Have you noticed that the bike infrastructure is gradually getting better in Ottawa-Gatineau? Every year the city makes improvements based on the Ottawa Cycling Plan which was written in 2013. Many designs are being rolled out currently and we need your to help keep an eye on all the designs.
Often the city gets it right, but the devil is in the details: there could be an angle that is too sharp, a traffic control box that is in the line of sight of cyclists, a lane that disappears too early. you name it and we have seen it.
Help getting things done
Our city is very large. If you’d like to help out by monitoring a project or two in your neighbourhood, that would be really cool. At our monthly Advocacy Working Group (AWG) meetings, we discuss projects ranging from multi-use pathways to 311 service calls follow up (or the lack thereof). The Advocacy Working Group maintains a large list in Google Drive containing the projects, the updates, the drawings etc.
Not sure if you want to commit yet?
We encourage you to sign up for our newsletter. You can follow us on Facebook or Twitter for major updates too. Come to an AWG meeting, or attend Project Consultation Meetings organized by the City of Ottawa. Kevin O’Donnell maintains a website with very clear info on upcoming city meetings.
Educate yourself
You can find all of Ottawa’s planned cycling projects to year 2031 on http://maps.ottawa.ca/geoottawa/. The caveat is that projects can only proceed if funding is in place. To date (april 2017), the cycling program is well funded and with the infusion of provincial and federal funding, we are able to implement some projects ahead of schedule.
Ready to roll?
If you want to join the next AWG meeting, contact us at Advocacy@BikeOttawa.ca. The meetings are super relaxed, take place once a month on Tuesdays or Wednesdays in the evening between 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm, usually in a room at the Plant pool in Chinatown. Let us know if you are interested and we’ll send you the location, an agenda and details. The first few times might be a bit intimidating, but you’ll soon catch up.