Sunday, September 30, 2012

Manitoba - Bike to the Future and Car Insurance

Bike to the Future's Co-Chair, Tom McMahon, appeared before the Manitoba Public Utilities Board (PUB) in September to make a presentation on Manitoba Public Insurance’s (MPI) 2013-2014 rate application. The presentation pointed out many actions that MPI could take to increase the safety of cyclists on Manitoba roadways, and asked the PUB to tell MPI to improve and increase its public education for drivers and cyclists. Read more.

Off on the Right Foot!

Active and Safe Routes to School in Manitoba e-newsletter, September 2012. Link.

Bradfor West Gwillimbury ON - Committee launches Bradford transit petition

Concerned that transit in Bradford West Gwillimbury may be in for a rough ride come budget time, the town’s active transportation committee has launched a petition meant to demonstrate to council that residents support the initiative. Read more.

Public to get first glimpse of downtown Vancouver cycling, pedestrian greenway

Downtown residents will get their first look this week at a proposed multi-million-dollar cycling and pedestrian greenway that will stretch along Comox and Helmcken streets, from Stanley Park to the seawall in Yaletown. Read more.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Bike riding up 26% in Metro Vancouver says TransLink

Bicycle use is up 26 per cent over the last three years in Metro Vancouver while bus trips are up 17 per cent, according to figures released by TransLink. The figures, which were included in the 2013 Base Plan are good news, according to Vancouver Coun. Geoff Meggs, who notes car use only increased by four per cent over the same period – far less that the population increase of six per cent. Read more.

Edmonton Public School Board calls on all schools to have active transportation plans

The Edmonton Public School Board has enacted a policy to encourage students and parents to look to active transportation first when heading to school. In a release Wednesday, the board said the plan has many benefits, including increased safety, reduction in car volume and traffic volume as well as health benefits for students. Read more.

Walkfest to highlight barriers to active transportation

The Pictou County Active Transportation Committee is inviting all candidates for the upcoming municipal elections to a "Walk and Talk" event as part of Pictou County's Walkfest 2012. Read more.

Reduce Speeds, Ontario Coroner Urges

Pedestrian fatalities are far more likely to occur in areas where cars drive at higher speeds and the province should consider lower speed limits on unmarked residential streets, according to a report released Wednesday. Read more.

More bicyclists means fewer accidents, Phila. finds

As the number of bicyclists on Philadelphia streets has risen, cyclists and city officials have seen a counterintuitive result: The number of bike crashes and deaths has declined. Read more.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Moscow - Bike culture getting on track

For years, Moscow has stood out among major international cites for its undeveloped cycling infrastructure. Recently, some steps aimed at improving the situation have been taken, but a long road still lies ahead. Read more.

HRM (Halifax) mayoral candidates tackle transportation issues

All the candidates seemed to agree on the need to unify transportation and transit planning in Halifax. They concurred on the need to boost ridership on transit, and to encourage active transportation such as walking and cycling. Read more.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Proposed footbridge between Glebe and Old Ottawa East example of ‘better way,’ says councillor

A $17.5-million pedestrian and cyclist bridge over the Rideau Canal is needed in the community and should be assessed in the context of city goals to link different areas and get people out of their cars, says the area’s councillor. Read more.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Communities Across Ontario Want Active Transportation with More Emphasis on Public Transit and Cycling

If they could design infrastructure for the needs of their community ten years from now, almost three quarters (73%) of Ontarians would place more emphasis on public transit according to a new Ipsos Reid poll released on behalf of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute. Not far behind in priority, six in ten (60%) would place more emphasis on cyclists. Further, a majority (52%) would place more emphasis on infrastructure for pedestrians. Read more.

Bike Calgary helps launch Ride the City for cyclists

Commuting on bike may be a little easier in Calgary thanks to a new open-data application that not only plans routes but allows cyclists to alter the map. Read more.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Windsor - University plans to close Sunset Ave.

The University of Windsor unveiled its plans to permanently close Sunset Ave. and transform it into a pedestrian esplanade. The plan is to transform Sunset Ave. between Fanchette and Wyandotte Streets into a plaza with benches, planters and parkettes where students can congregate.

The university’s spokesperson Holly Ward says the closure was a way to deal with the growing traffic on the street. Read more.

Bixi company struggles with deficit

In 2012, PBSC expected revenue of $91 million and profits nearing $11 million. According to Radio-Canada, revenues are more likely to reach $49.6 million and the profits are projected to tank, with the company losing $2.8 million. Read more.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Vancouver’s ‘anti-car’ plans going too fast for some

Charles Gauthier of the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association says he has concerns the new bridge plans could impact the flow of goods into the province’s major “economic engine” and create “choke-points.” Read more.

Charlottetown - Bike lane widths worry councillor

An inconsistency in the size of bike lanes around Charlottetown, varying from very wide to very narrow is attracting concern of a city councillor and some cyclists. Read more.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

In ‘City of Cyclists’, cops accused of putting cars first

The police in Copenhagen have blood on their hands.” That accusation was levelled last week by the renowned bicycle consultancy Copenhagenize. In a blog post, it argued that the police are a major obstacle in getting more Copenhageners on their bicycles and improving their safety once they’re on the street. Read more.

Bike Benefit Calculator

Riding a bike to work is going to save you money. The bike benefit calculator will tell you down to the dollar. It even gives you a measure of the health and environmental benefits to be gained by trading four wheels for two. Calculate your trips.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

E-Bike Market Share Grows to 20% in Holland

Market researcher GfK Retail & Technology analyzed from cash register entries at dealers and other distribution channels that during the first seven months of 2012 the sale of e-bikes continued to grow and now stands at a market share of 20% of all bike sales. Read more.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Edmonton hopes 'bike boxes' make intersections safer for cyclists

“Bike boxes make intersections better for everyone,” says city transportation engineer Andrew Siggelkow. “It allows drivers and cyclists to act predictably at intersections and be aware of one another, helping them share the road.” The city unveiled it's first box Thursday at the southside intersection of 116th Street and 87th Avenue. Read more.

OECD Better Life Index

The OECD Better Life Index is designed to let individuals to visualise and compare some of the key factors – like education, housing, environment, and so on – that contribute to well-being in OECD (and other) countries. It’s an interactive tool that allows you to see how countries perform according to the importance you give to each of 11 topics that make for a better life. Give it a try!

Alzheimer's could be the most catastrophic impact of junk food

A large body of evidence now suggests that Alzheimer's is primarily a metabolic disease. Some scientists have gone so far as to rename it: they call it type 3 diabetes. Read more.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Walking to school? What a novel concept!

Walking or biking to school didn’t used to require a crack organizational team, but it’s come to that in urban North America. Parents who drop off their kids at school as they rush to work, coupled with a fear of letting youngsters loose on busy city streets, has created a vast change in a single generation. Forty-one per cent of Canadian kids get a lift to school, compared to 13 per cent of their parents, according to a survey conducted earlier this year by a national coalition working to get students out of cars. Read more.

Council Plans to Improve Nelson’s Bicycle Paths and 'Walkability'

The City of Nelson plans to create interconnected bicycle pathways and bike parking facilities throughout the city. That’s a goal that will be incorporated into a new draft of Nelson’s 2008 Official Community Plan (OCP) at a council meeting in October. Read more.

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Velo-city Vienna 2013 - Call For Contributions

Velo-city Vienna 2013 will be held from June 11-14 (2013) and will discuss the latest and greatest developments in the cycling world. The motto is “The Sound of cycling – Urban Cycling Cultures”. The main themes are:
  • Cycling cultures
  • Cycling cities
  • Cycling benefits
The DEADLINE for submission is Monday, 22 October 2012. For more information on the Call for Contributions visit the conference website: www.velo-city2013.com.

Conference - Transport Futures

Building on our seven previous learning events, global and local experts will compare how Canadian, American and European governments deliver road, transit and parking infrastructure in terms of efficiency, transparency and innovation. Issues and questions to be discussed include:
  • Legislation: How does transport legislation enable or restrict innovative mobility planning? How does it fit with other pertinent statutes?
  • Board & Budget Decisions: How are agency board members and sub-committees appointed? Should non-elected boards be given the power to introduce new taxes?
  • Vertical & Horizontal Fragmentation: Do transportation “silos” within the public and private sector play a role in delaying the planning and construction of transit, road and parking infrastructure?
  • External Stakeholders: How do business, academic and non-profit stakeholders influence governance issues?
  • Public Skepticism: Since taxation is often viewed by citizens as “a bad thing”, how can transport governance help gain public trust for billion dollar infrastructure projects and mobility pricing?
For more information, click here.

Webinar - "THE THIRD MODE: CONNECTING GREENWAYS, TRAILS AND ACTIVE MOBILITY"

Offered by American Trails:

DATE: Wednesday, September 12, 2012
TIME: 12:00pm-1:15pm Pacific / 3:00pm-4:15pm Eastern
COST: $25 American Trails members / $45 non-members

The first 100 to sign up receive a complimentary digital copy of the book "The Third Mode: Towards a Green Society."
To register: Click here.

Winnipeg - The city has made major gains in active transportation, but there are still some big holes in the network

It's been two years since a $20.4-million federal stimulus program helped kick-start Winnipeg's active-transportation network. Thanks to the cash, more than 100 kilometres of lanes, pathways and tracks were built in record speed. The good news is, Winnipeg has made major gains in making the bicycle a viable option for getting around. Read more.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Seattle - Road Safety Action Plan

In 2011, [Seattle] held three Road Safety Summits across Seattle and asked residents, community organizations, and City representatives how we could improve transportation safety. With feedback from those summits, and a detailed data analysis, the City of Seattle and our community partners have developed a Road Safety Action Plan (RSAP). Read the complete plan.

Monday, September 3, 2012

Calgary sidewalk closure fees may rise

Officials plan to recommend council impose higher fees for sidewalk closures, particularly for when construction crews use up the pedestrian spaces longer than expected. "There’s more demand and a higher expectation on street usage by peds. Where a few years ago crossing a street and going down a block and crossing back over wasn’t seen as that big of a problem, it’s now become less acceptable than it used to be.” Read more.

Kelowna - UBCO thinks inside the (Bike)box

The University of British Columbia Okanagan is combining its security technology with a Saskatchewan inventor's bike locker to create safe, secure and keyless parking spots for staff members' bicycles. Read more.

Vancouver - City eyes plan to make Robson Street closure permanent

A temporary pedestrian plaza on Robson Street which became hugely popular during the Olympics could become permanent. The 800 block of Robson Street, between Hornby and Howe, will remain closed to vehicles until the end of the year following another successful summer as a pedestrian plaza, according to a city news release Wednesday.

City staff will then report to city council later this fall on plans for a permanent closure, which may go forward depending on feedback from the public, TransLink and local business owners, said Mayor Gregor Robertson. Read more.