Cycling in the National Capital Region

[Kitchissippi]

Bike lanes always look emptier than car lanes because of the relatively small space that cyclists take up, which leads drivers to think that they are rarely used and a waste of space. This video from Montreal says a lot:

• Video Link

[Nouvellecosse]

Yeah that kind of optical illusion is just one of the problems with casual observation. It's pretty clear that the only relevant way to judge bike lane usage is to actually measure it. That can be done through a traffic counter laid down on road (often looks like a black tube across the lane connected to a metal box on the side of the lane) or through official observations. The latter would involve someone watching a given stretch over several sufficient time intervals (usually at least 1/2 hr each) and recording the traffic flows. It would need to be at different times of day at busy, medium and slow times and, different days of the week, in various weather conditions and times of year to get a representative sample.

What isn't helpful are people who happen to be passing by reporting on whether or not the they notice much usage. What people randomly "notice" is not necessarily reliable since people's attention level isn't always consistent nor is their memory always reliable. But also, the random nature means that a person may just not be passing at a busy time. Or even worse, it may not be a random time and may instead the passerby may regularly travel that stretch of road at a time when the lane is quiet. The lane may be busiest at a time when say, a local school or university has classes starting or ending and that time may not line up with when the observer is passing. So unless there are no actual usage stats available, we don't need to hear any more of the "I haven't seen much usage" comments. Actually, even if there are no official usage stats, we should be pushing for such stats to be collected rather than substituting it for unreliable anecdotal data.

[dougvdh]

Originally Posted by phil235

Glad that you now see that it was all worth it!

That might have been me. Although I was waiting at the Vanier Oarkway intersection with a couple other cyclists, so it could have been them too. Or if it was a different time, it might have been one of the other riders who use that corridor regularly.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

Bike lanes always look emptier than car lanes because of the relatively small space that cyclists take up, which leads drivers to think that they are rarely used and a waste of space. This video from Montreal says a lot:

That video from Montreal is not terribly illuminating about the Montreal Road bike lanes, which have, at least for now, truly abyssmal usage by actual cyclists.

[Kitchissippi]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

That video from Montreal is not terribly illuminating about the Montreal Road bike lanes, which have, at least for now, truly abyssmal usage by actual cyclists.

As I see it, the issue with Montreal Road is one of consistency and connectivity. West of Vanier Parkway the infrastructure just isn't there. I bet if the bike tracks continue up the Cummings Bridge and all the entire length of Rideau to connect with Wellington it would be a different story.

The street also hasn't had time to adjust to the new reality, it's still somewhat of a borderline stroad with limited appeal to pedestrians and cyclists. The old strip malls, cheap motels and some of the pawnshops need to be replaced with denser mixed use buildings and active street fronts.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

As I see it, the issue with Montreal Road is one of consistency and connectivity. West of Vanier Parkway the infrastructure just isn't there. I bet if the bike tracks continue up the Cummings Bridge and all the entire length of Rideau to connect with Wellington it would be a different story.

Yeah, as long as the city only builds bike infrastructure as part of road projects and does nothing to connect the lanes to other safe infrastructure, we'll never get a sense of the actual potential usage. Right now any cyclist going through to downtown who values their life is going to go south and use MacArthur and the Adawe crossing.

Scott/Albert is going to be our first test of cycling infrastructure that is actually connected, if and when they ever finish it. Although the other Ottawa move is to wait a year and then tear up the brand new bike tracks for another summer or two without providing any reasonable alternative route (see Bay St.)

[dougvdh]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

As I see it, the issue with Montreal Road is one of consistency and connectivity. West of Vanier Parkway the infrastructure just isn't there. I bet if the bike tracks continue up the Cummings Bridge and all the entire length of Rideau to connect with Wellington it would be a different story. . .

It isnt connected at the east end either. Project limits was the west side of St.Laurant and there's a gap going east between the end of the cycletracks and the (rather crappy) bikekanes on Montreal Road. There's nothing connecting south on St.Laurant either, and for someone going north, you probably are choosing Beechwood/Hemlock instead. Vanier/Overbrook also lacks a good north - south route (Lola meandering through to Marier).

[Lakeofthewood]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

As I see it, the issue with Montreal Road is one of consistency and connectivity. West of Vanier Parkway the infrastructure just isn't there. I bet if the bike tracks continue up the Cummings Bridge and all the entire length of Rideau to connect with Wellington it would be a different story.

The street also hasn't had time to adjust to the new reality, it's still somewhat of a borderline stroad with limited appeal to pedestrians and cyclists. The old strip malls, cheap motels and some of the pawnshops need to be replaced with denser mixed use buildings and active street fronts.

Yeah anyone riding in the traffic lanes across the Cummings Bridge has a death sentence, especially eastbound. No thank you. Adawe is right there and let's me stay alive.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

The old strip malls, cheap motels and some of the pawnshops need to be replaced with denser mixed use buildings and active street fronts.

Maybe there are a bunch of projects in the pipeline I am unaware of, but I am not sure there is much evidence developers are looking to build denser mixed use buildings and active street fronts along Montreal Road. Montreal Road is not the type of street that most cities put bike lanes along, there are too many points of conflict to make most cyclists feel comfortable. What I find particularly ridiculous is there are no bike facilities on Donald which is a much more sensible street to support E-W cycling.

[eltodesukane]

Originally Posted by Lakeofthewood

Yeah anyone riding in the traffic lanes across the Cummings Bridge has a death sentence, especially eastbound. No thank you. Adawe is right there and let's me stay alive.

The Cummings Bridge is too narrow.
Too narrow for the cars, for the bicycles, for the pedestrians.
The buses taking the curve barely leave enough space for a small car in the next lane.

[MarkR]

Originally Posted by eltodesukane

The Cummings Bridge is too narrow.
Too narrow for the cars, for the bicycles, for the pedestrians.
The buses taking the curve barely leave enough space for a small car in the next lane.

For many years I had to cycle Cummings Bridge, towing a cargo trailer. Westbound was fine once they put that bike lane.

Eastbound I just took the lane, which was not that much of an issue for others since there are two eastbound lanes. And since it was downhill I was going fairly fast so those behind me tended to wait. (Of course the odd — would go roaring around me to get right back into the lane to make the right turn, but those types always exist.)

The Adawe Bridge was one of my more anticipated bike/ped. projects, and I've happily used it ever since.

[Kitchissippi]

Originally Posted by acottawa

Maybe there are a bunch of projects in the pipeline I am unaware of, but I am not sure there is much evidence developers are looking to build denser mixed use buildings and active street fronts along Montreal Road. Montreal Road is not the type of street that most cities put bike lanes along, there are too many points of conflict to make most cyclists feel comfortable.

Well there's the Eastview Plaza redevelopment and 112 Montreal Road for starters. With its proximity to the CBD and the fact that many of the buildings along Montreal Road are nearing the end of their lifecycle, I am sure there are more to follow. It's probably cheaper to assemble land here compared to the west end.

I would argue that Montreal Road through Vanier is a great opportunity to create a main street with cycling infrastructure, not primarily for commuting but for general neighbourhood utility. A street that belongs more to the residents close by and less for drivers from Beacon Hill and Rothwell Heights using it as an alternative to the highway.

[dougvdh]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

Well there's the Eastview Plaza redevelopment and 112 Montreal Road for starters. With its proximity to the CBD and the fact that many of the buildings along Montreal Road are nearing the end of their lifecycle, I am sure there are more to follow. It's probably cheaper to assemble land here compared to the west end. . .

You'd think, but when the Porsche dealership (Community Hub) was developed, the city missed a great opportunity to connect Montreal Road to Morin Street, which would have, in turn, provide low traffic alternative to travel a bit further south to the Community Centre, etc.

[dougvdh]

Originally Posted by acottawa

. . . What I find particularly ridiculous is there are no bike facilities on Donald which is a much more sensible street to support E-W cycling.

Donald has bike lanes now. Except the project is not quite complete (there's supposed to be ride over sections on most of the bumpouts - the drop curbs are there, but the bumpouts are just grass) and the city seems have forgotten about it. There's also a section heading west bound where the City thought a turn lane was more important than continuity of the bikelanes.

[urbanforest]

Incremental progress from the City. Would be great to have dozens more of these all over.

Secure Bike Parking Lockers are now available!
Published on September 11, 2024

Attention all Ottawa cycling enthusiasts! The City of Ottawa is now offering an innovative new bike parking solution for cyclists travelling in the downtown core. Our new Secure Bike Parking Lockers, placed at three key destination areas, provide residents and visitors alike with a high quality, secure option for bike storage while they are enjoying all that our city has to offer.

This is an important part of implementing the City’s Public Bike Parking Strategy and is a key piece to encourage and promote cycling in our nation’s capital.

The Secure Bike Parking Lockers are available at the following key destination areas:

• Byward Market: 141 Clarence Street, along the west wall inside the parking garage close to the Murray Street exit
• The Glebe: 170 Second Avenue, outside the Glebe parking garage near the entrance/exit on Second Avenue
• Centretown: 234-250 Slater Street, at the surface parking lot adjacent to the sidewalk
• More to come!

Using the lockers

• Each locker can hold six bicycles.
• Download the Vélo-Transit application on your Android(link is external) or Apple(link is external) device.
• Create an account and choose the desired location. Lockers are available on a first come, first serve basis.
• Select “Pay as you go”, followed by your desired locker number.
• Enter your payment details and confirm the start of the rental.
• Select “Open door” and wait for approximately 30 seconds.
• Store your bike by laying your mobile device flat on the lock for 5 seconds to unlock it. The door will lock automatically after 8 seconds or as soon as the door closes.
• Retrieve your bike by following the previous step to unlock.
• To stop your rental, click “End Rental or Stop Service” in the Vélo-Transit application.

https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/city-news/newsroom/secure-bike-parking-lockers-are-now-available

[CSYOWYEG]

New bridge over Hunt Club is open for cycling, albeit just to the Mac St connection. Looking like paving of the rest of the MUP is coming soon.








Also, they did a nice job finishing up the connection by the new British High Commission.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by CSYOWYEG

Also, they did a nice job finishing up the connection by the new British High Commission.

Stone Blocks Everywhere, please! They serve multiple functions.

[rocketphish]

Bike lanes to remain a priority in Ottawa despite new provincial rules, Sutcliffe says
'It's all about striking the right balance and serving the needs of everyone,' says Sutcliffe

Blair Crawford, Ottawa Citizen
Published Oct 17, 2024 • Last updated 54 minutes ago • 4 minute read

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe says the city intends to keep investing in cycling infrastructure even as the provincial government brings in new rules to restrict bicycle lanes in what Ontario municipalities complain is a “significant overreach” of provincial power.

The Conservative government of Premier Doug Ford confirmed this week that it will have veto power to block bike lanes that would remove a lane for vehicles. Ford has complained about gridlock on Toronto’s Bloor Street, blaming it on new bike lanes that he described as “an absolute disaster.”

The new law would require municipalities to get the province’s approval to turn a vehicle lane into a bike lane.

On Thursday, Ford went even further, saying in a speech to Toronto’s Empire Club that he intends to remove existing bike lanes as well.

“We need to and will remove and replace existing bike lanes on primary roads that are bringing traffic in our cities to a standstill,” Ford said, according to the Globe and Mail.

Speaking to reporters after this week’s council meeting, Sutcliffe said he doesn’t know what the new provincial rules will look like, but said active transportation routes remain a city priority.

<more>

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-new...pite-new-provincial-rules-sutcliffe-says

[Richard Eade]

I don’t have a problem with there being bike lanes on some roads (although I would prefer them to be in their own corridor). My issue is that there also needs to be roads which are meant to move a lot of traffic; which must not have bike lanes. The problem seems to stem from the City’s (mis-guided) belief that any road that gets rebuilt MUST become a ‘Complete Street’.

Cars and trucks are not going to disappear. In fact, their numbers are going to increase. Yup, there is a ‘Climate Crisis’ that requires fewer GHGs being emitter. That’s why there is a big push towards electric vehicles. And electric vehicles will need the same roads that ICE vehicles use now.

Has there been a ‘War of Cars’? Yes, I think there has been, in some circles. There has been a deliberate drive to get people out of cars and into public transit, or to use active modes of transportation. One of the ‘weapons’ used is removing traffic lanes to create bike lanes. There are many excuses used: It’s a Main Street; It needed ‘traffic calming’; or Cyclists buy more than car drivers. But the ultimate goal was to increase car congestion to dissuade driving on that street. Inversing ‘Induced Demand’. Ironically, the increased vehicle congestion bogs down buses, making public transit less desirable, too.

There needs to be a holistic approach to transportation planning. Big, limited-access roads need to exist. Bus lanes need to exist. Bike routes need to exist. Pedestrian infrastructure needs to be well suited to the use it gets. Trying to cram everything onto every street to make it ‘Complete’ is not proper planning.

Take Hunt Club as a great example of really poor planning. It should have been a southern, 6-lane, limited access, roadway that quickly moved vehicles from one area to another. There should not have been bike lanes added. Cycling infrastructure could have been added off to the side, if there really was a need to have it along that corridor – which I doubt, based on what should have been there. That is, there should not have been any side lanes/driveways/parking lots off of that big road. Therefore, there should have been no reason for bike to go along it.

[DogsWithJobs]

Are people being sarcastic when they call the Montreal road bike lanes amazing?

As others mentioned they don't extend past the Parkway, which really limits the usefulness. They also force you to ride down and up the curb at every intersection, and it isn't even a straight ramp so you have to swerve back and forth. It is a pretty terrible design in my opinion. They could have raised the intersections, making them safer and a better ride. I have seen this done in other countries.

Donald only got painted bike lanes and as has been mentioned they didn't cut the bumpouts so you have to merge in and out of traffic frequently. The real positive from the Donald lanes is that they removed street parking on the whole road, minus a few spots right at North River, where there was already a bike lane before the latest change.

I've not noticed a significant impact on the surrounding areas from the removed parking, although they didn't end up increasing bus frequency like originally proposed and we continue to add a fairly significant number of new dwellings without parking, so time will tell.

The Adawe crossing is great and I use it all the time, but if I was traveling along Montreal road and heading to somewhere on Rideau or to the market that is not an acceptable detour in my opinion. If people are considering it then that is a testament to how dangerous it is to stay on route.