Friday, November 28, 2014

After another fatality, Ottawa cyclists look for built-in safety

“I’m frustrated. Cyclists or pedestrians keep getting hit by cars and killed or injured … I’m never satisfied by what we hear afterwards. Read more.

Berwick NS - Blue Route & Active Transportation Policy Framework Consultation

Name
Blue Route & Active Transportation Policy Framework Consultation
DateMonday December 8, 2014
Doors Open9 am
Time9:30 am - 4:30 pm
Duration7 Hours

Canmore focusing on bikes and pedestrians in plan

Canmore’s recently adopted integrated transportation master plan continues to focus municipal resources on moving people around the community in different ways, including on bikes and on foot. The plan for a multi-modal transportation network, which promotes active modes like bikes and pedestrians, sets out a goal to make Canmore Alberta’s premiere walking and cycling community. Read more.

Okotoks - Centre Ave. cycle track proposed

Divided bike lanes could be added to a busy road on Okotoks’ north side as the Town explores a major facelift for Centre Avenue. The proposal was unveiled at a Nov. 17 open house in town council chambers where residents were able to provide feedback on the two proposed concepts for the street, which are aimed at improving mobility for cyclists and pedestrians. Read more.

Can we engineer walking back into our lives?

With Mississippi Mills on the cusp of creating a “comprehensive” Transportation Master Plan and Active Transportation Master Plan we must ask this question. Can we engineer walking back into our lives? Read more.

Guelph - More students will be bused to Upper Grand schools

Upper Grand's new walking distance policy comes into effect Sept. 1, 2015. The established walking distance for Grade 7 and 8 students at 3.2 kilometres, and for Grades 9 to 12 at 3.5 kilometres, will not change. Although the walking distance reductions fly in the face of active transportation and walking school bus initiatives, if students are bused, it means their parents aren't driving them to and from school and that should reduce congestion outside schools before and after dismissal, McLennan said. Read more.

Bicycle co-op program inspired after agent of change attempts to launch one for Mission Possibilities

A new active transportation program may be seen soon in Portage la Prairie — and all because of an unsuccessful attempt at launching one for Mission Possibilities. Read more.

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Cyclists say proposed downtown Edmonton bike route plans are ‘promising’

Early signs point to ‘yes’ for cyclists at Monday night’s downtown bike route consultations, with many cyclists eying the positives in the proposed designs. Bike boulevard and cycle tracks were the two options up for discussion for the route that travels along the proposed 102 Avenue route. Read more.

UK cycling networks to get spending boost of more than £200m

More than £200m will be spent on encouraging cycling in an attempt to make Britain a nation that loves its bicycles like Denmark and the Netherlands, Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, will say on Thursday. Read more.

It isn’t just about going car free

A recent fad is self-professed car freedom, but that doesn’t get us very far, except maybe contributing material for our social media feeds. True change to mitigate the colossal damage the private automobile has induced — environmentally and socially — requires actions beyond simply selling your car. It’s a complex system with numerous connections. Read more.

Maple Ridge Bike repair service on Dragon's Den

The founders of Velofix make a pitch Wednesday night to the CBC business show Dragon’s Den, explaining how a mobile bicycle repair service could find a market niche. Read more.

Fort St. John seeks to become a 'walkable city'

It’s a lonely road for many in Fort St. John. You can see that laid out in a recent Fort St. John document about the city’s ongoing master transportation plan. It showed that nearly 70 per cent of people drove around in a vehicle with a single occupant – in other words, alone. Read more.

Le « bécyk à pédales » mal-aimé

Le BIXI n’est pas un vulgaire « bécyk à pédales » qui siphonne les fonds publics, comme s’en est déjà désolé le ministre libéral Laurent Lessard. C’est un service public qui est en complément aux transports en commun. Et contrairement aux préjugés, à Montréal, il est efficace. Read more.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Toronto - New policy narrows lane widths on some streets to improve safety

Research shows there is a direct relationship between travel speed and lane width, according to a city backgrounder. Motorists feel more comfortable driving faster when travelling inside wide lanes, often in excess of the posted speed limit. Higher speeds lead to more damaging collisions and higher rates of mortality. Read more.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Build the case for cycling - ECF teams up with WHO/ Europe to show you how

Turning the benefits of cycling into concrete numbers is key to getting the message across to policy makers. That’s why at ECF we are partnering with WHO/ Europe to provide a programme of free webinars on the updated HEAT (Health and Economic Assessment Tool), with a focus on cycling.  HEAT is an excellent tool that can be used to translate lower levels of mortality thanks to cycling and walking into financial benefits. Read more.

Le maintien du programme d'entretien de la Route verte réclamé

Le programme, financé par Québec à la hauteur de 2,8 millions de dollars par année, permet depuis 2001 d'entretenir la véloroute de 5358 km - une responsabilité partagée à parts égales entre le provincial et les municipalités. Read more.

Halifax - Cyclist license cycle

The city should pay a monthly stipend to cyclists, or maybe just offer them some discounts around town. After all, they're unclogging our roads, promoting a healthy lifestyle and staving off global warming. What we shouldn’t do is force cyclists to purchase a license to ride. That's what Dartmouth councillor Gloria McCluskey wants the city to look into. She says it will help identify problem cyclists and the money raised will go towards more bike lanes. A staff report looking into the idea is to be requested at the next Regional Council meeting. Read more.

Monday, November 24, 2014

Job Posting - Halifax

Working under the supervision of the Making Tracks Coordinator the Making Tracks Project Officer will assist in expanding the reach of the Making Tracks active transportation safety and skills training program throughout Nova Scotia. Specifically, the Project Officer will provide leadership training and support to key partners across Nova Scotia to build capacity within communities to train youth and children in active transportation safety and skills. Read more.

Halifax - Macdonald Bridge bike lanes to be studied again

Halifax plans to take another look at changing the on and off ramps of the Macdonald Bridge bike lane with a major redecking project planned for next year. It's been studied before, but city officials say the project presents an opportunity to try again. Read more.

How the Danish Cooperated to Build a Bicycle Superhighway

Getting the 22 municipalities involved to agree was not easy, but the outcome is revolutionary. Read more.

Quiz: do you know your cycling rules of the road?

Are helmets compulsory? Can cyclists ride two abreast? And when is night-time actually night-time? Find out the answers to these and more by taking our cycling 'rules of the road' quiz. Read more.

Bridgewater - Provincial cash to help town with bike racks

The province says it has supported the Town of Bridgewater’s efforts to promote sustainable transportation by providing nearly $9,000 for new bike racks. Read more.

Plan gains slow traction in Enderby

City council has received the Enderby-Splatsin active transportation plan analysis and proceeded with a number of recommendations. “It’s a to-do list. Some are long-term and some aren’t very viable,” said Howie Cyr, outgoing mayor. Read more.

Bixi benefits far outweigh the costs

Lessons are to be learned from the business model that saw the Société de vélo en libre-service file for bankruptcy at the start of this year, but as Bixis are pulled off the streets for another winter and Mayor Denis Coderre is expected to make an announcement next week about Bixi’s fate, Montrealers should be reassured that foreign experience shows it to be a worthwhile enterprise. Read more.

Sunday, November 23, 2014

B.C. pedestrian caught on camera being struck by car raises safety concerns

Victoria Police Const. Neil Lundin says the accident clearly shows just how careful pedestrians need to be because drivers aren't always paying attention. "It's another example of pedestrians, in this city, even if they have a walk sign ... drivers have to be very careful to clear that walk sign before they make that left turn." Read more.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Friday's Verrazano Bridge Protesters Join a Long History of Pro-Bike Activism

The "photobomb" is the work of activist group Right of Way, which advocates for pedestrian and cyclist rights. The group argues that the bridge's lack of alternative transportation symbolizes a larger city failure to permit its growing bicycle culture penetrate into the outer boroughs. Read more.

Friday, November 21, 2014

Webinar - Thursday, December 4, 2014 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM (EST)

On December 4, 2014 the Heart and Stroke Foundation will host a webinar to discuss the key results from the Report Card and the Global Summit while focusing in on Active Transportation. Jacky Kennedy from Green Communities Canada will discuss how Active Transportation interventions have great potential to increase overall physical activity levels among kids and the ways in which Canada can improve our grade based on success stories from other countries.


Promoting Active Transportation by Sharing Lessons from the 2014 Report Card on Children’s Physical Activity. Read more.

Why it’s time to legislate physical activity for our kids

One thing that we know for certain: Telling the kids to “just go outside and play” doesn’t work. We need to stop dragging out that blithe statement. It completely fails to acknowledge the complexity of the issue, and it’s not getting us anywhere. Read more.

Travel With Care Campaign to Melt Icy Road Relations

Travel With Care, launched by PeopleForBikes, aims to inform the general public that every bike rider is a neighbor, friend, family member – just a normal person who chooses to bike. The change of the leading word from the campaign that inspired this idea is aimed at all people on the streets in an effort to “melt icy relations on the road.” Read more.

Sauvons NOTRE Route verte!

Le réseau cyclable de la Route verte, un levier de développement économique panquébécois depuis 20 ans, est menacé à la suite de la décision du gouvernement d'abolir son programme d'entretien. Lisez plus.

Calgary - Downtown bike lane designs: What you need to know

For much of the routes, a double white line and green plastic posts will mark the division between two wheels and four. (They’re flimsier than bollards, and cheaper, bicycle co-ordinator Tom Thivener says.) In areas where parking sits between the bike lanes and the car lanes, a small concrete curb will get nailed into the road, similar to the bumpers in outdoor parking lots — except with the same green posts. And planters may be installed at some areas, too. Read more.

Quiet changes intended to make Calgary a little friendlier to bikes: Are they working?

The bicycle news in Calgary has been dominated in recent months by ongoing debate about the forthcoming downtown cycle-track network trial. And for good reason: It’s a big development.
But City Hall has been quietly making changes to cycling outside of downtown, with disparate tweaks that have largely flown under the radar over the past few months. Read more.

Declining Walkability Plays a Big Role in China's Obesity Problem

A paper recently published in the journal Preventive Medicine examines the connections between obesity, income, and the built environment in two of China’s major cities, Shanghai and Hangzhou. Read more.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Obesity's global costs hit $2 trillion a year, report suggests

A new report by the McKinsey Global Institute released Thursday that the global cost of obesity has risen to $2 trillion annually — nearly as much as smoking or the combined impact of armed violence, war and terrorism. Read more.

Vision and Courage: What’s Needed to Build Bicycle Culture in Vancouver

For the second consecutive municipal election, bicycles were “front and centre” when Vancouverites went to the polls on Saturday, as the two mayoral candidates vying for incumbent Gregor Robertson’s job tried their best to have it both ways. Read more.

Webinar - "Rethinking Streets: An Evidence-Based Guide to 25 Complete Street Transformations"

Date: December 3, 2014, 1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. ET
Presenters: Marc Schlossberg (Univ. of Oregon)
Host: Initiative for Bicycle & Pedestrian Innovation
Cost: Free
Details & Registration: http://bit.ly/1xp3E7V

Report - Walking is Going Places

America Walks is pleased to once again partner with Jay Walljasper, author and speaker, to be able to offer access to his latest report Walking is Going Places on our website.

A 'People-Centred' New Mayor for Victoria

Helps said she also wants to do more to help the homeless, improve affordable housing, and promote "active" transportation options, such as walking and cycling. Read more.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

U.S. - The Federal Government is Making Your Commute Worse

The primary claim of a report released today, Subsidizing Congestion, by TransitCenter and The Frontier Group describes the numerous ways in which a relatively obscure U.S. tax policy impacts commuters. The commuter tax benefit is a subsidy that allows employees to withhold money from their paychecks, tax-free, to spend on transit usage, parking fees, and other commute-related expenses. Read more.

Halifax bike license plan gets no traction

A Dartmouth councillor thinks it's time to consider licensing adult cyclists who are 18 years old and older. "I think there would be more control over what they'd do. They'll be identified," said Gloria McCluskey. Read more.

Calgary - Sandy Beach Bridge ready to open

Eighteen months after the June 2013 flood destroyed three pedestrian bridges located in Calgary’s southwest along the Elbow River, the first of the three bridges will re-open. On Sun., Nov. 23, at 12 noon, Mayor Nenshi will cut a ribbon officially opening the bridge. Calgarians are invited to be part of this opening celebration and be one of the first to cross the new bridge. Read more.

Quebec Cuts Funding to Route Verte – Outcry from Cycling Community and Municipalities

As part of the Quebec government’s new austerity measures, some $2.8 million has been cut from programs to maintain the Route verte, a 5,358km network of bike paths across “the Belle Province.”  As a result of the cuts, Vélo Québec, the bicycle lobby group that championed the creation of Route verte over the past decade, predicts the closing of certain sections of the network in 2015. Read more.

Edmonton - Opinion: Quality infrastructure will pay dividends

The Edmonton Bike Coalition represents more than 1,000 Edmontonians who support city council’s recent plans to build a network of high-quality bike routes in our central neighbourhoods. This plan will provide a safe, healthy transportation option that will encourage more of us to get outside, and support the growing number of people who already bike by giving them a safe place to do so. The installation of high-quality bike routes in our central areas can transform Edmonton for the better. Read more.

Winnipeg - Plan for new suburb in city's northwest moves on to council for approval

A proposal for a new suburb in Winnipeg's northwest is one step closer to reality, after a city committee approved a plan for the area known as "Precinct E." The proposal by development company Genstar would also call for four parks and a number of active transportation links. Read more.

Saskatoon asking for another 7.3 per cent tax bump - One third earmarked for roads, sidewalks and back alleys

"It's funding things like our bridge reserve, it's funding our civic facilities financing plan, it's funding our active transportation reserve -- it's funding all sorts of things," said Totland, adding that if the money diverted to those ends was shifted back to the services side, it's very likely growth would be paying for growth. But, Totland pointed out that capital spending is also needed in a growing city. Read more.

Winnipeg - South Perimeter overpasses nearly done

The work included reconstruction and paving of the four traffic lanes, installation of new guardrail protection, and the addition of an improved active transportation lane along Pembina for pedestrians and cyclists. Read more.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Montreal's Saint-Catherine Street Could Be Transformed Into A Year Round Pedestrian Mall

A specific stretch of Sainte Catherine street, between Bleury and Atwater, has been the focus of many conversations within Montreal, as the city ponders which of the four proposed projects by Projet Saint Catherine Ouest will best serve the public. La Direction de santé publique (DSP) de Montréal don’t agree with any of the 4 plans and believe St. Catherine should be made a full-blown pedestrian zone, with no cars allowed on the downtown street, reports La Presse. Read more.

Video - Should cars and bikes be separated?

Many city planners are now trying to separate motorists and cyclists as more and more people take to two wheels. New York City now has 400 miles of bike lanes and has just passed a law to reduce the speed limit to 25mph - to reduce casualties and increase levels of cycling. Video.

Victoria - Election 2014: Mayoral candidate Lisa Helps

I would like to bring Victoria into the 21st century by improving our active transportation networks, nurturing our creative city and building walkable, liveable neighbourhoods. Read more.

Alberni’s ‘can-do’ attitude bodes well for trails: consultant

City hall hosted a larger crowd than usual on Tuesday, Nov. 4 for a presentation on “Moving forward on Active Transportation and Trail Networks.” The presentation, organized by city economic manager Pat Deakin, featured Laurel Sliskovic from Sociable Scientists Inc. and Nicole Vaugeois, co-director for the World Leisure Centre of Excellence in Sustainability and Innovation at Vancouver Island University. Read more.

Waterloo - Hillside Park paving project on hold after Waterloo neighbours complain

Some residents in the area around Hillside Park are furious with city officials they say intentionally failed to consult them on the paving of an 1,100-metre, three-metre-wide trail through the natural area. Read more.

More Edmonton bike lanes six years away if council balks at funding in upcoming budget

The current proposed capital budget only has a bike lane for 83 Avenue funded, with Councillor Scott McKeen “optimistic” the 102 Avenue bike lane will also get funding. But beyond that, it could be several years until casual and regular cyclists could see some type of cycling infrastructure. Read more.

Cycling is taking over from golf as preferred pastime of former proferssionals

Cycling has its moments. It appears to have become the new golf for former professional sportsmen. So, this year I have climbed Alpe d’Huez with the former England cricket fitness coach, Huw Bevan, and completed the gruelling 140-mile Dragon Ride in Wales with the former Wales scrum half, Andy Moore, who also finished his third Ironman event this year. Read more.

Monday, November 17, 2014

Road Pricing and Parking Workshop - Toronto, November 24

Traffic congestion in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) continues to increase despite unprecedented funding of regional and local transit. The Liberal government has promised to invest another $15 billion over the next 10 years so the GTHA can catch up to other world-class cities.  While this new money is very welcome, Canadian and international studies demonstrate that, in the absence of comprehensive mobility pricing policies, new transit and road capacity induce more travel which ultimately leads to more gridlock. Read more.

Mississippi Mills ON - What’s all this about Active Transportation?

Please note! This isn’t just for guys like me who ride bikes. It’s for all of us. It’s about how we all get around; that’s 8 year old kids heading to school or 80 year old neighbours walking to the store. This topic is broad and affects our quality of life in Mississippi Mills. Read more.

Montréal - Cycling, and some construction projects end for the season

Saturday will be the last day to cycle across the St. Lawrence River adjacent to the Champlain Bridge, as the Ice Bridge bicycle path will close for the season on Saturday at 10 p.m. The bicycle link to Parc Jean Drapeau from St-Lambert, over the St. Lawrence Seaway, will also be closed according to the same schedule. The season for Bixi, Montreal’s bike rental service, is also drawing to a close with all stations shutting down as of midnight on Sunday. More information at Bixi.com. Read more.

Calgary - Details of cycle track network on display at information sessions

Six months after city council first approved a year-long pilot project for cycle tracks in the Centre City, the designs for the upcoming bike network are now on display to the public.


A series of information sessions, which began on Wednesday, will showcase the city’s plans for three new cycle tracks and a shared-use space on Stephen Avenue. Construction on the cycle tracks — which are physically separated from the rest of traffic by a barrier — will begin in the spring, with an expected opening of July 2015. Read more.

Simcoe County is overweight, but there’s hope

Simcoe-Muskoka’s rate of obesity is higher than the provincial and national averages. In 2013, 20.6 per cent of Simcoe-Muskoka’s population aged 18 and over were considered obese, states The United Way of Greater Simcoe County’s VitalSigns report released in October.  This is compared to Ontario’s average of 17.9 per cent and the Canadian average of 18.8 per cent. Read more.

Nova Scotia - Province announces active transportation funding for Avon region

Kings South MLA Keith Irving, on behalf of Andrew Younger, Nova Scotia’s Energy minister, announced $10,000 in funding for the Avon Region Active Transportation Plan. Read more.

Waterloo - Hillside Park plan doesn’t address cycling needs

The City of Waterloo has a transportation problem and it also has a communication problem. In inadequately seeking to address the first problem, it has exacerbated the second one. Waterloo has fallen behind other comparable jurisdictions in the encouragement of bicycling as a viable form of transportation. In a poorly conceived attempt to address this failing, the city has chosen to run a three-metre-wide paved path along a 1.1-kilometre trail that runs through Hillside Park. Read more.

Is sidewalk cycling really dangerous, or just scary, like a roller coaster?

Advocates for a law against bicycling on sidewalks talk about safety. But with so few injuries or fatalities that involve sidewalk cycling, is this more about perception than reality? Maybe it's like roller coasters, which are designed to be scary but not dangerous. Read more.

City says there are 3 bike-vehicle accidents a week in Hamilton

Numbers from the City of Hamilton's traffic engineering division showed an average of 157 cyclists had a collision with a vehicle every year in the past five years. Eighty-three per cent of accidents result in some form of injury, and 16 per cent result in only property damage. The average has stayed stable over the past five years, peaking at 168 in 2013, but dropping to 153 collisions in the past 12 months. Read more.

Majority of Calgary commuters hopping on the bus or train to get downtown

Calgary may still be considered a car-centric city, but newly released data suggests a majority of commuters opt for hopping on a bus or train over getting behind the wheel for their daily downtown commute.
The city’s 2014 “downtown cordon activity” data shows 361,000 Calgarians pass through the downtown core on average each weekday, with half now taking public transit — a significant shift over the past two decades. Read more.

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Canmore transportation plan calls for active modes & parking management

Canmore administration will look to the coming draft capital budget discussions to implement some recent recommendations of its Integrated Transportation Plan. To that end, the latest draft brings forward a lengthy list of recommendations aimed at encouraging walking and cycling while improving on existing parking infrastructure and updating town policy around transportation, some of which could be reflected in the forthcoming 2015 draft capital budget. Read more.

Radio - Toronto city councillor wants to charge cyclists a fee for locking bikes to poles

"I am tired of these bicycle-types moaning and groaning about cycling infrastructure without coughing-up a few bucks to pay for all the things they so desperately want." Listen.

Walkable Urbanism on the Rise

Turning a metro space into a more walkable urban space, though costly, can reap benefits from economic growth to an increase in development. Walkable urban spaces have a higher amount of wealth and a larger number of college graduates than less walkable areas. From an increase in money spent per week to decreased crime rates—the benefits of walkability are beneficial to all. Read more.

Friday, November 14, 2014

Mills Active Transportation E-Survey

This survey is part of the project to develop an Active Transportation Master Plan for the Town of Mississippi Mills. Your answers will be used to develop the Active Transportation Plan and will be an input into the upcoming Active Transportation Workshop "Let's Move!". Read more.

A step toward pedestrian right-of-way in Hamilton

Pedestrians are poised to get the right-of-way more often when crossing Hamilton's reputedly dangerous streets — just as soon as the province makes it legal to do so. Read more.

Bike lanes great for active travellers in Midland and Penetanguishene

Thanks to all concerned – councillors who promoted it, Friends of Fuller for lobbying, councils that approved it, engineers and town staff, and the workers who built it – the Fuller Avenue bike lanes are done and ready to be used. Read more.

People seldom charged when cyclists get ‘doored,’ Vancouver data shows

A provision in B.C.’s Motor Vehicle Act forbids people from opening a car door on the side of moving traffic unless it is safe to do so. But Vancouver police issued only 22 tickets for the offence between 2009 and 2013. In that same period, 370 dooring incidents were reported to ICBC. And that figure only includes incidents serious enough to trigger an insurance claim. Read more.

It turns out that protected bike lanes are fantastic for walking safety, too

Protected bike lanes are good at making it safer to bike. But they are great at making it safer to walk. As dozens of thought leaders on street safety gather in New York City this morning for the Vision Zero for Cities Symposium, some of them will be discussing this little-known fact: on New York streets that received protected bike lanes from 2007 to 2011, total traffic injury rates – most of which, in New York, injure people walking – fell by 12 to 52 percent. Read more.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

The Netherlands Gets the World's First Solar-Powered Bike Lane

It's tough to make cycling any greener, but the Dutch have done just that with a bike lane that powers street lights and even houses. What's being billed as the world's first solar-powered bike path will officially open on November 12 in Krommenie, a town northwest of Amsterdam. Read more.

If you build bike paths, cyclists will come

Science says you should keep babies away from ledges and going bald is upsetting. The latest from the Journal of Duh: More people ride their bicycles when infrastructure makes it easier and safer to get around on two wheels. Read more.

Europe's cycling economy has created 650,000 jobs

Europe’s cycling industry now employs more people than mining and quarrying and almost twice as many as the steel industry, according to the first comprehensive study of the jobs created by the sector. Read more.

Over 70 Manitoulin youth attend Engaging Your Community event

Over 70 First Nations youth between the ages of 8 and 17 from five area communities including Aundeck Omni Kaning (AOK), Wikwemikong, Sagamok, Sheguiandah and Whitefish River gathered for the KidActive-Healthy Children, Healthy Spaces Engaging Your Community event last week in AOK. As a follow up to the event, community leaders from across Manitoulin would be meeting this week to look at how the communities can initiate change to improve access to outdoor spaces and active transportation (ie. bike trails, routes to school). Read more.

Waterloo - Pave Hillside Park trail — now

It's time for the protesters to get out of the way and for the machines to get into Waterloo's Hillside Park to pave a public trail. Read more.

Golden BC - Council candidates talk attraction in our final election question

We need to ensure that we have opportunities for everyone, for every age, regardless of financial status. I want to see continued support for our current recreation programs. And I will work towards enhancements to our active transportation systems; a great way to make transportation more accessible and affordable for everyone. Read more.

Edmonton - David Finkelman's parents urge drivers to slow down

The parents of David Finkelman, the 27-year-old killed while crossing Whyte Avenue in January, urged drivers in the city to slow down. "It was noon hour, there was little traffic, and the weather was clear," said Steve Finkelman,​ following the sentencing of the driver Wednesday. "The driver who hit David didn't see him until it was too late. Read more.

9 Things Drivers Need to Stop Saying in the Bikes vs. Cars Debate

There are certain things guaranteed to set off an internet firestorm. Talk about climate change, mention Monsanto, or bring up the treatment of women in video games. And you can, especially in recent years, piss off a whole bunch of people simply by writing about bikes and cars. Nothing seems to bring out the angry caps lock and personal attacks faster than transportation issues. Read more.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Audio - The Modern Moloch

On the streets of early 20th Century America, nothing moved faster than 10 miles per hour. Responsible parents would tell their children, “Go outside, and play in the streets. All day.”
And then the automobile happened. And then automobiles began killing thousands of children, every year. Listen.

A new series of documents on innovative municipal norms promoting safe active transportation

In recent years, actors from various sectors across Canada have tried to restore the status of active transportation modes as being important for everyday, functional transportation, for reasons related to health, quality of life, sustainable development or the efficient use of public space.


To support them in this endeavour, the NCCHPP will publish a series of papers documenting innovative municipal norms that have the potential to help create environments promoting safe, active transportation by changing the design or organization of public roadway networks. Read more.

Sherwood Park - County looks to improve school safety

Strathcona County has introduced a new partnership to make traffic around schools as safe as possible. “Neighbourhood traffic safety has been identified as a priority area in our community,” Debbie Rawson, traffic safety liaison for the county said during a presentation to the Priorities Committee on Tuesday, Oct. 28. Read more.

los Angeles - Biking and walking likely to be major issues in spring city elections

L.A.'s bike politics can prove treacherous. Councilman Gil Cedillo has been embroiled in a nasty feud with activists, including Bray-Ali, who are furious that he halted a road diet in his district. In the recent race to replace County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, bike lane advocates accused former state Sen. Sheila Kuehl of taking a pro-car, "windshield" approach to the issue. Read more.

Extreme green plan for Muskoka

Proceeding through town, our eager visitors are pleased to see a variety of inviting shops and cafés, with umbrellas and awnings inviting them to linger. Muskoka Street has been made into a one-way street to accommodate wider sidewalks and angled parking. Some side streets are pedestrian malls with fountains, live music and of course, free Wifi. Read more.

'Considerable reservations' expressed about Boris Johnson cycle superhighway plans

The City of London Corporation, planning authority of the Square Mile, has considered its response to Boris Johnson’s most recent flagship cycling policy, a pair of segregated “superhighways” running through the centre of the capital. A report has confirmed its support for the principle, saying this “fully accords” with core policy objectives and that a reduction in motor traffic could assist with improving air quality, tackling climate change, enhancing health and reducing noise. Yet a draft formal response confirms “considerable reservations” about the plans as they stand. Read more.

Millennials like bikes and walking more than cars

A recent study by the nonprofit consumer group U.S. PIRG based in Boston found that millennials — or those born roughly from 1983 to 2000 — are driving less in favor of walking, biking and catching the bus or train, if one is available. “It’s (a car) less of a need,” said Phineas Baxandall, a co-author of the report. “If it’s not a convenience, they don’t need it.” Read more.

Toronto - The chance to change Yonge Street

Wider sidewalks, reduced vehicle traffic, more patios and cleaned-up accessible laneways are leading priorities for Yonge St. lovers participating in a survey about the future of the avenue’s southernmost strip. Read more.

Cycling today and tomorrow

About 250 million Europeans already cycle, generating an annual environmental, social and economic benefit of around €210 billion. Europe’s cities are set to continue to grow, hereby adding pressure on scarce resources such as high-quality public spaces, efficient transport systems and a healthy and attractive urban environment for both its citizens and businesses. Cities are rethinking their mobility systems to become fit for the future. Read more.

New York - City Council bids to ban using cellphones while cycling

With the City Council set to review a new distracted-bicycling law that, like the current rules for car drivers, would bar two-wheelers from texting or even talking without a hands-free device, The Post observed dozens of speeding bikers in Central Park using their phones to text and even take videos as they raced along the paths. Read more
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St. Thomas officially opens new L&PS Rail Corridor Trail

Work is wrapping up on the new L&PS Rail Corridor Trail, a 2.2 km paved surface that runs from Wellington St. to Parkside. Read more.

Waterloo protesters stall Hillside Trail paving, but at cost to city

Protesters got in the way of paving on Hillside Trail in Waterloo on Monday morning, creating a delay the city says will cost $10,000. And the man leading the protest sat on a city task force that recommended a new trail surface in 2010. Paul Raymond said he didn't expect work would go ahead, and that the city still failed to consult everyone. Read more.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Singapore - URA chief planner cycles for work and fun


His return to biking has opened his eyes to gaps in the existing infrastructure. "You discover how you can make things easier. Little details count. Like whether there's a small kerb and whether the drain grating lies one way or the other because if it's parallel to the rider and you're using a bicycle with slim tyres, your wheel can get trapped and you may fall," he said. Read more.

Toronto - Walking everywhere lets me see the city, and get back in shape

If you ever needed another reason congestion on Toronto’s streets is a critical issue (was there recently an election?), consider that during rush hour I can get to where I need to go in the downtown sector on foot faster than this so-called “Rocket” that costs money, doesn’t use up any calories and is often uncomfortable. Read more.

6 more pedestrians hit on Toronto streets

Five pedestrians were hurt after being struck by vehicles over a span of just a couple of hours in Toronto on Tuesday evening, according to police. A sixth pedestrian was struck Wednesday morning. The spate of collisions comes one day after police launched a week-long pedestrian safety campaign. Read more.

Diagonal walkways put drivers, pedestrians at different cross purposes

Studies show they're safer for pedestrians, but motorists find them annoying because they have to sit longer at red lights. Those extra wait times have led to recurring — and at times heated — debate in car-centric Los Angeles over whether scrambles are worth the trade-offs. Read more.

Australia - Police liken cyclists to cockroaches online

A Queensland police officer has likened cyclists to "cockroaches" in an online row involving the state's top cop. The war of words erupted after Victorian-based advocacy group Cycle.org.au posted comments on its Facebook page about a truck driver's breach of Queensland's one-metre passing laws. Read more.

Bicycle-Friendly City Infrastructure in U.S. Significantly Increases Cycling to Work by Residents, Which Can Improve Health of Locals

New research ties bike-friendly infrastructure changes in United States cities to increases in "active commuting" by bike-riding residents, which can improve and sustain weight[i] and reduce cardiac risk[ii]. The research comes as many of the largest U.S. cities, including New York, Chicago and Minneapolis, add hundreds of miles of bike lanes and launch bike-sharing programs. Read more.

Monday, November 3, 2014

As Boomers Age, Walkable Cities Become More Important

It seems that the two cohorts have also found themselves in a natural alliance on urban planning. Both the old and the young, according to surveys, want to live where they can walk, use transit, and enjoy public space. Read more.

Will New Yorkers Warm Up to a New 25-Mile-Per-Hour Speed Limit?

The driver ran her car right up onto the concrete bollards on the pedestrian island in the middle of West End Avenue, leaving its front end suspended in the air. She was one of two drivers to run into this new feature—designed to slow cars in this residential neighborhood and save pedestrians’ lives—in as many weeks. The woman driving reportedly told cops that she just didn’t see it. Read more.

U.K. - Cycling is not just for 'white young men', says Richard Burden MP

The row over a Birmingham councillor's claim that millions spent on cycling is benefitting "white young men" has reached the House of Commons. Birmingham MP Richard Burden, Labour's official transport spokesman, hit out at Deirdre Alden's claims that Birmingham's £23 million plan to encourage cycling was discriminatory. Read more.

City councillor wants skateboarding to be allowed on Montreal streets

There is a move afoot to legalize skateboarding on Montreal streets.  Proponents say it's about time to stop ticketing people for getting around in a healthy and environmentally friendly way. Read more.

Windsor - Share the Road Cycling Coalition seeking to boost number of university cyclists

Organizers of the University of Windsor’s Share the Road Cycling Coalition want to pump up the number of cyclists at the school in hopes of reeling in the competition in the province-wide campaign. Read more.

Strategy developed to increase physical activity among residents of Yarmouth

There are five major goals that have been set out in the strategy. Three of the goals are consistent with ones the province has embarked on.  This includes increasing physical activity for youth, increasing physical activity for females across their lifespan and increasing active transportation. Read more.

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Safe Routes to School Programs Can Boost Walking and Bicycling by 30 Percent

Streetsblog reports on a new study that found schools with Safe Routes to School programs could boost the number of children walking and bicycling to school by 31 percent over a five-year period. Read more.

City Spotlight – Montreal, Quebec

With over 403 miles (650 kilometers) of bikeways, including 213 miles (342 kilometers) physically separated from motor vehicles, Montreal is truly North America’s bicycle capital. Read more.

Does Cycling Culture Have a Drinking Problem?

The same Governors Highway Safety Association study finds that 88 percent of the victims of fatal cycling accidents in 2012 were men. Worse still, 28 percent of all fatal-accident victims in 2012 had a BAC of more than 0.08 percent. The risk question aside, is bro culture claiming cyclists' lives? Read more.

Cycling advocates want municipalities to help #ungapthemap

If you've ever tried to cycle from Vancouver to Steveston, or from New Westminster to the Tswawwassen ferry, you've probably found that some of the bike routes to get there are not so safe, or straightforward. Read more.