Shifting Gears Has Kicked Off

The 11th Annual Shifting Gears Workplace Transportation Challenge has kicked off. Shifting Gears is a month-long competition created to inspire Peterborough area employers, employees, and individuals to use active modes of commuting, such as walking and biking, as well as public transit and ride sharing.

“Shifting Gears is a long-standing community campaign that has a significant impact on employee travel behaviour during the month of May,” said Susan Sauvé, Transportation Demand Management Planner at the City of Peterborough. “There are many reasons to participate in Shifting Gears, both as an employer and an employee, with the benefits ranging from better personal health and air quality to lowered family transportation costs and reduced demand on parking spaces.”

Every employee can participate in Shifting Gears by signing up as an individual or through their workplace at Peterboroughmoves.com. Employees who participate in the program and log more than four car-free trips before May 14th will qualify for a rewards card that can be redeemed for great cycling and walking gear or a 10-trip transit pass. All participants also qualify for grand prizes, including the Grand Prize of a $750 gift certificate for Resorts of Ontario, and a free Student Car Share membership, with $10 of free drive time.

Shifting Gears is a program of GreenUP, the City of Peterborough, Wild Rock Outfitters, B!KE: the Peterborough Community Bike Shop, and Student Car Share.

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Peterborough To Test New Traffic Light Sound Sensor Signals

[UPDATE: Honk honk. Happy April Fools' Day!!]

The Ontario Traffic Light Association (OTLA) is pleased to announce that Peterborough has been selected as a national test zone for a new technology designed to ease congestion and improve traffic flow.

According to a OTLA press release, during the test phase electronic traffic signals at select Peterborough intersections will be outfitted with new “sound sensor” receptors that when triggered will automatically prompt the lights to change from red to green. To trigger the “sound sensor” receptor and change the light, simply honk your horn twice.

Marilyn Phibbs, Executive Chair of the OTLA, says, “We are constantly inundated with complaints from drivers who find themselves sitting at a red light with no oncoming traffic for an unreasonable period of time. In some cases, drivers have experienced road rage during lengthy waits at a red light. We are confident sound sensor signals will resolve this problem and improve traffic flow. We appreciate the opportunity to test it in Peterborough.”

From midnight through noon today (Tuesday, April 1st), the following intersections are designated test zones: Lansdowne Street West and Monaghan Road, Sherbrooke Street and Clonsilla Avenue, Parkhill Road East and Armour Road, and King and George Street, Downtown.

Data will be collected and evaluated by the OTLA to determine the effectiveness of the system as well as any adjustments required to the sensitivity of the sensors. Drivers are reminded that the “sound sensor” traffic light system is in a preliminary test-phase only and are warned not to proceed through a red light should the signal not change to green right away. Please honk twice and wait.

Pending any unanticipated delays, the OTLA says the new technology will be introduced in communities across the province beginning this summer at an expected cost of $150 million dollars. Funds to make the technological transition will be passed along to Ontario drivers through a minimal increase in annual Vehicle License Renewal Stickers.

The Ontario Traffic Light Association (OTLA) was founded April 1st by a public citizen’s group aimed at addressing issues affecting drivers at controlled intersections. This Ontario-based organization is privately funded by the Global LED Traffic Light Manufacturers with its Head Office located at 0401 Simpleton Lane, Toronto, Ontario. Follow its Executive Chair Marilyn Phibbs on Twitter @OTLA0401.

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UPDATE: Our Scott Arnold tested it out this morning...

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Watch: Take A Flight In The Kawarthas

From takeoff to landing, join in on this flight from Peterborough to Bancroft to Papineau Lake. It's pretty cool.

[Vimeo]

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Here's A Timelapse Video Of A Guy Driving From Peterborough To Ottawa In 37 Seconds

If only it were this quick...

[video by Todd Steenburgh]

—Scott Arnold

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Watch: Here Is Peterborough At Warp Speed

Someone tested out their my homemade electromagnet GoPro mount, and the result is pretty darn cool. Check this out...

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Historic Flight: A Boeing 737 Will Take Off From Peterborough Airport

[UPDATE March 5th: Due to overwhelming response, Carlson Wagonlit Stewart Travel has added a second departure for their weekend of celebration October 2th to 5th, 2014 in New York City. The second departure will travel same dates as the first charter. The Boeing 737 aircraft will depart on October 2nd with the first group of 136 passengers, land in Newark, disembark and fly back to Peterborough to transport the second group.]
 

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ORIGINAL POST:

Peterborough Airport's expansion and upgrades is such that a Boeing 737—yes, a Boeing 737—can now land and take off from there.

Local travel company Carlson Wagonlit Stewart Travel will prove that as part of their 40th anniversary celebrations, as they've secured a Boeing 737 aircraft for a weekend flight to New York which will mark the first time a large passenger aircraft will take off from the newly renovated Peterborough Airport.

The historic flight to Newark Airport will take place this fall—October 2nd to 5th—and the cost for the weekend trip package to New York is about $1,400. More than half of the seats have already been sold.

Yes, the future of travel may be right here in Peterborough, with no more commutes to Pearson, short wait times, free parking and clearing customs right in your own backyard.

Sweet.

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Local Gift Under $25 For The Cyclist

Stumped as to what to buy this year? Here are two local gifts under $25 for the Cyclist. Stop in at Wild Rock (located at 169 Charlotte Street) and pick up the Torch Bright Flex LED Light, which is easy to attach to the front and back of your bike to make sure others around you are aware of your presence. Be sure to pick up a container of Sports Balm, which will make for a much more comfortable ride for those that spend a fair bit of time in the saddle.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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Here's Pictures Of A Turkey Waiting For The Bus On Armour Road

[UPDATE: Huffington Post picks up the story.]

There have been reports of wild turkeys stopping traffic on Armour Road lately, but maybe now they've learned to just wait for the bus instead? Exhibit A: These pictures captured by Jessie James at a bus stop on Armour Rd. Sunday (December 15th). 

[photos via @jnjames75 on Twitter]

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Winter Parking Restrictions Are In Full Effect Starting This Weekend

This Sunday (December 1st) marks the beginning of winter parking restrictions in Peterborough. Here's what you need to know:

• From December 1- April 1, parking is prohibited on all City streets from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. This allows better snow clearing of city streets and at a lower cost because equipment will not have to return to clear areas where vehicles were parked. The fine for a violation is $15.
• During a snowstorm, when snow-clearing operations are underway, no stopping of a vehicle is permitted on any city street. Snow-clearing operations typically take place between midnight and 8 a.m. The fine is $80 (up from $50 last year) for this violation and your vehicle will be towed. All vehicles North of Parkhill Road will be towed to Milroy Park (located at 242 Milroy Drive), with all other vehicles being towed to Morrow Park (located at 171 Lansdowne Street West). After 24 hours, all unclaimed vehicles will be towed to an impound yard at the owner's expense.

Where does that leave you to park? Well, free overnight parking is allowed at all Municipal parking lots such as the King Street Parkade and Simcoe Parking Garage. Vehicles parked overnight at either parking garage can obtain a gate arm ticket upon entry to the garage to be used for a free transit trip home.

So remember the rule of thumb... no parking any time of the year on city streets for longer than 3 hours, except where a sign indicates otherwise. If you still have questions, call Parking at 705-742-7777 ext. 2802.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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A Look At Upcoming Parkway Meetings This Month

November looks to be a busy month for Parkway news...

On November 13th at 6:30 p.m., a special Committee of Whole meeting will be held at the Evinrude Centre (911 Monaghan Road) for a presentation of the Parkway Corridor Class Environmental Assessment.

The meeting is open to the public, however due to a Peterborough Procedure By-law the public is not allowed to speak.

But you will have your chance on November 20, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. when a special public City Council meeting will be held at the Evinrude Centre.

Parks Not Parkways: A Concert for Greenspace is on November 17th at Market Hall and features The Three Martinis, Rick Fines, Kirsten Addis and Al Black and the Tonemasters. It is a benefit concert for the Peterborough Greenspace Coalition, who are devoted to the protection of green spaces in our city. Tickets are $20.

There are two Change.org surveys that you can take part in to vote FOR or AGAINST the parkway.

More here in this video of Jackson Park. 

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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