Archive for the ‘Cycling’ Category

Reviewing The City’s Transportation Bible

- May 15th, 2012

This is going to be an interesting exercise.

Really, all the master plan reviews are intriguing in different ways, but the transportation master plan has such a strong focus at City Hall and messing with any of the priorities in the document could start some battles.

I saw a hint of this recently while writing about how the western corridor LRT extension. Kanata South Coun. Allan Hubley wants to improve rapid transit going west to his neck of the woods, and Gloucester-South Nepean Coun. Steve Desroches talked about bringing rail into Riverside South in a more timely manner.

The city will take a hard look at what it can realistically do by 2031 and what it can afford.

What about this: Does running LRT farther east make more sense in the shorter term than trying to navigate the tricky extension to Lincoln Fields? Bringing LRT to Orleans is not part of the current transportation master plan, while the Baseline Station (via Lincoln Fields) LRT extension is.

Then there are the road projects. Should West Hunt Club Rd. be widened from four to six lanes by 2031, as suggested in the plan? Are there better road widening priorities?

Mayor Jim Watson has talked about keeping focus on the immediate transit projects, like the downtown LRT system, but this council obviously can’t avoid taking a long-term view of transportation planning.

The transportation committee is going to have some fun.

Categories: Cycling, Roads, Transit | No comments

Raised Bike Lanes For Churchill Ave.

- May 4th, 2012

Churchill Ave. will be torn up this year to renew the underground infrastructure and receive a facelift on the surface.

You’ll notice the city is installing a raised cycling lane between the sidewalk and the road. It’s not quite a segregated bike lane like the one on Laurier Ave., but it removes cyclists from traffic and Churchill Ave. is a busy, narrow street.

“Everything we do, I’m pushing for cycling,” Kitchissippi Coun. Katherine Hobbs said.

As roads are torn up under the city’s massive reconstruction program, we could see more of this kind of cycling infrastructure.

Avid cyclists will be able to point out other areas that have a similar raised lane in Ottawa, but the street that immediately came to mind for me was this small stretch of Percy St. between Centretown and the Glebe.

Categories: Cycling | 3 comments

Bike Shelter Under Shelter

- October 20th, 2011

If you have been around City Hall lately you have noticed the crazy amount of construction on and around the property.

Some work is being done on the heritage wing and we have the Rink of Dreams being dug out on the front lawn. Across City Hall on Lisgar St., there’s a new condo high rise going up.

Then we have a bike shelter project near the Lisgar St. entrance at City Hall.

A sign tells us it’s a stimulus project and while I don’t know the exact cost of the project, this report tells me there is $500,000 in all bike shelter work in the city’s stimulus project budget.

I can only assume the work will be complete by the Oct. 31 deadline.

Just wondering, does anyone know how this bike shelter is going to function?

There looks to be a gate being constructed where the bike racks were, and when I first saw that a bike shelter was being constructed, I thought it was odd it would be built under an existing shelter.

I talked about it with some observers at City Hall earlier, but no one really knows how this shelter will operate.

Little help?

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Follow City Hall reporter Jon Willing on Twitter at @JonathanWilling.

Categories: Cycling | 2 comments

Tender Issued For Other Cycling Lane

- July 15th, 2011

The National Capital Commission this week issued a tender to begin work on the segregated bike lane on Wellington St. between the Portage Bridge and Bay St.

The SpokesMan, Kris Westwood, provides some details on the project in a post earlier this year.

It looks to be a major construction project at that Wellington St. intersection, with new pedestrian paths and a reconstruction of the traffic islands. Have to wonder if the work will slow traffic.

Will the Wellington St. bike lane be as controversial as one on the Laurier Ave.? Is it really that controversial? Seems more people like it than hate it, so far. And the number of cyclists using it has increased over the week.

Categories: Cycling, Roads | 2 comments

Licensing Cyclists Not Financially Smart: Staff

- July 13th, 2011

Further to the post below regarding licensing for cyclists, it turns out River Coun. Maria McRae posed a similar question to staff.

Here’s the response McRae received from bylaw chief Linda Anderson:

“The Provincial Government grants municipalities the authority to pass by-laws by way of the Ontario Municipal Act. The City of Ottawa does have the authority to pass by-laws concerning bicycles under Section 51 of the Act.

This matter was fully reviewed a number of years ago (prior to amalgamation) by the Intra Municipal Law Enforcement (IMPEC). Previously, the Ottawa Police Service had deemed it desirable to license bicycles, however, upon further study and consideration, it was determined that this venture would not be economically viable. The data collected on the subject revealed the licensing of bicycles would be cost prohibitive. The expected cost of administering the proposed program would cost an estimated $100,000 annually, while the expected revenue generated by the licensing of bicycles would be an estimated $30,000-$40,000 per annum.

In addition, the activity of cycling, used as a form of transportation, reduces traffic congestion and is both environmentally and economically beneficial. The City of Ottawa encourages the public to adopt alternate forms of transportation, including the use of public transit, walking and cycling, to reduce the strain on public roadways. The licensing of bicycles may discourage individuals from embracing this particular transportation substitute.”

Categories: Cycling | 1 comment

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