- AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

Manitoba News Release: Budget 2013: Province Invests in Neighbourhood, Community Infrastructure
by Beth McKechnie 17 May '13

17 May '13

[Note that trails are eligible under the new funding for neighbourhood community infrastructure. -cheers, Beth] May 15, 2013 BUDGET 2013: PROVINCE INVESTS IN NEIGHBOURHOOD, COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE - - - New Program will Improve Winnipeg's Recreational Facilities: Selinger Winnipeg families will have improved recreational facilities and community centres under a new, three-year program designed to expand and improve existing infrastructure, Premier Greg Selinger announced today. "We know at the heart of every neighbourhood, families congregate at community centres, playgrounds and cultural centres. These venues are important to the fabric of the community, as they bring local families together to laugh, share, socialize and take part in physical activity," Selinger said. "This is why our government is investing in these important projects because they matter to Winnipeg families and all Manitobans." Budget 2013 and the Manitoba Building and Renewal Plan commit $7.5 million over the next three years for the Winnipeg Community Infrastructure Program, the premier said. This new initiative will accept submissions for projects that will provide long-term recreational and wellness benefits to communities, the premier said, adding that non-profit community organizations and city-owned facilities can apply for assistance with projects that are in need of repairs, upgrades, energy-saving initiatives and other improvements. "Renewing, upgrading and improving our community infrastructure helps create jobs and grows our economy," said Local Government Minister Ron Lemieux. "It is a win-win for families and our province." Grants will be made available for projects such as libraries, swimming pools and splash pads, parks, trails, community centres, sports facilities including arenas and gymnasiums, as well as other community infrastructure facilities. Program and application intake will begin on May 22. For more information and to download a Winnipeg Community Infrastructure Program application, go to www.gov.mb.ca/ia/. - 30 -

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Draft changes to Winnipeg Zoning By-laws (more exciting than you might think)
by Beth McKechnie 16 May '13

16 May '13

In case you didn't make it out to yesterday's Open House at The Forks, attached are details on draft changes to Winnipeg Zoning By-laws. Why would AT Network subscribers be interested? Check out the following: - reductions in parking requirements for developments (though "maximums" in car parking could be even better than reduced minimums) - carsharing (like Peg City Car Co-op) and more bike parking at developments to offset car parking requirements - new standards for bike parking including improved lighting and access - improvements in pedestrian connections to new developments - permit residential at ground floor (with some exceptions) and above the ground floor in all Downtown areas - means more people living downtown and able to walk or bike to destinations - limits to surface parking Find more details in the attached pdf. cheers, Beth

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How to Increase Bicycling for Daily Travel: May 2013 Active Living Research Brief
by Beth McKechnie 16 May '13

16 May '13

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Terry Zdan <tjzdan50(a)gmail.com> Date: Thu, 16 May 2013 09:34:31 -0500 Subject: How to Increase Bicycling for Daily Travel: May 2013 Active Living Research Brief FYI ...this report was prepared by Dr Jennifer Dill "...Conclusion Research shows that infrastructure, programs, and policies that support bicycling can significantly increase levels of bicycling for daily travel. However, it is difficult to generalize about the effectiveness of specific strategies or particular kinds of bicycle infrastructure. Many studies only measure the impact of incremental expansions and do not capture the full impact of a completed bicycle system. Indeed, the most compelling evidence comes from communities that have implemented a fully integrated package of strategies to increase bicycling. The evidence reviewed in this brief suggests that a comprehensive approach produces a much greater impact on bicycling than individual measures that are not coordinated. POLICY IMPLICATIONS To maximize bicycling opportunities, cities must build a network of safe and comfortable routes using a mix of bike lanes, bike boulevards, cycle tracks, and bike paths that connect residents to potential destinations.26 Infrastructure that maximizes the separation between bicyclists and motor vehicles, without making bicyclists travel too far out of their way, may be more effective for encouraging new bicyclists than on-street pavement markings. Investments in infrastructure should be supported by promotional programs, such as biketo-work days and bicycle training, Safe Routes to School programs, and other programs that facilitate bicycling, including bike sharing systems and those that accommodate bicycles on buses and trains. Policies that make driving more expensive (e.g. higher gasoline taxes and parking fees) and less convenient (e.g. reduced parking supply and reduced speeds) may be necessary to maximize the effectiveness of infrastructure investments in encouraging bicycling. To encourage bicycling as a mode of transportation, communities also must implement land use and development policies to help ensure that destinations for daily needs, such as school, work, and shopping, are within convenient bicycling distance from home...." The Active Living Research program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation just published this free on-line report: http://www.activelivingresearch.org/files/ALR_Brief_DailyBikeTravel_May2013… -- Terry Zdan 126 Duncan Norrie Drive Wpg MB R3P 2J9 CANADA tjzdan50(a)gmail.com <tjzdan(a)gmasil.com>

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WFP: More to bike safety than helmets, study finds (May15'13)
by Beth McKechnie 15 May '13

15 May '13

More to bike safety than helmets, study finds Bicycle lanes, safe-passing laws among factors reducing injuries By: Bob Weber http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/more-to-bike-safety-than-helmets-st… Bicycle helmets may prevent head injuries, but a newly published study has found there's no evidence mandatory helmet laws do the same thing. "It is a bit counterintuitive that we don't see an effect of helmet laws on head injuries," said University of Toronto researcher Jessica Dennis, whose work was published Tuesday in the journal of the British Medical Association. "But there's so many other things going on at the same time a helmet law is passed that it's really hard to say that helmet law was the reason head injuries decrease." Dennis, herself a daily cyclist with a 30-minute commute to downtown Toronto, compiled information countrywide on more than 66,000 hospital admissions for cycling-related head injuries between 1994 and 2008. She compared how those injury rates changed over time between provinces that had mandatory helmet laws and those that didn't. She found admission rates for provinces with legislation dropped 54 per cent for young people between 1994 and 2003, the period during which the laws were being brought in. But Dennis also found rates dropping in provinces without legislation -- although, at 33 per cent, not quite so steeply. She also found helmet laws produced little change in adult admission rates, which were low and stable throughout the study period. Dennis found in every province with legislation, the decline in hospital admissions for head-related cycling injuries actually started years before a law was introduced. Nor did the rate of that decline change with legislation. She couldn't find any statistical link between helmet laws and reduced hospital admissions. "We were unable to detect an independent effect of legislation on the rate of hospital admissions," the report concludes. The study, the most extensive to date and the first to compare hospital admissions between provinces with and without helmet laws, suggests there's a lot more to making cyclists safe than forcing them to wear headgear. "It's a complex social intervention that's happening," Dennis said. Cities have installed cycling infrastructure such as bike lanes. Some communities have passed safe-passing laws that require motorists to move over as they drive by bikes. Many cyclists have adopted helmets on their own without being required to by law. Education campaigns for riders and drivers have been created. And there are just more people on bikes. "There's something to be said for safety in numbers." Dennis's previous research has debunked theories that helmet laws reduce ridership and has shown kids are more likely to wear helmets in provinces requiring both young and adult riders to do so. Now her latest paper suggests helmet laws don't have the safety impact they're cracked up to have. "Helmet laws are attractive because they're cheap and they're easy to implement. But as our study shows, they shouldn't be the only solution because it's not enough. "Helmet laws should be part of a comprehensive strategy to improve cycling safety." -- The Canadian Press *Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 15, 2013 C11*

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Bicycle Trade Association of Canada Awards of Distinction 2013
by Beth McKechnie 10 May '13

10 May '13

BTAC Awards of Distinction 2013 <http://btac.org/en/membership/awards-of-distinction>MUNICIPAL/REGIONAL GOVERNMENT AWARD This award recognizes achievements by municipal/regional governments in making their communities more bicycle friendly and promoting and encouraging cycling. Municipal or regional governments, play a vital role in encouraging cycling through planning, design, traffic management, programs and provision of infrastructure. *Eligibility:* The nominee must be a municipal or regional Government body. Nominations may include collaborative projects undertaken with schools, health, community organizations and other relevant bodies. Demonstrated innovation in improving conditions for bicycle riders, promoting and encouraging cycling is necessary. Please include references to the following points when making your nomination for this award: 1. What is the demonstrated commitment to cycling? 2. What are the key achievements? 3. Is the council playing a leadership role in the promotion of cycling generally in the community? 4. What partnerships has the municipality formed to promote cycling? 5. Does the municipality work with cycling organizations to determine priorities? 6. How long has the municipality supported cycling and what are their aims to continue that into the future? CONTRIBUTION BY A POLITICIAN AWARD This award recognizes a special achievement by a politician who has, by their own example or by the support for investments and programs, advanced cycling municipally, provincially or federally. Politicians at all levels of government make vital contributions to the industry by acting as supporters for cycling initiatives and projects during policy deliberations or in their ridings. *Eligibility:* This award is for current serving members of federal, provincial or municipal governments who have shown initiative and commitment by leading and/or supporting projects or policies that have made a real difference to cycling. Please include references to the following points when making your nomination for the Contribution by a Politician Award: 1. What role have they played in achieving better outcomes for cycling? 2. How have they gained community, staff and fellow political support for cycling? 3. Have they changed their own means of transport? 4. What is their key outstanding achievement? INDEPENDENT BICYCLE RETAILER OF THE YEAR AWARD This award recognizes bicycle retailers that have shown commitment and innovation in encouraging cycling. Bicycle retailers play an important role in encouraging cycling by providing customer service and encouragement to all those interested in cycling at all levels. *Eligibility:* Independent Bicycle retailers in Canada who have made a considerable contribution towards encouraging, promoting cycling in the community and being consumer responsive, as well as by supporting activities in their local area in 2012. Please include references to the following points when making your nomination for the Bicycle Retailer Award: 1. What are the key activities the retailer is doing to promote cycling? 2. Has the retailer formed any partnerships with cycling organizations and businesses to promote cycling? 3. What are the key outstanding achievements? 4. How long has the retailer been established and how many staff are employed in the business? AWARD FOR INITIATIVE BY LOCAL CYCLING ASSOCIATION While Canada leads in North America in reducing both traffic- and trail-related injuries on bicycles, safety and well-being is something we all hold a stake in. This award recognizes local cycling associations who have helped to promote road cycling and/or bike-safety initiatives and overall programs to promote cycling in their communities. *Eligibility:* This award is for a local cycling association or group that has been in existence for more than 12 months and that has consistently demonstrated extraordinary commitment, dedication, and service to the advancement of cycling locally. 1. Overview of why this club/association stands above the rest in promoting cycling? 2. Describe any and all events the association organized or participated in to advance cycling? 3. What role did the club or association plan in advancing cycling locally? 4. What partnerships have they made to accomplish their goals? HOW TO NOMINATE Nominations close on July 1st. Nominations must be in writing and all eligibility points in the category must be addressed in the submission. Nominations should be sent to admin(a)btac.org Nominators should include name, address, phone number and name of organization representing if applicable. Please ensure you write BTAC AWRDS in the subject line. *“It is my hope and indeed that of the BTAC board that the industry will get behind these awards and submit nominations to recognize those in all four categories*,” Senior said.* We have much to celebrate as an industry and we hope these awards will help shine a very big light on those who are both nominated and are chosen as the final winners.*” *The Bicycle Trade Association of Canada is a not for profit industry association. *

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Just a little something because 'It's Friday'
by Stacy Matwick 10 May '13

10 May '13

[cid:image003.jpg@01CE4D5A.431491E0] The streets are getting cleaned, it's Give Away weekend, and this morning I counted 20 cyclists on Portage. Yay! Cheers Stacy Matwick Information Centre International Institute for Sustainable Development 161 Portage Ave. E., 6th floor Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 0Y4 Voice: (204)958-7755 Fax: (204)958-7710 Email: smatwick(a)iisd.ca<mailto:smatwick@iisd.ca> IISD Research Library web page: http://www.iisd.org/ic SD-Cite: IISD Research Library database: http://sd-cite.iisd.org<http://sd-cite.iisd.org/> GENERata web-magazine: http://www.iisd.org/generata/ Twitter: @iisd_library Google+<https://plus.google.com/b/115807178630169130619/115807178630169130619/posts> Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/pages/IISD-Research-Library/213770388697688?sk=wall> "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read" Groucho Marx (Picture posted on Earth Day Italia Facebook https://www.facebook.com/#!/EarthDayIta )

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Bike Winnipeg Safe Passing campaign is live
by feaver＠mymts.net 10 May '13

10 May '13

Bike Winnipeg is advocating for education campaigns to tell drivers how to share the road, but rather than waiting for others to get it right, we decided to collaborate with The WRENCH to crowd-source funding for some bus ads to get a safe passing message out in time for this summer's biking season. Please contribute and pass the word to your Winnipeg cycling friends and colleagues. _____ Contribute NOW to help educate drivers about safe passing. If. . 40 cyclists donate $100 each, and . 60 cyclists donate $50 each, and . 50 cyclists donate $20 each, 30 buses will drive around the city for a month displaying our message on their backs. Onbus copy.jpg <http://thewrench.ca/?page_id=951> Let's get this show on the road Vote for the message you prefer. One vote per $20 contributed. Donations are tax deductible. 12 34 If we can't raise enough money for the bus ads by the end of May, we will use the funds to educate drivers by the best affordable means. A project by: <http://biketothefuture.org/> BikeWinnipeg.ca & <http://thewrench.ca/> TheWrench.ca Please forward this message to all your cycling friends & colleagues in Winnipeg

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Used helmets
by Dave Elmore 09 May '13

09 May '13

Do you have an old helmet of two hanging around the garage or in the basement. The Downtown Biz is looking for old helmets for use in a Ciclovia art project. If you want to recycle that old helmet rather than trashing it, just drop it off at the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, 426 Portage Ave between 8:30am-4:30pm Monday to Friday. Please drop off any helmets before August 16. Thanks Dave o _ ( \ _ (X)\ /(X)

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New York Study
by Dave Elmore 09 May '13

09 May '13

http://www.americabikes.org/nyc_study_finds_protected_bicycle_lanes_boost_lo cal_business NYC Study Finds Protected Bicycle Lanes Boost Local Business Posted by Mary Lauran Hall on November 01, 2012 . Flag <http://www.americabikes.org/forms/flags/page.js?page_id=211> The road to recovery is in sight, and it has a bike lane. The typical city street is a busy place. People riding bikes, walking, driving cars, and operating buses all have somewhere to to go and want to get there safely - and quickly. But while we normally think of streets as pipelines for people and goods, public streets are about more than just moving from point A to point B. They're also corridors for public life. Streets are places where locals discover new hole-in-the-wall stores and restaurants, where window shoppers duck into shops to peruse, and where children convince their parents to stop - just for ONE second - to buy a cup of hot chocolate. In other words, streets can also grow local economies. A new study from the New York Department of Transportation shows that streets that safely accommodate bicycle and pedestrian travel are especially good at boosting small businesses, even in a recession. NYC DOT found that protected bikeways had a significant positive impact on local business strength. After the construction of a protected bicycle lane on 9th Avenue, local businesses saw a 49% increase in retail sales. In comparison, local businesses throughout Manhattan only saw a 3% increase in retail sales. NYCDOT_-_9th_Street.png In many ways, these data come as no surprise. We know that when towns invest in bicycle infrastructure, people will ride more <http://www.good.is/posts/if-you-build-bike-lanes-they-will-ride/> - the number of people traveling by bicycle increases when there is infrastructure to make traveling by bike safe and easy. We also know that people who travel along a street by bicycle have fewer barriers to stopping at a local business than people who travel along the same street by car. It's very easy to hop off a bicycle and find a place to secure the bike; not so with finding parking for an automobile. In fact, a recent study suggest that bicycle riders tend to spend more at local businesses over the course of a month <http://bikeportland.org/2012/07/06/study-shows-biking-customers-spend-more- 74357> . This new study makes it clear: investing in bicycle improvements boosts small businesses. And what town or city doesn't want to boost activity at local businesses? Better walking infrastructure encourages retail strength, too. In another example from NYC DOT's study, retails sales increased a whopping 179% after the city converted an underused parking area in Brooklyn into a pedestrian plaza. Retail sales at businesses in the rest of the neighborhood only increased by 18%. NYC_DOT_-_Pearl_St.png When a street does a good job of accommodating bicyclists and pedestrians, it's much more likely to attract walking and bicycling locals, window shoppers, and doting parents. Those people are ready to contribute to the local economy - if a street makes it easy and attractive to do so. View NYC DOT's full study below or download the PDF here <https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/americabikes/pages/211/attachments/or iginal/1351785187/2012-10-measuring-the-street.pdf?1351785187> .

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AT Webinar: Bike Signals, Wed, May 15th, 2-3 pm, EcoCentre
by Beth McKechnie 09 May '13

09 May '13

Green Action Centre and Bike to the Future invite you to join us for a local viewing of the following APBP webinar at the EcoCentre (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave). This will be followed by group discussion of local applications.* *Detailed description provided below. *Bike Signals Wed, May 15th | 2:00-3:00 p.m.* RSVPs are appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! cheers, Beth (204) 925-3772 * * * * * ** BIKE SIGNALS [image: image]Bike signals are a relatively new tool that can be used to separate cycling movements safely. This webinar explores the latest developments related to traffic signals that specifically accommodate cyclists and includes examples of how these devices are used in Portland and Tucson. This 75-minute webinar includes an extended Q&A period. Presenters will review the current state of the practice, including existing engineering guidance and warrants in the MUTCD, AASHTO Green Book, NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide and other manuals; physical design and operations (detection, signage and timing); and preliminary results of an informal survey of compliance and cyclist behavior. Examples from Portland include a scramble phase signal and demonstrate how bike signals can encourage cycling. Examples from Tucson focus on stand-alone signals, the Toucan and the BikeHawk. Toucan is used to help cyclists transition from a neighborhood or residential street network to larger arterial roads; the BikeHawk is a pedestrian hybrid beacon that has been modified to accommodate cyclists as well as pedestrians. Presenters: - Ann Chanecka, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, City of Tucson - Peter Koonce, PE, Manager, Portland Bureau of Transportation - Signals, Streetlighting and ITS Division - Dr. Christopher Monsere, PE, Associate Professor Civil and Environmental Engineering, Portland State University - Dr. Richard Nassi, PE, Traffic Engineering Consultant, Pima Association of Governments

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Canada failing cyclists and pedestrians, UN report finds
by Anders Swanson 08 May '13

08 May '13

source: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/03/14/canada_failing_cyclists_and_pede… Canada failing cyclists and pedestrians, UN report finds Canada says the right things but needs to take action to protect vulnerable road users, according to a new WHO report. Text size:IncreaseDecreaseReset Share via EmailPrint Report an Error Save to Mystar [image: A United Nations' reports says Canada is failing behind when it comes to developing policy to protect vulnerable road users.] VINCE TALOTTA / TORONTO STAR A United Nations' reports says Canada is failing behind when it comes to developing policy to protect vulnerable road users. *By:* Kristen E. Courtney Special to the Star, Published on Thu Mar 14 2013 EXPLORE THIS STORY 1PHOTO80COMMENTS Save to Mystar - - - **4<http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http://www.thestar.com/news/gta…> - Canada is falling to the back of the pack when it comes to policies aimed at protecting vulnerable road users, according to a new report released by the World Health Organization. While 77 per cent of United Nations countries carry out safety audits to ensure the safety of road infrastructure projects for cyclists and pedestrians, Canada does not, and is contributing to a concerning trend of countries promoting alternative forms of transportation without ensuring their safety, according to the Global Status Report on Road Safety<http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/road_safety_status/2013/en/in…> . While studies have consistently shown what types of walking and cycling infrastructure are needed to improve road safety, including safe routes and crossings for pedestrians, slower traffic speeds, and dedicated cycling lanes, policies are not in place to ensure that these are incorporated into road infrastructure projects, according to the report. Eleanor McMahon, founder of Ontario’s Share the Road Cycling Coalition<http://www.sharetheroad.ca/>, says she’s not surprised that Canada is falling behind, as all too often the debate over road infrastructure in Canada becomes less about safety and more about playing politics.<http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2012/04/23/cyclists_steer_through_pol…> This is a familiar refrain to Toronto drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, where “war on the car”<http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2009/05/24/road_wars_can_cyclists_and_motor…> rhetoric seems to rear its head every time a new road construction or reconstruction project reignites the battle for a slice of the street. “We shouldn’t be having this conversation about cycling infrastructure as if cyclists were a special interest group. They are not a special interest group; they are everyday people getting from point A to point B . . . and all of these deaths are preventable,” McMahon says. The good news is that overall road deaths around the world are down slightly, to 1.24 million per year from 1.3 million per year since the previous Global Status Report on Road Safety in 2009<http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/road_safety_status/2009/en/>. Canada mirrors this trend, with overall annual road deaths falling to 2,227 from 2,889. However, 27 per cent of global road traffic deaths are among pedestrians and cyclists, which has Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization, concerned: “To date, these road users have been neglected in transport and planning policy. The world must now increase its focus on making walking and cycling safer, and protecting these road users from high-speed traffic.” One of the three key recommendations emerging from the report is that concerted effort is needed to make road infrastructure safer for pedestrians and cyclists, by taking the needs of these road users into account earlier, when road safety, policy, transport planning and land use decisions are made. The report places a particular emphasis on the conduct of formal audits of new and existing road infrastructure projects — by independent assessors not involved in the planning or construction — to minimize crash risk and the potential consequences for all road users. Such audits can produce important safety gains for all, according to the report. McMahon says she’s not aware of any consistent policies that exist at the national, provincial or municipal level in Canada that require such safety audits or assessments of road construction projects. “As someone who lost their life partner to a cycling accident, safety is absolutely paramount to me,” she says, “but we need a carrot and stick approach. Dedicated infrastructure funding and political will are also essential.” McMahon’s husband, OPP Sergeant Greg Stobbart, was killed in 2006 while riding his bike on Tremaine Rd. in Milton. While Ontario has a number of policies in place that are supposed to encourage active transportation and ensure the safety of cyclists and pedestrians, the political will necessary to implement these policies effectively is lacking, says McMahon. “We’re starting to see some progress . . . you would think that having these things in policies would help, but we sure have a long way to go.” The Global Status Report 2013 will serve as the baseline for Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020, declared by the UN General Assembly to stem the rise in road accidents as one of the leading causes of death worldwide. ** *Kristen Courtney is an environmental lawyer and a Fellow in Global Journalism at the Munk School for Global Affairs.*

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Complete Communities/Zoning Alignment Project
by DeweyPovoledo, Susanne 08 May '13

08 May '13

Hi all, I'm bringing this to your attention as some of the proposed amendments relate to the interests of pedestrians and cyclists. Please find the link to more detail below. Susanne Dewey Povoledo Planning Property and Development Department From: Ross, Andrew On Behalf Of PPD-Speakup Sent: Wednesday, May 08, 2013 8:43 AM To: DeweyPovoledo, Susanne Subject: Good afternoon OurWinnipeg stakeholder, The City of Winnipeg is making changes to its downtown and city-wide zoning to better reflect the vision of OurWinnipeg and the Complete Communities Direction Strategy and we want to hear from you! This project involves text amendments, or small adjustments, to zoning regulations, rather than a comprehensive review. There will be no zoning map changes. We invite you to provide your thoughts and feedback on the proposed changes in any of the following ways: 1. By attending the following open house, where there will be detailed information, in-person discussion, surveys, and of course, refreshments! Complete Communities /Zoning Alignment Open House Wednesday, May 15, 2013 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (drop in anytime) Forks Market Atrium -just off Centre Court 2. By visiting www.speakupwinnipeg.com/zoningalignment<http://www.speakupwinnipeg.com/zoningalignment>, where you will see information on the zoning changes that are being considered and will have the opportunity to leave your comments. 3. By emailing us anytime at SpeakUp(a)winnipeg.ca<mailto:SpeakUp@winnipeg.ca> to provide your feedback to us directly. 4. By checking back to www.speakupwinnipeg.com<http://www.speakupwinnipeg.com> after the open house to share your thoughts and to fill out an online survey. 5. By tuning in to SpeakUpWinnipeg's Twitter for reminders and updates. Hope to see you and hear from you! The SpeakUpWinnipeg team

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Local Event: Community Bike Bazaar May 25th
by Anders Swanson 06 May '13

06 May '13

[Hi folks, please see poster, call for volunteers and general event info below. For those of you with little ones, note the opportunity to swap bikes for children who may have outgrown the ones they have! - AS ] [image: Inline images 1] * Volunteer Opportunities* * * * - Refurbish a bike for sale* Every Sunday from 2-4:30 volunteers will be building bikes for the Bazaar at the WRENCH (1057 Logan Ave.). Contact the Bike Cage, Bike Dump and Bike Lab to see how you can get involved with Bazaar building at their shops. * -Poster/ Handbill for the Bazaar* Posters and handbills (in electronic and hard copy) will be available from the WRENCH May 8th We would love volunteers to post them around the Daniel Mac, Spence, West Broadway, Central Park and Downtown neighbourhoods. * - Solicit donations from local business. * If you know of a local restaurant/grocery store that would make in-kind (i.e. free) donations of ready to eat food please contact Pat at programs(a)thewrench.ca Business will receive a charitable tax receipt for donation if invoice provided. Letters asking for in-kind donations of food will be available from the WRENCH May 8th *- Volunteer at the Community Bike Bazaar * Volunteers needed for: Set-up and tear-down Bike sales area Kids Bike Swap corral Community Tune-up stations Rodeo/activities Food services General event support *Contact Robin at **volunteer(a)thewrench.ca* <volunteer(a)thewrench.ca>* to sign up.* -- *Pat Krawec*, Executive Director The Winnipeg Repair Education and Cycling Hub 1057 Logan Ave. Winnipeg, MB R3E 3N8 www.thewrench.ca <http://www.TheWrench.ca/> # 296-3389

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Where 'Share the Road' Is Taken Literally
by Dave Elmore 03 May '13

03 May '13

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/28/automobiles/where-share-the-road-is-taken- literally.html?smid=tw-share <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/28/automobiles/where-share-the-road-is-taken -literally.html?smid=tw-share&_r=2&> &_r=2& Where 'Share the Road' Is Taken Literally "Woonerf" is what the Dutch call a special kind of street or group of streets that functions as shared public space - for pedestrians, cyclists, children and, in some cases, for slow-moving, cautiously driven cars as well. Roughly translated as "living streets," the woonerf (pronounced VONE-erf) functions without traffic lights, stop signs, lane dividers or even sidewalks. Indeed, the whole point is to encourage human interaction; those who use the space are forced to be aware of others around them, make eye contact and engage in person-to-person interactions. The Dutch term was coined in the 1960s when traditional urban architecture was being rethought, and today the woonerf sign is common, with slight variations, across Europe: a blue rectangle with stick-figure symbols of a ball-playing child and parent, a car, a house. They can even be found in pedestrian shopping zones like the bustling Alexanderplatz in Berlin. In the Netherlands, more than 6,000 woonerf zones burnish these badges of communal spirit where motorized traffic doesn't rule the road. Moreover, after a period in which they fell out of fashion, the woonerfs are making a strong comeback, and not only in the Netherlands. Woonerfs and their derivatives - sometimes called shared spaces, complete streets or home zones - are piquing the interest of urban planners in several countries. The cities and towns that have adopted the model in one form or another span the globe: the artsy Saint-Henri neighborhood in Montreal; narrow, tourist-clogged Commercial Street in Provincetown, Mass.; the Bulgarian spa town of Hisarya; and districts or suburbs of Cologne and Freiburg, Germany, and Auckland and Christchurch, New Zealand. In England and Wales there are more than 70 registered home zones, the British variant of the woonerf; from hundreds of applicants, Manchester, Plymouth, Leeds and Nottingham were chosen to receive government money to establish the zones. In the United States, more than 400 cities either currently have, or soon will develop, "complete streets," which are much more broadly defined than woonerfs, even allowing for the likes of sidewalks and the authoritarian stop sign. Yet, according to the Chicago-based National Complete Streets Coalition, the spirit of the woonerf inspired even the American movement. The key to the woonerf is the primacy of nonmotorized activities. Although cars are allowed in most - but not all - of the zones, they are generally restricted to "walking speed" (in Britain, the limit is higher, at 10 or even 20 m.p.h.) with the onus of responsibility for safety entirely on the driver. Legally, the automobile driver is generally liable for an accident. But there tend to be fewer traffic mishaps when cars, people and bicycles mingle in close proximity; studies have found that accidents dropped by 40 percent or more in Dutch areas converted to woonerfs. "You either love them or you hate them, depending on whether you're a car driver or a parent with kids," said Dirk van den Heuvel, an urban architecture expert in the Dutch city of Delft. "But they're popular places to live here - low density and lots of greenery - and that's why the model is making a comeback," he said.

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Get out for a Jane's Walk this weekend!
by Beth McKechnie 02 May '13

02 May '13

*Check out one of the 18 Jane's Walks happening in Winnipeg this Saturday and Sunday!* Find a complete list of the walks with starting times and meeting locations at: http://janeswalk.net/index.php/walks/canada/winnipeg/ Here's a few samples: - Back by popular demand: blogger and journalist Rob Galston takes walkers on a tour of his beloved neighbourhood in Village Urbanism: Explorations in North Point Douglas<http://janeswalk.net/index.php/walks/canada/winnipeg/village-urbanism-explo…> - Get to know the area around the new Neechi Commons with the building’s architect in The Edge Condition: Main Street between the Disraeli and Neechi Commons<http://janeswalk.net/index.php/walks/canada/winnipeg/edge-condition-main-st…> by Wins Bridgman - A favourite guide every year, Jino Distasio explores Riverview: Beer, Bears and Boxing and Roller Coaster Ride through Time<http://janeswalk.net/index.php/walks/canada/winnipeg/riverview-beer-bears-b…> - Researcher Abigail Auld explores how the Hudson’s Bay company left an indelible mark on our city in WPGxHBC - A Company’s influence on the City<http://janeswalk.net/index.php/walks/canada/winnipeg/wpgxhbc-companys-influ…> - Sandy Gessler examines a forgotten area that played a major role in the 1919 strike in Victoria Park: Invisible Memories and Lost Meaning<http://janeswalk.net/index.php/walks/canada/winnipeg/victoria-park-invisibl…> - In Broadway Modern<http://janeswalk.net/index.php/walks/canada/winnipeg/broadway-modern/>, Susan Algie from the Winnipeg Architecture Foundation celebrates and discusses the abundance of modernist architecture on Broadway Avenue - Find out about The Communities, the Campus & the Re-Generation<http://janeswalk.net/index.php/walks/canada/winnipeg/communities-campus-re-…> with University of Manitoba Campus Planner Michelle Richard and Winnipeg Trails Association/community resident Janice Lukes - Mark Cohoe of Bike Winnipeg makes us ask "What if there was an alternative to riding your bike on McPhillips?" <http://janeswalk.net/index.php/walks/canada/winnipeg/what-if-there-was-alte…> Be sure to also visit our Facebook Event<https://www.facebook.com/events/528987633810342/>page and share with your networks!

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Active Transportation / Investors Group Field Stadium / Jane's Walk
by Janice Lukes 30 Apr '13

30 Apr '13

UPDATE - Event Day Active Transportation (AT) Plans - Investors Group Field Stadium We have a very unique AT situation developing in south Winnipeg that is building on the number of people who are walking / cycling in the city. I sit on the Investors Group Field Event Day Management Plan Advisory Committee (EDAC) as the Active Transportation representative. The Stadium Event Day Management Plan Advisory Committee (EDAC) is an ongoing advisory group that will exist for the life of the Investors Group Field. The mandate for the creation and ongoing existence of EDAC came from a Motion adopted by the City of Winnipeg's Riel Community Committee on July 11, 2011. The Advisory Committee is managed by the Bison/Blue Bomber Stadium Group and the City of Winnipeg. Representatives on the committee are encouraged to consult with the larger community and bring feedback to EDAC. Some of the best active transportation pathway connections are in south Winnipeg - with many pathways leading to the University of Manitoba. The arrival of the Investors Group Field Stadium will enable increased use of this connected infrastructure - and hopefully reduce vehicle traffic in the community! Attached is an update I prepared last week for folks in the communities of Fort Richmond / University Heights interested in Active Transportation related to the Investors Group Field Stadium. Today at 10:00 the Bombers will be doing a media release on the 'official' Transportation Plan and details. INVITATION TO FREE Community Walking Tour (for kids and adults) The Communities, the Campus & the Re-Generation - Part of the Winnipeg Jane's Walk Events Fort Richmond / University Heights / University of Manitoba Campus DATE: Saturday May 4rd & Sunday May 5th TIME: 10:30 am (~ 2 hr walk, stop, walk, stop talk) LOCATION: Meet at Ecole St. Avila Parking Lot - 633 Patricia Ave (behind Fort Richmond Community Centre) The Communities, the Campus & the Re-Generation * Next to downtown, the University of Manitoba is the second most commuted to destination in the City of Winnipeg. Take a walk on the wild side through the residential communities of Fort Richmond and University Heights which sandwich the U of M Campus. * Experience the walkability in these communities which surround the University of Manitoba. Walk through Smart Park; a 'Community of Innovators', peruse the sparkling Investors Group Field, new home to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and stroll on the trails of what was once the prestigious Southwood Golf Course. The communities and the campus are undergoing a transformation - a re-generation. Michelle and Janice will provide an in-depth overview of what is currently underway in both the communities and on Campus. Tour Hosts: * Michelle Richard, University of Manitoba Campus Planner & Janice Lukes, Winnipeg Trails Association & community resident Jane's Walk celebrates the ideas and legacy of Jane Jacobs - a celebrated urbanist and activist whose writings championed a fresh, community-based approach to building walkable and vibrant cities. Free walking tours are held on the first weekend of May each year are led by locals who want to create a space for residents to talk about what matters to them in the places they live and work. The first Jane's Walk was organized in Toronto seven years ago and it has since spread to cities across Canada, the United States, and worldwide. To see more Jane's Walks in Winnipeg communities see: <http://www.JanesWalk.net> www.JanesWalk.net Thanks Janice Lukes

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Peg City Car Co-op - new rates to make it easier to bike, walk, bus and sometimes drive!
by Shoni Litinsky 29 Apr '13

29 Apr '13

I know many of you are members of the car co-op or have interest in joining. With our new rate structure, now may be a good time to check it out! Today we have just released a new rate structure that will make it easier for members, and for people that want to try the carshare. Checkout the link below to learn about our 2 rate plans, and our new casual driver category for people that just want to try it out. Approaching our second anniversary we have 120 members sharing four cars. By 2014, we hope to double our fleet and our membership! http://pegcitycarcoop.ca/2013/04/fresh-new-rates-new-options-to-start-carsh… Thanks! -- *Shoni Litinsky* | Active and Safe Routes to School Green Action Centre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Avenue* | *(204) 925-3773 Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/memberships/> Find us here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/>

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City of Winnipeg 2013 AT Action Plan Released
by Mark Cohoe 29 Apr '13

29 Apr '13

The City of Winnipeg has released it's 2013 AT Action Plan, which will go before the public works committee on April 30th. You can view the AT Action Plan here <http://winnipeg.ca/CLKDMIS/ViewDoc.asp?DocId=12663&SectionId=&InitUrl=>. http://winnipeg.ca/CLKDMIS/ViewDoc.asp?DocId=12663&SectionId=&InitUrl= Mark Cohoe

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Pembina Highway
by Anders Swanson 27 Apr '13

27 Apr '13

[can't please 'em all...this from a cyclist capable/willing to so 30km/hr regularly...-AS] http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/bicycle-corridors-clumsy-… ________________ Bicycle corridors clumsy Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 27, 2013 A17 No one was more enthused than I when the bicycle corridors along Pembina Highway were announced. After years of white-knuckle, adrenaline-fuelled bicycle commutes between my home in Wildwood Park and the University of Manitoba, I was overjoyed to learn the city was finally responding to pleas for greater bike safety. Yes, it was only a short one-kilometre stretch, a drop in the bucket for those travelling from the downtown area; and yes, it still left the perilous Bishop Grandin overpass unprotected, which I can never cross without recalling the moment I was struck by a car there six years ago. But it was encouraging to know alternative transportation along this important thoroughfare is an investment priority for the city. Once the corridors were complete, however, my joy was diminished and indeed almost crushed altogether, for I discovered the bike lanes had been shunted onto sidewalks around the bus stops. I can only assume the rationale for this unusual design is to prevent forcing passengers to load the bus by crossing a bike lane. Cyclists and buses, however, have been sharing the curb lane for as long as they have coexisted, and must continue to do so everywhere else in the city (and in every other city I have cycled). When I am cycling down Pembina at 30 km/h, the last thing I want to do is divert my course abruptly up a ramp, onto the sidewalk for several metres and then back down again. It's dangerous to me and it's dangerous to pedestrians. I find it hard to believe anyone who has cycled along Pembina Highway during rush hour would suggest such a clumsy design. There are several obvious problems. First, these ramps have become effective collectors of snow, ice, gravel and mud and will certainly become deep puddles once the melt begins in earnest. Second, most people waiting for the bus will stand precisely on the path on which we are now supposed to cycle. I know this from personal experience because I rode the bus for years before becoming a bicycle commuter. But I also know this because my recent attempts to take this detour often require calling out to warn the bus passengers I am coming, then slamming on my brakes and swerving while people attempt to scramble out of my way. It's not really their fault, because this is a natural place to stand and there is no signage to indicate this is a bike lane. Furthermore, if one is placidly waiting for a bus, why should it be necessary to worry about high-speed, pedal-powered vehicles careening through the waiting area? Finally, the curb-lane shoulders have been eliminated from the bus-stop areas, meaning when I choose to remain on the road to avoid crashing through the bus crowd, I must once again jockey for position with cars and trucks, except now there is no buffer zone and I am directly in their lane. In the short weeks the paths have been rideable, I have endured abuse from startled pedestrians and honks from indignant motorists. Suddenly, there's no place for the cyclist... again! The paradoxical and unfortunate result of this bizarre situation is driving down this stretch of Pembina is now more dangerous than ever. So I return to my earlier statement of appreciation that the city is taking commuter cycling seriously. Winnipeg is far behind other cities in Canada and around the world in this regard, and this is a welcome first step toward encouraging greater fitness and reducing automotive emissions. Unfortunately, this initial attempt is awkward at best and dangerous at worst and will do little to enhance safety for cyclists, motorists and pedestrians along this stretch of Pembina. I dearly hope future improvements are attended by more careful forethought so I and my children can cycle without fear to our chosen destinations around the city. Scott Kroeker is a professor of chemistry at the University of Manitoba.

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WFP Editorial: A safer cycling option (Apr.26'13)
by Beth McKechnie 26 Apr '13

26 Apr '13

A safer cycling option http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/a-safer-cycling-option-… It is entirely understandable that a cyclist in Winnipeg would choose to ride three feet -- about a metre -- from the curb, dodging refuse, rubble, potholes and crevices that tend to amass at the edges of streets. But the Highway Traffic Act requires cyclists to ride as close to the curb as "practicable," which inevitably puts them in conflict with motorists, many of whom regard bicycles as an inconvenience at best. A better, safer option is needed. The Selinger government is considering changing the highway act to give more room to cyclists and greater separation between them and vehicles. Cycling advocates want Manitoba to adopt Quebec's law that gives bike riders a full lane, requiring passing motorists to move into the left lane unless there's sufficient room in the same lane. At present, Manitoba law says only that motorists must pass on the left of cyclists "at a safe distance." Quebec's law puts greater responsibility on drivers. Motorists who bemoan cyclists impeding their commute will not welcome this. And a careful study of traffic flow on busy urban roads will have to be modelled to prepare for such a change. Vigorous public education would be needed for the cultural shift it would signal for the drivers who now exercise right of "weight." But a pursuit of policy that encourages cycling is long past due. Bicycle commuting is healthy, cheap and easy on the environment, and delivers substantial societal benefits. Such a policy shift won't happen any time soon relying upon infrastructure projects alone: Winnipeg's record $20-million investment in 2010 produced relatively few dedicated bike lanes and significant grievance and political backlash. It made meagre progress in encouraging people to leave the car at home. The faster way to promote cycling is to write strong, clear rules that entitle cyclists and motorists to their right of way while enforcing their responsibilities on the road. Motorists will have to slow down when cyclists are ahead of them -- perhaps leave home a little earlier -- and proceed with more caution when passing. That, however, promotes mutual respect between cyclists and motorists, which can only make for safer streets. *Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 26, 2013 A10*

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Video - Pembina@Chevrier buffered bike lane to U of M/Stadium via Southwood
by Anders Swanson 25 Apr '13

25 Apr '13

For all you Taylor swift fans, Bomber fans, summer PHD students or a combination of all three (perhaps?)... *VIDEO: *http://vimeo.com/64786226 Pembina @ Chevrier to Investors Group Stadium first-person perspective...2X speed. Feel free to share. This was taken yesterday. In it, you can see how the buffered bike lane functions and can see how the innovative bus stop details work. It also shows an interim access point to the old golf course off D'Arcy. Note that this represents a "before" or "interim" video, and you will see that some of the finer details on Pembina - like detectable paving stones and proper maintenance - or smooth direct access through the old golf course - are still in the works. (The construction of the bike lane was nearing completion in November last year before a big snowfall....The U of M is still finalizing its interim access work plan through the recently opened Southwood Lands.) I am sharing this video because there is now a viable separated alternative to Pembina HWY for those wishing to cycle to the U of M. Folks can try it now. For me, it is already a HUGE improvement to the jockeying, buzzing and squishing that used to go on in this section. Soon I suspect that it will be even better. Wayfinding for this route is still be a bit tricky, so carefully note the linkage using the Ten Thousand Villages entrance and the left turn technique on Plaza, for example. It may take a trip or two for the uninitiated to know where exactly to go, so hopefully this video will help. Note that from Pembina @ Chevrier north (not shown in video), there is a winding, but pleasant alternative to Pembina in the adjacent neigbourhood for those coming from points to the Northeast. It goes from Riverside near Jubilee and the BRT pathway to Chevrier/Pembina. See last year's Winnipeg Cycling Map<http://www.winnipeg.ca/publicworks/MajorProjects/ActiveTransportation/maps_…>for more info on that section for now. I will take another video when some of the finishing touches have been made for comparison's sake. Regards, Anders BTW...this may perhaps be misleadingly labeled as a "before" video. Really it should probably say "in progress". If anyone has an actual "before" video of this section, I would LOVE to see it. I am kicking myself for not doing so.

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Walk to School Manitoba! Our new video is ready!
by Shoni Litinsky 25 Apr '13

25 Apr '13

Hi Everyone, Thought I would share our new Active and Safe Routes to School video with all of you. If you can post it on your websites, put it in your newsletters, share it with your co-workers I would be so grateful! This was probably my funnest day at work so far - covered in sparkles, glue, and feathers from head to toe! See it here: https://vimeo.com/56783631 Big thanks to the budding movie stars from the Walk on Wednesday's club at Woodlawn Elementary School in Steinbach, MB. These kids created all of their own artwork and spent the day walking outside with us. Also thank you to Assiniboine Credit Union for supporting the production of this video and to Chris Paetkau and Trevor Gill for creating it. -- *Shoni Litinsky* | Active and Safe Routes to School Green Action Centre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Avenue* | *(204) 925-3773 Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/memberships/> Find us here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/>

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WFP: Buffer zone for cyclists mulled - Province may require motorists to move over (Apr.25'13)
by Beth McKechnie 25 Apr '13

25 Apr '13

Buffer zone for cyclists mulled Province may require motorists to move over By: Bruce Owen http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/buffer-zone-for-cyclists-mulled-2046… The province is looking at amending its traffic laws to specify how much space motorists must give cyclists when passing them on the street. Bike Winnipeg says the Highway Traffic Act is too vague and drivers should give cyclists at least one metre or pass them using the next lane over. It's a move Nova Scotia, Quebec and almost two dozen U.S. states have adopted to make urban cycling safer and so drivers know how much room to give a cyclist. Ontario and B.C. are also being lobbied to amend their highway traffic laws in this regard. The changes are coming as the cycling lobby becomes more organized and more people take up cycling to get to work and for exercise. Local Government Minister Ron Lemieux, who's responsible for the active-transportation file, said the province is studying a safe-cycling amendment to the Highway Traffic Act. "When you have a buffer (space), aside from the respect issue, it's so common-sense," Lemieux said. "When you have a buffer, or a protective barrier between traffic and cyclists, that tells people it's the law to respect each other, and here's the boundary. I think for most Manitobans, they would say this makes a lot of sense." Lemieux said the change is just one of several ideas being considered to improve cycling safety and infrastructure in the city and province. The government also plans to conduct a media campaign in June on cycling safety. The buffer idea was raised by advocacy group Bike Winnipeg, formerly Bike to the Future. Dave Elmore, Bike Winnipeg's director of safety and education, said the Highway Traffic Act now leaves it up to each driver to decide what's a safe distance to pass a cyclist. "The lack of any true definition makes this not only unenforceable, but also leaves it up to the judgment of drivers," Elmore said. "Unfortunately, some drivers interpret this as meaning that as long as they can squeeze by without hitting the cyclists, that it is safe." Bike Winnipeg points to Quebec's traffic laws, which say no driver may pass a bicycle within the same traffic lane unless there is sufficient space to do it safely. "As cyclists, we would like to see this practice using the adjacent lane encouraged for all passing situations," Elmore said. Cyclists are lobbying Manitoba Public Insurance to teach new drivers to give cyclists more room when passing. Co-chairman Tom McMahon said the group has appeared before the Public Utilities Board to ask it to get MPI to revise its driver's handbook. McMahon said a diagram in the handbook (on page 74) essentially says it's OK to pass cyclists in the same lane. "That little diagram is physically impossible, but it's in the driver's handbook," McMahon said. "If they were to draw it to scale, this can't happen. The car would be running over you if you're the cyclist. It pretends to show that it's possible to squeeze by a cyclist in an ordinary lane." Elmore said the Highway Traffic Act says cyclists must ride "as close as practicable" to the edge of the road, not an easy task at the best of times, given road and traffic conditions. "Once again, there is no specific distance, and so it is up to the cyclists as to how far they ride from the edge. The Winnipeg Police Service has long contended that they make the decision as to what is 'practicable' even though it is the cyclists balancing on two wheels that has to avoid hazards, potholes and debris on the edge of the road." Elmore said he teaches cyclists to ride a minimum of one metre from the edge to avoid hazards along the curb or edge while adding to their visibility to motorists. "It also provides them with a metre safety buffer to their right should they have to manoeuvre around obstacles or avoid a motorist that passes them too closely," he said. "By riding a metre from the curb, motorists most often will provide the cyclist with a reasonable passing distance, since travel lanes in our city are rarely wide enough to safely accommodate both a cyclist and a passing motor vehicle." Bike Winnipeg is currently working on a bus advertising campaign it hopes will tell drivers the importance of both passing space and a cyclist's position on the road. bruce.owen(a)freepress.mb.ca *The current law* MANITOBA'S Highway Traffic Act says: 114(1) a driver overtaking another vehicle or bicycle proceeding in the same direction (a) shall pass to the left thereof at a safe distance; and (b) shall not return to the right side of the highway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle or bicycle. *Bike safety quiz*: http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=bike-helmet-safety-quiz *Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 25, 2013 A3*

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Jane's Walk 2013 - May 4 & 5
by Beth McKechnie 24 Apr '13

24 Apr '13

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE *7th Annual Jane's Walk celebrates diversity and vibrancy of neighbourhoods across Winnipeg * WINNIPEG Tuesday April 23, 2012 – On Saturday May 4th and Sunday May 5th the seventh annual Jane's Walk is strolling into town. This year, Winnipeggers can choose from over a dozen guided walks across the city presented in an innovative and uniquely neighbourly fashion. Jane's Walk celebrates the ideas and legacy of Jane Jacobs — a celebrated urbanist and activist whose writings championed a fresh, community-based approach to building walkable and vibrant cities. Free walking tours are held on the first weekend of May each year are led by locals who want to create a space for residents to talk about what matters to them in the places they live and work. The first Jane's Walk was organized in Toronto seven years ago and it has since spread to cities across Canada, the United States, and worldwide. Participating in Jane's Walk is simple: local community members with a passion for urban issues and local history volunteer to organize a walking tour in their neighbourhood exploring an interesting aspect of the lived urban experience. Jane's Walks are about community conversations. The public is encouraged to contribute to the urban conversation by asking questions and sharing their passion and knowledge with other Jane's Walk participants. Walks are either an hour or an hour and a half long and take place throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday. Some walks confirmed for this year include: - Back by popular demand: blogger and journalist Rob Galston takes walkers on a tour of his beloved neighbourhood in Village Urbanism: Explorations in North Point Douglas<http://janeswalk.net/index.php/walks/canada/winnipeg/village-urbanism-explo…> - Get to know the area around the new Neechi Commons with the building’s architect in The Edge Condition: Main Street between the Disraeli and Neechi Commons<http://janeswalk.net/index.php/walks/canada/winnipeg/edge-condition-main-st…> by Wins Bridgman - A favourite guide every year, Jino Distasio explores Riverview: Beer, Bears and Boxing and Roller Coaster Ride through Time<http://janeswalk.net/index.php/walks/canada/winnipeg/riverview-beer-bears-b…> - Researcher Abigail Auld explores how the Hudson’s Bay company left an indelible mark on our city in WPGxHBC - A Company’s influence on the City<http://janeswalk.net/index.php/walks/canada/winnipeg/wpgxhbc-companys-influ…> - Sandy Gessler examines a forgotten area that played a major role in the 1919 strike in Victoria Park: Invisible Memories and Lost Meaning<http://janeswalk.net/index.php/walks/canada/winnipeg/victoria-park-invisibl…> - In Broadway Modern<http://janeswalk.net/index.php/walks/canada/winnipeg/broadway-modern/>, Susan Algie from the Winnipeg Architecture Foundation celebrates and discusses the abundance of modernist architecture on Broadway Avenue - Find out about The Communities, the Campus & the Re-Generation<http://janeswalk.net/index.php/walks/canada/winnipeg/communities-campus-re-…> with University of Manitoba Campus Planner Michelle Richard and Winnipeg Trails Association/community resident Janice Lukes - David Connors makes us ask What if there was an alternative to riding your bike on McPhillips? [forthcoming] A complete list of walks with starting times and meeting locations is published on www.janeswalk.net. Be sure to also visit our Facebook Event<https://www.facebook.com/events/528987633810342/>page and share with your network. -30- For more information: Matt Carreau Jane's Walk Winnipeg City Organizer mgcarreau(a)gmail.com (204) 430-5686

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Active travelers are competitive customers, research report indicates
by Beth McKechnie 23 Apr '13

23 Apr '13

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Terry Zdan <tjzdan50(a)gmail.com> Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2013 08:47:21 -0500 Subject: Active travelers are competitive customers, research report indicates * Active travelers are competitive customers, research report indicates<http://otrec.us/news/entry/active_travelers_are_competitive_customers_study…> * Efforts to promote active transportation often come up against concerns, from business owners, that any shift away from automobile use will mean fewer customers or less revenue. In fact, new OTREC research indicates that, for the most part, how much people spend has little to do with what transportation mode they use. An OTREC final report, "Consumer Behavior and Travel Mode Choices," does highlight some key differences between transportation modes. People arriving by bus, bike or on foot average more trips per month to convenience stores, supermarkets, drinking establishments and restaurants than do people arriving by car. Read more...<http://otrec.us/news/entry/active_travelers_are_competitive_customers_study…> *http://otrec.us/project/411* <http://otrec.us/project/411> -- Terry Zdan 126 Duncan Norrie Drive Wpg MB R3P 2J9 CANADA tjzdan50(a)gmail.com <tjzdan(a)gmasil.com>

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WFP: Cyclists, cars, and cops don't mix (Apr.20'13)
by Beth McKechnie 20 Apr '13

20 Apr '13

Cyclists, cars, and cops don't mix The cautionary tale of Cyril and Moe By: Gordon Sinclair Jr. <gordon.sinclair(a)freepress.mb.ca> http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/cyclists-cars-and-cops-dont-mix-2038… I suppose you could call this a cautionary tale. But it's more than that. You might also call it an ugly example of the guerilla road war between motorists and cyclists that usually heats up with the spring weather. But it's more than that, too. For a year now, I've been tracking the case of the pair I'll call Cyril the Cyclist and Moe the Motorist. The story begins on the chilly morning of April 18, 2012, when both were on their way to work, headed north with the early-morning airport traffic on Century Street. That's when the altercation happened. According to a police report I would wait 11 months to finally see, a cruiser was dispatched at 7:46 a.m. that Wednesday. Two days later, in an email to the Free Press, the cyclist, then 23, would describe what happened from his perspective. Cyril wrote that he had strayed about a metre away from the east curb because of puddles and potholes, and that several vehicles passed him without issue until the driver of a minivan, upset at the cyclist who was blocking the lane, "laid on his horn and flew past me, leaving inches between my left shoulder and his mirror." It was Moe the Motorist, a man who appeared to be at least two decades older than Cyril. "I made eye contact with the driver and gave him a dirty look," Cyril wrote. "He had already begun to hastily roll his window down and started to shout at me." The usual back-and-forth name-calling ensued, followed by Moe reaching out his open window and punching Cyril in the left eye. And then speeding off. Cyril managed to get the licenceplate number and called 911. When the two officers responded, Cyril told them he wanted to press charges for assault. He said police responded by saying something along the lines of "we may just give him a traffic ticket for imprudent driving." Later, after interviewing the driver, police called Cyril at work. The victim and the accused were about to change roles. Moe the Motorist didn't deny striking the cyclist in face, but he claimed Cyril initiated it all by starting the screaming match and then spitting on him. Cyril would deny he spit on Moe. That left police to try to defuse the incident by telling Cyril the assaults were "very minor in nature" and no one should be charged. Again Cyril insisted the driver shouldn't get away with hitting him. Police cautioned him that he may be charged with assault, too, but Cyril wouldn't back down. Later that afternoon, after consulting their sergeant, police arrested Cyril at work and charged him with assault and a highway traffic offence for straying too far from the curb. Two days later, Cyril would write this: "The whole situation left me feeling intimidated, confused, embarrassed and quite fearful of both this driver and the authorities in place to protect a person in my situation." I don't know how Moe the Motorist felt, but I can guess. Lucky. Why did police charge Cyril for allegedly spitting on Moe, when Moe admitted to punching Cyril? Basically, they chose to believe Moe's version and believe he acted in self-defence. More specifically, they offered four reasons in their report: Cyril confronted Moe; Cyril initiated a verbal argument with Moe; Cyril spat on Moe, causing Moe to defend himself; Moe immediately drove away, removing himself from the situation. Jay Prober, the lawyer Cyril hired to defend him, argues punching someone in those alleged circumstances is excessive, and a law professor I spoke with agrees. At the very least, in Prober's opinion, if Cyril was charged, Moe also should have been. Then let a judge decide who's telling the truth. But a case like this was never destined to end in court. The Crown diverted it to mediation, where it was resolved late last summer despite the absence of Moe the Motorist, who passed on the opportunity to apologize to Cyril for punching him, the way Moe apologized to police at the time. This week, on the anniversary of the incident that made Cyril fearful to ride his bike this winter, he is out an estimated $2,000 in lawyer's fees and lost wages. And he's still traumatized. Cyril the Cyclist has learned to better control his feelings about the drivers who show no understanding or respect for bike riders. But sadly, he says he has also learned something else from this cautionary tale. That his biggest mistake was calling police. *gordon.sinclair(a)freepress.mb.ca* *Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 20, 2013 B1*

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Local Bike Helmet video
by Beth McKechnie 20 Apr '13

20 Apr '13

Check out the new local video<https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=b6r3f7M_XOY>on bike helmets from the Province: Also keep in mind that the new law<http://www.gov.mb.ca/healthyliving/hlp/bikesafety/#bike>takes effect on May 1st in Manitoba that makes it compulsory for cyclists under the age of 18 to wear a suitable helmet while cycling. cheers, Beth

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FW: [Bike to the Future] Bike Winnipeg Logo Contest
by Dave Elmore 18 Apr '13

18 Apr '13

Please circulate widely. Dear Bike to the Future members and supporters: After a lengthy series of discussions and a recommendation from a re branding expert, Bike to the Future's Board of Directors has decided to change the public name of our organization to Bike Winnipeg and change our domain name to bikewinnipeg.ca. We will also be changing our logo. In making this change, we are following in the footsteps of many other cycling advocacy organizations such as Bike Calgary, Bike Minneapolis, and Bike New York. It is our hope that bikewinnipeg.ca will be easier to remember for members of the public, the media, government officials, and our current and new supporters. We also hope that the name Bike Winnipeg more clearly and simply defines who we are and our central mission , which is to encourage more Winnipeggers to choose to bike more often, to bring impediments to cycli ng to the attention of elected and government officials, and to inform the public and media about the various benefits of cycling. ____________ Bike Winnipeg Logo Contest Please send us your idea/design for a Bike Winnipeg logo. The logo will support the new name of our organization: Bike Winnipeg ( bikewinnipeg.ca ). All logo submissions must be in two-tone, black and white. You may add a color logo if you wish. Everyone who sends a logo to info(a)bikewinnipeg.ca by May 1, 2013 will be entered into a draw for a 1 Metre Please jersey. We will acknowledge the receipt of all submissions, and we will publicly credit the designer of the chosen logo when we unveil it. By sending us a logo, you agree that, if we select your idea /design, full ownership of all intellectual property rights will belong to Bike to the Future, Inc. -- Mark Cohoe Executive Director Bike to the Future http://biketothefuture.org ____________________________________ Bike to the Future -- announcements announce(a)lists.biketothefuture.org http://biketothefuture.org

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Biking for bucks - Toronto
by Dave Elmore 18 Apr '13

18 Apr '13

These employees get paid to drive too, but its a start. On CBC news there was another company that was simply paying their employees $ 1.00 per kilmeter to ride. http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2013/01/29/cycling_in_the_city_toronto _employers_peddle_incentives_to_bike_to_work.html Cycling in the city: Toronto employers peddle incentives to bike to work JASON FRANSON / THE CANADIAN PRESS You could call it biking for bucks. Increasingly, Torontonians want to incorporate cycling into their work lives - and some companies are now paying people to do just that. At Bursting Silver, a growing technology company with consultants in several Canadian cities, employees who bike to meetings get paid double the mileage they would recoup if they drove a car - $1 per kilometer rather than 50 cents. It's a new policy that came out of a conversation between Edmonton-based founder Al Povoledo and principal consultant James Schwartz, who regularly rides his bike to visit clients in Toronto. Povoledo says the policy underscores the company's social conscience. But it works for everyone. It helps keep staff healthy and active, and "I actually think it saves money for customers," he said. If a consultant has to drive from the suburbs to a client downtown, the client gets charged 50 cents per kilometer, plus $25 for parking. That can add up to a $45 charge for the client. "If someone takes their bike, we're paying them $1 a kilometer and that ends up being cheaper," said Povoledo. If there's air travel involved, the savings can be greater, says Schwartz, who works in Toronto and actually cycles to the airport <http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/1281452--man-encourages-cycling-to- pearson-airport> . "When I ride my bicycle to the airport for client travel, I am entitled to $24 for the 24-kilometre bike ride . However, if I took a taxi to the airport, it would cost the client $55. So on a return trip to the airport, I am saving my client $62, I get to keep healthy, and we have one less taxi to clog the road to the airport," wrote Schwartz on his blog <http://www.theurbancountry.com/> . But it's not just about the bottom line, says Povoledo. "We wanted to integrate the concept of giving back to our culture and the way we work on a daily basis," he said. It's the kind of idea Povoledo and Schwartz say is becoming increasingly mainstream. Toronto Environmental Office director Lawson Oates agrees. Cycling rewards increasingly resonate with younger workers and employers, he said. "It's the wave of the future. (Companies) want to attract and retain topnotch employees," and these people don't necessarily function in "the old 9-5 mould," he said. Top Drawer Creative founder Howard Chang is a pioneer when it comes to bike-friendly employers. In 2003 the ad agency began a bike-to-work program offering an honorarium of $2 a day for employees who cycled to the agency's old Leslieville location. To make the idea more attractive, Top Drawer installed showers and locker rooms and provided secure, indoor bike parking. Chang even made a deal with a bike supplier so employees could buy wheels at wholesale prices. The company has since moved to the Beach and the honorarium has risen to $5 a day. It's a policy Chang says is one factor in helping retain employees in the transient advertising industry - and yes, many of them are younger. But among the 40 per cent of Top Drawer's staff that cycle to work, at least one participant is in his 50s. Chang, who acknowledges that not everyone rides year-round, <http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/transportation/article/1311772--bike-lanes- being-peddled-for-richmond-and-adelaide> would like more employees to sign on but says, "I'm not messianic about it." He figures that the program has cost Top Drawer tens of thousands of dollars, but it's an investment. "Our agency's very focused on social responsibility," he said. "I just want to make sure we walk our talk, that we're authentic. "It's one thing to advocate commuting to work, it's another thing when you're actually investing in it," he said.

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FW: T-shirts, Pit Stops and Volunteers...that's right.
by Dave Elmore 18 Apr '13

18 Apr '13

Please distribute widely. Sorry for any duplication. Thanks Dave o _ ( \ _ (X)\ /(X) Friday, June 21, 2013 BIKE TO WORK DAY How will you join us? T-SHIRTS ARE BACK! We know you love the shirts. So much so that we can't keep up to your adoration! To keep building up Bike to Work Day and get as many orange shirts out there as we can... we are inviting you to purchase a shirt in advance of the event this year. We are offering cotton and technical-fabric shirts for $15-$25 on our website. <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001SLl8bl9_SX0u00QnQVfT91SLmmw07Ug5-DQlTF_XNHMW wZR-6WxmrEOdcDsPtTADONiTqMz-C6BOohkQcqEMHeaKU0psCTYOUcqQyuN4BPQ2-UzRKMoYMzTm IWl7w1T3wY2Nv9IgBLvUMBWC8gRsVg==> click here to BUY ONE TODAY Everyone looks good in orange, right? We will only be giving away free shirts to our sponsors, volunteers and pit stop hosts. Which reminds me... RIDE WITH US... There are lots of ways to get involved with Bike to Work Day. And now's the time! Click below to travel through cyberspace and have all of your dreams come true. <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001SLl8bl9_SX0zdIX0HOaYiLUicoXeOxs3iftF7ieJ62no BeYs5n96SbkulgWHt976MBZsgW_FMPdyjt8C47ibnQDWX0u9Lf5cQ-80D1IYle7obxgbo0xqQ53D WGJtsVTJ9zB9w0ZVU7jwfBuowirjZKXxHfO53AzP> REGISTER <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001SLl8bl9_SX37-E-DvtvAlFcUIx883D588XDl3fGCA4Tp XAtA3X4wxrTGW3i_WSusEXMbKpLynjUOf8yPHS5HRNVGhpklD2dx6GsupXgot4FhTobbkskfvQ3H vXf0vKfq-Lol6jO6fZX-fJ2N8ZESsXTsohztiPOCZ9RYID7gpXU-owB416p_bQ==> HOST A PIT STOP ...wait what's a <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001SLl8bl9_SX1YmMZL9XCkgILtVq785IhNT-b7Vfifct49 IAMCH7owLMLwMTijyeq3YS9HSOhjWDIyhcgEtlNgL2EwV9KHfxLZq77wP8X9o-V2gEIyKTV55iQV mUpzDO8Pl3VAD4uP0s23PFuiMtMOAA==> PIT STOP? (click here) <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001SLl8bl9_SX3QfVdFL2ylVlv-7uVGCD1PGSvNQ9O1AoXe UWhoTKGUxZ1IW4vTTf7FJKpoxK4EtDlZCYBfkDa1ajuoymK5j-H_5En7h7H8v1BOZazsH_LQAHcq NAA7fPBsZARzowz__KwHN4Pf9CcmbEjh1z8z6Rza> VOLUNTEER <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001SLl8bl9_SX0hU8ASe_CGjMe-h_rdUHg1gNyWu8DPCMXx Za8XypP4ncbiHhbBSxM2uAX5ldesVO2VyYCxE-8m4Uz2aeOdLsMZrfV6r4BarEbGRQj_6UiOxKAl EV6x7i5eAH1x6SvA3BLaOTTkJLk18YzzQUNP7ngX> SPONSOR <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001SLl8bl9_SX0zdIX0HOaYiLUicoXeOxs3iftF7ieJ62no BeYs5n96SbkulgWHt976MBZsgW_FMPdyjt8C47ibnQDWX0u9Lf5cQ-80D1IYle7obxgbo0xqQ53D WGJtsVTJ9zB9w0ZVU7jwfBuowirjZKXxHfO53AzP> REGISTER NOW WELCOME ACU! This year we welcome on board Assiniboine Credit Union. ACU has helped us out in the past, but this year they are going the extra kilometre. ACU will donate $0.25 for every Bike to Work registered rider to The Winnipeg Repair Education Cycling Hub (The WRENCH). That's right folks, time to: COUNT YOURSELF IN. MAKE CYCLING COUNT. Stay Connected <http://your.website.address.here> biketoworkdaywinnipeg.org <http://your.website.address.here> <http://your.website.address.here> <http://your.website.address.here> <http://your.website.address.here> <http://your.website.address.here> -- Thanks Dave

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Physical activity promotion at the Red River Ex - June 14-23
by Kristine Hayward 17 Apr '13

17 Apr '13

Hi Physical Activity Folks, As most of you know, for the last few years the WRHA Population & Public Health team and a whole host of community partners have partnered together with the Red River Exhibition to offer health related information and opportunities through the creation of the GO4health EXpo. As the Physical Activity Promotion team and a partner with Winnipeg in motion, we (along with many community partners) have been in attendance to provide education, opportunities to try, and connections to community programs, opportunities, and resources to support physical activity. >From the survey evaluations (2010, 2011, 2012) we've received positive feedback from attendees that the information/resources provided has been of value and appreciated. They indicated an increased awareness of the importance of a physically active lifestyle and where to be active within their community. The surveys also indicated that there was an increase in the attendees intention to make behaviour change, in many instances, behaviour change had already occurred in one or more healthy lifestyle changes. Planning has begun for 2013. This year, things are changing slightly as we've reduced the footprint of the GO4health EXpo within Exhibition Place and have moved from the back 1/3 of the building to the front corner. With our smaller digs, we have made the decision to no longer host a physical activity demonstration stage. >From our initial discussions, TWO main themes have emerged for the Physical Activity Promotion area at the GO4health Expo: 1 - Active Play (children, youth & adults) 2 - Active Transportation (children, youth & adults) As key players in physical activity promotion, we would like to invite you to a meeting to further explore creative and engaging ways to promote physical activity in these themed areas. Date: Tuesday, April 30 Time: 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Location of meeting: Room 119 - 490 Hargrave Street(please use the door located on the corner of Hargrave and McDermot) Call in option: - Call 1-877-727-8553 - Participant code - 904444228 Items up for discussion - - Supporting play o creation of resources that teach play o highlight play opportunities in the community o focus on fundamental movement skills o play leaders to assist with staffing the play zone o training leaders/sharing expertise for play zone o providing families an opportunity to play together o giveaways to support play - Active Transportation o creation of resources that highlight trails and AT routes o highlight active transportation events/opportunities o giveaways to support AT o using technology - touch screens/iPads, etc. to help people find a route o highlight active and safe routes to school and active commuting If you are unable to make the meeting or call in but have ideas, please give me a shout. Thanks! Have a great "in motion" day! Kristine Hayward Physical Activity Promotion/in motion Coordinator 2nd floor - 490 Hargrave Street Winnipeg, MB R3A 0X7 Telephone 204 940-1676 Cell 204 232-7546 Fax 204 940-2690 Email khayward(a)wrha.mb.ca<mailto:khayward@wrha.mb.ca> Follow Winnipeg in motion on Twitter - @wpginmotion Sign up to receive updates from Winnipeg in motion @ http://www.winnipeginmotion.ca/signup/ PLEASE NOTE THAT WE HAVE MOVED (MAY 5, 2012) - our mailing address and fax number has changed. 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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The Invisible Bike Helmet That You'll Have To (Not) See To Believe
by Erik Dickson 15 Apr '13

15 Apr '13

Wow! This invention is almost too crazy to be true. Luckily, that sentence had the world "almost" in it. Enjoy living in the future, everyone. http://www.upworthy.com/the-invisible-bike-helmet-that-youll-have-to-not-see -to-believe Regards, Erik Dickson Suite 1120 - 201 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3B 3K6 ph: (204) 927-3444 ext. 242 fax: (204) 927-3443 web: www.scatliff.ca blog: http://scatliff.tumblr.com Please consider our environment before printing this message.

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Winnipeg to host 2014 Winter Cycling Conference!
by Beth McKechnie 15 Apr '13

15 Apr '13

More info to follow from Anders on this exciting announcement. If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact Anders Swanson < andersswanson(a)gmail.com> Seems appropriate to share this news on a snowy blustery day in April! ** Winter cycling federation aims to share winter cycling knowledge around the world. Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser<http://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=d2e49a7d161f830c39e4d5aaa&id=7eedbecf42…>. *WINNIPEG TO HOST WCC 2014* The city of Winnipeg (Manitoba, Canada) has been selected to host the next international Winter Cycling Conference in mid February 2014. More precise schedule for the venue will be announced soon. Application for hosting WCC 2015 opens in June 2013. Cities from Europe are given a preference in selection. Details for the application will be published in late April 2013 on our web pages. *WINTER CYCLING FEDERATION FOUNDED* The Winter Cycling Congress 2013 in Oulu launched an idea to found an organisation running future winter cycling conferences, sharing winter cycling best practices and promoting winter cycling globally. Therefore the Winter Cycling Federation emerged in April 2013. We will shortly report of our goals, actions, visions and rules on our web site www.wintercycling.org<http://ibikeoulu.us5.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=d2e49a7d161f830c39e4d5a…>. Our pages are still pretty basic, but no worries; we will work on them. You can also find us in Facebook<http://ibikeoulu.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2e49a7d161f830c39e4d5aa…> . Friend on Facebook <#13df310e41ce85cc_> Follow on Twitter <http://Twitter+Account+not+yet+Authorized> Forward to a Friend<http://us5.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=d2e49a7d161f830c39e4d5aaa&id=7ee…> [image: Oulu region traffic service]<http://ibikeoulu.us5.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=d2e49a7d161f830c39e4d5a…> OULU ROUTE PLANNER Find your way around in Oulu! <http://ibikeoulu.us5.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=d2e49a7d161f830c39e4d5a…> [image: Find us on facebook!]<http://ibikeoulu.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d2e49a7d161f830c39e4d5aa…> Find us on Facebook! follow on Twitter <http://Twitter+Account+not+yet+Authorized> | friend on Facebook <#13df310e41ce85cc_> | forward to a friend<http://us5.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=d2e49a7d161f830c39e4d5aaa&id=7ee…> *Copyright © 2013 Navico Ltd., All rights reserved.* You are receiving this email because you are a cycling enthousiast :) *Our mailing address is:* Navico Ltd. Kirkkokatu 8 A 9 Oulu 90100 Finland Add us to your address book<http://ibikeoulu.us5.list-manage.com/vcard?u=d2e49a7d161f830c39e4d5aaa&id=e…> [image: Email Marketing Powered by MailChimp]<http://www.mailchimp.com/monkey-rewards/?utm_source=freemium_newsletter&utm…> unsubscribe from this list<http://ibikeoulu.us5.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=d2e49a7d161f830c39e4d5aa…>| update subscription preferences<http://ibikeoulu.us5.list-manage2.com/profile?u=d2e49a7d161f830c39e4d5aaa&i…>

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AT webinar: Economic Benefits of Walkable and Bike Friendly Communities, 2-3 pm, Apr 17, EcoCentre
by Beth McKechnie 15 Apr '13

15 Apr '13

Green Action Centre and Bike to the Future invite you to join us for a local viewing of the following APBP webinar at the EcoCentre (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave). This will be followed by group discussion of local applications.* *Detailed description provided below. *Economic Benefits of Walkable and Bike Friendly Communities Wednesday, April 17th | 2:00-3:00 p.m. * RSVPs are appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! cheers, Beth 925-3772 * * * * * ** Economic Benefits of Walkable and Bike Friendly Communities Wednesday, April 17th | 2:00 to 3:00 pm As communities work to maintain or restore their vibrancy and sense of place, providing great places to walk and bicycle has been a successful strategy. This webinar will present case studies on how economic vitality can be restored in historic downtowns, big cities and rural communities through improved walk and bike ability.

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Still room in the Cycling Skills courses through the Leisure Guide
by Dave Elmore 12 Apr '13

12 Apr '13

There is still lots of space in the cycling skills courses being offered through the City's Leisure Guide. Please distribute widely to remind people about this opportunity. City Cycling for Beginners <http://www.leisureonline.ca/eConnect/Activities/ActivitiesDetails.asp?aid=7 215> : Do you want to ride your bike more often but just don't feel safe? Do you want to teach your kids how to cycle safely? Can-Bike certified instructors from Bike to the Future will help you build both the knowledge and confidence to start riding on the streets and trails in Winnipeg. Saturday May 4, 2013 - 12:00 to 4:00 PM - Fort Rouge Leisure Centre http://www.leisureonline.ca/eConnect/Activities/ActivitiesCourseDetails.asp? cid=456906&LanguageId=1&LanguageIndex=1&SCheck=420583712&SDT=41336.715277777 8 City Cycling for Commuters: Would you like to start commuting but are uncomfortable on busier streets? Are you already commuting, but want to learn the cycling skills that will allow you to ride safely in heavier traffic? Certified Can-Bike instructors from Bike to the Future will help you build the skills and knowledge to ride confidently in traffic. Saturday May 4, 2013 - 12:00 to 4:00 PM - Auditorium-St. James Civic Centre http://www.leisureonline.ca/eConnect/Activities/ActivitiesCourseDetails.asp? cid=456905&LanguageId=1&LanguageIndex=1&SCheck=420583716&SDT=41336.716157407 4 Thanks Dave o _ ( \ _ (X)\ /(X)

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Top 10 Complete Streets Policies of 2012 (US)
by Beth McKechnie 08 Apr '13

08 Apr '13

>From Smart Growth America<http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/2013/04/08/announcing-the-best-complete-s…> ... Communities across the country are making roads safer and more accessible for everyone who uses them, and more communities are using these strategies now than ever before. The Best Complete Streets Policies of 2012, released today, examines all the Complete Streets policies passed in the last year and highlights some of the best. The analysis also revealed that the Complete Streets movement grew in 2012, continuing a national trend since 2005. *The Best Complete Streets Policies of 2012* Download the full report, including the list of top 10 Complete Streets policies from 2012 as well as a full explanation of our policy evaluation. Click here to download the full report (PDF)<http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/documents/cs-2012-policy-analysis.pdf> *The Best Complete Streets Policies of 2012: Executive Summary* Download the list of top 10 Complete Streets policies from 2012 as well as an an overview of our policy evaluation. Click here to download the Executive Summary (PDF)<http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/documents/cs-2012-policy-analysis-exec-su…>

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City set to Declare Surplus Parkland that could serve as important local AT Connection
by Mark Cohoe 06 Apr '13

06 Apr '13

Hi, I just wanted to alert people to an impending decision at the City of Winnipeg's Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development -- April 9, 2013to declare two parcels of land near Shaftesbury and St. Paul High Schools surplus. You can view the agenda item here <http://winnipeg.ca/CLKDMIS/ViewDoc.asp?DocId=12605&SectionId=&InitUrl=>. You can view the areas under consideration below. As I have previously pointed out in Bike to the Future's submission <http://biketothefuture.org/attachments/0000/1824/2012-10-26_bttf_charleswoo…>before the Charleswood Transportation Study, these properties hold the potential to create a direct, high quality AT link from the existing trails into Assiniboine Park and Forest along Bower road right of Way into the South Tuxedo neighbourhood (see below). I plan on attending the committee meeting Tuesday to ask that an easement for AT be left intact to allow for any future connection through to Bard Pl. to the south, I will also contact the city and Councillor Havixbeck to ensure that they are aware of the potential AT connection and need to retain an easement. Mark

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City set to Declare Surplus Parkland that could serve as important local AT Connection
by Mark Cohoe 06 Apr '13

06 Apr '13

Hi, I just wanted to alert people to an impending decision at the City of Winnipeg's Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development -- April 9, 2013to declare two parcels of land near Shaftesbury and St. Paul High Schools surplus. You can view the agenda item here <http://winnipeg.ca/CLKDMIS/ViewDoc.asp?DocId=12605&SectionId=&InitUrl=>. You can view the areas under consideration below. As I have previously pointed out in Bike to the Future's submission <http://biketothefuture.org/attachments/0000/1824/2012-10-26_bttf_charleswoo…>before the Charleswood Transportation Study, these properties hold the potential to create a direct, high quality AT link from the existing trails into Assiniboine Park and Forest along Bower road right of Way into the South Tuxedo neighbourhood (see below). I plan on attending the committee meeting Tuesday to ask that an easement for AT be left intact to allow for any future connection through to Byng to the south, I will also contact the city and Councillor Havixbeck to ensure that they are aware of the potential AT connection and need to retain an easement. Mark

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Peg City Car Co-op - internship opportunity
by Beth McKechnie 06 Apr '13

06 Apr '13

** Please share widely - thanks! ** *Peg City Car Co-op is hiring! * *Marketing and Membership Recruitment Internship * Know any grads under 30 who are underemployed? An energetic self-starter who cares about the environment? This spring, Peg City Car Co-op is expanding into more neighbourhoods in central Winnipeg. To help do this successfully, we need a people person who gets what carsharing is and how it works. Someone who understands the individual, environmental and community benefits. And better yet, can explain these benefits to others in a way that encourages them to join the co-op. Find the full job posting here<http://pegcitycarcoop.ca/2013/04/were-hiring-marketing-and-membership-recru…> . *Bike. Walk. Bus. And Sometimes, Drive.*

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AT webinar: Institutional and Campus Bicycle Parking Programs - Wed, Apr 10th, 2-3 pm
by Beth McKechnie 04 Apr '13

04 Apr '13

Green Action Centre and Stantec Consulting invite you to join us for a local viewing of the fourth and final webinar in the APBP series on bicycle parking. It takes place at the EcoCentre (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave) and will be followed by group discussion of local applications. * Institutional and Campus Bicycle Parking Programs** Wed, April 10, 2013 | 2:00-3:00 pm CDT* Please note that RSVPs are appreciated this time. Thanks & hope to see you then! cheers, Beth (204) 925-3772 * * * * * * * Institutional and Campus Bicycle Parking Programs This webinar looks at how major employment centers and institutions such as hospitals, college campuses and office/industrial centers can meet employee transportation needs both independently and in conjunction with public and transit parking programs. Techniques such as bike rooms and sheds will be examined, as will the impact of proposed bike share facilities on existing bicycle parking capacity. The session includes examples from the University of Washington and Microsoft. Who should attend? Municipal staff, transit agency staff, managers of educational, corporate and healthcare campuses, and members of Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committees, as well as elected officials and staff of bicycle advocacy organizations. Both the experienced agency manager and those new to developing bicycle parking solutions will benefit. *For information on the entire Bicycle Parking Webinar series, please see: * http://greenactioncentre.ca/event/apbp-bicycle-parking-webinar-series/

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Fwd: [livable-communities] The Big Move: Pay-per-kilometre system could be the way of the future
by Mike Tutthill 04 Apr '13

04 Apr '13

*The Big Move: Pay-per-kilometre system could be the way of the future* A GPS-based driving fee of about $0.03 per kilometre could yield $1.9 billion for less-crowded roads. But would the public buy it? http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/transportation/2013/04/03/the_big_move_payp… [photo missing] Bern Grush, an expert on road-use metering, takes in the view of an uncharacteristically uncrowded Don Valley Parkway from the Gerrard St. bridge. *By:* Tim Alamenciak < http://www.thestar.com/authors.alamenciak_tim.html> News reporter, Published on Wed Apr 03 2013 *Explore This Story * 1 Photo 154 Comments Officials in Oregon saw the problem coming years ago: Fuel-efficient cars and electric vehicles would spell disaster for a state reliant on gas taxes to pay for road repairs. So they asked some drivers to pony up at the pump in a different way. In 2007, they launched a pilot project involving 300 motorists, who had GPS devices installed in their vehicles to record miles driven. Whenever they filled up, the drivers would pay an additional fee of about one cent per mile travelled, based on the device’s information. A system like this appeared on the short-list of ideas released Tuesday to help fund Metrolinx’s plan for beefed-up transit and reduced congestion. The transportation agency is considering a charge of 3 cents per kilometre, which could generate up to $1.9 billion in revenue per year, according to a report prepared for the agency by AECOM and KPMG < http://www.bigmove.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RPT-2013-03-12-Revenue-Too…> . Some experts say charging by kilometre travelled is a good idea because it asks people who use the roads most to pay the most — and encourages transit use, too. But its combination of increased monitoring with a new fee is politically unpalatable. “In the long term — we’re talking about (decades) from now — this would absolutely be the right tool for charging users for what they’re getting,” said Benjamin Dachis, an analyst with the C.D. Howe Institute, a policy think-tank. The challenge, “first and foremost, is public acceptance of it.” How exactly the system would work is unclear, as the agency is still in the early process of figuring it out, said John Howe, vice-president of investment strategy and project evaluation at Metrolinx. “We assume a variable rate system based on factors such as time of day, level of real-time congestion, route selected and type of vehicle. This would require a GPS-based vehicle tracking and charging system,” he said. It’s an idea Bern Grush has long advocated < http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2010/09/04/payasyoudrive_meter_poised…> . Grush is the mind behind Skymeter, a company once devoted to metering road usage, but now in receivership. You might chalk that up to the politics of the concept. “I’ve been at this for 10 years and there have been so many reports,” said Grush. “There’s been a huge inability of almost any government anywhere to actually make progress in this area.” The technology worked, but proposing to put it into practice was a political hornets’ nest. Now he focuses on using the technology to help administer parking costs <http://paybysky.com/> — something he says is less politically volatile. Grush, who said he holds patents for these GPS devices, noted there is a potential for them to violate privacy, but that can be prevented by design. “The device itself doesn’t report anything to anyone unless it’s been set up to do that,” he said. It’s possible to design a GPS device that would calculate distance and location, then submit only a dollar figure to the billing authority. In the Oregon pilot, more people accepted the system if they were given options for metering, said James Whitty, a state manager involved in both pilots. The original program made drivers install a government-issued GPS device. The second pilot featured a tiered system with three payment options: Drivers pay a single per-kilometre rate and have their odometer checked periodically. Drivers install a GPS device and pay a variable rate depending on where they were driving. Drivers pay a single flat-rate fee, designed to lighten the load for heavy users. The pilot showed the tiered system was preferred, but Whitty is still cautious when asked about the potential for implementing the idea more broadly. It’s still being piloted in Oregon and hasn’t been put into legislation. “The momentum is increasing, is what I see,” he said. “Once people understand that the public has to be comfortable with this and they have to provide mechanisms that the public accepts, then you’ve got a better chance of passing legislation.” Some countries charge fees to heavy vehicles per kilometre travelled, but nowhere has a blanket provision been applied to passenger vehicles, Whitty said. A per-kilometre fee is just one in Metrolinx’s short-list of 11 “revenue tools” that could help generate $2 billion a year in funding for the Big Move transportation plan. It got little attention from civic leaders, most of whom reacted positively to the short-list in general but focused on the unsuitability of another proposal: higher property taxes. Toronto Mayor Rob Ford responded to Tuesday’s announcement with a retching noise and suggested casinos are the answer to the need for transit funding. Metrolinx’s final investment strategy is slated to be released June 1. == *More from TheStar.com: * A peek at Metrolinx’s short list of ‘revenue tools’ for expanded transit < http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/04/02/the_big_move_a_sneak_peek_at_met…> Supporters must speak up for Metrolinx plan: James < http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2013/04/02/supporters_must_speak_up_f…> --- Smart Growth BC is the administrator of the livable communities listserv. However, any opinions expressed on this listserv remain the responsibility of the poster and do not necessarily reflect Smart Growth BC’s position or policies. You are currently subscribed to livable-communities as: mtutthill(a)healthincommon.ca. To unsubscribe click here: http://lists.smartgrowth.bc.ca/u?id=554958.26bbcf3642f503bd9b1cf7ba5b0f3f89… or send a blank email to leave-1491312-554958.26bbcf3642f503bd9b1cf7ba5b0f3f89(a)lists.smartgrowth.bc.ca To view any messages that have been sent on this list, please visit the livable-communities listserv archive online at: http://lists.smartgrowth.bc.ca/read/ -- Mike Tutthill Planning & Evaluation Facilitator HEALTH in COMMON 200 - 141 Bannatyne Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3B 0R3 tel: 204.946.1888 1.800.731.1792 fax: 204.284.2404 email: mtutthill(a)healthincommon.ca web: www.healthincommon.ca +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ *Health in Common on Facebook*< http://www.facebook.com/pages/Health-in-Common/120069149875> ü Please consider the environment before printing this email.

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Globe & Mail: Scrapped Cdn study found early promise for safer truck design
by Beth McKechnie 02 Apr '13

02 Apr '13

TRUCKING REGULATIONS Scrapped Canadian study found early promise for safer truck design RENATA D’ALIESIO The Globe and Mail Published Monday, Apr. 01 2013, 6:00 AM EDT http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/scrapped-canadian-study-found-… Infographic: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/incoming/how-side-skirts-on-a-truck-can-save… It was a study with life-saving potential. For the first time, federal government engineers were examining whether side skirts, attached to trucks to reduce fuel costs, could also prevent cyclists from getting crushed under the big rigs. With funding secured and researchers in place, the innovative study<http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/transport-canada-to-look-at-bi…>was about to shift into its second phase when Transport Canada suddenly scrapped further testing last fall. The transportation regulator contended there was no point in moving forward because it had found no research to show truck skirts could make streets safer. But that’s not what the engineers found. A copy of the study’s first phase, obtained by The Globe and Mail through access-to-information legislation, reveals the National Research Council (NRC) reported promising findings from its initial analysis of side skirts. All three models tested prevented bicycles from sliding underneath a transport truck in a collision – a dangerous scenario that has wounded or killed scores of cyclists in Canada over the past decade. Transport Canada is standing by its decision to halt additional testing, but the study’s sudden cancellation has irked some safety advocates. Without more testing, it’s impossible to determine whether lightweight skirts can serve the same safety purpose as sturdier side guards. Both cover the side gap between a truck’s front and back wheels, but skirts are designed to make trucks more aerodynamic while guards, generally a drain on fuel, bolster the safety of cyclists and pedestrians by preventing them from tumbling beneath a truck during a crash. “It’s disappointing that Transport Canada hasn’t moved forward with this [study],” said Ontario’s interim chief coroner Dan Cass. The NRC, a government research agency, declined to make its lead engineer on side skirts available for an interview. In an e-mailed statement, NRC engineer Jeff Patten said he believes these were the first tests of their kind in the world. “Although these tests were a critical step in understanding the behaviour of side skirts when impacted by a bicycle, they are but one step in what must be a rigorous multistep process,” Mr. Patten noted. Transport Canada spokeswoman Karine Martel said the decision to cancel the study was made at the scientific and technological level and not by Transport Minister Denis Lebel. “The intention of the proposed investigation was to study whether side skirts might provide ancillary safety benefits for pedestrians and cyclists,” Ms. Martel said in an e-mail. “A decision was made not to proceed with the study because the department was unable to find any research indicating that a similar technology, specifically side guards, was effective at improving pedestrian and cyclist safety.” Side guards have long been mandatory on most trucks in Europe and Japan. According to an earlier NRC study, completed for Transport Canada in 2010, cyclist deaths and serious injuries involving the side of trucks dropped substantially in Britain – deaths by 61 per cent and serious injuries by 13 per cent – after side guards were introduced. Transport Canada said there could have been other factors that contributed to the decrease in injuries and fatalities. Dr. Cass has a different view. “I don’t know what more evidence is needed before one just moves forward to do something which is known to save lives.” The Ontario chief coroner’s office called for national side-guard regulation last year after reviewing 224 cyclist and pedestrian fatalities. Twenty-nine of the deaths involved heavy trucks, with nearly half of the victims dragged, pinned or run over after striking a truck’s side. The NDP and Liberals have both tried to push the side-guard issue onto the legislative agenda with separate private member’s bills, but their bids to have truck guards regulated have not been successful. The Canadian Trucking Alliance has opposed mandatory side guards, suggesting bike lanes and road-sharing campaigns are more effective at improving safety. The industry group, however, has encouraged its members to install side skirts because they reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, noted Stephen Laskowski, the organization’s senior vice-president. Skirts are more common on tractor-trailers in North America, but they can also aid large straight trucks. Which is why Transport Canada’s study of the safety potential of side skirts was so intriguing: Could truck skirts save fuel and save lives? The first round of testing, which cost about $100,000, involved mounting a block of steel to a bicycle’s saddle to mimic the weight and centre of gravity of an adult rider. The mountain bike was then rammed into the side of a stationary semi-trailer at a speed of about 22 kilometres an hour. “Under these conditions, the testing demonstrated that all three side skirts prevented the loaded bicycles from entering under the trailer. Furthermore, the bicycles did not become wedged underneath the skirts,” states the NRC side-skirt report, completed in April, 2012 for Transport Canada. The report stresses a lot more research and testing are needed to determine whether skirts can indeed protect cyclists in real life. A second phase of study was scheduled to begin last fall. NRC engineers were going to look at how the skirts performed in cold weather. Would they still prevent bikes from sliding under the big trucks or would the skirts, which are usually made of plastic or aluminum, break apart? Transport Canada had set aside $200,000 for this round of testing, tapping the regulator’s Ecotechnology for Vehicles Program, a five-year, $38-million initiative to test technologies that have the potential to improve safety and the environment. According to NRC research, side skirts increase driver stability and reduce a semi-trailer’s annual fuel consumption by 4 per cent to 7.5 per cent. The skirts cost between $750 and $3,600, an investment recoverable in four months to two years. While the safety benefits of truck skirts remain unclear, proponents of side guards point to the European experience as evidence truck guards work. “Side guards are proving to save lives,” said Jeannette Holman-Price in a phone interview from England. Her 21-year-old daughter, Jessica, died when a dump truck ran over her in the winter of 2005. The truck had clipped Jessica’s brother as the siblings stood on a snow bank in Montreal. Jessica managed to push him to safety, but in doing so, she slid beneath the truck, through the side gap, and was crushed. Their mother has been advocating for a side-guard regulation ever since. “When you look at the event that destroyed my life and my family’s life it was all because of the lack of a single piece of machinery that exists on every [truck] over here.”

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Two innovative local cycling projects up for Cycling Visionary Awards
by Shoni Litinsky 01 Apr '13

01 Apr '13

With one click you can support two local groups towards winning the Velo City Cycling Visionary Awards <http://velo-city2013.com/>. As many of you know, Anders is leading a project creating an App with the Active and Safe Routes to School program called TapTraffic. *The premise is simple: embrace the power of the smartphone and harness the power of regular people to count bikes and pedestrians everywhere. From the smallest residential street and backlane to the most important artery, we all want cycling infrastructure changes everywhere. This is a simple way of taking the first step wherever you are, tracking things as they progress and proving it works. This project is in for the science, research, and development category of the awards. * *Please vote for us here:* http://velo-city2013.com/?page_id=2337&preview=true&project_id=27<http://velo-city2013.com/?page_id=2337&preview=true&project_id=271> 1 <http://velo-city2013.com/?page_id=2337&preview=true&project_id=271> Also local group the UWSA Ice-riders also have a project in the running for the advocacy and social projects category of this award. *The University of Winnipeg Students' Association's Ice Riders and their Bike Lab are gaining momentum in the creation of an active cycling culture year-round. The UWSA Bike Lab and Ice Riders are aptly positioned in location and in their capacity for education and advocacy in Winnipeg's core. They provide resources, events and education to help cyclists find their traction Winnipeg winters.* * * *Please vote for them here: http://velo-city2013.com/?page_id=2337&project_id=81 * -- *Shoni Litinsky* | Active and Safe Routes to School Green Action Centre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Avenue* | *(204) 925-3773 Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/memberships/> Find us here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/>

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FW: LA campaign to increase bike safety
by Dave Elmore 25 Mar '13

25 Mar '13

http://www.metro.net/news/simple_pr/Metro-Launches-Bold-Campaign-to-Increas… Metro Launches Bold New Campaign to Increase Bicycle Safety in L.A. County Monday March 18, 2013 The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is launching a bold new campaign to increase bicycle safety in Los Angeles County. The campaign, called "Every Lane is a Bike Lane ... Bicyclists may need a full lane; Please share the road" will include messages on the back of 75 Metro buses, 135 billboards and spots on 21 local radio stations throughout the region. The campaign will run between March and May, leading up to Bike Week L.A. May 13-17 With bicycling increasing in popularity as a viable transportation mode, more biking events like CicLAvia and more new bikeways being installed on a regular basis, Metro's extensive campaign will help raise motorist awareness that cyclists have equal rights and responsibilities to the road per the California Vehicle Code. "The breakneck pace of bikeway construction demonstrates that Los Angeles is riding fast on its way to becoming a truly bike-friendly city," said L.A. City Mayor Antonio Villariagosa. "As more cyclists take to our streets we need to ensure that safety and awareness are of utmost importance as our riders share the road." The California Vehicle Code Section 21200 stipulates that bicycle riders may use any lane in the street since they have the same rights and must follow the same laws as car drivers. Bicyclists may need the full lane to safely navigate specific road and traffic conditions. In addition, the state vehicle code sets out several situations in which bicyclists are specifically permitted to leave their usual position on the far right of the street: · To avoid obstacles and unsafe conditions (including the door zone along parallel-parked vehicles) · To pass another bicyclist, car or bus · To prepare for a left turn · To avoid an area where right turns are made · When traveling as fast or faster than other traffic at that time and place · When the lane is too narrow to share with a vehicle It is becoming increasingly important for motorists and cyclists to safely co-exist on the region's roadways. In L.A. County, 19 percent of all trips are made by walking and biking, but bicyclists and pedestrians make up 39 percent of roadway fatalities. In the Southern California region, nearly four percent of all traffic-related fatalities involved cyclists, and 4.3 percent of all traffic-related injuries involved cyclists. "At the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, we know that education is needed for both drivers and bicyclists on how to properly share the road," said Jennifer Klausner, LACBC's Executive Director. "We're working hard to educate bicyclists to ride with traffic, use lights at night and other ways to avoid the most common types of collisions. We're excited to see Metro help with the other half of the equation by making sure drivers know to expect bicyclists on any street and to pass only when it's safe. Thanks, Metro, for so clearly saying that every lane is a bike lane!" As part of its overall bicycle safety campaign, Metro also plans to begin <http://www.metro.net/news/simple_pr/Metro-Launches-Bold-Campaign-to-Increas…> traffic skills courses <http://www.metro.net/news/simple_pr/Metro-Launches-Bold-Campaign-to-Increas…> for bicyclists to help ensure cyclists know their responsibilities for riding safely on local streets. Cyclists interested in participating in these future classes <http://www.metro.net/news/simple_pr/Metro-Launches-Bold-Campaign-to-Increas…> should e-mail Metro's Bicycle Program at bikeinfo(a)metro.net. Additionally, Metro is planning to sponsor 20 bike rides to further promote safe cycling in Los Angeles County. "We're thrilled at C.I.C.L.E. about Metro's 'Every Lane is a Bike Lane' campaign," said Dan Dabek, Executive Director of C.I.C.L.E. "This attention-grabbing campaign will be significant in improving motorist and bicyclist relations and creating safer streets for all users. When about 60 percent of trips in Los Angeles County are less than five miles, making our roads more friendly to bicyclists is the fastest and most cost-effective way to reduce traffic, improve air quality, and make Los Angeles County a more enjoyable place to live." This bicycle safety campaign is made possible by Metro's Bicycle Program, which has worked closely with the bicycle community on numerous initiatives related to bicycling and transit. Since 1993, Metro has funded more than $100 million in bicycle improvement projects in the county. For more information about Metro's Bicycle Program, please visit metro.net/bikes. Thanks Dave o _ ( \ _ (X)\ /(X)

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AT webinar - Women's Work: Bicycle-Friendly Communities by Design, Mar 27, 2-3:30, EcoCentre
by Beth McKechnie 21 Mar '13

21 Mar '13

Green Action Centre invites you to join us for a local viewing of the following APBP webinar at the EcoCentre (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave). This will be followed by group discussion of local applications.* *Detailed description provided below. *Women's Work: Bicycle-Friendly Communities by Design Wednesday, March 27th | 2:00-3:30 p.m. CDT* RSVPs are appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! Also mark your calendar for the fourth and final APBP bicycle parking webinar on Institutional and Campus-Based Bike Parking Programs, taking place Wed, April 10th, 2-3 pm. More info to follow but if you don't want to wait, check out it out here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/event/apbp-bicycle-parking-webinar-series/>. This series is hosted locally by Green Action Centre and Stantec Consulting. cheers, Beth 925-3772 * * * * * ** Women's Work: Bicycle-Friendly Communities by Design Wednesday, March 27 | 2:00 to 3:30 pm CDT APBP's fourth annual Women Cycling Project webinar features brilliant women working to make communities more bicycle-friendly. Join us as we profile a few of the many outstanding professionals who develop bicycle plans, projects and programs for communities, encourage children to bicycle to school and inspire girls to consider careers in transportation. Whether you are a student or a professional, a woman or man, this webinar will motivate you to address key reasons keeping people from bicycling for transportation: speeding cars and inattentive drivers. This year's APBP webinar incorporates the 2013 National Women's History Month theme, "Women Inspiring Innovation through Imagination." The theme honors generations of women who throughout American history have used their intelligence, imagination, sense of wonder, and tenacity to make extraordinary contributions to the STEM fields. (APBP encourages you to visit www.nwhp.org to learn how to incorporate this theme into your 2013 Women's History Month celebrations. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.)

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WFP: New law means kids need a lid on it (Mar.15'13)
by Beth McKechnie 16 Mar '13

16 Mar '13

New law means kids need a lid on it Warnings issued first but fines possible By: Bruce Owen http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/new-law-means-kids-need-a-lid-on-it-… Looking forward to getting back in the bike saddle this spring with your kids? Then expect to pay a $50 fine if you don't have bicycle helmets strapped on their heads. The province's new mandatory helmet legislation goes into the force this summer. It requires all Manitobans under the age of 18 to wear a helmet when riding a bicycle or riding in anything attached to or towed by a bicycle. The impending law is the NDP's way of protecting children from preventable head injuries, but it comes at a time when groups in other countries argue bicycle-helmet legislation makes cycling appear dangerous. These groups, which include the Bicycle Helmet Research Foundation, also claim mandatory helmet laws do not reduce head injuries because police generally do not enforce them. RCMP and Winnipeg police said Thursday they're waiting until the province sets a date for Bill 37 to come into effect. "When it's law, we'll enforce it," RCMP spokeswoman Sgt. Line Karpish said, adding she believes Mounties will have an initial grace period in which they'll issue warnings instead of fines. The bike-helmet law states children under 14 will not be given a ticket or fine. It also gives police discretion if they're dealing with a first-time offence. "Those fined for a first offence can avoid paying the fine by completing a bicycle-helmet safety course about the fundamentals of helmet safety," a spokeswoman for Healthy Living Minister Jim Rondeau said. "This... safety course, available online or in paper format, will be a first of its kind and an interactive way to educate youth and parents on helmet safety," the spokeswoman added. That will include a new online safety quiz, which the province has not yet publicized. Rondeau's office would not say when the law will come into effect other than sometime this spring. During the last eight years, the province has distributed 82,000 helmets in Manitoba, including more than 7,000 at no cost to children of low-income families, the spokeswoman added. Rondeau has said the new law will be accompanied by a public-education campaign to make cyclists wear helmets as automatically as motorists wear seatbelts. When the law takes effect, Manitoba will join provinces such as Ontario and Alberta, where minors are also required to wear helmets. Laws in Nova Scotia, British Columbia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island apply to adults as well. Dave Elmore, director of safety and education for the cyclist lobby group Bike to the Future, said the Winnipeg group has not taken a position on the helmet law as many cyclists are split on the issue. "We are, however, disappointed that the Manitoba government sees this as a primary method of making cycling safer," he said. "There are many factors that need to be taken into account when it comes to cycling, many of which would be far more effective in reducing injuries." Elmore said these include defining in law the passing distance for motorists passing cyclists to three feet or one metre and defining the distance from the edge of the road for cyclists. Currently, the Highway Traffic Act indicates "as close as practicable" which is misunderstood by both drivers and cyclists. "Cycling is not inherently dangerous," he said. "Part of what makes it appear dangerous is the lack of knowledge, skills and confidence on the part of cyclists as well as a lack of understanding on the part of drivers. "Many people do not cycle because they are afraid of riding next to tons of steel, but if they understood their place on the road and if drivers also understood what represents reasonable cycling behaviour, the roads would be a better place to ride." International groups, such as the Bicycle Helmet Research Foundation and the European Cyclist's Federation, say mandatory helmet laws discourage cycling by portraying it as abnormally dangerous. The ECF says on its website a person is less likely to be killed during a mile of cycling than during a mile of walking. It also says helmets provide a small protective effect, as they are designed to withstand minor knocks and bumps, not a collision with a vehicle. The ECF says authorities should focus more on promoting cycling and traffic safety, including dedicated bike routes. bruce.owen(a)freepress.mb.ca *Helmets prevent deaths: study* An Ontario study says cyclists who die from a head injury are much less likely to be wearing a helmet than bike riders who die from other injuries. The study analyzed 129 accidental bicycle-related deaths in Ontario between 2006 and 2010 and found cyclists who didn't wear a helmet were three times more likely to die from brain trauma than those who wore protective headgear. Researchers say there are about 70 cycling deaths in Canada every year and about 20 could have been prevented by the wearing of a helmets. Most who died were adults. The study was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. *Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 15, 2013 0*

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It's Not About The Bike Or Car -- It's About Better Cities
by Dave Elmore 14 Mar '13

14 Mar '13

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/brent-toderian/bike-lanes-car-commuting-vancouv er-toronto_b_1940979.html It's Not About The Bike Or Car -- It's About Better Cities This week, I watched with concern Canada's largest city have a rhetoric-heavy debate about removing the relatively new separated bike lane on Jarvis Street <http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/cityhallpolitics/article/1265847--jarvis-bi ke-lanes-to-be-removed-after-last-ditch-council-effort-to-save-them-fails> . They even originally had the intention of using bike-lane funds to remove it! Bike-lane debates have been going on for some time in Toronto, as they have in many cities like Vancouver. In recent years, exaggerated and polarizing phrases <http://daily.sightline.org/2011/01/03/war-on-cars-a-history/> like "anti-car" and "the war on the car" have been thrown around irresponsibly by media and politicians alike, making me wonder more than a few times if Fox News had moved to the place once called "The City That Works." I suppose it illustrates part of the problem, that I feel the urge to point out I don't consider myself a "cyclist." Calling myself that would seem as odd as calling myself a walker, a transit-rider, or a driver. I'm an urbanite, someone who loves living in cities, and an urbanist who has studied how cities work all of my adult life. Really, I'm a citizen. I point that out because there is too much pitting of self-described "drivers" and "cyclists" against each other. Most North American families are actually multi-modal - they drive, walk, and probably take transit and bike in at least certain circumstances, if not routinely. Certainly many who cycle, also drive, and visa versa. We need a more sophisticated discussion about how we get around in cities, and it starts with this -- it's not about loving your bike. It's about loving what biking does for cities. If more cars make cities worse, the opposite is true for bikes. Expanding urban biking is about making better, fiscally smarter, healthier, more flexible and resilient cities. Bikes are hardly a silver bullet, but they can be a big part of better city-making. Canadian cities aren't alone in recognizing the opportunities urban biking provide. In fact, we're behind. Inspired by successful cycling mecca's like Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Bogota, cities like New York, Chicago, Minneapolis and Portland in the U.S., Sydney and Melbourne in Australia, Paris in Europe, and Montreal here in Canada are transforming themselves around urban cycling. They aren't doing half-measures. They're making big moves. City-builders across the globe understand the relative cheapness of the bike mobility option, in both cost and space. Dollar for dollar, bike lanes move people more cost effectively from a return-on-investment perspective than any other way of getting around, especially once a tipping point of cyclists is reached -- and that doesn't even factor in the well-documented public health cost savings that come from widespread biking. Global studies have shown investing in cycling infrastructure actually saves society public money per kilometer cycled! The math is enough to make any real fiscal conservative hop on a two-wheeler. Most pragmatically, city-builders understand that bikes make cities work better because they take a lot less space. Even if cars were clean in emissions, the biggest challenge with car-dependency is a space problem. There isn't enough room on the roads and parking lots of cities, to have everyone drive. They just don't fit, and our failed efforts to make them fit, cost a staggering amount. This striking picture <http://www.humantransit.org/2012/09/the-photo-that-explains-almost-everythi ng.html> illustrates the point. If all the people we anticipate coming to our cities try to drive, cities fail, our public life fails, and our economies fail. Even if they prioritize driving, global city-builders recognize the best thing those who feel they need to drive could hope for, is for OTHER people to be able to walk, bike and ride transit. Multi-modal cities make it easier for EVERYONE to get around - including, counter-intuitively, drivers. For us in Vancouver it's been about becoming more multi-modal for decades, a city of choices and options, and a city where the local economy and quality of life is impervious to the growing car congestion paralysis seen in too many world cities. It hasn't been about being anti-anything. It's been about being pro-mobility freedom. Pro-city. We've understood in Vancouver for years that mobility flows from smart land use choices, and the best transportation plan is a great land-use plan. Mixing uses, in complete communities. We know that trying to address congestion through more roads always fails, because of the "law of congestion <http://www.planetizen.com/node/53659> ." As the saying goes, trying to address congestion by adding more roads is like trying to solve obesity by loosening your belt. Watching Toronto's debate, we in Vancouver might feel a big smug. Then we might remember the steady level of controversy that bike-lane construction has generated even here. I would remember that in past weeks of media interviews, they've tended to start with questions like "When will we have too many bike lanes?" or "Don't we have enough already?" Like walking, transit and car-driving, a few separated routes through a large, still car-dominated city and region, don't create a viable choice in how to get around for people aged 8-80. For people of both genders and all ages to choose a mode of movement, a system or network is needed - complete, connected, efficient, predictable, and safe in both perception and reality. We have a long way to go in Vancouver. The pragmatic, cost-effective power of urban biking could go a long way in getting Toronto that old nick-name back - "The City That Works." Keeping the Jarvis bike infrastructure, and using that $300,000 to build more, would have shown they're serious about that. Instead, the wrong discussion led to the wrong decisions. In a recent Globe and Mail article <http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/stop-bike-lane-fight-v ancouver-urged/article4558182/> , I called for an end to the oversimplified, polarized debate on bike-lanes, and a start to a more sophisticated discussion on how cities work. The article ended with my statement, "Bike lanes are not a fad. They are part of a multi-modal city, a critical part of the city working well in the future." Let's have that more sophisticated discussion start now, in Toronto, in Vancouver, and every city struggling to make their city work better. Thanks Dave o _ ( \ _ (X)\ /(X)

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AT webinar: Dynamics of Effective Advisory Committees - Wed, Mar 20th, 2-3 pm, EcoCentre
by Beth McKechnie 14 Mar '13

14 Mar '13

Green Action Centre and Bike to the Future invite you to join us for a local viewing of the following APBP webinar at the EcoCentre (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave). This will be followed by group discussion of local applications.* *Detailed description provided below. *Dynamics of Effective Advisory Committees Wednesday, March 20th | 2:00-3:00 p.m. CDT* RSVPs are appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! Also mark your calendar for an additional webinar on Wed, March 27th, 2-3:30 pm – Women's Work: Bicycle Friendly Communities by Design. More info to follow next week. cheers, Beth 925-3772 * * * * * ** Dynamics of Effective Advisory Committees Wednesday, March 20 | 2:00 to 3:00 pm CDT Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committees are critical to making bicycling and walking part of the transportation solution because they add transparency and community engagement to the planning process. This webinar offers guidance about committee structure, defines roles, and suggests techniques and training to make a group more effective. Case study examples balance the perspectives of staff and advocates, bicycle and pedestrian focus, and regional and local committees. Presenters from the Nashville (Tennessee) MPO and the City of Olympia, Washington, will discuss their committees’ major initiatives and how productive, long-term working groups achieved significant, measurable outcomes. The Nashville Area MPO assisted in developing a regional bicycle and pedestrian study and an award-winning regional transportation plan. As a result of this work, the group was tasked to develop scoring and make funding recommendations related to bike/ped projects. The City of Olympia's Advisory Committee has successfully focused on improving the pedestrian realm through its involvement with a far-reaching sidewalk funding initiative, a pedestrian crossing improvement program, the redesign of the 4th Avenue bridge, and an innovative neighborhood pathways program. Presenters: Darren Flusche, Policy Director, League of American Bicyclists Leslie Meehan, Director of Healthy Communities, Nashville Area MPO David Kleinfelter, President, Walk/Bike Nashville Sophie Stimson, Senior Transportation Planner, City of Olympia

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Canada failing cyclists and pedestrians, U.N. report finds
by Dave Elmore 14 Mar '13

14 Mar '13

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/03/14/canada_failing_cyclists_and_pedes trians_un_report_finds.html Canada failing cyclists and pedestrians, U.N. report finds Canada says the right things but needs to take action to protect vulnerable road users, according to a new WHO report. A United Nations' reports says Canada is failing behind when it comes to developing policy to protect vulnerable road users. By: Kristen E. Courtney Special to the Star, Published on Thu Mar 14 2013 Canada is falling to the back of the pack when it comes to policies aimed at protecting vulnerable road users, according to a new report released by the World Health Organization. While 77 per cent of United Nations countries carry out safety audits to ensure the safety of road infrastructure projects for cyclists and pedestrians, Canada does not, and is contributing to a concerning trend of countries promoting alternative forms of transportation without ensuring their safety, according to the Global Status Report on Road Safety <http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/road_safety_status/2013/en/in dex.html> . While studies have consistently shown what types of walking and cycling infrastructure are needed to improve road safety, including safe routes and crossings for pedestrians, slower traffic speeds, and dedicated cycling lanes, policies are not in place to ensure that these are incorporated into road infrastructure projects, according to the report. Eleanor McMahon, founder of Ontario's Share the Road Cycling Coalition <http://www.sharetheroad.ca/> , says she's not surprised that Canada is falling behind, as all too often the debate over road infrastructure in Canada becomes less about safety and more about playing politics. <http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2012/04/23/cyclists_steer_through_pol itical_minefield.html> This is a familiar refrain to Toronto drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, where "war on the car" <http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2009/05/24/road_wars_can_cyclists_and_motor ists_get_along.html> rhetoric seems to rear its head every time a new road construction or reconstruction project reignites the battle for a slice of the street. "We shouldn't be having this conversation about cycling infrastructure as if cyclists were a special interest group. They are not a special interest group; they are everyday people getting from point A to point B. and all of these deaths are preventable," McMahon says. The good news is that overall road deaths around the world are down slightly, to 1.24 million per year from 1.3 million per year since the previous Global Status Report on Road Safety in 2009 <http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/road_safety_status/2009/en/> . Canada mirrors this trend, with overall annual road deaths falling to 2,227 from 2,889. However, 27 per cent of global road traffic deaths are among pedestrians and cyclists, which has Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization, concerned: "To date, these road users have been neglected in transport and planning policy. The world must now increase its focus on making walking and cycling safer, and protecting these road users from high-speed traffic." One of the three key recommendations emerging from the report is that concerted effort is needed to make road infrastructure safer for pedestrians and cyclists, by taking the needs of these road users into account <http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/03/14/canada_failing_cyclists_and_pede strians_un_report_finds.html> earlier, when road safety, policy, transport planning and land use decisions are made. The report places a particular emphasis on the conduct of formal audits of new and existing road infrastructure projects - by independent assessors not involved in the planning or construction - to minimize crash risk and the potential consequences for all road users. Such audits can produce important safety gains for all, according to the report. McMahon says she's not aware of any consistent policies that exist at the national, provincial or municipal level in Canada that require such safety audits or assessments of road construction projects <http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/03/14/canada_failing_cyclists_and_pede strians_un_report_finds.html> . "As someone who lost their life partner to a cycling accident, safety is absolutely paramount to me," she says, "but we need a carrot and stick approach. Dedicated infrastructure funding and political will are also essential." McMahon's husband, OPP Sergeant Greg Stobbart, was killed in 2006 while riding his bike on Tremaine Rd. in Milton. While Ontario has a number of policies in place that are supposed to encourage active transportation and ensure the safety of cyclists and pedestrians, the political will necessary to implement these policies effectively is lacking, says McMahon. "We're starting to see some progress. you would think that having these things in policies would help, but we sure have a long way to go." The Global Status Report 2013 will serve as the baseline for Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020, declared by the U.N. General Assembly to stem the rise in road accidents as one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Kristen Courtney is an environmental lawyer and a Fellow in Global Journalism at the Munk School for Global Affairs. Thanks Dave o _ ( \ _ (X)\ /(X)

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Jane's Walk 2013 Planning Meeting
by Beth McKechnie 13 Mar '13

13 Mar '13

Join us to help plan the 2013 Jane's Walk in Winnipeg! Please forward to others who may be interested in leading or in helping to plan a Jane's Walk this year. *What*: Jane's Walk 2013 Planning Meeting *When*: March 22 @ 6pm *Where*: The Toad (112 Osborne Street) For those of you less familiar with Jane's Walk, here is the link to the website: http://janeswalk.net/ Also, find attached the event poster from 2012 that lists the walks that occurred in Winnipeg. thanks! Beth

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