Monday, April 14, 2008

International Bicycle Fund - 40+ Benefits (Advantages) of Bike Commuting

The International Bicycle Fund is an independent, non-profit organization. Its primary purpose is to promote bicycle transportation. Most IBF projects and activities fall into one of four categories: planning and engineering, safety education, economic development assistance and promoting international understanding. IBF's objective is to create a sustainable, people-friendly environment by creating opportunities of the highest practicable quality for bicycle transportation.

Link: www.ibike.org/encouragement/benefits.htm

Toronto - Metrolinx: Green Paper # 3 - Active Transportation

Active Transportation at the Heart of our Transportation System

As part of its Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), Metrolinx is committed to developing an active transportation component that will result in a fundamental shift in the way walking and cycling are viewed by the public and accommodated within our transportation system.

This Green Paper presents the benefits, challenges, and opportunities for greatly increasing the role of active transportation in meeting daily needs, and as part of a solution to current and future urban transportation challenges.

Link: http://metrolinx-consult.limehouse.com/portal/reviewgreenpaper3?pointId=96790

Les aménagements cyclables et le stationnement pour vélo

Vélo Québec présente la programmation 2008 des formations techniques Les aménagements cyclables et Le stationnement pour vélos. Avec une expertise de plus de trente ans et l’apport de nombreux experts, Vélo Québec partage les informations essentielles à une planification réussie et à des aménagements qui fonctionnent.

Les aménagements cyclables: Référence en aménagement de voies cyclables, cette formation permet au participant de bien comprendre les grandes étapes d'élaboration d'un projet d'aménagement des voies cyclables, d'acquérir les connaissances de base sur la stratégie de planification, la conception, le choix du bon aménagement et la sécurité. Le cours d'une journée inclut un volet théorique et une visite sur le terrain.

Cette formation s'adresse à toutes les personnes impliquées dans le développement des voies cyclables : professionnels des transports et de la voirie, de l'aménagement, des parcs et des loisirs, politiciens, membres d’organisations cyclistes, etc.

Dates et lieux : Jeudi 22 mai à Montréal £ü Jeudi 5 juin à Québec £ü Jeudi 25 septembre à Montréal

Pour plus de renseignements: www.velo.qc.ca/velo_quebec/amenagements.php?page=formation

Book Review - Transport Revolutions

CBC

In Transport Revolutions: Moving People and Freight Without Oil, Gilbert and co-author Anthony Perl, an urban studies professor at Simon Fraser University, make a persuasive argument that global oil depletion is more imminent, and for that reason more important, than climate change.

Gilbert and Perl see expensive oil turning life in the developed world cold, dark and bitter. They write that in a worst-case scenario, "car-dependent suburban residents … will have to abandon their homes or live at a subsistence level on what they can produce from their land."

Link: www.cbc.ca/news/background/oil/peak-oil.html

Article - Rising gas prices drove spending on transportation in 2007: StatsCan

For every $100 spent by Canadians at the retail level last year, $31 — almost a third — went to pay for their vehicles, parts and fuel, according to a new report. Proportionally, Canadians spend $21 out every $100 on motor vehicles, parts and services, and another $10 on automotive fuels, oils and additives.

Link: www.cbc.ca/money/story/2008/04/09/retailreport.html

Article - The Vancouver Model

Author: Trevor Brody

This link takes you to an 8-page evaluation of "The Vancouver Model" that was published in "The New Urbanism" magazine.

Link: http://repositories.cdlib.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2152&context=ced/places

Article - Embrace Greener Commuting

Enteprenuer.com, April 11
Author: Rich Minzer

High gas prices and the ongoing concern for the environment have prompted an increasing number of environmentally sensitive businesses to focus attention outside of the workplace and on those carpool lanes, bike lanes and even sidewalks.

Many businesses are now encouraging and rewarding employees who use alternate forms of transportation to get to and from work. For some companies, it means paying the daily fares and footing the bill for mass transit for their employees. Other companies are rewarding carpoolers with prizes such as gift cards to local businesses.

Link: www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24066930/

Article - The Art of Walking

The Dominion, March 25
Author: Sue Johnson

As rapid transit and urban infrastructure around the world increasingly displace moderate or long-distance walking, the subject is becoming more relevant to artists and other cultural thinkers.

Link:www.dominionpaper.ca/articles/1787

Article - Abu Dhabi unveils zero-waste city

Financial Post, January 22
Author: Araminta Wordsworth

Pedestrians will never be more than 200 metres away from a public transport option, including a light railway that will move people to and from Masdar to Abu Dhabi, while "personalized rapid transport pods" running on tracks will be used inside the city.

Link: www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=253829

Article - The man who built Vancouver has a grand plan for Abu Dhabi

The Province, April 13
Author: David George-Cosh, Canwest News Service

Larry Beasley's name kept popping up to the Emirati staffers, who were hearing about "the Vancouver Model," a world-renowned planning concept that tightly packs in high-density buildings while discouraging car traffic as much as possible.

"I found out that they wanted me to develop a plan for [Abu Dhabi], that they wanted it to be one of the best cities in the world"

Link: www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=27f21b9d-49d4-44ac-a468-eb03cb0598e3&k=54710