. * * * * * Aging in Place: Designing Communities to Support Mobility Wed, Nov 20th at 2:00 pm One of the greatest challenges for maintaining the health and independence of our aging population is designing communities that … [View More]

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Creative ped safety videos
by Beth McKechnie 13 Nov '19

13 Nov '19

Couple of very cool ads created by the Société de l’Assurance Automobile du Québec on pedestrian safety. You don't need to speak French to get the message! https://pricetags.ca/2019/10/30/driving-carefully-in-quebecthe-viral-videos… -- 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 … [View More]

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TAC Resource: Integrating Health and Transportation in Canada (Nov 2019)
by Beth McKechnie 13 Nov '19

13 Nov '19

*Thanks to Terry Zdan for the share...* *Integrating Health and Transportation in Canada * https://www.tac-atc.ca/en/publications/ptm-ihtc-e Traditionally, transportation systems have been designed for motorized vehicles to move people, goods and services efficiently. Excluding more active and sustainable modes of travel from these systems in meaningful ways has often influenced Canadians to use motorized vehicles. The design of transportation systems and land use can help achieve public … [View More]

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Driver’s licence fees to fund AT in PEI
by Beth McKechnie 13 Nov '19

13 Nov '19

Driver’s licence fees return to fund climate change projects, says P.E.I. government https://www.capebretonpost.com/news/canada/drivers-license-fees-return-to-f… CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I —Driver’s licence fees will be reinstated in 2020 to pay for a $5 million active transportation fund for P.E.I., said the province on Tuesday. As of Jan. 1, 2020, the driver’s licence fee rebate for Islanders will end. The free driver's licences were introduced by the previous Liberal government in the months … [View More]

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CBC: Calgary grows downtown cycle track network by 1.5 kilometres
by Beth McKechnie 12 Nov '19

12 Nov '19

Nice to see Calgary continuing to build on the success of their downtown protected bike lane grid: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/cycle-track-calgary-1.5352572 -- 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 … [View More]

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