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Active & Green Special Issue: Women and Families
by Jessie Klassen 31 May '12

31 May '12

Check out our special issue of Active & Green e-newsletter: Women & Families! I hope you enjoy! Please share it with coworkers and friends. Jessie Klassen Green Action Centre Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.<http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a183a3f55cc&id=9c86e2306a…> *Looking to improve commuter options at your workplace?* Request resources<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/request-information-presentation-or-mee…>on cycling, carpooling, commuting surveys and tracking progress, among others. Book a presentation<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/request-information-presentation-or-mee…>on the various commuting options, creating a commuter friendly workplace, or greening the workplace. Attend a free Creative Commuting Ambassador<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/creative-commuting-ambassador-training/>workshop. Talk to us about implementing a Smart Trips<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/smart-trips/>program at your workplace. ------------------------------ Upcoming Events International Trails Day<http://www.winnipegtrails.ca/2012/05/04/celebrate-trail-day-%E2%80%94-satur…> Saturday, June 2 Commuter Challenge<http://greenactioncentre.ca/event/commuter-challenge-2012/> Week of June 3-9 Register now as an individual or workplace to win great prizes<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/commuter-challenge-prizes/>like VIA Rail's $500 voucher! Wine, Wenches & Wrenches<http://greenactioncentre.ca/event/wine-wenches-wrenches/> Riding on the Road Sun, June 3, 7:00-9:00 pm Clean Air Day on the Bridge<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/celebrating-active-commuters-on-clean-a…> Wed, June 6, 7:00-9:00 a.m. Bonnycastle Park Clean Air Day (schools) <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/clean-air-day/> Wednesday, June 6 <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/bougeons-en-hiver/>Wheely Fun Bike Ride <http://greenactioncentre.ca/event/wheely-fun-bike-ride-on-june-10/> Sun, June 10, 11:30-2:00 p.m. Sun Trek <http://www.winnipeginmotion.ca/news/special/?id=2820> Sun, June 10, 1:00-4:00 p.m. MEC BikeFest <http://blog.mec.ca/events/mec-bikefest/mec-bikefest-winnipeg/> Saturday, June 16 Bike to Work Day <http://biketoworkdaywinnipeg.org/> Friday, June 22 Bike to the Folk Festival<http://www.winnipegfolkfestival.ca/festival/plan-your-visit/ways-to-go-gree…> Wed, July 4, 5:45 a.m. ------------------------------ *Membership* Green Action Centre promotes membership as a way to expand and extend our outreach into the community. *Membership is FREE *and requires no specific commitment. Through our bi-weekly e-bulletins, we work to keep our members informed on timely and important environmental issues in Manitoba. If you are not already a member, please take the time to join us<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…>. Please also pass this along to your friends and family. *Help us grow our membership and outreach. * SPECIAL ISSUE! *Women & Families* Commute with your kids The morning commute can be a hectic time for families. Commuting together<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/commute-with-your-kids/>by bus, bike or on foot one day a week can add adventure, physical activity, and quality family time to this busy time of day. Getting to school Want to bike or take the bus to work, but also need to drop your kids off at school? Green Action Centre’s Active and Safe Routes to School<http://greenactioncentre.ca/2012/and-the-winner-is/>program offers a number of innovative solutions to improve morning and afternoon drop-off and pick-up at your children’s school. Their School Travel Planning program recently won a Manitoba Planning Excellence Award<http://greenactioncentre.ca/2012/and-the-winner-is/> . Bike with your family [image: Nathan Wild and son Graham]Having a hard time finding information on biking with your family? We’ve compiled a list of great resources on biking <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/bike-with-your-family/> while pregnant, cycling with babies and toddlers, planning your route, teaching kids the rules of the road, and much more. Women as "canaries" >From "Moon Cycle" bike maintenance classes to "Wine, Wenches and Wrenches" events for learning to ride with safety and confidence (while avoiding helmet hair!), more women-focused courses are being offered. Why is it important to get more women cycling for transportation?<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/women-and-cycling/> Cycling fashion sense Just because you’re on a bike doesn’t mean you have to look like a Tour de France rider. Step away from the spandex and embrace your flair for fashion. Check out our quickie style guide<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/cycling-fashion-sense/>on everything from funky helmets and bike seats to baskets and skirt garters, and lots in between like dressy shoes and colourful bike bells. Cycling infrastructure Don't know the difference between a cycle track and bike boulevard or a bike lane versus a sharrow? Join the club! But our handy photo guide<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/winnipeg-cycling-infrastructure-deciphe…>will help you decipher Winnipeg's cycling infrastructure and find a route that suits your comfort level. You are receiving this email because you are an Active & Green subscriber. Unsubscribe<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a1…> jessie(a)greenactioncentre.ca from this list. Our mailing address is: Green Action Centre 3-303 Portage Ave. Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2B4 Canada Add us to your address book<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/vcard?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a183a3f5…> Copyright (C) 2012 Green Action Centre All rights reserved. Forward<http://us2.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a183a3f55cc&id=9c8…>this email to a friend Update your profile<http://greenactioncentre.us2.list-manage.com/profile?u=af15a2f9f91ef9a183a3…> [image: Email Marketing Powered by MailChimp]<http://www.mailchimp.com/monkey-rewards/?aid=af15a2f9f91ef9a183a3f55cc&afl=1>

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The surprising rise of Minneapolis as a top bike town
by Beth McKechnie 30 May '12

30 May '12

The surprising rise of Minneapolis as a top bike town By Jay Walljasper, photos by Zach Vanderkooy, Thu, 04/05/2012 People across the country were surprised last year when Bicycling Magazine named Minneapolis America’s “#1 Bike City,” beating out Portland, Oregon, which had claimed the honor for many years. Shock that a place in the heartland could outperform cities on the coasts was matched by widespread disbelief that cycling was even possible in a state famous for its ferocious winters. But this skepticism fades with a closer look at the facts. Nearly four percent of Minneapolis residents bike to work according to census data. That’s an increase of 33 percent since 2007, and 500 percent since 1980. At least one-third of those commuters ride some days during the winter, according to federally funded research conducted by Bike Walk Twin Cities. Even on the coldest days about one-fifth of them are out on their bikes. *Read the full article here<http://www.bicycletimesmag.com/content/surprising-rise-minneapolis-top-bike…> *.

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Please join us tomorrow for the Commuter Challenge Media Launch!
by Shoni Litinsky 28 May '12

28 May '12

Join us tomorrow for the Commuter Challenge Media Launch<http://greenactioncentre.ca/event/commuter-challenge-media-launch/>! The event is taking place at 11:00 am at the Fort Rouge Rapid Transit Station. Everyone is welcome to attend. Please arrive by bike, on foot or Rapid Transit in true Commuter Challenge fashion! *Cyclists:* We will be forming a bike brigade to ride to the launch from Bonnycastle Park (Southwest corner of Main and Assiniboine) to the Launch. Riders will meet at 10:20 am and be departing at 10:30am sharp. The Honourable Jim Rondeau, Minister of Healthy Living, Youth and Seniors, will be joining us for the ride. If you have not yet registered for the Commuter Challenge please do so here: http://greenactioncentre.ca/program/commuterchallenge/ -- *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: My life as a cyclist (May27'12)
by Beth McKechnie 27 May '12

27 May '12

My life as a cyclist I expected conservative attitudes when I returned to Winnipeg, but driver disdain was a shocker By: Amanda San Filippo I recently came home to Winnipeg after a five-year hiatus. I knew moving back to this city I'd be dealing with typical Winnipeg conservatism. We've always been slow to evolve. Coupled with the fact the typical North American city has been designed around the automobile, I was prepared for a slight regression in cycling culture and, consequently, less tolerant drivers. What I was not prepared for was the actual disdain so many drivers seem to have for cyclists, to the point where my life has intentionally been put at risk. For these reasons, I often pick and choose when to follow the rules. Let me explain: I arrive at a stop sign. I slow down, but don't come to a complete stop, because I'll hold traffic up too much. A driver yells at me: "It's called a stop sign for a reason!" as he gently rolls through the stop sign himself. Wanting to avoid another outburst, I decide to come to a complete stop at the next intersection. The driver behind me grows impatient and decides to pull up beside me. I arrived at the intersection before the car approaching the intersection to my left, but the car that pulled up beside me arrived after. Since it is my turn to go, I proceed cautiously, only to have the driver to my left flip me off, because he had to stop in the middle of the intersection to let me go. This doubling-up (bike and car in the same lane) is especially common when making left turns. I can't clear an intersection as quickly as a car. If I am not commanding my lane, drivers will often drive up beside me to try to clear the intersection before me. This can be dangerous because I have to get from the left curb on one side of the intersection to the right curb on the other. If the car doubles up, and there are other cars behind it, I become sandwiched between the vehicles that should have been behind me and the oncoming traffic. But when I do try to command my lane, I am often met with anger. I am reminded of one incident when a young woman in an SUV started yelling. Rarely can I make out a person's words when they are in their car. Naturally, I turned to make sure I was not in any danger. Her turn signal appeared just as I looked behind me. I didn't notice it right away. This infuriated her even more, at which point she stepped on the gas and squealed her tires, nearly knocking me off my bike. I wish I could say these were isolated incidents. They are not. I am met with this type of impatience, belligerence and often danger, every day. I'll often cycle on the sidewalks, risking a heftier fine than the average speeding ticket. I'm left wondering if this city really does care more about the almighty dollar than the safety of its citizens. It's not all bad, though. If cycling were really so bad, I wouldn't do it. I've designed some coping mechanisms. For one, I couple an obnoxiously large helmet with an airheaded smile. People seem less inclined to yell at you if they think you're missing a few screws. I am also overly courteous to drivers who are respectful of me, even when they are visibly irritated. I often wave and thank them for their patience. Generally, they smile back. You'd be surprised how much a smile from a stranger can make a person forget their annoyance. I try to de-escalate where I can. Last month, I was biking down River Avenue. The parked cars were lined up leading up to Osborne Street. If I stayed in the curb lane, I risked having someone open their door in my face. This happens more often than one would think. So, I biked in the next lane. On this particular day, a car started honking while approaching me from behind. This is particularly dangerous, as the sudden sound of a horn startles a cyclist, causing them to lose balance or instinctively swerve into another lane. My partner, who was cycling in front of me, approached the driver at a red light, and asked why he had honked at me. The driver quickly became defensive and told us to meet him in the parking lot up ahead. He came out of his car, fists clenched, threw his hat to the ground and said: "What's your problem? You looked pretty far out in your lane there. You wanna fight, buddy?" This isn't the first time a driver has threatened to fight us, simply for asking them why they were yelling. My partner informed him we weren't looking to fight. We explained to him we were simply trying to avoid opening car doors. He looked at us begrudgingly, fists still clenched, and huffed: "I'm just really having a bad day. I'm sorry I took it out on you," and stomped off. I thought, "Well, it's a start." *Amanda San Filippo is the co-ordinator for Bicycle Valet Winnipeg, and is such an avid cyclist, she decided to sell her car.*

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WFP View From the West: Confessions of a Winnipeg sidewalk cyclist (May26'12)
by Beth McKechnie 26 May '12

26 May '12

Confessions of a Winnipeg sidewalk cyclist By: Sarah Whiteford I am a criminal, and the offence of cycling on the sidewalk in Winnipeg could land me a fine of $110. But the alternative of cycling along the very busy and far-too-narrow thoroughfare of St. Mary's Road during my daily commute seems far more risky. Most of the 12-kilometre route lacks any form of cycling-friendly infrastructure, with no dedicated paths or bike lanes and only a few short sections of diamond lanes. Several times I have attempted cycling on the road, jostling for position among the multitude of cars during the morning and evening rush hours. While the aggressive and belligerent drivers are no picnic, much more frightening are those drivers who fail to notice you are there. Manitoba Healthy Living states on its website that, on average, 150 cyclists are hospitalized or killed every year in the province. This week in Winnipeg, cyclist Violet Nelson fell victim to that statistic when her bicycle collided with a vehicle, throwing her into the path of a semi-trailer. While the details of that accident are not known, what has been demonstrated by research is cycling safety is correlated with having the transportation infrastructure for cycling. Anne Harris, an epidemiologist and investigator with the Bicyclists' Injuries and the Cycling Environment Study at the University of British Columbia, states "More and more, we're seeing evidence that dedicated cycling infrastructure on roads, separated from motor vehicles, protects cyclists from injuries." In contrast to dedicated cycling lanes or tracks, cycling on the sidewalk does pose a high risk for injury. Vehicles at intersections frequently do not look for fast-moving traffic on sidewalks. Sidewalks are multi-purpose trails and may be used by a variety of persons, including pedestrians, in-line skaters and those using motorized scooters. In order to minimize the risk to others and myself during my commute, I leave very early in the morning when the sidewalks are relatively free from traffic. My bicycle is outfitted with many forms of safety equipment, including a bell, front and rear lights and additional reflective tape. I generally go much slower on the sidewalks, moving onto the grass when passing pedestrians and reducing my speed as I approach each intersection. While occasionally a pedestrian will object to my presence on the sidewalk, most give me a wave or wish me a good day as I swerve past. But when I do come across one of my fellow cyclists who is braving the morning commute on the road, I hang my head in shame, feeling as though I am somehow letting down the side. The City of Winnipeg has announced that in July it will begin construction of a dedicated cycling lane along Pembina Highway. And while the city also has many existing cycling paths along major arteries, such as Bishop Grandin Boulevard, the infrastructure for the many cyclists who commute downtown each day is still woefully lacking. So, until this infrastructure improves, I am afraid I will likely continue my life of crime by cycling on the sidewalk. *Sarah Whiteford is a policy manager for the provincial government.*

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Sun Trek - June 10
by Kristine Hayward 25 May '12

25 May '12

Hi - please help us spread the word on the Sun Trek event by forwarding it onto your networks, adding it to your calendar of events or e-newsletters! Thanks! K Join Winnipeg in motion and our many community partners for the 1st annual Sun Trek Event - Free summer fun for all ages! Pick up your passport and take part in any of the following activities: * Geocaching * Golf * Floor Shuffleboard * Horse Shoes * Lawn Bowling * Sand Volleyball * Slack Lining * Tennis * Urban Poling * Children's Games and much more! Sunday, June 10, 2012 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Harbour View Golf and Recreation Complex - 1867 Springfield Road For additional information - visit www.winnipeginmotion.ca <http://www.winnipeginmotion.ca/> or call 204-940-1676 Thanks! Kristine Hayward in motion Coordinator 2nd floor - 490 Hargrave Street Winnipeg, MB R3A 0X7 Telephone 204 940-1676 Cell 204 232-7546 Fax 204-940-2690 khayward(a)wrha.mb.ca <mailto:khayward@wrha.mb.ca> Sign up to receive updates from Winnipeg in motion @ http://www.winnipeginmotion.ca/signup/ <http://www.winnipeginmotion.ca/signup/> PLEASE NOTE THAT WE HAVE RECENTLY 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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Pembina Highway to get dedicated cycling lanes (CBC)
by Beth McKechnie 25 May '12

25 May '12

[From Bike to the Future's cycling news page at http://biketothefuture.org/cycling-news] May 24, 2012 cbc.ca<http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/story/2012/05/24/mb-pembina-highway-…> *Construction set to begin in July* One of Winnipeg's busiest streets, Pembina Highway, is about to get a bicycle-friendly makeover. The City of Winnipeg will begin construction in July of dedicated cycling lanes northbound and southbound on Pembina between Chevrier Boulevard and Plaza Drive. "They're going to narrow the median, move the vehicles over, and so we'll have the sidewalk, we'll have a bike lane, and then we'll have the same number of lanes for traffic," Janice Lukes of the Winnipeg Trails Association told CBC News Thursday. "There won't be any reduction in traffic, no reduction in parking," she added. Lukes said she's not sure when construction of the lanes will be completed, but she said it's a priority given the new Winnipeg Blue Bombers stadium that is currently being built at the University of Manitoba. The city is also looking at ways to expand the Pembina Highway underpass to accommodate cyclists as well as add an extra lane of vehicular traffic. Audio interview of Janice Lukes by CBC Radio One's Larry Updike on *Up To Speed* -- 5:14<http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/story/2012/05/24/mb-pembina-highway-…>

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WFP: Cyclist killed on Higgins Ave was passionate mentor, volunteer (May25'12)
by Beth McKechnie 25 May '12

25 May '12

Cyclist killed on Higgins Avenue was passionate mentor, volunteer By: Mary Agnes Welch A longtime North End volunteer who died Wednesday in a bike accident was an expert cyclist who always followed safety rules. Violet Nelson taught dozens of neighbourhood girls proper road safety and organized a 15-kilometre bike-a-thon when she ran the North End's aboriginal Girl Guides program. "She biked for transportation. She didn't like the idea of driving a vehicle," said her mother, also named Violet Nelson. "She didn't like the pollution." At the time of the accident, the mother of two was cycling the few blocks from her work as the finance manager of a cutting-edge art gallery to the Native Women's Transition Centre, where she planned to join two of the province's most powerful politicians for a news conference. Nelson, who chaired the NWTC's volunteer board, worked for years on a new halfway house for former female inmates. Premier Greg Selinger and St. Boniface MP Shelly Glover were on hand Wednesday to open the 15-unit lodge meant to help offenders get back on their feet and reunite with their children. "She was always late," her mom said with a small laugh. "But I knew something was wrong when she didn't show up. That was a very important project to her." In a short interview, Lucille Bruce, executive director of the NWTC, said staff was in shock over Nelson's death. Nelson was cycling westbound on Higgins, just past Main Street, when she was in collision with a westbound vehicle in the curb lane. The collision threw her under the wheels of a semi-trailer, also travelling westbound, in the median lane. The driver of the semi wasn’t aware that he had run over Nelson and continued on. He was later contacted by police. Nelson, known as Vie to all her friends, leaves behind two young children -- an 11-year-old daughter and a five-year-old son. "Her life revolved around them," her mother said. She was very fit and sporty and had a wall full of trophies, her mom added. She suffered from dyslexia and dropped out of school a few credits into her Grade 9 year. But she was a whiz with numbers and later taught herself all kinds of administrative skills. Most recently, she was the finance manager at the Graffiti Gallery on Higgins Avenue. Nelson was an avid volunteer from the time she was in grade school at Faraday School in the North End, where she also routinely stuck up for her brother when he got picked on. As a teen, she spent nine months as a Katimavik youth volunteer in Quebec. Later, when she was on staff at the Indian and Metis Friendship Centre, she founded the aboriginal Girl Guides, recruiting and training the leaders and designing the curriculum for a program that quickly spread into several low-income neighbourhoods. It was through the Guides that she offered bike riding and safety lessons, and organized the bike-a-thon. "She was a very passionate woman. She'd come into the room and she'd light up the room," her mom said. "She knew how to get people doing things." A wake is planned for Wednesday at Thunderbird House, likely beginning at 6 p.m. A formal service will follow Thursday at 11 a.m. at Thunderbird House. maryagnes.welch(a)freepress.mb.ca http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/inspiration-to-aboriginal-girls-1539…

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WFP: NDP introduces law making bike helmets mandatory for those under 18 (May24'12)
by Beth McKechnie 24 May '12

24 May '12

Wear those bike helmets, kids NDP introduces law making headgear mandatory for those under 18 By: Larry Kusch After refusing for years to mandate the use of bicycle helmets, the Manitoba NDP relented with legislation that will require cyclists under the age of 18 to don protective headgear. Healthy Living Minister Jim Rondeau, who introduced the legislation on Wednesday, said the government's approach was to rely first on public education and programs that provided free or inexpensive helmets to preschool and school-age children. Those programs saw 80,000 helmets distributed to kids over the past half-dozen years, he said. Introducing a bike-helmet law was "the next logical step," Rondeau said Wednesday. "The amendments introduced today are a critical step forward in protecting our children and young cyclists and preventing serious injuries and fatalities," Rondeau said. Anke Sinclair, a mother of two boys, Mehru, 9, and Yannick, 3, said her children use helmets. "I think it's a safety issue. I think if they do fall -- whatever the cause -- I think it will protect their heads," she said. Sinclair said she thinks there needs to be more education for motorists around cyclists. "Me, as a cyclist, I see that some motorists don't really know what to do with me," said Sinclair. She said she's spoken to other people who want to ride their bikes more, but "do not feel safe." Sinclair also said it's very important to improve bike lanes in the city. Rondeau told reporters he doesn't expect police will be handing out many tickets once the bill is passed and proclaimed. He did not indicate when the new law would take effect. "We're not going to have a lot of cops chasing kids -- ever," Rondeau said, noting that in jurisdictions with similar legislation "very, very few tickets are given out." What the government is counting on, he said, is once a law is in effect, folks will understand it and obey it. "The major goal is to get people to know the law." Manitoba is one of only four provinces without some kind of bicycle-helmet law. Several jurisdictions, such as Alberta and Ontario, have had laws in place for a decade or more, while four provinces require all cyclists wear helmets. In provinces where child bicycle-helmet use is mandatory, compliance rates are 80 per cent or more. The usage rate in Manitoba sits at 42 per cent among children. The Manitoba Liberals have beat the drum for a bike-helmet law since 2006, but every time one of its members introduced a private member's bill touting a bike law, it was shot down by the ruling NDP. Liberal Leader Jon Gerrard said he was "very pleased that the government at last has listened" to his party and introduced the legislation. But he said it should have applied to adults as well as children. A Winnipeg pediatric neurosurgeon agreed. "There's nothing more protective about an adult's skull and brain versus a 17-year-old's. When your head hits the concrete... the impact is the same," Dr. Patrick McDonald told The Canadian Press. Rondeau didn't rule out expanding the helmet law to cover adults, but he said for now the government was content to apply it only to kids. He said children are less-experienced riders and prone to "the most risky behaviours" on a bicycle. "We'll monitor (the legislation) to see if we have to go further in the next little while." Charles Weaver, a spokesman for the Winnipeg cycling group Bike to the Future, said he is disappointed the government isn't doing more to protect cyclists. He noted his organization is split on whether bike-helmet use should be legislated. The province should be doing more to promote cycling as a healthy form of transportation and to educate motorists and cyclists on road safety, he said. Right now, many people are discouraged from riding their bikes because of safety fears. "We'd much rather they (the government) spent an effort on making cycling safer rather than protecting us from our own crashes," Weaver said. In some countries, such as Holland and Denmark, bike usage is much higher and injury rates are lower because of better laws, bike infrastructure and education, he said. "In this legislation, government is telling Manitobans: 'Our roads are dangerous for cyclists, so wear a helmet to protect yourself.' This is a Band-Aid solution," Weaver said. Will Belford, a mechanic/owner at Natural Cycle on Albert Street, said there are "many different aspects" of safety on the road. "As it stands right now, for Winnipeggers, it is still dangerous," he said. "Given the complexity of the situation, helmets for minors... would not be a mistake in my mind. Children are certainly at most risk because they have the least experience riding on roads, and that's really where most of the accidents happen." -- with files from Gabrielle Giroday larry.kusch(a)freepress.mb.ca *Cycling injuries (2005-2009)* An average of 165 cycling-related injuries requiring hospitalization occurred each year in Manitoba between 2005 and 2009, the most recent period for which statistics are available. Forty-five per cent of these injuries involved children. An average of 22 people per year were hospitalized for cycling-related head injuries during that time. About half were children. 13 people, including one child, died as a result of cycling mishaps between 2005 and 2009. -- source: Province of Manitoba *What's proposed:* All Manitobans under 18 years of age would be required to wear a proper helmet when riding a bicycle. Exemptions would be made on religious grounds. Kids riding on private property would also be exempt. Children under age 14 would not be prosecuted for failing to wear a helmet, but their parents would face fines of up to $50. Provision would be made for alternatives to fines for a first offence; those alternative penalties are still to be decided. Kids riding as passengers on a bike or being towed by a bicycle would also be required to wear a helmet. *Helmet safety tips* Buy a helmet that is approved by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) for use while riding a bicycle. Replace a helmet that's got a crack in it, since it might not offer maximum protection. Ensure the helmet fits properly and is adjusted regularly. -- source: Safety Services Manitoba (formerly Manitoba Safety Council)

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Posting to the AT Network
by Beth McKechnie 17 May '12

17 May '12

Hello AT Network subscribers! Just a friendly reminder that everyone subscribed to this list can post messages – new research, events, programs, opportunities to collaborate, requests for information, etc. All you have to do is address the message to: AT-Network(a)lists.umanitoba.ca cheers, Beth

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Evaluation for In-street Bicycle Parking Webinar
by Mark Cohoe 17 May '12

17 May '12

Hi, For those who attended yesterday's webinar, " In Street Bicycle Parking: What, When, Where and How Much?", we hope you enjoyed the webinar and found it valuable. Please take a few minutes to complete a short online evaluation <http://www.apbp.org/surveys/?id=Evaluation_May-12>to help improve future webinars provided by APBP. We look forward to seeing everyone at the next APBP webinar, "Resolving Conflicts at Complex Intersections". Join us Wednesday June 20th from 2pm to 3pm in the Eco Centre Boardroom. Cheers, Mark *//*

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WFP: Changes favour pedal-pushers - Bill loosens law for bikes on roads (May17'12)
by Beth McKechnie 17 May '12

17 May '12

Changes favour pedal-pushers Bill loosens law for bikes on roads By: Larry Kusch THE province plans to make it easier for municipalities to create designated bike lanes for cyclists. On Wednesday, the Selinger government proposed several changes to the Highway Traffic Act, amending the law's definition of traffic to include bicycles. Bicyclists have always been allowed to use roadways and will still have that right under the proposed amendments. But under the current act, municipalities can only create shared bike lanes on roads where bikes share the roadway with buses. Under the proposed legislation, municipalities would be able to create bike lanes on roadways even if buses don't travel that route. Also under the current act, bicycles are not allowed to use the shoulders of highways even if they are paved. A proposed change would permit bikes on highway shoulders. "Municipalities are asking for a way to address cycle traffic and bike lanes and so on within their municipal boundaries," Local Government Minister Ron Lemieux told reporters. "This will give them the bylaw-making authority to do that." Lemieux said the changes were developed in response to the growing number of Manitobans who choose bicycles as transportation over gas-powered vehicles. He said the proposed legislation would not give municipalities power to set new rules for cyclists or impose or adjust fines. That would remain under provincial authority. One proposed change would specify cyclists must ride single file on highways unless passing another bike. Winnipeg's cycling community responded positively to the proposals. Tim Woodcock, owner of Woodcock Cycle Works, said the changes would make it considerably safer for cyclists to get around. "There are a lot of cyclists who would love to ride more, but they're not comfortable riding on the roads the way they're designed and with the cars being so close," he said. Don Ellison, who commutes 40 kilometres every day on his bike, said the changes would raise awareness among motorists that cyclists have the right to use the road. Commuting cyclists seek routes that include a maximum of bike paths and a minimum of roadways, Ellison said. "We need bicycle routes that cut right through the city and come from all the different boroughs. That's how you get people riding for transportation, by getting them off the main drags." -- with files from Geoff Kirbyson larry.kusch(a)freepress.mb.ca http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/changes-favour-pedal-pushers-1518409…

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Manitoba News Release: Proposed Amendments to Highway Traffic Act Would Support More Active Transportation: Lemieux
by Anders Swanson 16 May '12

16 May '12

FYI May 16, 2012 PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC ACT WOULD SUPPORT MORE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION: LEMIEUX - - - Municipalities Could Set Bylaws On How Cyclists Use Roadways Proposed amendments would expand the Highway Traffic Act to boost forms of active transportation and help create designated bicycle pathways on existing roads, said Local Government Minister Ron Lemieux after introducing the legislation. "The proposals will amend the act's definition of traffic to include bicycles," said Lemieux. "It means municipalities would have the power to make bylaws that regulate bicycle traffic and adapt the bylaws to the specific needs of their communities, and that will mean more routes for cyclists." Commuter cycling is largely an urban activity and the proposed changes would give municipalities a larger role in managing the flow of traffic on their streets and in their neighbourhoods, Lemieux said. Municipal governments are often best positioned to assess routes and areas where integrating bicycles with motor vehicles is appropriate, he added. The minister said the proposed amendments are part of the Manitoba government's ongoing commitment to support healthy living and a cleaner environment. The proposed changes have been developed in response to the growing number of Manitobans who are choosing bicycles over gas-powered vehicles. "The environmental benefits of this trend are enormous and we want to support and encourage the use of bicycles across the province," Lemieux said. "We think this proposed legislation will open an important dialogue between motorists and cyclists and increase mutual respect for everyone who operates a vehicle on public roads." More information on the proposed amendments is available at: http://web2.gov.mb.ca/bills/40-1/index.php. - anders

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ParkBus offers carless Toronto (and next year, Ottawa) an escape route for camping
by Beth McKechnie 16 May '12

16 May '12

What a fabulous idea for Manitoba! Birds Hill Park would be the perfect place to start with its proximity to Winnipeg and camping/trails. (Thanks to Mike Balshaw for sharing.) ParkBus offers carless Toronto (and next year, Ottawa) an escape route for camping Posted by John Michael McGrath<http://toronto.openfile.ca/users/john-michael-mcgrath>on Friday, May 11, 2012 http://toronto.openfile.ca/blog/toronto/2012/parkbus-offers-carless-toronto… If you live in downtown Toronto and want to go camping, there's a non-trivial chance that you don't own the car to get you from A to B. This is a problem crying out for a solution. So when the Ontario Parkbus Initiative <http://www.parkbus.ca/>'s press release started flying around Twitter this afternoon their traffic spiked because, apparently, a lot of people are interested in their service: offering carless urbanites a route out of the city in the summer. "Our website is crashing today," says Boris Issaev, project manager at Parkbus.ca. They're not about to become millionaires from the brisk business (Parkbus doesn't make money on the ticket sales) but that's not the point. If the traffic they're seeing today is any indication, the point is that a large market was apparently being ignored, and isn't anymore. Issaev says the first idea for Parkbus started in 2010, with an information table at Mountain Equipment Co-Op to sign up interested campers and some emails to skeptical bus companies. The first year was a small success, and 2011 saw it expand slightly in what Issaev calls "almost regular service" and get the attention of Ontario Parks. The summer of 2012 is going to be even bigger, thanks in part to a $240,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, with regular service from Toronto to Bruce National Park, as well as Killarney, Algonquin, and Grundy Lake Provincial Parks. "We'd love to be in every park in Ontario, obviously, but we're trying to grow sustainably," says Issaev. Part of the plan for that growth is to start a pilot program in Ottawa next year, on at least some weekends. "Right now, we're getting some people taking the train down from Ottawa and getting on the bus in Toronto, which doesn't make sense for them," says Issaev. "So next year we're looking at weekend pilots in Ottawa to Algonquin." Booking with Parkbus may not be quite as flexible as renting an SUV (there's a limit to the number of bikes allowed on a bus, for example—and no canoes allowed) but anyone who's had the dubious pleasure of trying to wrangle a few friends into a rented SUV and keeping all the gear straight for the weekend may want to check Parkbus out. CORRECTION: The grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation that is making Parkbus' expansion possible is $240,000, not $40,000 as this post originally stated.

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Which commute is the healthiest
by Beth McKechnie 16 May '12

16 May '12

Which commute is the healthiest? By Laurie Tarkan<http://www.foxnews.com/archive/author/laurie-tarkan/index.html> Published May 10, 2012 FoxNews.com The longer you commute, the worse your health, according to the latest in a string of studies showing that sitting—even in a car—is bad for you. The study, published in the June issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, found that those who have the longest drives to work have decreased cardio fitness, are heavier and have higher blood pressure than those with shorter commutes. That’s bad news, since the average time driving to work increased from 17.6 minutes in 1983 to 22.5 minutes in 2001. The question: Is it being sedentary for so long that raises the risk or is it the stress of driving, or both? And is another type of commute, like taking a train or bus any better for you? In this study, researchers studied about 4,000 residents who lived in metropolitan areas of Texas. Researchers recorded commuting distances as well as several measures of health including cardiorespiratory fitness, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, glucose levels, cholesterol and blood pressure. Participants also recorded the amount of physical activity they did. The study found that people who drove longer distances to work reported doing less physical activity, had decreased cardio fitness and greater BMI, waist circumference and blood pressure. Cholesterol and glucose levels were not affected. Those who drove only 10 miles or more to work were more likely to have high blood pressure, and those who commuted 15 miles or more were less likely to meet recommendations for physical activity and were more likely to be obese. Even when physical activity was adjusted for (meaning taken out of the equation), the other risk factors remained, suggesting that long commuters expend less daily energy than others. The reason blood pressure also increased with driving distance may be linked to the stress of commuting. Past studies have associated daily commuting with high blood pressure, tension and fatigue. "Those with longer commutes may be more likely to be exposed to heavy traffic resulting in higher stress levels and more time sitting," says lead investigator of the new study, Christine M. Hoehner of Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. *Commuting by Train* But is commuting by train or bus any better? One study looked at the health of people who took a train from New Jersey to Manhattan. It turns out that if you use public transportation, you spend more time walking – to the train station and to your office – than if you drive. The study found that train commuters walked an average of 30 percent more steps per workday than those who drove to work. It also found that people commuting by car reported significantly more stress and a more negative mood than those who rode the train. *The Best Commute* Of course, the best way to get to work is to walk or ride a bike—an active commute. One study found that active commuting that incorporates walking or cycling was associated with an 11 percent reduction in cardiovascular risk. Another study found that men with any active commuting (versus none) were less likely to be obese, and had lower risk factors for heart disease across the board. Since there’s growing evidence that sitting at your desk all day is bad for your health, try to maximize the activity of your commute to your office. If walking or biking isn’t possible, second best is public transportation since. If you must drive to work, as most Americans do, then think about incorporating walking into your day as much as possible to counter all that time you’re sitting. http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/05/10/which-commute-is-healthiest/#ixzz1…

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Webinar reminder: In-Street Bicycle Parking: Wed, May 16, 2-3 pm, EcoCentre
by Beth McKechnie 15 May '12

15 May '12

*** Friendly reminder about tomorrow's webinar *** Green Action Centre and Bike to the Future invite you to join us for a local viewing of the upcoming APBP webinar at the EcoCentre (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave) followed by group discussion.* *Detailed descriptions provided below.* *In-street Bicycle Parking: What, When, Where and How Much? Wednesday, May 16th • 2:00 to 3:00 pm CST RSVPs are appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! cheers, Beth 925-3772 * * * * * Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) presents: In-street Bicycle Parking: What, When, Where and How Much? Wednesday, May 16th • 2:00 to 3:00 pm CST Increasingly communities face the dilemma of bicycles and pedestrians competing for scarce sidewalk space. As pedestrian activity increases wider sidewalks are needed, while as cycling increases more bicycle parking—traditionally placed on sidewalks—is also needed. In-street bicycle corrals allow agencies to place bicycle parking in the street, [image: parking]off the pedestrian way, resolving this conflict and making more efficient use of existing parking spaces. However, jurisdictions may hesitate to undertake bicycle corrals since there are few design examples and little specific guidance on which to base such projects. Planners, engineers, developers and advocates should attend this webinar to learn how to scale up bicycle parking to meet growing demand while avoiding negative impacts to the pedestrian environment. Placing bicycle parking in the street presents unique challenges for traffic engineers and streetscape designers. Issues include roadway operations, cyclist and pedestrian safety, placement of a bike corral in relation to other sidewalk and street design elements, pedestrian flows and adjacent land uses. The webinar will address these challenges with examples of successful in-street bicycle parking projects (examples from New York City, Portland, and Washington D.C.). Presenters will also define best practices for providing bicycle parking in the street and discuss how a program might progress, beginning with public process and moving through costs, installation, and maintenance. Presenters include Eric Anderson, City of Berkeley, California; Sarah Figliozzi, Portland Bureau of Transportation; Chris Holben, District Department of Transportation; and Hayes Lord, New York City Department of Transportation. -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre<http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/memberships/>

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Wales to discourage car reliance - Active Travel Bill
by Beth McKechnie 15 May '12

15 May '12

[Couldn't find this Globe & Mail (May14'12) article online so here's a scan – very interesting!] [image: Inline image 1]

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Successful bicycling initiatives for youth
by Beth McKechnie 11 May '12

11 May '12

New resource: http://lin.ca/resource-details/21997 Bicycling Interventions for Youth (2012) Diana McHugh researched and produced this powerpoint as her internship project with Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness this past term. Included in the slide show are examples of successful bicycling initiatives for youth, information and tips for implementing effective interventions as well as common barriers to increasing and promoting youth to cycle. Diana has just graduated from Dalhousie's School of Planning and the College of Sustainability. (Thanks to Jaymi Derrett for sharing!)

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Join the masses on Bike to Work Day!
by Beth McKechnie 11 May '12

11 May '12

** Please share widely with your networks ** *Join the masses on Friday, June 22, 2012 as we Bike to Work!* To register visit www.biketoworkdaywinnipeg.org See printable handbills and poster attached, and check out the promo video below: http://youtu.be/H0kx2rs7ADg

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Why there is no war between bikes and cars in the Netherlands
by Beth McKechnie 09 May '12

09 May '12

*Why There's No War Between Drivers and Cyclists in the Netherlands* Sarah Goodyear <http://www.theatlanticcities.com/authors/sarah-goodyear/> / May 08, 2012 Bicycling is such an integral part of life in the Netherlands, you might think that Dutch people are born knowing how to cycle. They aren’t, of course. What’s kind of wonderful is the way that they learn. It’s not just a matter of going to the park with a parent, getting a push, and falling down a bunch of times until you can pedal on your own. Dutch children are expected to learn and follow the rules of the road, because starting in secondary school – at age 12 – they are expected to be able to ride their bikes on their own to school, sometimes as far as nine or 10 miles. Because this independent travel for children is valued in Dutch society, education about traffic safety is something that every Dutch child receives. There's even a bicycle road test that Dutch children are required to take at age 12 in order to prove that they are responsible cycling citizens. *Read full article & see videos: * * http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2012/05/why-theres-no-war-between-… *<http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2012/05/why-theres-no-war-between-…> (Thanks to Dave Elmore for sharing.)

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Your Help is Needed to Ensure Pembina Gap is Closed
by Mark Cohoe 08 May '12

08 May '12

This Wednesday, May 9^th , the City of Winnipeg will be hosting an open house giving an opportunity to review three options being proposed for improvements to the Pembina Highway Underpass (at Jubilee).Only one of the proposed options meets the minimum requirements for active transportation.Only option 3 includes the long promised pathway to safely carry cyclists and pedestrians over Pembina Highway.This crossing has consistently been included in public plans <http://winnipegtransit.com/assets/80/Southwest_Rapid_Transit_Corridor_-_Sta…> for the Southwest Rapid Transit Corridor, the City has chosen to present the public with two options for the Pembina Underpass that exclude pedestrians and cyclists from having a safe, convenient way to cross one of the busiest roadways in the city. What difference would the exclusion of this pathway make?For those that Portland terms the "interested but concerned" cyclist (they estimate this represents 60% of their population), it means a lot.These potential cyclists will not choose a high traffic roadway like the Jubilee Overpass, nor will they suffer constant stopping and dismounting to get to their destination along lower traffic routes that avoid Jubilee Overpass (and incidentally cause them to stop all traffic on Pembina when they cross just south of Jubilee).For these cyclists, the lack of a safe, convenient, and separated pathway across Pembina will mean choosing their car over their bike for trips that they would otherwise gladly make by bike. We are asking all members to make an effort to get out to the open house <http://winnipeg.ca/publicworks/MajorProjects/PembinaHighwayUnderpass/defaul…> this Wednesday, fill out the on line survey (available after May 9^th ) and write your City Councillor and Provincial MLA to make it known that the only acceptable option for the Pembina Underpass is one that includes room for a separated AT Pathway over Pembina Highway when Rapid Transit is extended.The open house is being held at the APEGN office (870 Pembina Highway) just north of the underpass.Comments can be sent to the project web-site <file:///C:%5CUsers%5CMCohoe%5CDocuments%5CBike%20to%20the%20Future%5CCity%20Committee%5CBikeways%5CPembina%20Bikeway%5CPembina%20Underpass%5C%28http:%5Cwww.winnipeg.ca%5Cpublicworks%5CMajorProjects%5CPembinaHighwayUnderpass%5Cdefault.asp%29> or sent directly to the head planner in charge of this project, Jacqueline East <mailto:jeast@dillon.ca>. Sincerely, Mark Cohoe Bike to the Future

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In-Street Bicycle Parking webinar: Wed, May 16th, 2-3 pm, EcoCentre
by Beth McKechnie 08 May '12

08 May '12

Green Action Centre and Bike to the Future invite you to join us for a local viewing of the upcoming APBP webinar at the EcoCentre (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave) followed by group discussion.* *Detailed descriptions provided below.* *In-street Bicycle Parking: What, When, Where and How Much? Wednesday, May 16th • 2:00 to 3:00 pm CST RSVPs are appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! cheers, Beth 925-3772 * * * * * Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) presents: In-street Bicycle Parking: What, When, Where and How Much? Wednesday, May 16th • 2:00 to 3:00 pm CST Increasingly communities face the dilemma of bicycles and pedestrians competing for scarce sidewalk space. As pedestrian activity increases wider sidewalks are needed, while as cycling increases more bicycle parking—traditionally placed on sidewalks—is also needed. In-street bicycle corrals allow agencies to place bicycle parking in the street, off the pedestrian way, resolving this conflict and making more efficient use of existing parking spaces. However, jurisdictions may hesitate to undertake bicycle corrals since there are few design examples and little specific guidance on which to base such projects. Planners, engineers, developers and advocates should attend this webinar to learn how to scale up bicycle parking to meet growing demand while avoiding negative impacts to the pedestrian environment. Placing bicycle parking in the street presents unique challenges for traffic engineers and streetscape designers. Issues include roadway operations, cyclist and pedestrian safety, placement of a bike corral in relation to other sidewalk and street design elements, pedestrian flows and adjacent land uses. The webinar will address these challenges with examples of successful in-street bicycle parking projects (examples from New York City, Portland, and Washington D.C.). Presenters will also define best practices for providing bicycle parking in the street and discuss how a program might progress, beginning with public process and moving through costs, installation, and maintenance. Presenters include Eric Anderson, City of Berkeley, California; Sarah Figliozzi, Portland Bureau of Transportation; Chris Holben, District Department of Transportation; and Hayes Lord, New York City Department of Transportation. APBP has applied to the AICP for one Certification Maintenance credit for this webinar, and will provide an attendance certificate to those who document their professional development hours. -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre<http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/memberships/>

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BikeMobile Project - Safe Routes to School (CA)
by Beth McKechnie 07 May '12

07 May '12

Interesting article attached on a new BikeMobile project under the Safe Routes to School Program in Dublin, California. More coverage here: http://www.arounddublinblog.com/2012/04/dublin-ca-innovative-bikemobile-fix… (Thanks to Bob Kurylko for forwarding.) cheers, Beth

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Wine, Wenches, and Wrenches - Upcoming Ladies Cycling Workshops
by Shoni Litinsky 07 May '12

07 May '12

Please circulate to anyone that may be interested to join us! [image: Inline image 1] -- *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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Globe and Mail: Saving lives by slowing down on city streets
by Beth McKechnie 06 May '12

06 May '12

Saving lives by slowing down on city streets Kelly Grant From Monday's Globe and Mail Published Sunday, Apr. 29, 2012 9:08PM EDT http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/saving-lives-by-slowing-down-o… Toronto’s top doctor wants speed limits in Canada’s largest city reduced by 10 to 20 kilometres an hour, an idea that’ll be a tough sell when he pitches it to the Board of Health on Monday. When Medical Officer of Health David McKeown revealed his proposal last week, it was panned faster than the speed of a car on one of Toronto’s 60 km/h arterial roads. Mayor Rob Ford dismissed it as “nuts, nuts, nuts, nuts,” while the head of the public works committee urged Dr. McKeown to “stick to his knitting,” unless he’s after a job in the transportation department. But Dr. McKeown’s proposal isn’t outrageous. Other major cities around the world are experimenting with lowering speed limits as part of their efforts to keep pedestrians, cyclists and drivers safe, something supporters hope will nudge urban dwellers out of their cars. New York implemented its first “slow speed” 20-mph (about 32 km/h) zone in the heart of the Bronx last fall. Edmonton recently wrapped up a pilot project testing a 10 km/h reduction – to 40 km/h from 50 – in six neighbourhoods, three of which have elected to retain the lower speed caps. And Portsmouth, England, has received calls from across the globe about its decision to implement a nearly city-wide speed limit of 20 mph. These interventions go beyond traditional traffic-calming measures, such as speed bumps. “I’m not surprised that on first blush, some people might be concerned about the recommendation,” Dr. McKeown said in an interview. “[But] the evidence of the relationship between speed and mortality and fatality is very strong.” Pedestrians are eight times more likely to die when hit by cars travelling 50 km/h than when struck by vehicles travelling 30 km/h, according to the World Health Organization. Strong as it may be, the science supporting lower speed limits isn’t exactly surprising. Slowing down saves lives. However, municipal leaders must balance safety with the need to get from point A to point B in a reasonable time. That’s why most of the cities testing lower speed limits are using neighbourhood streets, not arterial roads, as their petri dishes. Take New York. In a bid to cut traffic fatalities in half by 2030, the Big Apple has implemented a raft of measures to persuade motorists to slow down, including cheeky commercials reminding New Yorkers there actually *is *a speed limit in the city, and it’s 30 mph. New York’s Department of Transportation has taken a particularly aggressive step in the Claremont section of The Bronx. Often abused as a shortcut, the quarter-mile residential neighbourhood saw 46 people killed or seriously injured in motor-vehicle crashes from 2006 to 2010, prompting the city to make Claremont its first 20-mph zone. The zone is marked with 14 distinctive gateway entrances, 28 posted speed limit signs and nine speed humps. “It sends a clear message to those drivers that neighbourhood streets are not shortcuts, they are not speedways,” said New York Transportation commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan. She said residents were “wildly supportive” of the new zone. “People were happy because they were tired of seeing their streets used as speedways.” Now more than 100 New York neighbourhoods have applied for slow-speed zones, she added. “I think that you’re starting to see cities all over the country look for these kinds of interventions. There’s a big hue and cry to have safer streets,” she said. It’s still an open question whether reducing the posted speed limit alone actually compels motorists to ease off the gas. Claremont’s experience is still too fresh to have produced useful data. In any case, the neighbourhood’s slow zone includes speed bumps, making it difficult to separate their effects from those of a lower posted speed limit. Edmonton, on the other hand, has the hard numbers to show that a reduced speed limit is little match for road design. Beginning on May 1, 2010, the Alberta capital reduced speed limits in six very different neighbourhoods to 40 km/h from 50, using only signs and enforcement, including photo radar. Overall, operating speeds fells by 7 per cent or about 3.5 km/h. The number of serious crashes dropped slightly in all but one of the test areas, where severe collisions actually increased. Sounds promising, until you look at the actual speeds logged during the six-month experiment. In two older neighbourhoods, operating speeds fell to 51 km/h from about 53; in two grid-patterned areas, speeds dropped to 53 km/h from 55; and in two newly built pockets, speeds fell to 57 km/h from 60. In other words, next to nobody respected the 40 km/h limit. Road design mattered. Motorists drove slower on older, narrow streets lined with parked cars, and faster on new, wider thoroughfares with little parking. “One of the things about reducing the speed limit on any given road is that it needs to make sense to the public,” said Scott McDonald, senior speed management co-ordinator for Edmonton’s Office of Traffic Safety. That’s one of the reasons Dr. McKeown’s recommendations have taken such a beating. Right now, Toronto’s speed limit, unless otherwise posted, is 50 km/h. Some wide arterial roads are 60 km/h, most residential streets are 40 km/h, and streets with speed bumps are 30 km/h. The Medical Officer of Health favours reducing the residential limit to 30 km/h and the default speed limit to 40 km/h. In a city strangled by gridlock, the thought of puttering along at 40 km/h on an arterial road isn’t likely to be embraced. At least not by Toronto city council, which has the final say on speeds within city limits. That doesn’t discourage Dr. McKeown. Slower speeds are just a small – if controversial – part of the report he’ll be championing on Monday. “We are facing a significant burden of illness associated with obesity and diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and being more active in our day-to-day activities is a very important way of combatting those major health threats,” Dr. McKeown said. *Lower speeds, higher savings* One English city has found that the slow way can also be the safe and cheap way. There hasn’t been a single fatality on the roads of Portsmouth since the island city of 207,000 on the south coast of England implemented a 20 mph (or 32 km/h) speed limit in 2007-2008. The cap applies to 1,245 streets, or 94 per cent of Portsmouth’s roads. Unlike most cities that try to slow down motorists, Portsmouth’s limit isn’t reinforced with speed bumps or other physical changes to the road. “We decided to do it because we had a triple fatality on a residential road and, obviously, we had members of the public that were extremely concerned,” said Adam Bunce, an assistant traffic engineer and project manager for Portsmouth’s 20-mph project. Reaction to lowering the speed limit by 10 mph was mixed at first. Residents doubted that signs and the occasional police blitz would compel drivers to take their foot off the gas. (Drivers nabbed breaking the 20-mph rule are slapped with a £60 ($95) fine and three-point loss on their licences, unless they agree to attend a one-hour safety seminar, complete with videos of horrible car crashes.) But a 2010 interim evaluation found the lower limits worked – for the most part. Average speeds dropped by just 0.9 mph overall. On blocks where the average “before” speed was higher than 24 mph, the average speed fell by seven mph. Total injuries for pedestrians, passengers and drivers, though, was down 22 per cent. The biggest knock on the plan is that serious injuries actually increased by six per cent, a result Mr. Bunce dismissed as statistically insignificant because the city has so few auto accidents. In other words, Portsmouth’s motorists were already taking it slow. The city’s narrow residential streets, lined with Victorian homes and parked cars, aren’t conducive to speeding. The 20-mph limit doesn’t apply on the major motorways and distributor roads that carry most commuters. Toronto and the majority of Canadian cities, especially those built out after the Second World War, don’t enjoy the same advantages of urban form. However, if any do decide to follow Portsmouth’s lead, they’ll find one advantage applies as much here as it does across the pond: A sweeping speed-limit reduction is cheaper than traditional traffic-calming measures. Portsmouth was preparing to dole out £2-million ($3.2-million) over five years, mostly on speed bumps, when it switched gears to lowering the speed limit almost everywhere. “Implementing a city-wide speed limit at £623,000 ($993,000), we saved ourselves £1.5-million ($2.4-million),” Mr. Bunce said. Graphics: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/your-probability-of-de… http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/the-faster-you-drive-t…

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Dutch videos about speeding
by Beth McKechnie 04 May '12

04 May '12

The Dutch are particularly good at using humour to make a point. Would be great to see something like this for Winnipeg and other urban centres in MB. http://youtu.be/y60YQOzNWYE Thanks to Jonathan Borland for sharing the videos! cheers, Beth

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Bicycle Facilities Design Course for Engineers - May 27 in Winnipeg!!! CITE 2012
by Anders Swanson 03 May '12

03 May '12

[Thanks to Bjorn Radstrom for passing this along - a very valuable training opportunity for engineers interested in designing for the bicycle - Anders]. “Bicycle Facilities Design Course” is being offered at the annual Canadian Institute of Transportation Engineers (CITE 2012) conference in Winnipeg. The workshop is on Sunday, May 27th from 08:30 to 16:30. There are details at: http://www.cite7.org/Winnipeg2012/WinnipegWorkshops.php. You can register for the workshop without registering for the rest of the conference.

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Notice of Public Open House - Pembina Highway Underpass Improvement Options
by Beth McKechnie 30 Apr '12

30 Apr '12

------------------------------ *From:* Quesnel-Strasser, Angela [mailto:aquesnelstrasser@dillon.ca] *Sent:* April 26, 2012 4:52 PM *Subject:* Notice of Public Open House - Pembina Highway Underpass Improvement Options On behalf of the City of Winnipeg, we invite you to attend an Open House to review and provide feedback on three options being proposed for improvements to the Pembina Highway Underpass. A PDF describing the three options is attached. The Open House will be a drop-in format so feel free to come any time between 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM and speak with the project team. The three options being proposed for the Pembina Highway Underpass improvements will be displayed. *Date: Wednesday, May 9, 2012* * * *Time: 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM (Drop-in Format)* * * *Location: Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists** (APEGM) * *870 Pembina Highway* If you are unable to attend the Open House but would like information on the project please visit www.Winnipeg.ca/PembinaHighwayUnderpass or contact Jacqueline East at Dillon Consulting Limited 453-2301 or *jeast(a)dillon.ca.* * * Thank you. **

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Jane's Walk Winnipeg weekend is here!
by Beth McKechnie 30 Apr '12

30 Apr '12

** *Please share widely with your networks, family and friends! Thanks* ** The annual Jane's Walk <http://janeswalk.net/> weekend happens this coming Saturday and Sunday, May 5 & 6 (poster attached). Check out the line-up of Winnipeg walks<http://janeswalk.net/cities/list/category/winnipeg>(more being added) to discover which neighbourhoods or topics interest you. Maybe it's Aboriginal development and placemaking on Main Street, the Bell Tower Movement to Stop the Violence in the North End, or the history of the West Broadway or Wolseley neighbourhoods. Take a walk to learn more about your city and its neighbourhoods, and participate in meaningful conversations about the past and the future. [image: Inline image 1]

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Joyride: A celebration of cycling
by Shoni Litinsky 29 Apr '12

29 Apr '12

Hi Everyone, A local artist Michelle Gamache <http://www.michellegamache.ca> just completed this great book that captures the love and beauty of the bicycle. A few of us had our comments made it in there, but it is just nice to see the images and read the different aspects of cycling people write about, speed, excitement...even biking right into the lake. Enjoy http://www.blurb.com/books/3143194 -- *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/> -- *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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Bike to Work Day Winnipeg - June 22, 2012
by Beth McKechnie 27 Apr '12

27 Apr '12

We invite you to take to the streets and join thousands of commuters in cycling to work. *The fifth annual Bike to Work Day Winnipeg will be held on Friday, June 22nd*. Stop by a pit stop from 6:30-9:00 am on your way to work and get a boost with free snacks, bike tune-ups and refreshments. Over thirty community and corporate groups will welcome cyclists in the morning, and each stop will host its own prize giveaways and an opportunity to meet a diversity of active transportation supporters. You can wind up your week with a BBQ at The Forks beginning at 3:30 and featuring local musical talent, free dinner and your chance to win a brand new Schwinn bicycle or bike trailer from Chariot Trailers. Start today by registering online to show your support for the smart commute, and to take advantage of the day's festivities. Please visit www.biketoworkdaywinnipeg.org. -- Andraea Sartison Event Coordinator Bike to Work Day 2011 333-2666 www.biketoworkdaywinnipeg.org

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The W.R.E.N.C.H. employment opportunity
by Beth McKechnie 27 Apr '12

27 Apr '12

Want to work with kids, bikes and the cycling community? Then you've found the perfect position as Executive Director of The W.R.E.N.C.H. <http://thewrench.ca/> (Winnipeg Repair Education and Cycling Hub)! Check out the job posting here<http://thewrench.ca/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/WRENCH-job-posting…> .

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NTPP Update: A Bold Experiment in Four Communities - Handouts
by Mark Cohoe 26 Apr '12

26 Apr '12

Hi, Sorry this is a bit slow coming out. Here are the links to the handouts and evaluation for last weeks webinar. *The handouts for this webinar are available for download on the APBP website*. To download the slides and handouts in pdf format, please go to http://www.apbp.org/?page=Webinar_Downloads <http://www.apbp.org/link.asp?e=markc@biketothefuture.org&job=600878&ymlink=…>. On this page you will find handouts; the slide presentation as a pdf; the sign-in sheet to claim credit for CM and PDH; and some technical assistance documents for GoToWebinar. We hope you enjoyed the webinar, "NTPP Update: A Bold Experiment in Four Communities", and found it valuable. If you haven't already done so, please take a few minutes to complete a short online evaluation at http://www.apbp.org/surveys/?id=Evaluation_Apr-12 <http://www.apbp.org/link.asp?e=markc@biketothefuture.org&job=601203&ymlink=…> Cheers Mark Cohoe Bike to the Future

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REMINDER: Registration for 2nd Conversations in motion Event - May 9th!
by Kristine Hayward 26 Apr '12

26 Apr '12

Hi! If you haven't registered for the second annual Conversations in motion series: "Health promotion gone VIRAL: Tweeting & posting for better health choices," you should do it right now! The event will be held on Wednesday, May 9th 8:15am-4:00pm at the Université de Saint-Boniface On-line registration will be open until May 4th or until all spots are filled! We are over 50% SOLD OUT!! Please see the attached Event Poster for more information on how to register or visit our webpage: http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/kinrec/research/conversations.html <http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/kinrec/research/conversations.html> *NEW: If you have registered already, be sure to check out our Pre-Event Scavenger Hunt!! Here's the link: http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/kinrec/grad_programs/safety/media/Scavenger.p… This will get you ready for the event and there are prizes to be won! For more information, please contact me at 474-7451 (phone) or Nicole_dunn(a)umanitoba.ca <mailto:Nicole_dunn@umanitoba.ca> . Thanks, Nicole Nicole J. Dunn, BA (Adv), BRS, MA Associate Director (Administration) 308A Max Bell Centre Health, Leisure & Human Performance Research Institute University of Manitoba Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 T: 204-474-7451 F: 204-261-4802 E: nicole_dunn(a)umanitoba.ca http://umanitoba.ca/kinrec/research/ <http://umanitoba.ca/kinrec/research/> 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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Lower Speed Limits Proposed Across Toronto
by Anders Swanson 25 Apr '12

25 Apr '12

[speed limits are in the news...so to complete the "trifecta", here's a story out of Toronto about a recent report from Toronto's chief medical officer of health about the best and safest way to get everyone else (besides the kids lucky enough to be in a school zone) out cycling and walking...thx to Tom for the forward. - anders] http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2012/04/24/toronto-speed-limits… References: Report from Toronto Health (Road to Health: Improving Walking and Cycling in Toronto) http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2012.HL13.1 http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2012/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-46520.pdf

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City of Winnipeg News Release - City of Winnipeg Annual Bike Auction
by Beth McKechnie 25 Apr '12

25 Apr '12

*Sent:* Wednesday, April 25, 2012 11:13 AM *Subject:* City of Winnipeg News Release - City of Winnipeg Annual Bike Auction [image: Description: Description: Description: Description: cid:image001.png@01CC88E0.FA0A1B80] For Immediate Release Wednesday, April 25, 2012 *City of Winnipeg Annual Bike Auction* *Winnipeg, MB* – Residents are reminded that the City’s annual auction of unclaimed bicycles will be held on Saturday, April 28 and Sunday, April 29, 2012, at the Varsity View Sportsplex, 4230 Ridgewood Avenue. Approximately 450 bicycles will be auctioned off on Saturday, and approximately 300 on Sunday. Parking is available for $2.00 per vehicle, with all parking proceeds going to the Varsity View Community Club. This year, the City of Winnipeg has partnered with the Winnipeg Repair Education and Cycling Hub (WRENCH) to offer up to 200 bikes that have been tuned up by volunteer mechanics, and are ready-to-ride! Also on site will be information and displays about the City’s cycling network, commuter courses, proper helmet fit, and Winnipeg’s community bike shops. Public viewing will be held as follows: · Saturday, April 28 from 7:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. – Auction starts at 9:00 a.m. · Sunday, April 29 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. – Auction starts at 12:00 noon Please note that all bicycles are sold as is, where is, and no warranty is given nor implied. Cash, MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Interac payments will be accepted. Cheques will not be accepted. One-time Bicycle Registrations will be available on site at a cost of $5.60 plus GST, per bicycle. Registering your bike will ensure that, should the City recover it—you will get it back with no additional charges. For further information on Community By-law Enforcement Services – Bicycle Recovery Section, please call 311 or visit: http://winnipeg.ca/cms/license_branch/bicycle_license.stm -30- Media inquiries should be directed to the City of Winnipeg Media Inquiry Line at 204-986-6000 or via email at MediaInquiry(a)winnipeg.ca Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/cityofwinnipeg<http://www.facebook.com/cityofwinnipeg> Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/cityofwinnipeg<http://www.twitter.com/cityofwinnipeg>

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Webinar: Safe Routes for Seniors - Thurs, May 3, Noon-1:15, EcoCentre
by Beth McKechnie 24 Apr '12

24 Apr '12

Please join Green Action Centre to watch the following webinar followed by discussion. Feel free to bring your lunch. RSVPs appreciated but not necessary. *Creating a Safe Routes for Seniors Program* Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 12:00pm-1:15pm (webinar duration is 45 minutes) Eco-Centre<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/>Boardroom - 3rd Floor, 303 Portage Avenue In urban environments throughout the country, children and older adults represent a disproportionate percentage of pedestrian injuries and fatalities in motor vehicle crashes. Many of these places have long established “Safe Routes to School” programs and policies for children, but are at a loss when it comes to making streets safer for older adults. As more people age in place and the population as a whole is living longer, creating streets that are easy, enjoyable and safe for older adults is crucial in urban environments. This course uses seven chapters to outline the components of a program to improve street safety for senior citizens and promote the cardiovascular health of local older adults in urban areas. After watching this course you will understand the differences between “Safe Routes” for children and older adults and the steps you should take to get these programs off the ground, using concepts proven to work in New York City. * * *Amy Pfeiffer*, your instructor, is a transportation planner and principal of PFoundation Works. She has over 11 years experience in transportation planning working with Nelson Nygaard, Transportation Alternatives, and The New York City Department of City Planning. -- *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/>

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WFP editorial: Send right signals to pedestrians PLUS study on scramble corners
by Beth McKechnie 24 Apr '12

24 Apr '12

Send right signals to pedestrians http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/send-right-signals-to-p… The complaint that you need a jet pack to cross Portage Avenue on foot has been around for years. The city's traffic department, however, responds the perception likely is a lack of understanding of how the signals at intersections work. Pedestrians are given five seconds to start a crossing, and the appearance of the flashing red hand is merely a warning, not a sign to stop walking midstream. Pedestrians are given more than 10 seconds to cross -- the timing is calculated at a pace of 1.2 metres or less per second for a safe crossing. But if misperception has lingered longer than a quarter-century, if some walkers are getting caught on the median, then better communication is needed. To that end, the city is investigating the "countdown" signals used in other cities to show pedestrians how many seconds are left to get across safely. The city should also remove the buttons that must be pushed at some intersections to activate the "walk-man" signal allowing people to enter a crossing safely. The buttons were removed downtown and should be yanked in other areas, as well, to assert a pedestrian's right to cross on a green light. There are other ideas around that Winnipeg should investigate. Calgary, for example, introduced in 2008 the diagonal crosswalk at 3rd Street Southwest, in the Eau Claire area. It stops all vehicles to allow foot traffic to cross in all directions, including diagonally. Such unconventional signalling requires a learning curve, but there are intersections in Winnipeg -- River and Osborne -- where heavy foot traffic impedes vehicles turning left and right. Perhaps there, unimpeded pedestrian crossings can make sense. Motorists in Winnipeg celebrated when Mayor Sam Katz promised years ago to synchronize lights on busy streets such as Portage and Broadway. That recognized the need to inject efficiency to signalled intersections. The population is getting older and heavier. Intersection signals should help, not discourage, those who choose to walk, and walk safely, around town. * * * * * NOTE: Here's a study<http://www.toronto.ca/transportation/walking/pdf/pedestrian_scramble_crossi…>comparing the planning and implementation of "diagonal crosswalks", or scramble corners as they're sometimes called, in Toronto and Calgary. At a glance, it appears Toronto's example is the better implementation from which to learn or perhaps it's a difference in car/ped culture in the two cities. Pasted below is the concluding paragraph from the analysis, which was prepared by a representative from each of the two municipalities. cheers, Beth "It is recognized that the implementation of pedestrian scramble would increase vehicle delays. There was a significant increase in delays to mixed traffic in Toronto; from a policy implementation perspective, this tradeoff was acceptable given that there are over 50,000 pedestrians at the Toronto intersection in a typical 24 hour period compared to 36,000 vehicles. The increase in delay to transit vehicles is a concern – while a better level of service is being provided to pedestrians at the Toronto intersection, these same pedestrians are subject to additional delays when they ride on the streetcars. Similarly in Calgary the expected increase in vehicle delay was considered acceptable given the safety and operational benefits for pedestrians that scramble control provides. Implementation of scramble control in Toronto and Calgary demonstrates both cities’ commitment to creating more walkable cities. Based on the high number of pedestrians observed crossing diagonally at the three locations, it does appear that the pedestrian scramble phasing is being well used by pedestrians in Toronto and Calgary."

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Long and winding road - Winnipeg needs to move toward a more car-free culture
by Beth McKechnie 23 Apr '12

23 Apr '12

Long and winding road Winnipeg needs to move toward a more car-free culture By: Bartley Kives http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/long-and-winding-road-148422775.html If you own a 2012 Honda Civic or any other car with a 50-litre gas tank, it'll cost you an extra $1.25 to fill 'er up on May 1. This is the short-term cost of the Selinger government's 2.5-cent-a-litre provincial gas-tax hike, which is expected to rake in $48.6 million of additional revenue for the province during the forthcoming fiscal year. The cash, the province says, will be devoted to fixing roads and bridges. But as Premier Greg Selinger has been forced to concede, the province has no plans to spend an extra $48.6 million on roads and bridges this coming year. While legislation demands provincial gas-tax revenue must be spent on infrastructure, there is no similar rule against taking money out of roads-and-bridges and spending it on other priorities. To some extent, that's precisely what the province plans to do this year, as administrative officials confirmed during last week's budget lockup. The spin doctors on the political side protested loudly, claiming there are in fact increases hidden somewhere within the budget papers. But there is no doubt the province is not taking all that extra gas-tax cash and using it to top up the roads-and-bridges budget. Just as there is no question the City of Winnipeg tried to pull off a very similar trick in 2011. About 13 months ago, Mayor Sam Katz announced Winnipeg's first frontage-levy hike in about a decade, a move intended to raise an extra $14 million for the city last year. Like Selinger this year, Katz claimed in 2011 this extra revenue would be spent entirely on infrastructure. And he was correct: It went into the city's road-maintenance budget. What civic politicians were not eager to admit is even more money came out of that very same budget, to be spent on other priorities. In other words, both the city and province have tried to place the precise same spin on a form of tax hike over the past two years. Faced with budget shortfalls, Selinger and Katz tried to dress up the politically unpopular decision to raise taxes with the only form of populist window dressing voters seem to accept: We're taking your money to fix the roads. As far as spin goes, this is not very effective, as even the most easily confused reporter, blogger or opposition politician can look at two numbers and discern which one is smaller. But the fact this ploy gets used at all is a testament to how much Winnipeggers and Manitobans seem to care about their roads. Poll after poll reveals the condition of both city and provincial roads are among the top two concerns of voters in this flat patch of the planet. So politicians pander to that sentiment -- and continue to perpetuate the notion that simply "fixing the roads" will cure much of what ails this city and this province. As any historian will tell you, the presence or absence of a properly functioning transportation system may be the most crucial factor determining the success or failure of a city, both in terms of material wealth and the health and well-being of its citizens. But inherent in that assumption, across much if not most of North America, is that a properly functioning transportation system can and should be measured solely by the state of its roads. "I wish they would fix the damn roads" may be the most common complaint in Winnipeg, where the freeze-thaw cycles of our sub-Arctic climate ensure we wind up with some of the most pockmarked, potholed buggy tracks on the continent. When we travel to the U.S., many of us are left awed and envious by the sight of freeway systems with endless kilometres of elevated concrete and steel-supported overpasses. So we desire these things, much like we desire big-box stores full of IKEA furniture and glass hotel atria full of plastic waterslides, but those apparent amenities are rant fodder for another day. Based on anecdote and data, it's fairly safe to say many of us feel this way. But I would argue this is folly. Yes, a functioning highway system is important for the transfer of goods around the globe. But Winnipeg's ever-expanding road system is the key to its endless struggles, as all sane politicians come to realize over time. Winnipeg is no different from many North American cities in that the primary mode of transportation is the personal vehicle. Cars provides us all with freedom, we believe, even as we know it is more environmentally efficient, less expensive and less isolating to get around using public transit. Cars, however, are simply more convenient to use in cities designed for cars instead of people. So whenever efforts are made to improve transportation for people who don't use cars, a chicken versus egg inevitably arises. Spend money on public transit? Many of us argue against it, insisting we should simply build more roads, thus ensuring we must all spend vast sums of money to purchase, maintain and operate expensive vehicles that require large tracts of concrete for parking and, by extension, ensure our cities continue to grow outward and require more roads. Expansive parking lots for expansive stores ensure retailers pay higher property taxes and charge us more for our goods. But we demand free parking, because we have been brought up to believe it is our God-given right. Some of us even believe public transit should bloody well pay for itself, because we don't use it. The corollary argument -- that non-drivers should not have to pay for road construction -- is deemed irrelevant, if not laughable. So politicians and policy-makers put off investments in public transit, even though our leaders are well aware of the arithmetic that makes higher-density planning the most sensible and responsible financial option for any city in the long-term. The public wants more roads, the politicians shrug. They want to live in single-family homes, far away from anywhere they could possibly reach on foot, the developers claim. So the people who sculpt the shape of our lives give us what we want. And anyone foolish enough to question this logic is deemed to be a naive utopian or an urbanist geek. Of course, the price of oil and the inconvenience of congestion tend to increase both urban density and the popularity of public transit. These are the market forces that will inevitably drive even car-dependent Winnipeg toward a more car-free culture. I would argue our leaders should take us to this place far before the time comes when we have no other choice but to go there. I say this as a driver. I say this as a pedestrian and occasional transit user. I also say this as a person who looks around North America and feels envy -- not for freeways, but for the eagerness, elsewhere, for change. bartley.kives(a)freepress.mb.ca

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I'll walk, thanks. I'm a liberal.
by Beth McKechnie 23 Apr '12

23 Apr '12

I'll walk, thanks. I'm a liberal Strange trend emerges in examination of cities' walkability By: Will Oremus http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/ill-walk-thanks-im-a-li… Reading Tom Vanderbilt's Slate series on the crisis in North American walking, I noticed something about the cities with the highest "walk scores." They're all liberal. New York, San Francisco, and Boston, the top three major cities on Walkscore.com, are three of the most liberal cities in the United States. In fact, the top 19 are all in states that voted for Obama in 2008. The lowest-scoring major cities, by comparison, tilt conservative: Three of the bottom four -- Jacksonville, Fla., Oklahoma City, and Fort Worth, Texas, -- went for McCain. What explains the correlation? Don't conservatives like to walk? You might think it's a simple matter of size: Big cities lean liberal and also tend to be more walkable. That's generally true, but it doesn't fully explain the phenomenon. Houston, Phoenix and Dallas are among the nation's ten largest cities, but they're also among the country's more conservative big cities, and none cracks the top 20 in walkability. All three trail smaller liberal cities such as Portland, Denver, and Long Beach. Substituting density for size gets us closer: Houston, Phoenix and Dallas are notorious for sprawl, while New York, San Francisco and Boston are tightly packed, partly because they are older cities whose downtown cores developed in the pre-car era. As they grew, their borders were constrained by those of the smaller cities and towns that surrounded them. That's not the case with many southern and western cities. Jacksonville and Oklahoma City, for instance, are vast in terms of land area, encompassing suburban and even semi-rural neighbourhoods as well as urban ones. That still leaves the question of why urban density should go hand-in-hand with liberal politics, however. I see four possible categories of explanations. 1. Liberals build denser, more walkable cities (e.g., Portlanders supporting public transit and policies that limit sprawl). 2. Liberals are drawn to cities that are already dense and walkable (think college grads migrating to Minneapolis rather than San Antonio, or young families settling down in Lowell, Mass., with a walk score of 64.1, rather than Fort Wayne, Ind., with a walk score of 39. 3. Walkable cities make people more liberal (by forcing them to get along with diverse neighbours and to rely on highly visible city services such as parks and subways). 4. The same factors that make cities dense and walkable also make them liberal. My guess is that it's mostly No. 4, with some of the other three thrown in, depending on the situation. What do dense, walkable cities have in common? Besides being older, they also tend to be on the coasts. New York (No. 1), San Francisco (No. 2), and Boston (No. 3) sprang up as port cities -- hubs of international commerce and immigration. That leads to both dense development along the coastline and to an atmosphere of diversity and tolerance. Those three cities top the list because they're both old and coastal. The others in the top 10 are mostly one or the other. Seattle (No. 6) and Miami (No. 8) are diverse coastal ports. Chicago (No. 4), Philadelphia (No. 5), and Minneapolis (No. 9) aren't coastal, but they are ports, and more importantly, they're relatively old and industrial. Look at a walkability map and you'll see that unwalkable cities are concentrated in the South. While the northern United States developed an industrial economy, the South was dominated by agriculture until the last few decades. Whereas industry breeds density, immigration and social mobility, agriculture requires vast plots of land and leads to an entrenched social order dominated by the large landowners. The historical perspective might help explain why cities such as Houston, which today is one of the nation's largest ports and a magnet for immigration, remain relatively unwalkable. As Houston becomes increasingly diverse, it is already becoming more liberal. Harris County went narrowly to Obama in '08 after going consistently Republican for decades before that. In theory, it should be getting more walkable as well. The problem is that once a city has an infrastructure built around cars, it's harder to build support for density and public transportation funding. That is, it may be easier for a city to turn liberal than for a city to turn walkable. Link to Slate story: http://slate.me/HG44LM -- Slate

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WFP: Pedestrian-cross buttons walk (Apr.21'12)
by Beth McKechnie 21 Apr '12

21 Apr '12

Pedestrian-cross buttons walk City removes downtown devices after human-rights complaint By: Bartley Kives The City of Winnipeg has removed pedestrian-crossing buttons from downtown intersections to comply with a human-rights complaint over their ease of use for people with visual and physical impairments. This past winter, the city accelerated the removal of the crossing buttons from approximately 60 downtown locations as part of an effort to fulfil an agreement reached in 2008, transportation manager Luis Escobar said. People who are visually impaired complained to the Manitoba Human Rights Commission of having to fumble around to find the buttons, while some people with physical impairments could not push them at all, Escobar said. So the city agreed to remove the push buttons from intersections east of Maryland Avenue, north of the Assiniboine River, south of Higgins Avenue and west of the Red River -- and set the "walk" displays and chimes to operate automatically, he said. "The push buttons were redundant, because pedestrians were always using them," Escobar said Friday. "There is a general premise there is always pedestrian activity (downtown) so there is no need for people to push buttons." Winnipeg's public works department began disabling the crossing buttons four years ago. This means all the intersections in question have been set to display "walk" signals, regardless of whether anyone pushed the buttons, Escobar said. The city did not publicize the fact the buttons were disabled to avoid confusing pedestrians. The buttons remain functional at intersections outside downtown, Escobar said. It takes more resources to physically remove the buttons than it does to simply disable them, he explained. Most of the redundant buttons were finally removed over the past six months. "This winter, we made a significant effort to remove all the push-buttons in the downtown area," Escobar said. The removal of the buttons does not affect motor-vehicle traffic, he said. But his department took advantage of the removals to conduct other traffic engineering work, including the completion of the city's traffic-signal synchronization plan. During the 2006 mayoral race, Mayor Sam Katz promised to speed the flow of traffic in Winnipeg by spending $10 million to $12 million on red-light synchronization. "The computerized synchronization of traffic signals can help Winnipeggers move around our city more efficiently and avoid the nuisance of stop-and-start traffic," Katz said at the time. "Winnipeg drivers know all too well the frustration of having their commute constantly interrupted by badly timed traffic lights, being needlessly detained and seeing their paycheque go up in gas fumes." In 2009, council approved the spending of $13.8 million over six years on the resulting traffic-signal enhancement program, which was to last until 2014. In 2011 however, the program budget was reduced to $12 million and slated to end this year. The final $2.3 million will be spent on traffic signals on Grant Avenue as well as throughout downtown Winnipeg, Escobar said. Downtown signals were last synchronized 10 years ago, he added. "We have to make sure we target them all at once and we set them up for the current traffic volumes we have on the street," Escobar said. The city also plans to spend an additional $1.05 million this year on other traffic-engineering improvements. bartley.kives(a)freepress.mb.ca

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WFP View from the West: Winnipeg must become pedestrian-friendly (Apr.21'12)
by Beth McKechnie 21 Apr '12

21 Apr '12

Winnipeg must become pedestrian-friendly By: Harry Finnigan http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/winnipeg-must-become-pede… Winnipeg has come a long way over the past 20 years and is just now beginning to be recognized nationally and internationally as a "can-do" city and is perhaps on the verge of becoming a great city. Of course, the development of the MTS Centre and the return of the Jets have had a tremendous impact on our city and its reputation. While we have made great progress as a city, we still have a long way to go if we're ever to be seen as a great city. For starters, we need to be more pedestrian-friendly. Have you ever wondered why the city provides insufficient time for even the fastest walker to get across a street before the "Don't Walk" sign comes on? Why do we have so many intersections with push buttons for pedestrians, yet for the unsuspecting pedestrian who is not aware enough to push the button, the "Walk" sign never comes on? It seems the city of Winnipeg treats pedestrians as if they were second-class citizens. I was reminded of this by Bethel Collie, who, in her letter to the editor, bemoans the fact that as a senior female who walks and buses everywhere, she finds walking across Portage Avenue at Arlington Street a real challenge. She suggests that it would help "if only they added two seconds to the length of the amber walk lights." Collie's plea was reminiscent of the late Art Jones, who, in the 1980s as president of the Downtown Winnipeg Association, would annually challenge then-mayor Bill Norrie to a foot race across Portage Avenue. To this day, the lights are synchronized such that a gazelle would have difficulty making it halfway across the street before the "Don't Walk" sign came on. The same can be said for crossing most other thoroughfares in our city, a reality that makes for very unsafe conditions. Case in point: It's not uncommon to see pedestrians stranded on the median in front of the Via Rail station. Having been given the green light to cross Main Street from the north side of Broadway, the light goes red before they reach the median. They are then confronted with impatient drivers, already going at a fairly good clip turning left off Broadway onto Main. Never mind that legally, these pedestrians have the right to cross. The signal being given for all to see is "Don't Walk." The solution really is quite simple. The city should ensure pedestrians are given sufficient time to at least get halfway across the street before having the light turn red. It also should install "countdown" traffic signals. Common in such cities as Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary, these signals tell both pedestrians and drivers exactly how many seconds are left before the light goes red. Five years ago, the City of Brandon installed one of these lights at a high-volume intersection, and it has been so successful that it now has plans in the works to install more. Why is it that not a single one of these "countdown" traffic signals can be found in Winnipeg? Why is it that Winnipeg seems so anti-pedestrian? The truth, at least since the 1960s, is when it comes to facilitating the movement of people on its streets, Winnipeg, unfortunately, has treated its pedestrians as an afterthought when compared to its citizens who drive vehicles. Traffic management generally has been focused on enabling vehicles to get from one end of the city to the other in record time. The most infamous example of this took place in 1979 when the city installed concrete barriers and introduced legislation prohibiting pedestrians from crossing at Portage and Main, its most historic corner. It also signed legal agreements with surrounding property owners guaranteeing it would continue to bar pedestrians from crossing the intersection for 40 years -- until 2019. One would be hard pressed to come up with the name of another city that chose to force its pedestrians to go underground. With an aging population and with so many struggling with obesity, governments at all levels should be encouraging people to walk and be active. The city should be commended for expanding its network of recreational trails and accommodating cyclists on its streets. Council's recently approved transportation master plan, with one of its goals to encourage "healthy lifestyle options," also is a step in the right direction. Plans, however, are one thing, actions quite another. The city should take action now to make the downtown area more pedestrian-friendly. It can start by installing a few "countdown" traffic signals. Looking to the future, in 2019, once the legal agreements have expired, Winnipeg will be in a position to implement a plan at Portage and Main developed in collaboration with the surrounding property owners in 2006. This plan would enable pedestrians to again cross our most historic intersection in the evenings, after rush hour on weekdays and during weekends. There are many good reasons for this to happen in time for the sesquicentennial celebration for Manitoba as a province. Let's see that it happens! *Harry Finnigan served as Winnipeg's director of planning, property and development (2002-2007). For most of his professional life, he has been able to commute to work by foot.*

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Kids and active transportation
by Anders Swanson 18 Apr '12

18 Apr '12

[Here are two separate stories published today. One points to a problem, the other is part of the solution. - anders] Kids get less physical activity than parents believe CBC News Posted: Apr 18, 2012 http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2012/04/18/physical-activity.html Reduced speed limits in school zones appear to be near 04/18/2012 9:56 AM http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Reduced-speed-limits-in-schoo…

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Webinar Reminder - Wed, Apr 18, 2-3:30 - A Bold Experiment in Four Communities
by Beth McKechnie 17 Apr '12

17 Apr '12

*** Friendly reminder regarding tomorrow's webinar *** Green Action Centre and Bike to the Future invite you to join us for a local viewing of the upcoming APBP webinars at the EcoCentre (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave) followed by group discussion.* *Detailed descriptions provided below.* *NTPP Update: A Bold Experiment in Four Communities Wednesday, April 18th • 2:00 to 3:30 pm CST In-street Bicycle Parking: What, When, Where and How Much? Wednesday, May 16th • 2:00 to 3:00 pm CST RSVPs are appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! cheers, Beth 925-3772 * * * * * Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) presents: NTPP Update: A Bold Experiment in Four Communities Wednesday, April 18th • 2:00 to 3:30 pm CST This webinar will focus on success stories and lessons learned from the four Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program (NTPP) communities in the U.S. [image: april-18]The NTPP program was established in 2005 "to construct…a network of nonmotorized transportation infrastructure facilities, including sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and pedestrian and bicycle trails, that connect directly with transit stations, schools, residences, businesses, recreation areas, and other community activity centers.” U.S. federal transportation legislation (SAFETEA-LU) provided $25 million for each of the four NTPP communities – areas with unique physical and demographic characteristics, and at various stages of implementing their respective nonmotorized networks -- and was designed to develop statistical information on transportation mode share shift before and after program implementation. Learn which specific programs and projects succeeded, what may be replicable and transferable to other communities, and how much money should be budgeted for success. The pilot communities will provide insight on various aspects of planning and project implementation, including innovation, leveraging resources, capacity building and the importance of community input and partnerships. A representative from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Volpe Center will also discuss the importance of evaluation, and the development and implementation of a common methodology for data collection and analysis. Presenters are Ted Curtis, Columbia, Missouri; Dan Dawson, Marin County, California; Tony Hull, Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Emily Vetting, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. APBP has applied to the AICP for 1.5 Certification Maintenance credits for this webinar, and will provide an attendance certificate to those who document their professional development hours. MARK YOUR CALENDARS! In-street Bicycle Parking: What, When, Where and How Much? Wednesday, May 16th • 2:00 to 3:00 pm CST Increasingly communities face the dilemma of bicycles and pedestrians competing for scarce sidewalk space. As pedestrian activity increases wider sidewalks are needed, while as cycling increases more bicycle parking—traditionally placed on sidewalks—is also needed. In-street bicycle corrals allow agencies to place bicycle parking in the street, [image: may-16]off the pedestrian way, resolving this conflict and making more efficient use of existing parking spaces. However, jurisdictions may hesitate to undertake bicycle corrals since there are few design examples and little specific guidance on which to base such projects. Planners, engineers, developers and advocates should attend this webinar to learn how to scale up bicycle parking to meet growing demand while avoiding negative impacts to the pedestrian environment. Placing bicycle parking in the street presents unique challenges for traffic engineers and streetscape designers. Issues include roadway operations, cyclist and pedestrian safety, placement of a bike corral in relation to other sidewalk and street design elements, pedestrian flows and adjacent land uses. The webinar will address these challenges with examples of successful in-street bicycle parking projects (examples from New York City, Portland, and Washington D.C.). Presenters will also define best practices for providing bicycle parking in the street and discuss how a program might progress, beginning with public process and moving through costs, installation, and maintenance. Presenters include Eric Anderson, City of Berkeley, California; Sarah Figliozzi, Portland Bureau of Transportation; Chris Holben, District Department of Transportation; and Hayes Lord, New York City Department of Transportation. APBP has applied to the AICP for one Certification Maintenance credit for this webinar, and will provide an attendance certificate to those who document their professional development hours. -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre<http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/memberships/>

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Wpg Fdn Charity Pop Quiz - help Green Action Centre win $910!
by Beth McKechnie 16 Apr '12

16 Apr '12

*** Please feel free to share widely *** The Winnipeg Foundation is hosting a charity pop quiz challenge, and the winning charities will receive $910. Please play every day this week to help that charity be Green Action Centre! Plus it's fun and you learn stuff. Like today's question, which I got wrong! The link to play is: http://on.fb.me/CharityPopQuiz *Today's question is: Which charity operates out of the oldest building in Winnipeg? * thanks for your help, Beth -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre<http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/memberships/>

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National Collaborating Centre for Healthy Public Policy
by Mike Tutthill 12 Apr '12

12 Apr '12

A few relevant highlights from NCCHPP's Newsletter: *Events* *CAN - Healthy Communities and Planning for Active Transportation: Talking the Talk and Walking the Walk<http://politiquespubliques.inspq.qc.ca/url.php?i=2728&f=News&l=En> * The Ontario Professional Planners Institute is organizing this conference on active transportation in Markham on September 20 and 21, 2012. Speakers will look at trends, planning and success stories in active transport. *US - True urbanism: planning healthy communities for all<http://politiquespubliques.inspq.qc.ca/url.php?i=2727&f=News&l=En> * This conference, organized by The International Making Cities Livable Council, will examine the evidence, and focus on ways we can reshape the built environment to increase physical and social health and well-being. The conference takes place in Portland Oregon from May 20 to 24, 2012. *Publications* ***INT - Greenhouse Gases – Emissions, Measurement and Management - The Environmental and Population Health Benefits of Active Transport: A Review<http://politiquespubliques.inspq.qc.ca/url.php?i=2720&f=News&l=En> * This 504-page book collects studies of recent advances in the understanding of greenhouse gases that are essential to stopping climate change and global warming. Chapter 19 deals with the benefits of active transportation to the environment and to public health. It was produced by Richard Larouche from the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. -- Mike Tutthill Planning & Community Engagement Consultant 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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Ceding ASRTS to seed a garden
by Jackie Avent (ASRTS) 12 Apr '12

12 Apr '12

*please post to your networks as you see fit* Dear AT Network, I am writing with news about staffing changes at the Active and Safe Routes to School Program. After 7 years as program coordinator for the Active and Safe Routes to School Program at Green Action Centre, I will be taking a 6 month leave of absence (May - November) to more deeply explore my dream of farming! Because we do not know what my level of involvement with this project will be after November 2012, we have made some changes in the project management and staffing of the program to ensure it continues to operate smoothly. It's exciting to have such a capable and competent team at the helm who are dedicated to children's mobility and active transportation and who can ensure the ASRTS program continues to grow and support the exciting uptake that is taking place around the province and Canada. Shoni Litinsky, Lea Grzenda and Masha Giller will all stay with the program, however will shift some of their responsibilities to fill in my absence. We are also excited to announce that Anders Swanson will be working with the ASRTS Team to assist with some program development, namely the creation of an IPAD application that will build our capacity related to mapping and data collection for school travel planning. I believe I can speak for the other ASRTS Staff that Anders will be an asset to this project! I will remain connected to the project one day per week throughout my leave in order to assist with the transition and will always be a supporter willing to share information, resources and opinions (!) about sustainable transportation and Active and Safe Routes to School. Please note that my e-mail address will shift to jackie(a)greenactioncentre.ca, and the e-mail "asrts(a)greenactioncentre.ca" will be directed to Shoni Litinsky after May 1st, 2012. My best to you all this summer. I look forward to crossing bike-paths with you soon! Sincerely, Jackie -- *Jackie Avent* Green Action Centre <http://greenactioncentre.ca/> | Active and Safe Routes to School 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 cycling for beginners - Sat, May 5th, Noon-4pm
by Beth McKechnie 12 Apr '12

12 Apr '12

** Please share widely! ** *Register online at Winnipeg.ca/leisureonline * (Leisure Guide, p.82) *City Cycling for Beginners** - Sat, May 5th* 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. The course is endorsed by the Manitoba Cycling Association and each participant will receive a copy of the 2012 Winnipeg Cycling Map. Fee: $43 Fort Rouge Leisure Centre: 625 Osborne St. 412613 Sat May 5 Noon–4 pm *OR* *City Cycling for Commuters** - Sat, May 12* 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. The course is endorsed by the Manitoba Cycling Association and each participant will receive a copy of the 2012 Winnipeg Cycling Map. Fee: $43 St. James Civic Centre: 2055 Ness Ave. 412612 Sat May 12 Noon–4 pm

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Gen Y Drives Less (And Not Just Because We're Broke)
by Beth McKechnie 12 Apr '12

12 Apr '12

*Gen Y Drives Less (And Not Just Because We're Broke)* By Beth Buczynski <http://www.shareable.net/users/bethb> 04.09.12, 3:14pm http://www.shareable.net/blog/gen-y-driving-less-and-not-just-because-were-… A new study found that the average American drove 6 percent fewer miles in 2011 than 2004. This finding confirms a slow decline in car travel<http://www.shareable.net/blog/a-moral-imperative-to-drive-less>that began at the turn of the century, and according to the research, young people are responsible. The report<http://www.uspirg.org/reports/usp/transportation-and-new-generation>, released last week by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund, found that from 2001 and 2009, the average annual number of vehicle-miles traveled by individuals under the age of 34 decreased from 10,300 miles to 7,900 miles per capita – a drop of 23 percent. “For the first time in two generations, there has been a significant shift in how many miles Americans are driving each year,” said Phineas Baxandall, Senior Transportation Analyst for U.S.PIRG Education Fund and a co-author of the report. “America needs to understand these trends when deciding how to focus our future transportation investments<http://www.shareable.net/blog/embarq-study-turns-new-eyes-to-public-transpo…>, especially when transportation dollars are so scarce.” Some might say the recession, or more specifically, wallet-crushing gas prices are to blame.* But researchers say Generation Y isn't just driving less because it's too expensive.* In fact the report found that the trend toward reduced driving has occurred even among young people who are employed and/or are doing well financially. Instead new licensing laws, improvements in technology that support alternative transportation, and changes in Gen Y’s values and preferences<http://www.shareable.net/blog/study-millennials-prefer-sharing-over-ownersh…>emerged as factors likely to continue this trend away from driving for years to come. The conclusion that technology and shifting priorities are the catalyzing force behind this decline in car travel fits in with what Shareable has observed many times over the last few years. Just over a year ago, Jay Walljasper noted that our emotional attachment to personal vehicles, once a symbol of personality and independence, is drying up. "With all the amazing information, entertainment and communications available on the web, the computer has become our vehicle for exploration and self-fulfillment," pointed out<http://www.shareable.net/blog/computers-outpace-cars-as-our-vehicle-of-self…>Walljasper. "The car is now seen as simply a way to get from point A to point B, especially for young people." This sentiment was echoed by Paul Davis a couple of months later in a piece called *The iPhone is the New Prius*<http://www.shareable.net/blog/the-iphone-is-the-new-prius>. "For the price of a regular checkup and a couple months of insurance, you can get a smartphone, a transit card and a decent bike and ditch the headaches and the endless money drain that come with even a hybrid," Davis observed. Noting that with all the apps available for making shared and public transit more accessible, going car free<http://www.shareable.net/blog/lessons-from-car-free-fire-island>is easier than ever, especially in urban areas. ** Which brings us to another variable influencing Gen Y's transition away from the car: urban density<http://www.shareable.net/blog/density-reconsidered> . The report USPRIG report notes that a growing number of young Americans do not have driver’s licenses; from 2000 to 2010, and the share of 14 to 34-year-olds without a license increased from 21 percent to 26 percent. Additionally, between 2001 and 2009, the annual number of miles traveled by 16 to 34 year olds on public transit<http://www.shareable.net/blog/how-to-design-family-friendly-transit>such as trains and buses increased by 40 percent. Public transit systems, as well as infrastructure to facilitate biking and walking, are most robust in America's largest cities<http://www.shareable.net/blog/the-13-best-us-cities-for-public-transit>. Conversely, traffic and limited parking in metropolitan areas is trypically a nightmare. As urban communities continue to grow, more people are taking advantage of cheaper, more convenient public transportation options. Developers are taking notice, specifically designing communities where access to transit, car sharing, and walkability are major selling points. All off this quantitative research shows that we, especially the younger Americans, are shifting to a more shareable world in which our lives and our cities are denser and more transit versus car-oriented.

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Transportation Webinar - Wed, Apr 18, 2-3:30 - A Bold Experiment in Four Communities
by Beth McKechnie 11 Apr '12

11 Apr '12

Green Action Centre and Bike to the Future invite you to join us for a local viewing of the upcoming APBP webinars at the EcoCentre (3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave) followed by group discussion.* *Detailed descriptions provided below.* *NTPP Update: A Bold Experiment in Four Communities Wednesday, April 18th • 2:00 to 3:30 pm CST In-street Bicycle Parking: What, When, Where and How Much? Wednesday, May 16th • 2:00 to 3:00 pm CST RSVPs are appreciated but not necessary. Hope to see you then! cheers, Beth 925-3772 * * * * * Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) presents: NTPP Update: A Bold Experiment in Four Communities Wednesday, April 18th • 2:00 to 3:30 pm CST This webinar will focus on success stories and lessons learned from the four Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program (NTPP) communities in the U.S. [image: april-18]The NTPP program was established in 2005 "to construct…a network of nonmotorized transportation infrastructure facilities, including sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and pedestrian and bicycle trails, that connect directly with transit stations, schools, residences, businesses, recreation areas, and other community activity centers.” U.S. federal transportation legislation (SAFETEA-LU) provided $25 million for each of the four NTPP communities – areas with unique physical and demographic characteristics, and at various stages of implementing their respective nonmotorized networks -- and was designed to develop statistical information on transportation mode share shift before and after program implementation. Learn which specific programs and projects succeeded, what may be replicable and transferable to other communities, and how much money should be budgeted for success. The pilot communities will provide insight on various aspects of planning and project implementation, including innovation, leveraging resources, capacity building and the importance of community input and partnerships. A representative from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Volpe Center will also discuss the importance of evaluation, and the development and implementation of a common methodology for data collection and analysis. Presenters are Ted Curtis, Columbia, Missouri; Dan Dawson, Marin County, California; Tony Hull, Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Emily Vetting, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. APBP has applied to the AICP for 1.5 Certification Maintenance credits for this webinar, and will provide an attendance certificate to those who document their professional development hours. In-street Bicycle Parking: What, When, Where and How Much? Wednesday, May 16th • 2:00 to 3:00 pm CST Increasingly communities face the dilemma of bicycles and pedestrians competing for scarce sidewalk space. As pedestrian activity increases wider sidewalks are needed, while as cycling increases more bicycle parking—traditionally placed on sidewalks—is also needed. In-street bicycle corrals allow agencies to place bicycle parking in the street, [image: may-16]off the pedestrian way, resolving this conflict and making more efficient use of existing parking spaces. However, jurisdictions may hesitate to undertake bicycle corrals since there are few design examples and little specific guidance on which to base such projects. Planners, engineers, developers and advocates should attend this webinar to learn how to scale up bicycle parking to meet growing demand while avoiding negative impacts to the pedestrian environment. Placing bicycle parking in the street presents unique challenges for traffic engineers and streetscape designers. Issues include roadway operations, cyclist and pedestrian safety, placement of a bike corral in relation to other sidewalk and street design elements, pedestrian flows and adjacent land uses. The webinar will address these challenges with examples of successful in-street bicycle parking projects (examples from New York City, Portland, and Washington D.C.). Presenters will also define best practices for providing bicycle parking in the street and discuss how a program might progress, beginning with public process and moving through costs, installation, and maintenance. Presenters include Eric Anderson, City of Berkeley, California; Sarah Figliozzi, Portland Bureau of Transportation; Chris Holben, District Department of Transportation; and Hayes Lord, New York City Department of Transportation. APBP has applied to the AICP for one Certification Maintenance credit for this webinar, and will provide an attendance certificate to those who document their professional development hours. -- *Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options <http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre<http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3772 | Find us here<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> Green Action Centre is your non-profit hub for greener living. Support our work by becoming a member<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/memberships/>

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