- AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

Free webinar - Bicycle Transportation Planning
by Jessie Klassen 19 Nov '08

19 Nov '08

Hi AT folks, Join us in the Eco-Centre on November 19th for a free webinar on bicycle transportation planning. Details are included below. Please let me know if you plan to attend. Feel free to share this invitation. Cycle Zone Analysis (CZA): A New Bicycle Transportation Planning Tool Wednesday, November 19, 2008 · 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Eco-Centre boardroom, 303 Portage Ave., 3rd Floor. This workshop, first presented at Pro Walk/Pro Bike in September, focuses on the new bicycle planning tool used for the update of Portlands (Ore.) Bicycle Master Plan. Listen and learn from a professional working in one of only three U.S. cities to have achieved LABs Platinum Level Bicycle Friendly Community designation. Cycle Zone Analysis helps planners understand the nuances of cycling conditions in their communities, in order to tailor treatments to specific micro areas. Participants will learn how to define cycle zones, develop a bikeway rating index, and use the resulting analysis to improve cycling conditions. To preview Cycle Zone Analysis, visit http://www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=215045. The presenter is Roger Geller, Portlands Bicycle Coordinator. He was a member of the panel that presented the Cycle Zone Analysis workshop at Pro Walk/Pro Bike in September. Jessie Klassen Workplace Transportation Demand Management Coordinator Resource Conservation Manitoba jessie(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca (204) 925-3772 Resource Conservation Manitoba: Living Green, Living Well Practical solutions for yourself, your community and the environment Green Commuting, Environmental Education, Reducing Waste, Composting Resource Conservation Manitoba is a registered charity. Please consider making a donation.

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With temps expecting to dip...
by Stacy Matwick 17 Nov '08

17 Nov '08

A timely short piece of advice. http://grist.org/advice/ask/2008/11/17/index.html I Cycle: On winter biking By Umbra Fisk - Astute Advice on All Things Environmental Grist 17 Nov 2008 Enjoy Stacy Matwick Information Centre International Institute for Sustainable Development 161 Portage Ave. E., 6th floor Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 0Y4 Voice: (204)958-7755 Fax: (204)958-7710 Email: smatwick(a)iisd.ca Website: http://www.iisd.org "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read" Groucho Marx "Life is like a bicycle, to keep your balance your must keep on moving" Albert Einstein

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Active Transportation - Canada: November 17, 2008
by Beth McKechnie 17 Nov '08

17 Nov '08

Active Transportation - Canada features a regular posting of news articles, studies, reports, and other items that have relevance in this field, with previous postings available in an archive. In addition, pictures of existing Active Transportation infrastructure from communities across Canada will be profiled each week. The following items have recently been posted to the Active Transportation - Canada Blog. To view in more detail, go to: http://activetransportation-canada.blogspot.com **************************************************************************************************** 1.. Haliburton County Cycling Master Plan 2.. Toronto Bike Summit 2008: Proceedings 3.. Article - Kelowna BC: Summit looks to beat transit issues 4.. Article - Cambridge/ Coldbrook trail: officially open for use, closed to ATVs 5.. Article - The latest skirmish in the bike wars 6.. Article - Skateboarding in Class? Here, It’s Called Gym 7.. Video - New York: Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan 8.. Article - Councillor fears '500-kilometre discussion' over 700 metres of bicycle lanes 9.. Article - B.C. knee brace, Montreal bike system among Time's top inventions 10.. Article - A Canadian in Amsterdam discovers the downside of a cyclist's paradise **************************************************************************************************** A reminder e-mail of new postings will be sent no more often than once per week. To continue to receive these updates, you need take no action. Should you not wish to receive updates, please return this e-mail with "Unsubscribe" in the Subject area. For more information, please contact: Michael Haynes Director TransActive Solutions activetransportation(a)rogers.com 613.424.2803

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Time magazine says Montreal's public bike system rocks
by Beth McKechnie 14 Nov '08

14 Nov '08

Time magazine says Montreal's public bike system rocks Time magazine has pronounced that Montreal's public bike system is among the 50 best inventions of 2008. It was number 19 on the list. When lots of people use a communal resource - like, say, a cheap public bicycle-rental program - they tend to abuse it. So when the city of Montreal built its Public Bike System, nicknamed Bixi, the designers packed in all the technology they could find, in a Canadian Magazines / Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:48:00 GMT

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Transit Oriented Development Guest Speaker from Portland - Nov 20
by Beth McKechnie 04 Nov '08

04 Nov '08

The Winnipeg Rapid Transit Coalition, in partnership with the Downtown Biz, the Institute of Urban Studies, Winnipeg Realtors and other groups, is pleased to invite you to a lecture: "Talking about Transit Oriented Development" on Thu Nov 20 from noon to 2 pm. (Please register with Tina 958-4640 or tina(a)downtownwinnipegbiz.com) TELL YOUR FRIENDS! Winnipeg's approved rapid transit plan has three main components: 1) dedicated rapid transitways from downtown to the University of Manitoba, with permanent stations 2) commuter cycling paths beside the transitways 3) transit oriented development around the rapid transit stations Transit oriented development is an important feature of the plan as it increased density around the stations, increases ridership and enhances existing neighbourhoods in Winnipeg. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Use Windows Live Messenger to send messages to your buddies on their mobile phones Find out more on our PC to Mobile website

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Commuter cycling is soaring
by Beth McKechnie 03 Nov '08

03 Nov '08

It appears that New York City's investment in infrastructure has yielded a huge percentage increase in commuter cycling... http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com:80/2008/10/30/commuter-cycling-is-soaring…

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Americans want huge transportation funding shift (Canadians too?)
by Beth McKechnie 03 Nov '08

03 Nov '08

AMERICANS WANT HUGE TRANSPORTATION FUNDING SHIFT According to an article in the Oct. 27th edition of Smart Growth Online, "Even before gas prices spiked high above $4 per gallon this spring and summer, a Harris Interactive poll found last December that 81 percent of Americans would radically change federal outlays of the 1998 Transportation Efficiency Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) from 79 percent for roads, 20 percent for mass transit, and 1 percent for biking and walking, to 37, 41, and 22 percent, respectively, in its 2009 replacement bill." For the full story see: http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/newsmail.asp?art=6854&state=52&res=1680

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New bike lanes on Hargrave St.
by Beth McKechnie 03 Nov '08

03 Nov '08

Hello everyone: If you haven't had a chance to try out the new bike lanes on Hargrave, here are a few pics courtesy of Kevin Nixon, City of Winnipeg. These bike lanes are part of the 2008 AT Action Plan and will eventually include Fort and Garry as well as Carlton and Hargrave. For a few more details, check out the Action Plan online at: http://www.winnipeg.ca/PublicWorks/MajorProjects/ActiveTransportation/ -cheers, Beth

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Commuter Friendly Workplace Awards
by Jessie Klassen 31 Oct '08

31 Oct '08

New Awards Program Is your workplace doing something new and exciting to support walking and biking to work? Has your employer been a long-time supporter of transit use, carpooling, or teleworking? Recognize their efforts with the first ever Commuter Friendly Workplace Awards! To find out more, visit www.resourceconservation.mb.ca/gci/TDM. New projects are also eligible to apply.

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Quantifying the benefits of AT
by Beth McKechnie 31 Oct '08

31 Oct '08

Hello everyone: We have had a couple of messages posted recently about quantifying the benefits of active transportation to justify the investment in infrastructure. There is a new report available from the U.S. that does exactly that. It is called "Active Transportation for America: A Case for Increased Federal Investment in Bicycling and Walking" and may be useful in comparing to the Winnipeg situation. You can find the report and additional information at: http://www.railstotrails.org/whatwedo/trailadvocacy/ATFA/index.html cheers, Beth

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CarShare Survey - Help make carsharing happen in Winnipeg!
by Beth McKechnie 30 Oct '08

30 Oct '08

We need your help with an exciting project to help establish a CarShare organization in Winnipeg! To determine the potential interest in this initiative we are surveying residents of the Osborne Village and Broadway-Assiniboine neighbourhoods. Log on to CarShareSurvey.com to take a quick survey, or call 786-9963. Please forward to any friends, family, colleagues or distant acquaintances that you think might be interested! Thank you from the CarShare Team!

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An interesting idea
by Stacy Matwick 20 Oct '08

20 Oct '08

http://www.insnet.org/ins_headlines.rxml?id=25519&photo= Smart Bikes for Denmark iNSNews Oct. 13, 2008 MIT researchers unveiled a major new project in Copenhagen on Oct. 10 called Smart Biking, aimed at transforming bicycle use in Denmark's largest city, promoting urban sustainability and building new connections between the city's cyclists. Cheers Stacy Matwick Information Centre International Institute for Sustainable Development 161 Portage Ave. E., 6th floor Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 0Y4 Voice: (204)958-7755 Fax: (204)958-7710 Email: smatwick(a)iisd.ca Website: http://www.iisd.org "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read" Groucho Marx "Life is like a bicycle, to keep your balance your must keep on moving" Albert Einstein

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The Cost of Car Dependence in Winnipeg is 960 Million Dollars per year
by Anders Swanson 16 Oct '08

16 Oct '08

Does this help?: I calculated the current cost of accidents, pollution, congestion, noise and greenhouse gases for the city at apporximately $*960 million / year. *I thought it might help to have costs associated with any argument for active transportation and against projects which cause more long term car dependence like Waverly West, an inner ring road for Winnipeg, etc... I won't post often, but thought this might be a useful stat that is unique. It might put some context in a world where we are always told of the challenges and the costs of bike lanes/ paths, etc.. , but have no local ammunition to express the gains that we will see or the costs of simply doing nothing. * *While writing an email to a committee I sit on, I realized I needed a dollar number to attach to the problems caused by cars in Winnipeg. A fair and realistic number is hard to come by, so I had to figure it out. It pains me to talk dollars about what what should be an obvious, intuitive and heartfelt argument, . . . nonetheless . . I was inspired by the recently released results of a very unique 1.4 million dollar study done by Transport Canada, showing that the cost of car dependence in Canada is *$40 Billion* */ year*. (easy to read reference<http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/09/01/mtl-socialcosttransportstudy090…>(CBC) - I have emailed Transport Canada for help finding the study itself.) I thought it would be more useful if it were applied specifically to Winnipeg. My simple methodology, which Jeremy or Mark at Bike to the Future may wish to critique, was as follows: - The current population of Canada is 33,403,049 people. (reference)<http://www.statcan.ca/english/edu/clock/population.htm>Eighty percent of them live in urban centres, the people most affected by the adverse effects of automobile dependence. (reference)<http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/demo62a.htm>= 26,722,439 people. - The current population of Winnipeg (100% urban) is 653,300 (reference)<http://www.winnipeg.ca/cao/pdfs/population.pdf> or 2.4% of the urban population of Canada. 2.4% of $40 billion (Winnipeg's share) = *$960 million. ** 960 million dollars does not include the loss of the disposable wealth people would have from not owning a car (approx 13-17% of their income minus the cost of bicycles and a trailer for each of their family members, bus tickets/handit transit / taxis for the winter or for the elderly, membership to a car co-op for trips to the lake and train tickets at Christmas). It also does not include intangible costs like lost tourism, lost tax base (people mmoving away or not moving here at all), lost wildlife and lost aesthetic value and a great deal other things that always get overlooked in any rational / linear study attempts to quantify this interesting and complex world. *Anders Swanson* One Green City *

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Disraeli ped/cyclist bridge follow-up
by Beth McKechnie 08 Oct '08

08 Oct '08

Hello everyone: I found the following article in the weekly newspapers a bit of a head shaker Councillor Lillian Thomas (Elmwood-East Kildonan) and Jim Maloway, NDP canadidate in the federal riding of Elmwood-Transcona, are trying to argue that peds and cyclists are not actually safer with a separate bridge. Here's the link plus I've pasted the text below: http://www.canstarnews.com/page/story/the_metro/3404 cheers, Beth * * * * * Maloway, Thomas opposed to bridge plan By Jolie Toews Oct. 2, 2008 Two local politicians say the citys recent decision to build a bridge for pedestrians and cyclists between the Disraeli and Louise bridges wont make it safer for users and isnt worth the expense. On Sept. 24, city council voted 11-4 in favour of the Disraeli Bridge rehabilitation project that calls for repairs to the existing single-span, four-lane roadway that connects Henderson Highway with Main Street. The $140-million plan includes replacement of the bridge deck, refurbishment of the concrete foundations and steel bridge girders and widened shared vehicle and cyclist curb lanes with one pedestrian sidewalk. The plan also includes a new $15-million bridge for cyclists and pedestrians to be located east of the Disraeli Bridge over the Red River. Coun. Lillian Thomas (Elmwood-East Kildonan) voted against the plan, saying it didnt make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists and didnt address the expected traffic disruptions during the bridges closure while it undergoes repairs. It makes no sense to spend $15 million there, said Thomas, adding that the plan should have included a sidewalk on each side of the Disraeli Bridge instead of a separate bridge solely for pedestrian and cyclist use. Thomas said having a single sidewalk on the east side of the Disraeli Bridge isnt safe for pedestrians who are leaving or going to the north side of the bridge on the west side of Henderson Highway because they have to walk under the bridge to get across. I think my area is pretty safe, but thats not a safe area, said Thomas, referring to the area just south of the Elmwood Cemetery. Jim Maloway, NDP candidate in the federal riding of Elmwood-Transcona, said the new bridge could create safety concerns for pedestrians and cyclists because they would be removed from most people who would be willing to help them if they were in danger. Maloway said he doesnt think its worth spending $15 million on building the new bridge. Why would you build a bicycle bridge between two existing bridges when it probably wont be used much in the winter time and probably not very much at night because of the area it leads into? he said. Maloway said he is still fighting for a two-span, six-lane Disraeli Bridge. We need the second span, because the city, itself, says well need it in 20 years, said Maloway, a former NDP MLA. Maloway said he is still collecting signatures from people in the area who are opposed to the plan to close the bridge for up to 16 months for repairs and would prefer a second span. The city said the plan is the most functional and cost-effective way to preserve the Disraeli Bridge for at least the next 75 years. The city said it decided not to build a two-span, six-lane bridge because additional traffic lanes are not necessary for the traffic volumes in the near future. Approximately 40,000 vehicles currently cross the Disraeli Bridge every day. City officials have said daily traffic volumes upwards of 60,000 vehicles would merit consideration of expanding the bridge to six lanes. The estimated cost of building a six-lane structure is $300 million. Elmwood business owner Jan Stuyck, a member of the stakeholder advisory committee for the project, supports a new bridge for pedestrians and cyclists. It is safer, by far, she said. Stuyck said she is concerned about people walking and cycling alongside traffic on the Disraeli Bridge. If they fall, theyre right there under the traffic, she said. The city approved plans for a public-private partnership to repair the existing structure. One of the objectives is to complete construction in the shortest possible time and, if possible, only partially close the bridge. Construction is slated to begin in 2010. Thomas said she is unhappy that the community didnt have enough time to find out about the new plan. People in the area are feeling like theyre being picked on, Thomas said, pointing to the citys decision to tear down the Kelvin Community Centre and its decision not to build a second span for the Disraeli.

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Fw: Active Transportation - Canada: October 3, 2008
by Beth McKechnie 03 Oct '08

03 Oct '08

----- Original Message ----- From: Michael Haynes To: activetransportation(a)rogers.com Sent: Friday, October 03, 2008 11:44 AM Subject: Active Transportation - Canada: October 3, 2008 Active Transportation - Canada features a regular posting of news articles, studies, reports, and other items that have relevance in this field, with previous postings available in an archive. In addition, pictures of existing Active Transportation infrastructure from communities across Canada will be profiled each week. The following items have recently been posted to the Active Transportation - Canada Blog. To view in more detail, go to: http://activetransportation-canada.blogspot.com **************************************************************************************************** 1.. Article - $50B transit plan would improve GO, TTC 2.. Upcoming Event - Vancouver: Guidelines for Child and Youth Friendly Land Use and Transportation Planning 3.. Article - Kelowna cycling cash 4.. Interesting Website - Worldometers: Bicycle Statistics 5.. Article - Obesity and high oil prices are good news for the world’s biggest bikemaker 6.. Upcoming Event - Toronto: Ontario's Inaugural Road Pricing Forum 7.. Article - Belleville: Kiwanis Skateboard Park is 'friggin' sick' 8.. Article - A small step for commuters, a giant leap for saving the planet 9.. Article - Montreal: Carefree on a car-free day 10.. Article - It's traffic as usual on Toronto's no-car day 11.. Car Free Day News - London UK **************************************************************************************************** A reminder e-mail of new postings will be sent no more often than once per week. To continue to receive these updates, you need take no action. Should you not wish to receive updates, please return this e-mail with "Unsubscribe" in the Subject area. For more information, please contact: Michael Haynes Director TransActive Solutions activetransportation(a)rogers.com 613.424.2803

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More cities trying out ciclovias
by Beth McKechnie 03 Oct '08

03 Oct '08

MORE CITIES TRYING OUT CICLOVIAS According to an article in the Sept. 28 "Parks, Greenways, Trails, Great Places to Walk & Bike" newsletter [by Gil Penalosa], "An increasing number of cities are temporarily opening streets to people and closing them to cars. Without any capital investments (some operational), they are getting people out to be physically active; from thousands in small communities to millions in large cities, it is working. "Thanks to StreetFilms and the leadership of Clarence Eckerson, now we can learn from many of these 'best practices.' Use the videos to get people on board, and then barrow the Nike slogan and 'just do it!' It takes political will, a can-do attitude from city staff, and community engagement. "See four examples of magnificent exercises of social integration where people of all ages, gender, levels of ability, economic and ethnic backgrounds come out and participate as equals. Although Bogota has enjoyed ciclovia for many years, NYC, San Francisco, and Portland began in 2008; you can too, by learning from them. This could be your first resolution for 2009!" Videos: Bogota (CO): http://tinyurl.com/4ynyeu New York City (NY): http://tinyurl.com/3mwe9p San Francisco (CA): http://tinyurl.com/4m3svh Portland (OR) http://tinyurl.com/3tqlh9

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WFP editorial: The right bridge (Sept.25'08)
by Beth McKechnie 25 Sep '08

25 Sep '08

Winnipeg Free Press a.. Winnipeg Free PressEditorialsThe right bridge bylineParse(' ') Updated: September 25, 2008 at 07:24 AM CDT CITY council, with some dissent, has approved the rational option for saving the Disraeli overpass and bridge, a span that is, by some professional assessment, heading to collapse. It is disconcerting when the public works department says the bridge is OK for now, largely on the premise it is inspected four times a year for further decay. The city administration needs to move this capital priority along as fast is prudently possible. The supports and surface of the 48-year-old bridge will be rehabilitated, and a separate cycling/pedestrian bridge will be built to the east of Disraeli. The project, which will involve a private partner to whom the city will pay rent on the bridge for 30 years, will cost $140 million. Four dissenting councillors wanted to see a double span constructed, for an additional $150 million. They were concerned the closure of the bridge for up to 16 months would make the commute from the city's northeast, down alternate routes, onerous. It is expected to add nine minutes to the trip, which almost doubles travel time for some. No one is predicting that there will be population growth along Henderson Highway to justify a double span bridge over the Red River. Further, if the general trends on bus riding hold, any increased pressure on the route ought to be partially offset by the more efficient mode of transportation. Councillors are expected to speak for their constituents interests but not so disproportionately against the interests of the broader community. The commuters from East Kildonan will feel the temporary inconvenience most acutely, but to double the cost of the Disraeli project would be inappropriate. The city was told that improving bus service with shuttles and park-and-rides is one way to reduce the increased strain on North Main Street, from the Chief Peguis Trail and the Redwood Bridge. The focus inevitably will be on rush-hour demand, but in isolation of the larger picture -- encouraging the development of more useful mass transit options to attract more riders -- would reduce the exercise to a stop-gap measure that likely would revert back to current ridership when Disraeli opens again. Winnipeg has been nursing an infrastructure-deficit hangover for decades. It will take a long time to dig out of the multi-million dollar hole. Bridges and freeways are big, expensive things to build and maintain and dangerous when their repair needs are ignored. Pushing drivers onto mass transit can help ease the long-term cost of road maintenance. That should become an integral piece of Winnipeg's the infrastructure maintenance plan. a.. a.. © 2008 Winnipeg Free Press. All Rights Reserved. Powered by McClatchy Interactive

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WFP: Council OK's Disraeli refit (Sept.25'08)
by Beth McKechnie 25 Sep '08

25 Sep '08

Winnipeg Free Press a.. Winnipeg Free PressLocal NewsCouncil OK's Disraeli refit; area councillors ignored bylineParse('By Bartley Kives') Updated: September 25, 2008 at 02:50 AM CDT WINNIPEG will forge ahead with a plan to fix the aging Disraeli Freeway against the wishes of every councillor who represents the northeast quadrant of the city. City council voted 11-4 on Wednesday to approve a Disraeli Freeway repair plan that calls for new concrete decking and refurbished structural supports on the existing 1.1-kilometre roadway, which includes a single-span, four-lane bridge that connects Elmwood with downtown. The $140-million plan, which calls for a new pedestrian-and-bike bridge to rise over the Red River three blocks to the east, will result in a freeway closure that may last as long as 16 months. The city hopes to reduce that closure by writing incentives into a formal call for proposals to design, build and maintain the freeway, which was built in 1960 and then damaged by corrosion during the next 48 years. Winnipeg's chief administrative officer will ensure the city chooses a private construction consortium that either comes up with a plan to speed up the Disraeli repair job or finds a way to keep two lanes of freeway traffic open while some of the work takes place, Mayor Sam Katz said. But the mayor's assurances could not stop all four councillors who represent the areas most affected by the closure to vote against the plan. North Kildonan Coun. Jeff Browaty, Elmwood Coun. Lillian Thomas and St. Boniface Coun. Dan Vandal opposed the plan because they believe a 16-month closure is intolerable to northeast Winnipeg motorists. Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt believes the plan is short-sighted because the city will soon need to refurbish the 97-year-old Louise Bridge and must also build a new bridge to carry buses from Point Douglas to a future Nairn Avenue rapid-transit corridor. "This is a city that sometimes thinks like a village," said Wyatt, decrying a lack of long-term planning in the city. The northeast Winnipeg politicians said they would prefer to see Winnipeg build a dual-span, six-lane Disraeli Freeway that could accommodate traffic on one span while the other is under construction. Rookie councillor Browaty called the single-span plan the biggest disappointment he's seen since he joined council, while Thomas suggested city engineers have overstated the cost of building a dual-span Disraeli Freeway. Those engineers have placed the projected cost in the $300-million range. Katz said the city cannot afford the tab and is not likely to get help for the project from the provincial government. "There's no pot of gold on Broadway," the mayor said. bartley.kives(a)freepress.mb.ca a.. a.. © 2008 Winnipeg Free Press. All Rights Reserved. Powered by McClatchy Interactive

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Vote online re: ped/cyclist bridge at Disraeli
by Beth McKechnie 23 Sep '08

23 Sep '08

Winnipeg Free Press Web Poll VOTE ONLINE at winnipegfreepress.com "Do you like the idea of a separate bridge for pedestrians and cyclists on the Disraeli Freeway?" * * * * * * * * * * Beth McKechnie Green Commuting Initiatives Resource Conservation Manitoba www.resourceconservation.mb.ca

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WFP: City eyes pedestrian/bike span - Disraeli reconstruction (Sept.23'08)
by Beth McKechnie 23 Sep '08

23 Sep '08

Winnipeg Free Press Local News City eyes pedestrian/bike spanWould be part of Disraeli reconstruction bylineParse('By Bartley Kives') Updated: September 23, 2008 at 02:50 AM CDT Cyclists are ecstatic but northeast Winnipeg politicians are fuming over the latest Disraeli Freeway reconstruction plan, which calls for a new pedestrian-and-bike bridge but no guarantees motorists won't be stuck in construction traffic for as long as 16 months. After mulling over three Disraeli design options, city bridge engineers have chosen to forge ahead with a four-lane, single-span structure that will keep the price down to $140 million by reusing existing concrete foundations and steel girders. The design, which comes before city council's public works committee today, calls for a single sidewalk, wider curb lanes to allow vehicles and cyclists to share the road and a brand-new pedestrian/cyclist bridge that would connect Elmwood with North Point Douglas several blocks to the east. City engineers say the dedicated pedestrian/bike bridge will add $12.5 million to a design originally pegged at $125 million, but remains cheaper than a $160-million option that called for a wider motor-vehicle bridge to accommodate a separated bike lane. "No fumes, no fast cars zooming by you. This is exactly what we wanted," said Kevin Miller, a spokesman for Bike To The Future, a commuter-cyclist lobby group. "This is just a wonderful solution that fits in perfectly with the (bike trail) infrastructure that's been built in the last few years." Pending council approval, city engineers will search for a private construction consortium to design, build, finance and maintain the 1.1-kilometre roadway later this fall, with the hopes of seeing actual work start in 2010. Preference will be given to a consortium that comes up with a way to abbreviate the expected 16-month construction period or keep two lanes open to traffic while the work is underway, public works director Bill Larkin said. Those goals will be written into the formal request for proposals, but northeast Winnipeg politicians would still prefer to see the city adopt a design that would not require any closures on the Disraeli Freeway. North Kildonan Coun. Jeff Browaty, Elmwood Coun. Lillian Thomas, Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt and former Elmwood MLA Jim Maloway -- who's now running for a federal seat in Transcona -- have been urging the city to build a six-lane, double-span Disraeli Freeway. Browaty said his constituents won't be happy with any closure on the motor-vehicle bridge. Maloway completely panned the new city design. "This sounds to me like a pretty goofy idea, because it doesn't change the fact people will be inconvenienced for a year and a half," he said. City engineers have pegged the price of a double-span Disraeli Freeway at around $300 million, a figure Larkin says the city cannot justify on the basis of meeting future traffic needs or alleviating construction-period congestion. Even at $140 million, the freeway reconstruction is the second-most-expensive roadway project on Winnipeg's horizon, after the $324-million southwest Winnipeg bus corridor announced by Mayor Sam Katz and Premier Gary Doer earlier this month. The special meeting of city council's public works committee has been called for this morning to allow Couns. Thomas, Browaty, Bill Clement and Harry Lazarenko to review the Disraeli design, while council as a whole votes on the plan on Wednesday. Maloway said that does not allow enough time for debate, claiming he's heard from 5,000 northeast Winnipeg residents who want to see a two-span bridge built at any cost. bartley.kives(a)freepress.mb.ca * * © 2008 Winnipeg Free Press. All Rights Reserved. Powered by McClatchy Interactive

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Anders may not toot his own horn ...
by Stacy Matwick 21 Sep '08

21 Sep '08

But I will ;-) "The Front Line: Five Local Eco Heroes" by Jordy Gold GreenLiving Fall 2008 p. 33-37 "For every Al Gore or Jane Goodall, there are a legion of relatively unknown individuals whose accomplishments are equally impressive. Meet five inspiring Canadians." http://www.greenlivingonline.com/EnviroHeroes/5-local-eco-heroes/ For the full article (with pictures) http://magazine.greenlivingonline.com/greenliving/2008fall Cheers Stacy Matwick Information Centre International Institute for Sustainable Development 161 Portage Ave. E., 6th floor Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 0Y4 Voice: (204)958-7755 Fax: (204)958-7710 Email: smatwick(a)iisd.ca Website: http://www.iisd.org "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read" Groucho Marx "Life is like a bicycle, to keep your balance your must keep on moving" Albert Einstein

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Car Free Day this Sunday and Campus Commuter Challenge
by Stephanie Fulford 19 Sep '08

19 Sep '08

Car Free Day, Sunday, September 21st, 2008 On Sunday, September 21st, community groups will be making part of Winnipeg truly car-free, by closing down Albert Street in the Exchange District to all motorized traffic for the afternoon. If you've ever wished that you could play street hockey downtown, challenge a stranger to a game of chess, or sit on a couch in the middle of a street, then this is the event for you. For more information on the event check out www.resourceconservation.mb.ca (see poster attached) Campus Commuter Challenge, September 22-26, 2008. Fall has arrived, and university students are figuring out how to get to class not just on time, but also on a budget and greenhouse-gas-free. During the week of September 22nd-26th, they will also be engaging in a friendly competition to see which Manitoba campus will be declared the Campus Commuter Challenge Champion for 2008. Participating students have the opportunity to win fantastic prizes, including free monthly transit passes for the school year courtesy of Winnipeg Transit, and free train travel for two from Winnipeg to Churchill courtesy of Via Rail Canada. For more information or to register, visit: www.resourceconservation.mb.ca --------------------------------------------------------------- Stephanie Fulford Green Commuting Initiatives Resource Conservation Manitoba 303 Portage Avenue, 3rd Floor Winnipeg, MB R3B 2B4 Phone: 204.925.3774 Fax: 204.942.4207 www.resourceconservation.mb.ca

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Social costs of transportation = $40B
by Beth McKechnie 19 Sep '08

19 Sep '08

Social costs of cars, planes, trains $40B a year: Transport Canada Last Updated: Monday, September 1, 2008 | 3:47 PM ET Comments30Recommend17 The Canadian Press A groundbreaking federal study has calculated the "social costs" of operating cars, trucks, planes, trains and boats across Canada at up to $40 billion a year. The study for the first time attempts to put a national price tag on the unwanted byproducts of transport, that is, accidents, pollution, congestion, noise and greenhouse gases. The findings, released without fanfare in late August, are the result of a five-year project that drew widely on experts from academia, industry and the provinces. Using statistics for the year 2000, the task force found that the often-hidden social costs for all modes of transport ranged between $24.4 billion and $39.5 billion - or up to 17 per cent of the total costs of transport that year. Automobile accidents represented the largest single source of social costs. Researchers determined that a Canadian life was worth about $4 million on average, based on insurance and court settlements, and that fully disabling accidents cost an average of $260,000. Altogether, road accidents accounted for an estimated $16 billion in social costs in 2000, compared with just $370 million for accidents involving planes, trains and boats combined. Road congestion and air pollution on the roads cost another $5 billion each, while greenhouse gases emitted by road vehicles cost $3.7 billion, based on a carbon-trading market price of $29 a tonne. Noise costs, difficult to estimate, were pegged at just $220 million. Congestion was generally measured in terms of productive time lost while drivers were idled by traffic jams. The air, marine and rail modes accounted for just a fraction of these social costs, the study found. The worst social impact of aircraft was in the amount of greenhouse gases emitted, calculated as costing almost half a billion dollars. The worst impact in the rail and marine sectors was air pollution, each also calculated at about a half billion dollars. Lack of data prevented the researchers from estimating congestion costs for the rail, marine and air sectors. The authors caution that the complex methodology is a still work in progress but that "another tool has been added to the analytical toolbox of transportation analysts." Further related studies are planned. A spokeswoman for Transport Canada said the $1.4-million study was designed "to allow for a better understanding of the relative full costs of the different modes of transportation. "Those social costs are borne by all members of society," Maryse Durette said in an interview. A transportation expert who was consulted throughout the study praised the results. "I have been quite impressed at the care taken in the analysis," said David Jeanes, spokesman for Transport 2000, a non-profit research and advocacy group. "We urgently need this `level playing field' information for governments to make intelligent decisions about investment among the various modes [of transport]. "It has been a very challenging exercise and cannot be absolutely complete and perfect, but I think the report is a good one." The study also tried to compare social costs in Canada with other countries. Canadian accident costs, for example, were generally in line with those in Britain and Europe but were less than half the level for the United States. "The high transportation accident cost in the United States can be explained in part by the higher rate of transportation accident related death observed in that country ... more than 15 per 100,000 inhabitants compared to about 10 per 100,000 for Canada," the report says. On the other hand, the estimated costs of transportation "noise" in Canada were much lower than in any other country, perhaps reflecting a less-dense population in Canada or differing methods of determining the cost, the authors said. Noise costs were generally calculated as the damage to residential property values from the constant sound of vehicle traffic, trains and aircraft. © The Canadian Press, 2008 -- Liz Dykman Coordinator Manitoba Eco-Network 3-303 Portage Ave. Winnipeg, MB R3B 2B4 Ph: (204) 947-6511 Fx: (204) 989-8476 Web: www.mbeconetwork.org Manitoba Eco-Network is a regional affiliate of the Canadian Environmental Network

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Active & Green Fall 2008
by Jessie Klassen 17 Sep '08

17 Sep '08

Hello All! Below you will find the link to our latest Active and Green newsletter. We hope you will share it widely with your colleagues, family and friends. http://www.resourceconservation.mb.ca/news/pdfs/Active%20&%20Green%20Fall%20 2008.pdf Here are a few highlights from the Active & Green Fall 2008 issue: * Park(ing) Day (September 19, 2008) * Car Free Day Celebrations (Sun/Mon, Sept 21/22, 2008) * Campus Commuter Challenge (September 22-26, 2008) * International Walk to School Month (October 2008) * Bike to the Future Fall Forum (Wednesday, October 15, 2008) * Civic Centre Public Bike Corral now open * Commuter Challenge Results and Stories * Friday Afternoon at the Movies If for some reason you are not able to access the link, please contact us and we will email the pdf file directly or provide a hard copy for posting at your workplace. Stay Active & Green, Beth McKechnie and Jessie Klassen Green Commuting Initiatives, Workplace Transporation Demand Management Tel: (204) 925-3772 Email: jessie(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca Resource Conservation Manitoba 303 Portage Ave, 3rd Floor Winnipeg, MB R3B 2B4 Fax: (204) 942-4207 web: www.resourceconservation.mb.ca

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WFP: City not supporting cycling
by Beth McKechnie 15 Sep '08

15 Sep '08

Winnipeg Free Press_______________________________________ a.. Winnipeg Free Press Have Your Say Updated: September 15, 2008 at 08:34 AM CDT City not supporting cycling Re: Bike lanes were a bit of a wash, Sept. 12. Four years after the City of Winnipeg received the report it commissioned on active transportation, and two years after the report was adopted in principle, the city has done little to support cycling in Winnipeg. The few things that have been done have been poorly planned and implemented, as the "sharrow" example shows. These extra-wide "sharrow" lanes not only washed away, they were placed too close to the curb, often in lanes that were too narrow to actually share, according to accepted standards for road design. Meanwhile, major priorities for cycling improvements, such as the Pembina corridor, are ignored. We have lots of pavement in Winnipeg, but we need to reallocate some of it for the use of bicycles. When we rebuild roads and bridges and when we plan new suburban subdivisions, we need to consider and encourage cycling as a means of transportation instead of building bicycle paths to nowhere, as is being done in Waverley West. And we need a public education campaign to get cyclists and motorists sharing the road safely. With yet another spike in gas prices, you would think city politicians would get the message-- more and more of us are cycling more often. It's time city council woke up and read the good news: More bicycles mean less traffic congestion, a cleaner environment, fewer street repairs and a healthier, more attractive city. Jeremy Hull Winnipeg a.. a.. © 2008 Winnipeg Free Press. All Rights Reserved. Powered by McClatchy Interactive

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WFP: Bike lanes were a bit of a wash (Sept.12'08)
by Beth McKechnie 15 Sep '08

15 Sep '08

Winnipeg Free Press a.. Winnipeg Free PressColumnistsBike lanes were a bit of a wash bylineParse('By Bartley Kives') Updated: September 12, 2008 at 02:55 AM CDT A $100,000 plan to make Winnipeg roads safer for cyclists has literally washed off city streets, forcing officials to search for a more durable brand of paint. Back in May, the city created extra-wide "sharrow" lanes on seven major streets to give cyclists and motorists a little extra breathing room. Sharrows were created on Higgins Avenue, Roblin Boulevard, Grant Avenue, Regent Avenue, Plessis Road, Dakota Street and Dunkirk Drive. Bicycle symbols were painted on the streets and metal signs instructing motorists to "share the road" were erected along boulevards. But most of the paint washed off by the middle of June because the city used a water-based paint. "An attempt was made to use an environmentally friendly product for an environmentally friendly project. We're now looking for a better product," said city spokesman Terry Aseltine. Water-based paint performs well when applied to houses, Aseltine said. But the city did not anticipate the pounding the paint would take after it was applied to asphalt. The city is now searching for a more durable alternative, but probably won't get around to repainting the sharrows until 2009. The new lanes, which cost the city $100,000, are part of Winnipeg's $3.2-million plan to create new bike paths and active-transportation corridors. Construction on most of those projects will begin later this month or in September, according to a trail-building update prepared by city active-transportation co-ordinator Kevin Nixon. But trail groups were upset to see the sharrows disappear only weeks after they were painted. "This is really disappointing. This was one of the first things the city did in terms of on-street improvements for cycling, and the paint came off in June," said Janice Lukes, executive director of the Winnipeg Trails Association. Lukes said she is also frustrated to see the late-summer or fall start dates for construction of other trails and active-transportation corridors, such as new bike lanes on downtown streets, new trails alongside Bishop Grandin Boulevard and the extension of Northeast Pioneers Greenway. Lukes also questioned whether sharrows are a good solution to Winnipeg's bike-trail woes. "Paint doesn't make me feel safer from an SUV or a semi-trailer. Maybe it does for die-hard commuters, but I have kids. I want a barrier," she said. Winnipeg has increased its funding for trail-building in recent years, boosting the annual budget from $200,000 in 2006 to $1.5 million in 2007 to $3.2 million this year. The latter figure includes spending on trails as well as on-street improvements for cyclists. bartley.kives(a)freepress.mb.ca a.. a.. © 2008 Winnipeg Free Press. All Rights Reserved. Powered by McClatchy Interactive

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WFP: Bus corridor plan rolled out
by Beth McKechnie 11 Sep '08

11 Sep '08

Winnipeg Free Press(I expect everyone has seen this article on the new BRT including a bike path, but just in case you missed it... -Beth) a.. Winnipeg Free PressLocal NewsBus corridor plan rolled out $138-M first section to run from downtown to Jubilee bylineParse('By Bartley Kives') Updated: September 9, 2008 at 12:40 AM CDT Winnipeg is breaking from recent tradition by borrowing money to pay for a $327-million bus corridor -- and is banking on taxes from new apartment buildings to pay back the loan. On Monday, Mayor Sam Katz and Premier Gary Doer ended months of speculation by announcing they plan to build a dedicated busway that will eventually connect downtown to the University of Manitoba. The first leg of the corridor -- which comes with a $138-million price tag -- will begin at Queen Elizabeth Way near The Forks and then snake 3.6 kilometres southwest to Jubilee Avenue near Pembina Highway, crossing over Osborne Street on a new bridge and then tunnelling below CN Rail's Fort Rouge Yards along the way. The city and province each plan to spend $55 million toward the first leg of the 7corridor, and Ottawa will contribute $28 million. "I've always said rapid transit is part of the city's future," said Katz, who offered a lukewarm endorsement of bus rapid transit four years after he cancelled a $50-million BRT plan proposed by former mayor Glen Murray. "I do not believe bus rapid transit will get the majority of people to leave their cars at home," said Katz, who has always maintained Murray's bus rapid transit plan lacked sufficient detail and would have cost taxpayers much more than $50 million if it went ahead. On Monday, Doer vindicated Katz by praising Winnipeg Transit for scrutinizing every detail of the new busway and declaring its design -- which calls for complete isolation from existing roadways -- will allow for faster bus travel than would have been possible under the former proposal. "It will be rapid and it will be separate," Doer said. Katz said he now supports a busway because it will serve as a precursor to a light-rail system, the form of rapid transit he has always preferred. The new busway has been designed to accommodate a future upgrade to light rail transit by making allowances for clearances, grades and turning angles required for railcars, Winnipeg Transit director Dave Wardrop said. "Light rail is just around the corner," Katz proclaimed. But he conceded the city has no plans to build light rail in the near or distant future. In fact, the city does not know how it will finance the $187-million second leg of the bus corridor, beyond the fact the province has agreed to match the city's contribution and Ottawa will be asked to contribute as well. Katz said the cost of the second phase could be reduced if CN Rail agrees to sell or lease its underused Letellier line, which runs parallel to Pembina Highway. CN is willing to talk to the city and province about the bus corridor, provided it does not disrupt rail operations, regional spokesman Kevin Franchuk said from Edmonton. The first leg of the corridor will feature a commuter bike path, some form of park-and-ride facility and at least three busway stations, which Doer and Katz hope will stimulate residential and commercial development. Newly introduced provincial legislation will allow property and education taxes from new highrise towers and retail stores within the bus-corridor zone to pay back the cash that must be borrowed to build the project. City property director Phil Sheegl said the city hopes to see 700 new apartment or condo units eventually rise alongside each of 12 new busway stations on the entire corridor. Based on $1,000 of taxes per unit, that could generate $8.4 million a year for the city, he said. The bus corridor announcement garnered a mixed reaction from opposition politicians and transit lobby groups. Fort Rouge Coun. Jenny Gerbasi and St. Boniface Coun. Dan Vandal praised the bus corridor plan, although Vandal accused the mayor of flip-flopping on rapid transit. Manitoba Liberal Leader Jon Gerrard called the policy weak and said Doer should have spent $75 million on a more ambitious rapid-transit system. Paul Hesse of pro-bus Rapid Transition Coalition called the plan a good start, provided new corridors are built in other areas of Winnipeg. Jim Jaworski of pro-rail group TRU Winnipeg panned the new plan. More details about financing for the plan will emerge in coming weeks, transit director Wardrop promised. bartley.kives(a)freepress.mb.ca BUSWAY FINALLY ON THE WAY Confirming months of speculation, Premier Gary Doer and Mayor Sam Katz announced their intention to build a $327-million bus corridor between downtown and the University of Manitoba. Breaking with recent fiscal policy, the city plans to use debt financing to pay for its share of the first phase of the corridor. It will then backfill the loan with property taxes expected to flow from new residential and commercial developments near new busway stations. Although it will be possible to convert the busway into a light rail corridor at some point in the future, the city has no actual plans to build a light rail transit system. The city has already started planning to build phase 1 of the busway, but has no start date for phase 2 until it conducts negotiations with CN Rail and secures more federal financing. PHASE 1 Cost: $138 million Length: 3.6 kilometres Route: From Queen Elizabeth Way (southern end of Main Street) to the intersection of Jubilee Avenue and Pembina Highway Features: A new bridge over Osborne Street and a new tunnel below CN Rail's Fort Rouge Yards Stations: Slated for Harkness Avenue, Osborne Street, Morley Avenue and possibly Jubilee Financing: $55 million from the city, $55 million from the province and $28 million from Ottawa. The federal money is in the form of $17.5 million in transit funds announced last March, plus $10 million already granted to Winnipeg to purchase buses. Construction: Could begin in spring 2009, pending council approval Completion: Within three years PHASE 2 Cost: $189 million Length: six kilometres Route: From Jubilee Avenue to Bison Drive Features: New bridges over Pembina Highway and Bishop Grandin Boulevard. Stations: Slated for Windermere Avenue, McGillivray Boulevard, Clarence Avenue, Chevrier Boulevard, Plaza Drive, Chancellor Drive, Markham Avenue and Bison Drive Financing, construction and completion: Dependent on negotiations with CN Rail, which might be persuaded to sell or lease the underused Letellier Line that runs loosely parallel to Pembina Highway a.. a.. © 2008 Winnipeg Free Press. All Rights Reserved. Powered by McClatchy Interactive

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Re: [At-network] Couple of things on Safety
by delmore＠mts.net 31 Aug '08

31 Aug '08

It is great that MPI is taking the initiative to put some 60 second driver commercials together based on cycling, now all they have to do is get the message correct. In the videos, several of the riders travel too close to the curb (Can-Bike recommends a minimum of 1 meter) and in one case John Sauder rides over the catchbasin grate which would put him approximately 0.5 meters from the curb. The video also indicates that as a cyclist we should stay as "close as possible to the curb<' which is again incorrect. The HTA says that we must ride as "close a practicable" to the curb and this is totally different than what is being indicated in the commercial. I have also reviewed the drivers handbook (as I have a young driver who recently went through the course) and it is as well indicates that cyclists are to ride "usually one-half meter from the curb." The illustrations provided showing cyclist signals show the rider with his right foot on the curb, something that again is not a safe position for any cyclist. There is no question that both cyclists and drivers need education, however we need to make sure that the message is correct before we educate. This is part of an on going discussion that Bike to the Future is having with MPI and one can only hope that we can set them straight before they waste anymore money on commercials that provide the wrong message to drivers and cyclists. Thanks' Dave > > From: Stacy Matwick <smatwick(a)iisd.ca> > Date: 2008/08/28 Thu PM 02:35:05 CDT > To: "at-network(a)lists.umanitoba.ca" <at-network(a)lists.umanitoba.ca> > Subject: [At-network] Couple of things on Safety > > Don't know if anyone but me noticed this but the other day one of MPI's Driving Tips commercials was on Bike Safety. It was one of their 60 Second Driver commercials you always see after the CTV evening news. http://www.mpi.mb.ca/English/dr_tips/BicycleSafety.html > Since I don't have a car and don't deal with MPI it's a pleasant surprise to see the amount of information they do have http://www.mpi.mb.ca/English/dr_tips/60sec.html > > And this from a recent Christian Science Monitor > "New bike commuters hit the classroom, then the road. The rush of new cyclists, created by high gas prices, is driving up demand for bike safety classes" > By Ben Arnoldy Aug. 25, 2008 > http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0825/p01s01-usec.htm > > Cheers > Stacy Matwick > Information Centre > International Institute for Sustainable Development > 161 Portage Ave. E., 6th floor > Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 0Y4 > Voice: (204)958-7755 Fax: (204)958-7710 > Email: smatwick(a)iisd.ca Website: http://www.iisd.org > "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read" Groucho Marx > "Life is like a bicycle, to keep your balance your must keep on moving" Albert Einstein > > > > > _______________________________________________ > AT-Network mailing list > AT-Network(a)lists.umanitoba.ca > http://lists.umanitoba.ca/mailman/listinfo/at-network >

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Couple of things on Safety
by Stacy Matwick 28 Aug '08

28 Aug '08

Don't know if anyone but me noticed this but the other day one of MPI's Driving Tips commercials was on Bike Safety. It was one of their 60 Second Driver commercials you always see after the CTV evening news. http://www.mpi.mb.ca/English/dr_tips/BicycleSafety.html Since I don't have a car and don't deal with MPI it's a pleasant surprise to see the amount of information they do have http://www.mpi.mb.ca/English/dr_tips/60sec.html And this from a recent Christian Science Monitor "New bike commuters hit the classroom, then the road. The rush of new cyclists, created by high gas prices, is driving up demand for bike safety classes" By Ben Arnoldy Aug. 25, 2008 http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0825/p01s01-usec.htm Cheers Stacy Matwick Information Centre International Institute for Sustainable Development 161 Portage Ave. E., 6th floor Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 0Y4 Voice: (204)958-7755 Fax: (204)958-7710 Email: smatwick(a)iisd.ca Website: http://www.iisd.org "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read" Groucho Marx "Life is like a bicycle, to keep your balance your must keep on moving" Albert Einstein

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Secure bike corral open downtown
by Jessie Klassen 05 Aug '08

05 Aug '08

Hi All, If you were looking for safe bike parking downtown, a new bike corral is now open in the civic parkade across from Red River College, Princess street campus. The corral uses a card reader for access (fun to use!), and currently has space for 50 bikes. The cost is $50/year, and you can get a card, or get more information, by calling the Exchange District BIZ at 942-6716. The bike corral is the result of a partnership between The Winnipeg Parking Authority, Red River College, Exchange District BIZ, and City Councilor Mike Pagtakhan. Spread the word! Let's show 'em safe bike parking is needed and will be well used. Thanks! Jessie Klassen Workplace TDM Coordinator Resource Conservation Manitoba (204) 925-3772 jessie(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca Resource Conservation Manitoba: Living Green, Living Well. Practical solutions for yourself, your community and the environment Green Commuting, Environmental Education, Reducing Waste, Composting

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More on cycling/ped web maps
by Beth McKechnie 31 Jul '08

31 Jul '08

Hello all: Interesting article on increasing demand for cycling/ped web maps: http://www.technologyreview.com/Wire/21131/page1/ cheers, Beth

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Online bike trip planners
by Beth McKechnie 30 Jul '08

30 Jul '08

Hello everyone: In various conversations, it has been noted that an online bike trip planner that is similar to Winnipeg Transit's Navigo tool would be really helpful. (That is, in addition to an updated cycling map of Winnipeg!) Vancouver recently launched a web-based route planner: http://www.cher.ubc.ca/News/MediaReleases/routeplanner_06-25-08.asp Portland also has an online bike trip planner, which they describe as follows: "The byCycle bicycle trip planner is a free online tool to help both new and seasoned cyclists plan safe trips through the city. This private website was created by cycling enthusiasts volunteering their time, with support from Metro." http://tripplanner.bycycle.org/regions/portlandor Something to think about for Winnipeg. cheers, Beth

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Fw: Job Posting - PACM Fueling Physical Activity Project
by Jessie Klassen 29 Jul '08

29 Jul '08

Hello PACM members Please find attached the job description and job posting for the position of Fueling Physical Activity Project Coordinator. Can you please forward this on through your networks. Thank you. Sandy Millar ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Nancy Pallett <pallettn(a)cc.umanitoba.ca> Date: Jul 25, 2008 9:38 AM Subject: re: Job Posting To: Sandy Millar <smillar.pacm(a)gmail.com> Hi Sandy, Would you please send out the attached Job Posting to the PACM listserv. Thanks, Nancy -- Sandy Millar PACM Fueling Physical Activity Project Coordinator (204) 333- 2958

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Upcoming David Suzuki documentary
by David Wieser 25 Jul '08

25 Jul '08

Should be an interesting Nature of Things coming up. IKEA even has bikes that come with a trailer for taking your purchases home... "He'll be an amazing advocate for bike culture and separated bike infrastructure in Canadian cities." http://www.copenhagenize.com/2008/07/david-suzuki-got-copenhagenized.html David Wieser

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Interesting article
by Stacy Matwick 24 Jul '08

24 Jul '08

http://www.salon.com/mwt/good_life/2008/07/24/sports_utility_bicycle/ "My family car is an SUB and I love it" On my new "sport utility bicycle" I can cart groceries, take my kids shopping, haul a barbecue grill and make a margarita. By Mark Benjamin Cheers Stacy Matwick Information Centre International Institute for Sustainable Development 161 Portage Ave. E., 6th floor Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 0Y4 Voice: (204)958-7755 Fax: (204)958-7710 Email: smatwick(a)iisd.ca Website: http://www.iisd.org "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read" Groucho Marx

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FREE Sustainable Transportation Event - Thursday
by Richard Milgrom 16 Jul '08

16 Jul '08

PN2008 Winnipeg The Planners Network Conference Planning in Challenging Climates July 17-20, 2008 Reminder! FREE EVENT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Sustainable Transportation: Research, Advocacy Realization Date: Thursday July 17, 2008 Time: 7:00pm Location: Red River College Princess Street Campus Speakers: Todd Litman, Victoria Transport Policy Institute Will Toor, Boulder County Commissioner, former mayor of Boulder For speaker biographies, see <http://www.pnmb.org/PN2008Schedule.htm>. This is the opening session of the PLANNERS NETWORK CONFERENCE. For more information about the event or the conference, please contact Richard Milgrom <milgrom(a)cc.umanitoba.ca>. Planners Network is an association of professionals, activists, academics, and students involved in physical, social, economic, and environmental planning in urban and rural areas, who promote fundamental change in our political and economic systems. -- Richard Milgrom Assistant Professor Department of City Planning Faculty of Architecture University of Manitoba Winnipeg MB R3T 2N2 Canada phone: 204.474.6868 mobile: 204.471.1979 fax: 204.474.7532 email: milgrom(a)cc.umanitoba.ca

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Free Public Sustainable Transportation Event - July 17th!
by Jessie Klassen 10 Jul '08

10 Jul '08

Hello All! Next Thursday, July 17th, join the Planners Network for a free public Sustainable Transportation Event, featuring guest speakers Todd Litman from Victoria Transportation Policy Institute, and Will Tour, Former Mayor of Boulder Colorado. The evening includes displays and refreshments. Hope to see you out next Thursday! Date: Thursday, July 17th Location: Red River College, Princess Street Campus, 160 Princess St. Time: 7:00 pm Thanks! Jessie Klassen Workplace TDM Coordinator Resource Conservation Manitoba 303 Portage Ave., 3rd Floor (204) 925-3772 jessie(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca

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Britain invests hundreds of millions to encourage cycling (Jun23'08)
by Beth McKechnie 23 Jun '08

23 Jun '08

[http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jun2008/2008-06-23-01.asp] Britain Invests Hundreds of Millions to Encourage CyclingLONDON, UK, June 23, 2008 (ENS) - Persuading people to climb out of their cars and onto bicycles is a key part of the British government's plan to meet its commitment to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change. To further this effort, British Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly has named Bristol as the UK's first official Cycling City, and announced a further 11 Cycling Demonstration Towns across England. Bristol and the 11 other towns have each won a share of the record £100 million (US$197.4 million) investment package to pioneer innovative ways to increase cycling in their areas. Proposals include improving cycling infrastructure such as dedicated cycle lanes, increasing bike parking, cycle training for children, and promoting the benefits of cycling. "The UK's first ever Cycling City and 11 new Cycling Demonstration Towns will pioneer new ways of encouraging people to get on their bikes, Kelly said. "A quarter of journeys made every day by car are less than two miles," she said. "Cycling is an alternative that could bring real health benefits to millions of adults and children, as well as helping them save money and beat congestion." Cyclists assemble in Bristol's Millenium Square for the city's 15th annual Biggest Bike Ride. June 22, 2008. (Photo by Rob Green) Bristol was chosen in part because it has hosted a popular cycling event for the past 15 years. On Sunday, the 15th annual Bristol's Biggest Bike Ride attracted thousands who helped the city celebrate its selection as the UK's first Cycling City. Phillip Darnton, who chairs Cycling England, said, "We have learnt from our European neighbours, such as the Netherlands, that increased and sustained investment is the key to getting more people enjoying the benefits of cycling. The funding that Bristol and the other 11 towns have been awarded is designed to create a real step change in levels of cycling, starting in 2008 and for years to come." The 11 other Cycling Demonstration Towns are - Blackpool, Cambridge, Chester, Colchester, Leighton/Linslade, Shrewsbury, Southend on Sea, Southport with Ainsdale, Stoke, Woking and York. Cycling England is the national body co-ordinating the development of cycling across England. It was launched by the Minister for Local Transport in March 2005, replacing the previous National Cycling Strategy Board, and is supported by a number of government departments, including health, education, planning and sport as well as transport. Today's announcement aims to encourage 2.5 million more adults and children to take up cycling, improve their fitness and beat the traffic. Bristol wants to double the number of people cycling over the next three years, by creating the UK's first on-street bike rental network, modeled on the successful Paris scheme. Plans include establishing a 're-cycling' scheme, providing free bikes to those in deprived communities. The city has plans to build a state-of-the-art facility for cyclists in the city center providing showers, bike parking and lockers so commuters can have a wash and brush up before starting work. On the drawing board are plans to create a dedicated cycleway to link the suburbs with the city center, opening up new, safer options for commuters who currently rely on their cars. "The first step in persuading people to leave their cars at home is to offer them a real choice," said the minister. "Providing a step change in cycling facilities, dedicated cycle lanes, more training and information will have a big impact on how people choose to travel." "I look forward to seeing these towns and cities put their plans into action and urge other communities across the country to follow their lead," she said. The further 11 Cycling Demonstration Towns will build on the work of the existing six Cycling Demonstration Towns appointed in 2005, which have seen significant increases in cycling levels. These first six towns are - Aylesbury, Brighton, Darlington, Derby, Exeter and Lancaster. They will receive £7 million of the newly announced funding. "Beyond well co-ordinated, consistent investment in cycling, and the introduction of policy measures to encourage it, cycling crucially needs determined and persistent high-level leadership," said Darnton. "We are delighted that the government has championed this and Cycling England's other projects which aim to increase national cycling levels by 20 percent overall by 2012." The government has already announced it is investing an unprecedented £140 million (US$276.5 million) in cycling to increase the provision of Bikeability training to help half a million children cycle safely by 2012; build 250 new Safe Links to School as well as create the UK's first-ever Cycling City and appoint further Cycling Demonstration Towns, as announced today. Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2008. All rights reserved.

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Monday morning reading
by Stacy Matwick 23 Jun '08

23 Jun '08

More commuters choose to pedal right past pumps Source: Chicago Times via iNSnet.org http://www.insnet.org/ins_headlines.rxml?id=14128&photo= I especially liked the quote from the long time commuter at the end of the article about people thinking of it like a gym membership. I wonder what the numbers are for New Years resolutions? If it's only the four (or so) months of summer that would still be great. Cheers and a big thanks to everyone who worked at putting together a fabulous "Bike to Work Day" The pancakes were delish? Stacy Matwick Information Centre International Institute for Sustainable Development 161 Portage Ave. E., 6th floor Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 0Y4 Voice: (204)958-7755 Fax: (204)958-7710 Email: smatwick(a)iisd.ca Website: http://www.iisd.org "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read" Groucho Marx

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New report on cycling and health benefits
by Beth McKechnie 20 Jun '08

20 Jun '08

Hello everyone: New report on cycling and health, from England, that looks at the specific health benefits from cycling: http://www.networks.nhs.uk/uploads/07/11/cycling_and_health.pdf (Sorry for any duplicate postings) cheers, Beth McKechnie Green Commuting Initiatives Resource Conservation Manitoba www.resourceconservation.mb.ca

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BIKE TO WORK DAY - June 20th
by Deanna Betteridge 11 Jun '08

11 Jun '08

Have you thought about riding your bike to work but you were waiting for the right opportunity? Or maybe you just finished the Commuter Challenge and you are looking for the next challenge. Or maybe you are a veteran cyclist that wants to be apart of something big. Whatever the case - Pull out your bike, stretch your legs, and take part in the 1st Annual Bike to Work Day Winnipeg! The City of Winnipeg and Bike to the Future are hosting the 1st Annual Bike to Work Day Winnipeg 2008 on Friday June 20, 2008. Winnipeg residents are encouraged to register online and ride their bikes to work and back. The day will feature a free pancake breakfast at The Forks, energy stations set-up at at various locations around the city, great prizes and more. The event was announced by the Mayor of Winnipeg on Friday May 9th, and, with over 750 residents already registered, is starting to gain real momentum. Please note that an Energy Station map will be posted on the Bike to Work Day Winnipeg website shortly. Find more information (and to register!) at www.BikeToWorkDayWinnipeg.org See you Friday, June 20th, 2008! Cheers, Deanna ------------------------------------------------------------- Deanna Betteridge, M.Sc. in motion Coordinator 2 - 189 Evanson St. Winnipeg, Manitoba R3G 0N9 204-232-3297 (c) 204-940-8409 (f) E-mail: dbetteridge(a)wrha.mb.ca Web site: www.winnipeginmotion.ca 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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Reminder - Walkin' & Rollin' on the Trail - June 7th
by Deanna Betteridge 04 Jun '08

04 Jun '08

************************************************************************* Walkin’ & Rollin’ on the Trails - International Trails Day Celebration Come out and have a great "in motion" time on Northeast Pioneers Greenway (Corner of Chalmers Avenue and Raleigh Street) to celebrate International Trails Day! Young or old we encourage everyone to come out and experience Winnipeg's newest trail AND see the unveiling of the BRAND NEW Trail Identification and Kilometre signs by Healthy Living Minister Irvin-Ross, Councillor Jeff Browaty, and Mr. Milton Sussman! Saturday, June 7, 2008 10:00 am - 12:00 noon Northeast Pioneers Greenway (Corner of Chalmers Ave & Raleigh St.) ** Rain or Shine ** WIN great prizes - Count Your Trail Kilometres & WIN! Bike Rodeo - Ride (or bring) your bike and participate in the MPI bike rodeo.........kids and adults are welcome! Historic Walk - Experience the history of the community from a local historian. Bike Parking - Ride (or bring) your bike and park it in the secure bike valet service (free) provided by Scouts Canada. Vehicle Parking - Free parking is available on the side streets off of Gateway, Chalmers Community Club and at Elmwood Highschool. Dignitaries - Health Living Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross, Councillor Jeff Browaty and Mr. Milton Sussman (WRHA) will be out to unveil the NEW Trail Identification and Kilometre Signs. For more information on this free event, contact Winnipeg in motion at 940-3648, or visit www.winnipeginmotion.ca or www.WinnipegTrails.com ******************************************************************************* Winnipeg in motion is a community-wide collaboration that encourages Winnipeggers to be physically active for health benefits. Winnipeg in motion coordinating partners, the University of Manitoba, the City of Winnipeg, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and Manitoba in motion are committed to sharing their knowledge and expertise to support communities in developing physical activity strategies that promote the health of their citizens. Have a great "in motion" day, Deanna ------------------------------------------------------------- Deanna Betteridge, M.Sc. in motion Coordinator 2 - 189 Evanson St. Winnipeg, Manitoba R3G 0N9 204-232-3297 (c) 204-940-8409 (f) E-mail: dbetteridge(a)wrha.mb.ca Web site: www.winnipeginmotion.ca 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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Webinar June 12th: Emerging Trends in Bicycle/Pedestrian Work
by Jessie Klassen 03 Jun '08

03 Jun '08

Hello All! Join us in the Eco-Centre boardroom on June 12th for a Bicycle/Pedestrian webinar! See below for details. To register at this location, please contact Jessie Klassen at jessie(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca or 925-3772. There is space for ~20-25 people. <The Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) and the National Center for Bicycling & Walking are pleased to announce the first in a series of professional development webinars. The first webinar is titled Emerging Trends in Bicycle/Pedestrian Work. Seleta Reynolds, Transportation Planner with Fehr & Peers in San Francisco will be the featured presenter in the one-hour webinar. Reynolds is also the President of the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals. WHEN: Thursday, June 12, from 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. (Central Daylight Time) . WHAT: Webinar topic: Emerging Trends in Bicycle/Pedestrian Work. DETAIL: Communities coast to coast are planning for increased levels of bicycling and walking,. Webinar participants can sharpen their competitive edges by learning what's new and what's on the horizon. Topics will include innovative tools, technology, training, and more.> http://www.bikewalk.org/webinar.php Thanks and hope to see you there! Jessie Klassen Workplace TDM Coordinator Resource Conservation Manitoba 303 Portage Ave., 3rd Floor (204) 925-3772 jessie(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca

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Association of Commuter Transportation - Call for Papers - Deadline May 30th
by Sandy Kostyniuk 27 May '08

27 May '08

Hello everyone. For your information if anyone is interested. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Halifax Association of Commuter Transportation - Call for Papers - Deadline May 30th website: http://www.actcanada.com/EN/Conference2008/Default.aspx Sandy Kostyniuk Program Consultant The Public Health Agency of Canada Street Address 7th Floor, 275 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba Mailing Address Manitoba and Saskatchewan Regional Office 1015 Arlington Street Winnipeg, MB Canada R3E 3R2 Phone: 1-204-789-7411 Fax: 1-204-789-7878 Email: sandy_kostyniuk(a)phac-aspc.gc.ca

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Sign up for Bike to Work Day, June 20th
by Anders Swanson 24 May '08

24 May '08

Aah yes, highly embarrassing. Thank you Stacy. : ) There are tons of people who've been working just as hard on this (and for longer) yet I end up in the paper for it. Oh well. I can't even begin to start naming you all - - but a lot of you are on this list and you know who you are. If you appreciate the work that everyone's been doing on the cycling front, please consider registering for Winnipeg's first ever *Bike to Work Day *being held on *Friday, June 20th* (two weeks after Commuter Challenge<http://www.resourceconservation.mb.ca/gci/CC/>). *Note: An official, much better written e-mail is coming later - - one that is more suitable (and explanatory) for sending to colleagues, mailing lists, etc..* But for now, why not try it and sign yourself up? Help us make a big statement by showing what Winnipeg might look like as a cyclist's paradise, even if only for a day. But you must register. Visit the site: http://biketoworkdaywinnipeg.org/ and follow the instructions, it's free. (++ If you register soon, you will win a free t-shirt, and everyone who registers will be eligible to win awesome prizes.) Anders On Mon, May 12, 2008 at 8:33 AM, Stacy Matwick <smatwick(a)iisd.ca> wrote: > He's a trailblazer for cyclists: Founder of One Green City gets things > done > Erin Madden, Winnipeg Free Press-City and Business, B2 > Updated: May 10, 2008 at 08:29 AM CDT > > He could easily be one of Winnipeg's busiest volunteers, donating his time > to more organizations and committees than he can count on his fingers. > > Thirty-year old Anders Swanson is dedicated to helping Winnipeg become a > greener city by improving the cycling network, with more trails, safer lanes > on roads and maps that will get beginner cyclists and veteran cycling > commuters alike, from point A to point B. > > The Mayor's Environmental Committee, the City of Winnipeg's Active > Transportation Committee , Bike to the Future , BIZ Transportation > Committee, and the Winnipeg Trails Association are just a few of the groups > he's involved with. In addition, he helped form the North Winnipeg Commuter > Cyclists, the West Central Commuter Cyclists and was the founder of One > Green City -- a service which liaises cycling groups and encourages them to > connect. > > "I am essentially volunteering with as many cycling related committees and > volunteer groups throughout the city as I can to try to bring them together > around the idea of building a comprehensive network of cycling routes," said > Swanson, a Corydon Village resident who hasn't owned a car for more than > five years. "I really felt I understood why people weren't cycling. I wanted > to address the reasons that they weren't rather than just telling them to." > > His hard work is paying off. Since he became involved just a few years > ago, progress has already been made with a $600,000 commitment from the city > budget now dedicated to building a trail infrastructure and the creation of > the Northwest Pioneer Greenway. > > He said that with a larger budget dedicated to the issue, cyclists will be > safer and the tensions between motorists and those riding bicycles will be > lessened. > > "The more cyclists you have out and the more cycling infrastructure there > is, the less people get hurt," explained Swanson, who works as a bike > mechanic at Natural Cycle. "I think the key is reducing conflict. I don't > drive now, but as a driver I was scared of hitting cyclists. It's > stressful." > > Janice Lukes, co-ordinator for the Winnipeg Trails Association, said the > work done by Swanson for her organization and the many others he volunteers > for, has been nothing short of amazing. > > "I have been involved in trail development since 2001 and have met a ton > of volunteers, all passionate, all motivational," she wrote in an e-mail to > the Winnipeg Free Press. "But Anders Swanson's commitment, dedication and > passion to help others embrace the bicycle as a means of transportation and > source of recreation is simply unprecedented. I know many of the trail and > cycling organizations in Winnipeg would agree that Anders has been > instrumental in helping secure more trails and bike pathways for > Winnipeggers!" > > For more information about the work done by Swanson, visit > www.onegreencity.com. To learn more about the Winnipeg Trails Association, > visit www.winnipegtrails.com. > > > _______________________________________________ > AT-Network mailing list > AT-Network(a)lists.umanitoba.ca > http://lists.umanitoba.ca/mailman/listinfo/at-network >

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Not really about AT except
by Stacy Matwick 20 May '08

20 May '08

That it's a really nice leisurely peddle down Wellington Crescent on a Saturday afternoon and Steve has promised light refreshments. Stacy Matwick Information Centre International Institute for Sustainable Development 161 Portage Ave. E., 6th floor Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 0Y4 Voice: (204)958-7755 Fax: (204)958-7710 Email: smatwick(a)iisd.ca Website: http://www.iisd.org "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read" Groucho Marx _____________________________________________ From: Stephan Barg Sent: Monday, May 19, 2008 5:27 PM To: Winnipeg Staff Subject: Charity Sale of Peruvian Handicrafts - Saturday, May 24. Hello all, My sister has started a Canadian NGO to help support children who are burn victims in Lima, Peru. She became familiar with the needs in Peru, and the organizations that help the children, while she was living in Lima several years ago. She will be here on the coming weekend, and we are holding a sale at our house of handicrafts from Peru in order to raise money for her organization. The sale will include these things: - High quality silver jewellery, such as earrings, rings, bracelets, and necklaces - Baby sweaters, washable, embroidered, sizes up to about four years - Adult sweaters, alpaca wool (much better, the Peruvians say, than sheep wool) - Cotton scarves in many colours - Wool winter scarves and hats - Table cloths, in small and medium sizes The cause she is supporting is a good one - helping children who have been burned get medical treatment and also counselling, to assist them to lead normal lives. The organization in Peru that she is supporting is called ANIQUEM, which has a staff of doctors, social workers and so on who do their best to help the burn victims. More details are available from its web page, at www.aniquem.org<http://www.aniquem.org>. My sister's NGO is called Canadian Friends of Aniquem or CAFA, and more details are available from its web page, at www.friendsofaniquem.org<http://www.friendsofaniquem.org> . CAFA is a registered charity under the Income Tax Act in Canada. Two final points - CAFA has almost no expenses - for example, my sister pays her own travel expenses when she goes to Peru. Thus over 95% of any profits from the sale of handicrafts go straight to helping the burn victims in Peru. And secondly, both ANIQUEM and CAFA are completely independent of the government of Peru, thereby avoiding various potential problems. Place - 93 Harrow Street, Winnipeg - just down the street from Kelvin High School. Time - 2:00 to 4:00 PM on Saturday, May 24 Phone - 452-8911 We hope to see you there. Coffee, tea and light refreshments will be served. Best regards, Stephan Barg Associate International Institute for Sustainable Development

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If you missed it - from today's Free Press
by Stacy Matwick 15 May '08

15 May '08

Winnipeg is made for bikes and bike lanes (View from the West) Nicholas Hirst Winnipeg Free Press Updated: May 15, 2008 at 12:40 AM CDT (page A13) Winnipeg's and Manitoba's economies appear more robust than they have for many years. As the nation's labour force stagnates, Manitoba's continues to grow. Houses continue to sell at more than their asking price and, while spring always makes Winnipeggers feel better, there is a sense of optimism in the air. This optimism and growth needs sustaining. To do so, the province and the city need to become truly innovative. We need the image of our city to be such that it becomes a magnet for people because it is ahead of the curve. We need to make ourselves one of the most creative places to do business in Canada. As Minneapolis has dubbed itself, Winnipeg needs to be "one cool city." How would we do that? Not so much by big moves but by small gestures. The big moves are developments like the human rights museum. That's going to be a huge attraction adding to the perception that Winnipeg is a city to live in. Other developments have created a cool image for us -- the Louis Riel bridge is one, the continuing success of our arts and culture is another. But it is smaller, non-institutional developments that often really turn the image of city -- its restaurants, clubs, a digital movie theatre, a new festival, a new feeling. The best innovation of this type builds on natural advantages -- winter skating on the Assiniboine is an example -- next year we should get Starbucks to provide stops along route. The restaurants and open spaces and access to the rivers at The Forks are another. The water buses are way cool. In an environment where gas is more expensive than it has ever been and a barrel of oil worth four times what it was a couple of years ago, anything that looks like an answer to the looming energy crisis is worth its weight in image gold. Winnipeg has one key advantage that seems almost to be forgotten about. It's flat. That's why it once had streetcars. Bringing streetcars back would be innovative but is a big ticket item, not one of the smaller gestures that can bring as much notice. Our city has the ideal typography for bicycling. Not just bicycling for recreation along the four designated streets closed to cars in May for the weekend, but bicycling to get to work, visit your friends and run easy errands. Despite an active lobby to encourage commuter bicycling and the city promise of $500,000 for biking and walking trails, true commuter bike paths and lanes are few if not non-existent. There are signs for biking on lesser used roads, but not bike lanes to go with them. Why not? The last place I lived that was as flat as Winnipeg was on the Plain of Holderness in England. The city was Hull and you couldn't move for bikes. Commuter bike lanes in Winnipeg would do all kinds of good, at least in the summer. It would encourage a healthier lifestyle, reduce the number of cars on the road and save energy. In other cities, kids too young to drive and too poor to own cars bike to see their friends, to school and to university. Who in their right mind would bike down Waverley or Pembina at rush hour? With bike lanes, it would be possible. Winnipeg could also follow Washington D.C. and create a public-private partnership to rent bikes by the hour similar to the Zipcar and Autoshare plans I recently wrote about. Why not combine the two? A city that is serious about combating its energy usage takes easy routes to get cars off the road. That has to start somewhere and it is unlikely to get going without a public commitment. So, Mr. Mayor and city council, get going. Create bike lanes for children and commuters. Get in touch with the bike shops and bicycle lobbyists to set up a bike-sharing scheme. Try a pilot plan with bikes located behind the barriers at Portage and Main and at The Forks. Combine the bike-sharing scheme with a car-sharing scheme. Recreational biking is fine. But in Winnipeg, it often means taking your bike on a rack on your car to where the recreational trails start. It doesn't have to be that way. An innovative city sees its natural advantages and takes small measures for big gains. Designated bike lanes and bike and car sharing -- maybe working together -- are the types of innovation that would get our city talked about and put it ahead of the curve. Will we do it? If not, why not? Nicholas Hirst is CEO of Winnipeg-based television and film producer Original Pictures Inc. (c) 2008 Winnipeg Free Press. All Rights Reserved.

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Three interesting short items
by Stacy Matwick 14 May '08

14 May '08

Bicycles Pedaling Into the Spotlight J. Matthew Roney 12 May 2008 Earth Policy Institute The world produced an estimated 130 million bicycles in 2007-more than twice the 52 million cars produced. Bicycle and car production tracked each other closely in the mid-to-late 1960s, but bike output separated sharply from that of cars in 1970, beginning its steep climb to 105 million in 1988. Following a slowdown between 1989 and 2001, bike production has regained steam, increasing in each of the last six years. http://www.earthpolicy.org/Indicators/Bike/2008.htm Bikes Ahoy : UW grad students win $25,000 environmental prize for plan to start innovative sharing program that could be a North American first http://alumni.uwaterloo.ca/alumni/e-newsletter/2008/may/bikes.html and finally the Magic Wheel Foot Scooter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v96i8ldtdbE&eurl=http://www.treehugger.com/f… Cheers Stacy Matwick Information Centre International Institute for Sustainable Development 161 Portage Ave. E., 6th floor Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 0Y4 Voice: (204)958-7755 Fax: (204)958-7710 Email: smatwick(a)iisd.ca Website: http://www.iisd.org "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read" Groucho Marx

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It's time to sign up for Commuter Challenge!
by Jessie 12 May '08

12 May '08

How did you get to work today? Resource Conservation Manitoba is sponsoring The Commuter Challenge, a yearly event that encourages people to use environmentally friendly forms of transportation from June 1 to 7, 2008 . It is a cross-Canada event that features friendly competition between similar-sized cities, towns, communities and workplaces. Participants log their green kilometers online and are entered to win exciting prizes such as a fantastic bike from Olympia Cycle & Ski and gear from Mountain Equipment Co-op! Participants can be individuals or workplaces. If you would like to coordinate the Challenge in your workplace, we offer training and resources to help you every step of the way! For more information please call Sara at 925-3775, e-mail challenge(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca or visit our website: www.resourceconservation.mb.ca. Sara Perlmutter Commuter Challenge Coordinator Resource Conservation Manitoba 3rd fl., 303 Portage Ave, R3B 2B4 Phone: 925-3775 Fax: 942-4207 sara(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca Resource Conservation Manitoba: Living Green, Living Well Practical solutions for yourself, your community and the environment Green Commuting, Environmental Education, Reducing Waste, Composting

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If you missed Saturdays WFP
by Stacy Matwick 12 May '08

12 May '08

He's a trailblazer for cyclists: Founder of One Green City gets things done Erin Madden, Winnipeg Free Press-City and Business, B2 Updated: May 10, 2008 at 08:29 AM CDT He could easily be one of Winnipeg's busiest volunteers, donating his time to more organizations and committees than he can count on his fingers. Thirty-year old Anders Swanson is dedicated to helping Winnipeg become a greener city by improving the cycling network, with more trails, safer lanes on roads and maps that will get beginner cyclists and veteran cycling commuters alike, from point A to point B. The Mayor's Environmental Committee, the City of Winnipeg's Active Transportation Committee , Bike to the Future , BIZ Transportation Committee, and the Winnipeg Trails Association are just a few of the groups he's involved with. In addition, he helped form the North Winnipeg Commuter Cyclists, the West Central Commuter Cyclists and was the founder of One Green City -- a service which liaises cycling groups and encourages them to connect. "I am essentially volunteering with as many cycling related committees and volunteer groups throughout the city as I can to try to bring them together around the idea of building a comprehensive network of cycling routes," said Swanson, a Corydon Village resident who hasn't owned a car for more than five years. "I really felt I understood why people weren't cycling. I wanted to address the reasons that they weren't rather than just telling them to." His hard work is paying off. Since he became involved just a few years ago, progress has already been made with a $600,000 commitment from the city budget now dedicated to building a trail infrastructure and the creation of the Northwest Pioneer Greenway. He said that with a larger budget dedicated to the issue, cyclists will be safer and the tensions between motorists and those riding bicycles will be lessened. "The more cyclists you have out and the more cycling infrastructure there is, the less people get hurt," explained Swanson, who works as a bike mechanic at Natural Cycle. "I think the key is reducing conflict. I don't drive now, but as a driver I was scared of hitting cyclists. It's stressful." Janice Lukes, co-ordinator for the Winnipeg Trails Association, said the work done by Swanson for her organization and the many others he volunteers for, has been nothing short of amazing. "I have been involved in trail development since 2001 and have met a ton of volunteers, all passionate, all motivational," she wrote in an e-mail to the Winnipeg Free Press. "But Anders Swanson's commitment, dedication and passion to help others embrace the bicycle as a means of transportation and source of recreation is simply unprecedented. I know many of the trail and cycling organizations in Winnipeg would agree that Anders has been instrumental in helping secure more trails and bike pathways for Winnipeggers!" For more information about the work done by Swanson, visit www.onegreencity.com. To learn more about the Winnipeg Trails Association, visit www.winnipegtrails.com.

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