The Cumberland By-election vote is October 5th, 2020 and we asked candidates to partake in a survey about active transportation in Ottawa and the Ward.
Our recommendations for Montreal Rd LRT station
Bike Ottawa’s Advocacy Working Group has recently created a subgroup dedicated to safe cycling issues in the east end of the city. As one of their first projects, they have been looking at cycling connections to future Stage 2 LRT stations. Read on for the letter prepared by volunteer Daniel Domen providing our recommendations for the Montreal Rd station and the response from the Stage 2 Project Team at the city. AWG continues to work with city staff and Councillors Tierney, Dudas, and Luloff to improve cycling and pedestrian safety.
Our letter calling for temporary infrastructure in response to COVID-19
Cities across Canada and the world have been implementing temporary measures to enable safe cycling in order to take pressure off of transit systems trying to ensure physical distancing, and to encourage people to visit local businesses. Bike Ottawa wrote to city council to encourage Ottawa to do the same, however the city has decided not to pursue any city-wide measures to enhance active transportation. Read our letter and the response from city staff.
NCC Capital Pathways consultation
The National Capital Commission has released the 90% draft of its Capital Pathway Strategic Plan for public review and comment. There are a lot of good things coming, and a few things we think they could do to improve the safety and comfort of the multi-use pathways. The online consultation runs until 17 June 2020, so we encourage you to take a look at the plan and submit your comments.
Save the Holland Avenue Bike Lanes
The replacement of the Harmer Avenue Bridge over the 417 west of Holland Avenue is nearing completion, with an anticipated end date in late June or early July of this year. When the city proposed sharrows and shared sidewalks for cyclists and declined to provide bike lanes on Holland as part of the cycling detour for this project, Bike Ottawa fought hard to mobilize the community and ensure that the city provided space for cycling as part of the project detour.
Our letter in support of safe streets for distancing
At a recent council meeting, Mayor Jim Watson introduced a motion which as passed requires 2/3 of businesses to approve temporarily converting street parking space into wider sidewalks. However, people are already walking in the street to avoid crowding. This is an unsafe situation, and Bike Ottawa has written to the mayor to ask that this policy be reversed and that priority be put on the safety of vulnerable road users.
Bike Ottawa delegation on urban expansion
The update to Ottawa’s official plan aims to reduce car dependency and promote active transportation, but increasing residential development at the edge of the city will make those goals more difficult to achieve. On May 12, Bike Ottawa board member Barbara Greenberg presented a delegation to a joint sitting of the Planning Committee and Agricultural and Rural Affairs Committee to oppose expansion of the urban boundary.
Trillium crossrides: When is an intersection not an intersection?
Here’s a riddle for you: what place in Ottawa has vehicles travelling in criss-crossing directions, but isn’t an intersection? The answer: any places where paths cross roads!
Lives lost. Roads re-designed. Lessons learned?
While the number of people using bikes in Ottawa continues to increase at a healthy pace, there are still growing pains that have left a mark on the city. Four cyclists lost their lives on Ottawa’s roads since May 2019, a toll not seen since 2012.
City of Ottawa should adopt a strong Vision Zero policy
This is a critical moment for safe cycling in Ottawa. On May 16th, a person was killed in front of city hall while cycling along the Laurier Avenue bike lane.