Cycling in the National Capital Region

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by rousseau

Really? I would have thought that a scenic ride to and from work would be worth more than saving five or ten minutes because a route isn't so direct (if it's really just a matter of five or ten minutes, obviously I don't know what it's actually like to commute by bike there).

I would have thought that, say, taking the Rideau Canal Western Pathway from the southern parts of the Glebe, or parts further south, to a workplace downtown would be totally worth the extra time just for the sheer pleasure of the surroundings and the lack of concern and irritation produced by cycling among motorized vehicles. Granted, I agree that more Amsterdam-style bike lanes right inside the city providing for more direct routes would be a huge bonus, and I also agree that North American cities in general need more proper bike lanes in general, but still...Ottawa-Gatineau looks like it's set up nicer for cycling paths and lanes than Toronto is.

First world problems I guess!

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by rousseau

Really? I would have thought that a scenic ride to and from work would be worth more than saving five or ten minutes because a route isn't so direct (if it's really just a matter of five or ten minutes, obviously I don't know what it's actually like to commute by bike there).

It isn't so much the time as the safety. Blind corners on a multi-use path with pedestrians straddling the entire width, or worse an oncoming cyclist on the wrong side of the path, can make for some hair raising experiences. Experienced cyclists often feel safer on the road than on a multi-use pathway.

[Kitchissippi]

Originally Posted by rousseau

I really, really love bike paths like these. And La Route Verte in general. I love that they're like these little highways with the broken yellow line down the middle. You can pretend you're in an alternate universe where cars and motorized traffic don't exist.



This is the bike path between Longueuil and Chambly, but I can see on Googlemaps Streetview that the paths in and around Gatineau are similar. Sometimes I sorta wish I had a commute like this that I could do on a bike instead of working from a home office.

I wish they would pave the Prescott-Russell trail, parts of it could look like this, and if they properly marketed it as a car-free Ottawa-Montreal intercity route instead of a regional trail, it would get a lot more users as its more direct than the Route verte through Laval. Go big or go home, it's sad the county was thinking of giving up on this trail last year.

I'm actually currently biking my way out to Quebec City. It's been a few years since I've ridden Route verte #1 out to Montebello and beyond, it's really nice how the A-50 has cut down the traffic on the 148 significantly.

[dougvdh]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

I wish they would pave the Prescott-Russell trail, parts of it could look like this . . . (snip)

I'd be cautious about wishing for too much pavement. The northern paved sections of le Petit Train Du Nord are horribly rough (tree roots and sub-base settling) compared to the stone dust sections. Prescott-Russell trail's biggest downfall is the lack of services (or signage to nearby services) along the route. Some small tenting pads would be great too.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by dougvdh

I'd be cautious about wishing for too much pavement. The northern paved sections of le Petit Train Du Nord are horribly rough (tree roots and sub-base settling) compared to the stone dust sections. Prescott-Russell trail's biggest downfall is the lack of services (or signage to nearby services) along the route. Some small tenting pads would be great too.

I tend to agree. Stone dust is the better option for long, straight paths in remote areas (like on abandoned rail lines). On paths that are heavily used or have lots of bends, asphalt is better (unless, of course, it is a mountain bike trail).

[MarkR]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

I wish they would pave the Prescott-Russell trail, parts of it could look like this, and if they properly marketed it as a car-free Ottawa-Montreal intercity route instead of a regional trail, it would get a lot more users as its more direct than the Route verte through Laval. Go big or go home, it's sad the county was thinking of giving up on this trail last year.

I'm actually currently biking my way out to Quebec City. It's been a few years since I've ridden Route verte #1 out to Montebello and beyond, it's really nice how the A-50 has cut down the traffic on the 148 significantly.

I don't think it'll ever get paved. From what I understand, VIA still owns the right-of-way, and is holding onto it as a future high-speed rail corridor.

[rocketphish]

Orléans, Cumberland to be linked by new bike, walking paths

Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen
Published on: August 7, 2017 | Last Updated: August 7, 2017 8:27 PM EDT

Stephen Blais leans over the handlebars of his bike and looks to the south, where a crew of construction workers is turning a strip of grass along a hydro corridor in the Avalon subdivision into a new multi-use path.

Joggers, cyclists, in-line skaters, dog walkers and folks out for an evening stroll will soon be able to choose it to get from Innes Road to the southern edge of Ottawa’s urban boundary without stepping foot on a busy arterial road.

The path will also intersect with the new east-west Trans-Orléans multi-use path, a 3.2-kilometre link between Millennium Park and transit station on Trim Road to the commercial hub at Innes and Tenth Line roads.

Elsewhere, the Cumberland Village cycling connection will see paved shoulders added to or extended on several rural roads to create an easier and safer connection between the village and Trim Road.

In all, the work represents nearly $5 million in new recreational paths coming to Blais’s Cumberland ward this year, thanks in part to some federal infrastructure money.

“There has been a pent-up demand for these connections,” the city councillor said.

Even though the emphasis of the new pathways is on recreational use, commuter cyclists could theoretically use them to reach a transit station and take advantage of OC Transpo’s rack-and-roll service or head north to the pathway network along the Ottawa River.

The work currently underway on the Avalon north-south pathway, which Blais admits might yet be given a catchier name, fills a critical missing link. Paved pathways are already in place on either end of this one-kilometre stretch, expected to be complete by the fall.

The new routes will also connect to an established path that runs southwest from Innes Road near DuPlateau Street.

For people who live in the heart of the dense suburb, the new pathways will mean they don’t have to rely a car to run simple errands or walk several kilometres out of their way to reach amenities.

“If you’re going to the drugstore to pick up a prescription, you don’t want to have to get in your car if you can walk or bike in 15 minutes,” Blais said.

The lack of quick and easy connections is a common complaint among some suburb dwellers, but Blais said the new pathways will make it much simpler to reach parks, recreation centres, schools, shopping and rapid transit stations.

And they make good use of an unused hydro corridor and land set aside by the city for future transit expansion.

“The hydro corridor is wasted space if you don’t put something there people can use,” he said.

Most people who filled out an online questionnaire about the Trans-Orléans pathway support the project, but many requested the installation of benches, trash cans and lighting. The city said “yes” to benches, but additional garbage cans and pathway lighting aren’t part of the plan.

[email protected]
twitter.com/mpearson78

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/orleans-cumberland-to-be-linked-by-new-bike-walking-paths

[rousseau]

Originally Posted by roger1818

It isn't so much the time as the safety. Blind corners on a multi-use path with pedestrians straddling the entire width, or worse an oncoming cyclist on the wrong side of the path, can make for some hair raising experiences. Experienced cyclists often feel safer on the road than on a multi-use pathway.

How fast are you going? I'm a roadie doing 30+ km/h on those paths, but the stretches of La Route Verte I've been on around Montreal aren't very busy at all, at least in the afternoons when I do my rides.

I guess I don't know what it's like to commute in the morning or evening on a busy cycling path, but this video I found on Youtube doesn't look too bad to me.

• Video Link

I'd say that's exponentially preferable to being on the roads with motorized traffic.

[TransitZilla]

From Ottawa.ca:

http://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/accountability-and-transparency/public-meetings-and-notices

Proposed Roadway Modifications

Pursuant to By-law No. 2011–122, the City of Ottawa is providing notice to the public of its intention to approve road modifications at the following locations in accordance with the authority under By-law No. 2011-28:

Montreal Road and Burma Road

Proposed protected intersection at Montreal Road and Burma Road
Cross rides on all four legs of the intersection
Cycle tracks and concrete sidewalks on Burma Road
Realignment of Burma Road

...

Greenfield Avenue between Main Street and Lees Avenue/King Edward Avenue

Cycle tracks on both sides of Greenfield Avenue between Main Street and Lees Avenue/King Edward Avenue
A reduction in the number of on-street parking spaces on Greenfield Avenue between Main and Concord Street to accommodate the proposed cycle tracks
Removal of the existing median on the east leg of the Greenfield Avenue and Concord Street intersection

Colonel By Drive from Graham Avenue to Hawthorne Avenue

A multi-use pathway on the east side of Colonel By Driveway between Hawthorne Avenue and Graham Avenue

Main Street from Harvey Street to Colonel By Drive

A multi-use pathway on the west side of Main Street between Greenfield Avenue and Colonel By Drive
Cycle tracks on both sides of Main Street between Greenfield Avenue and Harvey Street and on the east side of Main Street between Greenfield Avenue and Echo Drive
A potential pedestrian crossover on the west leg of the Main Street and Colonel By Drive intersection, subject to funding availability and National Capital Commission approval
Minor narrowing of portions of these roadways to accommodate the proposed cycling facilities

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by rousseau

How fast are you going? I'm a roadie doing 30+ km/h on those paths, but the stretches of La Route Verte I've been on around Montreal aren't very busy at all, at least in the afternoons when I do my rides.

I guess I don't know what it's like to commute in the morning or evening on a busy cycling path, but this video I found on Youtube doesn't look too bad to me.

• Video Link

I'd say that's exponentially preferable to being on the roads with motorized traffic.

I hate to say it but this area has lots of prima donna and aggressive cyclists.

My speed is not even close to 30 kmh and I occasionally feel they are gonna run me off the path. Some are downright nasty and dangerous. They belong in traffic with motor vehicles IMO.

[rousseau]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I hate to say it but this area has lots of prima donna and aggressive cyclists.

My speed is not even close to 30 kmh and I occasionally feel they are gonna run me off the path. Some are downright nasty and dangerous. They belong in traffic with motor vehicles IMO.

I myself would never go that fast if it were busy. There's almost nobody on the paths between Montreal and Chambly on weekday afternoons in the summer when I do my rides there, so I go full speed ahead.

[McC]

Originally Posted by bradnixon

From Ottawa.ca:

http://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/accountability-and-transparency/public-meetings-and-notices

Nice, thanks; those projects would do some good gap-filling for cyclists and pedestrians in/through OOE and SandyHill.

They're indicative of a real positive development in this community. Not too long ago, the city would have just pointed to the Canal MUP and said there's all the cycling infrastructure you need... "but how do you get on to the path from here?" ... <shrug> "And there's no money for it anyway..."

Now they seem to be really looking for the seams and gaps, and filling them in one by one. Incrementalism like this takes forever to stitch them all together, but at least in ten years, the network will be something to be proud of.

[waterloowarrior]

Originally Posted by McC

Nice, thanks; those projects would do some good gap-filling for cyclists and pedestrians in/through OOE and SandyHill.

They're indicative of a real positive development in this community. Not too long ago, the city would have just pointed to the Canal MUP and said there's all the cycling infrastructure you need... "but how do you get on to the path from here?" ... <shrug> "And there's no money for it anyway..."

Now they seem to be really looking for the seams and gaps, and filling them in one by one. Incrementalism like this takes forever to stitch them all together, but at least in ten years, the network will be something to be proud of.

It's amazing how much progress we've made since the Laurier separated lanes were installed only six years ago as a pilot project (FYI these are supposed to be replaced with cycle tracks next year). Even more gaps in OOE will be filled with the new bridge over the canal and the upgraded path along the west side of the river.

[zzptichka]

Originally Posted by McC

Nice, thanks; those projects would do some good gap-filling for cyclists and pedestrians in/through OOE and SandyHill.

They're indicative of a real positive development in this community. Not too long ago, the city would have just pointed to the Canal MUP and said there's all the cycling infrastructure you need... "but how do you get on to the path from here?" ... <shrug> "And there's no money for it anyway..."

Now they seem to be really looking for the seams and gaps, and filling them in one by one. Incrementalism like this takes forever to stitch them all together, but at least in ten years, the network will be something to be proud of.

Still no good connection between Main and O'Connor cycle tracks. Rebuilt Hawthorne will only have bike lane on one side and you have to squeeze between traffic and parked cars going back. Makes entire route unsafe.

Edit: Looks like there is an alternative Eastbound route via quieter Graham Avenue. Okay then. Makes it a complicated afterthought as usual though.

[dougvdh]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

Still no good connection between Main and O'Connor cycle tracks. Rebuilt Hawthorne will only have bike lane on one side and you have to squeeze between traffic and parked cars going back. Makes entire route unsafe.

Edit: Looks like there is an alternative Eastbound route via quieter Graham Avenue. Okay then. Makes it a complicated afterthought as usual though.

And it looks like, while new cycle tracks will extend up Main, there is no plans for a crossing to get to the Canal MUP.

[McC]

Originally Posted by dougvdh

And it looks like, while new cycle tracks will extend up Main, there is no plans for a crossing to get to the Canal MUP.

see the second-last line in Brad's post.

[TransitZilla]

Originally Posted by dougvdh

And it looks like, while new cycle tracks will extend up Main, there is no plans for a crossing to get to the Canal MUP.

From above:

Main Street from Harvey Street to Colonel By Drive

A multi-use pathway on the west side of Main Street between Greenfield Avenue and Colonel By Drive
Cycle tracks on both sides of Main Street between Greenfield Avenue and Harvey Street and on the east side of Main Street between Greenfield Avenue and Echo Drive
A potential pedestrian crossover on the west leg of the Main Street and Colonel By Drive intersection, subject to funding availability and National Capital Commission approval
Minor narrowing of portions of these roadways to accommodate the proposed cycling facilities

[Multi-modal]

On the City of Ottawa's public engagement website they've put up feedback on the Mcarther Avenue bike lanes. I'm impressed with they're willingness to improve things using the surveys. They've changed the design after a lot of comments asked them to move to parking protected bike lanes:

The revised plan moved cycle lanes to be between the curb and the parked cars where parking is present. The parked cars, planters and precast curbs will provide a barrier space for cyclists in order to improve comfort and safety.

Construction is supposed to start this summer. Anyone know if its already started?

http://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/public-eng...t-laurent-boulevard-and-north-river-road

Similarly, they've revised the design for the Trillium Pathway extension to Prince of Wales... they changed it quite a bit, and removed the two crossings they were proposing. I think that change is less about public feedback and more because they wanted to reduce costs and were scared of the regulatory headaches of the un-signalized crossings they were proposing.

http://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/public-eng...al-design-study-carling-avenue-dows-lake

[dougvdh]

Originally Posted by McC

see the second-last line in Brad's post.

No funding and no approvals does not equal a plan.

That's more of an 'idea' . . .

[Dr.Z]

Originally Posted by rousseau

Really? I would have thought that a scenic ride to and from work would be worth more than saving five or ten minutes because a route isn't so direct (if it's really just a matter of five or ten minutes, obviously I don't know what it's actually like to commute by bike there).

I would have thought that, say, taking the Rideau Canal Western Pathway from the southern parts of the Glebe, or parts further south, to a workplace downtown would be totally worth the extra time just for the sheer pleasure of the surroundings and the lack of concern and irritation produced by cycling among motorized vehicles.

You are correct. Many cyclist commuters I know take the canal path between Downtown and Glebe/areas south for that very reason. There are different types of cyclist commuters just like there are different types of driving commuters. The more aggressive, on-a-schedule ones will prefer a more direct path and avg 20+ kmh (including traffic light stops (assuming they stop). The less aggressive ones enjoy more scenic routes that are away/separated from vehicular traffic and have the feeling of being safer. In the driving world we call these folk "sunday-drivers".