Calgary - Drivers get all the blame and are asked to take all the responsibility — and that’s wrong

Something is glaringly missing in the city’s thinking … As typical bureaucrats, they are clearly looking at this upside-down and as usual, blame drivers for everything. Read more.

Sudbury - New crosswalk designs aim to improve pedestrian safety

Prompted by provincial legislation, the city is bringing in new designs for pedestrian crosswalks, ones aimed at improving safety and preventing tragedies on roadways. Read more.

Brockville - Laurier bike lane delay?

The city must take a more “holistic” approach to a cycling network plan that has Laurier Boulevard residents up in arms, says Brockville’s cycling advisory committee. But it was unclear Monday whether that means delaying or even diverting the proposed Laurier lanes. Read more.

Ste-Anne opts for pedestrian path to increase safety in north end

Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue has decided to section off one metre of Meloche Street in its northern sector for a new pedestrian-only path instead of opting to construct a sidewalk on the side of the roadway to increase safety. Read more.

Barcelona is creating massive, pedestrian-friendly “superblocks” to combat pollution

Like many modern urban areas, the Spanish city has consistently failed to meet air quality standards set by the World Health Organization, and studies attribute more than 3,500 deaths per year in Barcelona to the city’s polluted air. High noise levels from traffic and tourists, as well as scores of pedestrian injuries and deaths, have pushed city officials to create a bold plan they hope will set an example for the rest of the world. Read more.

Winnipeg - City approves $6M active transportation plan

Winnipeg city councillors unanimously passed the a $6-million pedestrian and cycling action plan on Wednesday. The plan green-lights the city to construct more paths, sidewalks and corridors as part of its grander 20-year, $330-million active transportation plan. Read more.

Don't drink and bike: GO Transit apologizes for cycling wine tourism ads

A Facebook post encouraging people to visit southern Ontario region’s wineries by bicycle has prompted a regional public transit service to apologize for the “misunderstanding.” In a May 10 Facebook posting, GO Transit said “Niagara’s wineries are best enjoyed responsibly and on two wheels.” Read more.

Northumberland (ON) - Signage added to 330 km of cycling routes

The advancement for safety and signage along 330 kilometres of cycling routes has been accomplished. The official markings will help cyclers navigate the paths and offer extra security with safety signage now available. Read more.

Peterborough’s Bethune Street is getting a complete makeover

Starting in spring 2017, the Bethune Street roadway will be removed from curb-to-curb to accommodate an underground flood mitigation plan. This provides an opportunity for the streetscape to be rebuilt in a way that is innovative and supportive of diverse uses, such as walking, biking, socializing, playing, and traveling with assisted mobility devices. Read more.

Sydney to Reserve Mines trail construction enters 2nd phase

The second phase of construction on a $3-million multi-use trail from Sydney to Reserve Mines is underway. The trail is designed to promote non-motorized activity such as walking and biking, and to support healthy lifestyles. Read more.

Calgary - It's the season to get cycling

Riders who are not sure where to begin can start with one of the five rides described below, each with their own special qualities and attractions to enjoy along the way. Read more.

Cycling advocate calls on federal government to upgrade, finish Trans Canada Trail

The Trans Canada Trail needs a lot more work before it can be called a fully useable, safe, country-wide experience, says a cycling advocate from Alberta. Read more.

Vancouver records spectacular increases in cycling trips

By 2013, the city reported that 83,000 trips were taken on a bike. The following year, this rose to 99,000, and by 2015 the number shot up to 131,000. That’s a 32-percent hike in cycling in a single year. Read more.

Toronto Twitter bot tracks pedestrian and cyclist collisions

An automated Twitter bot is sounding the alarm over Toronto’s dangerous streets. @StruckTOBot uses data tweeted by Toronto police to announce every time a pedestrian or cyclist is hit in the city. Read more.

Yes, that's a car parked on a pedestrian bridge in Windsor

Photos of a car parked on a pedestrian bridge spanning over Cabana Road in south Windsor are a stark reminder of why people should stay off the Herb Gray Parkway walking and biking trails, officials say. Read more.

Renfrew County council backs trails strategy

The plan will link up more than 3,800 kilometres of trails throughout the county including the newly acquired former Canadian Pacific Rail corridor and the existing Kingston and Pembroke Trail (K&P) as well as other trails that could come into the county’s sphere in the future, such as the former CN rail line. Read more.

Oshawa - Cyclists call for better and safer infrastructure

And while the city’s Active Transportation Master Plan (ATMP) calls for a multi-use path in Oshawa’s north end, there are no plans for implementation until 2032 – another 16 years away.  McRae says it would be logical and cost-effective to install the bike lanes now while there is work already underway. Read more.

Sydney's (AU) cycling gender divide: where are the women?

only about a quarter of the people who bike up to five kilometres are women. And the further the distance cycled, the fewer the number of women on bikes. Of those who cycle between five and 10kms, women comprise just 15 per cent of the total. Read more.

Distracted cycling: Dutch look at banning use of cellphones on bikes

The Dutch government is considering banning the country's millions of cyclists from using their cellphones while riding, saying pedaling and phones are a dangerous mix. Read more.

Cycling side-by-side on busy streets? Only if cyclists are licensed

Police rarely stop cyclists from breaking the law, in my experience. Often that is because there is no way to identify them. Cyclists don't have to have a licence or any identification with them. If we're going to bring cyclists from the side of the road into the thick of traffic, is it too much to ask for a numbered plate on the bike and some evidence of competence on the part of the operator? Read more.

Urban design assistant prof helps change how we build and live in Calgary

Keough’s work on the Active Neighbourhoods Calgary Project, designed to promote active lifestyles and transportation options in target communities, “is evidence of the sustained work and credibility that is so important in community-based scholarship,” says Nancy Pollock-Ellwand, dean of EVDS at the University of Calgary. Read more.

Charlottetown offers bicycle registration program

Charlottetown Police Services would like to remind the public to complete the Operation Bicycle Theft form located on the department's main webpage, in the media and publications section located under Crime Prevention. Read more.

These e-bikes look just like bicycles on the outside, but ride like an electric

One e-bike startup from Estonia, Ampler, is taking aim at these over-the-top electric bikes by offering its own interpretations of the e-bike, with one of the most notable features of the company's bikes being that they just look like a bicycle. There's no dashboard, no extra controls or levers or throttles, no obvious battery or control system, and (hardly) any extra weight when compared with other electric bikes. Read more.

Mobi: Vancouver bike share program finally unveiled

The program, which is called Mobi (pronounced moe-bee), will feature a total of 1,500 bikes at 150 stations across Vancouver. Set to be available by the end of summer the initial service area will include the Downtown Peninsula, bounded by Arbutus Street, 16th Avenue and Main Street. Read more.

How Complete Streets Improve Commutes For City Cyclists—and Motorists

The book, penned alongside researchers from Ryerson University and the University of Toronto, examines nine Complete Street transformations—that is, roadways that are upgraded to better accommodate all users, including pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, and public transit commuters—in southern Ontario, including two in downtown Toronto at Queens Quay and Richmond and Adelaide. Read more.

Google Has Patented Pedestrian Flypaper for Its Self-Driving Cars

The front region of the vehicle may be coated with a specialized adhesive that adheres to a pedestrian, and thus holds the pedestrian on the vehicle in the unfortunate event that the front of the vehicle comes into contact with the pedestrian. The adhesion of the pedestrian to the vehicle may prevent the pedestrian from bouncing off. Read more.

Ottawa cycling advocate calls for better signage in construction zones

As construction projects in Ottawa shift into high gear for the summer in preparation for Canada's 150th birthday party in 2017, the city needs to be more consistent with its signage, says the vice-president of Citizens for Safe Cycling, a group that advocates for people who travel on two wheels. Read more.

New bicycle repair stations on Orillia trails

Cyclists are now able to fix flat tires on the fly at two new bicycle repair stations. Read more.

New Canadians find new rides with bicycle donation program

New Canadians are getting a new way to travel in Fredericton. Dozens of rescued, abandoned, seized or donated bicycles are being handed out to Syrian refugee teenagers as a part of a program designed to get young people where they need to go. Read more.

Montréal City to spend $15 Million on cycling infrastructure projects

With the addition of the new bike lanes, there are now over 700 kilometers of accessible bike routes working their way through the city after which Gadoury said that if everything goes according to the city’s plan, there should be over 1000 kilometers of bike lanes within the next five years. Read more.

Report suggests Vancouver to soon boast highest percentage of commuting cyclists in North America

A new report presented to Vancouver city council this morning shows that 10 percent of Vancouverites ride their bicycle to work—pointing to the fact that Vancouver may soon overtake Portland for the highest cycling commuting rate in North America. Read more.

Amsterdam Is Appointing a Bike Mayor

Due to be selected on June 24th, Amsterdam’s chief cyclist will promote and protect cycling in the city, acting as a go-between connecting city hall, cyclists, community groups, and anyone who might be affected by new measures designed to improve citizens’ cycling experience. Read more.

Paris Introduces Car-Free Sundays

Banning vehicles from parts of the city—including the Champs Elysées—is part of an ongoing effort to curb pollution. Read more.

Bicycle helmet safety program Operation Headway returns on P.E.I.

The chances of getting caught for not wearing a bike helmet on P.E.I. this summer have increased, thanks to the return of Operation Headway. Read more.

Head’s up: how cities are trying to manage people who walk and text

Projects in Belgium, China and the U.S. have tried to bring order to the sidewalk in an age where smartphone users are more likely to be looking at their screens than the traffic – human and vehicular – around them. Read more.

Grow up, Toronto. It’s time to let street parking go

In the increasingly dense and busy centre of Canada’s biggest city, it’s absurd to expect such a Corner Gas way of life. Yet many of us do. Merchants howled when transit authorities took out a few parking spots on Dundas Street West a few years ago to help the streetcars flow more smoothly. They howled when city hall proposed to put in a bike lane on Annette Street, too. Read more.

Pedestrian Strategy back before Calgary City Council

After a major overhaul, Calgary’s Pedestrian Strategy is going back before council Monday. The report first went to council in late January but was sent back to city administration with concerns. Read more.

Ottawa students encouraged to 'get active' on their daily school trek

It’s part of a new “active transportation” policy adopted Wednesday by the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority (OSTA) that promotes transportation methods involving physical activity and is a first of its kind for Ontario. Read more.

Dog walking linked to better physical health for seniors

Dog walking is linked to improved physical health in seniors, and older adults who form strong bonds with their canine pets tend to exercise longer and more often, says University of Missouri researchers, who report their findings in The Gerontologist journal. Read more.

Alberta gifts the Queen a walking trail for her 90th

The Commonwealth Walkway will be created in Banff National Park in honour of the monarch reaching the milestone and will feature bilingual bronze plaques along existing trails. Read more.

Toronto not among 37 municipalities to receive provincial cycling funding

A total of 37 Ontario municipalities are getting provincial funding for improving cycling infrastructure this year, but Toronto is not one of them. Read more.

Drums of Toronto’s cycling war seem to be silenced

It was only six years ago that an entire election was fought over bicycles, after over-reaching cycling advocates managed to convince council to paint bike lanes on Jarvis Street. That was it: the ‘war on the car,’ and everybody was in. Read more.

Charlottetown - Victoria Park cycling lane to open May 2

Charlottetown's parks and recreation department announced the park's cycling lane will open on May 2 at noon. It will stay open until the end of October for bicycles and rollerbladers. Read more.

Demolition closes sidewalk to pedestrian traffic on Halifax’s Spring Garden Road

Some pedestrians on Halifax’s Spring Garden Road are being forced to share the road with heavy traffic, thanks to the closure of the sidewalk across from the Central Library. Read more.

Greater Sudbury pedestrian collision report sparks criticism

Ernst Gerhardt says he's spoken to some councillors about the report he says has discrepancies in the numbers. Plus, he said, some of the findings aren't backed up by evidence presented in the report. Read more.

Scotland - Thousands of cyclists pedal on parliament

Organisers of the event are calling for 10% of the Scottish Government’s transport budget to be invested in active travel, and they also want to see improved safety and access for cyclists. Read more.

Stiffer fines for 'dooring' cyclists coming with Quebec Highway Safety Code amendment

Drivers who "door" cyclists — that is, who open vehicle doors and hit a passing cyclist — should expect stiffer fines. Transport Minister Jacques Daoust did not say how stiff these fines would be, but said the change would be "significant". Read more.

Cycling trails expected to be top priority in Toronto bid for federal cash

Cycling and active transportation projects are expected to be among the city's first request for federal infrastructure money. Read more.

St. Mary's moves forward on infrastructure improvements

In other business, council passed a motion to adopt the Active Transportation Plan that was recently commissioned by the municipality. The plan’s goal is to make it easier for people to move around the core area of Sherbrooke in a physically active manner. Read more.

Swedish Designer Built A Bicycle That Looks Like A Car And Can Navigate Extreme Weather

It has four wheels, headlights, a steering wheel, a trunk and a windshield wiper. But it’s a bike. Swedish design engineer Mikael Kjellman has created this amazing new bicycle that looks suspiciously like a tiny car.

Cobourg Council enhances bicycle safety

The one-way eastbound street forces cyclists wishing to travel west along the trail to head north on Green, then west back on to Queen Street to reconnect with the trail — though in reality, they often don't bother and just take their chances against the traffic flow for that short distance. Read more.

Peel police launch pedestrian safety blitz as they investigate latest fatality

The pedestrian safety blitz, which started on Sunday, runs until this Saturday. Police say they’ll be talking to pedestrians about ways to stay safe. (Why do they always "target" the pedestrians?) Read more.

Why is it illegal to walk freely in most of the US?

Many places in Europe allow walking wherever one’s feet takes them, regardless of private property. In the US (and Canada)? Not so much. Read more.

After 40 years, is Toronto ready for bike lanes on Bloor Street?

On Monday (past), the city’s public works and infrastructure committee will debate whether to install separated cycle tracks on Bloor between Shaw Street and Avenue Road as part of a one-year, $595,000 pilot project. Read more.

Vernon politicians discuss easing up on skateboard rules

Coun. Brian Quiring for one wanted to permit skateboarding on sidewalks with a five kilometre per hour speed limit, which is what the City of Kelowna does. Safety concerns were raised by Coun. Catherine Lord who noted there could be conflicts with seniors and the potential for collisions. Read more.

More cycling paths, marketplace, on the way for revitalization of Thorncliffe Park

Students from University of Toronto’s urban planning program have teamed up with area residents and youth to come up with improvement proposals for a community that’s been identified as a “priority neighbourhood.” Read more.

Anti-cycling campaigner claims bike lanes cause pollution

Jessica Learmond Criqui, a specialist employment lawyer who lives and works around Hampstead, has repeatedly raised concerns the introduction of Cycle Superhighway 11, which is proposed to run from Swiss Cottage to the West End, will “act as a cork” to traffic and force cars onto narrow residential roads, worsening air pollution. Read more.

A Nervous Biker’s Guide to Cycling in New York City

Maybe you are visiting New York City, and that rack of Citi Bikes looks fun yet daunting. Or perhaps there is a bicycle leaning against a wall in your apartment, waiting, but the idea of joining those fixed-gear daredevils on city streets makes your stomach drop. And besides, the honking vehicles, jaywalking pedestrians and idling trucks are enough to drive anyone to call a cab. Read more.

Cycling on footpaths legalised in Western Australia after riders' deaths

Two cyclists were hit and killed by cars around Perth on the same day last month and there have been calls to force motorists to maintain a one-metre distance from cyclists. Read more.

Don't assume disabled people aren't interested in cycling – or in proper bike lanes

Whenever bike infrastructure is debated, it’s never very long before someone objects by saying: “But what happens to people with disabilities if you build cycle lanes?” They have forgotten one very important thing: a lot of disabled people cycle, and benefit even more than most from quick, safe cycle routes. Read more.

Town of BWG and South Simcoe Police teaming up to encourage walking, biking to school on May 4

Students at W.H.Day Elementary School and St. Angela Merici Catholic School will take part in the town’s Active Transportation Committee initiative to use human-powered transportation on May 4. Read more.

Community Shifting Gears Transportation Challenge being held in May in Peterborough

In today’s fast paced society, our transportation decisions are often based on habit – and while our lives can feel hectic and many of us have become quite conditioned to choosing driving as our default mode, this challenge gives us pause to reflect on whether walking, biking, busing or ride-sharing might get us from A to B in a healthier and more enjoyable way. Read more.

Data show that distracted walking is a non-issue and isn't growing

Basically, she is saying that like jaywalking rules, created to get pedestrians out of the way of cars, texting while walking is slowing drivers down and creating a burden for them that has to be legislated out. Because when someone is walking and texting they are not giving their undivided attention to the cars and to getting across the street as fast as possible. Read more.

How to save thousands – and live longer, too

Before you can invest, you need to save. With that in mind, today I’m going to discuss a simple strategy that will help you save thousands of dollars a year. What is this miracle money-saving strategy? Getting rid of your car. Read more.

Skateboard exhibit opens in Kamloops

The Kamloops museum's newest takes a look at skateboard culture. Read more.

Report calls for mandatory bicycle parking in downtown Guelph

City staff is recommending that building owners in downtown Guelph be required to provide bicycle parking for employees, customers and residents. Read more.

London Library rediscovers Cycling as a Cause of Heart Disease

Cycling: The Craze of the Hour, which is published next week by Pushkin Press, collects together two other pamphlets with Spencer’s 1877 guide: George Herschell’s 1896 Cycling as a Cause of Heart Disease, discussing the alarming implications of the “craze of the hour”, and Barry Pain’s 1905 His Last Pupil, about a cycling instructor who can’t ride a bike. Read more.

Bike advocate wants BC gov't to invest $1 billion in cycling infrastructure

“We’re encouraging everyone in the province of British Columbia to enable everyone in the province to cycle and walk for their daily trips by investing $1 billion over 10 years in high-quality cycling and walking facilities,” says Richard Campbell with the BC Cycling Coalition. Read more.

Cycling may be good for you but I’m still terrified all my friends are going to die

 I notice that about one in three riders are helmetless. I’ve never even cycled on a main road and, if I had to, I’d do it with strips of mattress duct taped to my limbs. A friend of mine recently joked about how her bike brakes are knackered, but she’s still cycling to work every day. Read more.

Ottawa - Phones, GPS devices to be used to create cycling-use map

Capital-area cyclists are being asked to use their smartphones and other GPS devices to track their travels, creating a map of where people cycle most (and least) in the city. Read more.

Thunder Bay - New trail connects bike paths

The construction of a 650-metre stretch of cycling trail beginning at the intersection of Golf Links Road and the Harbour Expressway will connect 22 kilometres of existing trails in the city. Read more.

Halifax - Better bike lanes on the way

Glenn Fawcett, who operates Fawcett's Fine Jewellery at 1447 South Park, called the possibility of barricades along bike lanes, one of the options being considered, “completely ludicrous.” He said local streets are already too narrow for the traffic flow, forcing motorists to sometimes veer into the bike lanes. Barricades would create more problems than they'd solve. Read more.

Halifax Regional Council will consider streetscape plan to make roads more pedestrian friendly

The $6.6-million Argyle Streetscaping Project would include the section of Argyle between Blowers and Prince streets, and Grafton Street between Prince and Carmichael. The design proposes removing barrier curbs and installing decorative pavers across the entire right-of-way, adding decorative lighting, street furniture, trees, public art, planters, and possibly overhead canopies. Tactile warning strips for the visually impaired would help everyone use the street safely. Read more.

Kelowna - View plans for Sutherland Ave. improvements

The corridor is planned to include a two-way cycle track separated by a concrete median. Existing parking on the south side of will be retained. Construction is planned in several phases with completion anticipated by 2020. Read more.

Vernon - Skateboarding Debate rolls into council

Wach is promoting the use of skateboards and longboards as a green form of transportation. There is only one problem: Vernon has bylaws making it illegal to use a skateboard on the sidewalk or roadway. Read more.

P.E.I. cycling trails: seven to try this spring

We asked long-time cycling enthusiast Cynthia King, who's just started a business offering guided cycling tours on P.E.I., her top picks for both family-friendly outings and for off-road enthusiasts. Mike Connolly of Cycling PEI also weighed in. Read more.

Montreal police want to make cycling while impaired a crime

Montreal police are asking for amendments to Quebec's Highway Safety Code in order to crack down on impaired cyclists. Right now, it's illegal for a cyclist to drink while riding but there's no specific offence for riding while impaired. Read more.

Ireland - Don't let our landscape be ruined by a nanny state

You may have read of a recent case in which a hillwalker was compensated €40,000 after a fall while out walking on the mountains along the Wicklow Way. This case may become the biggest barrier to Ireland's health that we have ever seen. Read more.

German city installs traffic lights in pavements to protect texting pedestrians

The southern German city of Augsburg has installed traffic lights on the pavement so that pedestrians looking down at a smartphone won't miss the indication that it's unsafe to cross. Read more.

Calgary - Get on with pedestrian safety measures (with poll)

There’s no doubt the safety of pedestrians is important, but the city’s convoluted efforts to prevent injuries and death is an accident waiting to happen. Read more.

Would you like to volunteer with the GVCC?

The GVCC is a volunteer organization in Victoria, BC, Canada dedicated to getting more people cycling more places, more often. Are you interested in cycling? Would you like to make a difference in your local community? Then volunteer with the GVCC! You could help us… Read more.

Markham should allow cyclists to ride on sidewalks, advocate says

Markham will be receiving two new cycling paths thanks to investments made by the provincial government. However, some advocates say that's a far cry from what's needed to encourage cycling and calls are being made to do even more to boost the number of bicycle pathways. Read more.

8 80 Cities April Newsletter

In this fascinating and thoughtful article, Elly Blue investigates how our roads are funded, identifies the different perceptions about entitlement to road space between cyclists and drivers, and argues why the concept that cyclists are ‘freeloading road users’ is so problematic. Read more.

Dutch Cycling: Quantifying the Health and Related Economic Benefits

The approach of the Health Economic Assessment Tool and life table calculations were used to quantify the population level health benefits due to Dutch cycling levels. The results show that, due to cycling, about 6,500 deaths are prevented each year. Read more.

Arnprior - Gillies Grove trails to reduce by 50%

"There are too many trails on the property. We have more trails on the property than we need," said spokeswoman Megan Ihrig. "They are fragmenting the habitat." Read more.

St. Catharines workshop for cyclists, pedestrians

Stakeholders and residents are invited to discuss the future of active transportation at an upcoming workshop on Tuesday May 10. Read more.

Shifting Gears encouraging Peterborough's young people to embrace active transportation

High school students are receiving a little extra attention this spring as Shifting Gears focuses on encouraging Peterborough’s young people to choose more active methods of transportation. Read more.

Ikea Introduces A Chain-Free Bicycle

According to a recent press release by the company, the “SKID” bicycle was awarded a “Red Dot Design Award,” the highest honor in the Red Dot Design Competition. SKID, a unisex vehicle designed with the urban cyclist in mind, will see chains replaced with a “rust and oil-free belt drive.” Read more.

Gatineau hires bike route boss to bolster cycling reputation

The City of Gatineau has shifted into high gear in its quest to be known as the go-to place for cycling in Quebec. Read more.

Windsor - University law dean 'walks the walk' by cycling year-round

When the University of Windsor’s new Faculty of Law dean has a downtown appointment with a judge, he straps on his helmet and cycles to the courts from his west-side campus office. Read more.

Bike lanes officially open in Thunder Bay

This summer Active Transportation Thunder Bay will be doing more monitoring on the usage and upkeep of bike lanes, as part of an ongoing analysis into education and community engagement. Read more.

Huron County Has Cycling Fund Application Rejected

Huron County Planning Director Scott Tousaw explains in order to be eligible, the application has to have the support of a municipality, so Huron County was asked to partner with the Goderich to Guelph Trail group, which they did.    The application however was not successful. Read more.