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WFP: Pedal pushers - riding in style, plain and simple (Sep12'20)
by Beth McKechnie 12 Sep '20

12 Sep '20

*A trip to Europe opened Dutch bike enthusiast Erin Riediger’s eyes to the simple pleasures of a civilized, active and healthy daily commute to her Exchange District workplace* *RIDING IN STYLE, PLAIN AND SIMPLE* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/cover-pedal-pushers-in… IT’S a warm and windy day in early September and urban cycling advocate, Erin Riediger, has agreed to spend her lunch hour touring me through a section of her daily commute. We meet on the sidewalk in front of her east Exchange District office and chat about the route while she unlocks her bike — a simple black cruiser with a touch of superficial rust (or “character,” as she likes to call it). Riediger, 32, is wearing chic ankle boots and a dusty pink jacket that matches the hue of her bike bag and front tire. She doesn’t look like a cyclist. And that’s the point. “The Dutch mentality is that you should dress for the destination, not the journey,” she says. Wearing the trendy office attire of an architect while riding her bike to and from work at Number Ten Architectural Group is a form of everyday advocacy for Riediger, who believes wider representation is necessary for cycling to become a mainstream mode of transportation, rather than a subculture. >From her vantage, the majority of regular cyclists in Winnipeg fall into two main camps: enthusiasts who ride because they like bikes and recreational cyclists who ride for exercise and entertainment. Like most people, Riediger learned to ride a bike as a kid, but drifted away from cycling as an adult because she didn’t identify with the local scene. “Some of my friends had faster road bikes and rode with traffic,” she says. “I felt like that was a little risky for me, and it just wasn’t really my personality.” A post-university trip to Europe in her 20s gave her a new perspective. “As I travelled around, I saw people in everyday clothes biking, and I thought, ‘That’s kind of cool, I could get into that.’” She returned home and bought her first “grown-up” bike with the intention of reducing her car dependency. Riediger became a full-time bike commuter and accidental cycling advocate when her 1997 Honda CR-V bit the dust four years ago. “I decided to just not get it fixed,” she says. “Owning a car didn’t really improve my lifestyle at all, whereas I’ve found that cycling has.” The decision to spend 30 minutes a day biking to and from work boosted her mood, cut her transportation costs and allowed her to explore the city from a different vantage point. The decision also garnered local media attention and framed Riediger as an outlier in a city with a deeply ingrained car culture — something she looks back on with a laugh. “It’s just kind of hilarious because it’s almost like the price to participate in society is owning a car,” she says. “And it doesn’t have to be that way.” The route Riediger has plotted for our afternoon bike ride takes us from the Exchange District to The Forks by way of some of the city’s newest protected bike lanes. In 2019, the city completed construction of a two-way protected lane down Garry Street, connecting the grid of bike lanes in the Exchange with the well-established cycling thoroughfare on Assiniboine Avenue. The Garry corridor feels like something that’s been air-lifted from a larger city. It’s a modern, well-planned route that provides safe separation from cars and pedestrians; but it’s fleeting. Our journey from Point A to Point B takes about 15 minutes to complete. It’s a short trip that offers a glimpse of Winnipeg’s potential as a cycling city and a stark reminder of the infrastructure and political will needed to get there. “A lot of times for people in those decision-making seats it’s easy to take that path of least resistance,” Riediger says. While cycling infrastructure is still lacking in most parts of Winnipeg, she’s seen a gradual shift in the right direction from city hall. “Now, people are realizing that if you really want to see more people using (bikes) as a tool of transportation you need that protected bike lane and you need the proper infrastructure… and it needs to go places people want to go.” Beyond protected lanes, Riediger believes Winnipeg’s cycling culture would benefit from a wider variety of bikes on the road. “If you can’t get a bike that’s really easy to ride that you can wear any clothes on and that can carry the stuff you need to carry, then you can’t really replace your car,” she says. It’s an epiphany Riediger experienced for herself last year when she purchased a Dutch-style commuter bike from the Plain Bicycle Project — a local organization that has been bringing shipping containers full of used bikes from the Netherlands to Winnipeg since 2017. “When I got my Dutch bike, I started using it even more and just biking for everything,” she says. “I was an idiot for not getting one in the first place… this is the type of bike I’ve always wanted and I’ve been trying to modify other bikes to be more like it.” Riding side-by-side, there’s a noticeable difference between our bikes. I’m hunched over the handlebars of my road bike, while Riediger is sitting in a comfortable upright position atop her “omafiet” or “grandma bike.” The simple cyclers are designed to be used by anyone (including grandmas) and come equipped with everything from fenders and a rear rack to a headlight and a drink holder. “There’s another plain bicycle,” Riediger says excitedly, referring to a woman pedalling past on her own omafiet as we cross Main Street. There are nearly 700 of the Dutch bikes on the road in Winnipeg, but spotting a fellow rider in the wild is still something of a novelty — one that’s usually celebrated with a wave and a ding of her bell. Riediger has turned her newfound omafiet fandom into a podcast called Plain Bicycle. The six-part series dives into the motivations behind the grassroots project of the same name and features interviews with Dutch cycling experts. WHILE recording a podcast with no prior experience has been challenging, the project has served as a creative outlet amid the coronavirus pandemic, while most of her usual hobbies — hot yoga, shopping for new records and competing in Harry Potter trivia events — have fallen by the wayside. It’s also become a way to share her passion for transportation and people-first city building with a wider audience. “Transportation culture has a lot to do with the way that architecture and cities are formed,” she says. “When you build around the car, you’ve got these wide roads, the storefronts aren’t as important because people aren’t going slowly. “We just have to stop prioritizing cars, we have to start thinking about multi-modal (transportation)... cars have a place but they’re not everything.” Like many born-and-raised Winnipeggers, Riediger had dreams of leaving home and moving to a big city. Instead, she’s decided to focus on making Winnipeg a better place to live, one bike ride at a time. “I think there’s just... there’s a lot of room for growth, which makes it interesting as someone who wants to advocate for better things.” eva.wasney(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @evawasney

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WFP: Report advises city to accept gift of school-zone lights (Sep12'20)
by Beth McKechnie 12 Sep '20

12 Sep '20

*Report advises city to accept gift of school-zone lights * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/report-advises-councillors-to-accep… THE City of Winnipeg could soon accept a gift of flashing amber lights that better alert drivers to the reduced speed in school zones — but it could take decades to get the lights in place. The deal could eventually lead the city to add more lights at its own cost, according to a new report by the public service. The report recommends the city accept as many as 480 solar-powered beacons through a donation from Expert Electric, which would provide two of the devices per school. The company’s owner, Chuck Lewis, has been offering to donate the lights to the city since at least 2017. He says he’s willing to continue that effort for as long as it takes, since he believes it will make school zones safer. “If… it saves one life, then that was worth that fight,” said Lewis. He has described the beacons as more eye-catching than traditional signs, which should help ensure more drivers slow down to 30 km/h in school zones. That speed limit is in effect from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, from Sept. 1 to June 30. Expert Electric would also handle repair and warranty issues for at least five years. An outline of the agreement noted most of the installations would depend on the success of the first set of lights over a three-month trial period, noting the rest could be cancelled if problems emerged. But the city later clarified that it expects testing done prior to this agreement will be sufficient for Winnipeg officials to commit to the full project, if council approves it. “Given that testing of the beacons has already occurred, if approved, the city will likely work with the donor to move directly into implementation,” wrote city spokesman Ken Allen in an emailed statement. Meanwhile, the city says some schools will need more than the two donated beacons to cover adjacent school-zone roads. The city report predicts Winnipeg would eventually spend about $1.4 million to add 391 units for those areas, if the deal is approved. “In order to ensure consistency, (it) is anticipated that the city would make up any shortfall of beacons,” wrote Allen. For at least the first five years of installation, however, the city says only the donated lights would be installed. The proposed agreement calls for the donor to install the lights “as soon as is practicably possible,” with a minimum rate of two per month. That minimum rate would mean the entire installation would take 20 years. Lewis said that a lengthy timeline may be needed for him to keep the project affordable, since each set of two lights will cost him about $7,000. He said the process could be sped up if others also donated to the effort. Allen noted the long timeline does mean that “in the future, there may be reasons for either party to revisit the agreement.” The property and development committee is set to cast the first vote on the deal on Sept. 17. Coun. Cindy Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre), the committee chairwoman, said she expects to support the proposal. “We should be looking at how we deal with some of the congestion around our schools,” said Gilroy. The councillor said she believes the future cost to the city is worth consideration. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: Longer times for amber lights disappoint (Sep11'20)
by Beth McKechnie 11 Sep '20

11 Sep '20

Warning period still seen as too short *Longer times for amber lights disappoint * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/winnipeg-extends-amber-light-times-… AMBER light times are now longer at some Winnipeg intersections — but the move still falls short, says an advocate who has fought for the change. Winnipeg’s amber lights previously lasted a uniform four seconds on all roadways before a traffic signal turned to red, according to a new city report. An update completed Sept. 4 changed the duration to 4.3 seconds on 70 km/h routes and 4.7 seconds on 80 km/h routes for about 110 intersections on flat-grade roads. Todd Dube, founder of WiseUp Winnipeg, a driver’s advocacy group that has for years lobbied the City of Winnipeg for more time in the name of safety and red-light ticket reductions, called the change a first step “in the right direction.” “This is a bare minimum, but it still will be enough time to expose that all of these years (the city was) unfairly ticketing people that simply didn’t have enough time to stop at four seconds,” he said Thursday. Dube argues the new warning period is still too short, since his research found 80-km/h intersections, such as Bishop Grandin Boulevard and River Road, should have an amber light time of at least 5.4 seconds. “(The new measure) is still an unnecessarily… and dangerously short amber time,” Dube said, adding, however, he expects the number of photo enforcement tickets doled out at such intersections to drop dramatically. According to the city report, the new signal timings are based on a roadway’s speed and slope, as well as driver perception and reaction time. No change was made to the amber lights on roads with speed limits set at 60 km/h or lower — which will ensure a minimum four-second warning remains in place at intersections on those routes, the report notes. Coun. Matt Allard, chairman of council’s public works committee, said he believes those calculations show the city is evolving its practices to improve safety. “I think (the times) were set up with the understanding that they made the roads safer and taking a closer second look we found that, yes, there was some room for improvement,” said Allard (St. Boniface). He also refuted the argument photo radar use at high-speed intersections was unfair in the past, noting he believes the program remains necessary. “The motivation is public safety, and the (photo radar) fine happens to be the one enforcement tool we have as a city.” *The city report states the new extended amber light times should help increase the separation between vehicles and pedestrians, which some research indicates will help prevent collisions. Uniform amber light times were initially meant to provide a predictable warning time for drivers, while the new system is based on more recent research,** the city says. The city says it is still reviewing an option to further extend amber light times for left-turning vehicles.* joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: City’s Open Streets initiative coming to a close (Sep6'20)
by Beth McKechnie 06 Sep '20

06 Sep '20

City’s Open Streets initiative coming to a close https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/citys-open-streets-initiative-comin… RUNNERS and cyclists, young and old, sped down Vialoux Drive Saturday morning with little disturbance from motor vehicles. They will soon have increased traffic to navigate through. The City of Winnipeg’s Open Streets initiative ends Monday at 8 p.m. The program, which was announced in April, blocks vehicles from stretches of residential roads so people can walk, cycle and physically distance. Ten routes through the city were limited to active transport users and vehicles of people living on the routes between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. seven days a week. The measures came to promote social distancing during the pandemic. Now, a motion at city hall proposes that Winnipeg keep some of its “Open Streets” open — but unless council votes for the changes, the city will return to its usual four routes that are exclusive to cyclists, runners and walkers on Sundays and holidays. Robbie Scott, 57, biked down Vialoux Drive for the first time in years on Saturday. But, Scott is no newbie — he’s been cycling for four decades, and he bikes a 40 to 45 km route daily in the summer. He said it’s been amazing seeing more people take up biking. “It’s families, it’s kids, old folks, all kinds of ages,” Scott said. “In terms of what (Open Streets) has done for the community, you just, you haven’t seen that.” Scott doesn’t spend all his time on blocked off residential streets, but some — portions of Wellington Crescent and Wolseley Avenue — are part of his loop. He said he feels safer, and he’s seen others feel it too. “For cyclists, it’s always, ‘OK, what seems like the least risky (path) at this time,’” Scott said. He said he was shocked and disappointed to hear the active transportation routes were ending, especially in the midst of a pandemic, when many people use them to get exercise while staying safe. “People have learned, ‘Hey, I could actually bike to work or bike to school,’” Scott said. Anders Swanson, the executive director of Winnipeg Trails Association, said keeping the streets open would allow kids to bike safely to school instead of being driven by a parent or taking a bus. “You have the government telling people to drive their kids... We’re closing these open streets; it’s sending the message that there’s sort of a dark and unsustainable future ahead of us,” Swanson said. The city has a survey online where people can give feedback about Open Streets, including picking the best time of year to have the program, if at all. The survey ends Monday. The motion before city council aims to keep active transport routes until Nov. 1 at the Wolseley Avenue route and at Churchill Drive, from Hay Street to Jubilee Avenue. Council may vote on the matter at its Sept. 30 meeting. Coun. John Orlikow (River Heights-Fort Garry) said he’ll make his decision after receiving the survey’s results. “We have time,” Orlikow said, adding if council votes for extended active transport routes, the changes will probably last from October to November. Some people felt a bit relieved over the ending of Open Streets, including Amy Bruno, who lives on Vialoux Drive. She’s been yelled at for driving down the road in her car, which she needs to do when she leaves her house. “It’s like, well, how are people supposed to go to work if people read the signs (on the street) and assume, ‘Oh, you’re not supposed to drive down here,’” Bruno said. Most people are understanding once they realize people who live on the road can still drive on it, Bruno said. She added she likes the initiative because people have more access to walking around and social distancing. Others, like Matt Ullenboom, feel indifferent about the program’s end. Ullenboom, 33, went for a bike ride with his five-year-old son through Assiniboine Park and Vialoux Drive Saturday. “It’s definitely a good thing in the warmer months, when people can be out,” Ullenboom said. “In the winter and fall, it wouldn’t bother me if they changed it back to car traffic.” Beginning Sept. 13, Lyndale Drive, from Cromwell Street to Gauvin Street; Scotia Street, from Anderson Avenue (at St. Cross Street) to Armstrong Avenue; Wellington Crescent, from the west end of Academy Road to Guelph Street; and Wolseley Avenue, from Raglan Road to Maryland Street, will have limited motor vehicle traffic on Sundays and holidays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The restrictions end Oct. 12. gabrielle.piche(a)freepress.mb.ca

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WFP: Extension of two ‘open streets’ sought (Sep5'20)
by Beth McKechnie 05 Sep '20

05 Sep '20

Extension of two ‘open streets’ sought Wolseley Avenue, Churchill Drive named https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/motion-seeks-extra-time-for-pair-of… A new motion proposes city hall extend some of Winnipeg’s temporary active transportation routes, also known as “open streets,” which are set to close Monday. The current 10 routes, which include four traditional Sunday/holiday bicycle routes, limit vehicular traffic to one block from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily to provide extra space for pedestrians and cyclists. The new routes and extended hours were a COVID-19 pandemic response measure, intended to help Winnipeggers stay active while keeping at least two metres apart. The six routes added this year are slated to close Monday at 8 p.m., while the traditional bike routes will reduce the vehicle travel restriction to Sundays and holidays only, between Sept. 13 and Oct. 12. The city centre community committee passed a motion Friday that aims to instead keep the enhanced AT access until Nov. 1 at both the Wolseley Avenue traditional Sunday/Holiday route and the temporary AT route on Churchill Drive. The changes require council’s approval. While a final vote on the matter could have to wait until the Sept. 30 council meeting, Coun. Sherri Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry) said she’s hopeful the motion could instead inspire a quicker policy change by the public service. Rollins said she supports extending the other routes as well. “I would like more routes added… I think we need a lot more tools in our toolbelts to get children to and from schools in a safe manner,” Rollins said Friday. Coun. John Orlikow (River Heights-Fort Garry), however, said he won’t push for the Wellington Crescent active transportation route in his ward to be extended, stressing public feedback on that decision should come first. A survey on the routes is slated to end Monday. Orlikow said the city must consider the views of those who support and oppose the routes, noting he’s heard complaints the one-block vehicle travel restriction has made it inconvenient for some drivers to reach their homes. “We have to be careful about councillors deciding how to use streets arbitrarily. We’re not traffic engineers, there’s impact city-wide, so we have to be making sure that we listen to our administration and the public,” said Orlikow. Open streets were also placed on sections of Lyndale Drive, Scotia Street, Egerton Road, Kildonan Drive, Kilkenny Drive, Rover Avenue and Vialoux Drive. The Lyndale, Scotia and Wellington sites are also slated to revert back to Sunday/holiday bicycle routes. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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CBC: City of Winnipeg to close 6 active transportation routes after Labour Day weekend (Sep3'20)
by Beth McKechnie 04 Sep '20

04 Sep '20

City of Winnipeg to close 6 active transportation routes after Labour Day weekend 4 remaining pedestrian, bike routes will be closed to vehicle traffic only on Sundays, holidays after Sept. 8 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-open-streets-closed-labour… More than half of the active transportation routes throughout Winnipeg will be closing after the long weekend, the city announced in a news release Thursday. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the city designated 10 roadways as "open streets," limiting vehicle traffic to one block from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. The city usually limits vehicle traffic to one block on four of those streets on Sundays and holidays, from the Victoria Day long weekend until Thanksgiving, but expanded the closures in an effort to create bike- and pedestrian-friendly routes during the pandemic. As of Sept. 8, the program will end for six of the current routes. Vehicle traffic will be limited on the remaining four only on Sundays and holidays after the Labour Day weekend, the city said in its release. Motor vehicle traffic will continue to be limited on these routes from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Sundays and holidays until Oct. 12: - Lyndale Drive – Cromwell Street to Gauvin Street. - Scotia Street – Anderson Avenue (at St. Cross Street) to Armstrong Avenue. - Wellington Crescent – Academy Road (at Wellington Crescent) to Guelph Street. - Wolseley Avenue – Raglan Road to Maryland Street. Signs informing people they are entering or leaving an active transportation route will be posted at each end of the route. Barricades marking the ends of the routes will also be in place during operational hours, the city said. Violating the motor vehicle restrictions can result in a fine under Winnipeg's traffic bylaw, the city added. The vehicle restrictions will end after Sept. 8 on these routes: - Churchill Drive — Hay Street to Jubilee Avenue. - Egerton Road — Bank Avenue to Morier Avenue. - Kildonan Drive — Helmsdale Avenue to Rossmere Crescent, and Larchdale Crescent to Irving Place. - Kilkenny Drive — Burgess Avenue to Patricia Avenue and Kings Drive. - Rover Avenue — Hallet Street to Stephens Street. - Vialoux Drive — Alcrest Drive to Wexford Street. The city launched an online survey <https://engage.winnipeg.ca/enhanced-active-transportation-routes-open-stree…> last month to gauge reaction to the program. Residents can still provide feedback for future consideration via that survey until Monday, the city's news release said.

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WFP: Bicycle Garden - Bike shop pop-up hopes to get city rolling on two wheels (Sep1'20)
by Beth McKechnie 01 Sep '20

01 Sep '20

Bike shop pop-up hopes to get city rolling on two wheels A Bicycle Garden grows on Sherbrook https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/a-bicycle-garden-grows-on-sherbr… THIS spring, with some freedoms put on hold, many people in Winnipeg found — or rediscovered — the freedom of riding a bicycle. Vendors, manufacturers and mechanics could hardly keep up with the reinvigorated interest as the global supply chain was interrupted and demand outpaced supply. “It’s like selling Coca Cola and you’ve run out of Coke,” Lifesport owner Walter Jozwiak told the Free Press in May. Under those circumstances, Leigh Anne Parry and Anders Swanson got their wheels turning on a new idea, a pop-up bike shop called the Bicycle Garden, where they could peddle Dutch-built pedals to riders young and old. The shop opened last week on the main floor of the Sherbrook Flats building (267 Sherbrook St.). “We’d heard during the pandemic there was a shortage of bikes (particularly women’s bikes),” said Parry, who along with Swanson is co-founder of the Plain Bicycle Project. “And we had a source to get them in.” The project is a social enterprise that brings bicycles from the Netherlands, where they’re more popular than the Toyota Camry, to Winnipeg. The bikes are Dutch-style, featuring mudguards, skirt guards, and upright seating, which makes them practical for daily use regardless of athletic ability or the clothes you’re wearing. “It’s like you’re sitting in an armchair, floating in the clouds,” said Swanson, the director of the Winnipeg Trails Association, whose summer office is now in the shop. While the pop-up is selling leftover stock from previous shipments, it also features six pallets worth of bicycles and accessories — child seats, bells, lights, bags, baskets — that arrived from the Netherlands earlier this summer; another order is already being planned for later this week. The bikes range in cost from $350 (used) to over $1,000. Cycling had been rising in popularity in Winnipeg long before the pandemic: a 2018 poll conducted by Probe Research found over one fifth of respondents cycled weekly. While data related to the COVID-19 era is not yet available, Swanson said anecdotal evidence shows the mode of transportation has become an increasingly attractive option for many as habits changed during the pandemic. In April, when the city designated certain stretches for active transportation and restricted vehicle use, roadways were filled with cyclists, rollerbladers, or pedestrians. Elsewhere, vehicular traffic fell, leading to a minor reclamation of pavement by cyclists. “When the roads were empty, people were falling in love with (cycling),” Swanson said. Adding to the demand have been changes to the ways residents exercise. While gyms are open, many are struggling to regain members, and recreational sports, though ongoing, are dealing with similar reluctance. As well, bike ownership and maintenance is considerably cheaper than car ownership — a key consideration during a time of economic instability. As the school year nears, parents are also looking for active options for their kids to get to and from class, Swanson said. So far, the response from the community has been strong: the Bicycle Garden’s most recent harvest is nearly half-picked. AT other shops around the city, demand remains high, however supply continues to be an issue. “The biggest thing for us is that when a customer walks in the door, we’ll likely have a bike for them, but options are still limited,” said Mac Wood, the assistant sales manager at Woodcock Cycle. “In a typical spring or summer, that doesn’t happen.” “It’s certainly more difficult to forecast availability to our customers,” he said. “We, as an industry, are as much at the mercy of restrictions as any other.” The pop-up shop — which could go until October or beyond — is the commercial tenant on the main floor of the Sherbrook Flats. “When (the pop-up) came to us with a proposal, I was very excited,” said Sotirios Kotoulas, the building’s designer and part-owner. “For us, the most important thing is to activate the street,” he added. “It takes time to transform a streetscape or find the right fit, but obviously a bicycle shop is an amazing fit.” Outside the shop, there are a few tables and chairs, meant to evoke the bikes’ Dutch vibe. Repairs are also being offered on the boulevard, which borders an unprotected bike lane on Sherbrook. Since opening, Parry said the interest from the public has been obvious. “Day one, we had a lineup outside mostly of older people looking to get around independently,” she said. “There are a lot of people walking and biking by, which is really good for us.” ben.waldman(a)freepress.mb.ca

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TONS Seeks Urban Transportation Consultant
by Beth McKechnie 31 Aug '20

31 Aug '20

From: Samantha Rodeck <info(a)tonsmb.org> Date: Mon, Aug 31, 2020 at 10:09 AM Transportation Options Network for Seniors (TONS) is looking to hire an Urban Transportation Consultant to help fulfill its mandate of informing and educating Manitobans on transportation options that enhance quality of life and promote age-friendly communities. Attached is the job description to be shared within your networks and to those who you know would be interested in applying. The *application deadline is 3:00pm on September 11*, 2020. If you have any questions, please email Samantha at info(a)tonsbmb.org Thank you, Samantha Rodeck Executive Director (204) 799-1788 [image: signature_349093641]

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WFP: Bike Dump - Volunteers pedal passion at bike shop (Aug31'20)
by Beth McKechnie 31 Aug '20

31 Aug '20

*Volunteers pedal passion at bike shop* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/finding-life-with-wheel-meaning-572… FOR someone who spent the first 33 years of life in California, it seems odd that Edward Cloud would enjoy riding a bicycle in frigid winter temperatures. “I remember the first time I rode in -45 weather for 10 or 15 kilometres. I just felt so vibrantly alive — more alive than I ever felt,” said Cloud. “I’ve never found anything to be enjoyable in that way.” Cloud’s love of cycling turned into a volunteer role at the Bike Dump, a volunteer-run, community bicycle shop. Started in 2005, the Bike Dump strives to make cycling accessible to all by offering access to tools and a space where people can fix their bikes for free. People can also use recycled bike frames and parts to build their own bike. Volunteers are available at the shop, which is located at the back of Red Road Lodge at Main Street and Logan Avenue, to help guide people through repairs and bike-building projects. Cloud, who lives in the North End, is committed to making the community a better place. “I’ve made it my personal mission to try to spend most of my life making things better for people. Volunteering at the Bike Dump is one of the ways I do that.” Darcee Lytwyn began attending the Bike Dump’s women, queer and trans night on Mondays in 2017 so she could learn how to repair her bike. She started volunteering last winter and says it’s “the grit and the passion” that she loves about being involved. “Everyone’s enthusiastic about sharing their knowledge with you,” Lytwyn said. “It’s a great space for discovery and for learning all together.” Riley McMurray has volunteered at the Bike Dump for almost 10 years and enjoys it because he can immediately see the effect of his efforts. “You’re actually working with someone and you see them ride out with the bike they just built with you that day. You can really tell how much it means to them,” he said. “Sometimes they’ll tell you they need that bike to get to work tomorrow. It can really be a lifeline.” The Bike Dump is currently closed to the public as a result of the COVID- 19 pandemic. It’s disappointing to all of the volunteers. The shop is hoping to offer limited hours soon. In the meantime, volunteers are helping folks by appointment on a limited basis. The Bike Dump is always looking for volunteers, Cloud says. They are expecting to hold some shop clean-up nights in the coming weeks, which is a great way for new volunteers to learn about the Bike Dump’s methods. Anyone interested in volunteering can email winnipegbikedump@gmail. com. No experience is necessary. Although the pandemic has weighed heavily on Bike Dump volunteers at times, Lytwyn says that interacting with the group online has reminded her what a special place the bike shop is. “As we’ve been organizing in our Zoom calls and our emails, it’s just been evident how our volunteers have the biggest hearts,” she said. “They care for the community and they care so much for each other.”

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CTV: A new active transportation route could link St. Boniface and Downtown (Aug27'20)
by Beth McKechnie 29 Aug '20

29 Aug '20

https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/a-new-active-transportation-route-could-link-st… WINNIPEG -- The City of Winnipeg is seeking the public’s feedback on an active transportation route linking the St. Boniface and Downtown neighbourhoods. Through this initiative, called the St. Boniface to Downtown Walk Bike Project, the city would aim to improve travel options, accessibility, and connectivity between the Esplanade Riel footbridge/Provencher Bridge and the multi-use path on Archibald Street, south of Nairn Avenue. The city’s pedestrian and cycling strategies, which city council has approved, identify a connection between these two areas as a priority. As part of the first phase of the preliminary design study, the team working on the project is looking for Winnipeggers to provide information on how they travel through this area, and what type and routing of infrastructure would best meet their needs. To provide feedback online, <https://engage.winnipeg.ca/stboniface-walk-bike> Winnipeggers can conduct an online survey or use an online mapping tool on the project’s website. These tools will be available until Sept. 23. The city is also providing walking tours of the area, where residents can identify barriers and opportunities. These tours leave from the St. Boniface City Hall at 219 Provencher Boulevard and take place on two dates in September. The walking tours are on Tuesday, Sept. 15 and Tuesday, Sept. 22, with the north tours taking place from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and the south tours taking place from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. During these events, project team members will be at St. Boniface City Hall to talk to anyone who wants to give input, but doesn’t want to or can’t participate in the walking tour. If the weather doesn’t allow for the walking tours, they will be cancelled. Instead, the project staff will stay inside St. Boniface City Hall to answer questions and discuss the initiative. Participants must register for the walking tours by contacting them at stbtodowntown(a)winnipeg.ca.

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WFP: Study urges traffic changes in school zones (Aug29'20)
by Beth McKechnie 29 Aug '20

29 Aug '20

*Study urges traffic changes in school zones * * Calls for reducing speeds all day on more streets* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/study-urges-traffic-changes-in-scho… A REPORT on school zone speeding in the East Kildonan-Transcona area has prompted the city’s public works department to make recommendations to get more drivers to obey school-zone speed limits. Tasked with investigating speed violations in the neighbourhood, the city department delivered a report to the East Kildonan-Transcona Community Committee, which found 11,195 tickets were issued in the neighbourhood’s reduced-speed school zones in 2018. The majority of tickets were issued through photo enforcement while 237 were issued through traditional police enforcement. Of the photo enforcement tickets, more than 90 per cent involved reduced speed zones at three schools: River Elm with 6,390 tickets, The King’s School with 2,276 tickets and École Riviere Rouge, where 1,367 tickets were issued. The report recommends expanding school zones beyond streets immediately bordering schools to ensure all parents and children within the 1.6 km walking zone of the school have access to safe streets, increasing the 30 km/h rules to a 24-hour, seven days a week schedule to reduce confusion about holidays and evenings, and expanding school zones to middle and high schools. It recommended removing the requirement that school zones be implemented on non-regional streets in favour of a policy based on road classification, fencing, pedestrian and cycling infrastructure and other factors. Also, it recommended following the City of Calgary in implementing reduced- speed zones near playgrounds. There are 240 reduced speed school zones throughout Winnipeg. These zones have a maximum speed of 30 km/h which are in effect from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday from September to June. In an email statement Friday, Winnipeg Police Service said “reduced speed school zones throughout the city see fluctuations and variances in detected offences.” Though the study was only conducted for East Kildonan-Transcona, the city confirmed a wider study on road safety is underway, and will review reduced speed school zones efficacy in other areas of the city. Despite high levels of infractions in some school zones, police data found motorists generally reduce speeds to comply with school zones, and typically drive below the 50 km/h limit in effect during non-school hours. Feedback from six school districts in the city overwhelmingly indicated that the reduced-speed school zones improve student safety, according to the report. Further evidence from a study conducted in Edmonton found that reducing speed from 50 km/h to 30 km/h resulted in a 45 per cent reduction in fatal and non-fatal injury collisions and a 55 per cent reduction in injuries to vulnerable road users. The report comes in the midst of other municipal investigations into street safety measures, including a possible 30 km/h speed limit on all residential streets. If this limit were to come into play, reduced-speed school zones may not be necessary, the report said. julia-simone.rutgers(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Job Posting - Managing Director position @ The WRENCH
by Anders Swanson 29 Aug '20

29 Aug '20

Morning. Please pass on this exciting opportunity <https://thewrench.ca/tag/job-posting/> to anyone you think might be a great fit for a great organization! Anders

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NACTO guide: Setting safe speed limits on urban streets
by Beth McKechnie 26 Aug '20

26 Aug '20

*City Limits: Setting Safe Speed Limits on Urban Streets* A new guide <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> from the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) outlines how to use a tested, context-sensitive safe systems approach to strategically set safer speed limits on urban streets to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries. This three-method approach provides an alternative to percentile-based speed limit setting: 1) setting default speed limits on many streets at once; 2) designating slow zones in sensitive areas; and 3) setting corridor speed limits on high priority major streets using a Safe Speed Study. These approaches allow cities to holistically evaluate who is using streets and how people are using them. City Limits <https://pedbikeinfo.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7ae385fc8506278c2e45…> is free to download and is part of a larger conversation about how to make streets safe for everyone.

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WFP: Local tech firm studies near-misses in bid to prevent collisions, make roads safer (Aug25'20)
by Beth McKechnie 25 Aug '20

25 Aug '20

Local tech firm studies near-misses in bid to prevent collisions, make roads safer DETOUR FROM DISASTER https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/detour-from-disaster-572209962.h… SERIOUS traffic accidents and fatalities have fallen dramatically over the past 50 years, but that decline has now plateaued and traffic fatalities remain the eighth leading cause of death around the world. MicroTraffic, a Winnipeg technology company, is using artificial intelligence to take a different approach to mitigating this ongoing public safety issue. It uses data from existing traffic cameras to identify intersections and roadways where the largest numbers of near-misses occur and is helping municipalities leverage that data into creating safer streets. MicroTraffic, which recently received funding to hire three more people from the province’s Innovation Growth program (which will bring its workforce up to 25), has already gained significant traction. After only a couple of years in the market, its work with around 40 municipalities has resulted in about $225 million in planned infrastructure changes to dangerous intersections. It has also attracted institutional validation in the form of a partnership with Aviva, the international insurance company. The unlikely duo has teamed up for an innovative funding program that is offering about $50,000 to five Canadian municipalities to conduct studies on 10 intersections in each city to provide data on intersections where the greatest number of “near-misses” occur. The winning applicants will be expected to pay 25 per cent of the costs up to maximum of $12,500. “Road infrastructure projects, like replacing a dangerous intersection with an interchange or a roundabout, cost a lot of money,” said Craig Milligan, CEO and co-founder of Micro-Traffic. “Knowing that you’re going to save lives and knowing the risks that are there can really help justify that decision.” Milligan is finding that traffic safety professionals are keen to be able to take a proactive approach rather than have to rely on data from crashes that have already occurred. “Almost three-quarter of fatalities are happening where they have not happened recently,’ he said. “So you put the money in locations where the fatalities happen and it just happens somewhere else. That is a frustrating approach for everyone working on road safety.” Milligan, who has a PhD and is an expert on road safety engineering, worked as a consultant for several years and he and co-founder Joel Penner conducted about 300 safety improvement studies. “After doing it for a time, too many people were dying at intersections where we had already done intersection safety improvement plans for,” he said. “The way they died was not represented in the historical crash data… and it was clear there were other risk factors, serious ones, at play that were impossible to detect with existing methods.” Milligan does not take credit for the approach, as there is active academic study to detect latent risk factors or the science of surrogate safety. But Milligan decided to implement those ideas through a computer vision system where the artificial intelligence drives an engine that automatically goes through the video. “It recognizes what is going on, sees how fast people are going, how close they are to one another and if someone is hitting the brakes sharply,” he said. “From those trajectories we construct risk indicators. They have proven to be very effective at precisely identifying risk.” Aviva connected with MicroTraffic as part of the insurance company’s own program to reduce serious traffic injuries called Take Back Our Roads. Catherine Brown, vice-president marketing and corporate social responsibility at Aviva Canada, said, “Micro-Traffic’s approach to prevention really fits nicely with our overall platform. Craig and his team are fantastic partners to work with. We wanted to be able to bring the technology to the forefront and make it more accessible to municipalities to focus their infrastructure investments in a way that is looking at prevention and proactive activities.” It is also not lost on the City of Winnipeg, which has just embarked on its own road safety strategic action plan that will use data and public input to set the pace of road safety investment over the next five years and beyond. Parallel and in conjunction with that, the city is in the middle of a pilot project with MicroTraffic. Rebecca Peterniak, the community traffic engineer at the City of Winnipeg, said MicroTraffic’s technology provides much more data to work with that traditional traffic analysis. “Improving road safety data is a really important objective,” she said. “We do have collision data which is historic in nature — we have to wait for collisions to happen before we get that information.” She said that using the kind of near-miss analysis that MicroTraffic can provide between all road users — vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians — allows them to take a deeper dive to understand what’s causing high accident rates. “It gives us a deeper understanding of what is going on in the background,” she said. martin.cash(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Telling people to "Slow Down" doesn't work.
by Beth McKechnie 24 Aug '20

24 Aug '20

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Lauren at Strong Towns <lauren(a)strongtowns.org> Date: Mon, Aug 24, 2020 at 9:37 AM We need a new solution for Traffic Fatalities.‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Early on in the coronavirus shutdowns, we saw a sharp decrease in traffic, with some states observing as much as a 50% drop in daily trips. *And yet, traffic fatalities surged.* In the absence of traffic, all that is left is the road—*and the road is designed for speed,* posted limits be damned. We've over-engineered our streets to encourage dangerous driving. Now is the time to start dialing it back. *Today, Strong Towns founder Chuck Marohn lays out four simple steps <https://strongtowns.apms5.com/anywhere/m?s=strongtowns&m=s_135a2040-557a-4a…> for undoing reckless street design in your place.* It took decades to build the networks of dangerous and costly streets we now think are normal. It will take time to replace them with something better. Let's get to work. Stay well, —Lauren at Strong Towns Strong Towns www.strongtowns.org [image: Facebook] <https://strongtowns.apms5.com/anywhere/m?s=strongtowns&m=s_135a2040-557a-4a…> [image: Twitter] <https://strongtowns.apms5.com/anywhere/m?s=strongtowns&m=s_135a2040-557a-4a…> [image: LinkedIn] <https://strongtowns.apms5.com/anywhere/m?s=strongtowns&m=s_135a2040-557a-4a…> [image: Instagram] <https://strongtowns.apms5.com/anywhere/m?s=strongtowns&m=s_135a2040-557a-4a…>

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Upcoming City of Winnipeg Road Safety Strategic Action Plan Events
by Beth McKechnie 24 Aug '20

24 Aug '20

As a stakeholder for the Road Safety Strategic Action Plan, you play a key role in providing information, feedback and support into the project’s vision and focus areas. We ask you to share the following information within your network to help... Un message en français suivra. As a stakeholder for the Road Safety Strategic Action Plan, you play a key role in providing information, feedback and support into the project’s vision and focus areas. We ask you to share the following information within your network to help identify gaps and opportunities in the current state of road safety in Winnipeg. Help Shape the Future of Road Safety for Winnipeg! Road safety is a priority for the City of Winnipeg. The Road Safety Strategic Action Plan is driven by data and public feedback and will serve as a roadmap for implementing both short-term solutions and long-term investments over the next 3-5 years and beyond. Get Involved In Road Safety Online Survey We want to hear from you about your perception and experience as a road user (pedestrian, cyclist or motorist) in Winnipeg and learn more about how and what road safety improvements can be made. Visit winnipeg.ca/roadsafetyplan <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011hytNyznS-nPIZq63KS5rOzfuHGWb7JheFO8fF_x6IjX…> to complete a survey. Pop-up Events We selected four pop-up locations to safely engage with communities in higher needs areas that experience higher rates of collisions. Drop by and tell us your ideas for road safety improvements and share your vision for safer roads in Winnipeg. Date: Saturday, September 5, 2020 Time: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Location: Bronx Park Farmers’ Market, 720 Henderson Highway Date: * Wednesday, September 9, 2020 Time: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Location: Broadway Neighbourhood Centre, 185 Young St Date: * Friday, September 11, 2020 Time: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Location: Powers Park Plaza, Powers Street at Selkirk Avenue, North side Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2020 Time: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Location: The Salvation Army Barbara Mitchell Family Resource Centre, 51 Morrow Ave (*): Get a bike tune up from the WRENCH and tell us why road safety matters to you. Please Note: Public Health measures will be adhered to at all pop-up events. Gathering size will be limited to 50 people at a time, and appropriate social distance will be maintained. Please self-screen prior to attending, stay home if you are ill, and wash or sanitize your hands. Virtual Engagement Sessions We will be holding two Zoom virtual events to gather public input. Join us at one of the following events to learn more about the development of the strategic action plan, ask questions, and answer some of our questions live. Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2020 Time: 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Register Here <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011hytNyznS-nPIZq63KS5rOzfuHGWb7JheFO8fF_x6IjX…> Date: Thursday, September 24, 2020 Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Register Here <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011hytNyznS-nPIZq63KS5rOzfuHGWb7JheFO8fF_x6IjX…> Registration required for virtual sessions by September 20, 2020. Discussion Kit We invite those unable to attend the events to complete the survey and mapping tool and to host a discussion with friends and family using the discussion kit. Available at winnipeg.ca/roadsafetyplan <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011hytNyznS-nPIZq63KS5rOzfuHGWb7JheFO8fF_x6IjX…> until September 30, 2020. Submit your completed discussion guide to roadsafety(a)winnipeg.ca. For more information, to register for a virtual event or provide feedback online, visit: winnipeg.ca/roadsafetyplan <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011hytNyznS-nPIZq63KS5rOzfuHGWb7JheFO8fF_x6IjX…> . For inquiries or for those who require alternate formats or interpretation in order to participate, please contact roadsafety(a)winnipeg.ca or 204-944-9907 by August 29, 2020. En tant qu’intervenant du Plan d’action stratégique pour la sécurité routière, vous jouez un rôle clé en fournissant des renseignements, des commentaires et du soutien quant à la vision et les secteurs d’intervention du projet. Nous vous demandons de communiquer les renseignements suivants à votre réseau afin de déterminer les lacunes et les possibilités relatives à l’état actuel de la sécurité routière à Winnipeg. Aidez-nous à façonner l’avenir de la sécurité routière à Winnipeg! La sécurité routière est une priorité pour la Ville de Winnipeg. Le Plan d’action stratégique pour la sécurité routière s’appuie sur des données et les commentaires du public; il servira de feuille de route pour la mise en œuvre de solutions à court terme et d’investissements à long terme au cours des 3 à 5 prochaines années et par la suite. Améliorez la sécurité routière Sondage en ligne Nous aimerions connaître votre opinion et vos expériences en tant qu’usager de la route (piéton, cycliste ou automobiliste) à Winnipeg et en savoir plus sur la manière dont la sécurité routière peut être améliorée. Consultez winnipeg.ca/plansecuriteroutiere <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011hytNyznS-nPIZq63KS5rOzfuHGWb7JheFO8fF_x6IjX…> pour répondre à un sondage. Événements ponctuels Nous avons sélectionné quatre lieux de rencontre ponctuelle afin d’engager le dialogue, en toute sécurité, avec les collectivités des secteurs aux besoins élevés, où les collisions sont plus fréquentes. Passez nous voir, faites-nous part de vos idées visant à améliorer la sécurité routière et communiquez votre vision quant à des routes plus sûres à Winnipeg. Date : Samedi 5 septembre 2020 Heure : De 9 h à 11 h Lieu : Marché de producteurs du parc Bronx, 720, route Henderson Date : * Mercredi 9 septembre 2020 Heure : De 16 h à 18 h Lieu : Broadway Neighbourhood Centre, 185, rue Young Date : * Vendredi 11 septembre 2020 Heure : De 16 h à 18 h Lieu : Powers Park Plaza, rue Powers, au niveau de l’avenue Selkirk, du côté nord Date : Mardi 15 septembre 2020 Heure : De 14 h à 16 h Lieu : Armée du Salut, Barbara Mitchell Resource Centre, 51, avenue Morrow (*) : Faites mettre au point votre vélo par The WRENCH et dites-nous pourquoi la sécurité routière est importante pour vous. Remarque : Les mesures de santé publique seront respectées à tous les événements ponctuels. La taille des rassemblements sera limitée à 50 personnes, et une distance physique appropriée sera maintenue. Veuillez effectuer un dépistage avant de vous présenter, rester à la maison si vous êtes malade et vous laver ou vous désinfecter les mains. Séances de participation virtuelles Nous tiendrons deux événements virtuels sur Zoom afin de recueillir les commentaires du public. Joignez-vous à nous pendant l’un des événements suivants pour en savoir plus sur l’élaboration du plan d’action stratégique, poser des questions et répondre à certaines de nos questions en direct. Date : Mardi 22 septembre 2020 Heure : De 14 h à 15 h 30 Inscrivez-vous ici <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011hytNyznS-nPIZq63KS5rOzfuHGWb7JheFO8fF_x6IjX…> Date : Jeudi 24 septembre 2020 Heure : De 18 h 30 à 20 h Inscrivez-vous ici <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011hytNyznS-nPIZq63KS5rOzfuHGWb7JheFO8fF_x6IjX…> L’inscription est obligatoire pour les séances virtuelles, d’ici le 20 septembre 2020. Trousse de discussion Nous invitons les personnes qui ne pourront pas être présentes aux événements à se servir de l’outil de sondage et de cartographie et à organiser une discussion avec leurs proches à l’aide de la trousse de discussion. Il est accessible à l’adresse winnipeg.ca/plansecuriteroutiere <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011hytNyznS-nPIZq63KS5rOzfuHGWb7JheFO8fF_x6IjX…> jusqu’au 30 septembre 2020. Envoyez votre guide de discussion rempli à roadsafety(a)winnipeg.ca. Pour en savoir plus, pour vous inscrire à un événement virtuel ou pour donner votre avis en ligne, consultez le site winnipeg.ca/plansecuriteroutiere <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011hytNyznS-nPIZq63KS5rOzfuHGWb7JheFO8fF_x6IjX…> . Si vous avez des questions, ou si vous avez besoin de médias substituts ou de services d’interprétation pour participer, veuillez écrire à roadsafety(a)winnipeg.ca ou composer le 204 944-9907 avant le 29 août 2020. HTFC Planning & Design | 500 - 115 Bannatyne Avenue East, Winnipeg, MB R3B 0R3 Canada Sent by info(a)htfc.ca powered by [image: Trusted Email from Constant Contact - Try it FREE today.] <http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp?cc=nge&rmc=VF19_3GE> Try email marketing for free today! <http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp?cc=nge&rmc=VF19_3GE>

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Get involved - Winnipeg's Road Safety Strategic Action Plan
by Beth McKechnie 20 Aug '20

20 Aug '20

From: City of Winnipeg <notifications(a)engagementhq.com> Road Safety Strategic Action Plan - what does road safety mean to you?Work on our Road Safety Strategic Action Plan has begun! We want you to share their thoughts on how we can work together to make our roads safer. Get involved by: - joining a virtual session <http://emails.engagementhq.com/ls/click?upn=9vcdD193qA8wVAWAMcxkDRPI9yvzhYQ…> - attending a pop-up Talk Road Safety event <http://emails.engagementhq.com/ls/click?upn=9vcdD193qA8wVAWAMcxkDRPI9yvzhYQ…> - completing an online survey <http://emails.engagementhq.com/ls/click?upn=9vcdD193qA8wVAWAMcxkDRPI9yvzhYQ…> - hosting your own discussion by downloading the discussion kit <http://emails.engagementhq.com/ls/click?upn=9vcdD193qA8wVAWAMcxkDRPI9yvzhYQ…> Visit winnipeg.ca/roadsafetyplan <http://emails.engagementhq.com/ls/click?upn=9vcdD193qA8wVAWAMcxkDRPI9yvzhYQ…> for more information.

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Webinar: Congestion Pricing & Travel Behavior During COVID
by Beth McKechnie 20 Aug '20

20 Aug '20

Join us on Wednesday, September 2 at 1:15pm ET for a discussion on congestion pricing, travel behavior, and COVID-19. ROAD TO RECOVERY WEBINAR Rebalancing the Load: How Road User Charging Can Influence Traveler Behavior September 2, 2020 from 1:15pm ET to 2:00pm ET Congestion pricing can be a valuable tool for regions to address congestion and meet goals for sustainability and equity. ITS tools and ETC technologies to enable congestion management systems that can sense, adapt, and influence driver behavior so that planners and policy makers can optimize their transportation networks. Given the current changes in traveler behavior due to the pandemic, there is increasing interest in road user charging schemes as a new approach to manage the load on regional transport systems. In this webinar, you’ll learn how technology is being leveraged to integrate other road network systems, holistically manage networks, coordinate planned demand against different modal capacities, and incentivize specific choices. *Speakers:* *Marc Deflin,* *Vice President of Business Development – Road User Charging, Cubic Transportation Systems* *Brianne Eby,* *Senior Policy Analyst, Eno Center for Transportation* September 2020 02 REGISTER <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> *Connect with us and don't miss out on other great resources!* [image: Facebook] <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> Facebook <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> [image: Twitter] <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> Twitter <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> [image: VIEW UPCOMING WEBINARS] <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> VIEW UPCOMING WEBINARS <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> *Copyright © 2020 Eno Center for Transportation, All rights reserved.* You are receiving this email because you opted in to our email list. *Our mailing address is:* Eno Center for Transportation 1629 K St. NW Ste 200 Washington, DC 20006 Add us to your address book <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/vcard?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff96&id=d…> -- Beth McKechnie (she/her) *| *Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your green living hub Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://www.gomanitoba.ca>

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Right of Way: Race, Class, and the Silent Epidemic of Pedestrian Deaths in America (Angie Schmitt)
by Beth McKechnie 19 Aug '20

19 Aug '20

Free Webinar - a conversation with author Angie Schmitt Support Walkable Communities <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001by_ghNbl05qUfvwIUtUDw0AzGinaCIdORiECdJFB9gvP…> <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001by_ghNbl05qUfvwIUtUDw0AzGinaCIdORiECdJFB9gvP…> <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001by_ghNbl05qUfvwIUtUDw0AzGinaCIdORiECdJFB9gvP…> Right of Way: Race, Class, and the Silent Epidemic of Pedestrian Deaths in America – a conversation with author Angie Schmitt September 8th, 2020 at 1pm – 2pm EST, 10am – 11pm PST Register Here <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001by_ghNbl05qUfvwIUtUDw0AzGinaCIdORiECdJFB9gvP…> Join us for an interview with Angie Schmitt and discussion of her book, Right of Way: Race, Class, and the Silent Epidemic of Pedestrian Deaths in America. This webinar is hosted by America Walks Board Member Charles Brown, who wrote the foreword. Right of Way documents the traffic violence that occurs daily on America’s streets and reveals the racist policies and practices that create and perpetuate these tragedies. Contrary to popular opinion, pedestrian deaths are not unavoidable “accidents,” but highly predictable events, occurring in stark geographic patterns that tell a story about systemic inequalities. The victims are disproportionately those marginalized by society: immigrants, People of Color, those with lower incomes, the elderly, and the disabled. The discussion will address the following critical questions: - Why do we accept pedestrian fatalities as the status quo? - Why do we hold pedestrians, not drivers, responsible for traffic collisions? - How do political inaction, victim blaming, lack of media interest, and cultural apathy block change? - What does the national walking movement need to do to implement solutions that save lives? Learn More and Register Here <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001by_ghNbl05qUfvwIUtUDw0AzGinaCIdORiECdJFB9gvP…> Help Us Spread the Word About this Webinar [image: Facebook] ‌ <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001by_ghNbl05qUfvwIUtUDw0AzGinaCIdORiECdJFB9gvP…> [image: Twitter] ‌ <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001by_ghNbl05qUfvwIUtUDw0AzGinaCIdORiECdJFB9gvP…> Angie Schmitt, author and journalist, former National Editor at Streetsblog Angie Schmitt is one of the best-known writers in the United States on the topic of sustainable transportation. She was the long-time national editor at Streetsblog, covering the movement for safe, multi-modal cities, and her writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Atlantic, Bicycling, and GOOD. She is frequently sought out as an expert source on transportation topics by the news media. Schmitt holds a master’s degree in urban planning from the Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University and an undergraduate degree in journalism. Charles T. Brown, Senior Researcher, Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center Charles T. Brown, MPA is one of the nation’s leading voices in transportation equity and justice. He is a senior researcher with the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center (VTC) and adjunct professor at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, both at Rutgers University. He also serves as a 2020 Fellow within the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication in Partnership with The OpEd Project. His work has been published in international journals and featured by various national outlets, including the New York Times, Vice and CityLab. STAY CONNECTED [image: Facebook] ‌ <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001by_ghNbl05qUfvwIUtUDw0AzGinaCIdORiECdJFB9gvP…> [image: Twitter] ‌ <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001by_ghNbl05qUfvwIUtUDw0AzGinaCIdORiECdJFB9gvP…> [image: LinkedIn] ‌ <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001by_ghNbl05qUfvwIUtUDw0AzGinaCIdORiECdJFB9gvP…> [image: Instagram] ‌ <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001by_ghNbl05qUfvwIUtUDw0AzGinaCIdORiECdJFB9gvP…> <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001by_ghNbl05qUfvwIUtUDw0AzGinaCIdORiECdJFB9gvP…> Donate to Our Webinar Program <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001by_ghNbl05qUfvwIUtUDw0AzGinaCIdORiECdJFB9gvP…> America Walks | PO Box 70742, Bethesda, MD 20813 Sent by info(a)americawalks.org powered by [image: Trusted Email from Constant Contact - Try it FREE today.] <http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp?cc=nge&rmc=VF19_3GE> Try email marketing for free today! <http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp?cc=nge&rmc=VF19_3GE>

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WFP Metro: Should we lower residential speed limits? - Scott Gillingham (Aug19'20)
by Beth McKechnie 19 Aug '20

19 Aug '20

Should we lower residential speed limits? I regularly hear from many residents of St. James concerned about the speeds that vehicles are travelling down their streets. My office receives multiple requests every year for speed humps, slow down signs, stop signs, pedestrian crosswalks, traffic studies and increased police enforcement, all in an effort to make the streets we live on feel safer. The people of St. James are not alone in their desire. My council colleagues receive similar requests from residents across Winnipeg who are calling for steps to be taken to improve the sense of safety on local streets. This is a trend that is growing across Canada. The cities of Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Toronto are currently engaged in studies examining the reduction of speed limits on residential streets to something less than 50 km/h. The City of Winnipeg is also considering reducing the default speed limit on residential streets to either 30 km/h or 40 km/h. The speed limit is currently 50 km/h on residential streets. A recent report from the city’s administration says “(t)here is a strong interest from both Council and the public to investigate a city-wide speed limit reduction for Winnipeg’s residential streets, as reducing speeds is proven to make streets calmer, quieter, and safer for people walking, biking, driving, and enjoying their neighbourhood.” Council has asked city staff to conduct a jurisdictional scan, to examine the impacts of reducing speeds on residential streets to 30 km/h or 40 km/h, to review the existing street classification system, to look at best practices and engineering data and to conduct public engagement in order to get feedback, ideas and involve the public in decision-making. This work will take place over the next year. The study will also include a trial speed limit reduction on one street in each ward (including the St. James ward) of either 30 km/h or 40 km/h. The pilot streets have not yet been selected. I support lowering the default speed limit from 50 km/h on Winnipeg’s residential streets. Research shows that there is a relationship between speed and the severity of injuries in a collision. Even though lower speeds are known to improve safety, I still hear from some residents (albeit fewer) who want the speed limit to remain at 50 km/h. Therefore, I believe 40 km/h on local streets has the best chance of getting public support as a reasonable middle ground between those residents opposed to any change and those calling for 30 km/h. I realize that speed limits are a contentious issue, so I want to hear from you. Are you in favour of seeing speed limits on residential streets lowered from 50 km/hr? Please call me at 204-986-5848 or email scottgillingham(a)winnipeg.ca Enjoy the rest of your summer.

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WFP - The Times: A healthier community — one bike at a time (Aug17'20)
by Beth McKechnie 18 Aug '20

18 Aug '20

A healthier community — one bike at a time https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/times/forum/A-healthier-c… Over the spring and summer months, I have been working very closely with an organization in the Notre Dame constituency that does really great work. The Winnipeg Repair Education and Cycling Hub, also known as The WRENCH, builds, repairs, and helps to maintain bikes. They sell, rent, and donate their bikes, not just to individual people, but they even have entire fleets available for businesses. Bicycles are a fantastic way to participate in active transportation. We know that getting around by bike is healthy not only for ourselves but for the environment and our community, as well. In cities around the world where bike use is more common, traffic congestion lightens up and air pollution is reduced. The WRENCH is a permanent fixture of Hugh John Macdonald School, where staff and volunteers provide skills and training to students. They also do community outreach events such as cycling safety workshops and bike giveaway/tune-up events which they have held at IRCOM and Rossbrook House. I was thrilled to work with The WRENCH on some of these outreach events where I got to witness firsthand how hard they work for our community. Not only is The WRENCH promoting a healthier community by getting people on bikes, they are also saving bike parts that are still useable from landfills. Sustainably is a core value of the organization. Most recently, I was happy to be in attendance when The Electronic Recycling Association (ERA) donated four laptops to The WRENCH that will be used by staff to keep the organization running, growing, and thriving. *Because The WRENCH has been so successful at making a good impact in our community, it is expanding. It is currently in a basement on Logan Avenue which it has outgrown. So, The WRENCH is looking to purchase a larger building to meet the demands of the growing organization. In order to achieve this, The WRENCH is planning a capital campaign to raise $250,000 to put towards the purchase of a bigger space.* To learn more about this fantastic organization and to see its event schedule, you can visit thewrench.ca/ <https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/times/forum/thewrench.ca/> As always, feel free to get in touch with my office at Malaya.marcelino(a)yourmanitoba.ca or call 204-788-0800.

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WFP: City seeks input on enhanced AT routes (Aug17'20)
by Beth McKechnie 18 Aug '20

18 Aug '20

** please share widely ** City seeks input on enhanced AT routes The City of Winnipeg wants your views on opening local streets to offer greater active transportation access. As part of its COVID-19 response, Winnipeg now offers 10 enhanced temporary active transportation routes, which prioritize bicycles and pedestrians by limiting motor vehicles to one block of travel between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily. The move was meant to help Winnipeggers safely enjoy the outdoors with enough room to socially distance themselves from others. The current routes are slated to last until at least Sept. 7. *To help evaluate future options for these “open streets,” Winnipeggers are asked to complete a survey now posted at *winnipeg.ca/walkbike2020. Prior to 2020, four enhanced AT routes were offered each year on Sundays and holidays only, between Victoria Day and Thanksgiving weekend. Complete the survey by September 7th.

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10th anniversary of Bicycle Valet Winnipeg
by Beth McKechnie 14 Aug '20

14 Aug '20

Great article on the Bike Winnipeg website for the 10th anniversary of Bicycle Valet Winnipeg. Hard to believe it's already been 10 years! https://bikewinnipeg.ca/2020/08/12/winnipeg-bicycle-valet-from-idea-to-real… Congrats to founder, David Weiser, and to all the hard working staff and volunteers since 2009. cheers, Beth -- Beth McKechnie (she/her) *| *Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your green living hub Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://www.gomanitoba.ca>

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The shape and size of personal trucks
by Charles Feaver 14 Aug '20

14 Aug '20

An article about the growing size and shape of personal trucks, and the danger they pose to other road users, particularly pedestrians and cyclists: https://theweek.com/articles/929196/case-against-american-truck-bloat FYI Bike Winnipeg argued this issue at the latest PUB review of MPI road safety programs, and the PUB has ordered MPI to analyze the extent to which personal trucks do more harm to other road users than sedan type vehicles. MPI is in a unique position to do this, what with having 100% of the data from crashes in the province and a methodology for assigning costs to injury (v. other jurisdictions which have highly variable injury cost settlements arising from court proceedings). It will be interesting to see what this study finds. Charles Feaver 11 Harvard Ave Winnipeg R3M 0J6 204.293.6332

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CTV: City reopens new and improved Empress Street after three years (Aug13'20)
by Beth McKechnie 13 Aug '20

13 Aug '20

WINNIPEG -- After three years of road construction, the new Empress Street overpass, which included rehabilitation and the creation of a new cycling and pedestrian route, is now open. On Thursday morning the City of Winnipeg, along with the federal and provincial government, got together for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially reopen the stretch of road between Portage Avenue and St. Matthews Avenue. "I can't tell you how great it is to have protected cycling facilities that are separate from the road," said Coun. Matt Allard, chairperson of the Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works said. "Infrastructure investments like these are so essential to encouraging mode shift." Despite the pouring rain, Allard said he did cycle to the announcement to give the new cycling route a try. The project cost about $23 million, with $921,000 coming from the province and nearly $4.5 million coming from the federal government. The rest of the project was covered in the City's capital budget. "As a (former) city councillor, I understand that the city can't do it alone – we need the federal government and the provincial government to step up and that is exactly what we've been doing," said Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, representing the federal government. The project included new accessible pedestrian ramps on the north and south side of Portage Avenue, as well as new bi-directional bicycle paths in a protected lane along Empress from the Assiniboine River path. "As an avid cyclist, I am very thrilled to be partnering with my civic and federal counterparts to build more active transportation, because we know in Winnipeg we get all kinds of weather," said Rochelle Squires, Manitoba Minister of Municipal Relations. "I know this pathway will be used well into the future for all the people who do choose the active transportation." Coun. Scott Gillingham, who represents St. James, said this was a project he's had in his sights since he was elected. "When I was fundraising in 2014, the residents told me many times that roads were the number one issue, specifically around the Polo Park area, so I'm glad to see this project completed," he said. The City of Winnipeg has more information about the project online <https://winnipeg.ca/publicworks/construction/projects/empress.stm>. https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/city-reopens-new-and-improved-empress-street-af…

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Why Walking to Work May Be Better for You Than a Casual Stroll
by Beth McKechnie 12 Aug '20

12 Aug '20

Study finds people walk faster, report being healthier, when they walk with a purpose https://news.osu.edu/why-walking-to-work-may-be-better-for-you-than-a-casua…

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WFP: First Fridays talk puts post-pandemic Winnipeg in focus
by Beth McKechnie 06 Aug '20

06 Aug '20

First Fridays talk puts post-pandemic Winnipeg in focus https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/entertainment/arts/first-fr… THERE are few aspects of daily life in Winnipeg and beyond that haven’t been changed, in some way, over the past few months by the pandemic — among them how we interact and communicate, get places and buy things. Urban designer and visual artist Lawrence Bird doesn’t have all the answers, but he does have plenty of ideas that he’ll be discussing Friday with Alison Gillmor, moderator of Building a Post-Pandemic Future, this month’s First Fridays in the Exchange Art Talk. >From bike lanes to open-plan offices, Bird and Gillmor will discuss how prior pandemics have transformed the world and what kind of changes the current one might inspire. The big question is if Winnipeg — a city that “doesn’t change super-quickly,” says Bird — will do the unexpected and embrace the changes that may be coming, or remain entrenched in its old ways. “It’s been 10 years or so since there has been a gradual movement downtown,” says Bird. “Will that stop? Will they turn around? I don’t think so.” Changes to urban design and architecture have been the response, in some cases, to pandemics of the past, such as the creation of Central Park in New York City to improve public health, or the construction of the avenues of Paris; improvements that benefited the wealthy while displacing other communities, he says. Adding to the stress and uncertainty of the pandemic was the need to lock down personal care homes to outside visitors which, in some cases, eliminated any communication between residents and family. Recognizing the need for family contact, the province put out a call for “visitation shelter” designs that would allow in-person connections while ensuring other residents and staff remain safe. Bird is an urban designer at Sputnik Architecture Inc., which recently submitted a design. He believes the pandemic — and learning from past mistakes — may help people better understand the need for new urban designs that are sustainable, inclusive and equitable. One example is shared road spaces — called “woonerfs” in Holland. “A couple decades ago, this idea came up that rather than separating cars and pedestrians, they can walk in the same space,” he says. “And the result is less accidents. Instead of zooming through, focused on the road, the (drivers) are looking out for pedestrians and the pedestrians are looking out for cars. It’s a mutual recognition.” Could an idea like that actually work in a car-centric city such as Winnipeg? It already has, he says. “Winnipeg has actually experimented with this in John Hirsch Place, the alleyway by the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre,” he says. “People can walk through there and drive through there. There haven’t been accidents, as far as I know.” “You could do that along many other streets in Winnipeg.” Building a Post-Pandemic Future, with Lawrence Bird, will be streamed online at firstfridayswinnipeg.org Friday at 7 p.m. The event is free to watch. frances.koncan(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @franceskoncan

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WFP: Ottawa aims to spur quick builds (Aug6'20)
by Beth McKechnie 06 Aug '20

06 Aug '20

Program tweaked so Manitoba can get $117M Ottawa aims to spur quick builds https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/coronavirus/ottawa-makes-push-for… OTTAWA — The federal government is rejigging its massive infrastructure plan to allow provinces to divert 10 per cent of their federal funding into shovel-ready projects aimed at helping people keep physically distant. *That could mean Manitoba will get up to $117 million, which has been gummed up in red tape, to build bike lanes and hospital extensions and retrofit classrooms.* “Once we get on the other side of COVID… infrastructure’s going to be a way to rebuild our cities, our rural areas and the North,” said Dan Vandal, Manitoba’s federal cabinet minister. The Manitoba government said it will study the proposal and see if it can help clear obstacles to getting infrastructure funds out the door. The Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) has been plagued with problems since Manitoba signed onto its quota in 2018. The decade-long plan is aimed at repairing Canada’s crumbling roads and outdated buildings, such as recreation centres. *ICIP splits projects into four areas, such as green, rural and public transit *— and largely requires provinces to match the cost. Numerous provinces have said the criteria make it hard to get projects through the federal approval process. The Liberals have partially acknowledged that problem, while insisting provinces aren’t putting up enough cash to qualify. Winnipeg’s city council has shelved projects it nominated for the plan, after the belt-tightening provincial Progressive Conservatives put up less funding than the city wanted. On Wednesday, the federal Liberals announced provinces can divert 10 per cent of their federal ICIP cash into shovel-ready projects, targeted at making life easier during the COVID-19 pandemic. Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna told reporters even cell phone and broadband projects could qualify for funding. “We’re using existing money to make sure that we’re getting better outcomes,” she said. “This is for projects that can be built quickly.” The reappropriated funding is intended for projects for which construction would start by fall 2021 and be completed by the end of that year. The federal government could also form more direct partnerships with cities, which municipalities have sought for years. *Instead of the usual formula of Ottawa and the province each covering 40 per cent of costs and leaving the city to pay the remaining 20 per cent, these COVID-19 projects could have Ottawa pay four-fifths of the cost without provinces contributing a dime.* *However, those projects would still require the provincial government to sign off on them.* Manitoba Central Services Minister Reg Helwer seemed open to green-lighting such projects, saying the PCs want job-stimulating projects in cities and First Nations, while allowing the province to afford essential services. “We’re going to make it work best for Manitoba and we are in very active negotiations with the federal government,” Helwer said in an interview. He did not provide examples of specific projects the PCs would make a priority. Vandal said the money can be used for anything from cycling routes in Winnipeg to medical research facilities. As an example, he cited the St. Boniface Hospital Foundation, which is in his riding. “Many of our hospitals need some investment, so I’m hoping we can use some of these funds to do some important work in our hospitals, as well as our schools,” Vandal said. Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman was not aware of the arrangement before its announcement; his office said it would seek clarity. Helwer said he’d still prefer the Liberals do away with the criteria for projects, but hoped Wednesday’s new program will clear the logjam by making more projects eligible for funding. “Anything would help,” he said. “All provinces are struggling with finding a way to fit their projects into the (federal) streams.” dylan.robertson(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Today's Federal Announcement
by Beth McKechnie 05 Aug '20

05 Aug '20

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Brian Pincott <ed(a)canadabikes.org> Date: Wed, Aug 5, 2020 at 1:38 PM This morning the federal government made a significant announcement for active transportation. They have created a $3.3 billion “Resiliency” stream within the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. This has a significant AT component to it. Please see the attached memo for full details on what they have announced. We have a great chance to make a difference for cycling coast to coast to coast with this announcement. I’m looking forward to a busy 18 months!! Brian Brian Pincott Executive Director Directeur Executif he/him Vélo Canada Bikes ed(a)canadabikes.org 403-701-6335 @bpincott www.canadabikes.org

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The Herald: Imagining a new Elmwood streetscape (Aug5'20)
by Beth McKechnie 05 Aug '20

05 Aug '20

Imagining a new Elmwood streetscape https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/herald/Imagining-a-new-El… Motorists driving on Henderson Highway between Johnson Avenue and Hespeler Avenue may have noticed some temporary changes July 25 — some of which could become permanent. The new streetscape was part of Reimagine Elmwood, a one-day trial which saw a temporary crosswalk, bicycle lanes and parking lanes installed on Henderson between noon and 8 p.m. It was an experiment to see how organizers could make Elmwood a more livable community. Michel Durand-Wood, co-chair of the Glenelm Neighbourhood Association, helped organize Reimagine Elmwood along with representatives of seven other community groups. He said the afternoon’s test-drive evolved from the results of a survey of more than 1,500 respondents. “One of the major themes that came back was the difficulty in getting around the neighbourhood, especially for families, youth and seniors,” Durand-Wood said. One significant barrier is the six lanes of traffic on Henderson Highway, Durand-Wood said. Vehicle traffic and noise makes it difficult to converse on the sidewalks. If the speed limit is lowered, a bicycle lane added (as many cyclists now use the sidewalk), and some tables and chairs are placed on the sidewalks, all of a sudden you have a more hospitable environment. Durand-Wood said the intersection of Henderson and Poplar is the neighbourhood’s midway point, so the group decided to try a crosswalk. A guard was stationed there to help pedestrians. The final element was the elimination of one traffic lane in favour of on-street parking which, while allowed, can be discouraged by higher vehicle speeds. Turnouts were placed at street corners to encourage parking. “Its good for a neighbourhood feel and good for the businesses,” Durand-Wood said. “We’re working as a neighbourhood and community to get everybody on board to work toward something that works for everybody. “Luckily Coun. (Jason) Schreyer was very helpful and supportive throughout the way.” Reimagine Elmwood was a nice starting point, but the owner of a local business believes the results would have been different if the test was held on a weekday. “It’s good,” said Mike Bergmann, owner of Lower Level Sports Cards and Collectibles at 189 Henderson Hwy. “It’s one thing to do it on a Saturday, the traffic is flowing nicely, but when the crosswalk is being used by the Subway it backs traffic up and I wonder how it will Monday to Friday.” Bergmann also said any changes should only be made after extensive consultation with area business owners, which he doesn’t always see. “People don’t come and visit the business and ask my opinion. Maybe they do at other businesses but that has to happen for these changes to happen as well,” Bergmann said. Bergmann said there has been street parking on Henderson for years, so he would like to see existing parking used lots to their full capacity, including the one at Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church lot and even his own, which is shared with another building but cut in half by a fence. “Parking lots are essential and if you want people to come to Elmwood there has to be free parking in the parking lots, at least to begin with and then see what happens,” Bergmann said. Durand-Wood said organizers will review surveys and discuss the event. Next steps could be longer trials and added locations.

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Ban SUV adverts to meet UK climate goals, report urges
by Charles F 04 Aug '20

04 Aug '20

Not exactly AT, but who we share the road with....https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/03/ban-suv-adverts… from my phone.

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Global News: Downtown Winnipeg street turned into playground to encourage lower speed limits (Jul30'20)
by Beth McKechnie 31 Jul '20

31 Jul '20

*Downtown Winnipeg street turned into playground to encourage lower speed limits* https://globalnews.ca/news/7237319/downtown-winnipeg-speed-limit-reduction-… A campaign aimed at slowing residential speed limits <https://globalnews.ca/tag/residential-speed-limits/> in Winnipeg turned a downtown street into a playground Thursday. Ellen Street was blocked off between Bannatyne and McDermot avenues in front of the Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba’s building from noon to 8 p.m. while kids and families played street hockey, hula-hooped and painted the road with chalk paint among workshops and other programming. The organizers of the #Love30for30 campaign, environmental non-profit Green Action Centre are in favour of reducing the default speed limit to allow pedestrians and cyclists to better share roads with drivers in Winnipeg. “We are asking for the default speed to be dropped from 50 kilometres per hour to 30 kilometres per hour — that does not mean that every street would be 30 km/h — it just means that we’re going to start at 30 km/h and raise speed limits above that where it’s safe,” said Denae Penner, the Green Action Centre’s sustainable transportation coordinator. Penner pointed to the lower risk of serious injury — World Health Organization data show a 90 per cent survival rate when pedestrians are struck by vehicles travelling 30 km/h — as part of the campaign’s reasoning for reducing speeds. “Pedestrian injury and cyclist injury is on the rise — safety concerns, in general, are growing, there is a lot of discussion right now happening at the city about making changes to policy and changes to street design to help fix that problem,” she said. “We want to have streets that function for cars, but also for kids who want to run and play.” The choice to close the specific street was intentional — IRCOM’s Ellen Street location is home to 65 immigrant families’ transitional apartments. “Many of our families don’t have vehicles and so they are the cyclists, they are the pedestrians, they are going to be walking across the streets to navigate a brand new community, go to school, go grocery shopping and make new friends,” said Dorota Blumczynska, IRCOM’s executive director. “The speed limits that are in place in this residential neighbourhood could compromise their safety, so we are doing our part in terms of educating our tenants and trying to help them understand how to be safe and street smart, but we need the city to meet us in the middle.” City council approved a pilot project that will see five residential streets speed limits reduced to 30 km/h last week, but Ellen Sreet was not one of them. The streets seeing reduced speed limits are: - Roch Street from Poplar Avenue to Arby Bay - Eugenie Avenue from St. Mary’s Road to Youville Street - Warsaw Avenue and Fleet Avenue from Nassau Avenue to Lindsay Avenue - Machray Avenue from Fife Street to Main Street - Flora Avenue from Sinclair Street to King Street

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WFP: Police investigate after cyclist killed in hit-and-run (Jul31'20)
by Beth McKechnie 31 Jul '20

31 Jul '20

Police investigate after cyclist killed in hit-and-run Two bicycle riders involved in crashes on Wednesday https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/police-investigate-after-cyclist-ki… A CRUISER bike was propped against an electrical pole on Grey Street and a black helmet was near the curb as Winnipeg police investigated a fatal hit-and-run in the Munroe neighbourhood Thursday morning. Around 10 p.m. Wednesday, police said emergency crews were called to the intersection of Moncton Avenue and Grey Street for reports of a crash between a vehicle and a cyclist. The driver of the vehicle fled the scene, police said, and the cyclist, who was identified as a 50-year-old man, was taken to hospital in critical condition, where he died. No other details were released on Thursday by police who investigated the area between Munroe and Moncton overnight and into the morning. Officers could be seen photographing evidence strewn across the street before 8 a.m. Thursday with numerous markers spread out on the pavement. Police had not yet identified the driver of the vehicle as of Thursday and asked anyone with information or witnesses to contact investigators at 204-986-7085 or call Crime Stoppers at 204-786-8477. The fatal collision in the school zone on Grey Street was the second serious incident Wednesday involving a person on a bike. That morning around 7:30 a.m., first responders were called to a crash at St. Anne’s Road and Bank Avenue. A man who had been riding his bike was taken to hospital in unstable condition after being hit by a vehicle, but was later upgraded to stable, police said. Police did not provide additional details of that collision Thursday. Preliminary data from Manitoba Public Insurance show 35 people had been killed on public roads in Manitoba as of July 30. Last year, 77 people died. MPI said one cyclist has been killed so far this year. Preliminary data on injuries for the year was not available. MPI statistics indicate most bicycle-vehicle collisions happen in urban settings and, based on a 10-year average, two cyclists die and 129 are injured each year. Most collisions happen in the summer, MPI said, and from April to June this year there’s been a 60 per cent increase in speed-related driving offences. Clayton Rudy, board co-chair with Bike Winnipeg, said the organization is pushing for reduced speeds where people on bikes and vehicles cross paths. “A lot of Winnipeggers cycle in the city and the whole community is sad when there is an injury or fatality on the road,” Rudy said. “Unfortunately, it discourages some people from being on their bikes and being on their bikes more often. “It’s just really sad when somebody loses their life on the road.” Rudy said anecdotal reports indicate people are choosing to walk or ride bicycles more frequently this summer, in part due to the coronavirus pandemic, and he worries the number serious collisions may increase when school resumes in the fall. Bike Winnipeg is supportive of reducing residential speed limits to 30 km/hr citywide, he added. “For a long time, serious injuries and fatalities using the road system have been tolerated culturally,” the accredited level-two road safety professional and traffic operations engineer said. “We’ve started to see that culture shift and it’s beginning to be that losing your life walking or being on a bike is tolerated as much as it used to be. “We need to have far reaching policy-level decisions, made by the provincial and city government, to support that changing culture,” Rudy said. Seven pedestrians have been killed on public roadways this year in Manitoba, including one in Winnipeg, MPI said. On Wednesday, Brandon RCMP reported a 30-year-old female pedestrian died around 4:15 a.m. A driver travelling westbound on the Trans-Canada Highway hit the woman, who police said was lying on the road. Last year, Manitoba recorded one of its deadliest years for pedestrian fatalities in two decades, with at least 12 pedestrian deaths on public roadways in the first nine-months of 2019. Year end totals were not made available by MPI on Thursday. — with files from Sarah Lawrynuik danielle.dasilva(a)freepress.mb.ca

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WFP Editorial: Slower speeds catch on quickly (Jul30'20)
by Beth McKechnie 30 Jul '20

30 Jul '20

Slower speeds catch on quickly https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/slower-speeds-catch-on… A SUREFIRE way to spark spirited conversation among Winnipeggers is to mention 30 km/h speed limits. There are heartfelt arguments for and against such restrictions, but one fact is inarguable: drivers had better get used to the idea, because Winnipeg is part of a national trend of cities forcing drivers to ease up on the accelerator. A campaign to reduce the residential speed limit will close a section of Ellen Street from noon to 8 p.m. today as residents make their point by using open pavement for fun activities. This follows the approval by city council last week of a one-year pilot project to test a 30 km/h limit on sections of five residential streets: Roch Street, Eugenie Avenue, Warsaw Avenue/Fleet Avenue, Machray Avenue and Flora Avenue. What’s more — and what’s bound to be even more controversial — is council’s consideration of lowering speed limits on all residential roads. They plan to hire a consultant to study the impact of both 30 km/h and 40 km/h limits throughout the city. Such changes would extend the 30 km/h school zones that already exist during the academic year. The reduced-speed zones have been a consistent target of public complaint from some drivers, particularly those hit in the wallet by the photo enforcement contractors set up near schools. People who support lower speed limits — they include cyclists, pedestrians and parents of children — point to evidence that speed kills: pedestrians almost always die when hit by vehicles going 70 km/h, but 90 per cent of pedestrians survive after being hit by vehicles going 30 km/h. People who oppose lower limits insist vehicular traffic in some areas of Winnipeg is already clogged enough without making it worse with snail-like limits. Many of them suspect the city’s motivation for expanding 30 km/h zones is less about safety and more about a lucrative source of revenue from ticket fines. This polarizing disagreement is echoed in other Canadian cities that are also on the road to slowing down drivers. Toronto has reduced speeds on almost 50 streets, on arterial roads from 60 km/h to 50 km/h. It also introduced about 50 automated speed cameras to ticket drivers. Edmonton city council introduced a bylaw last month to decrease the citywide default residential speed limit from 50 km/h to 40 km/h. Hamilton is in the process of cutting the limit in residential neighbourhoods from 50 km/h to 40 km/h, and to 30 km/h in school zones. Vancouver is extending the enforcement period of its 30 km/h limit for schools around the clock, and testing the 30 km/h limit in areas without schools or playgrounds. The Canadian initiatives are variations of a concept called Vision Zero, which started in Sweden more than 20 years ago and has spread to Australia, England and cities, including Oslo, New York, Minneapolis and San Francisco. The goal is to eliminate 100 per cent of traffic fatalities and severe injuries. This is accomplished by rejigging traffic flow, enforcing road rules and educating drivers to respect an unequivocal tenet: pedestrians are paramount. Winnipeg drivers will have the opportunity in September to display their belief that pedestrians are paramount, especially young pedestrians. School buses will be sparsely occupied because of COVID-19 restrictions, which means an unusually large number of children and youth will be walking, pedalling, blading and skateboarding from their homes to their schools. If the threat of speed-limit fines is insufficient incentive to slow drivers, the safety of little lives should be.

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WFP: Campaign touts slower speeds, roads as shared spaces (Jul28'20)
by Beth McKechnie 28 Jul '20

28 Jul '20

Campaign touts slower speeds, roads as shared spaces https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/slow-speed-ahead----campaign-touts-… A CAMPAIGN to reduce Winnipeg’s residential speed limit will shut down a section of Ellen Street to help others see its vision for “shared” roads. This Thursday, from noon to 8 p.m., Ellen Street will be closed to vehicle traffic between McDermot and Bannatyne avenues, as part of a local #Love30on30 event. That hashtag and campaign supports a permanent speed limit reduction for residential roads to 30 km/h. “It’s showing people that their streets can feel very different than they do right now. They don’t need to feel like they’re just dedicated to cars,” said Denae Penner, one of the event’s organizers. Penner, who also serves as the Green Action Centre’s sustainable transportation program co-ordinator, said the Ellen Street site will become an outdoor gathering space for various events, including zumba, street hockey and a bike clinic. She said slowing down traffic is especially important for children, those who live in central neighbourhoods and people of colour. Penner said those groups are all more likely to be seriously injured in a traffic collision. The reduced-speed campaign is drawing increased support, she said, noting the change wouldn’t apply to key commuter routes, such as Portage Avenue. Speed reduction advocates say drivers must be required to slow down to prevent traffic-collision deaths. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), pedestrians have a 90 per cent chance of survival when struck by a car travelling at 30 km/h or slower but that chance drops to less than 50 per cent when the car travels at 45 km/h. “Pedestrians have almost no chance of surviving an impact at 80 km/h,” the WHO states. Last week, Winnipeg city council approved a pilot program of 30 km/h speed limits on five residential streets. Coun. Matt Allard (St. Boniface) said that trial should help gauge Winnipeggers’ thoughts on a potential permanent change. The city will also hire a consultant to study a broader speed limit reduction next year, if council approves the funding in its 2021 budget. “There’s going to be a robust discussion in the coming year or two,” said Allard, council’s public works committee chairman. However, some Winnipeggers are convinced a speed limit reduction isn’t necessary. A petition against lowering the residential speed to 30 km/h has gathered more than 7,000 signatures. Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan) said he personally believes there are better ways to improve road safety than reducing the speed limit. Browaty said it’s more important to enforce current maximum speeds, arguing the default 50 km/h limit is appropriate. “I think that’s the right default speed limit… If people just drive prudently, when there’s people on the streets, you simply slow down,” he said. The councillor said he’s concerned even the speed reduction pilot project could have unfortunate side effects, by leading more drivers to converge on the remaining regular-speed routes. “I think it’s going to move traffic to other parallel streets that don’t have these trials,” he said. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: One sprawling city | Missing the target for emissions reduction measures (Jul25'20)
by Beth McKechnie 28 Jul '20

28 Jul '20

Winnipeg’s suburban development, long ago linked to public transit routes, is now driven by a desire to live further away from the city centre; the result is more vehicles, longer commutes and growing greenhouse-gas emissions ONE SPRAWLING CITY! https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/cover-crisis-what-crisis-inside-one… THE main arteries of this city tell the story of how Winnipeg grew into a metropolis. Pembina, Portage, Main, Henderson Highway — all of these streets snaking their way through a growing city — used to act as principal corridors connecting the downtown core to bedroom communities that, once upon a time, stood on their own. They tell the story of how urban sprawl was virtually carved into the DNA of the city as far back as the early 1900s. “We really couldn’t avoid it — because of the way we were set up, because there were individual cities and municipalities set up surrounding the downtown core,” says Winnipegfocused historical consultant Murray Peterson. “The city was moving in all directions outward… you naturally had sprawl.” The nature of urban sprawl in Winnipeg has changed over that time, he says. In the beginning, it was driven, ironically, by public transport. “Wherever the street car went, you could get development,” he says. Now it’s driven more by low-density suburban housing development, which is cheaper to build in the sticks than it is to redevelop sites within the city. New builds are “fairly significant” in several areas, says Christopher Storie, the director of the University of Winnipeg’s Institute for Urban Studies. Continuous development can be seen north of Garden City, as well as in the southwest and in the vicinity of the Island Lakes neighbourhood in the southeast, he says. The result is a city that is still pushing the outer boundaries further from the downtown core. Based on city census data, the number of people living in Island Lakes grew from 510 in 1986 to 7,465 in 2011. In the same time period, Riverbend, located off Main Street inside the Perimeter Highway, grew from 780 people to 5,390. Even communities with more established neighbourhoods, such as Richmond West, grew from 2,995 in 1986 to 8,240 people by 2011. These neighbourhoods are outpacing the growth rates of the city as a whole. And the sprawl continues to the edges of the Perimeter Highway. The Waverley West development in south Winnipeg, which was given the green light in 2005, was designed for 40,000 residents by 2020. Sage Creek, where the first home in the development to the east of Island Lakes was built in 2005, will be home to 12,000 by 2028. “We have continued to sprawl in a classic sense — the single-family or light-density residential housing — towards the perimeters of the city,” Storie says. ●●● These patterns of development do more than increase infrastructure spending for the municipality and lengthen the time it takes to drive from one end of the city to the other. The way a city develops creates the patterns in which its people live. And when it comes to climate change, they create entrenched behaviours that make lowering greenhouse gas emissions a herculean task. Statistics Canada did a side-by-side comparison of data gathered in 1996 and 2016 to look at how continued sprawl — not only in Winnipeg but across the country — was changing the dynamics of how far people travelled to reach work. The study of long-form census data found that in Winnipeg the most concentrated place of work is in the downtown core, with 47.5 per cent of jobs within five kilometres of city hall, while another 40.4 per cent of jobs are between five and 10 kilometres of city hall. But fewer people are living in areas with short commutes to this high-density employment zone. In 1996, 36.8 per cent of Winnipeggers lived within five kilometres of the city centre. Two decades later that number had fallen to 28.4 per cent, which is still the highest percentage of people located in close proximity of the urban core when compared to the seven other Canadian cities studied. But every city saw an increase in dispersal of people away from the city core. During that 20-year period, Winnipeg saw an increase of more than 20,000 people using a vehicle as the primary means of transport to get to work, which is now the preferred mode of 78.8 per cent of the city’s roughly 345,000 commuters. So, it is no surprise then when emissions reports show residents’ passenger vehicles are responsible for approximately one-third of all the emissions generated in the city. HIGH-DENSITY BUILDS PICKING UP STEAM In Winnipeg since 2000, more than 28,000 new building permits have been issued for single-family homes, with peaks in construction coming in 2012 and 2017. In the same period, medium density options saw meagre advances with only 2,100 semi-detached home permits issued, and 4,700 row house permits issued. Higher-density options advanced on par with single-family residences. The city issued permits for 25,000 apartment- style units to be constructed. And while permits for single-family dwellings have remained remarkably stable since 2000, permits for apartments have been increasing steadily. In 2000, permits were issued for 119 units. In 2019, permits for 3,145 units were issued. Storie says it is good to see progress on more density development, but it still doesn’t mitigate the continued pressure on the city to continue its outward expansion. While it was a pattern developed very early in Winnipeg history, it was further cemented in the postwar years, Storie explains, wherein the inner-city housing was the more affordable option, and thus was often where new immigrants would live. But as the family began to generate more wealth, they typically moved out to single-family homes in the suburbs with more space, and they did this likely at the same time they were able to afford a car for transport into the core, he says. In the postwar years, sprawl and its connection and reliance on transit systems was effectively severed as suburbanites became car-bound for their commutes. The flip side of ambition is the prospect of falling short. Vancouver has failed to meet its 2020 goal, and Calgary similarly missed its previously set 2020 target. Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman says this is a case where the good need not be the enemy of the perfect. “We did change the targets in 2018,” Bowman says. “The targets were done to make sure they were more achievable. And so, we want to make sure that if we’re setting these targets we’re actually achieving them.” Or, at least, that is the hope. Cities are well-positioned to act on climate change because they’re a large source of emissions, thanks to the number of cars on the streets and the aggregation of buildings and people. “(Municipalities) are the form of government that are closest to the people, so in terms of engagement, they’re the ones who could engage key decision-makers, the public, key sectors, and have more tailored approaches to climate-change mitigation and adaptation,” says Dave Guyadeen, an assistant professor at the University of Guelph’s School of Environmental Design. Guyadeen says cities, in many ways, have the most at stake when it comes to coping with the fallout of a changing climate, since there is such a large concentration of people, infrastructure and businesses. And when extreme weather events happen, for example, the damage costs are staggering. “The most important part is cities have access to land-use and zoning controls and regulations, which the federal and provincial levels don’t necessarily have,” he says. “So, cities — in land-use planning — they can influence development by specifically targeting things such as mixed-use development, compact development, looking at infill/brownfield (development), green building and infrastructure.” Winnipeg has begun setting modest targets for 2030, aiming to have 50 per cent of development be infill, which helps create more urban density, but the city continues to grow outward. “Even transportation — you can promote active transportation, transit-oriented development, building pedestrian- friendly communities, which would reduce our reliance on vehicles for movement,” Guyadeen says. And this will be critical to Winnipeg’s plan, since sprawl and the accompanying transportation emissions account for a significant amount of the city’s overall output. WHERE DO EMISSIONS COME FROM? Emissions in Winnipeg fall into three large categories: transportation, natural gas and waste disposal. Local calculations haven’t been made available by the city since 2011, but this year council agreed to allot money for a new inventory. The 2011 data demonstrated that nearly half (49.7 per cent) of emissions are generated by transportation, one-third from burning natural gas and 14.9 per cent in the waste-disposal process. Winnipeg, powered principally by hydroelectricity, does have a leg up when it comes to emissions generated to create electricity, which make up less than one per cent of the total. Transit and wastewater both also generate less than one per cent of the total. TRANSPORTATION Of the emissions generated by transportation, 65 per cent is by residents driving. And while the overall goals are slightly more ambitious, the aim is to lower transportation emissions by only 17 per cent by 2030. This includes a target for eight per cent of vehicles on the road to be electric by 2030. “Eight per cent by 2030? No. That’s a bit low,” says Eric Bibeau, an associate professor in the department of engineering at the University of Manitoba. Bibeau was one of the authors of the federal strategic road map for electric vehicles released in 2009. Bibeau says Manitoba has lagged behind in electric vehicle sales — less than one per cent of new registrations in the province in 2018 accounted for EVs or hybrids, according to Statistics Canada. That compares to provinces leading the way, such as Quebec and British Columbia where those vehicles accounted for only 5.2 per cent and 6.1 per cent, respectively. However, Bibeau believes that in the coming decade, the move for manufacturers to create electric-powered trucks will change things for Manitobans, and Winnipeggers, specifically. “It’s going to be pretty idiotic to buy a gasoline truck by 2025,” he says. “The eight per cent — I’m not surprised that somebody from Winnipeg would say that, I’m not surprised. It’s low and it shows the culture of not understanding what is going on (in the global context).” The climate plan also sets out a goal of creating 800 kilometres of pathways for an active transportation network by 2030. Approximately 290 kilometres have been built so far, city officials say. By 2030, the plan states that 14 per cent of people will need to have adopted either walking or biking (or another means of active transport) in order to achieve the 17 per cent emissions-reduction targets. Fifteen per cent will need to take public transit. According to Statistics Canada, based on the 2016 census, 4.7 per cent of Winnipeg’s commuters walked, 1.7 per cent cycled and 14 per cent used public transit. Bowman says this is an area where citizens can step up, incorporating active or public transportation into their lives as demand will spur more development. Another piece of the puzzle is analyzing the continued growth of the commuter communities surrounding the city and he expects that will be a part of the capital region plan. “One of the things we’re scrutinizing is the kind of growth that happens in and around Winnipeg,” he says. NATURAL GAS Buildings are Winnipeg’s second-largest source of emissions, with 99 per cent produced from burning natural gas, the climate report says. Natural gas has been long considered a clean solution for heating needs, given that it emits approximately 27 per cent less than burning heating oil for the same purpose, the U.S. Energy Information Administration says. The only ways to mitigate emissions from natural gas are to change mechanisms for heating to renewable sources, or electric (which could put considerable strain on the province’s electric grid) or to invest in building efficiency. The city’s plan for mitigation relies entirely on the first and third options. The city aims to decrease emissions from heating buildings — both residential and commercial — by eight per cent by 2030. This includes an increase (yes, increase) in the amount of natural gas burned, compared with 2011 levels by about 24 per cent; the plan expects that will be offset by eight per cent of homes switching to renewable sources of energy, or having made significant energy-efficiency improvements. Meanwhile, 12 per cent of commercial or industrial buildings will be expected to do the same. The city will make an effort to motivate the switch — especially for commercial owners — by creating energy benchmarks for properties so that each building is rated based on its carbon footprint. The climate plan also discusses the possibility of using solar energy for water heaters, or possibly investing in geothermal heat pump technology, which is more efficient and generally uses renewable energy sources. WASTE DISPOSAL The Brady Road Landfill is one of the top single-source emitters of greenhouse gases in the province. “While waste generation is similar to other Canadian cities, diversion rates have been comparatively poor in Winnipeg,” the climate plan states. Approximately 15 per cent of emissions come from waste disposal, generated principally by the decomposition of organic matter in a landfill. A compost program would alleviate and mitigate emissions. A two-year pilot project is finally set to get underway in the fall after nearly a decade of discussions. “I think I was one of the people who didn’t want to move quickly on compost. Some people blame me on this, I don’t think I deserve all the blame, but my view has shifted on compost,” Coun. Brian Mayes says. “We should be trying to move that forward if we can get some help from the province. I’d like to pick up the pace right now on this pilot project.” Winnipeg is the largest city in Canada without a compost program. The city could have learned from pilot projects conducted in other municipalities and fast-tracked the initiative, but chose not to pursue it. “It’s not like this is tricky technology, like some of the stuff at the North End sewage treatment plant, no,” says Mayes, the St. Vital councillor who chairs the Standing Policy Committee on Water and Waste, Riverbank Management and the Environment. “There’s a bin, you put the bin at the end of your driveway. I think it came down to cost.” Bowman agrees that council was not receptive to moving forward with curbside organics in the last term. “One of the reasons we wanted to get the pilot is there are localized costs that have to be quantified so that we can properly budget,” he says. The city — with the help of the federal government — has invested $3.2 million in drilling 81 gas wells in the landfill to collect the methane that would otherwise be emitted. Instead of using it for heating or other useful purposes, the methane is being burned to simply turn the emissions from methane to less-potent carbon dioxide. The city’s project web page says the practice will reduce emissions annually by the same amount as if 21,700 passenger vehicles were taken off the roads. PERFORMANCE EVALUATION The city has plans and targets, but without a local inventory conducted since 2011, knowing where the city stands is difficult. The closest number that can be used to track progress is the federal government’s inventory report that considers the province’s emissions from 2018. The report, released in the spring, indicated that Manitoba’s emissions have continued to grow, reaching their highest point ever. Between 2005 and 2018, emissions in the province grew by 8.3 per cent. Keeping track of progress and reporting it publicly is a critical piece of the emissions-reduction puzzle. The Carbon Disclosure Project, an international not-for-profit organization, has become the go-to source for governments and businesses alike to report their emissions-reduction goals and actions. “Cities that don’t both measure and manage this information are not as readily prepared to withstand the systemic shocks from either extreme weather, or from other types of disruptions,” says Bruno Sarda, president of CDP North America. “So the motivation these days is that it really is considered to be a standard practice.” The CDP grades any city government that has voluntarily participated. Winnipeg was not among the seven Canadian cities that received an A-grade, the only score posted publicly. Winnipeg has not updated its inventory report with CDP since 2011. >From that data, Sarda says the city may be on the right path in terms of planning, but has not progressed to the same levels as other Canadian communities. He says council should be seeking inspiration from places such as Windsor, Ont., which is investing in home retrofit incentives to maximize energy efficiency. Or Toronto, where idling laws are being enacted and the city transit fleet is being switched over to electric. Or Vancouver, where a clear commitment has been made to utilize more renewable energy sources. All three are A-grade cities, along with North Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary and Edmonton. “The thing we find with A-list cities is that they have about double the number of actions to adapt to climate change versus non-A-list cities, and about five times as many (emission) mitigation actions,” he says. “So Winnipeg is certainly on the right path, at least they have these emissions targets that they put out in 2018, you know, not super ambitious — 20 per cent reduction by 2030, relative to 2011 — we see that certainly as being behind the mark compared to a lot of the climate science, which says it should probably be a 50 per cent reduction by 2030. “Eighty per cent by 2050, that used to be pretty good, now it’s considered a little bit insufficient when it’s really about net-zero by 2050.” Bibeau is far more critical. “The city is nowhere near on the ball on anything. They have no active policy on climate change,” he says. “It reflects the (policy of) the provincial government. So, there’s nothing really serious going on in Manitoba.” Mayes says there are other actions to consider, such as the city’s creation of a food council to consider ways to create locally sourced food networks. “Maybe we’re just inching along, but at least we’re moving forward. At least we’re doing something,” Mayes says. “I am OK with our efforts.” At roughly 28 per cent, Winnipeg’s emissions are a fraction of Manitoba’s, which account for only three per cent of the country’s total, which make up roughly 1.5 per cent of the global total, Environment and Climate Change Canada says. But the premise of all developed countries acting together to solve the problem is the foundation for global mitigation efforts and it’s not a responsibility to be shirked, Bowman says. “There are politicians in the world who don’t believe climate change is real and they don’t believe that it’s caused by humans. And fortunately, in Winnipeg, we’re not of that view. City council, I believe, to a person, appreciates the fact that we need to meet these (greenhouse-gas) targets and we are in a meaningful way trying to make a difference.... I want to meet the (emissions) targets and I’m going to continue to be aggressive at looking at different measures we can do to achieve them,” he says. “We know that we’ve got more work to do, and we’ll continue to do so. But we need all levels of government doing their part, and we need citizens pitching in.” sarah.lawrynuik(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @SarahLawrynuik ______ MISSING THE TARGET City has a modest climate-change plan in place but is seemingly in no hurry to implement reduction measures THERE are many instances where municipal governments find themselves hamstrung, victims to the whims of larger governments with bigger spending power and more expansive jurisdictions. But in the case of one of the biggest looming threats to cities — climate change — municipal governments have an overwhelming amount of power to make meaningful policy moves. Yet, the City of Winnipeg is dragging its feet on consequential action. In 2018, Winnipeg adopted a climate-action plan aimed at lowering greenhouse-gas emissions generated within the city limits by 20 per cent by 2030, using 2011 levels as a baseline. By 2050, the goal is to have reduced emissions by 80 per cent. This is below what the federal government committed the country to in the 2015 Paris Agreement; Canada pledged to lower emissions by 30 per cent by 2030, below 2005 levels — a greater percentage on a lower benchmark year. Following those commitments, the federal government also committed to pursuing net-zero emissions by 2050. When compared with other Canadian cities, Winnipeg’s goals are modest. Vancouver’s aim was to lower emissions by 2020 by 33 per cent, and by 2050 by 80 per cent, using 2007 as a baseline. One might expect emissions reductions would at least be more ambitious in Winnipeg than in the heart of oil and gas country, but Calgary has outstripped Winnipeg in committing to the same emissions reduction percentage by 2050, but using 2005 as a baseline. “And then as we sort of added a highly consumer lifestyle to the mix, the need to not only house the humans within the family, but then the stuff that comes with the shifting lifestyle, the move towards disposable, cheap items. And it all just begins to group together, and the cost of building housing, and large housing… is much more affordable building on land at the perimeter compared with infill and redevelopment in the interior,” Storie says. ●●● The city, as part of its climate strategy passed by council in 2018, has begun addressing urban sprawl and has committed to infill making up 50 per cent of all residential development by 2030 in order to increase the city’s density. “We want to be considering that as the city spreads out more, then we would expect to see that the number and length of person vehicle (trips) are increasing and other (transportation) options may become less viable or more costly for the city to implement,” says Lindsay Mierau, manager of the city’s Office of Sustainability. “And that has direct implications for addressing greenhouse-gas emissions.” The city plans to focus infill development in strategic areas close to transit corridors, and it will also move focus away from single-detached residences that are more energy intensive than their denser counterparts, Mierau says. This is one aspect of the city’s climate plan that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent by 2030, when compared with 2011 emissions. In order to limit global warming to 1.5 C this century, emissions need to be reduced by 7.6 per cent every year between 2020 and 2030. Storie says the kinds of goals the city is laying out for infill will require policy changes since it is often a secondary choice for developers because it is typically more costly, given land acquisition costs. Coun. Brian Mayes, chairman of the Standing Committee on Water and Waste, Riverbank Management and the Environment, says he thinks focusing on density alone is an oversimplification of the problem. There has already been focus on reimagining suburbs to be more complete communities that people don’t have to leave as often, he says. Then, there is the problem that if single-family homes end up being in short supply in Winnipeg, there’s nothing stopping people from buying in neighbouring communities and taking their tax dollars with them, he says. “It’s all billed as if we just need to build up,” he says. “Well that’s a bit simplistic. We do need to have people living downtown, but there’s tens of thousands of people who don’t want that.” he says. ●●● Winnipeg is far from the only city to struggle with urban sprawl. It’s a question that’s been raised in towns and cities across North America, in large part because there is no shortage of land. New, imaginative approaches to sustainable neighbourhood development are being considered across the country and around the world. For example, in Edmonton, the city is undertaking a first-of-its-kind community — called Blatchford. Planners are attempting to reimagine the concept of a neighbourhood with pedestrian streets, relegating cars to back lanes. The community will be collectively powered using geothermal heat-pump technology to provide more efficient heating and cooling systems. And local businesses and recreational facilities will be integrated within the community in an attempt to bring services to residents, instead of forcing them to travel to find those services which, the theory goes, lowers their reliance on personal vehicles. But at the same time, bedroom communities across Canada are growing at alarming rates as sprawl in major cities hits certain thresholds. Cochrane, 40 kilometres northeast of Calgary, saw a growth rate of 47.1 per cent between 2011 and 2016, Statistics Canada says. That was second only to Warman, Sask., just north of Saskatoon, which grew by 55.1 per cent. Manitoba hasn’t seen the same explosion in growth rates of bedroom communities that’s been witnessed in Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan, but the Rural Municipality of Ritchot, just south of Winnipeg, did make the top 20 list for 2011-2016, with a growth rate of 21.9 per cent. The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives reported last fall that more than half of the residents living in communities surrounding Winnipeg commuted into the city on a daily basis — from Springfield, Headingley, St. Clements and East and West St. Paul. Sprawl has been looked at from every which way, Storie says — the effect it has on infrastructure spending, on the provision of services, on the socioeconomic inequality between neighbourhoods. As climate change becomes a major action item on cities’ agendas, however, transportation needs of people living further from work and services really is the biggest challenge. “My biggest concern here, in terms of urban development, is the balance between sprawl and transportation and efficiency of transportation,” he says. “We have a very strong car culture in this city, so there needs to be incentive, either through a rebate program or through a provision of services, whereby we get people out of their vehicles and into transit, and reduce that demand on the car.” sarah.lawrynuik(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @SarahLawrynuik

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New report: Public Health and Transportation Paper (US)
by Beth McKechnie 28 Jul '20

28 Jul '20

Our latest research report is now available! The Role of Transportation in Improving America's Health View this email in your browser <https://mailchi.mp/abd5cf71c153/webinar-dockless-data-2029874?e=f1a7e782fb> Eno is proud to announce the publication of our latest research report: *Increasing Access to Essential Health Functions: The Role of Transportation in Improving America’s Health.* Transportation access is one of the fundamental objectives of the public sector as a means to provide access to jobs, services, recreation, and all other elements of the movement of people and goods. It is also one of the most important ways government can enable residents to live healthy, productive lives. In this report, Renee Autumn Ray discusses recommendations on how public sector agencies can work together to improve policy and programming, provide a more equitable environment, and enable better health outcomes and a higher quality of life. *Click below to read the full report and sign up for the upcoming webinar that will break down the report's key concepts.* LEARN MORE <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> [image: Twitter] <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> [image: Facebook] <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> [image: Website] <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> [image: LinkedIn] <https://enotrans.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2579cc7754f7b743881bff9…> *Copyright © 2020 Eno Center for Transportation, All rights reserved.* *Our new mailing address is:* 1629 K St., NW Suite 200 Washington, DC 20006

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NACTO guide on speed limit setting in urban areas
by Beth McKechnie 28 Jul '20

28 Jul '20

[From Jessica Roberts on the TDM listserv] NACTO released a new guide <https://nacto.org/safespeeds/> on how to set speed limits in urban areas. The TL;DR version is: *City Limits* outlines a three-method approach to speed limit setting that provides an alternative to percentile-based speed limit setting: 1. *Setting default speed limits* on many streets at once (such as 25 mph on all major streets and 20 mph on all minor streets), 2. *Designating slow zones* in sensitive areas, and 3. *Setting corridor speed limits* on high priority major streets, using a *safe speed study*, which uses conflict density and activity level to set context-appropriate speed limits. -- Beth McKechnie (she/her) *| *Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your green living hub Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://www.gomanitoba.ca>

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The Guardian: Residents to get new decision-making powers in England cycling 'revolution' (Jul27'20)
by Beth McKechnie 28 Jul '20

28 Jul '20

*Residents to get new decision-making powers in England cycling 'revolution' * Residents will get powers to banish through-traffic from local streets and councils will be prevented from building substandard cycle lanes under what Downing Street has billed as a revolution for cycling and walking in England. The plans will see the creation of a watchdog to ensure new cycle and walking routes are up to standard, intended to act as a transport equivalent of the schools inspectorate, Ofsted. Active Travel England, to be led by a yet-to-be-appointed commissioner for walking and cycling, will refuse to fund paint-only bike lanes – without physical barriers or protection from cars – or routes where cyclists and pedestrians have to share space. It could also cut budgets in other areas for highways departments which fail to deliver on active transport. The plans, led by Boris Johnson, will be funded by a previously announced £2bn in new funding over five years, with a pledge of longer-term money. They include cycle training for every child or adult who seeks it, a pilot scheme for GPs to prescribe cycling to improve patients’ health, and thousands of miles of protected bike lanes. Local people will be given a chance to choose whether residential side streets should be closed to through motor traffic to make them safer for pedestrians and cyclists, under plans to be put out for consultation. Another proposal could see some main roads, for example in cities, kept as through-routes for pedestrians, cyclists and buses, with other motor traffic allowed access only. Also on the table are grants to help people with the cost of electric-assist bikes, which can encourage cycling, particularly on longer or more hilly commutes. However, these tend to be more expensive than traditional bikes, often costing well over £1,000. It has not yet been specified how much assistance might be offered. Following Monday’s announcement of a new strategy to combat <https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jul/27/web-ads-for-junk-food-could…> obesity <https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jul/27/web-ads-for-junk-food-could…>, the push for more active travel is a parallel strand of Downing Street efforts to improve public health, an issue highlighted by worse coronavirus outcomes faced by many people with chronic conditions connected to weight and inactive living, such as type 2 diabetes. More active travel will also relieve pressure on the roads and on public transport, where capacity has been cut due to social distancing measures. Since May, people have been urged to walk or cycle to work or elsewhere when possible. Johnson, who will formally launch the initiative on Tuesday, said it was “the time to shift gears and press ahead with our biggest and boldest plans yet to boost active travel”. He said: “From helping people get fit and healthy and lowering their risk of illness, to improving air quality and cutting congestion, cycling and walking have a huge role to play in tackling some of the biggest health and environmental challenges that we face.” The plans were welcomed by campaigners, who nonetheless warned that their effectiveness would depend on proper implementation and necessary funding. Chris Boardman, the former cycling champion who is now policy adviser to British Cycling <https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/cycling>, said the plans showed “the level of ambition required to transform the country”. He added: “Many will focus on the health benefits of more people getting around by bike or on foot, but we know that these are changes which reap dividends in all walks of life, not least the quality of the air we breathe, the congestion on our roads and the economic benefit for shops, cafes and bars.” Matt Mallinder, director of influence and engagement at the campaign group Cycling UK <https://www.cyclinguk.org/>, said the plan was “a truly comprehensive and far reaching set of measures”, but warned about the levels of funding. “To truly shift gears so that everyone can feel the transformative benefits of cycling the £2bn of funding already announced will not be enough,” he said. “However, with a forthcoming spending review, now’s the time for the chancellor to invest in the future and make the prime minister’s vision of a golden age of cycling come true.” The new standards for cycling and walking routes will be fully spelled out in updated official guidance to be published on Tuesday. The proposals include more cycle racks at stations and other transport hubs, as well as in town and city centres, and for protected bike hangars allowing safe storage for people who cannot keep a bike at home. Others cover areas such as strengthening the Highway Code to protect pedestrians and cyclists, giving councils new powers to tackle traffic offences, and pilot schemes for local authorities to give contracts in areas such as waste disposal to cycle freight companies. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jul/27/residents-to-get-new-decisi…

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Green Action Centre is hiring Sustainable Transportation Coordinators
by Denae Penner 23 Jul '20

23 Jul '20

Hello, Please share this job opportunity. Green Action Centre's Sustainable Transportation team is hiring Sustainable Transportation Coordinators! See excerpt from the posting below. Full job posting can be found online here <https://greenactioncentre.ca/featured/were-hiring-sustainable-transportatio…>, and is also attached. _____ Sustainable Transportation Program Coordinators Title: Sustainable Transportation Coordinator Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba Term (Two openings): 1 full-time, 1-year term position at 35 hours per week; 1 part-time, 1-year term position at 14-21 hours per week. Potential extension for both positions beyond the term. Application Deadline: 4:00 p.m. CDT on August 7, 2020. Program Areas: Sustainable Transportation programs at Green Action Centre include Active and Safe Routes to School, Commuter Challenge, and Workplace Commuter Options. Green Action Centre seeks two independent, energetic and well-organized individuals to fill roles within our sustainable transportation team, supporting a range of program delivery and coordination. Position Description These positions will focus on engaging schools, students, workplaces, employees and community organizations to make active and green transportation options both appealing and within reach, ultimately reducing Manitoba’s GHG emissions from personal vehicles by increasing walking, cycling, public transit and carpooling as preferred modes of travel. Key activities include organizing the following annual events: Bike to School Month in May, Commuter Challenge in June, Walktober in October, and The Jack Frost Challenge in February. It will also include assisting with the delivery of our Workplace Commuter Options program (WCO), specifically the province-wide ridematching tool, GoManitoba. *Denae Penner *(she/her/hers) Active and Safe Routes to School, Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> 204-925-3777 ext. 114 | 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, MB *Green Action Centre is your green living hub* Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/>. Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/GreenActionCentre/> | Twitter <https://twitter.com/greenactionctr> | Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/greenactioncentre/> | LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-action-centre/>

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WFP: Empty roads enticed more Manitobans to just floor it: MPI (Jul23'20)
by Beth McKechnie 23 Jul '20

23 Jul '20

Empty roads enticed more Manitobans to just floor it: MPI THE number of people driving at least 50 kilometres above the speed limit skyrocketed during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Manitoba. There were 148 speed-related serious driving offences reported to Manitoba Public Insurance’s registrar of motor vehicles from April till the end of June. That’s a 60 per cent jump from the 93 speed-related serious driving offences recorded in the same period last year. MPI has never recorded such an increase in speeding, said spokesman Brian Smiley. He attributed it to fewer vehicles on the road because people stayed home during the pandemic. “In some situations drivers were, I suppose, taking advantage of the lack of other vehicles on the roadways, picking up their speeds significantly,” he said. The most serious case of speeding during that period involved a driver going 98 km/h over the limit. The motorist was doing 178 km/h in an 80 km zone. The average serious speeding incident for the three-month period was 59 km/h over the posted limit. Although more motorists are back on the road, the high-risk speeding continues, Smiley said. “There are far too many drivers who have absolutely no regard for the safety of themselves, their passengers or other innocent motorists,” he said. MPI’s data show serious driving offences aren’t exclusive to a specific region of the province — they occur across Manitoba and at all hours of the day. "Drivers, for the most part, are not equipped to travel at these speeds safely,” Smiley said. “Police officers, ambulance drivers — these are people who are professionally trained to drive at high speeds. The ordinary citizen does not have that training, nor should they be going that fast.” People get serious driving offences after being pulled over by police. Photo radar installations only capture licence plates, so those tickets don’t count as offences. After receiving a notice, drivers have five business days to schedule a show cause hearing with MPI. About 90 per cent of those hearings result in licence suspension, MPI statistics show. The suspension is based on the speeding ticket and the plaintiff’s driving history. Drivers are more likely to get into a collision while driving at high speeds, Smiley said. Speeding increases the risk of losing control of a vehicle and affects reaction time and stopping distance. Speed contributed to about one in five deaths on the road in Manitoba last year, MPI said. “(Chronic speeders) need to do a self-evaluation and adjust accordingly, not only for their own safety, but the safety of everyone on the roadways,” Smiley said. He said collision rates in Manitoba are normal now, but that’s not surprising since there’s no ice or snow on streets. Passengers play a role in keeping roads safe, especially when they’re in a vehicle with someone who’s speeding, Smiley said. “Do not be afraid to speak up,” he said. “Tell that driver to slow down.” gabrielle.piche(a)freepress.mb.ca

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WFP: Lower speed limit for student safety: councillor (Jul22'20)
by Beth McKechnie 23 Jul '20

23 Jul '20

Lower speed limit for student safety: councillor https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/lower-speed-limit-for-student-safet… CHILDREN are set to face a pandemic- caused “mobility emergency” when school resumes in September, sparking the need for immediate action to support active transportation alternatives, according to the Winnipeg Trails Association. “We’re looking forward to a September where there is a lot of uncertainty for parents. They’re being told to find (alternative modes of transportation to school buses) and really the alternatives that are mostly being (pointed to are) essentially the private automobiles,” said Anders Swanson, the association’s executive director. If all school bus demand shifts to personal vehicles, it could fuel major congestion and pollution around schools, said Swanson. In late June, Manitoba Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen said parents will be asked to drop off and pick up children from school every day to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 on school buses. Students whose parents are unable to provide any other transportation to school will be given priority bus seating. Swanson called on the city to quickly reduce the speed limit on all residential streets to 30 kilometres per hour, add traffic-calming measures and create neighbourhood cycling networks. He said those steps are critical to ensure kids can safely walk and cycle to their schools before classes resume. City council is set to vote on a 30 km/h speed reduction pilot project on at least five local streets this Thursday. Coun. Sherri Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry) said she also supports the call for city-wide 30 kilometre-per-hour residential speed limits. “There are going to be more children walking to school and riding their bikes to school. In order to make them a lot safer, we have to plan and act now,” said Rollins. The councillor, who chairs council’s protection and community services committee, promised to continue to lobby for a widespread speed limit reduction and more traffic-calming measures. She did not announce specific new steps to accomplish that goal on Tuesday. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP Metro: Traffic calming measures on Furby defeated (Jul22'20)
by Beth McKechnie 22 Jul '20

22 Jul '20

Traffic calming measures on Furby defeated The motion to install traffic calming measures on Furby Street has failed, as the standing policy committee on infrastructure renewal and public works voted against it on July 7. If passed, the motion directs public works to collaborate with several community organizations, such as the West Broadway Community Organization and Winnipeg Trails Association, to install garden planters along Furby Street. The planters were a pilot project aimed at making the street safer for pedestrians. According to the motion, public works would deliver a report about the project at the end of July. Coun. Matt Allard (St. Boniface) voted for the motion, with Coun. Devi Sharma (Old Kildonan) and Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan) voting against. During the meeting, public works was concerned over the timing of the project. Wolseley has several ongoing projects in the area, including consultations for the Wolseley Walk/Bike Downtown Project. Public works is concerned that the two projects could be misconstrued as being related, which could be seen as underhanded by the public. Councillors Sharma and Browaty cited these reasons for voting no. “I understand the councillor’s intentions ... I feel a little bit uncomfortable with what I just heard from public service. They’re meeting tonight, they’ve got a big project underway, now there’s this other big project coming forward. They’re not tieing together and communicating,” Sharma said. The planters would have been community gardens, residents would be able to grow herbs and vegetables, which would also remind drivers to slow down on the residential street. The WTA and the WBCO had already created a prototype of a planter, which would have been presented to public works. The motion was approved by the city centre community committee at its June 19 meeting. To view the meeting minutes, visit winnipeg.ca

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Streetsblog: How to Build Safe Routes to School During COVID-19
by Beth McKechnie 21 Jul '20

21 Jul '20

Outdoor transportation should be one of the safest ways to get to school this fall — but we need to make some design and policy changes first. https://usa.streetsblog.org/2020/07/20/how-to-build-safe-routes-to-school-d…

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Times: Should the speed limit on residential streets be lowered? by MLA Marcelino (Jul20'20)
by Beth McKechnie 20 Jul '20

20 Jul '20

Should the speed limit on residential streets be lowered? By: Malaya Marcelino - MLA for Notre Dame Posted: *07/20/2020 9:29 AM* | https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/times/forum/Should-the-sp… In Notre Dame there are far too many traffic accidents and collisions. Pedestrians are often seriously injured and there have also been fatalities, including those of young children. Our community is ready to make the streets safer for all of us, especially for our kids. That’s why I am working with Safe Speeds Winnipeg and promoting its #Love30on30 campaign to raise awareness of the benefits of lowering residential speed limits in our city. Our community has been very active in campaigning to reduce the residential speed limit. Many of you may have been seeing a team of dedicated volunteers out canvassing in the neighbourhood every Friday. There has been a fantastic response from the community. Signs have been put up to raise awareness and there are more folks wanting to promote this issue than Safe Speeds Winnipeg has signs. If you want one, please visit love30on30.org <https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/times/forum/love30on30.org> As part of the campaign, an event will be held on the 30th of every month to involve community members in the conversation. Last month, on June 30, a zumba class for seniors was held at Autumn House. It was a great day of socially distanced dance, exercise and music outdoors. This month, on July 30, a bike clinic is being offered at the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba on Isabel Street. The clinic will discuss bike and street safety and will also involve a giveaway from the Winnipeg Repair Education and Cycling Hub. WRENCH takes used bikes from the landfills and restores them to their former glory so that they are not going waste. The Green Action Centre, as part of its commitment to raising the profile of active transportation, also supports a 30 km/h default speed in residential areas. Volunteers from the GAC have developed an app called ETA, which enables you to punch in your route to see how long it would take you to travel to a destination if a reduced speed limit is put in place. In many cases, your trip by vehicle would only take one to two minutes longer with a reduced speed limit. Visit www.love30on30.org/eta/ to try it out. What are your thoughts on a 30 km/h default residential speed limit? Get in touch with my office at Malaya.marcelino(a)yourmanitoba.ca or call 204-788-0800. Stay safe and have a great summer.

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WFP: Pedalling through a pandemic (Jul20'20)
by Beth McKechnie 20 Jul '20

20 Jul '20

Spike in bike use saps supply, sees wannabe cyclists fixing up old rides Pedalling through a pandemic https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/health/pedalling-throu… AMID the darkness of the COVID-19 crisis, there has been a small bright light for many of us: bicycles. People are buying new ones, tuning up old ones and riding more than before. Bike shops have reported booming business, far above even the normally busy spring selling season. As people are venturing out in the warmer weather, commuters and recreational cyclists — even faithful riders who’ve been biking for years — are encountering a world they’ve never seen before: streets with less traffic and which are sometimes closed to automotive traffic altogether. COVID-19 has cancelled summer festivals, sports and travel. With so many activities no longer possible, people are turning to cycling and the pandemic has prompted commuters and families to go on bike-buying binges. Affordable bikes are in high demand right now. Entry-level bikes — anything under $1,000 — are pretty much sold out. “I’m down to less than 100 bikes in my building and most of them are over $3,000,” says Phil Roadley, owner of Bikes & Beyond, the Henderson Highway mainstay. The last time Roadley had fewer than 100 bikes in his building? “Um, never,” he says. “The lowest level of bikes I’ve ever gotten down to is maybe 350 or 400. I need 200 bikes for my store sales floor to look full.” Physical distancing has sparked an explosion in cycling as people are seeking alternative modes of transportation to stay mobile and active. Pandemic restrictions have finally given people the time and motivation to take up a new hobby. As a result, bike shops across North America, Europe and Australia are seeing record sales and facing supply shortages. “Sales were up 30 per cent through April and May, and 15 per cent up through June,” Roadley says. “Suppliers don’t have any inventory to ship me until August.” It’s fun, physically distant and good for you — no wonder cycling has soared in popularity. Since March, Roadley has sold about 1,500 bikes. It was around mid-May that inventory really started to thin out. “Kids’ bikes went first,” he says. “And then your basic mountain and commuter bikes under $1,000.” The room for growth in terms of new cyclists is massive. Prior to the pandemic, a small percentage of people biked or walked to work in Winnipeg, according to the 2016 census. The Statistics Canada data shows that “active transportation,” defined as walking or cycling to work, was used by 6.2 per cent of people in Winnipeg, just slightly behind Toronto at 6.7 per cent. But since our lives have been turned upside down, cycling has taken on a critical, sanity-saving role — a way to exercise when gyms are operating with limited hours and an inexpensive means of getting around in order to avoid crowded public transportation. Going for a bike ride has replaced grabbing a drink in a bar and has been used to persuade kids to go outside while parents are on conference calls at home. Bike sales aren’t the only things skyrocketing. So are requests for bike service, as riders are pulling old, neglected bikes out of garages and basements. Married couple Heather and Bill Quinn hadn’t been on their bikes in years — five years for Heather and more than a decade for Bill. “My sister donated me her bike a couple years ago,” Heather says. “It went into the garage and was never touched since.” But back in May, they got tired of walking the same route outside every day — so they decided to tune up their bikes that had been collecting dust in storage. Since then, they’ve become avid cyclists in their neighbourhood. “We started riding pretty regularly because we got tired of walking along Wellington Crescent and doing the same route into the park,” Bill says. “We also found that our ankles and hips were getting sore from walking on concrete all the time. Riding a bike has been easier on our bodies.” As new and returning cyclists venture outside, they’re noticing a different riding environment. A spike in biking has led some Canadian cities, such as Calgary, Edmonton, Victoria and Ottawa, to reduce traffic lanes and close off portions of roadways altogether. In Winnipeg, traffic restrictions from the City of Winnipeg on several streets have transformed roads into pedestrian- and cycling-friendly destinations. “With Wellington Crescent being used for active transportation, that really inspired me to do it,” Bill says. “We just saw so many people. I don’t know if I would have been as ready to hop on my bike if we didn’t have Wellington so close to us that we could do it without getting knocked over by a car.” The active transportation routes in Winnipeg, first announced in April, limit vehicular traffic to one block to create more room for pedestrians and cyclists while maintaining physical distancing. Recently, city council extended these temporary cycling and walking routes until Sept. 7 to accommodate the increased demand during the health crisis. The safety of the active transportation routes is also a draw for Bill’s wife. “We know a lot of people our age, in their 60s, who have taken up biking,” Heather says. “There have been broken shoulders and fractured ankles. Yes, we have designated bike lanes, but it’s kind of tricky. On Wellington Crescent, it’s so safe.” Canada isn’t the only country making changes. Expansive public safety and environmental measures have been announced in cities across the globe, including hundreds of miles of new bike lanes in Milan and Mexico City, as well as widening pavements and putting pedestrians first in neighbourhoods in New York and Seattle. While it has been hard to meet the demand for bikes, those who have access to one have also been reaping the health benefits. “Bike riding is another way to exercise. We’ll be in and out of the city all summer so we decided to freeze our gym memberships until September,” Bill says. “We were kind of doing the same thing at our own gyms and now we have something we can do together that takes us a little farther than walking, and we can exercise at the same time.” The retired couple spends a few weeks at a lake community every summer — this year, because of their new hobby, they were able to see more of it. “We’ve been going to Victoria Beach for years,” Bill says. “But because we have bikes this year, we’ve gone to places we’ve never been before because we can access it on our bikes.” They now go riding every other day and outings have become an adventure. “It’s kind of exhilarating to feel the wind in your hair and the bugs in your teeth and you can go farther and see more,” Heather says. “My next goal is the Harte Trail in Assiniboine Forest.” Whatever one’s reasons for getting back on a bicycle, it’s a pastime that offers many benefits during this turbulent time. “It’s something we can do together,” Bill says. “And it really does give you freedom to go places that you may not normally go.” Whether this is a temporary surge in cycling’s popularity or the start of a future where bikes become a more prominent form of transportation, the experiences cyclists have enjoyed over these last several weeks can’t be undone. “To bike to work requires a lot of bravery in our city; I admire those people. We’re new bikers so we haven’t explored all the cycling routes yet,” Heather says. “I’m sure there are a lot of possibilities of places to go and I’m looking forward to checking them all out.”’ sabrinacarnevale(a)gmail.com @SabrinaCsays

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Slowing down cars
by Charles F 17 Jul '20

17 Jul '20

Good editorial in the globehttps://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/article-want-a-bett… across Canada are slowing down cars. Forty is the new 50. It is a win for people....Toronto is also moving to rein in drivers. Last year, it cut speeds on stretches of arterial roads to 50 km/h from 60. And this month, 50 speed cameras went live around the city near schools or other designated “safety zones.” These cameras were first installed late last year, but until now only dispatched warnings to offending drivers. The 50 cameras may only be a first step – there are about 800 schools in Toronto – but research shows automated enforcement causes drives to slow down...People are dying because urban planning has long overvalued cars and undervalued pedestrians. National data for 2018, released last week by Transport Canada, shows yet another year when drivers and their vehicles killed more than 300 people on foot....Zero pedestrians died in Helsinki and Oslo last year. The policy measures that achieved that feat are varied, but all centre around battling the primacy of the car. Lowering speed limits is key. Other changes include safer street design, road tolls, more expensive parking, and replacing much of the street parking with wider sidewalks and bike lanes. Investment in transit has spurred ridership. While Toronto has put up speed cameras around 6 per cent of the city’s schools, Oslo is testing “heart zones” where driving around schools is banned....The move toward automated enforcement, however, is key. Some critics believe drivers simply will not slow down, even if limits are lowered. But the threat of a costly speeding ticket surely is ample inspiration for many drivers to ease up on the gas pedal, making the city a safer and better place for everyone, at the most minor of inconveniences with fractional increases in travel time...Sent from my phone.

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Steal This Idea: Scottish E-Bike Program
by Beth McKechnie 16 Jul '20

16 Jul '20

Scotland just re-upped its investment in e-bikes as part of an effort to boost pandemic-era mobility and flatten the COVID-19 curve — and smart U.S. states would be wise to follow its lead. The nation recently authorized a *fourth *round of funding to the E-Bike Grant program, which provides a raft of financial incentives to get Scots to replace car and transit commutes with bike rides. The allocation totals £900,000, or about $1.1 million. *Full story*: https://usa.streetsblog.org/2020/07/08/steal-this-idea-states-should-imitat…

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WFP: Henderson Highway block to get makeover - #ReimagineElmwood (Jul16'20)
by Beth McKechnie 16 Jul '20

16 Jul '20

Henderson Highway block to get makeover https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/henderson-block-to-get-makeover-571… ELMWOOD community groups are joining forces to show residents the potential of a stretch of Henderson Highway. On July 25, Henderson between Noble and Hart avenues will be transformed to include bike lanes, parking, planters and seating for pedestrians. Glenelm Neighbourhood Association co-chairman Michel Durand-Wood said more than 1,500 people were surveyed about a five-year plan for the neighbourhood in 2018. “One of those priorities was addressing the difficulty experienced in getting around our own neighbourhood, especially for the many who get around on foot, bike, transit and with mobility aids or strollers,” Durand-Wood wrote in an email. The project, called #ReimagineElmwood, cost the eight community groups involved less than $400. Durand-Wood said a project that transformed Toronto’s Danforth Avenue last summer inspired the Elmwood project. “That was the a-ha moment that led to developing this project, that we could work in small steps, testing things out on a temporary basis, and building on what works,” he said. “There were quite a few locations that were specifically identified by the neighbourhood as troublesome to navigate, and we plan to work on them all. This is just the first of many projects.” He said the project will inspire people to make positive changes in the neighbourhood despite no municipal funding or influence. “Just by having neighbours working together, identifying what we want to improve, and taking small steps to try possible solutions out, we can make our neighbourhood better for the people who live here, even one block at a time,” he said. malak.abas(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: malakabas_

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WFP Editorial: Giving green light to e-scooter pilot (Jul16'20)
by Beth McKechnie 16 Jul '20

16 Jul '20

Giving green light to e-scooter pilot https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/giving-green-light-to-… EVIDENCE that the pandemic has increased the need for low-cost transportation options can be seen through the windows of any passing Winnipeg Transit bus, where what’s immediately apparent is an unusually large number of empty seats. Ridership has dropped dramatically, as many virus-wary Winnipeggers now view buses as potential COVID-19 cocoons because passengers are seated closely, breathing the same air and touching the same poles, seats and doors. Alternatives to bus transport would be greatly appreciated by those reluctant former riders who don’t own personal vehicles, perhaps for budget or environmental reasons, but still have to get around town. A possible alternative might arrive in the form of electric scooters. City administration is currently studying the issue and recommended council ask the province to alter the Highway Traffic Act to allow a trial of e-scooters in Winnipeg. Council and the province would be well advised to approve the proposal, allowing the trial should proceed full speed ahead (or, at least, at the 30 km/h that is top speed for e-scooters). A novel transportation alternative for Winnipeg, e-scooters are already allowed in dozens of North American cities, including Montreal, Calgary and Edmonton. The experiences of these cities show the advent of e-scooters is not universally welcomed. In fact, for some people, it’s hate at first sight. Social media, including the popular Instagram account Scooters Behaving Badly, reveal that many automobile drivers resent sharing road space with the tiny motorized machines that tend to navigate traffic in unfamiliar ways. Some pedestrians also feel e-scooters create danger on sidewalks. Despite the many who sneer at e-scooters, however, others acknowledge that this new technology has advantages. E-scooters hardly pollute, they’re less expensive than traditional motorized vehicles and they take up far less space on streets in cities where they’re allowed on roadways. Calgary’s e-scooter pilot project, launched last July, limits e-scooter use to sidewalks, pathways and bike lanes. In Edmonton, authorized e-scooters are allowed on bike lanes, shared paths and streets with speed limits of 50 km/h or less, but not on sidewalks. Another possible source of irritation involves the ways in which idle e-scooters are left unattended in cities served by scooter-share companies such as Lime or Bird, which make e-scooters available to people who download an app. Customers use GPS technology to find an e-scooter near them, use their app and credit-card information to unlock the vehicle and, after reaching their destination, leave the e-scooter where it can be used by another rider. Special protocols are required during the pandemic. In Edmonton, the city’s 200 scooters are brought to five corrals nightly and sanitized, and there is an advertising campaign urging e-scooter riders to sanitize their hands before and after they use the machines. Winnipeg city administrators had earlier pondered whether the e-scooters in the trial would be supplied and managed by the city or by a third party company. It’s a wise course to leave the trial to an experienced company that knows how to deal with related issues, such as how to protect against theft and vandalism and what to do with e-scooters once the snow falls. Would Winnipeggers use e-scooters to a degree that makes them feasible in this city? The answer lies in a trial period that temporarily gives e-scooters the green light.

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