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MEDIA RELEASE: Provincial oversight of the towing industry now in effect in Ontario
The Towing and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act, 2021 (TSSEA) came into effect in Ontario yesterday, giving consumers more certainty when it comes to towing services across the province. Towing services were previously licenced at the municipal level, creating a confusing patchwork of rules and fees for consumers. Provincial oversight will help to ensure that the motoring public has a reliable, growing and reputable tow industry for years to come. “CAA has been working for over a decade with stakeholders and government officials to achieve provincial regulation of the towing industry,” said Teresa Di Felice, assistant vice president, CAA South Central Ontario. “These changes will make a big difference for drivers, providing more confidence and certainty regardless of when or where they require support.” CAA Members can still receive the same services they have come to know and trust. CAA towing services operate in compliance with the new rules in Ontario. “Public awareness of the rules that are now in place is going to be a critical element of successfully protecting drivers moving forward,” continued Di Felice. “CAA will be doing our part to help educate drivers across the province.” Some of the consumer protection requirements that will now be required for all towing services include: Every tow truck operator and vehicle storage operator (company owner) must have a Certificate to offer services in the province of Ontario. Every tow truck must clearly display their name and TSSEA certificate number on the truck. You have the right to see a copy of the certificate. You have the right to decide who can tow your vehicle and to what location unless otherwise directed by police. Tow truck drivers must obtain consent BEFORE they tow your vehicle. Without signed consent (permission to tow form), the tow operator cannot charge for towing services. Towing consent is not required for membership or roadside assistance-type services. You must be provided with an invoice BEFORE requesting payment and a receipt upon payment. This is not required for membership or roadside assistance-type services. Rates cannot exceed the maximum rates published by the Ministry of Transportation. Referrals to a business, facility or person can only be given if requested. Tow truck drivers and operators MUST disclose any benefit they receive for providing referrals to a person, business or facility. Multiple payment methods must be accepted (cash, cheque, credit card, debit). Towed vehicles must be transported via the most direct route. The tow operator or tow truck driver must notify the vehicle owner if taken to a different location from the one the vehicle owner specified. Customers must be allowed to retrieve personal property from towed vehicles at no charge. Storage operators must allow authorized persons access to retrieve personal items from vehicles during business hours or prearranged times. Tow operators must ensure every driver employed complies with TSSEA regulations, the Highway Traffic Act, and its regulations. Implementation of regulations will continue to roll out in the months ahead, and it is expected that the final phase of regulations will be implemented starting in July 2024.
Big shift coming to the EV industry
Already a pioneer in the industry, the University of Delaware has once again played a key role in taking electric vehicles to the next level. Researchers there helped bring about new automotive standards that will drive lower-cost charging and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) integration and standardize Tesla’s connector so that future U.S.-made EVs will have this technology on it. The two newest standards for electric cars, both approved this month by standards committees of SAE International (formerly the Society of Automotive Engineers), should bring EV drivers great joy, according to Willett Kempton, professor at the University of Delaware’s Center for Transportation Electrification on UD’s Science, Technology and Advanced Research (STAR) Campus. Center director Rodney McGee was chairman of the two SAE committees, while postdoctoral researcher Garrett Ejzak, Kempton and administrative assistant Becky Cox played key roles in the engineering, research and policy work undergirding the new EV standards. “These developments mark a big shift for the EV industry,” said Kempton, who is affiliated with research centers in both the College of Earth, Ocean and Environment and the College of Engineering at UD. “Drivers will gain access to more charging stations and lower-cost charging. They will have new options for using their EV to help fight climate change and even make money when plugged in. These changes are likely to spur even greater adoption of EVs for clean, affordable transportation.” The so-called “V2G standard” (SAE J3068) provides the missing link for widespread use of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, which Kempton and his colleagues invented at UD more than two decades ago. “We’ve been doing V2G for 20 years here at the University of Delaware, wondering when the rest of the world would catch on,” Kempton said. “One key missing piece has been a complete standard for controlling and managing V2G, which now exists within SAE J3068.” V2G allows you to plug your EV into an electrical outlet and send power from the car battery back to your local energy utility, making a little income while helping the nation’s power grid. This is becoming increasingly more important as more renewable sources of energy come online. When the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing, EV owners can plug in and “perform important energy-balancing services,” according to Kempton. The savings from V2G can add up. “Our V2G demonstrations show an EV can earn between $100 a year and $1,500 a year. The wide variation is due to different markets and to regulations in different utilities. It also depends on the EV’s capabilities,” Kempton explained. Current EVs need a substantial update or retrofit to be able to do V2G, while new EVs equipped with the signaling technology are expected to be available by 2025. This standard also will make it possible to use your EV as backup power for your house. As extreme weather increases with climate change, that’s a good energy reserve to have when the lights go out. It takes one-and-a-half kilowatts to power the average house, Kempton said. Your electric car can produce 80 kilowatts of power, enough to run a whole house and more. “So, your EV can both help fight climate change and keep your house going when extreme storms happen,” Kempton said. With SAE J3400 now approved, the connector system Tesla developed for EV charging will now be standardized and can be included on future EVs of any brand. The first non-Tesla cars with this technology, also known as the North American Standard Connector, are expected to hit the market in 2025. “This will eliminate Tesla’s monopoly on their charging stations, making them available for use by any new EV,” Kempton said. According to Statista, the U.S. had more than 53,000 public EV charging stations and over 138,000 public charging outlets in May 2023. Visit Kempton's profile and click on the contact button to arrange an interview.
Cold and winter weather is about to settle in and CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO), Toronto Police Service (TPS), Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), and the Ontario Government want to know: are you winter ready? The four organizations have joined forces to help inform Ontarians that now is the time to get your winter tires installed, check your car battery and stock your car with an emergency kit with all the essentials needed for the winter months. “Our weather can be unpredictable, especially in the winter. It’s important to think ahead and prepare before driving conditions become hazardous,” says Nadia Matos, Manager External Communications, CAA SCO. “It all comes down to safety and there’s no time like the present to ensure you and your car are properly equipped.” TPS, OPP and the Ontario Government are also reinforcing the importance of driver behaviour. "The safety of Ontario’s roads is always a top priority, and we are continuing to work closely with our road safety partners to promote safe driving habits this winter season,” says Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “Road safety is everyone’s responsibility, so when you’re heading out, always remember to slow down and drive according to weather and road conditions. Together, we can keep Ontario’s roads and highways safe for everyone this winter.” “Winter driving can be stressful. Motorists need to be alert at all times when on the road, even in the most routine circumstances like driving to and from work,” says Police Constable Sean Shapiro, Toronto Police Service. “That includes slowing down and driving according to weather conditions and ensuring you give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination.” This year motorists also need to be aware of new amendments to the Highway Traffic Act. “It is now illegal to pass snowplows working side by side on Ontario highways. Only pass a snowplow if the lane is completely clear of any part of the plow, including its blade,” says Sargeant Kerry Schmidt, Ontario Provincial Police. Offenders may face a fine ranging from $150 to $1,000. This winter, before heading out on the road motorists can download and use the 511 app to check the weather and road conditions before they leave home. The 511 app can be found at 511on.ca or in the app store on your mobile device. Motorists should also refer to some other tips to help make their winter drive a safer one: Keep your gas tank at least half full at all times. Cold weather causes condensation in the system, which can lead to fuel-line freeze-up and can prevent your car from starting. Remove excess snow from your car before driving off. Any snow left on the roof might slide down onto the windshield and obstruct your vision. Keep your wiper fluid full. Keep extra fluid in your trunk. Make sure it’s rated for -40℃. Pack a fully stocked emergency kit. The kit should include a flashlight and extra batteries, warning devices (e.g., flares, reflective vests/strips), a first aid kit, blankets, jumper cables, non-perishable food and water plus a phone charger. Be sure to also keep an ice scraper, small shovel and snow brush handy in your car at all times.
Preparing the clean hydrogen workforce
The University of Delaware will play a leading role in workforce development efforts associated with the Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub (MACH2), which has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to receive up to $750 million in funding through the historic Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program. MACH2 was chosen as one of seven hydrogen hubs, totaling up to $7 billion in grants, announced by the Energy Department on Oct. 13. In stiff national competition, MACH2 ranked among the most pro-labor and greenest hubs in the nation, according to the Delaware Sustainable Chemistry Alliance (DESCA), which brokered the proposal, involving industries, academic institutions, local governments and community partners from across Delaware, southeastern Pennsylvania and South Jersey. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, and the Energy Department is working to accelerate its use as a clean energy source and as a means to decarbonize heavy industry, transportation and energy storage to meet President Biden’s goal of a 100% clean electrical grid by 2035 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, with the regional hydrogen hubs leading the way. MACH2 will encompass a network of hydrogen producers, consumers, local connective infrastructure for hydrogen deployment, and the education and training needed to develop the region’s clean energy workforce. UD will lead the higher education component of MACH2’s workforce development with Cheyney University, Rowan University and the University of Pennsylvania. MACH2 is projected to create 20,000 well-paying jobs in the production, delivery and use of zero-emission hydrogen to repower the region’s industrial facilities, transportation systems and agriculture sectors. What kinds of jobs will MACH2 help prepare people for? There will be a need for technicians for hydrogen-powered vehicles, construction workers for installing hydrogen pipelines, fuel cell power system operators, hydrogen production plant managers, and directors of research and development (R&D) programs, to name a few. Some of these roles may require a high school diploma and an apprenticeship or specific credential; others may require a college degree, from bachelor’s to master’s to Ph.D. Yushan Yan, the Henry Belin du Pont Chair in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at UD, will direct the hub’s higher education workforce development efforts. This work will complement high school, vo-tech and community college training programs in energy and construction that will be expanded through the hub, along with pre-apprenticeship programs, particularly those that recruit from underserved communities, offered by building trade unions. “The University of Delaware and our collaborators at Cheyney, Rowan and Penn are well-poised to prepare students for rewarding careers in the new hydrogen economy,” Yan said. “Several engineering, energy and hydrogen programs are already in place at our institutions and will be expanded through the hub, offering students exciting opportunities.” UD will enhance hydrogen technology training at the master’s level through a new “4+1” master’s degree in electrochemical engineering, which would allow highly qualified undergraduate students to earn a bachelor’s degree in an area such as chemical and biomolecular engineering or mechanical engineering and then continue on to earn a master’s degree in electrochemical engineering in the fifth year.
A recent survey conducted on behalf of CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO) found that 82 per cent of parents in Ontario have witnessed dangerous driving behaviours in school zones – that’s a four per cent increase compared to last year. More than half (55 per cent) consider the roads around their child’s school to be unsafe. “Our children deserve to travel to and from school safely,” says Tracy Marshall, manager of community relations at CAA SCO. “As another school year begins, drivers should prepare for higher traffic periods in school zones and drive with extra vigilance.” According to the survey, some of the most common dangerous driving behaviours parents have witnessed include speeding, double parking and stopping in undesignated areas. Of those surveyed, the car remains the primary mode of transportation to and from school. Because of this, more than 80 per cent of parents report experiencing congestion around their child’s school. In fact, survey respondents believe that parents in a hurry (38 per cent), too much congestion (33 per cent) and parents not following the drop off or pick up procedures contribute the most to unsafe driving behaviours in school zones. Majority of parents say more can be done to help drivers slow down in school zones. Ninety-one per cent of parents in Ontario support lowering the speed limit in school zones with 83 per cent that say speed limits should be 30km/h or lower. When it comes to Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE): Seventy-seven per cent – an 11 per cent jump compared to last year – strongly support the use of it in school zones. Eighty-one per cent believe its presence would deter speeding around schools. Seventy-five per cent say that it should remain permanent in school zones. Drivers reminded to follow the rules of the road in school zones, especially near school buses. “It is dangerous and illegal to pass a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended,” says Marshall. According to the survey, 11 per cent of parents report having ever been charged with failure to stop for a school bus. “Not only do you risk facing a fine of up to $2,000 and six demerit points for a first offense, but you are also putting the lives of others at risk,” adds Marshall. How drivers can help keep school zones safe. Drivers can also use the following CAA tips to ensure they are staying safe in school zones: Help reduce traffic with active school travel: Encourage your kids to walk or wheel to school to ease traffic congestion. If your school is a further distance, CAA encourages parents and guardians to park a block away and walk to school to reduce traffic and make school zones safer. Slow down: Know the speed limit in your neighbourhood’s school zones and respect them. Ensure you give yourself plenty of time to drop off your kids at school to avoid rushing. Choose a safe spot to drop off and pick up your children from school: Follow your school’s rules and avoid double parking or stopping on crosswalks, dropping off or picking up your kids on the opposite side of the street, and stopping in moving traffic as kids rush out. Instead, use the designated drop off areas or consider a spot a bit farther away from school that is easily accessible and safe. Make eye contact with pedestrians: With the excitement of going back to school, anticipate that children may not easily see or hear your moving vehicle, so ensure to make eye contact with pedestrians crossing the road. Watch for CAA School Safety Patrollers: When travelling to and from school, watch for CAA School Safety Patrollers in their lime green safety vests, as they play an important role in ensuring the roadway is safe before kids cross on their own. CAA supports safety in school zones through the CAA School Safety Patrol® program, developed to protect and educate elementary school children on safe road-crossing practices. CAA’s Ontario Road Safety Resource is a toolkit with valuable lesson plans for teachers to help educate students about road safety. To learn more please visit www.caasco.com/schoolzone. About the survey. The study, commissioned by CCG conducted by Dig Insights in May 2023 surveyed 1,560 Ontario parents/guardians between the ages of 18 and 74 with children attending school from kindergarten to grade 8. The margin of error for a sample of this size is plus or minus 2% at the 95% confidence level.
MEDIA RELEASE: Manitoba’s worst road is Provincial Road 307, again
A rural road that dips, swings, heaves in winter, is riddled with potholes and often floods has been voted as Manitoba’s worst road for the second year in a row. Provincial Road 307 was chosen by Manitobans in CAA Manitoba’s Worst Roads campaign, an annual campaign that runs every spring. According to survey respondents, the main reasons for choosing the road include poor road maintenance and potholes. “We know the campaign works. People vote in the annual CAA Worst Roads Campaign because it gives Manitobans a platform to continue putting pressure on various levels of government to understand what roads they believe are in urgent need of repair,” says Ewald Friesen, Manager Government and Community Relations, CAA Manitoba. For the first time, the top three Worst Roads in Manitoba were outside of Winnipeg. They include 18th Street in Brandon in second place, and Hwy. 34, which moves up the list one spot from fourth place in 2022 to third this year. “The results aren’t surprising, as we’ve seen more rural roads make the list over the past few years,” says Friesen. "Those who responded to the annual Worst Roads campaign have banded together to make sure rural roads are being prioritized.” While 18th street is in Brandon, its designation as a highway means it’s the province’s responsibility to repair. However, media reports earlier this year stated there are no plans to repair the rutted thoroughfare. “The results show that some roads are becoming significant pain points for Manitobans, perhaps more than our government leaders realize,” says Friesen. In Winnipeg, Goulet Street moved up the list from tenth to fourth place to grab the dubious distinction of being the city’s worst road this year. For the first time, Hwy. 75 in Morris makes the list, coming in at number seven. The Top 10 are: 1. Provincial Road 307 2. 18th Street, Brandon 3. Hwy 34 4. Goulet Street, Winnipeg 5. Leila Avenue, Winnipeg 6. Kenaston Boulevard, Winnipeg 7. Highway 75, Morris 8. Hwy 44 9. Saskatchewan Avenue, Winnipeg, 10. Empress Street, Winnipeg Empress Street makes a return, after dropping off the list in 2022. While a large section has been repaired and designed with new active transportation paths, several blocks of the northern section of the road remain in disrepair. Saskatchewan Avenue falls to ninth spot after coming in second last year. The road between Route 90 and Midland Avenue was replaced in 2022, but repairs are needed for the westernmost section of the road. “We are happy to see some roads fall down the list or fall off the list as repairs are made,” says Friesen. “At CAA Manitoba, we are here to advocate for safe transportation for all road users – whether they drive, ride, bus or walk.” Other regional “winners”: Portage la Prairie 1. Provincial Road 240 2. Lorne Avenue East 3. Tupper Street North Brandon 1. 18th Street 2. Provincial Highway 10 Thompson 1. Provincial Highway 6 2. Westwood Drive Morden 1. Provincial Road 432 2. Provincial Highway 3 3. 1 Street Selkirk 1. Eaton Avenue 2. Manitoba Avenue Steinbach 1. Provincial Highway 12 2. Home Street North
Voting is now open to all Manitobans – including pedestrians, transit users and cyclists - to have their say on the province’s “worst road.” As CAA’s annual Worst Roads campaign begins, the safety-oriented organization encourages Manitobans to vote on more than just potholes. “Potholes make a road bad; however, our Worst Roads campaign is about so much more,” says Tim Scott, president CAA Manitoba. Voters who head to the website can vote for a road based on a lack of sidewalks and bike paths, congestion, poor traffic signal timing and more. “Fixing potholes and regular road maintenance is important,” says Scott. “No matter how Manitobans use their roads, they should be able to do it safely, meaning we need to consider all road infrastructure and traffic issues.” With that in mind, CAA Manitoba is launching its largest awareness campaign around the issue of poor infrastructure. Voting for the province’s “Worst Road” opens to all Manitobans today. “Provincial Road 307 in Whiteshell Provincial Park was voted the worst road in 2022. It earned the top spot due to constant winter heaving, poor patching and its tendency to flood nearly every spring. The road was underwater for weeks last year, including when it was announced the ‘winner.’” While potholes are still top of mind for most CAA Manitoba Members, a new survey shows that 82 per cent of Members believe not enough is being done to maintain roads in their area in general, and 64 per cent believe the roads in their area have become worse over time. The survey also showed that 53 per cent of Member respondents believe there is a lack of pedestrian access on roads, and 57 per cent cited that a lack of cycling infrastructure is also a significant concern. However, there have been some notable success stories: Taylor Avenue and Empress Street Both streets were constants on CAA Manitoba’s Worst Roads list but have since fallen off. In the past few years, extensive rehabilitation, as well as repairs and replacements for the roads, have been completed. Empress Street is now home to some of the best-in-city bicycle and active transportation paths that are separated from the road and protect cyclists and drivers alike from harm. Saskatchewan Avenue, Winnipeg Taking the second-place spot in the Worst Roads list in 2022, a large part of Saskatchewan Avenue, from Route 90 to Midland Avenue, was recently replaced. The improvements included new sidewalks and accessibility features. However, the westernmost part of Saskatchewan Avenue is still in considerable disrepair. For more than a decade, CAA’s Worst Roads campaign has given decision-makers a snapshot of the public’s perception of the roads in their communities. Last year’s “winners” included: 1. Provincial Road 307 2. Saskatchewan Avenue, Wpg 3. Waller Avenue, Wpg 4. Provincial Trunk Hwy 34, Pilot Mound 5. 18th Street, Brandon 6. Provincial Trunk Hwy 44, Lockport to Whiteshell 7. Leila Avenue, Wpg 8. Kenaston Boulevard, Wpg 9. Dawson Road North, Wpg 10. Goulet Street, Wpg If you want to see your worst road make the list, visit www.caaworstroads.com to cast your vote. Voting is open to all residents of Manitoba, and you can vote daily.
AI-powered cruise control system may pave the way to fuel efficiency and traffic relief
The CIRCLES Consortium, consisting of Vanderbilt University, UC Berkeley, Temple University and Rutgers University-Camden, in coordination with Nissan North America and the Tennessee Department of Transportation, concluded a five-day open-track experiment on Nov. 18. Congestion Impacts Reduction via CAV-in-the-loop Lagrangian Energy Smoothing (CIRCLES) Researchers tested an AI-powered cruise control system designed to increase fuel savings and ease traffic using 100 specially equipped Nissan Rogue vehicles. The experiment—which ran from Nov. 14 through Nov. 18 on a sensor-filled portion of Interstate 24—is based on the results from an earlier, closed-track study where a single smart vehicle smoothed human-caused traffic congestion, leading to significant fuel savings. A single AI-equipped vehicle could influence the speed and driving behavior of up to 20 surrounding cars, causing a kind of positive ripple effect in day-to-day traffic. The CIRCLES Consortium will spend the next several months analyzing data collected on the AI-equipped vehicles and their impact on the flow of traffic over the duration of the experiment. The test was conducted on the recently opened I-24 MOTION testbed, the only real-world automotive testing environment of its kind in the world. Stretching for four miles just southeast of downtown Nashville, the smart highway is equipped with 300 4K digital sensors capable of logging 260,000,000 vehicle-miles of data per year. The CIRCLES Consortium research is supported by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Departments of Transportation and Energy. Support was also provided by Toyota North America and General Motors. The experiment included Toyota RAV4 and Cadillac XT5 vehicles. Preliminary vehicle and traffic flow detection in the I-24 Mobility Technology Interstate Observation Network (MOTION). “On November 16 alone, the system recorded a total of 143,010 miles driven and 3,780 hours of driving. The I-24 MOTION system, combined with vehicle energy models developed in the CIRCLES project, provided an estimation of the fuel consumption of the whole traffic flow during those hours. The concept we are hoping to demonstrate is that by leveraging this new traffic system to collect data and estimate traffic and applying artificial intelligence technology to existing cruise control systems, we can ease traffic jams and improve fuel economy,” the CIRCLES team said in a joint statement. “Nissan has always been a pioneer in automotive innovation, and with our long-term vision, Nissan Ambition 2030, we know our future is autonomous, connected and electric,” said Liam Pedersen, deputy general manager at the Nissan Alliance Innovation Lab in California’s Silicon Valley. “CIRCLES shares our common goal of building a safer, cleaner world by empowering mobility.” “When it comes to transportation and mobility in Tennessee, we are at a critical juncture,” said Deputy Governor and TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley. “Traffic congestion is now becoming more prominent throughout Tennessee, and not just in urban areas. Addressing these challenges will force us to think critically about solutions, as transportation infrastructure projects traditionally are not identified nor completed before traffic congestion more dramatically affects our quality of life. One of these solutions is greater use of technology to enhance mobility. We are confident that this project and others like it will further strengthen Tennessee’s reputation for being a hub of automotive excellence.” “The I-24 MOTION project is a first-of-its-kind testbed, where we’ll be able to study in real time the impact connected and autonomous vehicles have on traffic in an open road setting,” said Meredith Cebelak, adjunct instructor in civil and environmental engineering at Vanderbilt and Tennessee transportation and transportation systems management and operations department leader at Gresham Smith. “The permanent infrastructure has been designed and installed, meaning the testbed will always be ‘on’ and available to researchers. By unlocking a new understanding of how these vehicles influence traffic, vehicle, infrastructure, and traffic management strategies, design can be optimized to reduce traffic concerns in the future to improve safety, air quality and fuel efficiency.” “Partnership across universities, government and the private sector is the key to pioneering projects like this one,” Vice Provost for Research and Innovation Padma Raghavan said. “From its earliest inception, all the partners in this effort have played vital roles. That trusted collaboration continues as the team analyzes results to seek new insights to address pressing challenges in transportation in Tennessee and beyond.”
MEDIA RELEASE: Manitoba’s Worst Road for 2022 is…
Winnipeg, MB, May 24, 2022 – A provincial road that connects Seven Sisters Falls through Manitoba’s Whiteshell Provincial Park is the province’s Worst Road. Provincial Road 307 is the dubious “winner” of CAA Manitoba’s Worst Roads contest for 2022, says Heather Mack, Manager, Government and Community Services. “This is the first time a rural road has made the top of our list,” says Mack. “But it’s not a surprise – more rural roads have been making our Top 10 list as the annual contest goes on.” A resident who lives near Otter Falls, which is in the Whiteshell off of PR 307, tells CAA Manitoba that the road is even worse in the winter – thanks to how much the road heaves in the cold. “It just comes up and if you aren’t careful, you go flying,” he says, noting the province has erected warning signs, but has not fixed the heaving. Last week, the road was closed due to overland flooding, which should be a wake-up call to governments, says Mack. “Climate change affects our infrastructure as much as anything else,” she says. “We need to be pro-active in preparing our roads so these vital community links, especially in rural Manitoba, are not cut off.” Winnipeg’s Saskatchewan Avenue came in second due to its numerous patches and potholes – including one pothole that was so deep, a local man took a photo of himself standing waist-deep inside it. It’s not just potholes that CAA Manitoba asked Manitobans to think about when voting for their worst road. Lack of active transportation paths, lack of safe and accessible access, poor or no signage, bad design or poor maintenance all went into this year’s voting. This year’s Top 10 list for Manitoba: 1. Provincial Road 307 2. Saskatchewan Avenue, Winnipeg 3. Waller Avenue, Winnipeg 4. Provincial Trunk Hwy 34, Pilot Mound/Crystal City 5. 18th Street, Brandon 6. Provincial Trunk Hwy 44, Lockport to Whiteshell 7. Leila Avenue, Winnipeg 8. Kenaston Boulevard, Winnipeg 9. Dawson Road North, Winnipeg 10. Goulet Street, Winnipeg Last year’s winner, Taylor Avenue, dropped off the provincial Top 10 list thanks to recent reconstruction efforts by the City of Winnipeg, but is still in the Top 10 list for Winnipeg. “This contest provides a snapshot of what Manitobans are experiencing out on our roads. We are pleased to see some of the usual roads on our list get moved down or fall off as local governments take action,” says Mack. “We are here to advocate for the safest roads possible for Manitobans – no matter whether they drive, bike, use transit or walk.” Photos and video of Manitoba’s Worst Road: https://bit.ly/3yP1wNl Other Regional “Winners” Winnipeg’s worst: 1. Saskatchewan Avenue 2. Waller Avenue 3. Leila Avenue 4. Kenaston Boulevard 5. Dawson Road North 6. Goulet Street 7. Taylor Avenue 8. Portage Avenue 9. Narin Avenue 10. Empress Street Southern Manitoba’s worst: 1. Provincial Road 307 2. Provincial Trunk Hwy 34 3. 18th Street, Brandon 4. Provincial Trunk Hwy 44 5. Provincial Road 250 6. Main Street, Selkirk 7. Trans-Canada Highway, Brandon 8. Provincial Trunk Hwy 23, Morris 9. Provincial Trunk Hwy 12 10. Provincial Road 450 Portage La Prairie’s Worst: 1. Lorne Avenue West. 2. Saskatchewan Avenue Brandon’s Worst: 1. 18th Street. 2. Trans-Canada Highway Thompson’s Worst: 1. Provincial Trunk Hwy 6. 2. Hayes Road Morden’s Worst: 1. Provincial Road 432. 2. 1st Street Selkirk’s Worst: 1. Main Street 2. Manitoba Avenue Steinbach’s Worst: 1. Loewen Boulevard 2. Park Road West
MEDIA RELEASE: CAA Manitoba, Bike Winnipeg to hold free Bike Clinic Tune Up Day Saturday
Winnipeg, MB, May 9, 2022 – Over the past two years, Manitobans have rediscovered their backyards, and bicycles have been a big part of that discovery. CAA Manitoba always puts safety first, and to that end, has partnered with Bike Winnipeg to offer a free, open-to-all Bike Clinic Tune-Up Day, this Saturday, May 28, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. “We hope to empower anyone who owns a bike to learn how to tune it up themselves this spring,” says Heather Mack, Manager of Government and Community Relations, CAA Manitoba. “Cycling safely on the streets, on our trails and active transportation paths starts with a properly running bicycle.” Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg, says his group’s aim is to help Winnipeg’s bike culture and network to continue to grow and evolve. “There are a lot of barriers to cycling that keep people off their bicycles,” says Cohoe. “If we can help remove one of those barriers, we’re happy to do so.” This Saturday, anyone can bring their bike to 987 Milt Stegall Drive, where two CAA Manitoba Bike Assist vehicles and experts from Bike Winnipeg will be on hand to help teach people how to tune up their family bicycles. CAA Manitoba and Bike Winnipeg can provide basic tools, air compressors and more to get your bike into tip-top riding shape. Please note, however, we cannot provide parts or tire tubes. Date: Saturday, May 28, 2022 Time: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Location: 987 Milt Stegall Drive