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ELECTION PROMISES & COMMITMENTS towards Active Transportation ‘if elected’

We now have two clear active transportation (AT) commitments from both the New Democratic Party (NDP) and the Progressive Conservative Party (PC).

Good news for Active Transportation in Election 2011 !
The NDP’s have made a clear promise to a piece of infrastructure and today (Sept. 28th) Premier Selinger verbally committed on camera to supporting development of AT ‘strategy’ and staffing.
The PC’s have put forward a clear PROVINCIAL AT commitment to paper / on the website and in their election platform.
Details can be found below.

ELECTION PROMISES & COMMITMENTS towards Active Transportation ‘if elected’

IN PRINT – IN ELECTION PLATFORM PLAN PROVINCIAL Commitment to Active Transportation: Cleary stated in the Progressive Conservative Heath Communities document found on the PC Manitoba website. See Page 11. Text states: A McFadyen government will adopt a provincial policy to support and encourage active transportation. A McFadyen government will establish a provincial director of active transportation. A McFadyen government will enact a policy that requires active transportation infrastructure to be considered in all future provincial road projects in Manitoba. A McFadyen government will establish an active transportation agency with a formal advisory board. September 14: At Provincial Environmental Forum, Heather Stefanson VERBALLY commits to: developing a Provincial active transportation policy establishing a provincial director of active transportation establish an active transportation advisory board September 13: At CAA / Winnipeg Free Press Café infrastructure debate, Kelvin Goertzen VERBALLY commits to: developing a Provincial active transportation policy establishing a provincial director of active transportation establish an active transportation advisory board

INFRASTRUCTURE commitment for one area VERBAL Provincial commitment on camera September 28: At the Winnipeg Winnipeg Free Press Café, Janice Lukes asks Premier Selinger to commit to AT policy and staffing. See question and response 11:24 minutes into the interview with Greg Selinger: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/LIVE-Town-halls-with-Gerrard-and-Selinger-130663498.html September 21: Premier Selinger commits to a crossing over the Perimeter Highway at the Northeast Pioneers Greenway. See complete details on Erna Braun’s website. September 13: At CAA / Winnipeg Free Press Café infrastructure debate, Gord McIntosh VERBALLY commits to: developing a Provincial active transportation policy establishing a provincial director of active transportation establish an active transportation advisory board

VERBAL Provincial commitments September 30th: Clearly stated in a Bike to the Future candidates survey, Paul Hesse committed in email to ALL of the key active transportation initiatives request by the Winnipeg Trails Association Establish a Provincial Active Transportation Policy: Establish a Director of Transportation with staff responsible for improving active transportation: Maintain public input through a Provincial Active Transportation Advisory Board: Develop routes so CHILDREN can SAFELY walk and bike to school. Educate ALL road users on how to safely share & use the roadway system. Fund the development of walking, trails and cycling routes September 14: At Provincial Environmental Forum, Paul Hesse VERBALLY commits to: developing a Provincial active transportation policy establishing a provincial director of active transportation establish an active transportation advisory board September 13: At CAA / Winnipeg Free Press Café infrastructure debate, Eric Stewart VERBALLY commits to: developing a Provincial active transportation policy establishing a provincial director of active transportation establish an active transportation advisory board

VERBAL Provincial commitment September 30th: Clearly stated in a Bike to the Future candidates survey, James Beddome committed in email to ALL of the key active transportation initiatives request by the Winnipeg Trails Association Establish a Provincial Active Transportation Policy: Establish a Director of Transportation with staff responsible for improving active transportation: Maintain public input through a Provincial Active Transportation Advisory Board: Develop routes so CHILDREN can SAFELY walk and bike to school. Educate ALL road users on how to safely share & use the roadway system. Fund the development of walking, trails and cycling routes September 14: At Provincial Environmental Forum, James Beddome VERBALLY commits to: developing a Provincial active transportation policy establishing a provincial director of active transportation establish an active transportation advisory board

A SAFE connection from Winnipeg OVER the north Perimeter Hwy to Birds Hill Provincial Park and the Red River Floodway Trails system is needed and a TREMENDOUS opportunity exists to make this connection!

MEDIA REPORTS on lack of consideration for active transportation in $80million interchange

The Winnipeg Trails Association, in partnership with the Prairie Pathfinders, One Green City and Bike to the Future launched a “Winnipeg to Birds Hill Provincial Park’ active transportation awareness campaign the morning of July 6th, 2011. As part of this awareness campaign, activities and events will continue throughout the upcoming months at various public locations. On July 6th, Winnipeg to Birds Hill information sheets were handed out to over 250 cyclists preparing to cycle to the Folk Festival via the Northeast Pioneers Greenway (Manitoba’s most heavily used trail) OVER the Perimeter Hwy (PTH101), onto the new Red River Floodway trail system and into Birds Hill Provincial Park. The information sheet highlighted:

• the need for a SAFE active transportation connection linking Winnipeg OVER the Perimeter Hwy – to the town of Birds Hill, Birds Hill Provincial Park and the Red River Floodway trails system
• the opportunity to make a SAFE active transportation connection in the $80 M – $100M PTH 59N and the PTH 101 interchange project occurring in the next two years
• the opportunity to link together – SAFELY – the significant millions invested in Winnipeg trails – to the millions in trail development in Birds Hill Provincial Park, the new Hwy 59 cycle ped overpass and the trail system within the Red River Floodway

OPPORTUNITY:

At a recent information session hosted by MMM Group on the $80 M – $100M PTH 59N and the PTH 101 interchange project, MMM Group presented a design that missed – but holds the opportunity to include a SAFE pedestrian and cyclist over the Perimeter just 300 meters west of the interchange. The current design of this interchange completely lacks any SAFE active transportation infrastructure. In this day and age – and with such an intense Provincial and Federal focus on healthy living, it is incomprehensible that $80 M – $100M of public funds will not include an active transportation component – when just 300 meters to the west – an active transportation ped / cycle bridge will enable people to SAFELY cross OVER the north Perimeter.

Our organizations are encouraging people to contact their Provincial leaders express the desire for a SAFE active transportation connection OVER the Perimeter Hwy specifically, a separated pedestrian / cycling bridge as part of the $80 M – $100M PTH 59N and the PTH 101 interchange project. PLEASE EMAIL or PHONE one or ALL of the Provincial Representatives before October 4th.

Ask them to:

“PLEASE SAFELY connect the Northeast Pioneers Greenway OVER the Perimeter Hwy with a separate pedestrian / cyclist bridge to access Birds Hill Provincial Park and the Red River Floodway Trails System, as part of the PTH 59N and the PTH 101 interchange project.”

Premier Greg Selinger          premier@leg.gov.mb.ca 945-3714

Minster Steve Ashton           minmit@leg.gov.mb.ca 945-3723

Minister Ron Lemieux        minlg@leg.gov.mb.ca 945-3788

Minister Bill Blaikie           mincon@leg.gov.mb.ca 945-3730

Minister Flor Marcelino    mincht@leg.gov.mb.ca 945-3729

Minister Jim Rondeau       minhliv@leg.gov.mb.ca 945-1373

Erna Braun
– MLA Rossmere               erna.braun@leg.gov.mb.ca 945-7349

Bonnie Mitchelson
– MLA River East              bonnie.mitchelson@leg.gov.mb.ca 945-0008

Walk this lovely little way (Winnipeg Free Press)Winnipeg’s picturesque parkways city’s best-kept secret. Shhhhhh.It’s Winnipeg’s prettiest little secret, and we wouldn’t want word to get out. It’s not marked on city maps, not even the trail maps. And there’s precious few signs pointing the way. But unbeknownst to most Winnipeggers, there’s a web of six parkways that link park to park to park along the city’s rivers, following quiet streets where necessary, but mainly hugging the riverbanks.

And if you venture just north of the corner of Glenwood Crescent and Harbison Avenue West, you’ll discover perhaps the most picturesque spot of all of Winnipeg’s parkways, Elmwood Park, part of the Kildonan Parkway. “I can’t believe no one, either media or just a person, has asked about this,” said Janice Lukes, manager of special projects with the Winnipeg Trails Association and Rivers West, Red River co-ordinator. “But no one has.”

Many people may be travelling the parkways in bits and pieces but don’t realize they all join up. On a recent sunny day, cyclists were whizzing through Elmwood Park and south along the parkway, while a couple walked two enormous dogs and some would-be explorers checked out two mysterious staircases near the river. The Kildonan Parkway, where it wends through Elmwood, might be the most pleasant of the parkways, given to leisurely meandering, snaking along tree-shaded neighbourhoods and sun-dappled parks by the river.

Janice Lukes,manager of special projects for the Winnipeg Trails Association, strolls in Elmwood Park at the end of Glenwood Crescent. (BORIS.MINKEVICH@FREEPRESS.MB.CA)

The parkways all end at The Forks — or start there, depending on how you look at it. The South Winnipeg Parkway runs south of The Forks, west of the Red, and the Boni-Vital Parkway, also running south, is east of the Red. There’s the North Assiniboine Parkway and South Assiniboine Parkway, their directions self-explanatory. The North Winnipeg Parkway runs north of The Forks on the west side of the river, and the Kildonan Parkway runs north on the Red’s east side.

The parkway system was started 20 years ago by a forward-thinking city with a vision to make the most of its rivers, Lukes says. There were 18 smaller trails then, a very confusing labyrinth of paths, but officials organized them into six parkways to keep things simple.

Until trailheads and route maps are placed on the parkways — planned for this fall, along with signs indicating points of interest, a very pleased Lukes reports — bikers, hikers and dog-walkers need to be a little creative to find the parkways in many spots. They are signed, but signs are small and placement is a bit sketchy.

It’s worth seeking the signs because, really, a whole other world within Winnipeg opens up once you set foot or wheel on a parkway.

By Julie Carl, julie.carl@freepress.mb.ca
Winnipeg Free Press, June 28 2011

Yellow Ribbon Greenway highlight of Trails Day events
The asphalt has barely had enough time to cool off but the Yellow Ribbon Green way trail is already being heralded as one of the best in the city, according to residents and advocates.And it will be one of the must-explore highlights of Trails Day on June 4, when there will be six multi-use trail events for individuals to explore across the city.

“It’s the best thing that’s happened to this part of St. James,” said St. James resident Connie Newman, who has closely followed the trail’s construction and can be found along it three to four times a week.

The 5.5-kilometre trail begins at Hamilton Avenue and Silver Avenue near Sturgeon Creek and snakes its way through city-owned property, including forested parts of Murray Industrial Park and the Living Prairie Museum, a strip near the airport and the Assiniboine Golf Course to Ferry Road. Plans call for it to eventually reach Polo Park Shopping Centre.

As part of Trails Day activities, a series of events will take place along the Yellow Ribbon trail include a scavenger hunt, bike decorating and guided hikes of the Living Prairie Museum.Because it’s tucked away from traffic, it’s a gem full of views and community still waiting to be discovered by many in St. James, Newman said.

“Between bikes and scooters and dogs, all ages of people, it’s awesome,” she said. “It’s really a community kind of gathering, people talk to each other.Janice Lukes, manager of special projects for Winnipeg Trails Association, said the event is an opportunity to showcase the city’s growing trail network.

“People are antsy to get out. The snow melted, the grass is green, the weeds haven’t taken over yet,” she said. “It’s an ideal time to get out and explore and learn where these trails are.”Lukes said she spent three hours on the Yellow Ribbon Greenway with her children on a recent Sunday morning, and found it full of wildlife, playgrounds, the aviation museum and a must-see view of planes landing at the airport.

“We’re standing there and standing under these plane bellies coming in right after another. It was a real eye-opener for my kids,” she said. Other Trail Day events will include Harte Trail’s Paw Trek and Dog Show, which starts at Oakdale Street and Ridgewood Avenue in Charleswood.

The event takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. and will include a dog show, bike decorating, and geo-caching.”It’s a very good opportunity for the whole community, we’re doing things for every age level,” said Lois Caron, president of the Friends of the Harte Trail.”It’s a chance to get out and discover the trail, and gain more knowledge about the trail.”

For more information and downloadable maps, visit www.winnipegtrails.com.

By matt.preprost@canstarnews.com (The Metro, June 1, 2011)

When Winnipegger Jamie Court and her family tackle the Mantario Trail, she could swear she’s been transported to the set of one of her favourite fantasy flicks.

The cinematic experience starts about 30 minutes into her hike.”You see this beautiful creek and it’s all sparkly,” says Court, 21. “Then there’s thick, lush bush you’re surrounded by. It’s almost like Lord of the Rings. There are these huge trees — almost like people standing there.

“It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before.”For the young woman, hiking the Mantario Trail — a rugged 63-kilometre path located in Whiteshell Provincial Park — is an annual family tradition. Since she was 14, she has laced up her hiking boots, filled up her backpack and taken the several daylong hike with her mom, dad, sister, uncles and cousins.

“It used to be very big in the early ’80s,” says Court, a hairstylist in training who took her first wilderness trail trip with her family when she was a toddler. “Groups of younger people would go hiking in the Whiteshell or canoeing. They would just have a big camping trip together. At that time, she says even her grandmother would tag along.

It’s a ritual her father Alan, 48, a steamfitter, feels is important to pass along to his children — a sort of rite of passage he hopes teaches them to appreciate nature and the benefits of physical activity.

“(The trails) beat us some times but we try to get out on them at least once a year or more,” says the Crescentwood resident, who has fond childhood memories of “riding around on the monkey trails in Assiniboine Park.”

He admits that hiking his favourite trail, Mantario, requires a certain level of fitness, safety knowledge and a willingness to rough it. But anyone who is prepared can do it, regardless of profession or background, he says.

“I work in the trades,” says Alan. “My brother is an accountant. You just have to enjoy a bit of a challenge in the countryside.”His daughter wouldn’t have it any other way.She loves the feeling she gets when she’s completed a hike — a strenuous trek that requires crossing beaver dams, walking and climbing for several hours a day, all while toting a backpack full of supplies.”I feel like I’ve gone through a cleanse,” says Court. “You feel like you’ve worked out hard every day for six hours. You feel really fit.”

Jamie Court (in dark top) and her sister Jessica walking Assiniboine Forest Trail

Meanwhile, Court and her family use city trails in the Assiniboine and Charleswood forests during the week, especially after dinner at her grandma’s house.”It’s a different kind of hiking, but it’s still nice to take a walk with your family,” Court says. “I think it’s a good activity instead of watching TV. It’s usually a really happy time.

People are laughing. You’re outdoors so you’re more carefree. You’re getting exercise.That’s the vision Janice Lukes has for the city. The trails activist, who heads the Winnipeg Trails Association, wants more Winnipeggers to use trails around town and across the province.

In the past five years, she says more than $40 million has been spent on trails and cycling infrastructure around Winnipeg — $20 million just last year alone.Right now, she’s helping promote International Trails Day, which takes place June 4. Dozens of trail-related activities are scheduled around the city.

The day will also promote rural paths that are part the Trans Canada Trail — a federal effort to build the world’s longest network of trails.Today, more than 16,500 kilometres of trail have been developed nationwide, 1,400 kilometres of which is in Manitoba.

For years, Lukes, a mother to eight-year-old triplets, has enjoyed the meandering trails of Winnipeg. These little wilderness gems hidden within the city go through river-bottom forests, wind through open fields and snake along abandoned railbeds.

Lukes can’t pinpoint her favourite one. But she’s in love with a new route she’s discovered —the Yellow Ribbon Greenway Trail located in St. James. There’s a spot on the trail near the Richardson International Airport that gives trekkers a clear view of landing planes.

She and her family recently spent a few hours on the four-kilometre trail.”The planes were flying right over top of us,” says Luke, her voice inflected by her excitement. “How often do you see the bellies of these big planes land above your head?”

For Lukes, trails are an antidote to the digital age.”It’s unbelievable the draw that these electronic gadgets have,” says Lukes. “It’s like a drug. It’s scary.”Kids… you have to pull (the electronics) out of their hands. The more we can get out and have great adventures on trails, the better.”

By shamona.harnett@freepress.mb.ca (Winnipeg Free Press, May 30, 2011)