New Scott Street bike lanes

For many years Scott Street has been one of the worst streets to drive on in Ottawa. In fact, I don't recall it ever being in anything but terrible shape. The right-hand lane eastbound in particular had a strong camber and was horribly rutted and pot-holed. Well, Scott Street finally had some resurfacing work and with that came an added surprise. Bike lanes! They're not segregated lanes and they don't run the length of Scott Street but it's still a small step towards making Ottawa a better cycling city. The new lanes run between Holland Avenue and Island Park Drive and I think they'll come in handy for many. Here's a view of the freshly painted lanes looking east down Scott Street.

No one bikes in Ottawa II

Recently, in the local newspaper, yet another letter writer said she didn't notice anyone cycling on Laurier Avenue. Really! Here is a photo of another "unused" bike rack. It's located on the south side of City Hall. City Hall, of course, is at 110 Laurier Avenue.

Laurier segregated bike lane is taking shape

Laurie Avenue looking east from Bay Street

The segregated bike lanes on Laurier Avenue now run from Bronson to Bay though they are not open yet. Phase two of the project is set to start on Monday the 30th according to the City of Ottawa. The sooner the better I say!

Ottawa's Bixi fleet rolls out!

Ottawa's Bixi cycles had their inaugural roll out this morning under less than promising skies. However, several journalists and CBC television were on hand to cover the launch and several keeners hung about eager to take the first ride. So, what do Ottawa's Bixis look like? Well, surprise, surprise, they are red and white. Capitale is the logo, not Ottawa. Quite striking and very Canadian!

There will be a total of 10 stations in the Ottawa and Gatineau areas. Downtown locations include the Elgin Street station beside the National Arts Centre as well as Queen and O'Connor and Queen and Lyon. Booth Street near the Canadian War Museum will have a Bixi station as will the market area with a station located at the Murray and Mckenzie intersection by Major's Hill Park. This location had only one loney Bixi but I imagine this is because the Elgin site had 20 bikes of which only 10 will be staying there.

The lone Bixi near the National Gallery of Canada.

Ottawa's attractive Capitale Bixi.


It didn't take long for the public to start using the Bixis. In fact, it looked like several people were milling about waiting for the media to get out of their way. Not everyone wants to be on television.

The first couple to ride off on the Bixis.

Another Bixi sampler.

I haven't actually riden a Bixi yet. It's the same design as the Montreal and Toronto Bixis. The only bike-share bike I have used is the Stockholm bike and it's a smaller, lighter design. The Paris bike is also a different style. Bike-share cycles tend to be somewhat heavy but this is because they need to be rugged to put up with the abuse they'll likely receive. I intend on hopping on one soon and I'll post a review.

Montreal Bixi

Bike weather is here!

A few relatively warm days were all it took for the bicycles to come out in force. Road bikes and foldables and fixies and uprights are everywhere now. Even the Ottawa police were out on bikes today. Perhaps an errant snowflake is still to come but I think it's safe to say that spring is really here.
If there is a cycling trend in the last few years it's certainly with uprights and the retro-looking fixed-gear bikes. “Fixies” are the choice of bicycle messengers. For commuter cyclists, I spotted 2 British Pashleys today and a Jorge and Olif bike (Canadian-made upright) . Yesterday both a Monark and a Kronan from Sweden.

Foster’s Sports on Bank Street has some rather attractive American-made bikes called the Linus, a simple and elegant European-inspired upright. I noticed quite a few people admiring them through the store window today. A few hours after I took the picture through the window, the cream-coloured ladies bike was sold. I really like this small blurb taken from the Linus webpage "In most urban cultures bicycles are viewed as legitimate transportation and not merely recreation, but sadly this idea never really caught on in the US. We take numerous little journeys, under 5 miles, as part of our everyday life…. to the store, the pub, to work, etc. Besides the obvious joy of riding a bicycle, these small bicycle trips reduce carbon emissions, congestion, noise pollution, and make for a happier, city experience."

Whatever type of bike you favour…it’s time to get cycling!

Bike-friendly Westboro?

I noticed quite a few of these signs in Westboro the other day. The bike basket with wine and baguette conjures up a nice image of a bike-friendly neighbourhood. And Westboro has certainly become one of Ottawa’s most attractive and interesting destinations in the last few years with vibrant shops and quiet streets. But I started to think when I saw these banners, just how bike friendly is Westboro?
The surrounding streets and paths are easy enough to bike on. You can cover plenty of ground on the multi-use pathway along Byron Avenue (the old street car line) or you can meander your way to Westboro by way of the Ottawa River Parkway. And there isn’t a lot of traffic on Athlone or Piccadilly or any of the other Westboro streets. But I think the signs, likely put up by the BIA, are meant to convey the idea that you can easily shop on the main street using your bicycle for getting around. Otherwise, why the bike? Perhaps the BIA envisions you stopping for a treat at Louise’s Belgian Chocolates after you have been to Bushtukah to pick up your carabiners and before you stop by Bridgehead to grab a latté. This would doubtless be an easy walk for a pedestrian. A cyclist could also easily leave their bike locked at Bushtukah and walk to most of the shops along Richmond Road. I’ve certainly done this. But I also have an expensive bike and I don’t like to leave it out of my sight for too long, so what if I were to pedal to these places? That would mean riding down Richmond Road.
I’ve only been in one cycling accident in my life and it was of the type most cyclists have experienced or spend quite a bit of time avoiding: being hit by a driver’s side car door suddenly being opened with no regard for the passing cyclist. It happened on Richmond Road near Churchill Avenue. Luckily, both my bike and I came out of it reasonably unscathed. This was years ago, but it’s always made me feel unsafe on that stretch of road.
I really feel the city missed a chance when they fixed up Richmond Road and Wellington West Street. They installed recessed parking spots and made better sidewalks and even installed artwork but there were no improvements to the cycling infrastructure. How nice would it have been to have segregated bike lanes between Somerset Street downtown and Westboro?
The city has made some good moves for pedestrians and cyclists in the last few years. The Corktown footbridge and the soon-to-be Laurier segregated bike lanes are good examples of this. But the “village” main streets like Richmond Road, Wellington Street, Bank Street (Glebe and Old Ottawa South) and Main Street in Old Ottawa East have remained car oriented. It’s rather ironic that while these types of communities attract cyclists and other ecologically-minded consumers, their main streets remain so unsafe for cyclists.

Ottawa city council approves the Laurier Avenue segregated bike lane!

Well it is done. City council today approved the Laurier Avenue segregated bike lane project. I think this was a strong decision in the face of some vocal opposition. Perhaps the city knew that the lanes would not be as disruptive as opponents were trying to claim. I kept hearing from the opponents that businesses would be hurt. Cycling Vision Ottawa, a new cycling

advocacy group actually asked the businesses what they think. Of the 38 business owners on Laurier only 7 opposed the lanes and 9 did not wish to say either way. However, 22 were willing to sign a statement saying they either supported the lanes or were not against them. The city was likely aware of CVO's survey. (digital image render source, Ottawa Citizen)

Awareness, the best reason for segregated bike lanes.

Some of the opposition to the Laurier segregrated cycling lane plan has really made me wonder how much of a car culture we have and how ingrained the mindset is in Ottawa that cars do, and should, always come first.  While I know listening to talk radio can often be hazardous to your mental health I sometimes listen anyway and the other day I did hear some comments on a local radio program that made me shake my head. One is the often trotted out view that we do not have enough cyclists to justify special bike lanes. However, every study I have seen shows that the number of cyclists increases with segregated lanes and with an overall sense of safety. I don’t see why this wouldn’t happen in Ottawa. Maintaining these lanes in the winter is also an important factor in increasing our cycling trips and anyone who frequents the canal pathway along Queen Elizabeth Driveway will have noticed the increase in cyclists the last few winters. It’s not a coincidence. We all know that building or widening roads increases the number of vehicles using the roads. Yet the opponents of bike lanes don’t seem to feel this would also be the case with bikes. Curious!

The removal of parking spaces from Laurier Avenue also seems to be bothering some individuals. Several callers expressed concern that the segregated lane would remove some visitor parking from the west end of Laurier. I also noted this view expressed in a letter to the Citizen though I suspect it was the same person who had voiced their concern on the radio show. First of all, I don’t think it is the city’s business to provide visitor parking on a major street like Laurier for tenants of an apartment building. The condominiums between Lyon and Percy are big and the tenants numerous and the city should not be expected to provide visitor spots. Secondly, the city has been very clear (though the opponents keep forgetting) that they will make up most, if not all, of these spaces on Gloucester Street. 

 I think it is really vital that we start to change this ingrained view that streets are only for cars. By putting more bikes on the road and making it very obvious they have a place here we may slowly start to change that perception.  

Unclear on the concept II

Lyon Street has had a facelift this fall and these newly marked bike lanes are wide enough that sewer grates are not a problem. What to do about drivers like this though?

Laurier Avenue bike lane project photo...looks nice!

This is the City of Ottawa's own plan and digital conception of the new Laurier Avenue bike lane project. The cyclist pictured is heading east on Laurier at Lyon Street.

The Bank Street Business Improvement Area president has stated that his group will fight this project.

The cycling vote

Cycling is a hot topic in Ottawa at the moment.  Danish urban architect Jan Gehl held a talk at the Museum of Nature a few weeks ago and it attracted a standing room only crowd of urban cycling enthusiasts. His ideas on making cities cycling friendly should have been mandatory listening for our local municipal candidates. So where do all the mayoral and council candidates stand on the issue of cycling and cycling infrastructure?  Well, the Citizens For Safe Cycling put the question to them and the response and non-responses can be found here.

It is not hard to discern who will take cycling seriously when you read their comments.