Gatineau QC - Conference Sustainable Transportation: Employers, time to act!

You are invited to participate in a free workshop designed to help employers and organizations in the region (Gatineau/Ottawa) acquire the tools to manage mobility and encourage sustainable commuting options.

When: Tuesday, September 21st
Time: Noon – 5 pm
Location: Jean-Despréz Hall, Maison du citoyen, 25 Laurier Street, Gatineau

Topics include :
· Transportation demand management for businesses: efficient, cost saving and eco-friendly – TMA at your service!
· Sustainable transit for health centers: Sherbrooke CHU and CSSS-IUGS program
· Improving commuting to business parks: example of Greater Quebec City industrial park
· Change management and resistance: how to foster change among businesses

This half day workshop is part of Car Free Day 2010 initiatives. Presentations will be simultaneously translated into English and all resources will be available in both official languages.

Go to http://www.vivreenville.org/colloque-gatineau/conference_en.html for details and registration.

This initiative is brought to you by Vivre en ville, the City of Gatineau and supported by the City of Ottawa and EnviroCentre.

US - Public Policies for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety and Mobility

In May 2009, a team of 12 transportation professionals from the United States with expertise in bicycling
and walking visited five countries in Europe to identify and assess effective approaches to improve pedestrian
and bicyclist safety and mobility.1 The countries visited—Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, and the
United Kingdom—were chosen because of their innovative approaches to pedestrian and bicycle transportation, as well as the potential transferability of their policies and practices.

Later in 2009, the international scan team developed a summary report that outlined its findings and a list of
recommended implementation actions. One of the highest rated implementation actions was the development of a policy review for bicycling and walking safety and mobility. This report is the result of that recommended
implementation action.

Portland OR - Bike Corrals: Local Business Impacts, Benefits, and Attitudes

Portland’s Bicycle Corral Program began with a single location in 2004. The exclusive on-street bicycle parking facility was successful and led to the installation of 40 additional corrals city-wide by 2010.

The purpose of this preliminary study was to research and closely examine the perceived benefits and impacts of bike corrals on local businesses proximate to a corral.

Cyclists aim to change Ontario attitudes and laws

For the past five years, hundreds of riders across Ontario have taken part in Greg's Ride, organized by the Share the Road Cycling Coalition in memory of a police officer struck and killed while riding his bicycle.

Share the Road - Ontario Bike Summit

Walk, cycle to fight obesity: study

People who walk or cycle for transport tend to be slimmer than those who rely on a car to get around, according to a new study of 15 countries. The study looked at the relationship between "active travel" — bicycling or walking instead of driving — and physical activity, obesity and Type 2 diabetes.

More than half of the differences in obesity rates among countries was linked to walking and cycling rates, Prof. David Bassett Jr. of the department of kinesiology, recreation and sport studies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and his colleagues report in the American Journal of Public Health.

One Less Car, Ten More Bikes

Thanks to Realtor Craig Della Penna, there’s now one less place to park your car downtown. There are, however, 10 more places to park your bicycle.

Video - Pedal Power (CBC Documentary)

In Canada, bicycles "don't get no respect." From the story of Igor, and the anatomy of the underground world of bike peddlers in Toronto, this film spins out to how other cities are making riding safe. Using innovative "bike-cam" techniques to convey, up-close, the sensation of bike riding, a series of character-driven mini-narratives propel the film through a study of what makes a city "bikeable". Whether it's the public bike program in Paris, bike mega-garages in Amsterdam, bike paths in Vancouver and Montreal, or the surprising leadership of New York City, we follow the story of this remarkable little conveyance as it wheels though the first decade of the 21st century.

Study: Men behind wheel in most car accidents involving deaths of pedestrians

A city study of pedestrian deaths found that male drivers are responsible for the vast majority - and that November and December are the most dangerous months.

Photos - Bike to Work BC

Dr. Richard Backus is president of Bike to Work BC and he practices what he preaches.

Perth AU - City West Public Shared Path

City West PSP (Public Shared Path) will sooner or later require some treatment to facilitate safer interaction between cyclists travelling on the PSP and pedestrians crossing it to get to West Perth or walking along the path to get to Harbour Town shopping area.

Researchers: Walking could prevent 10,000 cancer cases annually in United Kingdom

Around 10,000 cases of breast and bowel cancer could be avoided every year in Britain if people did a bit more brisk walking, the World Cancer Research Fund said Tuesday.

World Cancer Research Fund

Montreal - Laurentian Bank joins the In Town Without my Car, for a whole week! movement

The Laurentian Bank is proud to announce it will be an official presenter for the In Town Without my Car, for a whole week! 2010 edition event, organized by the Agence métropolitaine de transport (AMT).

The 8th edition of the event will take place over five days, from Monday, September 20 to Friday, September 24. As usual, several streets will be closed to motorized vehicles for one day on Wednesday, September 22. In addition, throughout the week, the public will be invited to experience public and active transportation for five consecutive days, as part of a program that presents different themes daily.

Winnipeg - Looming deadline to complete bike paths

The city says it’s on track to finish dozens of construction projects that should make the city more bike and pedestrian friendly.

There are 35 pathways planned, all part of a federal and provincial spending spree. But there’s a catch: the work has to be done fast, and in some cases, construction has yet to begin.

Rob Ford transit plan focuses on subways, roads

Mayoral frontrunner Rob Ford, who has come under fire from his opponents for not having a plan to back up his “stop-the-gravy-train” rhetoric, has unveiled a $4.8-billion transit plan that focuses on subways and traffic flow, cuts down on streetcars and keeps bike lanes off the city's streets.

Also: Ford declares war on the streetcar

Where do Toronto’s mayoral candidates stand on bike lanes and cycling issues?

Whether s/he’s developed an official “transportation plan” or has merely commented/complained about bike lanes in the city, find our what five of the leading mayoral candidates have to say about cycling issues in Toronto.

Helping Quispamsis get active in transportation

An active transportation plan for Quispamsis would see more people slipping into sneakers or hopping on bicycles while their gas-guzzling vehicles stay in the garage, says a Moncton-based consultant.

Kingston - Building in step with pedestrian-friendly plans

The city is trying to encourage pedestrian movement along upper Princess with the mix of business and residential -- a concept known as Main Street Commercial.

"It will help reinforce the intent along there," said city planning director George Wallace.

"Buildings to the street. Wider sidewalks. The idea is it helps to promote a pedestrian atmosphere along the street. As redevelopment occurs along the midtown, it's to do so in the context of pedestrian traffic."

Ottawa cyclists asked to ID danger spots

The city launched an online survey Wednesday asking riders to list the routes and lanes they fear most, as well as other information that will help the city choose where to make safety improvements.

Fergus-Elora - Getting more people in motion

The local Health Unit's In Motion program is looking for county support and provincial grant money to help get more people in Wellington active.


The group hopes to develop an Active Community plan by next year that would show how to make communities in Wellington County more friendly to human-powered transport.

Funding for the $60,000 plan would come from the grant, $25,000 from Wellington County, and $2,000-$3,000 from each of the seven county municipalities, Centre Wellington parks and recreation director Andy Goldie told county councillors at a special Aug. 12 meeting.

Controversial Vancouver bike lane will be scrapped if failure says councillor

If the controversial Hornby Street separated bike lane causes too much disruption, Vancouver councillor Geoff Meggs said Thursday that it could be removed.

Vancouver - Hornby Street business owners oppose grade-separated cycling lane

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business has released a survey showing that a vast majority of Hornby Street business owners don't want a new separated cycling lane on that street.

Belleville alderman recovering from Moonlight Ramble bike crash has message to deliver

[H[ad he not been wearing a helmet, doctors told him, he would be dead. Elmore will use this experience to encourage children to wear bicycle helmets. He's already talked to some fifth-grade students at Douglas Elementary School in Belleville and he plans to go back. He also hopes to work with Helmets First, a Columbia-based nonprofit organization that provides free or discounted bicycle helmets for children.

Winnipeg - Businesses pushing city about bike-path change

Six businesses in the Broadway-Assiniboine neighbourhood hope the City of Winnipeg will back-pedal on a recent tweak to the Assiniboine Bikeway because they fear they'll be adversely affected by changes in traffic flow.

Regina - Flash mob gets moving

[A]bout 20 individuals participated in Saskatchewan in motion's active transportation flash mob on Tuesday. According to Saskatchewan in motion consultant Nicole Yacishyn, the purpose of the mob was to raise awareness about how fun it is to use human kinetic energy to get around and the importance of physical activity.

Moncton eyes better bike, pedestrian system

Six years from now, each and every Moncton resident should be able to leave the house in the morning and get to work or school without a car. The new strategy proposes a system of trails, roadside pathways, bike lanes and shared streets to connect residential areas to shopping districts and the downtown core. Main streets such as Mountain, Shediac, Salisbury and Gorge Roads will have bike lanes constructed.

Bridgewater take Active Transportation Study

"Basically it's a survey to get a handle on people's behaviours, the barriers and motivators that allow or disallow people from using active transportation in the community."

"The idea is that over time we'll re-administer the survey so that we can see how we're doing with our public engagement [and] see if we're actually effecting change over the long term."
To learn more about the town's plans check out Bridgewater NS Active Transportation.