- AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

How We Talk About Drivers Hitting Cyclists
by Beth McKechnie 14 May '19

14 May '19

*How We Talk About Drivers Hitting Cyclists * *What the media gets wrong, and why, says a lot about how our society views vulnerable road users* Hardly a week goes by without an article about a crash in which a driver hits and kills a rider... Almost as troubling as the rise in deaths is the media coverage of these crashes... News stories often play a key role in shaping public understanding of traffic safety. And when news stories victim-blame or fail to convey the larger context in which these crashes take place, they do deep injustice to the victims and the conversation about road safety in general. Two new studies on inaccuracy and subtle bias in mainstream-media reporting about driver-cyclist crashes highlight the extent of these issues. What they show make clear just how deeply rooted the problem is—and how difficult it will be to fix. Full article: https://www.outsideonline.com/2392955/lets-talk-about-drivers-hitting-cycli… -- Beth McKechnie* | *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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CanStar (The Lance): Exciting active transportation improvements (May13'19)
by Beth McKechnie 14 May '19

14 May '19

Exciting active transportation improvements https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/lance/correspondent/Excit… The new pedestrian and cyclist tunnel beneath Fermor Avenue, east of St. Anne’s Road, is now visible — and light can be seen from the other end. As well, several other exciting new pieces of active transportation infrastructure in Old St. Vital are complete or are about to be completed. The new tunnel will form the linchpin of an active transportation corridor reaching from Southdale, Royalwood and other southeast neighbourhoods up through Old St. Vital into St. Boniface and ultimately the core. "The tunnel creates a connection from the southeast across Niakwa footbridge to Des Meurons — it is a major improvement for cycling in St. Vital," says Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital). The tunnel will link the southern end of Des Meurons Street with the Niakwa Place and Alpine Place neighbourhoods. For walkers and cyclists, these communities, the most densely populated areas in St. Vital, are presently only connected to their northern neighbours via a detour to St Anne’s Road. The newly rehabilitated St. Anne’s and Fermor intersection features two high-quality bicycle lights and pathways through the signalized section. There are also new, elevated speed-table-style safe crossings over yield lanes for pedestrians and cyclists. A new, at-grade, bridge-level multi-use pathway across the Fermor bridge is also now operational. It provides an alternative route across the Seine River in the event —as is true at the time of writing — the trail to Niakwa Park is flooded. The City of Winnipeg’s active transportation strategy identifies several north-south routes through the Southdale area, as well as a north-south corridor along St. George Street, Worthington Avenue and then Grey Street to the Bishop Grandin Greenway. Passing, as it does, by St. George School, this project could represent a tremendous opportunity to calm traffic in front of the school. Speed tables, a narrowed road, and improved sidewalk would not only provide a safe north-south bike route for St. Vital but a safer and more pleasant experience for parents at that school. To the north, given that St. Anne’s and St. Mary’s roads are narrow and in great demand for both rush-hour vehicle traffic and day and evening parking, Des Meurons Street through Glenwood and then Norwood seems the logical place to continue a safe and pleasant bicycle pathway into St. Boniface and the core. These projects and future visions represent an amazing leap forward for St. Vital. *Ryan Palmquist is a community correspondent for St. Vital. *

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AT Webinar: Maintaining Green Infrastructure, May 15th, 2-3pm
by Beth McKechnie 09 May '19

09 May '19

Please join Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg for a group viewing of the May APBP webinar in the EcoCentre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/uncategorized/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-o…> boardroom. This will be followed by discussion for those who wish to stay. cheers, Beth * * * * * *AT Webinar: Wed, May 15th, 2-3pm* Maintaining Green Infrastructure: Hints for Success Now that you've got your green bicycle, pedestrian, and transit infrastructure, what's your plan to maintain it? How can green infrastructure elements be planned for, designed, and operated to ensure quality maintenance of these community assets. *Presenters:* - Morvarid Ganjalizadeh, District Department of Transportation, Washington D.C. - Ken Sides, Sam Schwartz Engineering -- Beth McKechnie* | *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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New B.C. study links chronic disease, health care costs to where you live
by Beth McKechnie 07 May '19

07 May '19

*Direct health-care costs for diabetes, hypertension and heart disease are lower for those in walkable neighbourhoods and close to parks. * https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/new-b-c-study-links-chronic-diseas…

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WFP: Victoria aims to eliminate public transit fares (Apr26'19)
by Beth McKechnie 29 Apr '19

29 Apr '19

*Victoria aims to eliminate public transit fares * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/greenpage/victoria-aim… VICTORIA wants to eliminate public transit fares for everyone in the region to encourage more ridership and reduce the effects of climate change. Mayor Lisa Helps will bring a motion to the regional transit commission today, asking it to embrace a policy of phasing out user fees and expanding bus service to meet an anticipated increase in demand. Coun. Ben Isitt, who introduced the motion that was passed Thursday by council, said it would begin with the elimination of fares for youth under 19 next year and the broader community would be phased in. Isitt said there’s almost no more space in the city for expanding roads or parking. “Driving is only going to get more challenging, so I think as we make transit more convenient and cheaper, that provides a further incentive for people to leave their cars at home.” The transit system currently depends on $40 million in annual revenue from fares but is primarily funded through taxation in the form of provincial subsidies, gas taxes and property taxes. Isitt said the proposal would see the fare revenue loss replaced with an expansion of the existing tax formula. Similar policies have been adopted in jurisdictions such as Luxembourg and Estonia’s capital city Tallinn. Other places offer free fare for certain demographics or in geographic areas, such as Madison, Wis., where fare is free in the city’s core. In Toronto, children under 12 ride for free, and in Kingston, Ont., high schoolers can too. The City of Kingston said the objective of the program launched in 2012 was to expose students to the transit system, building habits they may continue after graduation. Jeff Casello, a transportation professor at the University of Waterloo, said eliminating fares can encourage ridership, including for those who avoid public transit because they don’t know how the fee structure works. “The idea of free public transport has been talked about in many cities,” he said. “What many public transport systems are trying to do is increase people’s accessibility.” It can be an unpopular policy for municipalities that expect to recover operating costs. Aside from some exceptions in megacities in Asia, Casello said few public transit systems actually break even, so every dollar counts. In North America, user fares typically support between 40 and 60 per cent of the operating budget, he said. Fare incentives also aren’t enough to make many people change their habits. Those who already depend on transit will continue to use it and high-income earners who don’t use transit won’t be incentivized by a fare change from something like $2 to zero, he said. There is a larger group in the middle that has some price sensitivity and can shift habits depending on fare, but price isn’t typically the most important factor, Casello said in an interview on Friday. “It’s often the quality and the calibre of the public transport system. So in a city where I can drive and it will take me 10 minutes and I have hourly transit service that takes 30 minutes, reducing their fare is not going to change people’s habits, at least not those discretionary users,” Casello said. But if transit is competitive and people are considering the option, then making it free can shift behaviours where it will generate new riders, he said. In Victoria, Isitt said an important part of the proposal involves both electrifying the fleet and expanding bus routes and service to meet the anticipated demand. — The Canadian Press

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Build infrastructure and they will ride...
by Charles Feaver 28 Apr '19

28 Apr '19

Guardian article on results of biking infrastructure in the UK; https://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2019/apr/26/if-you-build-… Cycle lanes are one of the most efficient and healthiest ways of moving people. A single bike lane can transport five times as many people as a motor traffic lane, without the air and noise pollution. This is good news for everyone, whether you drive, walk or cycle – or breathe. What’s clear from the data, though – despite occasional bizarre claims to the contrary, and attempts to have lanes removed – is that to reap cycling’s benefits you have to build proper infrastructure. But if you build it, they will come – and the cycle counters prove it. 2018 was a record year for cycle lane usage in the UK, thanks to the construction of new, high-quality cycle tracks, the growing popularity of existing routes and good networks that feed into those routes. ..... The country’s big hitter for cycling, problems with data collection have hampered publication of digital counts on its two major cycle superhighways, which opened in April 2016. In February 2018, digital counters were installed and soon started displaying prodigious numbers By August, 574,304 cycle trips had been logged on CS6, the north-south cycle superhighway, and by October 1,654,441 trips on CS3, the east-west route. After that, both counters failed and were switched off, but the CSH counters blog estimates they would have logged more than 3m cycle trips by Christmas. Using manual counts, Transport for London has recorded up to a 200% increase in cycling on the east-west route, and 124% on the north-south route, compared with numbers pre-construction. The city’s walking and cycling commissioner, Will Norman, announced on Tuesday that the counters were fixed again. Closure of streets to through motor traffic – filtering – also boosts cycling. Goldsmiths Row in Hackney, where more people commute by bike than by car, was filtered in 2013. The cycle counter has logged 6.28m rides so far – an average of 3,917 on weekdays and 1,854 on weekends. It is estimated 1.4 million people used the route in 2018; in 2017 it was 1.1 million. ...

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Functional Transit: AGM & 101 Years of the Bus
by Beth McKechnie 26 Apr '19

26 Apr '19

Interested in helping to improve transit service in our city? *Functional Transit Winnipeg (FTW) is seeking applicants for board director positions. *See attached for details. Also, check out the upcoming FTW events: *1) Functional Transit Annual General Meeting* The AGM will take place on Monday, May 6th at 7:00 PM at St. Boniface Library. This is a great opportunity for everyone to learn more about FTW and what's been accomplished and what is upcoming. See (and please share) attached poster. *2) 101 Years of the Bus ft. Glen Murray and Dr. Orly Linovski* This FREE event will take place on Wednesday, May 29th from 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM at The Good Will Social Club. For more info, please visit FTW's event page and please share with anyone you feel would be interested. https://www.facebook.com/events/1989911237805011/

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Vancouver sees record low in trips made by private automobile: report
by Beth McKechnie 26 Apr '19

26 Apr '19

*Vancouver sees record low in trips made by private automobile: report* A new report released by the City of Vancouver illustrates the extent to which city residents have taken up to modes of active transportation, specifically walking, cycling, and public transit. In Fall 2018, the municipal government commissioned Mustel Group to conduct an extensive survey of the transportation patterns of residents living in Vancouver. It found that 52.8% of all trips were made by walking, cycling, and transit — up from 48.4% in 2017. Compared to the survey conducted in 2017, there was a 4% decrease in private vehicle trips in 2018, with the automobile mode share falling from 52% to 47% during this one-year period. The distance travelled using an automobile also fell by 2.9% compared to the previous year. But car sharing increased to 34% in 2018, an increase from 31% in 2017 and 29% in 2016, and access to private vehicles remained steady at 87%. Overall, city residents had an “all-time low” for automobile trips, while the share of those who walked increased from 25.1% to 28.5% year-over-year. The downtown peninsula had the highest walking mode share, with 30% in the Central Business District and West End getting around by foot and 31% in False Creek. The Central Broadway Corridor’s walking mode share is 14% in comparison. The area with the lowest walking mode share was the southeast quadrant of the city at just 2%. The mode share for cycling remained relatively constant compared to the previous three years, with the mode share in 2018 at 7.3% — up from 6.7% in 2015 and 4.4% in 2013. According to the data, interest in biking is two times higher during fair weather conditions than cold and wet conditions. Cycling in fair weather is highest in the Strathcona and Grandview-Woodlands areas (43%), followed by Kitsilano and Point Grey (38%), and Central Broadway and Mount Pleasant (32%). The cycling mode share for residents living in the downtown peninsula is roughly half those of Central Broadway and Mount Pleasant. Although regional transit ridership growth has been high in recent years <https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/translink-ridership-october-2018>, the citywide transit mode share was relatively constant at 17% in 2018, with the prior five-year period seeing a high of 18% and a low of 15.9%. Kitsilano and Point Grey saw the highest level of transit use (41%) for people travelling to work, and in most areas of the city over 50% of students reported transit as their usual mode of travel. Interestingly, the proportion of those who used transit passes was highest amongst residents in the West End and the eastern half of Vancouver. The vast majority of Vancouver residents regularly travelled within the city; about 77% of trips originate and end within city boundaries. These findings are based on 2,600 randomly-selected respondents who completed trip diaries throughout the fall. But it identified some challenges with the under-sampling of the 15 to 35-year-old age group and the over-sampling of the 55+ age group, as the younger age group typically does not have a landline and smartphone lists do not provide the home location of cell owners. Look here for charts: https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-active-transportation-mode-share-…

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WFP: Ciclovia cycling event cancelled
by Patman, David 18 Apr '19

18 Apr '19

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/ciclovia-cycling-event-cancelled-50… Ciclovia cycling event cancelled By: Geralyn Wichers Posted: 04/17/2019 5:21 PM Ciclovia, the annual Winnipeg cycling event, is on an indefinite hiatus, Bike Week organizers announced Wednesday. Ciclovia began 10 years ago, when a section of Broadway was closed on a Sunday in September so cyclists could ride unimpeded by cars. The event was part of ManyFest and was run by the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ. It was patterned after a weekly event in Bogota, Colombia, where, on Sundays, miles of road are closed to all but cyclists and pedestrians. The event "has never really been able to achieve what was originally envisioned," Bike Week chairman Dave Elmore said, adding it became more about the street festival than a celebration of cycling. Last year, Ciclovia was held during a cycling celebration event called Bike Week, which is held annually in June. "We had a vision of building it into a true Ciclovia event," Elmore said, but explained closing roadways would involve city permission and a lot of funding. Until they can do Ciclovia right, they won't do it at all, said Elmore. He wasn't able to give details on what a revamped event would look like. geralyn.wichers(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:geralyn.wichers@freepress.mb.ca>

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Fwd: [Vision Zero]: Re: Webinar - Parachute's Vision Zero Network - REGISTER TODAY
by Anders Swanson 16 Apr '19

16 Apr '19

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Julie Taylor <jtaylor(a)parachutecanada.org> Date: Tue, Apr 16, 2019 at 2:57 PM Subject: [Vision Zero]: Re: Webinar - Parachute's Vision Zero Network - REGISTER TODAY To: VisionZero(a)lists.parachutecanada.org < VisionZero(a)lists.parachutecanada.org> Hello Parachute Vision Zero network members, Some of you may be interested in registering for the below Vision Zero workshop taking place next Wednesday, April 24, 11am-12pm MST. Canadian Association of Road Safety Professionals L'Association canadienne des professionnels de la sécurité routière *Webinar Series* *CARSP* and *City of Calgary - Roads* have joined to bring you a series of free webinars on a variety of topics focused on safety in transportation. This is part of CARSP's Knowledge Sharing Initiative. Stay tuned for more webinars on other important road safety topics. *Parachute’s Vision Zero Network* Free Webinar to CARSP Members *April 24, 2019, 11am-12pm MST* Vision Zero is a road safety initiative that was developed in Sweden and can be summarized in one sentence: No loss of life is acceptable. The road system that keeps us moving everyday should be designed to protect us when we make mistakes. Numerous cities across the world, including many in Canada have adopted Vision Zero or are in the process of developing their own strategic plans to create thriving, healthy, and safe communities. Join Parachute’s Interim CEO to hear about how Parachute Vision Zero is supporting Vision Zero and Safe Systems approaches in Canada. The first part of the webinar will look at concepts and basic tenets of Vision Zero. The second part of the webinar will focus on evidence based, knowledge translation tools and resources that Parachute produces with the support of Vision Zero champions across Canada and internationally. *SIGN UP EARLY - SPACE IS LIMITED!* *Presenter: *Pamela Fuselli, MSc is the Interim CEO at Parachute. Prior to this, she was the Vice President, Knowledge Transfer and Stakeholder Relations at Parachute. She was also Executive Director at Safe Kids Canada and one of the four leaders that led and co-founded the Injury Alliance that, through a process of national consultation and visioning, created a plan to move from collaboration to amalgamation of operations of the four NGOs, resulting in the formation of Parachute. Pamela received her BSC in Psychology from the University of Toronto in 1992, her BHA (2002) from Ryerson University and MSc (2010) in Creativity and Change Leadership from the State University of New York College at Buffalo. *Early registration for CARSP members only is until **Wednesday April 10th**, after which registration is also open to Roads Partners. Space is limited, so sign up soon to reserve your spot!* *Register Now!* <https://carsp.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abd86bfa37a97091490314c26&i…> *Questions?* - *Webinar Content Questions:* *pfuselli(a)parachutecanada.org* <pfuselli(a)parachutecanada.org?subject=CARSP%20Webinar%20Question> - *Technical Difficulties **(either during registering or during the webinar): **ewan.macpherson(a)calgary.ca* <ewan.macpherson(a)calgary.ca?subject=Webinar%20Question> - *about CARSP** - **Brenda.Suggett(a)carsp.ca* <Brenda.Suggett(a)carsp.ca?subject=Questions%20about%20CARSP%20> [image: Image removed by sender.] <https://carsp.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abd86bfa37a97091490314c26&i…> Twitter - #CARSP2019 <https://carsp.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abd86bfa37a97091490314c26&i…> [image: Image removed by sender.] <https://carsp.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abd86bfa37a97091490314c26&i…> CARSP - LinkedIn <https://carsp.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abd86bfa37a97091490314c26&i…> *Copyright © 2019 CARSP-ACPSER, All rights reserved.* You are receiving this email because you are a current member of CARSP. *Our mailing address is:* CARSP-ACPSER 17 Meadowbrook Crescent St Catharines, ON L2M 7G8 Canada Add us to your address book <https://carsp.us7.list-manage.com/vcard?u=abd86bfa37a97091490314c26&id=247b…> unsubscribe from this list <https://carsp.us7.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=abd86bfa37a97091490314c26&i…> update subscription preferences <https://carsp.us7.list-manage.com/profile?u=abd86bfa37a97091490314c26&id=24…> [image: Image removed by sender. Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp] <http://www.mailchimp.com/monkey-rewards/?utm_source=freemium_newsletter&utm…> [image: Image removed by sender.] ------------------------------ ================================= You received this email because you are a member of the Parachute Vision Zero network email list. To unsubscribe from this list, send an email to: visionzero-unsubscribe(a)lists.parachutecanada.org Note that unsubscribing from this list does not otherwise affect your membership in the network, or prevent you from receiving the regular Vision Zero newsletter and other related items – it only unsubscribes you from this members’ discussion list. The Parachute Vision Zero network email discussion list is hosted by: Parachute - Leaders in Injury Prevention 150 Eglinton Ave. East, Suite 300 Toronto, ON M4P 1E8 www.parachutecanada.org Send all administrative and/or technical inquiries related to the list serve to the List Administrator: admin(a)parachutecanada.org

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WFP Analysis: Pedestrians needn’t die in city traffic (Apr12'19)
by Beth McKechnie 12 Apr '19

12 Apr '19

*Pedestrians needn’t die in city traffic * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/pedestrians-neednt-die-i… ON April 1, a 57-year-old woman died after she was hit by a half-ton truck in the parking lot of Garden City Shopping Centre. On March 26, a 41-year-old man died after he was hit by a vehicle on March 20 while he was crossing Osborne Street at Morley Avenue. On March 19, a four-year-old girl died a day after being hit by a vehicle while using the crosswalk with her mother at Isabel Street and Alexander Avenue. Those are examples of the many recent traffic deaths that cause grim concern when newsroom editors gather to discuss Winnipeg issues. Meanwhile, at city hall, councillors learned last week that the administration seems unable to develop a plan to make streets safer. The public works department was directed in January 2017 to produce a road-safety strategy. More than two years later, the department hasn’t started the plan. David Patman, the city’s transportation manager, blamed the procrastination on turnover in two senior positions. Coun. Janice Lukes expressed dismay, which was unsurprising because she’s pushed since 2016 for Winnipeg to implement Vision Zero, a traffic safety initiative created in Sweden that gets its name from its mandate of achieving zero fatalities on roads. It’s working wonders in Edmonton. To be fair, it should be noted that, even without a plan, Winnipeg has tried to improve traffic safety in recent years. Examples include pedestrian countdown signals at busy intersections, traffic signal poles with breakaway bases so hitting them will cause less damage, new bike lanes, traffic-calming devices such as traffic circles, and speed limits around schools reduced to 30 km/h during the school year. The problem is that such changes seem random, not part of a comprehensive strategy. The public has no way of evaluating how these isolated improvements fit together, which ones are working to improve safety and what’s ahead for the future. If Lukes had her way, the department would adopt the Vision Zero plan. There was confusion on this matter Tuesday when Mayor Brian Bowman said the city has already produced a plan, but the mayor was mistakenly thinking of the similarly named provincial road safety plan called The Road to Zero: Manitoba Road Safety Plan 2017-2020. If this city had a true Vision Zero plan, everyone, including the mayor, would remember it because the plan’s premise — no loss of life is acceptable — would require a revolutionary change in Winnipeg’s car culture. No longer would pedestrians, cyclists, school kids and senior citizens be only an afterthought. The safety of these vulnerable people would be the city’s top priority, ahead of the convenience of vehicles. Since it originated the strategy in 1997, Sweden has cut its number of traffic deaths in half. They did it with an all-in commitment to redesigning roads, mandating changes to vehicles and changing the behaviour of drivers. Jurisdictions around the world took notice. “The countries with the lowest levels of road violence have adopted a radically different paradigm of traffic safety, in which the state assumes full responsibility and the focus is on implementing fail-safe roads and vehicles,” reads a mission statement on the website of Vision Zero Canada. To understand real-life implications of a Vision Zero commitment, it’s instructive to scan the City of Edmonton’s 2018 annual traffic safety report. Since Edmonton adopted Vision Zero three years ago, traffic deaths have decreased by 40 per cent, collisions involving pedestrians have dropped 21 per cent and collisions involving cyclists have fallen 27 per cent. The report gives a comprehensive list of upgrades in 2018 alone: 20 new pedestrian signals; 65 new driver feedback signs that display a vehicle’s speed; 27 school zones got safety improvements; 21 intersections where turning safety was improved; and the introduction of five new pedestrian scrambles, which are intersections where traffic is stopped in all directions to let pedestrians cross laterally or diagonally. To get drivers to slow down, Edmonton uses a controversial blitz of cameras, laser and photo radar devices that move to different locations. In 2018, they gave out 379,000 tickets. They’re currently debating whether to implement a blanket speed limit of 30 km/h in residential areas. Would it work in Winnipeg? Vision Zero depends on results-based policies and practices, so it would likely flop in a city where the public works department is allowed to ignore for two years a directive to produce a road-safety strategy. Implementing Vision Zero here would require strong leadership to change the culture of Winnipeg drivers. We would need to drive as if every pedestrian and cyclist were one of our loved ones. It would also require a substantial investment of public money to change infrastructure in a city designed to be the domain of motor vehicles. Is it worth it? Ask the families of the people killed on Winnipeg streets. *Carl DeGurse is a member of the Free Press editorial board.* carl.degurse(a)freepress.mb.ca

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AT Webinar: Designing streets for the speeds you want (Wed, Apr 17th, 2-3pm)
by Beth McKechnie 10 Apr '19

10 Apr '19

Please join Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg for a group viewing of the recorded April APBP webinar in the EcoCentre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/uncategorized/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-o…> boardroom. This will be followed by discussion for those who wish to stay. cheers, Beth * * * * * *AT Webinar: Wed, April 17th, 2-3pm* Designing streets for the speeds you want Should 85th-percentile speeds determine the design and operation of streets in your community? How can we lower speeds to improve safety if we don’t have the right tools and policies? This webinar will examine the relationship between posted, design and target speed in designing safer streets. -- Beth McKechnie* | *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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Globe editorial; the King Street streetcar experiment
by Charles Feaver 10 Apr '19

10 Apr '19

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/article-one-small-step-fo r-the-king-street-streetcar-one-giant-leap-for/ Even Junius has to get to work in the morning. The Globe and Mail editorial board's fictional leader and author of the newspaper's motto - "The subject who is truly loyal to the chief magistrate will neither advise nor submit to arbitrary measures" - tends to spend his time wrestling with weighty questions. Issues of principle. Matters of state. The capital-F Future. But before any of that happens, there's the small matter of getting to the office on time. And each day, like <https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-131386.pdf> 84,000 other people in Canada's largest city, Junius rides the King Street streetcar. A little more than a year ago, Toronto, site of some of North America's longest commutes and home to the continent's least taxpayer-subsidized public transit system, decided to try a little experiment. On the stretch of King Street running through downtown, streetcars would be given priority over cars. The goal was speeding up commuting times - with nothing more than a little change in the rules of the road. It involved installing a few concrete barriers and painting some yellow lines, over a weekend. It wasn't a multidecade, multibillion-dollar megaproject. It was an instant, cheap micro-project. And the impact has been enormous. So far, though, it's just an experiment - the King Street Transit Pilot isn't permanent. Last week, city bureaucrats recommended that Toronto Council make it permanent, essentially creating a kind of instant, low-budget surface subway through the centre of town. That should be a no-brainer. The little transit miracle on King Street deserves to be studied, expanded and emulated. Thanks to the project, commuting times have been significantly shortened, and passenger traffic on the streetcars is up 17 per cent. New streetcars have been added to the route, but they're still overcrowded at rush hour. It proves that shortening commuting times doesn't just benefit existing riders; it encourages new people to switch to public transit. The more a transit service is quick, frequent and convenient, the more people will use it. Obviously. The King car is not just Toronto's busiest surface transit route. It carries as many people as the number riding the Sheppard subway and the Scarborough RT - <https://www.ttc.ca/PDF/Transit_Planning/Subway%20ridership%20-%202018.pdf> combined. In fact, this one streetcar route serves more people than entire public <https://www.apta.com/resources/statistics/Documents/Ridership/2017-q4-rider ship-APTA.pdf> transit systems in many American cities. The King car carries more commuters than the Miami Metro. The subway in Florida's largest city has 23 stations and is 39 kilometres long. The King car carries as many people as the Denver, Colo., system of light rail (LRT) and commuter rail, with 63 stations and 141 km of track. On an average day, the number of passengers exceeds the entire daily traffic of each of the LRT networks in Phoenix; Minneapolis, Minn.; Seattle; and Houston. It carries more people than the Seattle trolley-bus system, which has 15 routes and 109 km of overhead wires. It carries only slightly fewer people than the LRT network of Dallas - which with four lines and 150 km of track is the longest light-rail transit system in the United States. At first, the King Street pilot project generated pushback from drivers who feared their bumper-to-bumper gridlock would only get worse, and from a small but vocal group of local restaurateurs along King Street who worried about losing car-driving patrons. But Toronto's downtown is so crowded that the only way to reduce paralyzingly heavy car traffic is to create more options for people to abandon cars for public transit. And while Toronto still needs several big fixes, such as the so-called Downtown Relief Line subway, the quality of life in a city is also the product of lots of small decisions that can either improve the life of citizens, or immiserate them. Right now, the stretch of King Street where streetcars have priority is only a couple of kilometres long. It should be gradually expanded, especially to the fast-growing neighbourhood of condos to the west of downtown. More streetcars should be added, further speeding up service. And, as in cities such as Montreal, restaurants can even be given the opportunity to set up patios on the street. The big stuff - making a city easier to live in, faster to commute to and more desirable to visit or do business in - is the product of a lot of small steps. On King Street, Toronto's small steps are having a big impact. Charles Feaver 11 Harvard Ave Winnipeg R3M 0J6 204.293.6332

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Trails Manitoba Speaker Event & AGM - Sat, Apr 13th
by Beth McKechnie 10 Apr '19

10 Apr '19

Trails Manitoba invites you to their speaker event and AGM this coming Saturday, April 13th. If you wish to go for the afternoon portion only to hear the speakers, it's free! See the poster for more details <http://www.trailsmanitoba.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/2019-Spring-Worksho…> . cheers Beth -- Beth McKechnie* | *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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WFP: City allocates funds for street work (Apr10'19)
by Beth McKechnie 10 Apr '19

10 Apr '19

*EPC votes to spend nearly $20M of Ottawa’s gas tax gift on cancelled repairs* * City allocates funds for street work * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/epc-votes-to-spend-some-of-ottawas-… SOME of the city’s planned — but slashed from the 2019 budget — residential street rehabilitation work appears to be back on track. Mayor Brian Bowman and members of his executive policy committee (EPC) Tuesday voted 6-1 in favour of spending almost $20 million — from an anticipated $40-million-plus windfall from the federal government — to restore street work. “We’re thinking about roads, first and foremost,” Bowman told reporters. “Our first priority is to fix the roads. That’s what Winnipeggers have asked me to do.” Council shocked many city residents when it passed its 2019 budget in March and decided to cancel the bulk of residential street work this year and next and use that money instead to pay for $40 million worth of work carried out last year that city hall expected the provincial government to cover. As a result, the public works department eliminated $45 million of local street work it had planned this year. But the federal government announced in its March 19 budget it would be doubling the gas tax revenue provided to municipalities. Winnipeg receives about $44 million in federal gas tax revenue annually. A similar plan to allocate much of the bonus federal dollars was proposed last week at the public works committee by Coun. Jeff Browaty, who said he would have liked to have seen the entire amount spent on local streets and active-transportation projects. “If roads are really our No. 1 priority, we should be doing everything possible to continue tackling the road infrastructure deficit that is all too obvious almost anywhere you look in this city,” Browaty told the Free Press in an email exchange. “We have been investing significantly in recreation and social infrastructure in recent years and I believe it’s time to redouble our commitment to roads. At this point, anything else would literally be the equivalent of putting in a swimming pool while the roof of your house is leaking.” Tuesday’s EPC motion proposes: • $19.25 million to be spent on residential streets, as determined by the public works department. • $2.5 million be spent this year on unspecified road-safety measures. • $750,000 for three active-transportation network studies. • Up to $20 million allocated to local streets and active transportation in 2020. • Any remaining dollars be allocated to projects to be determined in the 2020 multi-year budget process. Coun. Brian Mayes, chairman of the city’s property and development committee, cast the lone vote against the proposal. Mayes (St. Vital) said he believes the local MPs want the additional federal gas tax monies spent on parks, community centres and other recreational and leisure facilities. “I have some concern about the focus being exclusively on the roads,” he said. Mayes said he hopes any disagreement with area MPs can be resolved before council votes on the issue at its April 25 meeting. However, Bowman told EPC that MP Jim Carr, the federal government’s senior minister for Manitoba, had assured him that council is free to spend the funds as it wishes. City officials told councillors last week that how much work, and which portions of the original plan, can be done depends on when the money is available. Federal officials said municipalities can expect to receive the funding shortly after the budget is passed, which is expected before Parliament begins its summer recess in June. aldo.santin(a)freepress.mb.ca

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You're Invited! Community Night - Life is Better Biking
by Heather Mitchell 05 Apr '19

05 Apr '19

Green Action Centre's Active and Safe Routes to School <https://greenactioncentre.ca/module/asrts/> program is hosting a Community Night in partnership with DMCI on Tuesday, April 23rd from 6:30-8:00 pm for families to learn about healthy transportation, how to get affordable and/or free bikes, walking and cycling safety, and what communities can do to support student health through healthy transportation! We invite families, advocates, and interested community members to join us in learning, sharing, and breaking down barriers. Those who are interested can register through our Facebook event page here: *https://www.facebook.com/events/403057327138910/ <https://www.facebook.com/events/403057327138910/>. *Please help us by sharing this event with your friends, family, and networks! [image: Community Night Poster.png] Thanks, Heather -- *Heather Mitchell * Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> | 3rd floor, 303 Portage Avenue (204) 925-3777 ext 107 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 <https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/green-action-centre/>. <http://canadahelps.org/> <https://www.gomanitoba.ca/Public/Home.aspx>

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WFP: Gas tax funds may save city street work (Apr3'19)
by Beth McKechnie 04 Apr '19

04 Apr '19

*Meanwhile, Waverley underpass nears completion, work on low-income bus pass begins* * Gas tax funds may save city street work * *https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/gas-tax-may-take-city-street-work-off-chopping-block-508015662.html <https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/gas-tax-may-take-city-street-work-o…>* * A WINNIPEG city council committee wants the $40 million-plus in bonus federal gas tax revenue announced in the 2019 budget to go toward restoring local street renewal work and active transportation projects.* * Councillors on the public works committee voted 3-1 Tuesday in support of using the money on the streets program that had previously been cancelled after the city said the province reneged on its funding.* * Jim Berezowsky, director of public works, said how much of the original program could be carried out this year depends on when the federal government approves its budget and when city hall receives the funding.* * Included in the March 19 federal budget was a commitment to double the dollars given to municipalities through the federal gas tax program, valued at more than $2 billion. Winnipeg budgeted to receive almost $44 million this year from the gas tax, and now council has to decide how to spend an additional $40 million-plus.* * The public works department had a list of 53 residential streets and back lanes it wanted to rebuild in 2019. Berezowsky said it may not be possible to do all the work, but that he would have a report ready for council on what streets could be completed this year.* * The lone dissenting voice Tuesday was Coun. Vivian Santos, who said it would be premature to allocate all of the bonus funds to local street work, explaining now would be the time to reinvest in the city’s neglected recreational and leisure facilities and the parks branch.* * The committee’s recommendation will go before council on April 25.* Waverley underpass update The Waverley Street rail underpass should be substantially completed by October, with the $97.9-million project finished by summer 2020. Officials from the public works department told councillors the project is on budget and on schedule. The project was originally budgeted for $156 million, but was revised downward in November 2017 to $121.34 million and again in January. Winnipeg chief administrative officer Doug McNeil said the $467-million southwest transit corridor project is also on budget and on schedule. The transit corridor is set for completion in late fall, and set to be fully operational by spring 2020. Bus-pass business Winnipeg Transit has initiated work on the proposed low-income bus pass. Transit officials told the committee a team has been assembled and would hold its first meeting Tuesday. Council approved the initiative in the city’s 2019 budget, passed March 20. The low-income bus pass is supposed to be operational by April 2020, first with a 30 per cent discount on the regular adult fare, rising to 50 per cent in 2022. Currently, the full-fare monthly pass costs $100.10. aldo.santin(a)freepress.mb.ca

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WFP: As fatalities mount, city’s road-safety strategy has stalled (Apr3'19)
by Beth McKechnie 04 Apr '19

04 Apr '19

*As fatalities mount, city’s road-safety strategy has stalled * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/nothing-done-on-road-safety-strateg… THE death toll on Winnipeg’s streets continues to mount while officials appear unable to develop a plan to make them safe for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. It’s been more than two years since the public works department was directed to produce a road safety strategy that would strive to eliminate traffic fatalities. But no work has been done since the public works committee issued the directive in January 2017, David Patman, the city’s transportation manager, told councillors Tuesday. Department staff have been working instead on a handful of safety measures, he said. In that time 14 pedestrians and one cyclist have been killed in traffic collisions, as have nine people in vehicles and two motorcycle riders. Coun. Janice Lukes, who urged the committee to get tough on the department, said the death toll on city streets is tragic. “We are making record investments in roads, in transit and in active transportation, yet we are nowhere near having a comprehensive road-safety strategy in place,” Lukes said. Patman told the committee turnover in two senior positions was behind the department’s failure to begin the work, adding he expects it will get underway and become part of an updated transportation master plan due in three years. Anders Swanson, executive director of Winnipeg Trails Association, said the number of fatalities on Winnipeg streets is proof they are being designed for the benefit of motorists, not all users. “The reality is everybody would like to do the right thing, but only you folks (councillors) have the political tools,” he said. Swanson, who is participating in a panel discussion at the annual conference of the Canadian Association of Road Safety Professionals in Calgary in May, said professionals aren’t designing city streets from the perspective of people who walk or cycle, or from the perspective of a child. “You like to blame bad behaviour for causing traffic glitches. The reality is the same bad behaviour is the same behaviour inherent with children,” he said. “If we designed a public road system around children specifically, then it would be, by definition, safe. There would be basketballs flying around, bikes weaving in an out, there’d be three bikes riding side by side with children laughing, giving high-fives, passing a Slurpee to each other. And that would be OK. “But we haven’t, and the reason we haven’t is because in 1950 or so, we got addicted to building a city for cars, for dad driving alone to work in the morning, and we haven’t been able to get ourselves out of that, and that’s a conscious decision.” Committee chairman Coun. Matt Allard said the public works department has initiated traffic safety measures across the city and he’s confident a report will be completed someday. “From my experience, the public works department is really prioritizing this in ways that I haven’t seen in the past,” Allard said. “We have a number of things on the go. There’s a lot going on (for) road safety and traffic calming in the city and I’m looking forward to the reports coming down the pike.” Allard was unable to explain how he or the department could be certain ongoing safety initiatives meet any defined target without a strategy in place. “I think the public service is doing what they can to keep us safe on the roads and they’ll be confirming that in future reports,” he said, while acknowledging the department has yet to provide him with a comprehensive list of safety initiatives he requested in November. “I think you heard today we’re going above and beyond the status quo” when it comes to road safety, Allard told reporters. “The public service is doing their job. They are working on this.” aldo.santin(a)freepress.mb.ca

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WFP: City safety audit to zero in on crosswalk where girl killed (Apr3'19)
by Beth McKechnie 04 Apr '19

04 Apr '19

*City safety audit to zero in on crosswalk where girl killed* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/city-to-zero-in-on-crosswalk-where-… THE inner-city intersection where a four-year-old girl was struck and killed by a vehicle last month is one of several areas in the city that will be studied as a prelude to the introduction of traffic safety enhancement measures. Public works officials were directed Tuesday to conduct a pedestrian-traffic study at the intersections of Isabel Street and Alexander Avenue — where the girl was struck March 18 as she crossed with her mother — and also two blocks to the south, at Isabel and Ross Avenue. “We have more pedestrians, we have more traffic in that area for sure and I definitely would like to see some improvement,” said Coun. Vivian Santos, who proposed the studies at the public works committee meeting. The moves had been promised by Santos, the ward councillor, following the child’s death. The committee also agreed to conduct a study in six months at an intersection near École Sage Creek School, at Prairie Smoke Drive and Wild Iris Walk. Parents in the neighbourhood expressed concern about the potential threat to their children at the intersection, where there are no sidewalks or a crosswalk. Councillors on the Riel community committee agreed with the parents’ concerns and asked the public works committee to direct the department to investigate traffic-calming measures, including making the intersection a three-way stop or installing a pedestrian crosswalk. Discussion on road safety dominated the committee meeting, during which councillors learned the public works department had yet to begin developing a citywide road-safety strategy, despite being directed to by the same committee in January 2017. There have been five pedestrian deaths thus far this year, the most recent Monday in a Garden City Shopping Centre parking lot. In 2018, three cyclists and a pedestrian were killed in separate collisions with vehicles. In 2017, six pedestrians were killed and in 2016, four cyclists and three pedestrians were killed in separate collisions with vehicles. The Isabel-Ross intersection has a marked pedestrian crosswalk, but residents in the area requested an upgrade in 2016. The nearby Freight House community centre, located on the west side of the intersection, is a popular destination for area children, Santos said, and vehicles were frequently ignoring the crosswalk signals. Santos said she’d like to see a pedestrian- activated signal installed at Isabel and Ross, where the light would remain green for north-south traffic until a pedestrian activates the signal to cross the busy street. Santos said the intersection to the north, Isabel and Alexander, needs a formal crosswalk — she recommended something similar to the eye-level, flashing LED installation put up in St. Vital a year ago, following the death of an eight-year-old boy. That type is becoming common in many other Canadian cities. “I’m very, very happy that my council colleagues supported me,” Santos said, adding she briefed the other committee members before the meeting and advised them of her proposals. aldo.santin(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Invitation to Canadian Bike Summit May 12-14
by Anders Swanson 03 Apr '19

03 Apr '19

Dear fellow at-network colleagues, As you may know, I am the volunteer chair of Vélo Canada Bikes, a national non-profit organization that advocates for increased federal support for everyday cycling in Canada. Founded in 2012, Vélo Canada Bikes has a vision of a Canada where all people of all ages and abilities can safely use a bicycle for daily transportation and a federal government that plays a big role in making it happen. We are hosting our 3rd National Bike Summit <http://www.canadabikes.org/2019-national-bike-summit/> in Ottawa on May 13th and 14th, 2019 in conjunction with the 8th annual Bike Day on the Hill celebration and I hope you will join us. Why attend? Highlights will include keynotes include *Todd Litman*, *Kay Teschke* (in case you missed her at ModeShift2018 she is a must see for many reasons..), *Karl Saidla,* *Teresa Tam and more.* You'd be joining and supporting a Winnipeg contingent (see Jamie Hilland's presentation for example) and contribute to the future of cycling back home (consider how many projects in Winnipeg have benefitted from federal funding in the past or stand to in the future). You are offered a chance to join meetings with MPs and Senators and make a real difference. Full program info here. <http://www.canadabikes.org/2019-summit-program/> Quick breakdown: The summit is an opportunity for cycling stakeholders from across Canada to join in a national conversation on the importance of federal support for cycling in Canada, particularly policy support, such as a National Cycling Strategy and specific components especially funding for cycling infrastructure. New topics/focus this year includes the emerging e-bike revolution, MTB'ing trails and greenways, gender equity, and much more. Sunday May 12 - Pre-conference - Join us on Sunday for a national conversation on greenways and trails. Monday May 13 - The first day of the Bike Summit itself takes place at Ottawa City Hall and consist of presentations and interactive sessions. The purpose of this day is to mobilize and educate cycling stakeholders so that, together, we can take coordinated and concrete steps towards building a bike friendly Canada. In the evening, a reception will be hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Cycling Caucus on Parliament Hill. Tuesday May 14 - Day 2 takes place on the Hill itself and is a combination of meetings with MPs/Senators and concurrent programming related to federal cycling advocacy(You can opt to be included in cycling education meetings with Parliamentarians or not, but I strongly reommend it for anyone). It can be quite eye-opening, productive and always very interesting. At 4:30pm, Summit delegates will join National Health and Fitness Day organizers and participate in the 8th Annual Bike Day on the Hill. Delegates and other cycling supporters will gather on the steps of Parliament Hill for a few speeches followed by a 40 minute bike ride with MPs, Senators and other federal officials. The day will be capped off by an informal BBQ reception in the East Block courtyard. Summit registration is open <http://www.canadabikes.org/registration/> and early bird and student discounts are available. Those who register by April 12th can take advantage of early bird prices. Thanks for reading. Kindly, Anders 204-797-1962 P.S.. I realize Ottawa is far away. It is far cheaper/easier to stay home, especially at such a busy time in the spring. I personally hate to fly and/or travel so far to reduce GHGs. However, each every time we do this, I feel that we inch just a little closer to a bike friendly Canada. And doing that opens doors for a lot of people. It is worth it. With an election coming, this is a critical chance to help put cycling on the agenda for once and for all. And whether you are a professional or a keen advocate, hearing what's up across Canada and visiting the hill itself is both invigorating and fascinating. Hope you can make it.

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Fwd: Newcomer Mentor Job Posting - WoC please disseminate
by Anders Swanson 03 Apr '19

03 Apr '19

FYI. Know someone with a passion for cycling and experience working with newcomers to Canada? The WRENCH is seeking a Newcomer Mentor to be part of our Wheels of Courage project team. The posting for the position is attached as a pdf. It can be found on the WRENCH website here: http://thewrench.ca/wordpress/the-wrench-is-hiring-newcomer-mentor/

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FHWA Bikeway Selection Guide Webinar
by Mark Cohoe 26 Mar '19

26 Mar '19

Hi, If you missed this webinar today, you can view it through the PBIC site here <http://www.pedbikeinfo.org/training/webinars_FHWA_032619.cfm>. It was fairly informative and had some good advice, touching on policy and planning, as well as on implementation. Resources: A copy of the presentation and additional resources from this webinar are now available at http://www.pedbikeinfo.org/training/webinars_FHWA_032619.cfm On that same page we provide links to a few resources we discussed during today's webinar, including the FHWA Bikeway Selection Guide, https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/tools_solve/docs/fhwasa18077.pdf Mark Cohoe Executive Director Bike Winnipeg t: 204-894-6540 e: mark(a)bikewinnipeg.ca

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WFP Analysis: Mature trees worth saving (Mar25'19)
by Beth McKechnie 25 Mar '19

25 Mar '19

*Mature trees worth saving, not just replacing * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/mature-trees-worth-savin… THE elm bark beetle kills 15 mature elm trees in Winnipeg every day. The emerald ash borer that arrived in late 2017 could kill every ash tree in the city in the next decade. Winnipeg has the unfortunate distinction of being the only city in North America at war with both of these tree-killing insects at the same time, and the two species they destroy make up almost two-thirds of the city’s public trees. Our urban forest is on the cusp of devastation, but a sense of public urgency has yet to set in. In Ottawa, more than 100,000 ash trees have been lost in the eight years since the emerald ash borer’s arrival. Our day is coming. As we battle the invaders, management of our street trees will mean replanting more diverse species as old ones are lost, but we should not undervalue efforts to preserve our existing older trees. The economic, environmental and social benefits of street trees increase exponentially with size, and it can take generations for the value of a lost mature tree to be regained. A replanted basswood, as an example, will be less than half of its mature height and breadth after 30 years of growth. A disease-free American elm can live up to 300 years, and doesn’t reach full maturity until 150 years. With salt and other environmental pollutants in today’s city, most replanted trees will never reach the scale of our current canopy. Because of this, investment made to preserve larger trees will have significant payback over several decades. The costs will be high, but there are few public expenditures with greater return on investment than protecting our street trees. The majestic beauty of leaf-filtered light streaming through the cathedral arch canopy of towering street trees inspires a sense of place that emotionally connects people to their neighbourhoods and cities. They create a comfortable pedestrian experience by providing shade and wind protection, while establishing an intimate pedestrian zone that separates cars and people. This perception of safety is enhanced as street trees define the road edge and enclose a driver’s field of vision, which instinctively calms traffic and lowers driving speeds. *A 2008 study by the Texas Transportation Institute found that the presence of large street trees lowers the average cruising speed of vehicles in suburbs by almost 5 km/h.* This more comfortable pedestrian environment translates into economic benefit. A study from the University of Washington determined that when shade trees are added to a retail street, the positive impact on the experience makes people stay longer and shop more, increasing spending by as much as 12 per cent on average. It also found that the attraction to mature street trees can increase residential property values by as much as 15 per cent. In Portland, Ore., this was calculated to be worth US$15 million in added property tax revenue for the city. Street trees also improve physical and mental health. A large tree can remove up to 25 per cent of nearby airborne fine particulates and gaseous pollutants emitted by vehicles and buildings. Large mature trees remove 70 times more urban air pollution than the small trees planted to replace them. Recent findings published in the Urban Forestry and Urban Greening Journal indicated that across 86 Canadian cities, the combined reduced air pollution from urban trees saves the health-care system $227 million annually, avoiding 22,000 incidences of acute respiratory symptoms. A Toronto study, Neighbourhood Greenspace and Health in a Large Urban Centre, found exposure to trees can be psychologically and physiologically restorative. The study asked 31,000 residents in different communities to assess their perceived state of health. When the data were overlaid on tree maps, they revealed that having 10 or more mature street trees on a block had the equivalent self-reported health benefits of feeling seven years younger. People in poorer areas with plentiful street trees reported health that resembled affluent neighbourhoods, and those living on wealthier streets without trees reported health like that of people in poorer areas. As trees absorb carbon from the atmosphere, they can play an important role in reducing a city’s contribution to climate change. Once again, size matters. As trees age, their climate benefits increase disproportionately, with as much as 50 per cent of their carbon accumulation occurring in the last quarter of their lives, and almost three-quarters in the last half. The cooling effect of shade trees also reduces the energy requirements for the air-conditioning of buildings, which in turn reduces GHG emissions. A study by the City of Sacramento determined that large street trees can reduce summertime energy use by as much as 35 per cent, twice as much as medium-sized trees, with small trees having very little effect. With climate change increasing the frequency of high-volume stormwater events, street trees are playing a more important role managing runoff and relieving pressure on municipal infrastructure. Large street trees can absorb as much as 60 per cent of the water in a rainfall, with capacity being directly related to the size of the tree’s canopy and root system. Losing our large trees would likely have catastrophic effects on Winnipeg’s combined sewer system — pipes that collect both raw sewage and rainfall, with a replacement cost pegged at more than $4 billion. Winnipeg without its majestic street tree canopy is difficult to imagine. The economic, social and environmental impact would be devastating. The battle to preserve as many large old trees as possible, and to replace the ones that are lost, will take a significantly increased commitment from private citizens and all levels of government. Their benefits show that a city’s trees are not merely leafy decoration, but should be considered an essential piece of urban infrastructure, no less valuable than roads, sidewalks and sewer lines. *Brent Bellamy is a senior design architect for Number Ten Architectural Group.*

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CTV: City council passes budget with 11-5 vote
by Beth McKechnie 21 Mar '19

21 Mar '19

*City council passes budget with 11-5 vote* [Note: see highlighted text below] https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/city-council-passes-budget-with-11-5-vote-1.434… With spring on the horizon, Winnipeg driver Armond Eaglestick says his street is showing signs of wear and tear. "There's a lot of potholes," said Eaglestick. He says Winnipeg streets aren't doing his truck any favours. The shocks are always going, you got to pay you know shocks and tires, sometimes they pop," said Eaglestick. Winnipeg city council passed the 2019 budget by an 11 to 5 vote, but there was no last minute money added to fix residential streets. The outcome came in spite of lobbying efforts from the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association and others to find some cash. "This year you wiped out all significant work on neighbourhood streets," said Chris Lorenc, president of the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association. Because of a $40 million funding dispute with the province, the city says it was forced to chop the local roads budget this year. Fifty-three street and lane projects fell by the wayside, even though homeowners are paying more in taxes. "This was I believe a fiscally responsible reaction to the shortfall," said Mayor Brian Bowman. Prior to the budget vote, councillors Ross Eadie and Jason Schreyer tabled a motion to borrow $10 million this year to reconstruct some of those roads. "There is an expectation on our residents that they actually see some work this year," said Eadie. Council voted against that plan. "I for one do not believe it is appropriate to pull out the city's credit card to make Winnipeg taxpayers pay the province's bill," said Scott Gillingham, chair of city council’s finance committee. But all might not be lost for the city's residential roads. The Trudeau government's federal budget this week contained a pledge to double gas tax revenues. Winnipeg's share comes out to around $40 million. "You know local roads could be one area for consideration by council, there could other things, active transportation,” said Bowman. Mayor Brian Bowman says it's unclear when that money could flow. Armond Eaglestick says the sooner the better. "You can't really drive anywhere you have to dodge the holes and everything," said Eaglestick.

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WFP: Newcomer girl, 4, hit at crosswalk dies (Mar21'19)
by Beth McKechnie 21 Mar '19

21 Mar '19

*Family suffers ‘profound shock’; mother recovers in hospital* * Newcomer girl, 4, hit at crosswalk dies * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/girl-4-struck-by-vehicle-at-crosswa… A FOUR-YEAR-OLD girl who was struck by a vehicle at a Winnipeg crosswalk Monday has died. The girl, named Galila, recently arrived in Canada from Eritrea with her parents and six-year-old brother. She died at the Health Sciences Centre, where she and her mother, who was also hit by the vehicle as they crossed Isabel Street at Alexander Avenue, had been listed in critical condition. “It’s a profound shock,” said family spokeswoman Dorota Blumczynska, who was at the hospital late Tuesday to console the child’s father. “Everything has happened so quickly,” said the executive director of the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba (IRCOM), which runs the transitional housing complex on Isabel Street where the family lives. “The family has continued to ask for privacy.” On Monday, just before noon, Galila and her mother — identified Wednesday by Blumczynska as Genet Bruk — were walking to pick up Galila’s six-year-old brother, Lamek, at Dufferin School. The pair was hit by a northbound vehicle at the crosswalk. Police have not released more details about the incident, other than that Galila died as a result of her injuries. Blumczynska said Bruk remains in hospital in stable condition. Her husband, Rezene Bruk, was there when his daughter died Tuesday evening, she said. “Now he has to direct his energy to his wife,” said an emotional Blumczynska, after she and other IRCOM staff held a vigil at the hospital with the Bruks until the early hours Wednesday. The couple is in the early stages of learning English and an interpreter is helping them through the complex medical information at HSC. The language of grief, however, is painfully simple. “The father and I exchanged some words of profound sadness,” Blumczynska said through tears. “The mom needs to fully recover and it will be a long journey for her... She and her husband and son need our continued prayers and love and support to make it through this.” Galila’s death echoes a similar tragedy in the city, a little more than a year ago. In February 2018, eight-year-old Surafiel Musse Tesfamariam was on his way to École Varennes with his mother, when he was hit and killed by a vehicle at a crosswalk on St. Anne’s Road. After Surafiel’s death, St. Vital residents pushed for greater safety at the crosswalk, Coun. Brian Mayes said. “I got more calls and emails on this than anything,” he said. “It was upsetting for the whole community.” In May, city councillors on the public works committee unanimously approved an administration plan for the installation of eye-level, flashing warning lights at the St. Anne’s Road crosswalk. Tree branches that could obscure the existing flashing amber lights at the crossing were pruned to improve visibility. The cost was roughly $25,000. “I think it improves visibility,” the councillor for St. Vital said, adding he would like to see more crosswalks get beefed-up warning lights. “Anecdotally, people have been positive about it,” said Mayes, who is waiting for a formal report on the effect of the improvements at the St. Anne’s Road crosswalk. Manitoba Public Insurance’s more recent statistics show the number of pedestrians hit by vehicles has gone up. MPI doesn’t have specific crosswalk data, but its 2017 report shows 179 people were killed or injured that year — an involvement rate of 13.2 per 100,000 people, compared with an average of 11.4 per 100,000 from 2012 to 2016. Most pedestrians in Manitoba were hit on a weekday (82 per cent) and between noon and 6 p.m. Almost half (41 per cent) were hit at an intersection and had the right of way. Manitobans ages 55 to 64 had the highest rate of being hit and killed, MPI numbers show. Children under the age of 10 had the lowest rate of pedestrian deaths and injuries in Manitoba. Their deaths, understandably, often prompt the biggest response, Mayes said. “When a child is killed, people want action,” the councillor said. In April, the city’s Riel community committee will consider a request from Surafiel’s mother to put an honorary street name topper on the sign at the corner where he died. The blue sign would say “Surafiel,” Mayes said. He said he’ll vote to approve the sign staying up for 10 years. carol.sanders(a)freepress.mb.ca

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CBC: Pedestrian death, injuries put renewed focus on road design and safety
by Beth McKechnie 21 Mar '19

21 Mar '19

*Pedestrian death, injuries put renewed focus on road design and safety* *Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman says the city is following a plan to reduce collisions* https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/pedestrian-safety-vision-zero-1.506… The death of a four-year-old girl after she and her mother were hit by a vehicle in a crosswalk on Monday has put renewed focus on pedestrian safety in Winnipeg. Some people, including Coun. Janice Lukes, have called on the city to adopt a concept called Vision Zero. Developed in Sweden, it aims to change infrastructure and road design to reduce the number of serious injuries and fatalities from motor vehicle accidents, with the aim of zero injuries and fatalities from car collisions. Edmonton adopted the strategy in 2016 and has seen a reduction in the number of people hurt and killed on their streets. "We feel we've been very fortunate over the last three years," said Gerry Shimko, executive director of Edmonton's office of traffic safety. Serious injuries have gone down 17 per cent, from 385 people hospitalized in 2015 to 319 last year. Pedestrian injuries are down 21 per cent, cyclist injuries are down 29 per cent and motorcycle injuries 26 per cent over the last three years, Shimko said. "So it's all trending in the right direction," he said. Changes under the program include narrowing roadways so drivers don't feel like they can speed through, and setting speed limits at 40 km/h in some communities. The strategy also proposes raising crosswalks to encourage drivers to slow down, and putting in curb extensions to reduce the distance pedestrians have to cross, "One of the primary focuses is to really look at identifying where your high-risk locations are for fatalities and serious injuries," he said. Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman says the city's road safety improvement efforts are following a plan adopted by the federal government called Towards Zero. "That's been incorporated and has been demonstrating, notwithstanding the fact that accidents are still going to happen, is still demonstrating some good, positive successes," Bowman said. The four-year-old girl and her mother — newcomers to Canada — were hit while in a crosswalk at Isabel Street and Alexander Avenue around noon Monday. On Wednesday, a pedestrian was taken to hospital in critical condition after being hit on Osborne Street near Morley Avenue and Bartlet Avenue. Bowman said he's committed to discussing ways to improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers in the city. Shimko said anyone interested in learning from Edmonton's experience is welcome to visit. "At the end of the day we believe that everybody's family should leave and come home safely."

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Fwd: Got unwanted bikes? We need 'em for spring programming!
by Dave Elmore 19 Mar '19

19 Mar '19

Got bikes that are just sitting around collecting dust. The WRENCH needs bikes. We are critically short. Please help if you can. Oh and if you would like to support the WRENCH while enjoying a cold beer, Barn Hammer Brewing Company is having their monthly Barn Raising in support of the WRENCH tomorrow. See details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/419737035440805/ Thanks Dave o _ ( \ _ (X)\ /(X) ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Wrench Volunteer Coordinator <wrenchvolunteer(a)gmail.com> Date: Tue, Mar 19, 2019 at 12:09 PM Subject: Got unwanted bikes? We need 'em for spring programming! To: *The WRENCH needs your help* to ensure that children and families across the city can experience their summer by bike! During the snowy months bike donations slow down drastically but WRENCH programming keeps going strong all winter long. In fact we are doing more youth programming and giving out more bikes to community organizations & schools than ever before! Yes it is a very exciting time at The WRENCH, but the challenging situation is that now that spring is in the air our bike stock is critically low while demand is rising. *Support vital bike programming in your community by dropping off your unwanted bicycles and parts at any 4R Winnipeg Depot <https://winnipeg.ca/waterandwaste/recycle/4rdepots/>today!* [image: WRENCH needs bikes square.jpg] *(Incase you can't see the above image...) Please bring your donations here:* 1) Brady 4R Winnipeg Depot 1777 Brady Road, south of the Perimeter Highway Weekdays 8am – 8pm. Weekends 9am – 5pm. 2) Pacific 4R Winnipeg Depot 1120 Pacific Avenue Weekdays (except Wednesday) 10 am – 6 pm. Weekends 9 am – 5 pm. 3) Panet 4R Winnipeg Depot 429 Panet Rd Weekdays (except Wednesday) 10 am – 6 pm. Weekends 9 am – 5 pm. 4) The WRENCH 1057 Logan, basement of the Animal Services building Thursdays Noon – 5:30 pm. Saturdays 2 pm – 4:30 pm. *For further information on bike donations, email: resource(a)thewrench.ca <resource(a)thewrench.ca> *

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City of Winnipeg seeks input for Transit Master Plan & SW Rapid Transitway Route Planning
by Beth McKechnie 18 Mar '19

18 Mar '19

City of Winnipeg seeks public input for two transit projects Released: 4:08 p.m. March 15, 2019 https://winnipeg.ca/cao/media/news/nr_2019/nr_20190315.stm#2 The City of Winnipeg is kicking off two major transit projects today and inviting Winnipeggers to share their input over the next month. *Winnipeg Transit Master Plan* The City wants to hear from Winnipeggers about the future of our transit system to help shape the Winnipeg Transit Master Plan. The Winnipeg Transit Master Plan is a 25-year plan that will cover all aspects of the transit system – Transit, Rapid Transit, and Transit Plus (formerly Handi-Transit) service and infrastructure. “We expect Winnipeg to be home to nearly one million people within the next 25 years and our transit system needs to grow along with the city,” said Kevin Sturgeon, Senior Transit Planner. “This project will give us an opportunity to talk to Winnipeggers about what’s important to them in a transit system for the future.” In the first phase of public engagement, the project team will talk to Winnipeggers about how they currently use transit services, what is important to them, and what they would like to see in the future. The information gathered will be presented in a report that identifies key areas of study for the Transit Master Plan project. >From March 15 to April 20, Winnipeggers are invited to provide input online, by email at: transitmasterplan(a)winnipeg.ca, or in person at one of five open houses, or at one of six pop-up events throughout the city. *Open house details:* *Date* *Time* *Location* April 9, 2019 3:30 p.m to 6:30 p.m. South Winnipeg Community Centre – Waverley Site 1885 Chancellor Dr. <https://goo.gl/maps/PD4JyJTfZvv> April 10, 2019 4 p.m to 8 p.m. Transcona East End Community Centre 517 Pandora Ave E. <https://goo.gl/maps/srNK8zHQGLQ2> April 11, 2019 4 p.m to 8 p.m. Seven Oaks Arena 745 Kingsbury Ave. <https://goo.gl/maps/h6ZYjqQxd2x> April 16, 2019 4 p.m to 8 p.m. Sturgeon Heights Community Centre 210 Rita St. <https://goo.gl/maps/u1PfvJALXtC2> April 17, 2019 4 p.m to 8 p.m. Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain 340 Provencher Blvd. <https://goo.gl/maps/T2WnpRWLDTE2> *Pop-up details:* *Date* *Time* *Location* April 4, 2019 10 a.m to 1 p.m. Charleswood Library 4910 Roblin Blvd. <https://www.google.com/maps/place/4910+Roblin+Blvd,+Winnipeg,+MB+R3R+0G7/@4…> April 5, 2019 10 a.m to 1 p.m. Windsor Park Library 1195 Archibald St. <https://goo.gl/maps/Fuiv2rbB2nq> April 6, 2019 10 a.m to 1 p.m. St. Norbert Farmers Market 3514 Pembina Hwy. <https://goo.gl/maps/UbGuLwQbQfG2> April 8, 2019 4 p.m to 7 p.m. Elmwood Kildonans Pool 909 Concordia Ave. <https://goo.gl/maps/tcjySn5Jm892> April 12, 2019 11 a.m to 2 p.m. Merchants Corner 541 Selkirk Ave. <https://goo.gl/maps/iGgud4SECNx> April 13, 2019 1:30 p.m to 4:30 p.m. Lindenwoods Community Centre 414 Lindenwood Dr. W. <https://goo.gl/maps/NvQ7U4KPDnM2> Work on the Transit Master Plan will continue throughout the year, with an anticipated completion date in 2020. For more information on the Winnipeg Transit Master Plan, please visit: winnipeg.ca/transitmasterplan. *Southwest Rapid Transitway Route Planning* Winnipeg Transit is proposing improvements to bus routes in southwest Winnipeg to coincide with the opening of the Southwest Transitway (Stage 2) in spring 2020, including a new spine and feeder network, subject to Council approval. The implementation of the proposed new routes using a spine and feeder network will ensure optimal use of Winnipeg Transit’s resources so that it can improve the delivery of efficient, fast, and reliable transit service for residents in the southwest of the City. The proposed network changes include a central spine, with feeder routes. The proposed BLUE Line is the backbone of the Southwest Transitway, providing frequent high-speed service between Downtown, the University of Manitoba and St. Norbert. Short routes will connect neighborhoods in southwest Winnipeg to the transitway but will not operate on the transitway. A mobile Ideas in Motion bus will be popping up in communities throughout southwest Winnipeg in early April where residents will have an opportunity to learn more about the proposed system and route changes, and share their input with the project team in person. An online survey <https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HSZXQ9R> is also available on the project website until April 15, 2019. *Date* *Time* *Location* Wednesday, April 3, 2019 12 p.m to 2:30 p.m. University of Manitoba Station Dafoe Rd. @ Gillson St. <https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Dafoe+Rd+W+%26+Gillson+St,+Winnipeg,+MB+R3…> Wednesday, April 3, 2019 3:30 p.m to 5:30 p.m. Osborne Junction Bus Loop Pembina Hwy. @ Osborne St. <https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Southbound+Pembina+at+Osborne+Junction/@49…> Thursday, April 4, 2019 2:15 p.m to 4:30 p.m. University of Manitoba Station Dafoe Rd. @ Gillson St. <https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Dafoe+Rd+W+%26+Gillson+St,+Winnipeg,+MB+R3…> Saturday, April 6, 2019 11 a.m to 1 p.m. St. Norbert Farmers’ Market Eagles Club, 3459 Pembina Hwy. <https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Eagles+Club+No+3870/@49.7678078,-97.156272…> Saturday, April 6, 2019 2 p.m to 4 p.m. Bridgwater Centre Exact location to be determined Monday, April 8, 2019 3 p.m to 5 p.m. South Pointe School 615 Kirkbridge Dr. <https://www.google.ca/maps/place/South+Pointe+School+%2F+%C3%89cole+South+P…> Monday, April 8, 2019 6 p.m to 8 p.m. Kenaston Common 1665 Kenaston Blvd. <https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Northbound+Kenaston+at+Wal-Mart/@49.822787…> (Walmart parking lot) [image: Ideas in Motion Bus Promo Picture 2] Input gathered throughout the public engagement process will help further refine the proposed route improvements before recommending changes to Council for its approval in advance of the opening of the second stage of the Southwest Transitway. For more information on the Southwest Rapid Transitway (Stage 2) project, please visit winnipeg.ca/southwestrapidtransitway <https://winnipeg.ca/cao/media/news/nr_2019/nr_20190315.stm#2>.

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AT Webinar: Navigating without curbs & accessibility, Mar 20th, 2-3pm
by Beth McKechnie 14 Mar '19

14 Mar '19

Please join Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg for a group viewing of the recorded February APBP webinar in the EcoCentre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/uncategorized/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-o…> boardroom. This will be followed by discussion for those who wish to stay. cheers, Beth *AT Webinar: Wed, March 20th, 2-3pm* Navigating without curbs: Accessibility on shared streets Shared streets are becoming a common Placemaking tool for our communities. Creating streets where the curbs are removed in favor of low-speed and vibrant shared spaces creates challenges for users who have vision impairment, both in terms of identifying conflicts with other users and navigating a corridor with minimally defined edges. This webinar will explore the latest guidance in addressing the needs of persons with no or low vision in shared streets and plazas. Presenters: - James Elliott, Toole Design - Elizabeth Hilton, Federal Highway Administration, Office of Infrastructure - Dylan Passmore, City of Vancouver - Janet Barlow, Accessible Design for the Blind -- Beth McKechnie* | *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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Transit Score rankings for Canadian cities
by Beth McKechnie 13 Mar '19

13 Mar '19

The folks at Walk Score have now developed a Transit Score for Canadian cities. Toronto and Vancouver fare pretty well while (spoiler alert) Winnipeg comes in at the low end, bunched in with about 10 other cities out of the 15 ranked. https://www.redfin.com/blog/2019/03/best-cities-canada-public-transit-score… -- Beth McKechnie* | *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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Facilitators and barriers to winter cycling
by Beth McKechnie 11 Mar '19

11 Mar '19

Hi everyone, Though the snow is starting to soften and soon to melt, you may be interested in this research article "Facilitators and barriers to winter cycling: case study of a downtown university in Toronto, Canada". https://www.safetylit.org/citations/index.php?fuseaction=citations.viewdeta… Thanks to Kristine Hayward for the share! cheers, Beth -- Beth McKechnie* | *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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WFP: More Winnipeggers are forgoing their cars (Mar2'19)
by Beth McKechnie 02 Mar '19

02 Mar '19

*More Winnipeggers are forgoing their cars, creating new attitudes and business opportunities* *Take my keys, please * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/take-my-keys-please-50… FOR a long time, Mel Marginet’s car sat in her driveway, unused. She had started biking and taking the bus to work, and was making a conscious effort to be an active commuter. “I knew the heavy environmental impact driving a car as your primary mode of transportation has, and I knew (Manitoba) had a really high rate of people driving alone,” says Marginet, who now, fittingly, works in workplace commuter options at Green Action Centre. “To me, you can be part of the problem or part of the solution. I didn’t want to be a person who complained about things, then did nothing.” And so, two years ago got rid of her car. Marginet is part of a small but growing segment of Winnipeggers who are ditching their cars— a move that might seem incongruous or even illogical, depending on who you ask. Winnipeg, after all, is a city built for cars. Many people can’t imagine living here without one. Some might be able to picture a car-fee life during those days when the bus-scheduling gods have smiled down upon us and everything is running on time, or during an idyllic summertime bike commute under the city’s sun-dappled elm canopies. But when it’s February and freezing, busing seems unappealing and biking seems “extreme,” to borrow a word from Coun. Jeff Browaty. Marginet, who’s in her 30s, felt similarly once upon a time. “I thought people who biked in the city were crazy,” she says with a laugh. The more she did it, though, the easier it became. “I actually found owning a car more stressful,” she says. “I always had to be concerned about finding a parking space, whether it would start or not, shovelling out the drive or, ‘Am I going to get stuck in the backlane?’” She’s seen other positive upshots to active commuting, too. “I haven’t had a gym membership since I’ve started commuting by bike,” she says. “If I had to go to a gym to put in those kilometres, I wouldn’t have time.” She’s saved a pile of money, too. But her biggest motivator is the environment. Transportation makes up the biggest piece of our province’s carbon footprint pie, and she wanted to do her part by reducing hers. Active transportation, she points out, does not have to be all-or-none. It is also possible to develop a transportation plan, as Marginet has, that incorporates biking, Winnipeg Transit and, yes, even driving. “Peg City Car Co-op was the final push for me to get rid of my car,” Marginet says. “There’s always those trips where you have to have a car in Winnipeg; getting big, heavy bulky shopping done, or there’s just parts of town that are impossible to get to.” Peg City Car Co-Op is Winnipeg’s only car-sharing program. Through a membership, people access to a car when they need it. When Peg City launched in 2011, it had three vehicles; it has since grown to 33 vehicles, and 1,200 members. “In the past 12 months, we’ve seen a growth in our fleet and membership of 30 per cent, and we’re continuing that trajectory,” says Philip Mikulec, operations manager at Peg City Co-op. “Besides the laudable environmental goals, people who are joining car-sharing are largely doing it for economic reasons. This speaks to the change in the way people use our service and the kind of demand we’re seeing in our fleet. As we mature, we’re seeing more and more people joining because I think they see the economic benefits to themselves of not owning a car and having a reliable service they can use.” So who uses car-sharing? At first, Peg City’s membership base was mostly the early adopters, or “avid non-car owners.” As the idea of a car co-op has become more accepted and mainstream, that base has widened to include people from a wide cross section of socio-economic backgrounds. Based on Peg City’s data, the co-op’s core membership is made up of young, highly educated professionals who live in six-figure households. They tend to live and work either downtown or in the Exchange District. “They’d rather not spend $300 a month on parking alone,” Mikulec says. Car-share users tend to be under 40, and generally have no children or one child. “The whole industry is trying to figure out how to do better on dealing with the child gap in car-sharing,” Mikulec says. “There are people who like the service, but they find there are a lot of barriers, especially if they have a child who still uses a car seat or booster seat.” Car-sharing doesn’t just help reduce household budgets by lessening the financial burden of car ownership. It also helps reduce carbon footprints. Car-share vehicles tend to be newer, more efficient and better maintained. Mikulec says industry data show that for every car-share vehicle put on the road, 10 to 15 vehicles are shed. Mikulec believes Winnipeg has the potential to support 100 to 200 shared cars. Even avid drivers are coming around on the idea of car-sharing. “We’re still speaking the same language — it’s about cars,” Mikulec says. “Many people who are avid car owners have positive attitudes toward what we’re doing. There isn’t a sense of getting their back up over what we’re doing.” And then there are people such as Tim Brandt, who hasn’t driven in 18 years. He’s a year-round cyclist, and happier for it. His wife still drives, but the couple no longer owns a car. He’s a vocal advocate for car-free living; he also appears in Winnipeggers Janine Tschuncky and Kenneth George Godwin’s documentary on this subject called Carfree: Stories from the Non-Driving Life. Brandt, who’s in his 60s, used to drive — and professionally at that. “I owned cars, I drove a taxi in the ’80s, I drove a courier car. It was through reading and more and more interest in environmental issues that I weaned myself off cars.” Brandt biked to school with his son throughout elementary school; when he got older, they took bike trips together. He got involved in local cycling culture, participating in Critical Mass rides. “I was older than a lot of the riders, but I made a lot of friends.” He started organizing car-free events, and found it empowering. He says he hasn’t experienced a lot of animosity between himself and motorists. As he fell in love with biking, he fell out of love with driving. Katie Alvord’s 2000 book Divorce your Car! Ending the Love Affair with the Automobile was “a real eye opener” for him. Brandt’s main motivation for living car-free is the environment. He’s concerned about society’s reliance on cars and car culture’s environmental impact. Making space for other modes of transportation in our car-forward city requires a shift in thinking and priorities by individuals as well as those who make decisions for our city. “I have really mixed feelings about actually building infrastructure for cycling, lanes and stuff,” Brandt says. “My No. 1 wish would be to lower speed limits for cars just to make it safer for everyone — not just cyclists but pedestrians and motorists, too. I feel lowering speed limits would do a world of good and make it easier for cars and bikes to get along. But I know that’s a tough hill. I also think that change has to happen to help wean people off their cars, to show them they can’t just speed around all the time.” “My wish would be that for every infrastructure project the city does, they place priority on the health, safety and comfort of people who are walking, biking or using Transit ahead of personal vehicles,” Marginet says. “Right now, we place the convenience of personal vehicles first and everything else is just an afterthought.” jen.zoratti(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @JenZoratti

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WFP: Preliminary budget avoids huge property tax hike through road repair funding cuts (Mar2'19)
by Beth McKechnie 02 Mar '19

02 Mar '19

*Road repair funding cut to make up difference* * Preliminary budget avoids huge property tax hike * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/budget--506560481.html THE sky isn’t falling after all. Despite repeated threats from Mayor Brian Bowman warning of massive tax increases or infrastructure cuts or both to cope with a reported $40-million funding dispute with the Pallister government, the mayor and members of his executive policy committee tabled a preliminary 2019 budget Friday that proposes a property tax increase of 2.33 per cent — the same percentage increase for the fifth consecutive year. Instead of the 9.4 per cent property tax increase Bowman had previously said was possible, the budget proposes to more than make up the shortfall from the province with a cut to its roads and sidewalk budget. While council in September approved spending $128.4 million for 2019 on roads and sidewalks, the budget lowers that amount to $86.4 million. The City of Winnipeg said the effect of the property tax bump on the average home will be about $40 (a tax bill of $1,774 for a home assessed at $296,560). “Preparing this year’s budget was complicated by ongoing uncertainty regarding provincial government funding support to the city,” Bowman told reporters. “I fully support the provincial government’s efforts to eliminate its budget deficit, but I don’t believe this should be achieved on the backs of Winnipeg property taxpayers.” Total spending by the city will climb 3.9 per cent, to $1.22 billion — more than double the 1.2 per cent increase between 2017 and 2018. Aside from the reduction in the planned amount of infrastructure spending, the 2019 preliminary budget shows little effect from city hall’s public feuding with the Manitoba government: • No staff layoffs; • Police spending increases 3.4 per cent, to $301.4 million; • Fire paramedic service spending increases 4.2 per cent, to $201.5 million; • The business tax rate will be reduced for the fifth year in a row; • Freezes on water and sewer rates, transit fares, frontage levies and parking rates; • And no new fees. Bowman told reporters the “responsible” way to address the $40-million shortfall was to reduce the number of road projects rather than recover the entire amount through an additional 7.1 per cent property tax increase. Council will be asked to make up half of the $40 million from the 2019 local street renewal reserve fund. The remaining $20 million will be referred to the 2020 capital budget process. Bowman said reduced spending on roads in future years will become “the city’s new reality.” Rolling back infrastructure spending means fewer roads will be repaired, but $86.4 million remains a significant amount compared to the spending during the 10 years of the Sam Katz administration (2004-14), and is slightly more than the $84 million council approved in 2014. *Also affected by the infrastructure rollback will be sidewalks, bike trails and pedestrian pathways — $2.7 million less than was projected in the 2018 budget, and a total of $17.5 million over six years.* Finance chairman Coun. Scott Gillingham said the preliminary budget was produced by the EPC, but it also reflects concerns from other members of council and the public. “We are dealing with a new fiscal reality with the province of Manitoba,” he said. Gillingham said revenue collected from the impact fee (the charge on new residential development on the suburban areas) will continue to be held in a reserve account and not used for spending this year. Total capital projects spending for 2019, including utilities and special operating agencies, is set at $367.5 million, a reduction of $12.5 million from 2018. There is $2.1 million set aside for continued planning on the Kenaston Boulevard/Route 90 widening but no funds for construction. The Arlington Street bridge replacement was not identified as a project. *Those hoping to see an introduction of a low-income bus pass this year will be disappointed. However, that’s planned to be introduced in April 2020, with a 30 per cent discount on the full adult fare, rising to 50 per cent in 2022.* *Winnipeg Transit will benefit with the purchase of 34 new buses, $1 million for heated bus shelters and $500,000 for improving bus-stop accessibility.* The budget will also see a reduction in dividends taken from water and sewer rates — to 11 per cent from 12 per cent. (The dividend is the amount of revenues from the water and waste department that is skimmed off to offset property taxes. The Katz administration imposed an eight per cent dividend in 2011; Bowman increased it to 12 per cent in his first budget in 2015.) A surprise in the budget is the size of the funding increase to the Winnipeg Police Service. Despite assurances the WPS budget would be limited to the rate of inflation, police will get a 3.4 per cent increase in 2019, to $301.4 million from $291.5 million. Other highlights: • Spending on community centre renovation grants double, from $920,000 to $2 million; • $169 million over six years to reduce the incidence of combined sewer overflows; • $22.2 million for 34 Winnipeg Transit buses; • $1-million study on electrification of transit buses; • $18 million in savings from vacancy management; • And $12 million in savings from department efficiencies. aldo.santin(a)freepress.mb.ca The highlights ● How much money does the city need this year for its current operating budget? $1.124 billion. ● What kind of a property tax increase is the city looking for? The proposed budget calls for a 2.33 per cent property tax increase, the same annual increase Mayor Brian Bowman campaigned for during the civic election. ● What does it mean to your wallet? If your home is worth $296,560 — the average cost of a house here — you’ll be paying an additional $40.38. That means your tax bill (not including what you’ll be paying to your local school division) will go from $1,733 to $1,774. ● What will that extra tax money go to? The city says the entire 2.33 per cent increase goes to infrastructure, not for salaries or to pay for new goodies. Two per cent would go to rebuilding and repairing regional and local roads, while the rest, 0.33 per cent, would go to complete the Southwest Rapid Transitway. ● I’ve heard the city is at loggerheads with the provincial government over funding — what does that mean for the city’s budget and my pocketbook? A lot, according to the proposed budget. There will be slashes throughout the budget, including: • Spending only $86.4 million on regional and local road renewals and repairs in 2019, down from the proposed $128.4 million. It would be the lowest annual expenditure since 2014. • Reducing the city’s overall road renewal plan from $976 million over the next six years to $801 million. • Cutting spending on sidewalks, bike corridors and recreational walkways from almost $5.7 million to $3 million, a near-50 per cent reduction. ● What new things is the city spending money on? • The city plans to strip away part of the corporate support services department for a new innovation, transformation and technology department. It will take the old department’s $20-million budget for innovation needs and add an additional $4.6 million to it. • Transit bus drivers will finally be protected by safety shields. The city will spend $3.15 million over the next year for their purchase and installation. • The purchase of 34 new buses at a cost of $22.2 million. • A plan to spend more than $1 million for more heated bus shelters. • Implementing a low-income bus pass, but it won’t start until April 2020. The pass would give a 30 per cent discount for adult monthly passes in 2020, 40 per cent in 2021 and 50 per cent starting in 2022. • Spending $1 million to study how to incorporate electric buses into the current transit system and create a budget estimate for buying between 12 and 20 battery-electric vehicles. • No new fees are proposed. No water and sewer rate increases. No frontage levy rate increase. Parking rates will not go up. ● Who are the winners in this budget? • Bus riders. For the first time since 2007, transit fares will not go up. • Cyclists. The city is looking at earmarking $432,000 of the $35-million snow-removal budget to keep bicycle corridors free of snow and ice. • Police officers. The Winnipeg Police Service is one of the few departments, along with Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service, that will get an increase higher than the cost of living. The budget proposes giving it an extra $9.9 million, up from $291.5 million to $301.4 million. • Firefighters. The department will get a budget increase of 4.2 per cent. As well, they will get more than $16 million in capital support to pay for a new computer-aided dispatch system, new air compressors, cardiac monitors, defibrillators and power stretchers and $3.4 million to maintain and repair fire-paramedic stations. • Community centres. The city-owned centres needing repairs will have more money to draw from. The city is looking at doubling the funding to the Community Centre Renovation Grant Program from just under $1 million to $2 million and increasing eligible grants from $50,000 to $100,000. • Winnipeg’s rivers. The city is looking at spending $31 million this year, part of a $169-million plan over six years, to reduce the amount of sewage getting out of the city’s combined sewer overflow into rivers during major rain events. The city is hoping to reduce sewage overflows into the rivers by at least 85 per cent by 2045. • Athletes and culture lovers. Museums, community centres and other organizations will get $42.9 million in grant support this year. ● How much do we pay for our police and fire protection? A lot. Between the two of them, the Winnipeg Police Service and the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service account for $503 million, or 45 per cent, of the city’s entire tax-supported budget. ● Property taxpayers have to pay more in this budget — how about small businesses? The city proposes to reduce the business tax from 5.14 per cent to 4.97 per cent while also increasing the business tax threshold from $33,300 to $33,900. This is about a 13 per cent decrease from 2014, as the city moves toward the tax’s eventual elimination. ● Will our water and sewer bills subsidize our tax dollars? Yes, but not as much as before. For the first time since it was put into place in 2011, the city will reduce the water and sewer dividend rate from 12 to 11 per cent. This is the amount taken from water and sewer and put into general revenue. The city says this will help the city fund the waste-water treatment infrastructure, which the province has ordered it to do. ● What about the capital budget, which pays for major construction projects in the city including roads, bridges, underpasses, police stations and park upgrades? The city is proposing spending $367.5 million this year, a bit less than the $380.1 million it spent last year. The city is also budgeting to spend $2.3 billion in capital investment in the next six years. ● What will this budget pay for over the next six years? More than $800 million on renewing existing local and regional roads, more than $169 million to reduce combined sewer overflow incidents, more than $11.8 million to build a new recreation facility in Waverley West and more than $23 million for the urban forest enhancement program. The city is also proposing sliding up to $3 million now into the 2020 capital budget for renovating and renewing Rainbow Stage. This project is subject to Rainbow Stage’s board successfully securing matching funds from other levels of government and private donors. ● What happens now? City committees — infrastructure renewal and public works; water and waste, riverbank management and the environment; protection, community services and parks — and the Winnipeg Police Board now get a chance to look through the budget and allow the public to give feedback before it goes back to executive policy committee and onto city council. — Kevin Rollason

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AT Webinar: Viewing Low-Stress Networks through an Equity Lens - Tues, March 5th, 2-3pm
by Beth McKechnie 27 Feb '19

27 Feb '19

Please join Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg for a group viewing of the recorded February APBP webinar in the EcoCentre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/uncategorized/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-o…> boardroom. This will be followed by discussion for those who wish to stay. cheers, Beth *AT Webinar: Tues, March 5th, 2-3pm* Viewing Low-Stress Networks through an Equity Lens Our state of practice has improved the tools for assessing the quality of bicycle and pedestrian networks through the lens of comfort and safety, but – in planning these networks – are we including all potential users? This webinar will examine inclusive strategies for developing plans and metrics that are meaningful across social and cultural demographics. Presenters: - Dr. Adonia Lugo - urban anthropologist and mobility justice strategist - Tamika Butler - Toole Design - Carrie Modi - Fehr & Peers -- Beth McKechnie* | *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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BC moving forward on provincial active transportation strategy
by Anders Swanson 27 Feb '19

27 Feb '19

BC's Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure wants "to make active transportation safer, easier, more affordable and attractive." and is hosting a series of regional forums to gather stakeholder feedback. From: Transportation, Active TRAN:EX <ActiveTransportation(a)gov.bc.ca> Date: Tue, Feb 26, 2019 at 1:41 PM Subject: B.C. Active Transportation Strategy – Regional Forums Our government is committed to protecting nature and making life better for people. Recently we introduced a CleanBC plan that puts our province on the path to a better future, and in the coming months British Columbians will have an opportunity to shape CleanBC initiatives. In partnership with communities across the province, we’re working to make active transportation safer, easier, more affordable and attractive. To help shape the future of active transportation in our province, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure would like to invite you to participate in an interactive regional forum. Eight regional forums are being held across the province to collect input and ideas from stakeholders like you. You are welcome to attend whichever one of the forums is more convenient for you. All forums will provide the same input opportunities. City Centre Library, Surrey (Room 418 – 10350 University Drive, Surrey, B.C. V3T 4C3) March 1 from 9:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. SFU Wosk Centre for Dialogue, Vancouver (Room 320 – 580 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6B 5K3) March 2 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, Penticton (Meeting Room 6 & 7 – 273 Power Street, Penticton, B.C. V2A 7K9) March 8 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Florence Filberg Centre, Courtenay (Rotary Hall – 411 Anderton Avenue, Courtenay, B.C. V9N 6C6) March 9 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Prestige Lakeside Resort & Convention Centre, Nelson (Selkirk Salon – 701 Lakeside Drive, B.C. V1L 6G3) March 11 from 4:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Best Western, Terrace (Kokanee Room – 4553 Greig Avenue, Terrace, B.C. V8G 1M7) March 13 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Prince George Conference and Civic Centre, Prince George (Room 208 – 808 Canada Games Way, Prince George, B.C. V2L 5T6) March 14 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Royal BC Museum, Victoria (Newcombe Conference Hall – 675 Belleville Street, Victoria, B.C. V8W 9W2) March 15 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the listed start time to allow for registration and familiarizing yourself with the project and workshop structure. To register for a forum, please email ActiveTransportation(a)gov.bc.ca with subject line “[community name] forum” and with your name and organization in the body of the email. If you are unable to attend, or would like to designate a representative, please forward this invitation internally to an alternate. We want to make sure we hear from your group or organization. Please email us with any questions you may have. In addition, there will be an opportunity to provide input online through the EngageBC website in the coming weeks. Working together, we can make communities more livable with investments in cleaner transportation options that are healthy, convenient and affordable. To learn more about the CleanBC plan, please visit https://engage.gov.bc.ca/cleanbc

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Disturbing trends in road injuries & fatalities
by Charles Feaver 25 Feb '19

25 Feb '19

A good article on the difference in road safety trends for pedestrians and cyclists v. automobile occupants, especially in urban areas: https://www.fastcompany.com/90310016/the-urban-design-problem-thats-killing- pedestrians-and-cyclists As cities strive to improve the quality of life for their residents, many are working to promote walking and biking. Such policies make sense, since they can, in the long run, lead to less traffic, cleaner air and healthier people. But the results aren't all positive, especially in the short to medium term. In Washington, D.C., for example, traffic fatalities as a whole declined in 2018 compared to the year before, but the number of pedestrian and bicyclist deaths <https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/pedestrians-contin ue-to-be-at-high-risk-on-washington-regions-roads-data-show/2019/02/09/e6a4e 7a8-1f52-11e9-8b59-0a28f2191131_story.html?utm_term=.bf31bf0e0b04> increased by 20%. Pedestrian deaths also have <https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/01/nyregion/traffic-deaths-decrease-nyc.htm l> risen in New York, and pedestrian and cycling fatalities have <https://www.outsideonline.com/2313301/would-you-ride-bike-los-angeles> increased in Los Angeles in the past several years. Across the nation (USA), cyclist fatalities have increased by 25% since 2010 and pedestrian deaths have risen by <https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/facts_stats/> a staggering 45%. More people are being killed because cities are encouraging residents to walk and bike, but their roads are still dominated by fast-moving vehicular traffic. . Charles Feaver <mailto:charles@bikewinnipeg.ca> charles(a)bikewinnipeg.ca

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FW: [WestCentralConnect] Focus Groups on Bicycling in Winnipeg
by Kristine Hayward 08 Feb '19

08 Feb '19

Hi AT folks – see information below regarding focus groups on cycling in Winnipeg. Kristine Kristine Hayward Physical Activity Promotion Coordinator Winnipeg Regional Health Authority 2nd floor - 490 Hargrave Street Winnipeg, MB R3A 0X7 Cell 204 232-7546 Fax 204 940-2690 Email khayward(a)wrha.mb.ca Bike racks are available in front of the building at the corner of Hargrave and McDermot. Plan your Winnipeg Transit trip: http://winnipegtransit.com/en/navigo Metred street parking and pay lots in the area – please note designated loading zones and spots requiring a disability permit. Follow Winnipeg in motion on Twitter - @wpginmotion Check out our videos on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/user/Winnipeginmotion Hey friends, Participants are needed next week for two focus group sessions on bicycling in Winnipeg. The objective of the focus group is to better understand public opinions about bicycling. The first session, Tuesday February 12, is for people who ride their bikes often. The second session, Wednesday February 13, is for people who do not ride a bicycle or people who do not ride a bicycle often. Both sessions are 6 PM to 8 PM; refreshment will be served and participants will receive $25 as compensation upon completion of the session. This study is being conducted by the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF), a non-profit charitable organization in Ottawa, Ontario and the Spatial Pattern Analysis and Research Lab at the University of Victoria (SPARlab), with funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada. Please see attached posters for more information, including contact information if you are interested. Please share widely and generously, Joseph Joseph Stothers, Community Liaison & Communications Coordinator Pronouns: He/Him/His Spence Neighbourhood Association 430 Langside Street | Winnipeg, MB | R3B 2T5 Treaty 1 Territory, traditional territory of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene Peoples and Homeland of the Metis Nation 204-783-5000 ext. 109 www.spenceneighbourhood.org<http://www.spenceneighbourhood.org> Donate<https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/spence-neighbourhood-association-i…> | Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/SpenceNeighbourhoodAssociation> | Twitter<https://twitter.com/SNAcommunity> | Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/SNAcommunity/> <https://www.instagram.com/SNAcommunity/>The Spence Neighbourhood Association works with the people of Spence to revitalize and renew their community in the areas of Holistic Housing, Community Connecting, Community Economic Development, Environment and Open Spaces, and Youth & Families. CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in this message is intended solely for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged information. Any use, dissemination, distribution, copying or disclosure of this message and attachments, in whole or in part, by anyone other than the intended recipient is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and permanently delete the complete message and any attachments. Thank you. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "West Central Connect" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to west-central-connect+unsubscribe(a)googlegroups.com<mailto:west-central-connect+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com>. To post to this group, send email to west-central-connect(a)googlegroups.com<mailto:west-central-connect@googlegroups.com>. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. This email and/or any documents in this transmission is intended for the addressee(s) only and may contain legally privileged or confidential information. Any unauthorized use, disclosure, distribution, copying or dissemination is strictly prohibited. If you receive this transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately and return the original. Ce courriel et tout document dans cette transmission est destiné à la personne ou aux personnes à qui il est adressé. Il peut contenir des informations privilégiées ou confidentielles. Toute utilisation, divulgation, distribution, copie, ou diffusion non autorisée est strictement défendue. Si vous n'êtes pas le destinataire de ce message, veuillez en informer l'expéditeur immédiatement et lui remettre l'original.

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Calgary winter cycling numbers stay strong, city says
by Beth McKechnie 06 Feb '19

06 Feb '19

*Calgary winter cycling numbers stay strong, city says* https://livewirecalgary.com/2019/02/05/calgary-winter-cycling-numbers-stay-… More than 280 cycling advocates, engineers, academics and planners from around the world will be in Calgary over the next couple days as the city hosts the 2019 Winter Cycling Congress. It’s the seventh annual international event, which discusses opportunities and best practices for cycling in cold climate cities, and Tom Thivener, active transportation projects coordinator with the City of Calgary, said it’s the perfect time for the event to be held in Calgary. “It’s a privilege to host it – the first time in Western Canada,” said Thivener. Thivener said the city has come a long way in providing alternative modes of transportation over the past few decades. Starting with the CTrain in the 80s, the extensive pathway system through the early part of the new millennium and now the extension of that system to the on-street cycling network. “Low and behold we have 90 kilometres that have been created or modified since the cycling strategy took hold,” he said. “If you look at where we’ve come from and where we’re headed, it definitely a good time to bring the Congress to Calgary.” The city’s fickle winter climate does pose challenges other cities don’t face – Chinooks melting snow, creating ice patches that can be tough for city crews to track down – but it also provides the benefit of being able to ride year round, often in milder temperatures. Thivener said when you compare it to a place like Finland, where they often ride on packed snow, avoiding frequent icy conditions, Calgary is a unique place to cycle in winter. Other cities deal with icy rains and freezing temperatures which make winter riding uncomfortable and wet at the best of times. When diving into Calgary’s winter cycling data, Thivener said the one thing that stands out to him is the fact that there are more cyclists using the on-street network in the winter now than there were cycling on Calgary streets during the summer prior to the cycle track. “It’s a really a credit to the infrastructure, but also the determination of riders to want these transportation options and want them to be available year-round.” He did note that winter trips are 30 per cent of those on a typical summer day but attributed that to the likelihood that the same riders were still out there, just limiting their trips by bundling outings together. “In the winter it’s a fair number of the same people. Only a certain number are fair weather cyclists out there,” he said. Still, Thivener acknowledges ongoing challenges with maintenance, especially in areas where they can’t respond immediately, or where there are gaps in snow clearing. One area in particular they’re addressing is in clearing bike boulevard connectors on some of the city’s dead-end streets where larger equipment can’t turn around. He said a recent boost to the operations budget for pathways and the cycling network should help them address some of the shortcomings – hopefully in time for next winter. “The river pathway system stays busy year round and the on-street stuff is no different. We’re trying to level the playing field by getting similar quality maintenance protocols on each so people can predict them,” he said. While some may question the need for cycling infrastructure given Calgary’s northern climate, Thivener said the city’s made major strides in providing more transportation options. We have to step back and see how far we’ve come. We can debate about how fast we’re moving, and that’s healthy debate, but in the end, we’ve made a lot of progress in the last couple decades around sustainable transportation.” The Winter Cycling Congress runs from Feb. 6 to 8 at the new Central Library.

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WFP Editorial: Tap the brakes on electric scooters (Feb4'19)
by Beth McKechnie 04 Feb '19

04 Feb '19

*Tap the brakes on electric scooters * MAYBE it’s a movement — a forward-surging trend that seeks to embrace a more carbon-friendly style of commuting. Or perhaps it’s just a fad — a kooky cyber-age craze that’s destined to disappear as quickly and mysteriously as it materialized. Whatever the case, the suggestion last week by Coun. Matt Allard that Winnipeg should ready itself to become part of the electric-scooter wave that has swept through many cities in the United States and Canada is sure to generate as much controversy as it does conversation. “We want to be ready for electric scooters because this is happening across North America,” the chairman of the city’s public works committee said Wednesday. “They’re coming, so let’s get it right.” While Mr. Allard is to be commended for imploring a proactive approach to what might become an issue of public concern, one surely hopes he is mistaken in suggesting that Winnipeg will have no say whatsoever in deciding whether thousands of pay-per-ride motorized scooters suddenly roll into its streets. A clutch of California-based companies, including Lime, Bird, Skip and Spin, last year put tens of thousands of electric scooters into service in major urban centres around the world. The concept is simple: riders download a smartphone app, input credit card information and then use the app to unlock a scooter for pay-as-you-ride use. The cost is typically around $1 to start, and then about 30 cents for each minute of ride time. In other cities in which they’ve been introduced — suddenly, and in great numbers — the scooters have proven quite popular. But within the first year, the electric-scooter concept has also experienced significant backlash from municipal leaders who view them as some combination of a nuisance and a menace. San Francisco issued cease-and-desist letters to the scooter companies, resulting in the two-wheelers being temporarily removed from that city’s streets (their reintroduction carried numerous conditions). One California community instructed its police department to enforce traffic laws to the letter, requiring scooter operators to wear helmets and carry valid driver’s licences. Other cities have banned them from certain areas. The mayor of Boston declared they would be immediately impounded if they showed up there. At issue for many civic lawmakers is the manner in which the scooter craze has been unleashed — seemingly overnight, and without any permission sought from the communities in question. Also of concern, of course, is the safety issue — the scooters are capable of speeds approaching 25 km/h, which means novice riders thinking they’re jumping aboard a children’s toy often find themselves careening toward a catastrophic injury. Electric scooters are motor vehicles, and should be regulated as such. And that means the scooter trend’s arrival in Winnipeg should not be treated as a foregone conclusion. City council and civic administrators — and, for that matter, the province, which oversees the Highway Traffic Act — should treat very seriously the suggestion that any company can turn up unannounced with a few truckloads of motorized scooters and declare they’re ready to ride on Winnipeg’s streets. Of course, hereabouts there are also the issues of five months of frozen streets, a woefully inadequate and often pothole-impeded cycling infrastructure and an alarming rate of theft of two-wheeled conveyances to be considered. In Winnipeg, that’s how we roll. In other words, while it’s always best to be ready, there’s a whole lot that needs to be made right before anyone declares, “They’re coming.”

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Wolseley to Downtown Walk Bike Project - Phase 1 Public Engagement Report
by Beth McKechnie 31 Jan '19

31 Jan '19

The City is currently undertaking the Wolseley to Downtown Corridor Project <https://winnipeg.ca/publicworks/pedestriansCycling/walkbikeprojects/wolsele…> to identify options to improve travel choices, accessibility and connectivity. When completed, the corridor will provide improved connections to the Omand’s Creek pathway, the protected bicycle lane on Assiniboine Avenue and Sherbrook Street, the bike lane on Maryland Street, and the planned neighbourhood greenway on Ruby Street <https://winnipeg.ca/publicworks/pedestriansCycling/walkbikeprojects/wolsele…> . Input from the community is an essential component of the study process. The first round of public engagement for the Wolseley to Downtown Walk Bike Project took place in November, 2018 involving a variety of in-person events, school travel planning and opportunities to participate online. The input received has been summarized in the Phase 1 Public Engagement Report and will be used to inform the development of concepts, alongside technical information. Phase 1 reports are available at the links provided below: - Phase 1 Public Engagement Report <https://winnipeg.ca/publicworks/pedestriansCycling/pdf/wolseleytodowntown/2…> - Phase 1 Public Engagement Summary Report <https://winnipeg.ca/publicworks/pedestriansCycling/pdf/wolseleytodowntown/P…> Phase 2 of public engagement is expected to begin in late winter 2019. This phase will provide members of the public and area stakeholders the opportunity to review and provide feedback on the preliminary design options and alternatives. Phase 3 of the public engagement is planned for late spring 2019 and will focus on sharing the final design recommendation and highlighting where public input influenced the design of the project. More information For more information visit winnipeg.ca/walkbikeprojects <https://winnipeg.ca/publicworks/pedestriansCycling/walkBikeProjects/default…> .

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WFP: City aims to ride e-scooter wave (Jan31'19)
by Beth McKechnie 31 Jan '19

31 Jan '19

*Councillor wants to amend bylaws so Winnipeg is prepared when craze hits* * City aims to ride e-scooter wave * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/allard-wants-city-to-prepare-gettin… THE latest craze to hit urban streets across North America is poised to roll into Winnipeg, and Coun. Matt Allard wants to be prepared. “We want to be ready for electric scooters because this is happening across North America,” Allard said. “They’re coming, so let’s get it right.” The scooter craze that swept up young people almost 20 years ago has gone high-tech. Several companies, including Lime, Bird, Skip and Spin, have put thousands of electric scooters on the streets in major cities around the world. Even ride-hailing pioneers Uber and Lyft have e-scooter operations. “There have been problems in other cities and I see this as an opportunity to put the rules in place before the industry gets here,” Allard told the Free Press. Allard, chairman of council’s public works committee, has authored a motion for Tuesday’s committee meeting. It directs city administration to prepare a report in 180 days about bylaw changes to facilitate dockless electric scooter and electric bike-sharing. While billions of dollars are being invested in e-scooter and e-bike ventures across the globe, the headlines are dominated by the nuisance the scooter industry is creating for many municipalities. They’ve become so common in many downtown neighbourhoods that they’re considered litter. People who dislike them have thrown them into garbage bins, rivers and lakes and collected them in piles and set them on fire. “We don’t want to see that happening in Winnipeg, so we need to get the rules in place,” Allard said, adding a representative from Lime has approached him. The introduction of dockless electric bikes and scooters into Winnipeg is inevitable, said Anders Swanson, CEO of the Winnipeg Trails Association, adding that developing policies to regulate them should be a simple process for city hall. “Any new technology comes with questions, but the era of electric bicycles is here already,” Swanson said. “Electric bicycles have become extremely popular around the world and I’ve seen electric scooters in Austin and hundreds of people using them. Anything that gets people out and active is a really good idea.” Dockless electric bikes and electric scooters are rented via a smartphone app, which allows the renter to locate the nearest bike or scooter, unlock the device, then lock it when the ride has ended. The first authorized use of dockless electric scooters in Canada began in October at the University of Waterloo. It’s a pilot program between Lime, the City of Waterloo and the university. The scooters are restricted to a 6½-kilometre set of trails linking the Waterloo campus with its nearby technology park. News reports indicated the pilot, which was suspended for the winter but will resume in spring and end in August, will be used by the city to determine if and where it can be expanded. Chris Schafer, Lime’s representative in Canada, said the company wants to work with municipalities to put rules in place that deal with the number of scooters and bikes that can be deployed, and where they can be parked. “This is a phenomenon that is happening globally and in Canada. It’s a good time for Winnipeg to take a look at it,” Schafer said. “This is another option for active transportation.” In October, Calgary gave Lime the go-ahead to operate a fleet of 375 rental electric bikes for a two-year trial period. A second operator will put its fleet into operation this spring. Schafer said administrations in Calgary, Edmonton, Victoria and Windsor, Ont., are studying how dockless electric scooters can be put in place. This month, Edmonton instructed its administration to have dockless electric bikes and electric scooters operating on city parkland by June. Council is asking the Alberta government to allow electric scooters on its active transportation network. Schafer said electric scooters are designed for short trips, as an alternative to a private car or taxi. Lime charges $1 to “unlock” the electric bikes and scooters and 30 cents per minute. “They’re designed to be the first-kilometre, last-kilometre mode of transportation, to get you in and around the city,” Schafer said. “You’re not taking a scooter from Winnipeg to Brandon.” The bikes are powered by swappable batteries, which are replaced as needed by independent contractors, known as “juicers,” or local Lime staff, Schafer said. The electric scooters are charged overnight, he said, collected either by local Lime teams or juicers, who are responsible for placing them back onto the street the following morning. Ideally, Schafer said, electric scooters would be allowed on all shared active transportation networks: roadway bike lanes and dedicated AT path networks. “Electric bikes and scooters tick all the sustainable boxes for cities. It’s not a car, it’s shared and people can access it when and where they need it,” Schafer said. Allard believes minimal change is required to accommodate electric bike-sharing since e-bikes are permitted on city streets. But scooters — whether manually driven or the electric variety — are not permitted on Manitoba roadways and will require changes to the Highway Traffic Act and city bylaws. Allard said he wants the administration to consider how the e-scooter and e-bike businesses can be regulated and where scooters and bikes can be parked while waiting for customers to use them. aldo.santin(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Improving UK cycling rates could save NHS £319m, says report
by Charles Feaver 28 Jan '19

28 Jan '19

About 34,000 incidences of type 2 diabetes, stroke, breast cancer and depression would be prevented in seven key cities between 2017 and 2040, if cycling increased at the same rate as in London since the millennium, according to analysis from Sustrans, the walking and cycling charity. <https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/cycling> Cycling levels in London have more than doubled since 2000 but have remained largely static across the UK, where public transport is worse and car culture reigns. Just 34% of men and 42% of women do 150 minutes of physical activity each week, which is the minimum amount recommended by Englands chief medical officer. Physical inactivity <https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng90/chapter/Context> costs the NHS about £1bn each year, rising to some £7.4bn each year when costs to wider society are included. The Sustrans report, Transforming Cities: The potential of everyday cycling, estimates that more than 1bn cycling trips would take place in 2040 in Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Greater Manchester and Newcastle if those cities followed Londons lead. .. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jan/28/improving-uk-cycling-rates-c ould-save-nhs-319m-says-report?utm_term=RWRpdG9yaWFsX0d1YXJkaWFuVG9kYXlVS19X ZWVrZGF5cy0xOTAxMjg%3D <https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jan/28/improving-uk-cycling-rates- could-save-nhs-319m-says-report?utm_term=RWRpdG9yaWFsX0d1YXJkaWFuVG9kYXlVS19 XZWVrZGF5cy0xOTAxMjg%3D&utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Guardia nTodayUK&CMP=GTUK_email> &utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=GuardianTodayUK&CMP=GTUK_email Charles Feaver

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UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends AT
by Charles Feaver 28 Jan '19

28 Jan '19

The National Institute for <https://www.theguardian.com/society/health> Health and Care Excellence (Nice) is recommending that cars come last when new roads are built or old ones upgraded. Not just cyclists but also pedestrians and those who use public transport should be prioritised, it says. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jan/04/uk-health-body-calls-for-cop enhagen-style-bike-friendly-streets Physical inactivity is responsible for one in six UK deaths, which is as many as caused by smoking. It is estimated to cost the UK £7.4bn annually, which includes £0.9bn in NHS costs. People can feel less safe when they walk or cycle compared with when they drive. Weve got to change this. So asking planners to prioritise pedestrians, cyclists and those who use public transport when roads are built or upgraded can ensure they are safe, attractive and designed to encourage people to get out from behind their wheel. .

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Fwd: Submit Your Safe Routes to School Conference Proposal by February 22
by Anders Swanson 24 Jan '19

24 Jan '19

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Safe Routes to School National Partnership < info(a)saferoutespartnership.org> Date: Thu, Jan 24, 2019 at 09:15 Subject: Submit Your Safe Routes to School Conference Proposal by February 22 To: <andersswanson(a)gmail.com> See you in Tampa! View this email in your browser <https://mailchi.mp/saferoutespartnership/free-webinar-using-pop-ups-to-prom…> <https://saferoutespartnership.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=88edfd25ae9…> Like us. <https://saferoutespartnership.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=88edfd25ae9…> <https://saferoutespartnership.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=88edfd25ae9…> @SafeRoutesNow <https://saferoutespartnership.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=88edfd25ae9…> <https://saferoutespartnership.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=88edfd25ae9…> Our Website <https://saferoutespartnership.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=88edfd25ae9…> *Reminder: Submit Your Proposal for the Safe Routes to School Conference By February 22* Showcase your community’s innovative and creative approaches to creating equitable, healthy, active communities and exchange ideas with leading Safe Routes to School and active transportation professionals at the Safe Routes to School Conference in Tampa this November. Program proposals are now being accepted through February 22, 2019! <https://saferoutespartnership.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=88edfd25ae9…> Proposals may be submitted for panels, presentations, hands-on workshops or trainings, round table discussions, and other formats. Proposals should align with one of these conference themes <https://saferoutespartnership.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=88edfd25ae9…> : - What’s Next for Safe Routes to School and Active Transportation? - Context Matters: Safe Routes to School in YOUR Community - Funding and Sustainability: Keep your Program Walking and Rolling - Safe Routes Everywhere Submit a Proposal <https://saferoutespartnership.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=88edfd25ae9…> *What makes a successful proposal?* Strong presentations are interactive and engaging, and showcase innovative and creative approaches to creating equitable, healthy, active communities. We strongly encourage proposals to describe how the session will incorporate equity, diversity, and inclusion in active transportation, and to feature a panel of speakers that includes people of color, people with disabilities, and people of different religions, nationalities, genders, and sexual orientations. *Visit our website for more information about the conference, program themes, and application.* <https://saferoutespartnership.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=88edfd25ae9…> Thank you to our sponsors and partners <https://saferoutespartnership.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=88edfd25ae9…> <https://saferoutespartnership.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=88edfd25ae9…> <https://saferoutespartnership.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=88edfd25ae9…> *Copyright © 2019 Safe Routes to School National Partnership, All rights reserved.* You're receiving this message because you have expressed interest in improving walking, bicycling, and Safe Routes to School. If you no longer wish to receive emails like these, please unsubscribe. *Our mailing address is:* Safe Routes to School National Partnership PO Box 44328 Fort Washington, MD 20749 unsubscribe from this list <https://saferoutespartnership.us3.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=88edfd25ae9…> update subscription preferences <https://saferoutespartnership.us3.list-manage.com/profile?u=88edfd25ae92304…>

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Bike 2019: Call for Abstracts
by Beth McKechnie 24 Jan '19

24 Jan '19

2019-01-23 02:12:53 PM - Centre for Active Living's monthly E-Newsletter - Unsubscribe <http://trk.cp20.com/form?x80uy--shw8-5kokoyq6&sl=r3&t=1&ac=cfcb>| Printable Version <http://secure.campaigner.com/csb/Public/show/cfcb-x80uy--j6gmn-5kokoyq4> <http://trk.cp20.com/click/cfcb-x80uy-i3hg9w-5kokoyq6/> <http://trk.cp20.com/click/cfcb-x80uy-i3hg9w-5kokoyq6/> <http://trk.cp20.com/click/cfcb-x80uy-i3hg9w-5kokoyq6/> *Call for Abstracts* Deadline: February 22, 2019 The Centre for Active Living is pleased to issue a Call for Abstracts for Bike 2019, a key conference for cross sector exchange between researchers, policy-makers, and practitioners around cycling as a mode of active transport. The suggested areas of focus are: - Policy - Environment - Health Benefits - Emerging Trends and Technologies (e.g. e-bikes, bike share) - Bike Culture - Year-round Cycling - Infrastructure - Awareness and Education - Wayfinding - Liability Visit www.centre4activeliving.ca/bike2019/abstracts/ <http://trk.cp20.com/click/cfcb-x80uy-i3hg9x-5kokoyq7/> for details about submissions. ------------------------------ *Connect with us!* <http://trk.cp20.com/click/cfcb-x80uy-i3hg9y-5kokoyq8/> <http://trk.cp20.com/click/cfcb-x80uy-i3hg9z-5kokoyq9/> <http://trk.cp20.com/click/cfcb-x80uy-i3hga0-5kokoyq5/> <http://trk.cp20.com/click/cfcb-x80uy-i3hga1-5kokoyq6/> <http://trk.cp20.com/click/cfcb-x80uy-i3hga2-5kokoyq7/> [image: Share this page] <http://trk.cp20.com/click/cfcb-x80uy-i3hga3-5kokoyq8/> Supported by: <http://trk.cp20.com/click/cfcb-x80uy-i3hga4-5kokoyq9/> <http://trk.cp20.com/click/cfcb-x80uy-i3hga5-5kokoyq0/>

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WFP: Winnipeg Foundation offer another wild card for city (Jan16'19)
by Beth McKechnie 16 Jan '19

16 Jan '19

*Winnipeg Foundation offer another wild card for city * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/winnipeg-foundation-antes-up-in-bid… THE Winnipeg Foundation has made city hall an offer it hopes the mayor and councillors cannot refuse. Fast approaching its centennial year celebrations, the foundation has offered the City of Winnipeg up to $5 million to push two intriguing plans up its priority list of capital projects. One is the construction of a bike-pedestrian bridge over the Assiniboine River near Osborne Street, in an effort to provide a safer, dedicated route for people not taking cars downtown to connect to the Active Transportation Network. The other is the rehabilitation of the former Carnegie Library on William Avenue, the former home of the city archives. The cost for the two projects is estimated at roughly $24 million, meaning the foundation’s contribution would translate to about 20 per cent of the total price tag. It’s a generous offer from an institution that has proven itself time and time again to be a force for good in the city, particularly the downtown. However, the Winnipeg Foundation’s proposal is, in some ways, a bit of a wild card for Mayor Brian Bowman and city council at a time when they have more than a few fiscal wild cards to deal with. Bowman said Tuesday the city will delay the release of its 2019 operating budget in the hopes of getting more information from the province on its grants. The unwillingness of the province to provide details is certainly causing council some sleepless nights. That said, a monetary contribution from a private charity to city infrastructure is hardly unprecedented. The foundation has contributed to more than a dozen high-profile public amenities, including the Forks Market, Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Old Market Square, Central Park, Paterson Global Foods Institute at Red River College’s Exchange District campus, Upper Fort Garry Provincial Park, and the Winnipeg Art Gallery’s Inuit Art Centre (now under construction on Memorial Boulevard). Most recently, the Winnipeg Foundation (a public charitable organization established in 1921) provided a $1-million contribution to build a scenic lookout as part of the $10-million promenade along Taché Avenue in St. Boniface. However, it is unusual for a charity to approach council with a request it reprioritize the five-year capital plan. The city is currently focused on basic, core infrastructure. Council is already spending more than $100 million annually on roads. Add to that enormous road-related projects such as the Waverley Street rail underpass and the Chief Peguis Trail extension, and you can see how the gross majority of the available money is focused on repairs and improvements to the hard surfaces motor vehicles travel every day. Meanwhile, efforts to get money for more progressive projects have been met with mixed results. The last council did, to its credit, carve out significant sums to support the still-evolving Active Transportation Network’s dedicated bike lanes and pedestrian paths. However, veteran councillors have, at times, shown a limited appetite for projects that stray from the narrow band of core infrastructure. That was certainly part of the motivation behind successful efforts to stop the redevelopment of the Portage Avenue and Main Street intersection so it could be reopened to pedestrians. A number of arguments drove the ‘no’ side of the 2018 plebiscite campaign. However, the core argument was tax money should be focused on roads, not wasted on what was described as a “pet project” of Bowman and the downtown professionals who spearheaded the ‘yes’ campaign. Where does that leave projects such as the pedestrian-bike bridge and the city archives? Rick Frost, chief executive officer of the Winnipeg Foundation, said he is well-aware there are no immediate plans to start work on either. The archives are languishing in temporary warehouses, while community consultation on the bridge design is still underway. However, Frost said there will be no political efforts made to convince council to get behind the plan to move up civic funding for both projects. Rather, the foundation will ask council to assess whether a contribution of $5 million is attractive enough to reshuffle the capital projects deck. If council balks, he said, the foundation is prepared to stand down its offer. “We’re not going to lobby the city. If (council) does not want to take us up on this offer, then we’ll move on and do other things.” Council does have several strong motivations to take the offer. Both of the projects identified by the foundation are, in fact, part of the long-term capital plans. And there just isn’t enough money in the capital budget to keep feeding the insatiable political desire to fix roads and provide modern public amenities. Just ask the folks in St. Boniface, who have watched the Notre Dame Arena shut down from a lack of funding to replace its ice plant. The city has worked with the foundation before, and the results have been spectacular. The list of assets and amenities that involved public and philanthropic money is testament enough to the value this relationship has for taxpayers. Let’s hope councillors see the value in the foundation’s gesture, and put aside petty concerns about non-road-related infrastructure projects. In local government, as is the case in life, looking gift horses in the mouth is rarely a winning strategy. dan.lett(a)freepress.mb.ca

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WFP: Winnipeg Foundation in giving mood - cycling and ped bridge (Jan16'19)
by Beth McKechnie 16 Jan '19

16 Jan '19

*Winnipeg Foundation in giving mood as 100th birthday nears * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/winnipeg-foundation-offers-to-pitch… HERITAGE and cycling advocates are celebrating the Winnipeg Foundation’s most recent birthday invitation. Two civic capital projects — renovation of the former William Avenue library and construction of a cycling and pedestrian bridge across the Assiniboine River — could be one step closer thanks to an offer of financial support from the country’s oldest community fund. The Winnipeg Foundation announced Tuesday it is offering the City of Winnipeg up to $5 million to leapfrog the two projects forward in the civic budget process, so they would be completed in time for the foundation’s 100th birthday in 2021. However, there are strings attached: the funds are being offered only in support of the two proposals. The former William Avenue library opened its doors in 1905, thanks to a $75,000 grant from American industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. It last served as the location for the city’s archival collection until a rainstorm damaged the roof during renovations in 2013. It has been empty since. Last year, the National Trust for Canada placed the building in its 2018 top-10 endangered places list. The proposed pedestrian and cycling bridge would link Osborne Village to the Broadway-Assiniboine neighbourhood and the downtown. It would be constructed between McFadyen Park and Fort Rouge Park, roughly midway between Osborne and Donald streets. Possible options would be to build it as either a girder, suspension or cable-stayed bridge. “God bless the Winnipeg Foundation,” was the reaction Cindy Tugwell, executive director of Heritage Winnipeg, said she had when she heard the organization wanted to assist in the proposed renovation of the former William Avenue library. “They want to save heritage when nobody else does... The Carnegie library was well underway to being renovated when the rainstorm came in the summer (of 2013). If not for the rainstorm, the archives would have never left the building.” As for the bike and pedestrian bridge potentially being pushed to the front of the line, Mark Cohoe of Bike Winnipeg said: “That’s amazing.” “This really takes this project from the realm of ‘If we’re lucky,’ to something more doable and realistic,” he said. “It is exciting news.” Cohoe said the bridge has long been dreamed of by local bike advocates. “It helps create access across the river and into Osborne Village,” he said. “It also creates a city landmark... It would make a huge difference. It would encourage a lot more people to get out there.” Rick Frost, chief executive officer of the Winnipeg Foundation, said in a statement the foundation’s centennial projects proposal acknowledges the past and gives a nod to the future. “For all citizens of Winnipeg, it is critical we preserve, embrace and learn from our past if we are to build a better future,” he said. “The second half of our proposed centennial project looks to the future of our city — bringing people together and spanning lines that often divide. “A new pedestrian and cycling bridge... will provide a direct, safe and convenient connection for walking and biking that plugs into the city’s growing Active Transportation Network.” Frost asked Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman and city councillors to look at its proposal favourably during the upcoming 2019 civic budget process. The library, the city’s first and its main branch, was closed in 1977, when the Centennial Library (now known as the Millennium Library) opened. The William Avenue library reopened a year later, and was home to the city’s archives until 2013. While city administration has asked the building be renovated, and include a temperature and humidity controlled vault, the plan has since been rejected by civic politicians. A spokesman for Bowman said the mayor is aware of the Winnipeg Foundation’s proposal. “He has recommended to them that it be raised, discussed, and considered as part of the 2019 budget preparation process, which is a trajectory the Winnipeg Foundation has indicated they’ll follow at city hall,” the spokesman said. “The mayor believes any city-building proposal and partnership merits consideration, and looks forward to reviewing this proposal and any others as part of the open and transparent 2019 budget discussions.” kevin.rollason(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Webinar Reminder | Bus Stops with Bikeways: Designing Transit Stops With On-street Bicycle Facilities | Wed, Jan. 16th, 2-3pm
by Heather Mitchell 15 Jan '19

15 Jan '19

*** Friendly reminder about tomorrow afternoon's webinar *** Please join Green Action Centre and Bike Winnipeg tomorrow, January 16th for a group viewing of the monthly APBP webinar in the EcoCentre boardroom followed by discussion for those who wish to stay. The topic is *Bus Stops with Bikeways: Designing Transit Stops with On-street Bicycle Facilities*. Best, Heather -- *Heather Mitchell * Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> | 3rd floor, 303 Portage Avenue (204) 925-3777 ext 107 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 <https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/green-action-centre/>. <http://canadahelps.org/> <https://www.gomanitoba.ca/Public/Home.aspx>

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Register for CommuteCon 2019 - Announcing Speakers
by Beth McKechnie 15 Jan '19

15 Jan '19

> From: Jeffrey Chernick <jeff(a)RIDEAMIGOS.COM> > Date: January 15, 2019 at 3:52:05 AM CST > > CommuteCon is a transportation conference, but it's online! That means a 4-hour Webinar with 16+ speakers on different topics throughout the country. Each speaker has 10 minutes to present and our MC facilitates Q&A from the attendees who submit questions through the system. Over 500 transportation professionals logged on last year. > > Amazing lineup of speakers below... register for free at CommuteCon.com > > > Sign up now for Navigating the Modern Mobility Ecosystem. Email not displaying correctly? > View it in your browser. > > Register Today for CommuteCon 2019! > Join us live for the world's biggest online TDM conference. > February 13, 2019 > > Noon - 4 PM Eastern > 9:00 AM - 1 PM Pacific > > > > > CommuteCon is a FREE ONLINE CONFERENCE that brings together people focused on finding smart, sustainable solutions to big mobility challenges. > > Join hundreds of your fellow commuter management leaders from around the world for an amazing lineup of presentations from industry thought leaders. > > Announcing a Keynote Presentation > Ryan Rzepecki, Founder of JUMP > > Ryan is a pioneer of the bike share and scooter share industry. Join us for a look back at how far we've come and where we might be going next. > > Learn more at commutecon.com > > We're So Excited About This Lineup! > Don't miss your chance to hear from these industry leaders. And we still have a few surprises... > Paul Hendricks > > Environmental Responsibility Manager at Patagonia > > Phil Kobernick > > Acting Logistics Services Manager at Alameda County > > Jana Sochor > > Senior Researcher at RISE Viktoria > > Josh Fried > > Head of Waze Carpool at Waze > > Shawn Chavira > > Associate Director of Transportation at University of Southern California > > Tamar Fuhrer > > Associate Director, Transportation & Commuter Services at Kite Pharma > > Evan Costagliola > > Director of Transportation Partnerships at Lime > > Adam Cohen > > Research Associate, Transportation and Sustainability Research Center at University of California Berkeley > > Gary Hsueh > Director of Mobility Programs at Prospect Silicon Valley > > > David Sorrell > > Manager, Alternative Transportation Programs at University of California Berkeley > > Jason Pavluchuk > > Founder at Pavluchuk & Associates > > Corey Tucker > > Director of Customer Success at RideAmigos > > Jeffrey Chernick > > Founder at RideAmigos > > > Learn more and sign up today! > > > > > > > > Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Forward to Friend > Copyright © 2019, All rights reserved. > > Our mailing address is: > > RideAmigos > 230 Pacific St. > Suite #202 > Santa Monica, CA 90405 > Want to change how you receive these emails? > Update subscription preferences > > > To unsubscribe from the TRANSP-TDM list, click the following link: > http://listserv.usf.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=TRANSP-TDM&A=1

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WFP Analysis: Winter cycling isn’t extreme (Jan14'19)
by Beth McKechnie 14 Jan '19

14 Jan '19

*Winter cycling isn’t extreme * https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/winter-cycling-isnt-extr… “THE majority of people who are biking in the winter, they’re the extreme. They’re the extreme cyclists and I don’t see that changing.” Coun. Jeff Browaty made these comments last month at city hall, while questioning the value of clearing snow from Winnipeg bike lanes in the winter. His statement made headlines, but the sentiment that Winnipeg is too cold to support winter cycling is not seen as an extreme viewpoint. We don’t label cross-country skiers “extreme.” It is not extreme to let our children play in the schoolyard at lunchtime. A game of shinny on an outdoor rink isn’t extreme, and the only thing extreme about skating in the middle of Winnipeg’s frozen rivers is the lineup for skate rentals at The Forks. So, why is riding a bike in the winter seen as extreme? The difference, of course, is that cross-country skiers don’t share their tracks with 2,000-kilogram machines travelling 60 km/h. Winter cycling is seen as extreme not because of temperature, but because riders must compete with cars for space on slippery, ice-covered roads. What if they didn’t have to? What if cyclists had their own lanes, protected from cars and kept clear of snow? Would they still be extreme, or would they be as normal as someone skating on the river trail? The experience of other cities invariably shows that with those conditions in place, winter cyclists become quite ordinary. Studies, surveys and real world examples consistently demonstrate that the greatest deterrent to winter cycling is safety and road conditions, not temperature. Winter cities that have built well-connected networks of protected bike lanes and made it a priority to keep them clear of snow have all realized the same results — a dramatic increase in winter cycling. An extreme example of this can be found in Oulu, a city in northern Finland, 150 km from the Arctic Circle. With a very similar winter climate to Winnipeg’s, Oulu has an extensive cycling network and pervasive bike culture that have resulted in a percentage of cyclists in the winter months that is almost six times higher than what Winnipeg experiences in the peak of summer. Closer to home, Montreal has been celebrated as one of the top cycling cities in North America, with more than 100 km of on-street protected bike lanes and 800 total km of cycling paths. Over the past nine years, the amount of cycling infrastructure in the city has doubled and the number of Montrealers who cycle as their main mode of transportation has grown by 50 per cent. The city has begun to focus on winter cycling and now clears snow from 60 per cent of its pathways. Investments have been made in new technology such as rotating brush plows that are less damaging to protective curbs and more effective at removing ice. These efforts have paid off, more than doubling the number of winter cyclists in just a few years. In a city that experiences twice the amount of Winnipeg’s snowfall, with temperatures only about five degrees warmer in the coldest months, Montreal maintains 15 to 20 per cent of its summer cycling population through the winter, averaging more than 15,000 cyclists per day. Two-thirds of those continue to ride at temperatures below -20 C. Winter cyclists in Montreal were once dubbed les hurluberlus de l’hiver (the weirdos of winter), but today they are neither weird nor extreme. In Minneapolis, a top cycling city in the United States and its coldest major city, similar conclusions have been reached. In summer, almost three times more people commute by bike in Minneapolis than in Winnipeg. The city’s cycling system is an innovative network of on-street bike lanes connecting to a series of “bicycle freeways” along former rail lines, linking the suburbs with downtown. Most of these routes maintain more than 30 per cent of their ridership through the winter months, largely because the city has dedicated bike-lane clearing crews that are independent of the street cleaning system. Their mandate is to clear all bike paths within 24 hours of a major snowfall. The city’s new Pedestrian and Bicycle Winter Maintenance Study recommends going further, by identifying priority cycling networks that will be cleared immediately, similar to the way Priority 1 streets are handled in Winnipeg, allowing cyclists to anticipate safe routes connecting major destinations after a snowfall. In Calgary, a protected downtown cycling network was created in 2015, along with a strategy to promote winter cycling. The results were almost instant, with four times more people cycling downtown in the winter, only one year after the complete network was created. Today, about 30 per cent of summer bike commuters continue through the winter months. More than half of those ride in temperatures below -20 C. Some of Winnipeg’s neighbourhoods have high summer cycling participation. Wolseley is in the top 10 in Canada, with 15 per cent of all commuters using a bike. Other central neighbourhoods see more than six per cent cycling participation, a higher proportion than both Minneapolis and Montreal. As we continue to expand and fill in the gaps in our cycling network, a tipping point will come, and clearing lanes of snow will pay off with much higher winter-cycling ridership as it has in every other city. This could translate into thousands of winter cyclists in these neighbourhoods. Winnipeg is a proud winter city in many ways, but winter cycling is still viewed as extreme because we have built a city that makes it so. Our perceptions come from what Winnipeg has been, not what it can be. As our city moves forward, policies such as bike lane snow-clearing should reflect our aspirations, allowing the opportunity for our future to be different from our past. *Brent Bellamy is a senior design architect for Number Ten Architectural Group.*

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