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Fwd: Call for Nominations: Energy Efficiency or Active / Sustainable Transportation Behavior Change Case Studies (for peer-selection by Tools of Change Landmark panels)
by Jackie Avent (ASRTS) 08 Apr '14

08 Apr '14

FYI: Tools of Change is soliciting nominations for its 2014 *Landmark* behavior change case studies in two topic areas - (1) home / building energy conservation and (2) sustainable transportation. If you know of anyone working on a particularly effective or innovative approach for changing energy or transportation behaviors, please consider nominating them - or yourself. All nominations must include measured impact results. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Jay Kassirer <… [View More]kassirer(a)toolsofchange.com> Date: 1 April 2014 08:29 Subject: Call for Nominations: Energy Efficiency or Active / Sustainable Transportation Behavior Change Case Studies (for peer-selection by Tools of Change Landmark panels) To: asrts(a)greenactioncentre.ca Having trouble viewing this email? Click here <http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=nmzyc7n6&v=001PSxIp8rnBc…> You are receiving this email from Tools of Change because you subscribed to our newsletter mailing list or recently participated in one of our webinars or workshops. You may unsubscribe<http://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=un&mse=001EBMcLcbjBgc3FB4imj3Nmcawz…>if you no longer wish to receive our emails. *Call for Nominations* *Landmark Behavior Change Case Studies(Energy Efficiency and Active / Sustainable Transportation)* [image: Tools of Change social marketing toolkit] *Quick Links* *Tools of Change Website <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001uQTNpmC1GtXmLtw36L0tumL7G_rAKg5a6yqWZubWt6DQ…>* *More On Us <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001uQTNpmC1GtVZKAS2uAEz1uHKsELMdervJcax1x51DV_9…>* *Join Our List* [image: Join Our Mailing List]<http://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/email.jsp?m=1011333490061> *Sponsors* We are pleased to acknowledge the generous contributions of the following sponsors: *Government of Canada* Health Canada Natural Resources Canada Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Transport Canada Federation of Canadian Municipalities National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy Suncor *About Us* Tools of Change promotes best practices in social marketing and a healthier, more sustainable future. Our social marketing website was awarded the Society of Environmental Journalists' highest rating as an information source for environmental journalists, and is recognized by the Infography as one of six superlative references on social marketing. We also host a wide range of webinars on health, environment and safety issues. More about us<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001uQTNpmC1GtWBhPSHFkozpDeNgwnq_jNXwXlRKHbsJGx-…> * For immediate Release - March 31,** 2014* *Dear Jackie,* *For Immediate Release. MS Word copies of media release and backgrounder are at *www.toolsofchange.com/en/landmark/<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001uQTNpmC1GtXXbOcWov5auXNnQ-E0pVZTDSpRjkvnTDuL…> Tools of Change is soliciting nominations for its 2014 *Landmark* behavior change case studies in two topic areas - (1) home / building energy conservation and (2) sustainable transportation. If you know of anyone working on a particularly effective or innovative approach for changing energy or transportation behaviors, please consider nominating them - or yourself. All nominations must include measured impact results. Designation as a "*Landmark*" (best practice) case study through this peer selection process recognizes behavior change programs and approaches considered to be among the most successful, innovative, replicable and adaptable in the world. Designated programs gain exposure, credibility and free, on-line program case study materials, which may make it easier for them to attract clients and maintain or increase program funding. Nominations are screened by Tools of Change staff and then the most promising are rated by peer selection panels based on a standard scoring grid. Designated programs are highlighted in our webinars, the webinar transcripts and video recordings, and written case studies. Program organizers get a *Landmark* designation logo for use on websites and in electronic newsletters, providing click-through access to the program's case study materials. The nomination form, which can be downloaded from www.toolsofchange.com/en/landmark/<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001uQTNpmC1GtXXbOcWov5auXNnQ-E0pVZTDSpRjkvnTDuL…>, must be submitted by May 30, 2014. Designations will be announced by October 2014, and case study webinars will be presented between January and May 2015. To view *Landmark* case studies designated in past years, go to www.toolsofchange.com/en/landmark/<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001uQTNpmC1GtXXbOcWov5auXNnQ-E0pVZTDSpRjkvnTDuL…> Help us spread the news. If you know of others who might be interested, forward this to them. If you are a media writer or editor, tell this story. [image: Gray]<http://ui.constantcontact.com/sa/fwtf.jsp?m=1011333490061&a=1116968716600&e…> Jay Kassirer, General Manager, Tools of Change *Backgrounder* *About Tools of Change * *Tools of Change* was launched in January, 2000 as a collaborative effort between Cullbridge(tm) and such partners as the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Health Canada, Natural Resources Canada, the International Institute for Sustainable Development, Environment Canada, and Canada's National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy. Founded on the principles of community-based social marketing, *Tools of Change* engages program planners and facilitators from around the world to share and learn from their collective experiences. Its mandate is to build the capacity for planning and implementing more successful health, safety and environmental promotion programs. The *Tools of Change* website, sections of which are based on a workbook co-authored by Jay Kassirer and Doug McKenzie-Mohr, currently hosts about 130 full-length case studies. An impact evaluation of site users found that most returned to the site many times, had improved their programs as a result, and had used the site to help explain and justify their ideas to colleagues and decision makers. Many had replicated ideas found on the site. The website was awarded the Society of Environmental Journalists' highest rating as an information source for environmental journalists, and was recognized by the Infography as one of six superlative references on social marketing. *Recent Landmark Designations * The following are some recent examples of programs that have been designated. Home / Building Energy: - *Class 5 Energy*'s comprehensive, long-term approach combines education, training, behavior change and goal setting with progress tracking, recognition, continuous improvement and social media, to reduce energy use in schools, hospitals and other institutional settings. Over eight years in the program, Cambridge-Isanti Public School district reduced energy use per person by about 36% and saved $2.6 million in energy costs. Designated in 2013. - *City of Burlington's Ice Rink Competition* employs a low-cost community-based social marketing approach to significantly reduce energy consumption, associated greenhouse gases and energy costs. With a program return on investment of more than 96%, it shows the substantive impacts that behavioral change programs can have over and above retrofits. The results are based on actual utility bills. The approach is applicable to any high energy consuming asset (facilities and buildings, vehicle fleet) and is scalable. It successfully modified entrenched, long standing staff behaviour towards the desired energy conservation behaviors, improved facility performance, and extended equipment life cycle - all without sacrificing facility service levels and user satisfaction. Designated in 2013. - *Opower* helps individual utility companies to send customized home energy use feedback reports to their residential utility customers. The full-colour reports include a comparison with other similar households, offer tips and strategies to reduce energy use, and provide seasonal energy consumption information. The program delivered 400 GWh (400,000,000 kWh) in energy savings over multiple regions in 2011. - BC Hydro's* Power Smart* program is a great example of applying the "loyalty group" approach to progressively engage participants in changing behaviours. Energy savings for FY2010 were estimated at 5.15 GWh (5,150,000 KWh) Sustainable Transportation - *Stockholm's Congestion Pricing* was introduced in 2006 as a "trial", followed by a referendum. The charges reduced traffic across the cordon by 20%, leading to huge congestion reductions all over the city. Perhaps more surprisingly, the initially hostile opinion turned, and the referendum led to permanent reintroduction of congestion charges. The traffic effects have proved persistent in the years since. Designated in 2013. - *CAC's HSBC Clean Air Achievers *program provides youth with a chance to meet high profile athletes and be inspired by personal messages to adopt healthier, more active and sustainable lifestyles. The program has dual goals of reducing air pollution and increasing physical activity levels via active transportation. For the 2011-2012 school year, program participants had a 30.6% average percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and 45.2% average percent increase in active transportation. Designated in 2013. - *Haliburton Communities in Action* is a rare, well-documented model for promoting walking and cycling in a small or rural community. Designated in 2012. - *Portland's Smart Trips Welcome Program.* Portland has refocused its Individualized Marketing efforts and incorporated an innovative and targeted communication strategy to help new residents develop environmentally-friendly and active transportation habits. As a result, the city's new residents took 10% fewer drive-alone trips and the proportion of their trips taken by green and active methods increased by 14%. This comprehensive approach includes a strong evaluation design and targeted social marketing strategies. Designated in 2012. - *Stepping It Up*, led by the regional transportation authority Metrolinx, illustrates a coordinated, highly replicable, and institutionalized approach for reducing car traffic and increase walking and cycling to school. The program worked with 30 elementary schools in the City of Hamilton and Region of Peel, Ontario. Designated in 2012. - *BIXI Bicycle Sharing*(Montreal) is a great example of how to make urban cycling a more practical and attractive transportation option. BIXI makes it convenient for commuters to cycle rather than drive, especially for frequent, short trips. The system was specifically developed to augment Montreal's existing transit system and between 2009 and 2013 Montrealers made more than 13 million trips with BIXI. It is a turn-key service that is inexpensive and replicable across many countries and cultures. In addition, by making cycling more chic and attractive, BIXI has had a major impact on cycling in North America. Designated in 2011. *Active /Sustainable Transportation Panel, 2013* 2014 will be the seventh year for our peer selection panel for active / sustainable transportation programs. The panel includes members from on-the-ground programs including: - Ryan Lanyon, City of Toronto - Patricia Lucy, Translink It also includes members from some of North America's most proactive consulting, NGO, and government organizations supporting sustainable transportation professionals, including: - Mark Dessauer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation - Jacky Kennedy, Green Communities Canada - Nathalie Lapointe, Federation of Canadian Municipalities - David Levinger, Mobility Education Foundation - Geoff Noxon, Noxon Associates - Phil Winters, CUTR and the University of South Florida - Chuck Wilsker, U.S. Telework Coalition * Home/ Building Energy Efficiency Panel, 2012 * 2014 will be the fifth year for our peer selection panel for home / building energy efficiency programs. This panel includes members from on-the-ground programs and from some of North America's most proactive NGO and government organizations supporting energy conservation professionals, including: - Arien Korteland, BC Hydro - Devin Causely, Federation of Canadian Municipalities - Doug McKenzie-Mohr, McKenzie-Mohr Associates - Edward Vine, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory - Dan York, IEEE *Help Spread the Word!* Use portions of this newsletter and / or our full case studies in your own newsletters, listservs etc. All we ask is that you include the following short credit: Courtesy of Tools of Change (www.toolofchange.com) which promotes best practices in social marketing and a healthier, more sustainable future. Forward email<http://ui.constantcontact.com/sa/fwtf.jsp?llr=nmzyc7n6&m=1011333490061&ea=a…> <http://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=un&mse=001EBMcLcbjBgc3FB4imj3Nmcawz…> <http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp?cc=TEM_News_115> This email was sent to asrts(a)greenactioncentre.ca by kassirer(a)toolsofchange.com | Update Profile/Email Address<http://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=oo&mse=001EBMcLcbjBgc3FB4imj3Nmcawz…> | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe<http://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=un&mse=001EBMcLcbjBgc3FB4imj3Nmcawz…>(tm) | Privacy Policy <http://ui.constantcontact.com/roving/CCPrivacyPolicy.jsp>. Tools of Change - Cullbridge Marketing and Communications | 2699 Priscilla Street | Ottawa | Ontario | K2B 7E1 | Canada -- *Jackie Avent* | Active and Safe Routes to School Green Action Centre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Avenue* | *(204) 925-3773 *|* Find us here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/> [View Less]

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ITDP's Principles of Urban Development
by Beth McKechnie 08 Apr '14

08 Apr '14

TOD Standard The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy has released a report that outlines core principles of urban design, including those that create pedestrian and cycling networks and strong customer bases for public transportation. http://www.trb.org/main/blurbs/170522.aspx ITDP's Principles of Urban Development for transport in urban life: 1. [walk] Develop neighborhoods that promote walking 2. [cycle] Prioritize non-motorized transport networks 3. [connect] Create … [View More]

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Your Brain on Bicycling
by Dave Elmore 04 Apr '14

04 Apr '14

http://www.bicycling.com/training-nutrition/training-fitness/your-brain-bicy cling?cm_mmc=Twitter-_-Bicycling-_-Content-Story-_-yourbrain Your Brain on Bicycling It's no secret that cycling makes you fitter. It also sharpens your thinking and melts away stress. Now researchers are discovering why-and exactly how you can maximize the cognitive benefits of a good ride. Every morning Canadian neuroscientist Brian Christie, PhD, gives his brain <http://www.bicycling.com/training-… [View More]nutrition/training-fitness/mental-trainin g-cyclists> an extra boost. We're not talking about tossing back multiple strong shots of espresso <http://www.bicycling.com/training-nutrition/nutrition-weight-loss/caffeine- alert> or playing one of those mind-training games advertised all over Facebook. "I hop on my bike, go to the gym <http://www.bicycling.com/training-nutrition/training-fitness/gym-etiquette> for 45 minutes, then ride the rest of the way to work," says Christie. "When I get to my desk, my brain is at peak activity for a few hours." After his mental focus sputters to a halt later in the day, he jump-starts it with another short spin to run errands. Ride, work, ride, repeat. It's a scientifically proven system. In a recent study in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, scientists found that people scored higher on tests of memory, reasoning, and planning after 30 minutes of spinning on a stationary bike than they did before they rode. They also completed the tests faster after pedaling. Grow Your Mind Exercise is like fertilizer for your brain. All those hours spent turning your cranks create rich capillary beds not only in your quads and glutes, but also in your gray matter. More blood vessels in your brain and muscles mean more oxygen and nutrients to help them work, says Christie. When you pedal, you also force more nerve cells to fire. As these neurons light up, they intensify the creation of proteins like brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and a compound called noggin (yes, really), which promote the formation of new brain cells. The result: You double or triple the production of neurons-literally building your brain, says Christie. You also release neurotransmitters (the messengers between your brain cells) so all those cells, new and old, can communicate with each other for better, faster functioning. This kind of growth is especially important with each passing birthday, because as we age, our brains shrink and those connections weaken. Exercise restores and protects the organ, says Arthur Kramer, PhD, a neuroscientist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. "Our research finds that after only three months, people who exercised had the brain volume of those three years younger," says Kramer, referring to a study that examined the brains of 59 sedentary volunteers between the ages of 60 and 79 who either did an exercise program or were inactive for six months. A bigger, more connected brain simply works better. "Adults who exercise display sharper memory skills, higher concentration levels, more fluid thinking, and greater problem-solving ability than those who are sedentary," says Kramer. Ride Your Way Smarter So if a little exercise boosts your mental acumen, will going longer and harder earn you Mensa membership? Not so much, says Christie. More isn't always better, especially in the short term, he says. The same study that reported brain benefits from a short exercise session also revealed that more intense efforts can temporarily compromise memory and information processing, something Christie has seen firsthand. It's clear that physical activity like cycling boosts production of feel-good chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine. Christie's teenage daughter also kicks off her day with exercise-specifically rowing practice, usually with searing interval sets. But instead of leaving her brain firing on all cylinders, the workout leaves her a little stalled out when she arrives at school. "Short term, you're on a U-shaped curve for exercise and mental benefits," says Christie. "Too little and your brain doesn't get what it needs to work optimally. Too much and your body has sapped the glucose and other resources it needs, so it's hindered until it recovers." The sweet spot for sharp mental acuity right after exercise is about 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic riding at roughly 75 percent of your maximum heart rate, or an effort of 7 on a scale of 1 (standing still) to 10 (going all out). Positive Spin Of course, there's a lot more to mental fitness than just improving your smarts. Plenty of science backs the idea that a good ride can also have emotional benefits. Cycling can elevate your mood, relieve anxiety, increase stress resistance, and even banish the blues. "Exercise works as well as psychotherapy and antidepressants in the treatment of depression, maybe better," says James Blumenthal, PhD, professor of behavioral medicine in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. A recent study analyzing 26 years of research finds that even just some exercise-as little as 20 to 30 minutes a day-can prevent depression over the long term. At the moment, scientists don't completely understand the exact mechanisms, but they do know that physical activity like cycling boosts the production of feel-good chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine. "As soon as our lab rats start running on their wheels, they get a 100 to 200 percent increase in serotonin levels," says J. David Glass, PhD, a brain-chemistry researcher at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. As you pedal past the 20-to 30-minute mark, other mood-lifting chemicals like endorphins and cannabinoids (which, as the name suggests, are in the same family of chemicals that give pot smokers their high) kick in. When researchers asked 24 men to either run or pedal at a moderate intensity or sit for about 50 minutes, they found high blood levels of anandamide, a natural cannabinoid, in the exercisers, but not in sedentary volunteers. Even better, regularly riding your bike helps keep hormones like adrenaline and cortisol in check, which means you'll feel less stressed and you'll bounce back from anxiety-filled situations more easily. The sweet spot for sharpening mental acuity right after exercise is about 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic riding at roughly 75 percent of your maximum heart rate. Remember: Although it's healthy, exercise itself is a stress, especially when you're just getting started or back into riding. When you first begin to exert yourself, your body releases cortisol to raise your heart rate, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels, says Monika Fleshner, PhD, a professor of integrative physiology at the University of Colorado at Boulder. As you get fitter, it takes a longer, harder ride to trigger that same response. "For people who are active, it takes a greater crisis to trigger the cortisol response as compared with sedentary people," says Fleshner. "So now you can go into a stressful environment and be okay. You can endure a lot more before you kick off a stress response." What's the cycling prescription for happiness? The authors of a recent review study on exercise and depression came up with the following guidelines to ward off the blues with aerobic exercise: Do three to five sessions a week. Each session should be 45 to 60 minutes long and keep your heart rate between 50 and 85 percent of your max. Of course, that's just a minimum recommendation aimed at the general public. You can go ahead and ride to your heart's-and mind's-content. [View Less]

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WFP: Fielding's rapid transit stance on wrong track (Apr.4'14)
by Beth McKechnie 04 Apr '14

04 Apr '14

Fielding's rapid-transit stance on wrong track By: Bartley Kives http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/fieldings-rapid-transit-stance-on-wr… In a mayoral race in which six out of eight potential candidates can be safely described as right of centre, it makes sense for Scott Fielding to try to stand out from the field. The two-term councillor for St. James-Brooklands is positioning himself to be the populist fiscal conservative among a crew of fellow conservatives that either have more … [View More]elitist trappings or lean closer to the centre. Fielding is no lunch-bucket-carrying everyman. He's a former pharmaceutical sales rep who has interests in a pair of businesses and lives in upper-middle-class Linden Woods. But Scott Fielding's voting record and political philosophy can safely be described as neo-libertarian, even if that's a word he'd never use to describe someone who's in small government and would prefer to see the market provide solutions to public-policy problems. Last week, Fielding was doing his best to prove his populist cred by campaigning against the extension of the Southwest Transitway, the city's first dedicated bus corridor. The 3.6-kilometre first phase of the transitway was completed in 2012 at a cost of $138 million. A seven-kilometre extension to the University of Manitoba comes with a $600-million price tag because it's packaged with two other Fort Garry projects -- a new Jubilee underpass and the Cockburn-Calrossie drain replacement. Fielding, who has never supported rapid transit, launched an online petition that attempts to mine the same anti-elitist sentiment directed against megaprojects such as the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and Investors Group Field. Fielding wants prospective rapid-transit funding to be spent on road repairs instead and urged Winnipeggers to tell "the politicians, insiders at city hall that we need to address infrastructure, make that our No. 1 priority." As far as campaign strategy goes, it's not a bad gambit to gain attention. Mayor Sam Katz, who may or may not be running again, oversaw the construction of the transitway's first phase despite his well-documented ambivalence to rapid transit. Lawyers Gord Steeves and Brian Bowman, who most likely will run, can be painted as members of the political elite by the mere nature of their profession. Only Charleswood-Tuxedo Coun. Paula Havixbeck is also playing the populist card, though she's also courting union support for her potential mayoral run. Fielding's anti-rapid-transit position, however, runs the risk of driving away potential supporters across the political spectrum who may have seen him as a safe place to park their votes. Although he only garnered support of six per cent of Winnipeggers in the two mayoral-race polls to date, Fielding has room to grow because he has been strong on ethical reform at city hall and chose to break ranks with Katz. His rapid-transit hate-on, however, is a bad move in the long run, as the roads-not-transit argument fails to stand up to logical scrutiny. Winnipeg suffers from inadequate infrastructure because it's too spread out. The lack of density in this city requires too much money to be shovelled into road, sewer and water-main maintenance. And as any student of Winnipeg's recent history can tell you, one of the main contributors to this lack of density is the absence of a rapid-transit network. Winnipeg began pondering rapid transit in the 1950s and '60s, around the same time Toronto and Montreal started building subways. Decades of dithering allowed Winnipeg to be lapped by Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary and Ottawa, which pursued various permutations of light rail, subways and dedicated bus corridors. Development along transit lines and transit-station nodes has improved density in all of these cities. But Winnipeg kept on building roads and focusing on single-family-home development, with disastrous results. This city has started to improve density through modest means, such as insisting on smaller lot sizes for single-family homes and demanding more multi-family housing in new suburbs. But we are desperate for more rapid transit to promote real density. Without mass transit, you cannot build up instead of out. And if you build out instead of up, you cannot afford your roads. What Fielding is promoting spells disaster for Winnipeg. He's selling the promise of better roads when in fact the best way to do so would be to invest in transit. Fielding's ethics are unimpeachable. He is polite and appears popular with the constituents in his ward. But Winnipeg has waited too long for not just the Southwest Transitway, but a full network of transit corridors to endure another rapid-transit debate. Six decades is long enough. bartley.kives(a)freepress.mb.ca Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 4, 2014 B1 [View Less]

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The Uniter: Breaking down barricades
by Beth McKechnie 03 Apr '14

03 Apr '14

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Terry Zdan <tjzdan50(a)gmail.com> Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2014 10:18:07 -0500 Subject: The U of W Uniter - Breaking Down Barricades http://uniter.ca/view/breaking-down-barricades "I replaced driving with a ten-minute walking commute. The psychological differences between driving through an environment and physically interacting with it on the ground cannot be understated. I now walk downtown with the familiarity everyone else has with their own … [View More]

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Doctors prescribing bike-share memberships to combat obesity
by Beth McKechnie 03 Apr '14

03 Apr '14

Doctors prescribing bike-share memberships to combat obesity *by *Lauren O'Neil<http://www.cbc.ca/newsblogs/yourcommunity/author/lauren-oneil/> Posted: April 2, 2014 5:57 PM Last Updated: April 2, 2014 5:31 PM http://www.cbc.ca/newsblogs/yourcommunity/2014/04/doctors-prescribing-bike-… Doctors in Boston will soon have a new tool in their arsenal when it comes to improving the health of obese patients: the humble, yet powerful bicycle. In an effort to get sedentary Bostonians moving … [View More]more, as well as provide affordable transportation for low-income residents, The City of Boston and the Boston Medical Center (BMC) have partnered together in creation of program they're calling "Prescribe-a-Bike." The program, launched today, allows all BMC medical professionals to write prescriptions for memberships to a local bike-sharing program called Hubway<https://www.thehubway.com/>, which currently boasts 1,100 bikes at 130 locations around the city. Much like Canada's own Bixi system<http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/bye-bye-bixi-retooled-bike-sharing-se…>, Hubway users can borrow a bike from any location and then drop it off at another, providing themselves a convenient and healthy way to get around. Qualified low-income patients will pay only $5 for an annual membership to the program, which entitles them to an unlimited number of trips on Hubway bikes for up to 30 minutes at a time. They'll also receive a free helmet, according to the Boston mayor's office. "Obesity is a significant and growing health concern for our city, particularly among low-income Boston residents," said Kate Walsh, chief executive of Boston Medical Center, in a statement published by the Boston Globe<http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/03/27/new-program-will-allow-boston-m…>. "Regular exercise is key to combating this trend, and Prescribe-a-Bike is one important way our caregivers can help patients get the exercise they need to be healthy." To qualify for a prescription, patients must be 16 years or older either have a household income of no more than 4 times the poverty level or be enrolled in some form of public assistance according to the statement. The program's creators hope to enroll at least 1,000 low-income residents in Prescribe-a-Bike this year, and potentially expand to include more hospitals. "We have already received some calls from other hospitals and health clinics who are interested," said Nicole Freedman, director of bicycle programs for the City of Boston, to Boston Magazine<http://www.bostonmagazine.com/health/blog/2014/03/26/prescribe-bike-bmc-bos…>. "It's a new way to reach out and promote health." [View Less]

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Job posting - Peg City Car Co-op
by Beth McKechnie 27 Mar '14

27 Mar '14

[please share widely -- thanks!] * Peg City Car Co-op Seeks Fleet Operations Assistant* Are you a reliable self-starter who cares about sustainable transportation? Are you excited to see carsharing grow in Winnipeg? Peg City Car Co-op is busy expanding into more neighbourhoods in central Winnipeg. To help with our growing network of carshare vehicles, we need a dependable person who gets carsharing and how it works. Someone who understands the individual, environmental and community … [View More]

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If only the Osborne Underpass could look like this..
by Jackie Avent (ASRTS) 27 Mar '14

27 Mar '14

http://www.ledevoir.com/opinion/blogues/le-blogue-urbain/403612/ca-roule-po… -- *Jackie Avent* | Active and Safe Routes to School Green Action Centre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Avenue* | *(204) 925-3773 *|* Find us here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>

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12 ways to make cities more child-friendly
by Beth McKechnie 26 Mar '14

26 Mar '14

12 ways to make cities more child-friendly MARCH 3, 2014<http://spacing.ca/national/2014/03/03/twelve-ways-can-make-cities-child-fri…> | BY CHRIS BRUNTLETT <http://spacing.ca/national/author/chrisbruntlett/> For far too long, many people have considered family life and urban life as being mutually exclusive. That trend is slowly reversing, as more and more parents choose to raise their kids in urban areas. However, city builders often fail to consider their smallest, most … [View More]

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Winnipeg's first parking protected bike lane
by Beth McKechnie 24 Mar '14

24 Mar '14

Very exciting! See below that the City will be building our first ever parking protected bicycle lane on Sherbrook between Wolseley and Broadway... ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: The West Broadway BIZ <director(a)westbroadwaybiz.com> Date: Mon, Mar 24, 2014 at 1:06 PM Subject: BIZ Buzz - March 2014 Trouble viewing this email? Read it online<http://secure.campaigner.com/Campaigner/Public/t.show?6ga52--3i85e-p50j5e3&…> THE BIZ BUZZ E-NEWSLETTER MARCH 2014 * … [View More]HAPPY SPRING!* Although it has not quite sprung yet, it is hopefully just around the corner! As the snow melts, please let us know if you see any damage to bike racks, planters or benches in front of your business or in the area. Village Landscaping has been contracted once again to do our flower planters and hanging baskets, it will be so nice to see some colour and greenery again! Watch for the new community directory coming out next month. They will be delivered to every business and household in West Broadway and Wolseley. Thank you to all those supporting members who have placed an ad in the magazine! Please contact us <director(a)westbroadwaybiz.com?subject=directory>to request a stack and counter top holder for your business. <http://trk.cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?6ga52-cgjgz-p50j5e5&_v=2> City's 1st Parking Protected Bike Lane! <http://trk.cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?6ga52-cgjh0-p50j5e2&_v=2> We are very pleased to announce the City will be completing the Maryland - Sherbrook cycling corridor this summer, the much anticipated dedicated bike lane for Sherbrook Street will be completed this year. Public Works has decided to construct the City's first Parking Protected Bike Lane between Wolseley and Broadway! This street work will be tied into the road resurfacing of Sherbrook Street this summer. For more details, or to review the conceptual design go to: Walkbike.winnipeg.ca<http://trk.cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?6ga52-cgjh1-p50j5e3&_v=2> We are taking requests for new bike rack installation for this summer, so please let us know if you are in need of one. <http://trk.cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?6ga52-cgjh2-p50j5e4&_v=2> *Fefu and Her Friends * by Maria Irene Fornes Directed by Hope McIntyre Featuring: Elena Anciro, Julia Arkos, Nan Fewchuk, Megan McArton, Brenda McLean, Tracey Nepinak, Tracy Penner and Kelci Stephenson May 22nd- June 1st, 2014 Ralph Connor House - 54 West Gate Tickets: $15 / $20 Group rates are available for community groups! For more information and to purchase tickets please visit our website at www.sarasvati.ca <http://trk.cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?6ga52-cgjh3-p50j5e5&_v=2>or call (204) 586-2236. <http://trk.cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?6ga52-cgjh4-p50j5e6&_v=2> We are pleased to report streetscaping initiatives from the masterplan document are well underway. Up next, new banners, community kiosks, tree infill and gateway enhancements. It's an exciting time in West Broadway! Any questions or concerns, please send us an email<director(a)westbroadwaybiz.com>or give us a call at 204-779-4100. www.westbroadwaybiz.com<http://trk.cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?6ga52-cgjh5-p50j5e7&_v=2> *CHECK OUT OUR NEW GRANT * If you are considering making some improvements to your business exterior, there has never been a better time! We are now offering our members two tiers of funding plus we have added a design component! Download the brochure! <http://trk.cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?6ga52-cgjh6-p50j5e8&_v=2> * MHC FOUNDATION UPCOMING SPRING EVENTS: <http://trk.cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?6ga52-cgjh7-p50j5e9&_v=2> * *"Jubilation! Hope Lives! Jubilation! L'Espoir Vie!* Afternoon Concert & Desserts *Sunday, April 27, 2014* Join us for an inspiring afternoon in the beautiful St. Boniface Cathedral, as we celebrate spring with the joyful music of worldwide Christian singer *Christine D.M. Wollmann* Proceeds from the event will support Misericordia Health Centre Foundation. Mingle afterwards with desserts and light refreshments sponsored by local French restaurant Resto Gare Call (204) 788-8469 for tickets * Black Tie Bingo Gala *Presented by Medigas Mb Ltd. Saturday, May 3, 2014 RBC Convention Centre Please email vmirosh(a)misericordia.mb.ca<vmirosh(a)misericordia.mb.ca?subject=black%20tie%20bingo> or call (204) 788-8469 for details * WOULD YOUR BUSINESS LIKE TO BE INVOLVED IN A SHORT VIDEO PRODUCTION?* <http://trk.cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?6ga52-cgjh8-p50j5e0&_v=2><http://trk.cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?6ga52-cgjh9-p50j5e1&_v=2> The Marketing Committee is interested in partnering to create more short videos promoting West Broadway businesses, programs and events. Digital Marketing is an innovative and affordable way to deliver meaningful engagement, and market your business. Sharing these videos on websites and social media are great ways to find new customers and promote your brand. Contact us <director(a)westbroadwaybiz.com?subject=digital%20marketing> if you would like to participate! * <http://trk.cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?6ga52-cgjha-p50j5e1&_v=2> * West Broadway BIZ PO Box 26003 676 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3G 3R3 p 204-779-4100 e director(a)westbroadwaybiz.com You are subscribed to this mailing list as beth(a)pegcitycarcoop.ca. Please click here <http://trk.cp20.com/Tracking/t.fo?6ga52--cbw5-p50j5e6&sl=3b&t=5&_v=2>to modify your message preferences or to unsubscribe from any future mailings. We will respect all unsubscribe requests. ------------------------------ <http://www.campaigner.com/?utm_source=campaigner&utm_medium=email&utm_campa…> [View Less]

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Reminder: Travel Behaviour Change workshop, Wed. March 26, 1:00-4:30pm
by Beth McKechnie 24 Mar '14

24 Mar '14

Friendly reminder about a Green Action Centre workshop happening this Wednesday afternoon at the EcoCentre. RSVP is required, all are welcome! Two spots still open. cheers, Beth * * * * * III: TRAVEL BEHAVIOUR CHANGE *Wednesday, March 26, 1:00-4:30pm* Human behaviour can seem inexplicable. Sometimes it's a head-scratcher as to why people don't switch to healthier and greener ways to get to work when it is clearly to their benefit. In this half-day workshop, we will explore the many … [View More]

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MB Capital Region Transportation Master Plan to be released this spring
by Beth McKechnie 21 Mar '14

21 Mar '14

Capital Region Transportation Master Plan release planned for this spring Posted: March 20, 2014 http://leadingmanitoba.ca/notices_detail.asp?notice_ID=207 Later this spring PMCR will release the Capital Region Transportation Master Plan, a guide to key transportation infrastructure, plans and systems to enable economic opportunity, sustainable growth, and improved mobility of all users throughout the Capital Region now, and in the future. The culmination of a year of study, technical … [View More]

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A better way to think about businesses and bike lane battles
by Beth McKechnie 21 Mar '14

21 Mar '14

Hi everyone, I'm forwarding this newsletter (again), as I consistently find Green Lane Project's articles useful. Their focus on cycle tracks / protected bike lanes and a recent emphasis on working with businesses to gain acceptance is particularly relevant for Winnipeg. cheers, Beth View this email in your browser<http://us5.campaign-archive2.com/?u=64bd122c67bd28d620978f4a5&id=44c6dc42cc…> <http://greenlaneproject.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=… [View More]

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SAVE THE DATE! Winnipeg Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies - Notice of Upcoming Open Houses!
by Jackie Avent (ASRTS) 19 Mar '14

19 Mar '14

*Please save the dates and spread the word about these two important upcoming open houses about the City of Winnipeg Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies * These public open houses will be your opportunity to hear about the Draft City-wide bicycle and pedestrian network as well as draft recommendations for new City policies related to Active Transportation. There will be TWO open houses: *SATURDAY APRIL 12th - 11 am - 4 pm at the Manitoba Theatre for Young People (MTYP) at the Forks* *TUESDAY … [View More]

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Ontario's Transportation Minister Glen Murray introduces road safety bill targets distracted drivers, 'dooring'
by Dave Elmore 17 Mar '14

17 Mar '14

http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2014/03/17/ontario_introduces_compreh ensive_road_safety_bill.html Ontario road safety bill targets distracted drivers, 'dooring' The Liberal government on Monday tabled a sweeping road safety bill Monday dealing with pedestrians, cyclists, truckers and motorists, including increased fines of up to $1,000 and three demerit points for distract driving. There are currently no demerit points for distracted driving in Ontario. Distracted drivers on … [View More]their cellphones and careless motorists who knock down cyclists with their open doors are facing maximum fines <http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2014/03/17/ontario_introduces_compre hensive_road_safety_bill.html> of $1,000 and three demerit points, according to sweeping new road safety rules introduced Monday. Among other things, motorists for the first time would be required to move over a lane for working tow trucks with lights flashing just as they are required now with emergency vehicles. Transportation Minister Glen Murray introduced proposed "comprehensive" legislation Monday dealing with pedestrians, truckers, motorists and cyclists. "Our new legislation, if passed, would keep drivers, cyclists and pedestrians even safer as we get tougher with those who ignore the law," Murray said, adding the changes have been years in the making. Ralph Palumbo, vice-president Ontario, Insurance Bureau of Canada, said it is the demerit points that should make scofflaws think twice about picking up that cellphone or other electronic device knowing their insurance premiums could be affected. "Demerit points will certainly cause an insurer to look at a driver as a greater risk because what it says is that they are not complying with a law," Palumbo told the Star. In Ontario, according the government statistics distracted driving has passed impaired driving as the leading cause of traffic fatalities. The push to toughen up distracted driving penalties follows an unexpected decision by Annemarie Bonkalo <http://www.allthingsnow.com/day/news/shared/42523527/Distracted-driving-fin es-increase-to-280-on-March-18-Toronto-Star> , chief justice of the Ontario Court of Justice, who unilaterally decided last month to use her judicial powers to increase the fine for using hand-held devices while driving to $280 from $155, effective March 18. That provision will remain in effect unless the new legislation is passed and changes it. Thanks Dave o _ ( \ _ (X)\ /(X) [View Less]

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Fwd: CHNET-Works! Update March 13 2014 Bulletin de CHNET-Works! le 13 mars 2014
by Jackie Avent (ASRTS) 17 Mar '14

17 Mar '14

Some interesting upcoming Fireside chats on Active Transportation and Aging (April 10) and Bringing Health into the Transportation Planning Process (April 24th). See attachment for details. Jackie ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: CHNET-Works! <animateur(a)chnet-works.ca> Date: 2014-03-14 8:40 GMT-05:00 Subject: CHNET-Works! Update March 13 2014 Bulletin de CHNET-Works! le 13 mars 2014 To: Jackie Avent <asrts(a)greenactioncentre.ca> *[image: chnet-works-logo-purple-… [View More]

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The Pied Piper for sustainable transportation
by Dave Elmore 15 Mar '14

15 Mar '14

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/the-pied-piper-for-sustainable- transportation-and-his-radical-idea-put-people-first/article17496623/ The Pied Piper for sustainable transportation' and his radical idea: Put people first CHRISTINE McLAREN Published Friday, Mar. 14 2014, 2:03 PM EDT If you're lucky enough to catch him on a day off, you might find Gil Penalosa riding his bike through Toronto's Roncesvalles Village - "the best neighbourhood I've ever lived in," he says. Which … [View More]is saying a lot. Because when he's not on a day off, Mr. Penalosa is likely to be in one of the hundred-plus cities he visits for work. In San Francisco speaking to Google about innovations in transportation technology, for example. Or in Bangalore sweet-talking planners into installing better sidewalks. Or in Copenhagen lunching with the minister of environment before flying to South Korea to transform an entire neighbourhood into a car-free zone for 30 days. "I think of Gil as the Pied Piper for sustainable transportation," says Janette Sadik-Khan, the former commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation. "He travels the world singing that song and pressing that message and he does it in a really compelling way." He has also lived his message: Mr. Penalosa, 57, helped to transform Bogota when he served as the Colombian capital's commissioner of parks and recreation in the late 1990s. He has since become an evangelist for livable cities that put people, not cars, at the centre of planning. As the executive director of Toronto-based non-profit 8-80 Cities, he has worked with more than 150 cities on every continent, convincing them that rapid improvements to mass transit, bike lanes and pedestrian walkways are not as impossible as they may think. "The biggest challenge is that change is hard," he says. "Anywhere. And the better the city, the harder it is." Many politicians are also "timid," he adds. "The minute they're elected, they're thinking about how to get re-elected, and the way to get re-elected is to do more of the same. Maybe a little bit better but more of the same. But unfortunately now we not only have to focus on doing things right, but also we need to focus on doing the right things." The name of Mr. Penalosa's non-profit - 8-80 Cities - echoes his central message. "If you build a city that is great for an eight-year-old and for an 80-year-old, then you build a city that is going to be great for everybody. They're like an indicator species," he says. "We need to stop building cities as if everybody in them is 30 years old and athletic." By cities, Mr. Penalosa doesn't just mean massive centres: One is just as likely to find him on the ground rethinking the town centre of Timmins, Ont., as in Los Angeles, Paris or New York. 8-80 Cities recently partnered with the Ontario government to bring Open Streets - events that close roads to cars and open them to cyclists, joggers, pedestrians and the like for recreation - to Kingston, Toronto, Thunder Bay and Windsor. "It's not about walking or cycling or parks or sidewalks," he says. "Those are the means. The end goal is how to create a vibrant city with healthy communities, where the citizens are going to be happier." Mr. Penalosa - who uses the word fantastic (emphasis on the "ta") in every other sentence and seldom wastes time taking a breath when he speaks - got his introduction to urban issues early. His father was a Colombian government official who later served as secretary-general of the pioneering 1976 United Nations Habitat Conference on Human Settlement in Vancouver, the world's first international meeting on housing and homelessness. Mr. Penalosa and his brother Enrique tagged along, meeting the likes of Pierre Trudeau and other leaders from around of the world. In Bogota, Gil Penalosa served first under former mayor Antanas Mockus, developing more than 200 parks - a Herculean feat in a city previously bereft of quality public spaces. He also developed Ciclovia: 120 kilometres of road closed to cars every Sunday and on holidays for more than one million cyclists, rollerbladers, runners and strollers. Ciclovia has since been emulated in hundreds of cities around the world. When his brother Enrique (currently the presidential candidate for the Colombian green party) took over as mayor in the next election, Mr. Penalosa continued to work on the car-clogged city, turning it into a poster child for urban change and sustainable transportation. He eventually left Colombia, including a brief stint as the country's trade commissioner in Canada - which led him to a job with the City of Mississauga. He founded 8-80 Cities in 2005, and later moved to Roncesvalles. His three children have grown up and moved on, so today he and his wife Claudia, who works for a bank, live on their own next to "a great park." He loves the farmer's market, the restaurants and shops of their neighbourhood, and getting around by bike, which is his main form of transportation as he doesn't own a car. "The kind of work that I do, I could live anywhere," says Mr. Penalosa. "But I love [Toronto]. It's so multicultural that I feel at home. I never really have felt like that in any other city." There are, of course, a few things he'd fix. The city could use a new mayor, for instance. "[Rob] Ford has been more damaging than anyone could have imagined," he says. "Great mayors need two elements: to have a clear vision of what needs to be done and the political and managerial capacity to do it, and he has none." The city is lacking something else: a ciclovia. But that, says Mr. Penalosa, is soon to come. It would be unwise to bet against it. [View Less]

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What makes a city work
by Dave Elmore 15 Mar '14

15 Mar '14

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/what-makes-a-city-work-former-new… What makes a city work: Former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg thinks he knows The Globe and Mail Published Friday, Mar. 14 2014, 3:05 PM EDT Last updated Saturday, Mar. 15 2014, 3:17 PM EDT If you leave Manhattan for Brooklyn on the No. 3 train, you’ll end up at New Lots Avenue. Here, just under the elevated platform, is where Eddie Di Benedetto has had his pizzeria, Caterina’s, since 1971. “The area was … [View More]always being plagued with crime,” Mr. Di Benedetto says. The plaza out front of his restaurant didn’t help: it was poorly lit, noisy, and buses roared past every few minutes. “When people got off the train, they rushed to just get home.” Then he and some neighbouring merchants asked the city, under Mayor Michael Bloomberg, to fix it. “We heard Mayor Bloomberg was very big on plazas and open space,” he says. Across the city, the transportation department was installing pedestrian plazas, making the streets more inviting. “There was a cry for improvement – we heard the cry and we just followed.” Someone heard them, too: The buses took a different route. The city installed a temporary plaza, with seating and umbrellas, for the warmer months. People now linger. Crime is down. “I asked, and we got what we wanted,” Mr. Di Benedetto says. “Even in East New York, my friend. I hear bad things about Mayor Bloomberg, but what we got is an extension of his idealism, right?” This is not how most people think of Mr. Bloomberg, who recently stepped down after 12 years as mayor and who is the city’s richest resident. Under his leadership, New York became a land of wealth and plenty, at least for some – in Midtown Manhattan, glassy new high-rises contain the third homes of Russian billionaires; downtown, tourists order $38 steak frites at Balthazar and walk the High Line, an innovative park built with donations from the rich. Yet the plaza at New Lots Avenue reflects the scope of Mr. Bloomberg’s impact. His administration – freed by his wealth and his lack of political debts – turned New York into a laboratory for urban innovation of all kinds, from small neighbourhood improvements to rezoning vast swaths of land, shaking up its demographics and its economy. The city cut carbon emissions, and got rid of smoking in public. (Tobacco, that is.) Mr. Bloomberg’s administration shared some of its lessons with other civic leaders; Eduardo Paes, the mayor of Rio de Janeiro, has consulted publicly with Mr. Bloomberg. And now the Bloombergians are preparing to share their lessons with the world. Several top lieutenants have moved on to work for Bloomberg Associates, a consultancy that will advise cities free of charge on how to “improve the quality of life of their citizens.” He also sponsors a Mayor’s Challenge, which asks cities (this year in Europe) to innovate in pursuit of €9-million in prizes. Mr. Bloomberg provides an important example for mayors everywhere, at a time when mayors matter: More than half the world’s population lives in cities, and that number is projected to reach 70 per cent by 2050. (According to Statistics Canada, more than 80 per cent of Canadians live in cities and suburbs.) This demands new infrastructure, changes to the physical form of cities and new ways of doing things. What happened in New York may not be the singular recipe for 21st-century urbanism – the city became greener, cleaner and more hospital to the world, but also more expensive and less hospitable to the poor. But the change in New York from 2001 to 2013, driven by faith in hard data, as well as the magic of place, is still the single example that can’t be avoided. After 9/11 Mr. Bloomberg became mayor of New York in 2001 with just 50.7 per cent of the vote, after spending nearly $74-million (U.S.) to get himself elected. Well-known as the force behind his data and media company, he was a political novice, and his challenges were tremendous: New York was reeling from the 9/11 attacks, in fiscal trouble, uncertain about the future. The financial sector seemed ready to disperse to office parks in Connecticut and New Jersey, threatening the city’s economy. The idea of the skyscraper, New York’s central building block, was under threat. “Had things worked a little differently, we would have been looking back on the decline of New York from that moment,” says Justin Davidson, architecture critic for New York magazine. “I don’t think he gets all the credit, but he did a lot of things right.” The city has added hundreds of thousands of new residents, seen real-estate prices skyrocket (and recover, after being hit hard by the recession in 2009), and become much safer and cleaner than it was. How did it happen? Mr. Bloomberg – an entrepreneur who made his $33-billion (U.S.) fortune serving the needs of Wall Street – worked hard to keep Big Finance in the city through tax breaks and personal lobbying; and he made the city’s police department into a globally active anti-terror organization, while overseeing a drop in crime. He also reformed the city’s thorny public education system, with modest improvements in test scores; pushed for an expansion of higher education, including a new grad-school campus of Cornell University; and encouraged a knowledge-economy by courting investments in Manhattan’s “Silicon Alley” and bio-tech. Mr. Bloomberg has a passionate interest in public health, too. Beginning in his first term he pushed a smoking ban in restaurants and bars, making New York the largest American city to do so, and then in parks. The bans were unpopular with restaurateurs and many vocal New Yorkers (“We’re moving towards a totalitarian society,” one city councillor argued when the parks regulation was passed). The scientific evidence was clear, though – and Mr. Bloomberg was committed to making policy through information. One of his favourite aphorisms is “In God we trust. All others bring data.” This attitude came to govern much of the city’s management. He established an Office of Policy and Strategic Planning, whose task was to use public data to improve services – from garbage collection to cutting air pollution. Mr. Bloomberg also aimed for big targets in sustainability, a goal with long-term consequence and very little political payoff. A vision set out in 2007, PlaNYC established a wide range of goals: from new playgrounds, to congestion pricing to deter cars (which never passed), to curbing carbon emissions from buildings (which did). The latter was policy with a real impact – the Empire State Building got a refit that cut its energy use by 38 per cent – but very little reward. “He deserves credit ... this is the unsexy stuff that makes a huge difference,” says Rosalie Genevro, the executive director of the Architectural League of New York, a local non-profit. The city’s real estate landscape saw dramatic shifts as well. A wave of new development transformed swaths of Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, creating new homes for some of the 300,000 people who moved to New York in the Bloomberg era. At the same time, rents rose significantly across the city; many New Yorkers now fear being left behind by the city’s economic growth. They see Mr. Bloomberg's agenda as having reshaped the city as a playground for the wealthy and visitors from overseas. Mr. Bloomberg’s successor, Bill de Blasio, ran for office on the slogan “A Tale of Two Cities.” New York in 2001 was among the most expensive cities in North America, and it’s grown more so. The social cost of gentrification has been real. The city now has 50,000 people, a record, in its homeless shelters. Yet the situation is complex: its rental market is highly regulated, and its affordable and public housing programs are by far the largest on the continent. Mr. Bloomberg added 165,000 affordable units, largely in new private-sector market-rate buildings – which often made the surrounding areas more expensive. There is no question that Mr. Bloomberg successfully encouraged economic growth for the city as whole, and partly through some soft tactics: his team was sensitive to urban design and the intangible qualities that make a city great. The Place-Makers In 2009, New York got a new park like no other. The High Line recast an old elevated rail line as a promenade between the industrial buildings in the West Chelsea area of Manhattan. It was initially opposed by the city but won the support of many neighbours, architects and urbanists – including the planner Amanda Burden, whom Mr. Bloomberg appointed as his planning director. Built with help from donors such as Edward Norton, the High Line became an enormous success, overrun by tourists. It also radically gentrified the area: The city rezoned the district for luxury development, and soon star architects like Frank Gehry were designing office and residential buildings. The High Line is now being expanded into a third phase, which will connect directly into Hudson Yards – a $15-billion (U.S.) office and residential development built above a rail yard. That project, co-developed by Canada’s Oxford Properties, was Mr. Bloomberg’s baby. It will house offices for Time Warner, L’Oreal and luxury brand Coach. Presumably, Coach designers will enjoy walking the High Line as much as the wealthy Chinese tourists who are buying their handbags. One central insight of the Bloomberg administration was that visitors, entrepreneurs and knowledge workers would be drawn by the same magnet: a culturally rich and beautiful city with attractive public space. If that seems obvious, Mr. Bloomberg’s people were, in the early days after 2001, going against the grain. It was a moment when many kinds of professional work seemed likely to disperse into the suburbs and beyond. “They were arguing the importance of being in a dense urban place to creative and economic endeavours that don’t look like they need it,” Mr. Davidson argues. “The Internet had decentralized investment. There was this sense that everyone could move out of the city without paying a price in terms of being plugged in and connected.” But New York had to become the place that everybody wanted to be. It did, through some surprising means. Under Mr. Bloomberg, the streets of New York didn’t just take on a different atmosphere. The streets changed, physically. I was working in Midtown Manhattan in 2003 and remember making the mildly unpleasant walk down Broadway, from 34th to 23rd Street; the avenue still lined with wholesalers, the narrow sidewalks often blocked, car and truck traffic belching and racing downtown. People on bikes survived, barely. Now that stretch has been branded as “NoMad,” and the Ace Hotel – which is the physical embodiment of the word “hipster” – is in the middle of it; there are also a bike lane and two public plazas. On one of the plazas, opposite the famous Flatiron Building, you can sit at a cafe table (under a blue umbrella), have a coffee, and check in on free WiFi. Thousands of locals and tourists use that Flatiron Plaza every day, despite the fact that there’s a very nice park right across the street. It provides room for people to gather and be among other people. It also means a bit less room for car traffic. This is all part of the plan for these plazas, implemented by Mr. Bloomberg’s transportation commissioner, Janette Sadik-Khan – who is another hire at Bloomberg Associates. The plazas began quietly, as temporary installations in places where car traffic was confusing. When the experiments worked, they were rolled out more broadly and made permanent. For Mr. Bloomberg’s people, there is a clear link between the private gain and the public good. Many North American politicians haven't understood that public space affects real-estate value, but the Bloomberg administration set out to capitalize on it. Just as Central Park created great wealth in the 19th century, they hoped to do so with new parks in the 21st – about 300 hectares-worth. “Good design is good economic development,” Ms. Burden told the New York Times in 2012. Tourism was another high priority for Mr. Bloomberg’s administration, which saw it as both business and cultural diplomacy. He installed an advertising executive, George Fertitta, to head the local tourism authority, and the city hit a series of new records for visitors: the number rose from 43.8 million in 2006 to an estimated 54 million in 2013, with international visitors increasing by 50 per cent. Those foreigners spend much more money than domestic visitors, and their presence pays untold returns in goodwill and investment. The global super-rich have also been buying real estate, as a forest of luxury buildings pops up in Midtown Manhattan. Mr. Bloomberg has welcomed this: “If we could get every billionaire in the world to move here, that would be a godsend,” he said last fall in response to questions about rising inequality. Those remarks hit a cultural nerve that's been exposed for a decade now. The inner-Brooklyn neighbourhoods that welcomed artists in 2000 are now filling with Wall Streeters; many people argue that the city's pursuit of the affluent is destroying the city's creative energy. The legendary musician David Byrne, who moved to New York in the ’70s when the city was at its lowest, is worried that New York “will be a city closer to Hong Kong or Abu Dhabi than to the rich fertile place it has historically been,” he wrote last fall. “Those places might have museums, but they don't have culture.” Mr. Bloomberg’s strong support for high culture, including his own private donations, can't fix that. The question, in the long term, is whether the city’s considerable draws – and more remote neighbourhoods – will be big enough for a new generation of creators. The Bloomberg Mission Many of the Bloomberg administration's ideas aren't original; rather they reflect some best practices in urbanism around the world. (Ms. Sadik-Khan borrowed some notions about streetscapes from European cities.) And that may mean they will travel well to other cities through the work of Bloomberg Associates. The details are still unclear, but Mr. Bloomberg’s philanthropic efforts – and there are many – suggest some of the routes the consultancy might take. His Bloomberg Philanthropies works on five major themes: the arts, education, the environment, government innovation, and public health. There is the Mayor’s Challenge, which asks cities to “define a serious problem and craft a bold solution.” Each of 20 finalists, to be announced next month, will send a team of four to an “Ideas Camp” to refine them, then resubmit them, and – in October – four winners will take prizes of €1-million, and one will take €5-million. If that process sounds complex, it is; there is a presumption that city governments are not good at innovating. One of the criteria is to say “We are the first city to…” Another asks: “Are you using talent, partners and resources outside of city government in a meaningful way?” What do the results look like? Last year’s finalists, drawn from American cities, included a “well-being metric” to shape policy in Santa Monica, Calif; a revision to recycling programs in Houston that allow citizens to use one bin for everything; and a program called “Providence Talks,” which gives low-income children in Rhode Island language and reading support. That diversity suggests the scope of Bloomberg Associates. “I think it’s great that they’re going to be a voice out in the world,” says Brent Toderian, a leading planning consultant and Vancouver’s former chief planner. “But it’ll be interesting to see how the conversation goes. It’s not necessarily so that every city wants to be like New York. The best conversations are looking at examples from around the world.” And some of the specific planning and urban design policies that worked in New York, Mr. Toderian points out, won’t fly without the dense, diverse cityscape that New York offers. On the other hand, the scale of Mr. Bloomberg’s success has helped create a new climate where cities see each other as peers and share ideas freely. And, as Mr. Davidson says, correctly: “Bloomberg gets a lot of credit for that. The idea that a mayor can do something that has an impact – and large cities have a lot more in common across national borders? That’s powerful.” [View Less]

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WFP: All over map on Portage and Main (Mar.14'14)
by Beth McKechnie 14 Mar '14

14 Mar '14

All over map on Portage and Main Councillors support reopening, but plans vary By: Aldo Santin http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/all-over-map-on-portage-and-main-250… Hopes for reopening Portage and Main to pedestrians are still alive at city hall but councillors are all over the map on the issue. Three of four councillors on the public works committee -- Jenny Gerbasi, Devi Sharma and Dan Vandal -- voted Thursday to keep the concept alive but later they each had their own version of … [View More]the wording. It may not have mattered so much to chairman Justin Swandel -- he was the lone voter against the motion. Gerbasi was the most vocal supporter of reopening the intersection, saying city council has to champion the concept if it's ever to become a reality. "I think there is some real momentum on this," Gerbasi (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry) said. "It's a question of political will." Gerbasi wanted the committee to vote on a motion that would forward the issue to the standing downtown committee, which would take the lead in pushing it ahead. The intersection was closed off to pedestrians when the property owners on the corner built the underground complex. The deal expires in 2019 but Swandel said any one of the property owners can trigger a 40-year extension. Swandel (St. Norbert) said the city has to first convince the property owners to reopen the intersection or all their efforts will be wasted. Vandal (St. Boniface) repeatedly asked for the wording of the motion before voting; Gerbasi kept changing the wording and said it should include everything everyone was talking about, as long as the priority was reopening the intersection to pedestrians. It was left to the committee clerk to piece together everything that was said and to formally write out a motion to be included in the meeting minutes. Stephanie Voyce of the Downtown BIZ appeared as a delegation in support of the reopening. Voyce said the BIZ favours a one-year pilot opening, where the various options considered in an administrative report could be tried and the impact on businesses on the street and in the underground can be seen. Swandel said Gerbasi was focused on reopening the intersection, whereas he believed the issue should be to develop ways to make the famous corner more pedestrian-friendly, including reopening it to pedestrians if possible. Swandel said all hopes for reviving the intersection die if Gerbasi's narrow goal of reopening the intersection fails. Gerbasi countered there have been numerous studies examining the intersection and they all conclude reopening the intersection is the key to luring more pedestrians, adding other initiatives will only complement the reopening. An administrative report examined options for reopening the intersection to pedestrians but staff comments showed they weren't supportive of the idea. The report ruled out a "scramble" crossing -- where traffic lights in all directions are red for a period of time to allow people to cross as they like -- but said other crossing methods should be studied further before any decision is made to commit to reopening the intersection. A public works official said more than 200,000 people drive through the intersection every day in vehicles, while the department estimated only about 1,000 people would cross the intersection on a daily basis if it were reopened. "That puts everything into context," said Luis Escobar, the city's traffic czar. aldo.santin(a)freepress.mb.ca Different wordings The public works committee voted to support the reopening of Portage and Main to pedestrians. The Free Press asked each of the councillors what they thought was the wording of the motion they were voting on: *Jenny Gerbasi:* "It's not word for word but I can tell you the essence was to take the steps, to bring forward potential steps needed to open the barriers and allow pedestrians at Portage and Main, and then it goes through the different steps that can be taken; it leaves some flexibility on how that happens." Voted in favour. *Justin Swandel: *"From the perspective of opening the intersection, move forward to the standing policy committee on downtown development, heritage and riverbank, with the specific pieces that were in the old report -- consulting with the owners, working with the traffic study; there were two other pieces in there, and then also including the overall design, that was the last piece of the motion." Voted against. *Devi Sharma: *"There were many things that were incorporated into that motion but the important thing is we're moving this forward and to have further discussion, analysis and consultation and that's what it's all about." Voted in favour. *Dan Vandal: *"The spirit of the motion was, with the goal of bringing back pedestrian traffic to Portage and Main, to begin engaging the private property owners and CentreVenture, and... we should also take into consideration making design improvements for pedestrian-oriented design improvements, and when the time is appropriate, public works will do the necessary traffic study so we have some buy-in." Voted in favour. * * * * * Following the meeting, the committee clerk prepared the following motion to be recorded in the minutes: The standing policy committee on infrastructure renewal and public works further directed the Winnipeg public service to commence with the following aiming to potentially open Portage Avenue and Main Street to pedestrian access: 1. Initiate discussions with the relevant property owners adjacent to the intersection of Portage Avenue and Main Street regarding implementation and process with the goal of allowing pedestrians at grade at this intersection. 2. Engage with stakeholders to include consultations and research as applicable. 3. Prepare terms of reference for a comprehensive traffic study at the appropriate time. -- Santin *Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 14, 2014 B2* [View Less]

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Calgary organization enlists Dutch students to make city safer for cyclists
by Dave Elmore 14 Mar '14

14 Mar '14

http://globalnews.ca/news/1207586/calgary-organization-enlists-dutch-student s-to-make-city-safer-for-cyclists/ Calgary organization enlists Dutch students to make city safer for cyclists By Phil Heidenreich Global News Safer Calgary is asking some Dutch land use students for input on how to improve safety for cyclists in the city. CALGARY- For the second straight year, the umbrella organization Safer Calgary is getting input from some European students on how to improve cycling … [View More]

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Two active transportation initiatives not be missed!
by Rivers West 13 Mar '14

13 Mar '14

*Rivers West is hosting two active transportation initiatives in March:* *How to Develop an Active Transportation Map of your Community *(poster attached) *DATE: *Thursday, March 27th *TIME: *9:00 am ‐ 11:30 am *LOCATION: *Carol Shields Auditorium, Millennium Library, 251 Donald Street *RSVP: *Sylvie info(a)riverswest.ca (204) 925‐2320 ext. 108 *COST: *Free *Presented by: *City of Winnipeg, Green Action Centre, Winnipeg Trails … [View More]

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AT webinar: The Value of Investing in Complete and Green Streets, Wed, Mar 19, 2-3pm, EcoCentre
by Beth McKechnie 13 Mar '14

13 Mar '14

Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg invite you to join us for a local viewing of the following APBP webinar at the EcoCentre (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave). This will be followed by group discussion of local applications. Description provided below. RSVPs are appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! cheers, Beth (204) 925-3772 ** * * * ** *All In: The Value of Investing in Complete and Green Streets* *Wednesday, March 19, 2014 | 2:00-3:00 pm Central* Changing the way streets … [View More]

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Watch for bikes - sign on window of Toronto taxi
by Jessie Klassen 12 Mar '14

12 Mar '14

Here is a window decal from the passenger seat of a taxi in Toronto. *Jessie Klassen* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre<http://www.greenactioncentre.ca>| Find us here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Avenue* | *(204) 925-3772 Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>

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Winnipeg Urbanist Meetup
by Beth McKechnie 12 Mar '14

12 Mar '14

** Please share widely ** >From Matt Carreau... The Winnipeg Urbanist Meetup is a monthly gathering along the lines of Green Drinks <http://www.greendrinks.org/> [organized in Winnipeg by the Manitoba Eco-Network <http://mbeconetwork.org/resources/events> on the first Friday of each month] or Secret Handshake <http://secrethandshake.ca/> but designed for folks with an interest in cities and urbanism. The idea is to create a regular space for civic-minded individuals to … [View More]

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London Borough's set to become "Mini-Hollands"
by Jackie Avent (ASRTS) 11 Mar '14

11 Mar '14

http://road.cc/content/news/113286-enfield-kingston-and-waltham-forest-get-… -- *Jackie Avent* | Active and Safe Routes to School Green Action Centre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Avenue* | *(204) 925-3773 *|* Find us here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>

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