City of Edmonton projects & public engagement – January 2015 update

127 Street Reconstruction - 118 Avenue to Yellowhead Trail

The City of Edmonton invites the public to review and provide final feedback on the recommended concept plan for the 127 Street Reconstruction project.

The City of Edmonton is developing a concept plan for 127 Street between Yellowhead Trail and 118 Avenue in advance of road reconstruction scheduled for 2016.

This section of 127 Street serves as a major commuter corridor linking the downtown area to residential and commercial developments north of Yellowhead Trail, however it is in poor condition and has been prioritized for road reconstruction in 2016.

Date	Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Location	Prince Charles School
Address	12325 127 Street
Time	5pm to 8pm
Presentation at 6

104 Avenue Corridor Plan

The City of Edmonton is preparing a Corridor Plan for 104 Avenue between 111 Street and 123 Street, along the future alignment of the west leg of the Valley LRT line.

The 104 Avenue Corridor Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP) process will examine city policy, land use, built form, community facilities, transportation, heritage and urban design in order to develop a vision and policy for the evolution of the corridor in the framework of transit oriented development (TOD).

Read the Draft Corridor Plan The Draft ARP is now available (29MB) for anyone who wants to read it before the third public workshop.

You are invited to attend the third workshop.

On February 2, 2015, the Draft 104 Avenue Corridor ARP will be presented for public discussion. Workshop participants will be asked to provide feedback on the policies and directions within the plan that will shape future development along the corridor.

Date	Monday, February 2, 2015
Location	The Heart, 1st Floor, MacEwan University’s Robbins Health Learning Centre
Address	10910 104 Avenue
Time	6pm to 8:30pm
Presentation at 6:30, open house to follow

Valley Line LRT Update to Environmental Impact Screening Assessment Drop-in Open House

The City is making slight adjustments to plans for the Valley Line LRT in the river valley in response to stakeholder concerns identified during the preliminary design process. Among other things, these adjustments are intended to:

Better accommodate Edmonton Ski Club and Muttart Conservatory operations

• Help minimize construction traffic on Cameron Avenue
• Provide better connectivity for trail users during construction
• The adjustments will be the subject of an update to the EISA accepted by City Council in September 2013

Date	Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Location	Old Timer’s Cabin
Address	9430 Scona Road
Time	5pm to 8:30pm

Neighbourhood Renewal Open Houses

http://www.edmonton.ca/residential_neighbourhoods/building-great-neighbourhoods.aspx

Residents and property owners are invited to attend a final public meeting about upcoming neighbourhood reconstruction before work begins this spring. City staff will:

• Display and explain the final neighbourhood design, including pedestrian and cycling accessibility and improvements.
• Inform property owners about the local improvement process.
• Inform residents about what to expect during construction.

Neighbourhoods:

Westwood

Date	Thursday, January 29, 2015
Location	Norwood School
Address	9520 111 Avenue
Time	6:30-8:30pm
Formal presentation at 7pm

Bonnie Doon

Date	Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Location	Rutherford School
Address	8620 91 Street
Time	6:30-8:30pm
Formal presentation at 7pm

Westmount

Date	Thursday, February 12, 2015
Location	Coronation School
Address	10925 139 Street
Time	6:30-8:30pm
Formal presentation at 7pm

Rosslyn

Date	Thursday, February 19, 2015
Location	Rosslyn School
Address	13215 113A Street
Time	6:30-8:30pm
Formal presentation at 7pm

Winter cycling presentation with Tom Babin, author of Frostbike

Please join Tom Babin, writer with the Calgary Herald and author of the bestselling book, Frostbike, on Saturday, February 21 at BikeWorks South for a presentation about winter cycling! There is no cost to attend this event.

The bicycle is fast becoming a ubiquitous form of transportation in cities all over the world, making our urban spaces more efficient, more livable and healthier. But many of those bicycles disappear into basements and garages when the warm months end, parked there by owners fearful of the cold, snow and ice that winter brings. But does it have to be that way?

Canadian writer and journalist Tom Babin started questioning this dogma after being stuck in winter commuter traffic one dreary and cold December morning and dreaming about the happiness that bicycle commuting had brought him all summer long. So he did something about it. He pulled on some thermal underwear, dragged his bike down from the rafters of his garage and set out on a mission to answer a simple but beguiling question: is it possible to happily ride a bike in winter? That question took him places he never expected. Over years of trial and error, research and more than his share of snow and ice, he discovered an unknown history of biking for snow and ice, and a new generation designed to make riding in winter safe and fun. He unearthed the world’s most bike-friendly winter city and some new approaches to winter cycling from places all over the world. He also looked inward, to discover how the modern world shapes our attitudes toward winter. And perhaps most importantly, he discovered the unique kind of bliss that can only come by pedalling through softly falling snow on a quiet winter night.

Bicycle Assembler job posting

EBC is hiring two administrative positions, but if you are seeking a more technical job, please consider applying to become a part-time bicycle assembler for the organization.

Bicycle Assembler

The Bicycle Assembler will help EBC provide bicycles to the public while sustaining EBC’s revenue stream by creating a steady supply of refurbished bikes for sale, maintaining and repairing EBC’s rental bike fleet, and sharing knowledge and experience with EBC’s volunteer mechanics.

This position is 25 hours a week.

Full job posting: EBC Job Posting - January 2015 - Bicycle Assembler

EBC is hiring!

Here is your chance to join the team at EBC and get paid to help make Edmonton a better city. Alongside the rapid growth of cycling in Edmonton, EBC is also growing. Our programs for youth, two volunteer-run bike shops, and expanding outreach and education programs need to be strengthened and sustained, and we are constantly examining new opportunities.

We are currently hiring three positions to support our mission and grow our organization.

Program Coordinator

The Program Coordinator is a new position within EBC and will be the touch point in the organization for the various programs that EBC offers which currently include The Spoke, You Can Ride 2 (YCR2), and BikeWorks. The Coordinator assumes administrative duties for each program which may include duties relating to operations, procedural development and program specific volunteer management. The Coordinator manages the volunteer pool which includes orientation, (non-technical) training and development opportunities. This position provides administrative support as required to the organization as a whole which may include financial management activities, correspondence, file and supply management.

This position is 30 hours a week.

Full job posting: EBC Job Posting - January 2015 - Program Coordinator

External Relations Coordinator

The External Relations Coordinator, a new position within EBC, will manage the fundraising and external relations efforts for the organization. This will include fostering existing stakeholder relationships and building new ones. Communicating the EBC message and building the EBC brand will be a focus of this role to help build new partnerships and recruit new program volunteers. The Coordinator will develop organization and program collaterals for distribution and promotion in order to help build the membership base. Managing EBC events is part of this role.

This position is 20 hours a week.

Full job posting: EBC Job Posting - January 2015 - External Relations Coordinator

Bicycle Assembler

The Bicycle Assembler will help EBC provide bicycles to the public while sustaining EBC’s revenue stream by creating a steady supply of refurbished bikes for sale, maintaining and repairing EBC’s rental bike fleet, and sharing knowledge and experience with EBC’s volunteer mechanics.

This position is 25 hours a week.

Full job posting: EBC Job Posting - January 2015 - Bicycle Assembler

To apply to a position, please submit a brief cover letter, 2 references and a resume jobs@edmontonbikes.ca. Applications will be accepted until a suitable candidate is found. Please include the job title in your subject line.

102 Ave bikeway

Council has unanimously approved fully funding the creation of a high-quality bike route along 102 Avenue from 96 St to 136 St. Thank you to everyone who contacted their councillor to support this program.

Designs for the 102 Avenue route will be completed in mid-2015, when it will go back to the community for feedback and revision. Construction would likely start in 2016.

You can review and give your feedback on early design options for 102 Ave until December 5 on the project website.

Active Transportation receives $20 million

Thank you to everyone that wrote to council in support of funding active transportation. Council has just passed a motion to increase funding from $0 to $20 million for the next 4 years. Council will debate funding for the 102 Avenue bikeway at 1:30pm. You can listen or watch live online at http://councilontheweb.edmonton.ca/ (Council Chamber).

#CoffeeOutside

The #YEGBike community, in addition to collecting clothing for YESS, is at it again, this time with a simple plan: to drink cofffee together (or your preferred morning beverage).

Inspired by a group in Portland, this is an Edmonton version of #CoffeeOutside. Once a week, everyone is invited to gather somewhere along the river valley — camp stoves, thermoses, and portable coffeemakers in hand — for a bit of early morning caffeine and fellowship.

This week the meeting will be at 7:15 am on Friday, November 28 at the wooden platform in Government Hill Park.

Come on down and bring a mug, some water, and whatever you need to brew a cup the way you like it. It’s guaranteed to be worth the grind.

5 things you can build with zero dollars by 2019

City Council's 2015-2018 Capital Budget currently has $0 allocated to active transportation. $0 for downtown bike routes. $0 for the next four years. What can you build with that much money?

1. You can build 0 meters of shared-use paths.

You didn't need to go anywhere, did you?

Active Transportation, currently unfunded in the budget, includes building shared-use paths (also known as multi-use trails), installing curb ramps requested by citizens, connecting isolated bus pads to sidewalks, maintenance of river valley stairs, and installing bike racks.

2. You can fulfill 0 requests for curb ramps and sidewalk connections to bus pads.

Roads are just wide sidewalks. It's true.

3. You can maintain 0 river valley staircases.

That's what the handrails are for.

4. You can install 0 bicycle racks.

Every business's dream.

5. You can build 0 km of high-quality priority bike infrastructure.

Projects not funded include: a protected, separated cycle track on 102 Avenue and bikeways along 100 Ave, 104 St, and 107 St downtown, as well as 51 Ave and 119 Ave bikeways.

The only project that is currently funded is the 83 Avenue bikeway, with $2.2 million in growth spending allocated.

Please, this time is critical for you to engage as a citizen. Council is debating the capital budget today, and will be making its decisions in early December. There's no time to wait: please write a short, polite letter to your councillor. Even if you know that your councillor already supports funding active transportation and cycling infrastructure: they need to hear from you to support their position in these discussions.

You can write something as simple as:

Dear Councillor,

My name is ⋯. I live in the ⋯ neighbourhood, and depending on my needs for any given trip, I might drive, take transit, walk or ride a bike.

Though I don't always ride a bike, I do strongly support investing in high-quality, cycling infrastructure. It is a priority for the health and safety of myself and my family, and should be a priority for this city, for its livability and its future.

I also support investing in active transportation, including building shared-use pathways, curb ramps and sidewalks. The active transportation program is essential to creating an accessible, equitable city, enabling people of all ages and abilities to actively pursue and participate in the spirit of this city.

Please fund bikeways and active transportation in the 2015-2018 Capital Budget.

Sincerely,

⋯

Winter Clothing Drive/Ride

Many of us ride in the winter and can afford to dress for it. Some in our city aren't so lucky, including many youth without a home. To help them, the #YEGBike community has launched a charity drive collecting winter clothing for YESS: Youth Empowerment & Support Services (formerly known as the Youth Emergency Shelter Society). Donations of jackets, toques, gloves, jeans, socks, and underwear can be dropped off until December 5 at:

• Revolution Cycle (15103 Stony Plain Road)
• Redbike (10918 88 Ave)
• Earth's General Store, both locations (9605 82 Ave, 10150 104 St)
• Mud, Sweat, & Gears (133 Main Blvd, Sherwood Park)

Let's show Edmonton that cyclists have heart!

On December 6, a group bike ride will deliver the donations. Please consider giving what you can to help keep marginalized youth warm this winter.

I Bike YEG

In October 2014, the Edmonton Bike Coalition asked Edmontonians to send pictures of themselves to support bike infrastructure in Edmonton's central neighbourhoods. In less than one month, over 1100 photos were submitted, providing a visible demonstration of the diversity and strength of support for Edmonton's transformation to a bicycle-friendly city.

In December 2014, City Council votes.

Bike routes: it's time to build.

Join the coalition at https://web.archive.org/web/20170911182251/http://yegbikecoalition.info/

The mosaic, composed from photos submitted by over 1100 current and potential Edmonton cyclists, is the culmination of the coalition’s campaign calling on City Council to provide funding to implement the City’s planned network of bike routes in Edmonton’s central neighborhoods within the next four years.

The photos show families and individuals of all ages holding signs with slogans like “I Bike,” “I Would Bike,” “My Friends Bike,” or “I Bike To School.”

Animation and Design: Owen Brierley, Edmonton Digital Arts College Soundtrack: David Shepherd Photography: Anna Ho, Cheryl Trepanier, Keren Tang, Erin Hoselton, Conrad Nobert, and members of the Edmonton Bike Coalition

You Can Ride 2: Storage needs, mechanic job

You Can Ride 2's adapted bike loan program for children with special needs is seeking your help! Through the generous support of individuals donating bikes and funders who have allowed us to purchase new adapted bikes, You Can Ride 2 (YCR2) now has over 70 adapted bikes in its fleet, which we loan out to families in the summer, free of charge, and to schools in the winter.

During the transition periods in the fall and spring, we require space to store these bikes while our mechanics service them. We do our best to ensure all the bikes find homes during the summer & winter, but we have some storage needs even through these seasons.

Our current storage solution is reaching capacity. If you know of an affordable space where adapted bikes may be stored and relatively easily accessed, please get in touch with us. Adapted bikes can range from having only minor modifications to large trikes with backrests, so a relatively open warehouse-style space with easy loading access would be ideal, but even if you're not sure whether or not a space might work for us, please let us know about it.

Bike Mechanic Job Posting

Additionally, we are once again hiring a program bike mechanic for You Can Ride 2. Hours are flexible, and you do not require prior knowledge of adapted bikes. Download the job posting and send any questions or your application to ycr2@edmontonbikes.ca. The posting will remain open until a suitable candidate is found, but the work can begin almost immediately.

The future of bike routes in Edmonton

Several motions and inquiries regarding cycling have been brought forth at City Hall in the past several weeks. EBC spoke to the two reports that were presented regarding cycling. You can read the motions and a link to the minutes from those meetings below. One of the biggest decisions that Council will make is still to come over the next few weeks, as Council sets priorities and chooses to fund (or not fund) projects in the 4-year Capital Budget 2015-18. You can support funding of cycling infrastructure by calling or writing to your councillor, or speaking to Council on November 24 during the City Council Budget Non-Statutory Public Hearing.

As the Edmonton Bike Coalition has highlighted, the only bike route project that's currently funded is the 83 Ave route. 102 Ave, other downtown routes, and indeed all other planned high-priority routes are currently unfunded. If Council doesn't move to explicitly allocate funding, either as a standalone project or as part of other funded projects, then aside from 83 Ave, no major bike infrastructure is likely to be constructed until the next capital budget cycle in 2019-2022.

• Downtown LRT line good route for bike boulevard, Edmonton councillor says. Edmonton Journal, September 12, 2014
• Edmonton councillor ‘optimistic’ 102 Avenue bike lane will get funded. Metro News, November 4, 2014
• Lobby efforts hope to change Edmonton city budget priorities. Edmonton Journal, November 5, 2014
• More Edmonton bike lanes six years away if council balks at funding in upcoming budget: cyclists. Metro News, November 6, 2014

97 St from 63 Ave to 34 Avenue

Recently, a councillor inquiry has prompted new re-examination of the bike route along 97 St, south of 63 Ave. The full text of the inquiry is below, but in order to better understand the conditions and needs of users, we're conducting a short survey until November 27, 2014.

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Councillor thoughts

• Councillor floating idea of bringing back bike licences. CTV Edmonton, October 16, 2014
• Together, We’ve Created A Smarter Bike Plan. MichaelWalters.ca, October 17, 2014.
• City council gains a “crazy” winter biker. Edmonton Journal, November 14, 2014
• Scott McKeen: I just need my space, man. ScottMcKeen.ca, November 19, 2014.

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Transportation Committee Meeting

October 15, 2014 http://sirepub.edmonton.ca/sirepub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=1295&doctype=MINUTES

6.1. Bike Routes - Assessment of Community Needs, Safety, and Underused Bike Lanes

• Bike Routes - Assessment of Community Needs, Safety and Underused Bike Lanes Report
• Bike Routes - Assessment of Community Needs, Safety and Underused Bike Lanes Presentation
• Bike Routes - Assessment of Community Needs, Safety and Underused Bike Lanes - Attachment 1

Moved M. Walters:

Performance Standards and Clear Measures - Bike Lanes

That Administration provide a report outlining the development of performance standards including clear measures and targets for existing and future bike lane ridership.

Due Date Second Quarter 2015 In Favour: D. Iveson, A. Sohi, M. Walters, B. Anderson, B. Esslinger Carried

Moved M. Walters:

Community Engagement Studies on Performance and Safety - Bike Lanes

That Administration provide a outlining: · The results of community engagement studies to be conducted to seek input from affected community stakeholders, including the schools, surrounding the 106 Street and 40 Avenue and 119 Street and 40 Avenue intersections. · Plans to improve the performance and safety of these intersections.

Due Date: Second Quarter 2015 In Favour: D. Iveson, A. Sohi, M. Walters, B. Anderson, B. Esslinger Carried

Moved B. Anderson:

Alternative Bike Lane for 95 Avenue

That Administration provide a report outlining the cost and feasibility of relocating the bike lane on 95th Avenue to the service road.

Due Date: Second Quarter 2015 In Favour: D. Iveson, A. Sohi, M. Walters, B. Anderson, B. Esslinger Carried

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City Council Meeting

October 22, 2014 http://sirepub.edmonton.ca/sirepub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=1298&doctype=MINUTES

COUNCILLOR INQUIRIES - 3.3. Bike Lane Removal (M. Nickel)

Maintaining balance between travel modes as well as achieving the support of communities and stakeholders are important parts of creating a healthy, multi-modal city. In some cases when changes to travel modes are made, the unintended consequences for commuters and communities are felt more by some stakeholders than others.

Can Administration provide information on the current status of 97th Street Bike Lanes south of 63rd Avenue (to 34th Avenue), specifically including information on:

1. The impact of the bike lane installations on the neighbouring industrial/commercial communities as determined through community consultation.

2. The value of the 97th Street north south route to the bicycle community as a connector between destinations as determined by community and stakeholder consultation.

3. Alternate routes that could be considered that would provide similar bicycle network connectivity.

4. The cost of relocating 97th street Bike Lane to a location with similar connectivity.

Due Date: Feb. 4, 2015

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Transportation Committee Meeting

October 29, 2014 http://sirepub.edmonton.ca/sirepub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=1301&doctype=MINUTES

6.2. 106th Street Bike Route Winter Spring Maintenance Pilot Project

• 106th Street Bike Route Winter/Spring Maintenance Report

Moved B. Esslinger:

That the October 15, 2014, Transportation Services report CR_1422, be received for information.

In Favour: D. Iveson, A. Sohi, M. Walters, B. Anderson, B. Esslinger Carried

Strathcona & Downtown Bike Routes

The City of Edmonton has released a project update on the Strathcona & Downtown Bike Routes. The update includes information about the top-rated routes, the pop-up bike lane in September, and upcoming Capital Budget, as well as public workshops in November.

Of particular note is the fact that the 83 Avenue Bike Route is listed as a "Recommended Growth Project", but the 102 Avenue Bike Route is listed in "Unfunded Growth Projects". This means that unless Council as a whole approves funding for the project, it won't be built.

Over the next four weeks, Council will deliberate all the projects in the proposed 2015 - 2018 Capital Budget, with the potential for some Councillors to champion certain projects and for projects to change status based on Council's will and approval.

The Edmonton Bike Coalition, an initiative by members of the Edmonton Bicycle Commuters Society, Strathcona Complete Streets, the QA Crossroads Committee and West Downtown Complete Streets, is organizing to get the downtown and other core routes funded, with an event at City Hall on November 20 at 5:30pm. Find out more and join the coalition!

http://www.edmonton.ca/cycling

102 AVENUE BIKE ROUTE Public Workshop

Date	Monday, November 24, 2014
Location	Robertson Wesley United Church
Address	10209 - 123 Street
Time	4:30 – 8:30pm
Presentations at 5:00pm and 7:00pm.

83 AVENUE BIKE ROUTE Public Workshop

Date	Thursday, November 27, 2014
Location	Old Strathcona Performing Arts Centre
Address	8426 Gateway Blvd
Time	4:30 – 8:30pm
Presentations at 5:00pm and 7:00pm.

Bikes in the news - November 2014

Edmonton Journal

Opinion: Lessons in how Memphis changed its tune

Todd Babiak

In 2009, that city boldly invested in bicycle infrastructure — the “greenline.” It wasn’t an easy decision. Some city councillors, like Reid Hedgepeth, were entirely opposed. He lost the vote. Or did he?

“On a scale of one to 10, I think the greenline turned out to be a 12. I’ve never been so wrong in my life,” Hedgepeth told the Memphis Daily News in 2011. “Two years ago, I didn’t own a bicycle. Nobody in my family owned a bicycle.”

The economic benefits, in only a few years, have been astounding. Street-level retail has gone up along with startup economic development in core “clusters” and other highly accessible areas that have bicycle and transit links. Why? People in cars, keen to stop on Memphis versions of Whyte Avenue and 124th Street, find somewhere else to park. That’s what they do, always.

And why do they go to these main streets? The harder it is to park, the better the neighbourhood. Main streets are nice places for walking. Humans like walking.

(Read the full story at edmontonjournal.com)

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Edmonton Journal

Opinion: Quality infrastructure will pay dividends

Conrad Nobert

According to a report from the Edmonton Community Foundation, the number of Albertans aged 15 to 24 who hold a driver’s licence fell from 90 per cent in 1991 to 75 per cent in 2012. Young Edmontonians are increasingly choosing to drive less and are looking for other alternatives. High-quality bike routes drastically reduce car-bike collisions, and they will help to protect a generation that is choosing new ways to move.

(Read the full story at edmontonjournal.com)

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Edmonton Journal

City council gains a “crazy” winter biker

Elise Stolte

“A year ago, I would have thought anyone who biked in the winter was crazy,” [Ward 1 City Councillor Andrew Knack] said.

“But I’ve been walking for the last six years in the middle of winter, and guess what, it was just fine. Why would biking be any different? Make sure I’m bundled up and make sure I have the right winter gear on the bike.

…

It takes him 40 minutes on mostly river valley trails in the summer. On Wednesday and Thursday this week, that stretched to 50 minutes, about the same amount of time it would take him on the bus.

On Friday, he need the car to meet up with his wife and realized again how painful traffic congestion could be. It took him 55 minutes from his door to city hall.

(Read the full story at edmontonjournal.com)

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Metro News

University of Alberta graduate students create technology that stops special needs children’s bikes in emergencies

Stephanie Dubois

Putting their engineering backgrounds to good use, graduate students Michael Leitch, Tamran Lengyel and Nicolas Olmedo are working with You Can Ride Two, a program that helps children with cognitive disabilities learn to ride and offer adapted bikes on a loan system.

In their Make Something Edmonton post, the team of engineers say the technology will allow kids who have limited mobility in their fingers to pull the traditional bike lever or if “they are strong enough to propel themselves on the bike at great speeds but do not have the cognitive capacity to stop in an emergency” be able to ride with their families.

(Read the full story at metronews.ca)

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Metro News

Edmonton Bike Coalition photo mosaic growing as city hall event nears

Stephanie Dubois

Support is continuing to grow for proper bike infrastructure in Edmonton, as 1,100 photos have been submitted to the Edmonton Bike Coalition for their photo mosaic.

The group is advocating for city council to dedicate around $7 million each year, for the next four years to develop safe bike infrastructure. Their photo mosaic, set to be unveiled at city hall on Nov. 20, shows what coalition members think is a strong, but silent majority through photos of Edmontonians.

(Read the full story at metronews.ca)

City of Edmonton projects & public engagement - November 2014 update

Groat Road shared-use path closure

Groat Road shared-use path from 107 Avenue to Victoria Park Road has been closed until approximately mid-January 2015 for bridge girder work. More information about the closure and detours related to the 102 Ave Bridge replacement can be found on the City's website.

River Valley Road/Groat Road Interchange

http://www.edmonton.ca/transportation/road_projects/river-valley-rd-groat-rd-interchange.aspx

UPDATE: You can now view November 19 meeting materials (presentation, display boards and fact sheet) as well as complete an online survey until December 3 about the proposed changes to the River Valley Road/Groat Road interchange. One option closes several roads, and the other adds roundabouts. View the display boards and complete the survey regarding your preferred design options.

The City of Edmonton invites the public to view and provide feedback on concept plan options for the River Valley Road/Groat Road Interchange. Some of the proposed changes could affect traffic operations in the area.

Date	Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Location	Oliver School
Address	10227 – 118 Street
Time	4:30-8pm
Presentations at 5:30pm and 7:00pm.

The City of Edmonton is developing a long-range concept plan for the River Valley Road / Groat Road interchange. The area serves as a commuter and recreational route for all forms of traffic, including cyclists and pedestrian, with access to the downtown area, the University of Alberta and the River Valley park system.

EBC has identified a number of potential improvements and issues, including:

• Avoid increasing traffic speeds/volumes
• Improve intersection turning angles to increase pedestrian/cyclist visibility
• Avoid high-speed exit lanes
• Reduce hill grade, especially for winter access
• Set sidewalks back from roadway
• Widen shared-use pathways to accommodate both pedestrians and cyclists better
• Maintain park and event access for drivers (Government House Park/Victoria Park lack transit access)

You can add your feedback at the open house on November 19, as well as by completing the online survey (to be released after November 19).

104 Avenue Corridor Plan

http://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/projects_redevelopment/104-avenue-corridor-plan.aspx

The City of Edmonton is preparing a Corridor Plan for 104 Avenue between 111 Street and 123 Street, along the future alignment of the west leg of the Valley LRT line.

The 104 Avenue Corridor Plan process will examine city policy, land use, built form, community facilities, transportation, heritage and urban design in order to develop a vision for the evolution of the corridor in the framework of transit oriented development (TOD).

Guiding principles have been developed, and several conceptual scenarios were presented to the public for feedback. Each design scenario offered different advantages and disadvantages for the community, including walkability and cycling access. A summary of the feedback received at the workshop and through the online survey is now available on the project website.

Westmount Neighbourhood Renewal Complete Streets Pilot

http://www.edmonton.ca/transportation/on_your_streets/westmount-neighbourhood-renewal.aspx

On Thursday, November 13, 2014, City representatives gave detailed information regarding the design, construction, and local improvement process for the Westmount neighbourhood renewal project.

The Westmount neighbourhood has been chosen for reconstruction in spring 2015. Westmount has also been chosen as a Complete Streets Pilot Project. Complete Streets represents a change in roadway design philosophy. Streets will be designed to reflect the surrounding area's characteristics and the needs of all the users in the community, including bike routes along 127 St, 109A Ave, and several other streets.

127 Street Reconstruction

http://www.edmonton.ca/transportation/road_projects/127-street-reconstruction.aspx

In October, the City of Edmonton invited the public to view and provide feedback on two concept plans for improvements to 127 Street between 118 Avenue and Yellowhead Trail. The information gathered during the concept planning process will be carried forward to future stages of road design and engineering where final decisions will be made prior to road reconstruction in 2016.

127 St connects to the bike route through Westmount, and is an important crossing of the Yellowhead Trail for all users, including cyclists.

Council Initiative on Public Engagement

http://www.edmonton.ca/for_residents/public_involvement/council-initiative-on-public-engagement.aspx

Edmonton City Council has launched a special initiative to review and improve public engagement in Edmonton. Housed under the Open City Initiative, the Council Initiative on Public Engagement aims to help improve the City’s transparency, openness, and accountability, while fostering greater collaboration in community and citizen participation in local government.

The three-year initiative (2014-17) will involve reviewing best practices from around the world, consulting with Edmontonians and stakeholders about the opportunities for improving engagement processes, and building capacity in the community to bring about changes for an even better Edmonton.

The first part (Phase 1) invites a cross section of Edmontonians to start the conversation on public engagement through workshops, meetings, surveys and a Discussion Guide.

Edmonton Insight Community

http://www.edmonton.ca/for_residents/public_involvement/edmonton-insight-community.aspx

The Insight Community is a growing group of diverse Edmontonians who provide feedback on City policies, initiatives and community issues. Community members are invited to complete surveys on a wide range of topics at least once a month. Some surveys have questions on one project, while other surveys have questions on multiple topics. Members of the community complete surveys at their convenience and on the topics they care about.

The Insight Community is different from stand-alone surveys. It allows for ongoing communication between yourself and the City, including allowing you to provide more in-depth, engaged feedback as well as to receive information about areas that you've expressed interest in.

Join today to help the City better understand the desires of its citizens.

Edmonton Bike Coalition

It took Edmontonians less than a month to give us more than 1100 pictures to show their support for great bike routes in central Edmonton. Join the Edmonton Bike Coalition on Thursday, November 20, at 5:30pm at City Hall as we unveil the photomosaic that they make up, in a visual demonstration of the diversity and strength of support for Edmonton's transformation to a bicycle-friendly city.

You can still join the coalition at https://web.archive.org/web/20170911182251/http://yegbikecoalition.info/, and you can also still submit your own photo. Print off one of the following signs to hold for your photo:

It's Time To Build: Show your support for building a network of high-quality bike routes in Edmonton!

On November 20, join us and a several speakers, including City Councillors Scott McKeen and Andrew Knack, and Todd Babiak, for the unveiling of our photomosaic showing over 1100 Edmontonians who have already joined the coalition.

We support the City's current plans to build quality bike networks in Edmonton's core. We're asking City Council to support its vision and dedicate 0.65% of the next 4 years' Capital Budget. Greater investment in safer, healthier transportation options will increase Edmonton's vibrancy and livability.

The Edmonton Bike Coalition is a group made up of citizens who support safer infrastructure in our wonderful city. It includes anyone that chooses to join, and is an initiative started by members of the Edmonton Bicycle Commuters Society, Strathcona Complete Streets, the QA Crossroads Committee and West Downtown Complete Streets.

The unveiling will take place at 5:30pm.

EBC Board of Directors 2014-2015

Are you passionate about cycling issues in Edmonton? Are you interested in helping direct the agenda for EBC, as well as the city as a whole? Do you know anyone that fits that description?

We need you, and we need your skilled network of policy wonks, legal pundits, bookkeepers, DIYers, dreamers and changemakers.

For various reasons, much of EBC's current board will not be returning after their current terms end on December 1, 2014. Our bylaws require a minimum of 7 board members; we cannot operate below this number. We need you to join the Board of Directors. We need the stellar folk that you're connected to.

You can nominate yourself or someone you know to EBC's Board of Directors by completing our nomination form. Additional information on the board is available on our governance page. If selected, nominees will be appointed for a 1-year term.

If you have any questions about the nomination process or the responsibilities and expectations of a board member, please contact Caylie Gnyra, Director of Strategic Planning.

Please share this request with your network.

Stolen Bikes in Edmonton

This is a public site where Edmontonians can post photos and information about their stolen bicycles, in hopes of recovering them, as well as find more information about preventing, reporting, and recovering stolen bikes.

MEC/EBC Club Night

Join us for MEC/EBC Club night at Mountain Equipment Co-op (12328 102 Ave) on Thursday, November 27, 2014 from 7-9pm. EBC members receive a 10% discount on all regular-price items, including bikes, boats, tents, sleeping bags, clothing, and chocolate bars. Have you renewed EBC your membership yet?

Door prizes will be awarded throughout the night.

Please note that you must be a member of MEC ($5 lifetime membership) and EBC ($15-$20 annual membership) to take advantage of this discount. Both memberships will be available for purchase the night of this event.

You can check the status of your membership, or purchase or renew your EBC membership online at http://edmontonbikes.ca/membership

This discount is in-store only; no online or ship-from-store discounts. It does not apply to marked-down items (e.g. Clearance).

If you do not have your membership card but are a current member of EBC, we can issue you a new card on the evening of the event.

Winter Cycling Workshops

Are you ready to keep cycling through the winter? It's really not that difficult, and it can be pretty fun.  EBC can help you with some of the finer points like: What should you do if you hit a patch of ice? How will you protect yourself from the elements? What modifications will you need to make to your bike? Sign up for our Winter Cycling Workshop on October 24th to learn this and more. You can also make your own studded tires to maximize your traction on winter roads at our DIY Tire Studding Workshop on November 7th or on November 14th. Register today as space is limited.