[Policy] Fw: [At-network] Metro News: Winnipeg will improve active transportation education and wayfinding (Dec.14'16)

[Ian Walker]

Good news! I was happy to learn of this.

On Mon, Dec 19, 2016, 22:30 Laura Donatelli <omojean98 at hotmail.com> wrote:

>
> Did everyone see this news about the city's wayfinding plans?
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* at-network-bounces at lists.umanitoba.ca <
> at-network-bounces at lists.umanitoba.ca> on behalf of Beth McKechnie <
> beth at greenactioncentre.ca>
> *Sent:* December 16, 2016 8:49 AM
> *To:* AT network
> *Subject:* [At-network] Metro News: Winnipeg will improve active
> transportation education and wayfinding (Dec.14'16)
>
> Winnipeg will improve active transportation education and wayfinding New
> bike infrastructure will require enhanced outreach and education, as well
> as fresh maps and wayfinding material.
>
>
> *By:* Braeden Jones <http://www.metronews.ca/authors.jones_braeden.html>
>
> Although some of Winnipeg’s many,
> <http://www.metronews.ca/news/winnipeg/2016/12/08/winnipeg-bike-lanes-could-be-cleared-better-advocate-says.html>
>  many
> <http://www.metronews.ca/news/winnipeg/2016/11/23/winnipeg-bike-path-plans-still-need-downtown-grid.html>
>  critics
> <http://www.metronews.ca/news/winnipeg/2016/12/11/winnipeg-at-critic-made-30-complaints-in-2016.html> lament
> how the city is stuck in its deeply engrained, car-culture ways, there's
> progress afoot.
>
> Over the next few years, the city is looking to set aside about $15
> million for new active transportation (AT) infrastructure and other related
> projects, one of which happens to be $1.1 million worth of “public
> education, awareness and promotion.”
>
> In previous years, those three boxes were ticked predominantly by
> partnerships with the Green Action Centre, Rivers West and Bike Week—all of
> which promote active living and cycling awareness.
>
> The $1.1 million to be spent over the next three years on those same
> objectives will continue to support those partnerships, but also introduce
> new initiatives.
>
> “We’re expanding (our outreach),” said Stephanie Whitehouse, the city’s AT
> coordinator. “As we expand our facilities, we need to expand that too.”
>
> She explained that with projects like the Garry Street bi-directional bike
> corridor slated to be constructed by 2018, one of the city’s main
> priorities is enhanced education.
>
> “That will represent a new kind of facility for Winnipeg… bidirectional on
> a one-way street, with bike boxes, signals specifically for cyclists,” she
> said. “We want to make sure the public knows how to use it.”
>
> Whitehouse said the city will work with a consultant to ensure their
> communications strategy matches best practices,” but she expects one
> outcome will be “improving two way communications.”
>
> “We want to start a dialogue so that people like the AT critic have ample
> opportunity to give us feedback we can build on. We always want to learn
> where we get it right, where there are opportunities for feedback,” she
> said.
>
> It’s not necessarily new for the city, as Whitehouse and her team were
> responsive to criticism of the Assiniboine Avenue cycle track’s Main Street
> crossing –namely that the light timing was too short, so they made it
> longer—but she admits there's room for improvement.
>
> “While we do a lot of public engagement, the dialogue doesn’t stop once we
> construct something,” she said.
>
> While most of the AT education initiatives on her wishlist are “high
> level” at the moment, one tangible item Whitehouse is looking forward to –
> and cyclists have called for – is improved wayfinding.
>
> “As we expand our network we’re going to roll-out a new wayfinding
> program… this comes from strategies as well as feedback we’ve heard from
> our AT advisory committee and the public,” she said.
>
> The city does have a system of wayfinding signage, but both it and its
> cycling maps will have to change to add new routes and key destinations.
>
> “We’re about to put out a (request for proposals) to put out a new map in
> 2017, which will also be available online,” Whitehouse said, adding the map
> would likely be installed on signage “at key junctions” on bike routes.
>
> With the budget passed this week
> <http://www.metronews.ca/news/winnipeg/2016/12/13/winnipeg-roads-budget-councillors-fight.html>,
> the preliminary consultation for a new education and outreach strategy will
> take place in 2017, with “roll out in 2018,” and the wayfinding study is
> projected for 2018 with implementation in 2019.
>
> With both the wayfinding and education efforts, Whitehouse said the goal
> is “to get more people using (AT) facilities” and help them “think twice
> about getting in their car.”
>
>
>
> http://www.metronews.ca/news/winnipeg/2016/12/14/winnipeg-will-improve-active-transportation-ed-wayfinding.html
>
>
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