- AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

Fwd: Prevent Further Cycling Deaths
by Jackie Avent (ASRTS) 13 Jun '14

13 Jun '14

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Laura Donatelli <omojean98(a)hotmail.com> Date: Fri, Jun 13, 2014 at 3:21 PM Subject: Prevent Further Cycling Deaths To: Laura Donatelli <omojean98(a)hotmail.com> Hi Friends, As a part of Bike Winnipeg week, this coming Monday evening (June 16th), cyclists across Winnipeg are encouraged to come together at MTYP (The Forks) to identify the most critical areas for cycling improvement needed in Winnipeg. Let's try to prevent further cycling deaths in our city. Please spread the word amongst other cyclists and those who care about them. Thanks, Laura Donatelli -- *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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AT Webinar: Calming Arterial Streets for Safer Walking and Cycling, Wed, Jun 18, 2-3pm, EcoCentre
by Beth McKechnie 13 Jun '14

13 Jun '14

Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg invite you to join us for a local viewing of the following APBP webinar at the EcoCentre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave). This will be followed by group discussion of local applications. A particularly timely topic for Winnipeg plus it's during Bike Week! RSVPs appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then. cheers, Beth (204) 925-3772 ** * * * ** *Calming Arterial Streets for Safer Walking and Cycling* <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/> *Wednesday, June 18th, 2014 | 2:00-3:00 pm Central* High-volume, high-speed arterials present special challenges for taming traffic. Conventional transportation thinking about arterials prioritizes moving large numbers of vehicles at high speed over long distances, even if those roadways run through the heart of a city. This thinking ignores the historical purpose of cities—to minimize distance and provide productive venues for economic and social exchange. Join this webinar to learn how cities are beginning to rethink their priorities for arterial streets, and what this means for planning for safer roads that also contribute to a city’s economic vitality. Ian Lockwood, Livable Transportation Engineer at Toole Design Group and a 2011 Harvard School of Design Loeb Fellow, challenges attendees to reconsider the connections between the economic role of cities, place-making, mobility and great city streets. His presentation describes the evolution of arterial streets, discusses the concept of mobility as improving population movement for economic and social exchange, and suggests an alternative, context-sensitive framework for measuring arterial performance. Specific projects highlight cities that are rethinking their arterials and the role of traffic calming measures used as strategies to improve mobility. *Presenter*: Ian Lockwood, Livable Transportation Engineer, Toole Design Group

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WFP: Bicycle safety on the road is a two-way street (Jun13'14)
by Beth McKechnie 13 Jun '14

13 Jun '14

Bicycle safety on the road is a two-way street http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/bicycle-safety-on-the-road-is-a-two-… Bicycles and vehicles share the road, so Manitoba Public Insurance wants to remind everyone a little care and concern from both goes a long way. MPI spokeswoman MaryAnn Kempe said cyclists can be proactive by understanding the dangers of vehicle blind spots and how they can avoid a collision. "Turning and side-swipe collisions are two of the most common collisions involving cyclists, according to claims data," Kempe, the vice-president of business development and communications and chief product officer for MPI, said in a press release. "Maintaining visibility is vital to preventing these types of collisions -- especially when it comes to large vehicles. If cyclists and motorists can see each other, then these types of collisions could be avoided. From a cyclist's perspective, if you cannot see the driver from where you are on the road, then you also need to assume that they cannot see you." In the statement, Sgt. Rob Riffel of the Winnipeg Police Service encouraged cyclists to ride defensively and recognize potentially dangerous situations. "Motorists and cyclists are both entitled to be on the roadways. There should be a mutual respect for both groups," Riffel stated. Claims data released by MPI show three Manitobans are killed and 250 others are injured each year in bicycle collisions. There was also an average of 269 bicycle-motor vehicle collisions reported from 2007-2011, with the majority (98.4 per cent) occurring in urban centres. Dave Elmore, CAN-Bike master instructor and former director of safety and education for Bike Winnipeg, said a defensive strategy for cyclists when approaching an intersection is to always shoulder check and signal before moving into the centre of the lane. Under no circumstance should a bike rider pass motor vehicles on the right or position themselves to the right of vehicles at an intersection, Elmore said. Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 13, 2014 A5

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WFP: Cycling to Bombers field takes a Hail Mary or two (Jun13'14)
by Beth McKechnie 13 Jun '14

13 Jun '14

Cycling to Bombers field takes a Hail Mary or two By: Geoff Kirbyson See accompanying video at: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/cycling-to-bombers-field-takes-a-hai… Riding your bicycle down Pembina Highway to Investors Group Field is a bit of a Hail Mary. Traffic congestion in south Winnipeg before and after Winnipeg Blue Bombers games has been a bone of contention even before the new stadium opened last year. The issue reached a critical stage after 69-year-old Dick Stevenson was hit by a vehicle while riding his bike to Monday's exhibition game against the Toronto Argonauts and died the next morning. But if the city and the football club want fans to seriously consider two-wheeled transportation to the University of Manitoba campus, some changes must be made as soon as possible so cyclists can make the commute safely, particularly after games when it's dark. To get an idea of what the trip is like, I strapped a Go-Pro camera to my bike helmet and set off down Pembina from McGillivray Boulevard early Thursday afternoon. I'm an experienced cyclist, but I purposely avoid roadways such as this. The traffic is constant, even when it's not rush hour, and there's not a lot of room out there. For the first kilometre or two, I'm sharing the curb lane with SUVs, pickup trucks and the odd compact car. I relax a little when I hit Chevrier Boulevard and the road opens up to a dedicated bike lane. There are a few mini-detours where the path takes me up on to the sidewalk -- usually around bus stops -- for a few metres at a time, and at this point, I think the ride isn't too bad. But then I hit Plaza Drive, just north of Bishop Grandin, and everything stopped. The bike lane ends abruptly, and there's no signage or arrows directing me where to go. I think of Mr. Stevenson as I hug the curb once again with vehicles whizzing past me because this is where he was struck. But the route gets even more treacherous as I reach the westbound Bishop Grandin turnoff. Even if I wanted to keep going straight, I'd have to battle for position with vehicles making the turn. Instead, I opt for the sidewalk crossing and make my way across the bridge via the pedestrian overpass. There was only one woman walking ahead of me, but I can imagine it would jammed before Bomber games. Making my way on to University Crescent, there is, again, no dedicated bike lane, but there's a decent shoulder to ride on, although there's still a fair amount of sand and grime I would have expected to have been picked up by street cleaners in the spring. Finally, I arrive at my destination. Would it be worth it to ride to a football game? Probably. I'd make sure to leave super early to avoid the worst of the crush. I'd probably say a Hail Mary once or twice, too. geoff.kirbyson(a)freepress.mb.ca Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 13, 2014 A5

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WFP: Area's hazard won't change soon - Safer path at site of tragedy years away (Jun13'14)
by Beth McKechnie 13 Jun '14

13 Jun '14

Area's hazard won't change soonSafer path at site of tragedy years away <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/> By: Mary Agnes Welch http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/areas-hazard-wont-change-soon-262987… It's one of the most intimidating stretches for cyclists, and it could be a decade or more before any significant bike infrastructure is built there. Pembina Highway and Bishop Grandin, where a Winnipeg Blue Bomber fan was killed while cycling to Monday night's exhibition game, is about to be bracketed by a buffered bike path local cyclists love. The Pembina bike lane north of Bishop Grandin was built last summer, and crews are working now on a short stretch south of the eight-lane overpass. But the overpass itself is widely seen as among the worst spots for cyclists, thanks largely to many merge lanes, several driveways and the sheer speed and volume of cars. But a truly separated bike path next to the proposed bus rapid transit line along the nearby Letellier rail line is still at least six years away from completion, assuming federal infrastructure cash can be secured for the southwest rapid transit corridor that city council debates endlessly. And the construction of a buffered bike lane along the full length of Pembina Highway is part of the city's draft cycling master plan. But that's a 20-year project, and city transportation staff could offer no word Thursday when capital funding might be available or where Pembina Highway might fall on the spending priority list. The active transportation master plan goes to council for approval later this year. To avoid the Bishop Grandin-Pembina intersection and get to the University of Manitoba, the city recommends a bike detour east along Plaza Drive and following the Red River through the back campus. But that route is not well-known to cyclists. The intersection is under the cycling spotlight, but Bike Winnipeg's Mark Cohoe says there are many others in the city that are no-go areas for many bikers. Those include Main Street at the Higgins underpass, Confusion Corner and the Osborne Street underpass, and Main Street at Broadway, where long left-turn lanes see cars stacked up and often in conflict with pedestrians and cyclists. Winnipeg bike enthusiasts have many tales of crashes and close calls along Pembina, but collision experts with the Winnipeg police have investigated at least two serious ones in recent years. In June of 2011, a 52-year-old woman died when her bike was struck by a 23-year-old driving a Lexus on Pembina near Dalhousie Drive. A couple of weeks later, a 24-year-old man cycling on Pembina near Chancellor Matheson Drive was also badly hurt when he was struck by a vehicle. [Note: See graph of cyclist fatalities 2004-2013 at http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/areas-hazard-wont-change-soon-262987… ] Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 13, 2014 A4

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WFP: Bike woes clear long before death - Shortcomings on Pembina serious due to high university traffic (Jun13'14)
by Beth McKechnie 13 Jun '14

13 Jun '14

Bike woes clear long before deathShortcomings on Pembina serious due to high university traffic <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/> By: Bartley Kives http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/columnists/bike-woes-clear-long-be… In politics, broadcasting or any other realm of public life, using a tragedy to make a point is a dangerous game. On Monday evening, a Blue Bomber fan was riding his bike to Investors Group Field to watch a CFL pre-season game when he was involved in a motor-vehicle collision. Sixty-nine-year-old Dick Stevenson was taken to hospital in unstable condition and later died of his injuries. The police are investigating the collision. Unless you witnessed the event -- or happen to be a traffic-unit investigator -- it'd be irresponsible to assign responsibility to any party. If you're a pundit or a politician, you don't blame the victim, you don't blame the motorist and you certainly don't blame the Winnipeg Football Club or the City of Winnipeg until you know darn well what happened. This is why it was cringe-inducing to observe a public exchange between the city and the Bombers that came uncomfortably close to a blame-storming session. Early Thursday, at the start of the morning news cycle, the football club released a statement from Bomber president and CEO Wade Miller, urging the city to "immediately review and assess all active-transportation routes and infrastructure leading to Investors Group Field." The city responded in the afternoon by making acting chief operating officer Michael Jack and transportation manager Luis Escobar available to reporters. They said they know there's a demand for a protected bike route along Pembina Highway but there are no imminent construction plans. Jack and Escobar also noted they didn't hear a peep from the Bombers about cyclist safety when the two parties met last week. Miller responded he has always raised cyclist safety in meetings with the city. To be fair to both parties, neither actually assigned blame for the fatality. The city officials made the standard refusal to comment while a police investigation is underway. Miller, meanwhile, said the motivation for his Thursday-morning press release was a Wednesday-evening query from Free Press reporter Mary Agnes Welch. "When a fan dies from something like this, I think it's important everyone takes a step back and reviews what's going on," Miller said in an interview. "It's a bigger discussion about the active-transportation plan and moving it forward. I cycle in the city and it's tough." A decade ago, Winnipeg had a truly pathetic network of bike-and-pedestrian paths. But the situation improved, thanks to a policy that ensures all significant road-construction projects include an active-transportation component -- and an influx of cash into commuter-cycling routes, including an unprecedented $21 million allotted in 2010 alone. Of course, not all of Winnipeg's new cycling infrastructure is ideal. Many cyclists shy away from using "sharrows," the extra-wide lanes intended to be used by both bikes and motor vehicles, and aren't big fans of painted-on "dedicated lanes," either. Cyclists prefer routes that are physically separated from motor-vehicle traffic. But that sort of infrastructure is difficult to create in existing neighbourhoods, where a shortage of space requires either the expensive expropriation of private land or the politically unpopular appropriation of a motor-vehicle lane. The city is slowly but surely improving its commuter-cycling infrastructure. As both the Bombers and the city pointed out Thursday, there are ways to travel to Investors Group Field that do not involve traversing the intersection of Pembina Highway and Bishop Grandin Boulevard. But even if Investors Group Field didn't exist, it's worth noting the city has so far failed to create a more direct cycling route from downtown to the University of Manitoba's Fort Garry campus, the second-busiest commuter destination in Winnipeg. The notion such a route has been delayed merely by the failure to complete the Southwest Transitway is a red herring, as that bus corridor is now supposed to jog 1.6 kilometres to the west Pembina Highway at its furthest point. The somewhat-separated bike lanes created along Pembina north of Plaza Drive form the start of a more direct route. But the absence of a complete and more or less protected route to the U of M is annoying for university students and staff, who have to ride out of their way to get there. The city should continue to develop this route, using whatever meagre resources it has. Unlike the football stadium, the university is busy nearly every day. In other words, the need for a Pembina bike route was evident well before this week's fatality, which should not be used by anyone for any purpose other than to express condolences. bartley.kives(a)freepress.mb.ca Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 13, 2014 A4

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WFP; Blue want safe streets for fans - City won't act until probe into fatal accident is complete (Jun13'14)
by Beth McKechnie 13 Jun '14

13 Jun '14

Blue want safe streets for fansCity won't act until probe into fatal accident is complete <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/> By: Aldo Santin http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/blue-want-safe-streets-for-fans-2629… A protected bike route along Pembina Highway that might have saved the life of cyclist Dick Stevenson was under consideration by the city's active-transportation planners. Despite the outcry over Stevenson's death while en route to Monday's Winnipeg Blue Bombers game, city hall is holding off on any talk of safety improvements until the police finish the investigation into his fatal accident. MAYORAL CANDIDATES FAVOUR SAFETY REVIEW Several mayoral candidates said city hall should review the safety of bike routes following the death of Dick Stevenson earlier this week. Paula Havixbeck, city councillor for Charleswood-Tuxedo, said city hall is responsible for ensuring bike routes are properly signed and safe, adding she doesn't know whether the bike route had anything to do with Stevenson's death. "We should be working collaboratively with groups like the Bombers to identify and correct any and all particularly unsafe conditions and to continually work towards improving safety and positive citizen experiences," Havixbeck said. Judy Wasylycia-Leis said she supports Miller's request to review the city's policy. "I was at that game -- it was a glorious night and learned after the fact that an avid Blue Bomber fan was killed in a cycling accident on the way to that game," Wasylycia-Leis said. "I think (Bombers president Wade Miller's) request is an important one and should be acted upon immediately." Wasylycia-Leis said the city needs to know whether it's taken all needed measures to ensure cycling can be done safely anywhere in Winnipeg, adding everyone knows there are transportation problems with Investors Group Field. "We want to make that stadium work. We want to make sure people get there safely and we want this to be an attraction." Brian Bowman cautioned about rushing to judgment on the circumstances surrounding Stevenson's death, but added it is appropriate to question the city's policy as a result of the tragedy. "Ideally, I'd expect the city would be working with partners like the Bombers to review the safety of our transportation plans," Bowman said, adding he'd welcome public input into how improvements can be made to the cycling network. *-- Aldo Santin* RELATED ITEMS POLL Should the City of Winnipeg invest in more separated bike lanes? 1. Yes. 2. No. View Results <http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/polls/Should-the-City-of-Winnipeg-invest-i…> "We will wait to see what the Winnipeg Police Service (investigation) finds and we'll go from there," said Luis Escobar, the city's manager of transportation. Escobar said the city recognizes cyclists want a protected route along Pembina Highway, adding it is under consideration, but there are no plans as to when that would occur. In the meantime, Escobar said, the city is encouraging cyclists and pedestrians to use the designated active- transportation routes to the stadium. "Everybody has to use the rules of the road," Escobar said. Escobar, who was joined at a news conference Thursday by Michael Jack, acting chief operating officer, said an active transportation policy for Investors Group Field was thoroughly researched before the stadium opened last year. Escobar and Jack were responding to a call from Blue Bombers president Wade Miller Thursday to review the city's active-transportation policy as it relates to the stadium in the light of Stevenson's death. Winnipeg police said Stevenson, 69, was involved in a vehicle collision on Pembina Highway near Bishop Grandin Boulevard around 5:30 p.m. He was taken to hospital in unstable condition and died from his injuries. "On multiple occasions, we have expressed concerns about active transportation," Miller said. "Unfortunately, limited progress has been made in addressing some of the concerns. As a result of this week's tragic death, I think it is the responsibility of all involved to make their voices heard to ensure fan safety is paramount." Miller said the team is also concerned about the lack of street lighting along Chancellor Matheson Drive and the safety threat that poses to pedestrians. "My concerns are about fan safety for those who choose to cycle or walk to the stadium," Miller said, adding he's looking forward to resolving the issues as soon as possible. The bike route to the new stadium was singled out as a success story last year. Thousands of fans -- adults and children -- rode their bikes safely to Bomber games last year without incident. Detailed active-transportation routes to the stadium are available on the stadium website (investorsgroupfield.ca), including a route to bypass the Bishop Grandin-Pembina intersection from both the west and the north. But that has renewed concerns from the cycling community about safety on one of the city's busiest thoroughfares. Jack said civic officials met with the Bombers last week and the team had not raised the issue of cyclist safety, but admitted the team now wants it discussed when the two sides meet again. Miller said his call for a review is not connected to the recent dispute with city hall over the transit issue, adding the team has had long-standing concerns about both cyclist and pedestrian safety. Escobar said the city is committed to active transportation, adding more than $85 million has been spent since 2008 in the establishment of 300 kilometres of active-transportation routes across the city. Escobar said any changes or upgrades to the bike route will be considered only after the conclusion of the police investigation and a report calling for such modifications. aldo.santin(a)freepress.mb.ca Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 13, 2014 A3

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WFP: Cyclist's death highlights danger on Pembina (Jun12'14)
by Beth McKechnie 12 Jun '14

12 Jun '14

Cyclist's death highlights danger on PembinaStruck by car en route to Blue Bombers game <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/> By: Mary Agnes Welch http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/cyclists-death-highlights-danger-on-… A cyclist has died after being hit by a car on his way to Monday's Winnipeg Blue Bombers exhibition game. An avid Bomber fan and longtime season ticket-holder, Dick Stevenson, 69, suffered head injuries when he was hit by a car on Pembina Highway near Bishop Grandin Boulevard at about 5:30 p.m. He was wearing a helmet, a family friend said. He died Tuesday morning. Stevenson was a member of a successful real estate and development family, which sold its firm, S. S. Stevenson & Company Limited, to the Chipmans in 1987. The company is now the Stevenson Group, the Chipman family's umbrella firm that includes Nova-Con construction, Longboat property development and Cushman & Wakefield commercial real estate brokers. It's not clear whether charges will be laid in the crash. Police said the investigation is ongoing. Last spring, during the initial traffic mayhem that surrounded the opening of the new stadium at the University of Manitoba, many opted to bike to games as the quickest and most reliable way to go. But that renewed long-standing worries about cycling safety on one of Winnipeg's busiest roads. Cycling advocates locally and internationally argue protected lanes are the safest for cyclists and motorists alike and do the most to encourage people to bike. The city's proposed bike network includes protected cycle tracks along Pembina, but so far only a short stretch exists -- a new protected track between Chevrier Boulevard and Plaza Drive that opened last summer. Another short stretch south of University Crescent is under construction. The stretch of Pembina where Stevenson was hit has no cycling infrastructure, and Bike Winnipeg's Mark Cohoe said it can be particularly hairy. It is where the on-off ramps from Bishop Grandin merge with Pembina and where cars are changing lanes at high speed. Winnipeg's cycling map includes a circle around the area, advising caution. Cohoe said the first concern should be for Stevenson's family and friends, but cycling deaths happen too often on Winnipeg streets. "Do we find this acceptable or do we need to start designing things to prevent these tragedies from happening?" asked Cohoe. Officials with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers declined to comment directly Wednesday evening, instead issuing a statement. "The thoughts and prayers of our entire organization are with Mr. Stevenson's family as they mourn this tremendous loss," said the statement. In a typical year, one or two cyclists are killed on Winnipeg streets. maryagnes.welch(a)freepress.mb.ca Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 12, 2014 A4

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Trails Manitoba - Border to Beaches Project RFP
by Beth McKechnie 11 Jun '14

11 Jun '14

Hello; Trails Manitoba is looking for a contractor to assist us with the Border to Beaches Project and would appreciate your help circulating the attached RFP. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you or your colleagues have any questions about the RFP or the Project. Thank you, Melissa Melissa Sitter Executive Director *Trails Manitoba/Sentiers Manitoba* 3-303 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3B 2B4 204-786-2688 www.trailsmanitoba.ca *"In every walk with nature one receives * *far more than he seeks."* - John Muir

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Fwd: Unique historic and cycling event coming up soon!
by Jackie Avent (ASRTS) 11 Jun '14

11 Jun '14

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Laura Donatelli <omojean98(a)hotmail.com> Date: Wed, Jun 11, 2014 at 12:31 AM Subject: Unique historic and cycling event coming up soon! To: Laura Donatelli <omojean98(a)hotmail.com> [PLEASE feel free to share this invitation widely with other cycling or Winnipeg history enthusiasts.] Hello friends, As you may know, I am on the board of Bike Winnipeg, and wanted to share an exciting event coming up later this month. Note that this activity is appropriate for occasional/recreational cyclists and anyone interested in Winnipeg's fascinating early 20th century history. Cheers, Laura Donatelli *Strike Bike!* Saturday June 21st, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Mark the 95th anniversary of “Bloody Saturday” by joining Bike Winnipeg for StrikeBike!, a guided bicycle tour of sites linked to the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919. Strike! Musical Composer and General Strike Historian Danny Schur will be our guide on this casually-paced tour that winds its way from River Heights into the Downtown and the Exchange Districts. Relive the events of the General Strike as we stop at many of the sites where history unfolded during the spring of 1919; events that eventually became the platform for future labour reforms across Canada. StrikeBike! tours start in the parking lot of 529 Wellington and run for 1-1/2 to 2 hours. Choose between a morning tour starting at 10am or an afternoon tour starting at 2pm. The cost is only $20 and proceeds from the StrikeBike! rides go towards Bike Winnipeg in support of our ongoing advocacy and education efforts. Spaces are limited so don't wait to register. For more information and to buy tickets, go to: http://bikewinnipeg.ca/strikebike/ Facebook Links AM: https://www.facebook.com/events/695922260453741/ Facebook PM Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1420255394906226/ -- *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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Variation on regular "bike boxes" at intersections.
by Patman, David 09 Jun '14

09 Jun '14

Saw this variation on the typical "bike box" idea at a conference last week. Thought it was interesting - I hadn't seen this type of treatment before. Might be practical for small numbers of bicycles. One more tool in the toolkit, perhaps... http://www.york.ca/wps/portal/yorkhome/recreation/yr/cycling/permanentbikeb… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz69ecmUsMc&feature=youtu.be David Patman, P. Eng. Transit Planner Winnipeg Transit | Service Development Division 421 Osborne Street | Winnipeg, Manitoba R3L 2A2 P: 204-986-5737 | dpatman(a)winnipeg.ca<mailto:dpatman@winnipeg.ca>

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Fwd: FW: Provincial Recreation Policy Review Survey
by Jackie Avent (ASRTS) 09 Jun '14

09 Jun '14

See below: How does AT fit with Manitoba's Policy for Recreation Opportunities? Do you have something to say about this? You can fill out a brief (8 question) survey at the link below. Jackie ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Jaques, Jessica (HHLS) <Jessica.Jaques(a)gov.mb.ca> Date: 6 June 2014 14:35 Subject: FW: Provincial Recreation Policy Review Survey To: Cc: "Hayward, Kristine (WRHA)" <KHayward(a)wrha.mb.ca>, "Prowse, Sarah (WRHA)" <sprowse(a)wrha.mb.ca>, Joannie Halas <Joannie.Halas(a)umanitoba.ca>, Dave Courrier <dave.courrier(a)sportmanitoba.ca>, "Jackie Avent (ASRTS)" < jackie(a)greenactioncentre.ca> As you are aware , our partners at Recreation and Regional Services are undertaking a review of the Provincial Recreation Policy. They have held 13 consultations with various stakeholders throughout the province but would also like to reach out to others including the general public. Could you please share this information about a short survey with your various networks. Thanks and have a great weekend! Jessica =================================================================================================== The Department of Children and Youth Opportunities is undertaking a review and update of Manitoba’s Policy for Recreation Opportunities. This review will help the provincial government establish effective priorities that reflect the changing face of recreation across the province and identify opportunities for partnerships and shared collaborative efforts. A public survey is a key component of the review of Manitoba’s Policy for Recreation Opportunities. Your input will help us determine the Province’s role in supporting the unique recreation needs of Manitobans. Please take a few minutes to answer these 8 questions <http://web15.gov.mb.ca/inquisite/cgi-bin/qwebcorporate.dll?idx=NRPG8P>. For more information about the Provincial Recreation Policy Review please visit: http://www.gov.mb.ca/cyo/recreation/prpr.html -- *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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Bike Week 2014 is coming soon
by Dave Elmore 09 Jun '14

09 Jun '14

Please pass this along to all your friends, family, etc. BIKE WEEK JUNE 16-22 is just around the corner June 16-22, 2014 marks Winnipeg's first annual Bike Week: a week long celebration of people riding bicycles. It's for everyone! Whether you ride for fitness, transportation, sport or just for fun, if you enjoying riding a bike then Bike Week is for you. Events will be held in every corner of the city including workshops, group rides, races and leisure events that enourage all Winnipeggers to get on their bikes and ride. If you like to ride check out our event listing and pass on the word! http://www.bikeweekwinnipeg.com/about/events-schedule/ The week will also feature the 7th annual Bike to Work Day on Friday, June 20th. This year's Bike to Work Day boasts 58 pit stops located all over the city, a group ride from Assiniboine Park to The Forks and the Half Pints Bikes & BBQ Party at Oodena Celebration Circle from 4:30-7:00 p.m. including free Boon Burgers*, a concert on the bike-powered concert system and a grand prize draw for a new bike from Woodcock Cycleworks. Join us for a free pancake breakfast* and launch party on Monday, June 16th from 7:00-9:00 am at the MTS Centre (enter by riding down the loading zone off of Carlton (between Portage & Graham). We look forward to riding with you. PS: You can sign up for our newsletter to receive up to date info and discounts at: http://www.bikeweekwinnipeg.com/register/ *breakfast and the BBQ are offered to anyone who arrives by bike, while supplies last.

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WFP: City, Bombers both lose in lame, ego-fuelled spat & Down, Set... Pay Up (Jun6'14)
by Beth McKechnie 06 Jun '14

06 Jun '14

City, Bombers both lose in lame, ego-fuelled spat <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/> By: Bartley Kives http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/city-bombers-both-lose-in-lame-ego-f… During the nightmarish inaugural season at Investors Group Field, one of the few silver linings for the Winnipeg Football Club was the eventual success of the game-day transportation plan. A year ago this month, getting to and from the new stadium was an unmitigated disaster. Long lines of vehicles stalled on the way to IGF, there weren't enough buses for passengers, fans arrived well after kickoff and then got stuck on the U of M campus long after the final down. By July, the situation had improved, thanks to the collective brainstorming of the Bombers, Winnipeg Transit, the Winnipeg Police Service and a number of city officials and consultants. By the fall, the Bombers actually boasted more than 1,000 fans rode bikes to the games, an average of 10,000 took buses and a total of about a third of the crowd got to and from the 33,500-seat venue by means other than personal vehicles. In a city as car-reliant as Winnipeg, this was an achievement. Convincing people in the Manitoba capital to walk, ride or take buses is no easy task. When presented with a proposition -- you could get to and from games faster, more comfortably and less expensively if you left your car at home -- Winnipeggers proved to be entirely logical. Now, these fans have been rewarded for their co-operation with the announcement of new user fees only days before the start of the CFL pre-season. On Thursday, the Winnipeg Football Club announced bus rides to the stadium along regular transit routes would no longer be free, but $2.55 -- the same fare charged by Winnipeg Transit. Rides home along these routes would remain free. Park-and-ride fares will be $5 when the regular season starts later this month, assuming there is no CFL players' strike. This is an insult to fans who went along with everything the club asked them to do last year. The result will likely mean some won't take transit and will take cars instead. If this clogs up Pembina Highway, more fans will get fed up with going to Bomber games altogether. This potential backslide is the result of a communication breakdown between the Bombers and the City of Winnipeg, who share the blame for the ridiculous situation where fans are told on a Thursday about a new plan for a game on a Monday. How did we get there? Originally, the Bombers signed a moronic transportation deal. Somehow, the football club agreed to cover the entire cost of game-day transit instead of maintaining the 2012 situation, where the city ate a portion of the cost. Last year, the city charged the Bombers $1.1 million in total and then informed the club it would cost $1.25 million this year. This means the city plans to charge the Bombers $12.50 per round trip to the stadium, as opposed to the $5.10 it charges for a pair of regular transit rides. (Yes, regular transit rides are subsidized.) Bombers president and CEO Wade Miller tried to negotiate a better deal last fall, knowing his team has to start forking over millions worth of stadium-building-loan repayments this year. Miller asked for a deep discount and was instead offered a more modest one in April. Mayor Sam Katz then yanked that offer off the table in May, claiming the club is doing too well to deserve a deal Winnipeg Transit director Dave Wardrop considered fair. Katz then successfully spun a portion of the public on the idea the Bombers would have just been receiving another subsidy, when in fact the club is being charged more than double the going transit rate. Miller, meanwhile, has compounded the situation. After failing to manage a key relationship with one of the club's stakeholders, the Bombers president now appears to be playing chicken with the city over the transportation plan. Even if just as many fans continue to take transit to the stadium this season with user fees up front, collecting fares at crowded bus stops will slow down the entire process. This is why transit warned against the idea. The Selinger government, meanwhile, is dithering on the sidelines, afraid to either criticize Katz for reneging on a deal or provide more cash to the team. The province offered to split the additional cost with the city, something the province does with all transit costs. But the Katz administration won't give the Bombers another penny, even if the Selinger government picks up half the tab. Surely, someone in this city has the leadership skills to put these squabbling children in a room and settle the impasse. There was a game-day plan that worked last year. Screwing it up over egos would be pretty lame. bartley.kives(a)freepress.mb.ca Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 6, 2014 B1 * * * * * DOWN, SET... PAY UP Fans to pay half fare on regular routes, $5 to park and ride <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/> By: Adam Wazny http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/down-set-pay-up-262112371.html With the start of the season fast approaching, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are moving forward with a pay-as-you-go transportation plan to get people to Investors Group Field this season. The CFL club announced Thursday those taking Winnipeg Transit to Investors Group Field events will have to pay the regular transit fare. The Bombers will cover the ride home, meaning a round trip will cost fans $2.55 to watch their local football team live. *Touchdown or incompletion?* RIDE ON: Highlights of the revised Winnipeg Blue Bombers transportation plan for 2014: *Winnipeg Transit* All regular and augmented transit routes will remain the same as they were 2013. Users will be charged a one-way fare ($2.55) to get to Investors Group Field. It can be paid by cash, transit ticket, or bus pass. The return fare is free of charge. *Park-and-ride* A $5 charge will be collected (per person) at each location prior to the game or event. A $40 season park and ride pass (per person) is also available. Chartered school buses begin departing two hours before kickoff. The park and ride locations include: McPhillips Station Casino, 484 McPhillips St. (parking for 500 cars). Club Regent, 1425 Regent Ave. West (500 cars). St. Vital Public Works Yard, 590 St. Anne's Rd. (300 cars). Manitoba Hydro , 820 Taylor Ave. (500 cars). Assiniboia Downs (300 cars). St. Norbert Hotel, 3540 Pembina Hwy (200 cars). Garden City Centre (100 cars). Kildonan Place (100 cars). *On-campus parking* The Bombers have secured 5,000 parking spots on the University of Manitoba campus. Season parking passes and flex-pack game parking passes are available for purchase. Cash parking in regular lots is available ($20) on a first-come, first-served basis. Passes can be pre-purchased or purchased with cash on game day. The Bombers are also offering a new parking lot for carpool vehicles (three or more people). Cost for a carpool parking lot spot is $10. *Why not bike?* Once again, the club is offering a secure bike valet service, with a capacity for 800 bicycles. There are also approximately 400 more unmonitored spots to lock up your bike on the IGF grounds. -- source: www.bluebombers.com The club is also asking patrons to chip in on the park-and-ride program, charging $5 per person for those wanting to use the service. Last year, both transit and the park-and- ride program were free for ticket holders. This time, though, the club was forced to come up with a way to help control transportation costs after the city rescinded a transit proposal that would have seen the club receive a discounted rate. That proposal saw the city offer the Bombers transit subsidies worth approximately $650,000 this year. Winnipeg Transit recommended the subsidy in April, after five months of negotiations aimed at reducing the burden for the non-profit football club. The Bombers are expected to make a $4.5-million principal-and-interest payment this year on $85 million worth of loans that helped build Investors Group Field, its year-old home at the University of Manitoba's Fort Garry campus. In a May 27 statement from the city, acting chief administrative officer Deepak Joshi said the Bombers no longer need the transit subsidy due to the club's "robust financial situation" -- a reference to a $2.9-million profit reported by the club for the 2013 season. Unhappy with the about-face, the Bombers huddled and came up with a new game plan, passing some of the costs down to the fans. "This new plan will help offset some of the transportation costs by about one-third," said Bomber president and CEO Wade Miller. Miller estimates the transportation cost for 2014 could be as much as $1.25 million. A third of that is just more than $412,000. In 2013, the city charged the football club $1.1 million, or about $11 per person, to transport fans to and from events at Investors Group Field. The city intended to increase that to $1.25 million, or about $12.50 per person, this year. Last year, an average of 10,000 people took buses to events at Investors Group Field. Miller expects a few pockets of discontent over the new transportation plan -- expect delays at Winnipeg Transit stops while Blue and Gold-clad fans fumble with their change stepping onto the bus -- but his overall sense is Bombers supporters understand the reality facing the club on game days. "At our Fan Fest over the weekend, people told me, 'We're OK with paying our own way, Wade, you do what you need to do and we're comfortable with paying our own way to get down to the stadium,' " Miller said, adding he doesn't anticipate a rework of the plan should problems arise mid-season. "The plan is the same as last year, that's the important thing. We wanted to make sure we didn't interrupt the service level because at the end of the year all the bugs got worked out. It was a successful plan that the Bombers and Winnipeg Transit put together." Besides shelling out for a ride, the biggest change will be for the park-and-ride users. Approximately 130 school buses will in operation for the park and ride program, up significantly from the 50-75 buses used last year on game days. The park-and-ride will include the same eight routes as last year. Buses leave 90 minutes before kickoff, and the last bus leaves 30 minutes before. The service is free for the first preseason game versus Toronto Monday. The $5 charge kicks in for the June 26 regular-season opener against those same Argos. -- with files from Bartley Kives adam.wazny(a)freepress.mb.ca Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 6, 2014 B1

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Bike Week and the media launch
by Dave Elmore 06 Jun '14

06 Jun '14

The launch for Bike Week will take place at 11:00 am on June 10 at City Hall. Many of you may have heard of Bike to Work Day in the past but Bike Week represents the growth of this popular event into a full week of activities. Bike Week is more than just a 1 day celebration of riding bikes to work, it is a celebration of all people riding bicycles. It's for everyone. Whether you ride for recreation, fitness, transportation, sport, or just for fun, if you enjoy riding a bike, then Bike Week is a good fit. It will take place from June 16-22, 2014 and is going to feature a wide variety of bicycle related events for all types of riders. As always, Bike to Work Day and our barbeque celebration will take place on the Friday, June 20th. To get more information and to sign up for our e-newsletter, visit <http://www.bikeweekwinnipeg.com> www.bikeweekwinnipeg.com. Because Bike Week is for everyone, we are hoping that we can launch it at city hall with a wide variety of bikes and riders in attendance. Hope to see you there and please pass this along to everyone that you know that enjoys riding a bike. Thanks Dave o _ ( \ _ (X)\ /(X)

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Ottawa cycling group runs down 'sharrows'
by Dave Elmore 05 Jun '14

05 Jun '14

http://www.ottawasun.com/2014/06/04/ottawa-cycling-group-runs-down-sharrows Ottawa cycling group runs down 'sharrows' The expanded use of painted "sharrows" on busy roads doesn't impress a cycling group, even though the city believes the markings promote safety. "It's a bit of an excuse instead of building real biking infrastructure," Citizens for Safe Cycling VP Alex deVries said Wednesday. Sharrows remind motorists and cyclists to share the road. It's simply a picture of a bike with a couple of chevrons. Now there are even "super sharrows" that take up the entire lane of traffic and draw attention to the logo with a painted green box. Sharrows came up during a council transportation committee meeting Wednesday as staff updated politicians on cycling infrastructure and programs. City staff said they have received positive feedback on sharrows, which also act as a communication tool to tell motorists that cyclists are also using the road. However, Citizens for Safe Cycling opposes sharrows. deVries said there is no proof sharrows provide a safety benefit to cyclists and that the resources could be better spent on enhanced cycling infrastructure. "Part of the problem is they're new infrastructure that people don't understand," deVries said. In 2013 Ottawa driving schools received information packages on various cycling programs, including the use of sharrows. The city has also distributed posters and information cards on the markings. Some sharrows are being painted on roads with fast traffic and cyclists might think they must ride where the markings are painted, deVries explained. The city says sharrows don't compel cyclists to ride in a particular spot in the lane. In one study of cycling injuries in Toronto and Vancouver, researchers at the University of British Columbia concluded sharrows pose an "increased risk" to cyclists. Cycling projects in Ottawa have picked up over the past three years. The city says it has spent $28 million on cycling programs this term of council and some councillors speculate it's actually been more with enhancements after road reconstruction. Judging by politicians' remarks Wednesday, the city should be doing even more. Beacon Hill-Cyrville Coun. Tim Tierney pushed staff to explain why cycling infrastructure wouldn't be installed during a reconstruction of Ogilvie Rd., where he says there's a "dark hole" of biking connections. Staff ballparked the extra cost at $3 million and said it's too expensive. Innes Coun. Rainer Bloess wants the city to promote more cycling events and Rideau-Vanier Coun. Mathieu Fleury wants cyclists to be given more consideration in planning construction zones.

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Sunday Bicycle Route Street Closures
by Beth McKechnie 05 Jun '14

05 Jun '14

To accompany the articles below, attached is a copy of the letter that was sent to homeowners regarding enforcement of the Sunday Bicycle Route Street Closures. While the bylaw is great, it doesn't make sense to remove the physical barricades, which are a relatively inexpensive and strong visual reminder that the roadway is closed to motorists on Sundays and holidays. (Also, the ability to enforce a bylaw is not the same as allocating the resources to do so.) The name could/should be changed from Sunday Bicycle Route Street Closures to Ciclovia Routes or Sunday Open Streets as the intent is to open the roadway for all non-motorized forms of travel/recreation -- walking, cycling, rollerblading, skateboarding -- and give them priority over motorists. (That's certainly the way it used to be on Scotia St when we bought a house there 20 years ago. It was like a mini-Ciclovia every Sunday.) cheers, Beth * * * * * Drivers' bike-route fines loom Bylaw would enforce Sunday road closings By: Oliver Sachgau *http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/drivers-bike-route-fines-loom-261932831.html <http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/drivers-bike-route-fines-loom-261932…>* Sunday drivers who just can't steer clear of four special streets blocked off during the summer months will be punished if they get caught. In the past, drivers had been discouraged from driving on Wellington Crescent, Wolseley Avenue, Scotia Street and Lyndale Drive on Sundays and holidays. But the proposed bylaw would make it an offence, and mean a ticket -- likely around $90. The bylaw would be in effect from Victoria Day to Thanksgiving, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., according to a letter from the city to residents in the areas the bike routes run through. Sally Gordon, who lives on Lyndale Drive, said she supports the proposed bylaw, as it would make biking safer for her, as well as kids in the neighbourhood. "We've got a lot of kids, young ones, just learning to bike. There's people that just come roaring down Lyndale like you wouldn't believe," Gordon said. Patrol Sgt. Kevin Cisaroski of the Winnipeg Police Service said the aim is to add bite to what's currently an unenforceable rule, giving police the power to respond to complaints. "This is the next step in the evolution of the bike-route program... rather than leaving it up to voluntary compliance," Cisaroski said. "The original bike routes weren't done by way of law. We couldn't do anything about it if people complained about non-compliance." If the bylaw goes through, Cisaroski said officers would patrol certain blocks and watch for offenders. He said police might offer a few weeks of education and hand out warnings instead of tickets. But he stressed that won't be considered until the bylaw is passed. If the bylaw is passed, the city would remove barricades that currently go up on days when the routes are up and replace them with more permanent signage. Winnipeg city councillor John Orlikow (River Heights), who proposed the bylaw, said it's important to him the bylaw gets passed quickly. "It's a great community place on Sundays, having a street that's safe. For one day (a week), making sure that cars are off that street is warranted," Orlikow said. "I grew up on Wellington Crescent, running cross-country with my dad or speedskating. Having one day where you can feel safe, I think it's a great thing." oliver.sachgau(a)freepress.mb.ca Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 5, 2014 B2 * * * * * CBC coverage: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-bylaw-to-make-driving-on-4-…

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WFP: Public works committee OKs school-zone bylaw (Jun4'14)
by Beth McKechnie 05 Jun '14

05 Jun '14

Public works committee OKs school-zone bylaw By: Aldo Santin <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/> http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/Public-works-committee-OKs-school-zo… A proposed bylaw to reduce vehicle speeds around some elementary schools is going to city council with the support of a civic committee. Members of public works voted unanimously Tuesday in support of the new bylaw, which will lower speed limits around some kindergarten-to-Grade 6 schools to 30 kilometres per hour. "This is a good first step," Coun. Jenny Gerbasi said. Committee chairman Coun. Justin Swandel said he didn't think speed is a safety concern around Winnipeg schools but added the bylaw "is probably a good thing." If approved by council later this month, the bylaw would come into effect for the start of the 2014-2015 school year, lowering speeds around specific elementary schools between the hours of 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m., from September to June. The lower speeds would not apply to regional streets adjacent to schools. The bylaw applies to 171 schools, leaving out about 50 schools because of requirements where signs must be placed. Coun. Harvey Smith told the committee he thought the bylaw should be expanded to include parks. However, public works directors Brad Sacher said the bylaw can't be expanded to include other areas without amendments to provincial legislation. Council approved the principles supporting lowered speed limits around elementary schools in July 2012 and set aside $1 million for signage. However, before Winnipeg could implement the change, the city had to wait for the province to amend legislation -- which it did in September 2013 -- giving municipalities the authority to lower the speed limits around schools to 30 km/h. Mayor Sam Katz had promised to have the bylaw in place before the end of 2013 but Sacher said writing the bylaw was a complex procedure that included identifying every school and street that will be affected.

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Active Transportation - linking Winnipeg to the Capital Region
by Beth McKechnie 05 Jun '14

05 Jun '14

*From:* Janice Lukes [mailto:jlukes@shaw.ca] *Sent:* Wednesday, June 04, 2014 7:51 AM *Subject:* Active Transportation - linking Winnipeg to the Capital Region Good morning! Many local active transportation representatives participated in the Manitoba Capital Region <http://leadingmanitoba.ca/default.asp> Transportation Master Plan consultation process - and provided input on improving connectivity to and from the Capital Region. The Transportation Plan will be ‘launched’: *Tuesday, June 10, 2014*9:00a.m. – 1:00p.m. REGISTRATION DETAILS: click here <http://www.manitobacapitalregion.ca/notices_detail.asp?notice_ID=220> As Manitoba moves forward in becoming a multi modal global transportation hub <http://www.centreportcanada.ca/about-us> – results of this study and how active transportation is dealt with should be very interesting. *Chris Lorenc, president of the heavy construction association, commended the province for its continued role in developing CentrePort. He predicted that Canada's first inland port "will have the impact of magnificently transforming Manitoba's economy into a global trading powerhouse." Free Press <http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/highway-renewal-to-proceed-ashton-13…>* *Yes – the power ALL kinds of transportation!* *Thanks* *Janice Lukes*

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New proposal for Parcel 4 at The Forks
by Beth McKechnie 04 Jun '14

04 Jun '14

New Proposal for Parcel 4 at the Forks Winnipeg, MB, Canada / 680 CJOB - Winnipeg's News & Information Leader CJOB Team Coverage <cjobnews(a)cjob.com> June 04, 2014 05:25 am http://www.cjob.com/2014/06/04/future-the-forks-parcel-4-decided/ The last piece of undeveloped land at the Forks could be transformed into two parking structures, housing, some retail and plenty of Green space that will also link the site to downtown. It’s an ambitious plan that will transform the surface parking lots known as “Parcel 4″ opposite the new Canadian Museum for Human Rights. That’s the land near Shaw Park that was put forward as a possible sight for the controversial hotel and water park plan that was eventually killed by city council. Some details of this new plan are still being worked out and there will still be another round of public consultations before anything is finalized. The plan also needs approval from the City of Winnipeg. Forks North Portage Partnership President and CEO Jim August says the idea is that the retail will include market style shops and the site would also include a link to Upper Fort Garry under construction south of Broadway on Main. And August says they want to push more pedestrians through the Portage and Main area in anticipation of it eventually reopening to traffic. “We really believe that a pedestrian flow to Portage and Main is important so our engineers have been working on that.” He says they’re also looking at putting a walkway of some kind over the rail lines. Waterfront Drive may eventually be extended through Point Douglas. The plan will take shape over the next five years as the public consultations continue. There are no cost estimates at this point. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Forks. [Note: here's more background if you're keen - http://www.theforks.com/railside]

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The first major academic study of protected bike lanes in the U.S. is out
by Dave Elmore 03 Jun '14

03 Jun '14

http://www.peopleforbikes.org/blog/entry/the-first-major-academic-study-of-p rotected-bike-lanes-in-the-u.s.-is-out It's a sign of how new the modern protected bike lane <http://www.peopleforbikes.org/green-lane-project/pages/protected-bike-lanes -101> is to the United States that we have known very little about them, scientifically speaking. Until now. Most academic studies of modern protected lanes have relied on data from countries where culture, land use, street design and social behavior are dramatically different (the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany) or from Canada, which has led the North American protected lane revolution <http://bikelanes.ca/on-urban-bike-infrastructure-canada-is-now-leading-the- way/> . Three widely noticed Canadian studies, led by Harvard's Ann Lusk <http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/early/2011/02/02/ip.2010.028696.ful l.pdf+html> , the University of British Columbia's Kay Teschke <http://cyclingincities.spph.ubc.ca/injuries/the-bice-study/> and Ryerson University's Anne Harris <http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/19/5/303.full> , focused mostly on safety. And though all three concluded that protected bike lanes greatly improve bike safety (28 percent fewer injuries per mile compared to comparable streets with no bike infrastructure using Lusk's methodology, 90 percent fewer using Teschke's; in Harris's study, protected lanes reduced intersection risk by about 75 percent), they've drawn some thoughtful criticism <http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/19/5/303.full/reply#injuryprev_el_1 0126> for underexamining the importance of intersections, where most bike-related conflicts arise. Today, Portland State University's National Institute of Transportation and Communities <http://otrec.us/NITC> released its voluminous findings <http://ppms.otrec.us/media/project_files/NITC-RR-583_ProtectedLanes_FinalRe portb.pdf> from a wide-ranging study of protected bike lane intersections in five U.S. cities. It's based on 204 hours of video footage that captured the movement patterns of 16,000 people on bicycles and 20,000 turning cars; on 2,301 surveys with people who live near the projects; and on 1,111 surveys of people using the protected lanes. "This has never been done on this scale - having five cities and a number of different sites being done at the same time," NITC spokesman Justin Carinci said in an interview Monday. "The number of hours of video review is unprecedented. But the perceptions piece is really the most definitive of it: This is a big enough sample that we could say for each of the (projects), people feel safe riding them. People say we should have more of them." The new study was co-funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Summit Foundation <http://summitfdn.org/> and PeopleForBikes. The team was led by PSU's Christopher Monsere, Jennifer Dill, Kelly Clifton and Nathan McNeil. You can download the whole report <http://ppms.otrec.us/media/project_files/NITC-RR-583_ProtectedLanes_FinalRe portb.pdf> immediately, but if you want the Cliff's Notes, we'll be digging into this huge study here on the Green Lane Project blog one angle at a time, all this week: * Tuesday: How protected lanes affect ridership <http://www.peopleforbikes.org/blog/entry/everywhere-they-appear-protected-b ike-lanes-seem-to-attract-riders> * Wednesday: Protected bike lanes and intersection safety * Thursday: What protected lanes can't do * Friday: Finally, scientific evidence that changes to auto parking make people crazy Stay tuned - for those of us who see the potential for bikes to improve cities, the findings are exciting and the notes of caution are useful. We'll be here all week.

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Protected Bike Lanes Aren't Just Safer, They Can Also Increase Cycling
by Dave Elmore 02 Jun '14

02 Jun '14

http://www.citylab.com/commute/2014/06/protected-bike-lanes-arent-just-safer -they-can-also-increase-cycling/371958/ Not all bike lanes are created equal. A line in the pavement dividing cars from cyclists is nice, but it doesn't provide nearly the comfort of a protected bike lane - a track separated from vehicle traffic by a row of parked cars, or a curb, or at least a line of flexible posts. Cyclists who use protected lanes say they feel safer, and some studies show they truly are safer, with their risk of injury cut in half <http://www.citylab.com/commute/2012/10/dedicated-bike-lanes-can-cut-cycling -injuries-half/3654/> . That's great for committed riders and public health more broadly. But what about city residents who don't already ride a bike, perhaps due to safety fears? After all, it stands to reason that cities invest in bike infrastructure not just to secure the existing rider population, but to expand it. So is the assurance of a protected bike lane enough to make a cyclist of those who might otherwise choose another transportation mode? New research suggests that, to a modest extent, the answer is yes. Today a study team <http://otrec.us/project/583> led by Christopher Monsere of Portland State University released a thorough analysis of new protected bike lanes in five major U.S. cities. The researchers videotaped the new lanes, conducted local surveys, and gathered data on cycling trends to get a full picture of life in these new corridors - comparing what they found to rider habits before the protected lanes were installed. They found that ridership increased anywhere from 21 to 171 percent, with about 10 percent of new riders drawn from other modes. The analysis focused on new bike facilities along eight city streets: Barton Springs, Bluebonnet, and Rio Grande in Austin; Dearborn and Milwaukee in Chicago; Multnomah in Portland, Oregon; Oak and Fell (a street couplet) in San Francisco; and L Street in Washington, D.C. Some of the corridors had an unprotected bike lane before the study, others had nothing at all. While the research looked at a range of measures, including safety and lane design, we'll focus on ridership here. Cycling rates rose on the new lanes across the board. The following chart, prepared by the researchers, shows street ridership counts based on an average of city data and video analysis. The biggest gains - with ridership more than doubling - occurred on two streets converted into two-way lanes. That's to be expected, but the fact that even streets with an existing bike lane saw a spike in ridership shows just how attractive protected lanes are: http://cdn.theatlantic.com/newsroom/img/posts/2014/06/protected_lane_chart/7 f1810311.jpgVia Monsere et al (2014) Those results are impressive, but on their own they have limited meaning, since cycling in these cities is on the rise everywhere. A better baseline comparison comes by placing ridership in the new corridors against general trends across the city. Here, too, the protected lanes performed well. Ridership in the new lanes beat the city average along all but one street - and on that street (Milwaukee) it matched the average. http://cdn.theatlantic.com/newsroom/img/posts/2014/06/Change_in_Ridership_Av erage_Increase_Protected_Lanes_Citywide_Increase_chartbuilder/6600db3f3.pngC ityLab The key is not just whether the protected lanes attract more riders, but whether they attract new riders. In surveys, the researchers found that across all five cities, 65 percent of riders would have gone by bike along this street anyway, and that another 24 percent, evidently comforted by the protected lane, would have traveled by bike but gone a different route. Critically, 10 percent of the new riders would have taken another (unspecified) mode - a share that reached 21 percent along the Dearborn corridor in Chicago: http://cdn.theatlantic.com/newsroom/img/posts/2014/06/Shift_in_Ridership_Fro m_Other_Modes_New_Mode_chartbuilder/e2bb9ade5.pngCityLab (data for Bluebonnet not available) So protected bike lanes do seem to serve the double purpose of improving rider safety while also inspiring people to ride in the first place. There are some key caveats to keep in mind: the big percentage swings reflect relatively small total numbers, often in the tens of riders, and it's unknown how many riders made a true shift from driving (as opposed to from other transit modes). These are also five cities with growing bike cultures: it's unclear how well protected lanes would perform in places where cycling isn't already a rising subculture. But there's fewer of those places <http://www.citylab.com/commute/2014/05/rise-bicycling-smaller-and-midsize-u s-cities/9059/> every day, which is precisely the point.

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US Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program: 2014 Report: Continued Progress in Developing Walking and Bicycling Networks
by Beth McKechnie 02 Jun '14

02 Jun '14

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Terry Zdan <tjzdan50(a)gmail.com> Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2014 13:33:11 -0500 Subject: US Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program: 2014 Report: Continued Progress in Developing Walking and Bicycling Networks *http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian/ntpp/2014_report/index.cfm <http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian/ntpp/2014_report/ind…>* *13. ABSTRACT* *In 2005, the United States Congress directed the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to develop the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program (NTPP). The program provided over $25 million in contract authority to four pilot communities (Columbia, Missouri; Marin County, California; Minneapolis area, Minnesota; and Sheboygan County, Wisconsin) for pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure and nonmotorized programs. This report summarizes the progress and results of the NTPP from August 2005 through December 2013, updating and expanding upon the analysis from the Report to the U.S. Congress on the Outcomes of the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program, submitted by the Federal Highway Administration in April 2012. This report analyzes the results through December 2013 of the NTPP in terms of program implementation, transportation mode shift toward walking and bicycling and associated improvements pertaining to access and mobility, safety and public health, and the environment and energy. From 2007 to 2013, the pilot communities observed an estimated 22.8 percent increase in the number of walking trips and an estimated 48.3 percent increase in the number of bicycling trips. This report examines how the NTPP pilot communities provide examples to other communities interested in implementing and evaluating nonmotorized investments.* -- Terry Zdan 126 Duncan Norrie Drive Wpg MB R3P 2J9 CANADA tjzdan50(a)gmail.com <tjzdan(a)gmasil.com> ng. Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>

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City of Montreal to pump $10 million into expanding bike paths (May30'14)
by Beth McKechnie 31 May '14

31 May '14

City of Montreal to pump $10 million into expanding bike paths Critics call the plan too timid, considering recent deaths BY MICHELLE LALONDE, THE GAZETTE MAY 30, 2014 http://www.montrealgazette.com/City+Montreal+pumps+million+into+expanding+b… MONTREAL — The city of Montreal will spend $10 million to expand and improve bike routes this year and will likely begin construction of a 14-kilometre bike path along a Canadian Pacific rail line spanning the island from north to south. The city will add a total of 50 kilometres of bike lanes and paths this year, in a total of 49 different locations. There will also be 24 projects to repair existing paths or lanes. Aref Salem, responsible for transportation issues on the city's executive committee, said construction of a 14-kilometre "Véloroute" from Rivière-des-Prairies to the St. Lawrence River could begin this fall if negotiations between the city and the railway result in a settlement. If not, an arbitrator will be appointed to resolve the issue, but Salem said he is confident the project will go ahead. The Véloroute will become the "spinal cord" of Montreal's cycling network, Salem said, connecting the Île Perry Bridge to Laval and the Notre Dame bike path that connects to Île Ste-Hélène, Île Notre-Dame and the South Shore. "The Véloroute will enchant cyclists who want to cross the city completely protected from car traffic, in an environment that is welcoming to the whole family," Salem said. He said construction on phase one of the Véloroute, from the Île Perry Bridge to Henri-Bourassa Blvd. should begin this fall. The route will offer easy access to métro and train stations along the way. But critics immediately denounced this year's bicycle infrastructure plan as timid, considering the recent deaths and serious injuries of cyclists and the administration's promise to act quickly to significantly improve cycling safety through infrastructure changes. The city has budgeted the same amount as last year for bike routes, they noted. The city's goal, according to the 2008 Transportation Plan, was to grow its cycling network from 400 to 800 kilometres of bike routes by 2015. (Bike routes include painted bike lanes, pictograms on the roads indicating safe bike routes, protected bike paths on roads, paths on sidewalks, and off-road paths shared with walkers and joggers.) The goal was not met, Aref conceded, as the total is currently only 650 kilometres, but he said the new administration intends to exceed 800 kilometres by 2017. "We would like them to be a lot more ambitious," said Mariane Giguère, Plateau-Mont-Royal borough councillor and Projet Montréal's critic on cycling issues. She said more work needs to be done immediately to make intersections and major arteries safer, and more protected bike paths must be built if the city really wants to persuade more people to use bikes for transportation. "It's not only about adding more kilometres of bike paths," she said. "We are looking for quality ... if we want to increase the number of people who use bicycles to get around the city every day, we need to offer safer routes, not just in the periphery but where most people live and work." Suzanne Lareau, executive director of the cycling advocacy group Vélo Québec, said the plan for this year is quite good, but more could be done. "We always want more, but 50 kilometres is not bad. There are some interventions that are really significant like at St-Laurent Blvd. and Bernard St., and remember that sometimes there are links of only half a kilometre that are extremely structurally important because they allow cyclists to go from Point A to Point B (safely) where there had been a gap in the route before." But she was disappointed the city has still not announced a solution for giving cyclists a safer route leading from Old Montreal north up to the area where St-Laurent Blvd. and Bellechasse St. intersect. She said that segment of St-Laurent is very busy and dangerous for cyclists going north and they need a protected lane or a safer alternative route nearby, along Clark St. or St-Dominique St. for example. The city plans to paint two more green bicycle boxes at busy intersections, similar to three existing pilot projects on Milton St. and University St., on Villeneuve Ave. at St-Urbain St., and on Laurier St. at St-Laurent Blvd. These painted green areas on the pavement indicate that cyclists can gather in front of cars at intersections and have priority to proceed before waiting vehicles when the light turns green. The new ones will be on Laurier St. at St-Denis St., and on Thimens Blvd. at Cavendish Blvd.. Lareau applauded these plans but said bike boxes should be painted at about 30 intersections where bicycle traffic is heavy, considering they are proven to improve safety and do not cost much. She would also like to see coloured bicycle lanes painted through the city's most dangerous intersections, so vehicles are expecting cyclists and so that cyclists follow a clearly delineated route. But Lareau said she finds the new city administration of Mayor Denis Coderre to be very receptive to ideas for improving cycling safety. "They really are in listening mode," she said. *For the list of projects planned for this year, go to:www.ville.montreal.qc.ca/velo <http://www.ville.montreal.qc.ca/velo>* <mlalonde(a)montrealgazette.com> <mlalonde(a)montrealgazette.com> mlalonde(a)montrealgazette.com © Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette

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New from the NCCHPP - 30 km/h speed limits & 3.0m traffic lanes
by Beth McKechnie 29 May '14

29 May '14

*Our apologies for cross-posting.* Dear colleagues, The National Collaborating Centre for Healthy Public Policy (NCCHPP) recently published two briefing notes documenting municipal norms that have the potential to help create environments promoting safe, active transportation. These documents are available in both English and in French on the NCCHPP's Website: *A 30-km/h Speed Limit on Local Streets* http://www.ncchpp.ca/175/publications.ccnpps?id_article=1080 <http://netmail.ccnpps.ca/redirect.aspx?id=992827&idcampagne=2514&url=http%3…> (En) http://www.ccnpps.ca/187/publications.ccnpps?id_article=1081 <http://netmail.ccnpps.ca/redirect.aspx?id=992827&idcampagne=2514&url=http%3…> (Fr) *Traffic Lane Width of 3.0 m in Urban Environments* http://www.ncchpp.ca/175/publications.ccnpps?id_article=1097 <http://netmail.ccnpps.ca/redirect.aspx?id=992827&idcampagne=2514&url=http%3…> (En) http://www.ccnpps.ca/187/publications.ccnpps?id_article=1096 <http://netmail.ccnpps.ca/redirect.aspx?id=992827&idcampagne=2514&url=http%3…> (Fr) To learn more about this project, click here: http://www.ncchpp.ca/en/IndexNoComments.aspx?sortcode=2.4.14.15.16 <http://netmail.ccnpps.ca/redirect.aspx?id=992827&idcampagne=2514&url=http%3…> If you have questions or feedback, please contact Olivier Bellefleur at olivier.bellfleur(a)inspq.qc.ca <http://netmail.ccnpps.ca/redirect.aspx?id=992827&idcampagne=2514&url=mailto…>, or François Gagnon at françois.gagnon(a)inspq.qc.ca <http://netmail.ccnpps.ca/redirect.aspx?id=992827&idcampagne=2514&url=mailto…>. Kind regards, Marianne Jacques Network Development Officer National Collaborating Centre for Healthy Public Policy Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ) 190 Crémazie Est, Montréal, Québec Phone : 514-864-1600, ext. 3613 Email : marianne.jacques(a)inspq.qc.ca <http://netmail.ccnpps.ca/redirect.aspx?id=992827&idcampagne=2514&url=mailto…>

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