A story in today's Ottawa Sun features how the new Laurier bike lanes are already hurting businesses along the avenue. According to the article, the owner of a small convenience store is complaining that his supplier will no longer make deliveries to his business because of the bike lanes. As well, the writer, Ron Corbett, notes that a masonry construction company was not able to park their vehicles right in front of the building they were working on. My first reaction when I read this was to feel bad for the business but then I stopped myself. Study after study shows that bike lanes will bring in business but more importantly...what do people think they do in Copenhagen or Stockholm or other cities with segregated bike lanes? Do they not have businesses there? Do people not shop there? Do masonry companies not work on the very old buildings of these cities? Of course they do! Clearly, the store owner has a lousy supplier. I have a feeling a smarter supplier will step in to take the business and get the stock in somehow. It can't be that difficult. I realize some people dislike the bike lanes though their reasoning escapes me...but the comments to this article are shocking. Frightening, in fact. I hardly knew such utter ignorance existed.
The point I made in my published (online, anyway) letter to the Sun was that there's always been a no-stopping zone in front of his building. He's been violating this for years, it is only now that there's a physical separator that his distributors are forced to follow the rules that have always been there.
ReplyDeleteBut it doesn't really matter... the way the story is presented on the front page as fact (even though it is editorial) is just a taste of a summer of anti-cycling stories coming from the Sun.
For sure. The Sun and CFRA have a real hate on for cyclists. But it is a mentality of the losing team trying to hang on. Bikes are not going anywhere and are just becoming more and more of a force.
ReplyDeleteWhy not Gloucester? I can see people wiping out over those stupid cement blocks right into traffic. Even more so with those heading home after pints as tends to happen downtown. Their own fault, shouldn't happen? Besides the point as the ambulance pulls away...
ReplyDelete@Anonymous, why not Gloucester? Why not Nepean? Why not etc...It's apparent there would be complaints no matter what street they picked. Fact is, Laurier Avenue has the highest cross town usage of any of the downtown streets according to city stats. As for the concrete blocks, are we complete klutzes in Ottawa. How is it that they manage these barriers in other cities in the world? "Even more so with those heading home after pints as tends to happen downtown. Their own fault, shouldn't happen? Besides the point as the ambulance pulls away..." You're kidding right? This should be a concern?
ReplyDeleteWe should remove all curbs as many drunks stumble on them, also pad all lampposts and trees in case anyone lurches into those, turn bus shelters into padded cells in case anyone decides to fall into the glass, etc. Or maybe personalised airbags for inebriated pedestrians would be an even better idea? No? Living is indeed a dangerous business, but we don't have to exaggerate the dangers in absurdum.
ReplyDeleteI bike and work on Laurier and today I saw an amazing sight. Laurier was empty of all traffic - no stopping or picking up or deliveries. This might sound good except that we have now created an innercity highway. A car can speed down Laurier uninterupted - how wonderful is this unintended consequence!!!
ReplyDeleteYou read it here first - SPEED BUMPS FOR LAURIER!!!
A highway? Really? Let's see, from Elgin to Bronson there are 9 sets of lights. You have turning cars slowing things down at Metcalfe, O'Connor, Bank, Kent, Lyon and Bay and a 40kph speed limit. Doesn't sound like much of a highway.
ReplyDeleteYes - a new downtown highway - now that there is no parking or even stopping allowed - drivers will naturally be able to zoooommm thru the downtown - maybe not during rush hour but on evenings or weekends... The city will be forced to install speed bumps like they did on Lyon, Bay, gloucester, Percy...
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment demetrius. However, study after study shows the positive effects of segregated lanes. The opposition to them seems to come from a group of riders who feel very confident in traffic and think everyone else should be just like them or not cycle at all. Fact is, segregated lanes will get more women cycling (studies show they, more than men, really like these lanes)more people generally, and increased ridership increases safety for all cyclists. I have yet to hear a credible argument against segregated lanes but I have an open mind. Regarding your comment specifically, my reply to anonymous above covers your worries about Laurier becoming a "highway".
ReplyDeleteIf drivers choose to misbehave by speeding or otherwise contravening driving regulations it is not the fault of the city or of bicyclists or pedestrians or anyone else. It is not the fault of anyone other than the drivers concerned. Are they really so undisciplined and reckless that they will drive as fast as the conditions allow them to without regard for the speed limit unless physically hindered from doing so by speed bumps or other obstacles? You make Ottawa drivers sound juvenile, or even retarded. (Perhaps they are?)
ReplyDeleteAnd another thing: please don't think it necessary to perpetuate the stereotype of the Canadian as a joyless wingebag. That default attitude is patently manifest in so many fora already. Finding fault with everything and everyone is neither clever nor inspired. Let's try, just as an exercise, to look forward to change with optimism and a sense of adventure, shall we?
ReplyDeleteSo this blog is only for discussing the positive bike issues and any deep discussion is discouraged?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, you can discuss anything relevant here. While I don't agree with you, I do appreciate that you take the time to comment. However, while I can't speak for Marie, I do agree that a lot of blogs tend to be places for negative venting. Not surprising since those with complaints always speak louder than those in favour of something. This is done to death in Ottawa where we love to trash our municipal government. Of course, I have my own complaints about the city but on the issue of bike lanes, I think they got it right. It's a bold move and one that considers quality of life for residents over the bottom line and the interests of business. For once!
ReplyDelete@Marie, thanks for you comment. I agree that a sense of adventure would be welcome. A smart business person will recognize the potential for profit. I am thinking of the Manhattan Cafe. It seems to have office hours. That they can afford to be closed on evenings and weekends in coffee/cafe loving Ottawa must mean business is great. If it isn't, perhaps making the place bike friendly (customer only racks?) would be a good business decision. Some will complain, others will adapt and profit.
ReplyDeleteThis bike lane on Laurier is a crap initiative... I mean I'm not against bike lanes altogether, but I would have located them on one-way streets such as Albert / Slater or Slater / Gloucester where putting a bike lane has less impact... Laurier can be very busy on rush hour with people being dropped off / picked up to / from their workplace. With this friggin bike lane it will actually be dangerous to do so! The fact that from 4 lanes it becomes 2 lanes, and anyone at the light who wants to turn will BLOCK everyone behind them!!! What were they thinking about???
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment anonymous. What were they thinking about? Laurier, according to traffic counter stats, gets the most bike use of any of the downtown streets so they put the lane on the busiest bike street. Arguments for other streets were listened to but the same complaints would eminate from there as well. People picking up and dropping off spouses is not a major reason to not do this. Why does everyone need front door service? So they walk a block or two. As for congestion, I have driven in the downtown most of my life. From Bronson to Elgin is a five minute drive at most. It's not seriously congested. And no right turns on red lights is common in other parts of the world. It's really not that big a deal. Lastly, segregated lanes have been shown to increase ridership. Increasing the number of cyclists will lessen congestion and free up more parking.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, a really good post at the Citizen's cycle site about red light turns.
ReplyDeletehttp://cycle.ottawacitizen.com/news/guest-post-right-turns-red-lights-danger
Funny to look back on this now. Having lived with the Laurier SBL all summer it turned out to be a lot of complaining over nothing. I have cycled it and I have driven in my car at rush hour. It is smooth either way. Cars seemed to have adapted...as we should have trusted they would.
ReplyDeleteI live on Laurier and hate these bloody SBL's and think
ReplyDeletethat they should be re-named:
Senior's Bully Lanes (SBL)
..because you can talk to any senior that lives on Laurier, and there are thousands of them, and they all voice their concerns and frustrations with these "ME ONLY" Bike Lanes. (see Letters, The Citizen 120526)
They have caused nothing but frustration and, at times,
no doubt, fear to leave their homes and have to venture
out on Laurier because, now, in addition to the regular
vehicle traffic we have thousands (?) of bicycles!
So, Ron, tell me what street you live on and we will
try and get things going to have an SBL put there!
Why so fearful? Did they take away the sidewalks? Here is something you will just have to come to grips with. You do not live in the suburbs. You live downtown. You have to get along with people that have different needs and desires than you do. Many young people today do not drive. In fact, there is a strong trend that shows fewer and fewer young people even want to own a car. Bikes are coming back into vogue as they once were before they got run off the road by cars. Cycling is a good old conservative value. Maybe you can relate to that. But most of the complaints about this bike lane have to do with a lack of convenience. It's inconvenient that your friends or relatives have to park a block away. That's too bad but I live downtown and my street is full of cars looking for free 2 or 3 hour parking. Sometimes when I come home in my car I have to park on an adjacent street. Rarely can I park in front of my house. Service providers and delivery vehicles face the same challenge. Why do the residents of Laurier feel they deserve special consideration? Is it the fault of the city that your building management provides so few guest parking spots? I'd like an answer but I doubt I will get one. By the way, I would love to have a bike lane on my street...on all streets...but that's the kind of unselfish guy I am. And who the heck is Ron?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous May 30th ,and by the way...1000's of bikes now. Hmmm, seems your complaining neighbours are trying to say that no one is actually using the bike lanes. I guess some people want to have it both ways.
ReplyDelete