Wow, 2011 has been a busy year for the Shifting Gears crew! But, better late than never, we’ve completed a great summary report outlining the program elements & results. Click here to view an executive summary, or click here to view the complete report.
Happy trails for in 2012,
The Shifting Gears Crew
Check out this fantastic Winter Cycling Booklet put together by the past Shifting Gears Ambassador, Mr. Clifford McCarten!
After the closure of a busy downtown pedestrian/cycling bridge, the Peterborough Bicycle Advisory Committee (P-BAC) is reaching out to local pedestrians and cyclists to raise both awareness and support for priority solutions.
“We would like to see this issue receive the same attention and urgency that the closure of an automobile crossing would,” explains Donald Fraser, P-BAC Chair.
The bridge, affixed to the CP Rail crossing, represents the only convenient East/West cycling route south of Hunter Street – an area that hosts a large residential population as well substantial commercial and industrial areas.
“This is an essential route that people use for daily work commutes,” says Fraser. “For a good segment of the Peterborough population, this is the main route downtown. For others it is the only safe eastbound access point for the industrial areas in the south-east portion of the city.”
The bridge is the main route to Beavermead Park, Rogers Cove, Ecology Park, the Trans-Canada trail, as well as large residential neighbourhoods. It also a major access point to downtown shopping districts and residential areas.
“We’re talking about a major artery for cycling and pedestrian traffic,” notes Fraser. “And only one of three crossings in the City where cycling traffic isn’t mixed with vehicle traffic. For people who struggle with the traffic speed and congestion of Hunter and Lansdowne Streets, this represents the closure of their only safe cycling route.”
There are fears that the closing of the walkway will lead to an increase in foot and bike traffic on the rail portion of the bridge – something that P-BAC believes should be a concern to both CP Rail and the City.
P-BAC is requesting that the priority of replacement/repair be the same as for driving infrastructure.
“If, for instance, one of the three city vehicle crossings of the Otonabee were closed, there would likely be immediate deliberation on a solution and rapid action,” notes Fraser. “Similarly, when the vehicle bridge to the Edgewater neighbourhood was closed, immediate action was taken, despite the fact that there was an alternate route made available to this small neighbourhood.”
The group recognizes that a solution will require concerted effort on the part of both CP Rail and the City.
“It is our understanding that budget planning for 2012 is currently underway and that there are already some funds earmarked for bridge repair/rehabilitation. With the unplanned closing of the bridge, we recommend making room in the budget for a 2012 capital project to get the walkway rebuilt and/or making a recommendation to Utility Services that they use emergency funds to replace the walkway in 2012. We know this will take close work with CP, but believe that Council and Staff are up to the task.”
The group is suggesting that local residents contact their local leaders to voice concerns.
“The best way to make this a priority is to let City Council and Staff know that it is a priority for you, your colleagues, your friends, and your family,” says Fraser. “Contact your Ward Councilor. Contact the Mayor. And spread word to people that are affected by the closure.”
P-BAC is comprised of dedicated transportation sector stakeholders representing a number of organizations that have cycling and pedestrian issues as part of their mandate, including: the City of Peterborough, the County-City Health Unit, Peterborough Lakefield Community Police Services, Peterborough Green-Up, Active and Safe Routes to School, Active and Safe Community Routes, the Peterborough Cycling Club, and The Peterborough Community Bike Shop.
The bike tour portion of this event will start at 10am on Sunday October 30th with coffee and treats from the pastry peddler at Wildrock. Participants will ride through town, passing the start of the run-walk at Otonabee College at 11am.
The bicycle portion of the tour will be accessible to a range of abilities including youth and recreational riders. There are two routes planned: One direct out-and-back ride to Lakefield, and the classic tempo loop (click here to view the map).
What’s in it for you?
All registrants will receive free James Fund swag and pizza lunch with their $30 registration fee. However, the challenge in this event is not the ride; the challenge and success lies in fundraising.
If you are interested in participating in the fundraising challenge and learning more about the James Fund visit the Peterborough Cycling Club’s team website.
If you want to ride with the PCC, go to the PCC’s Team Page and click on the ‘Join My Team’ button to register and help us fundraise. If you can’t join us, you can also sponsor our team by making a donation online.
Please Note: Registrants should follow the online registration and choose the 10k run option (a cycling option has not yet been added to the online registration, but we will be riding!)
Hope to see you there!
Enjoy a trip with family and friends this Sunday on Peterborough Transit (and why not stop by some of the Doors Open Peterborough locations, too!).
To find out more about this great event, visit PeterboroughMoves.com
When you’re organizing a community event, you never really know what the interest will be… might be 5, might be 10, or it might be THIRTY people joining you for a Heritage Home & Tree Walk around their Neighbourhood! WOW!
So, by popular demand, we’re going to offer Heritage Home & Tree Walk Sequels! Hurray! Check out the details below (and make sure to join us!):
Thanks to everyone who was able to make it to the first walks – it was great to see so many interested in learning about their local cultural and natural history!
The Neighbourhood Shifting Gears pilot program is in full swing! This program employs a community-based approach to encourage the use of active and efficient transportation in the City of Peterborough. This year, two neighbourhoods of approximately 500 homes were selected to participate in the project. During the project, the Shifting Gears team will be providing the residents of these two neighbourhoods with tools, resources and incentives to help promote walking, cycling, carpooling and riding public transit.
To find out if your neighbourhood is one of those selected to participate, click below to view the boundaries:
Avenues-South Neighbourhood
London Street Footbridge Neighbourhood
If you are in one of these neighbourhoods, you should have received a Shifting Gears Newsletter in your mail box on August 19th. These newsletters will let you know more about the program, the events we’ll be running during August and September, and also have an order form you can fill out to receive great free resources and incentives. If you didn’t receive one (or if it fell prematurely into the recycling), e-mail shiftinggears@greenup.on.ca to receive another.
Yesterday, we held a very successful and interesting Heritage Home and Tree Walk in the Avenues South Neighbourhood, and tomorrow we’re going to be in the London Street Footbridge Neighbourhood doing another! Make sure to come and join us for this informative (and free) event. Those outside the neighbourhood boundaries are welcome to join us for this event as well! Hope to see you there.
Peterborough has a cool and informative new Cycling Newsletter (CycleNews)! Check out the July and June editions to find out what’s going on in your community!
To sign up to receive each edition of CycleNews (free!), visit the Peterborough Bicycle Advisory Committee website
Here we are… the end of the 2011 Shifting Gears Workplace Challenge, and I’ve finally switched over to a Facebook Page, rather than the Facebook friends wall (which I apologize for neglecting!).
Make sure to ‘like’ the program and I promise to try my very best to update it regularly!
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