Cycling updates for Ottawa – August 8

Carling rail bridge gone

It came as a surprise to me: I read that the train bridge over Carling has been dismantled. This is good news as many of us have feared for our lives over the decades passing underneath that bridge. The plan is to build two meter wide shoulders. There is a cycling detour in place until the end of August. The project cost is 2.66 million.

Bluesfest bike parking numbers

For many years, Bike Ottawa organises free bike parking at Bluesfest, coordinated by Charles. This year, the bike parking averaged just under 800 bikes parked per evening and a total of 7200 bikes with a peak during the performance of Green Day with 1,234 bikes parked, making it the fourth busiest evening since the initiative was started. This was also the third biggest ‘average number of bikes per day’ year. Donations are going to Blues in the Schools and Bike Ottawa. Apparently, country artists attract less residents biking to the festival.

Rye along the pathway

If you cycled the Experimental Pathway at the new stormwater pond near Baseline and Woodroffe recently, you may have noticed rye growing along the pathway on the north side. I checked in with councillor Laine Johnson and she explained to me that “its purpose is to act as a “nurse crop” to support the establishment of perennials (grasses and wildflowers) by preventing weeds from taking over before the native plants have a chance to establish. It holds soil moisture and also provides shade to native seedlings during the hottest part of the summer.” Looking at the thermometer, that may have been a good choice.

New Yorkers in Ottawa

A friend asked me if I wanted to give an educational tour to a couple from New York who were visiting Ottawa. Usually I refer people to Escape Bicycle Tours (disclosure, I worked for Escape and still do some work) but this time I made an exception. They are living in a small apartment in Little Italy in NY, NY and if they want to go for a bike ride, they usually go to New Jersey by train first. So over they came and for a day I biked along the highlights and natural beauty of our city, while pointing out our cycling infrastructure. I included pathways, raised bike tracks, green space, bridges and waterfronts, important buildings and of course the home of the Governor General. We talked about inclusivity and connected networks. A long but beautiful day. They rented bikes for several more days and explored the area. Here is what they had to say:

“We got back to New York on Sunday night, and we’re already noticing the shortcomings in our cycling infrastructure here — especially after such a great introduction to how cycling should work during our time in Ottawa with you. Thank you very much for the wonderful bike tour. We can’t tell you how much we appreciated the thought you put into planning such a fun and informative ride. We loved hearing your stories —about history, cycling, The Netherlands, and the capital. You brought the city to life for us. Ottawa is such a beautiful and bike-friendly place.“

Glebe Ave raised bike tracks

Glebe Ave between Bank and O’Connor has a new raised bike track. It is a continuation of the bike lanes west of Bank. I think it is very well done, with a wide sidewalk right next to it and a so called ‘half height curb’. The tracks and the sidewalk don’t dip at every single driveway and there is a paved strip between the parked cars and the bike track, allowing passengers to open the door without immediately knocking a child off their bike on the way to school. The one way bike track is 1.50 (5 ft) wide.

Pathway to Osgoode from Saw Mill Creek

Last weekend I went and checked out the pathway after I received a question how those two actually connect. Case in point: someone was actually trying to figure out how to get on the trail when we where there.

Here is the answer: follow the Saw Mill Creek pathway to Hunt Club Road. Don’t cross Hunt Club but veer to the left underneath the new LRT overpass and backtrack north again for about 50 meters. You’ll see an entrance to a large concrete ramp. This gets you across Hunt Club and on to the stone dust path. But don’t have your hopes up yet. It is not officially open yet as there is still work being done on the pathway. Once you hit Lester (the E-W road that leads to the airport), you’ll see that the traffic lights are still bagged and across the road the pathway is firmly blocked off. Another feature is the very useful new connection from Bridlepath Drive via Crosscut Terrace to the trail.

Traffic concerns

We all have read about the several collisions last month, from drivers knocking over pedestrians and cyclists to running their cars into store fronts. Mistakes are made and that is why concepts like Vision Zero and Sustainable Safety call for road design that is ‘forgiving’, in other words, even when a road user makes a mistake, it should not have serious consequences.

It is encouraging to read that the speed cameras have the desired effect: a change in behaviour. I don’t have much faith in ‘education’ (Share the road, ‘we are all in this together’, single file signs, ‘shared responsibility’). It is a total waste of money. I know from living in the Netherlands (decades ago already) that the only way to change behaviour is to change your road infrastructure and to hit people in the wallet. Let’s look at some City of Ottawa data I received this week via Jennifer Stelzer:

Prior to camera implementation: 16% (!) of drivers were compliant with posted speed limits

Within three months: compliance increased to 57%

After one year: compliance increased to 69%

After three years: compliance is 81%

It is funny to see on for example Meadowlands westbound that some drivers are so scared of the camera (their wallet!) that they go even slower than the speed limit of 40 km hour: 35 kph is not uncommon.

Some more data: 83% of residents support use of speed cameras near schools, 80% supports use in areas near children’s parks and playgrounds and among people who received a ticket, 69% said it changed their behaviour.

So if you read an angry letter to local media from a guy (picture with arms crossed standing along the road in front of a speed camera) complaining about a camera or hear a politician complaining, know it is just clickbait for conflict narratives. Nothing else.

Patterson Creek

Further to the closure of the Queen Elizabeth Drive due to bridge repair at Patterson Creek, I can report that the bridge is still open for cycling and walking as this week’s photo shows.

Fundraiser for cyclist hit in collision

I was made aware of a fundraiser for Ghost, the Ottawa resident who was terribly hit while cycling on July 22. There is an update of Ghost’s condition on August 4: Ghost’s orthopaedic surgery on their arm and leg was successful. They are fighting a fever, and pneumonia and remain unconscious. The neurological team is waiting for any sign.

An earlier update on July 30th said that Ghost remains unconscious and sedated in the ICU at the Civic Hospital. The coming days, weeks, and months will be critical.

You can donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-la-care-for-ghost-after-a-devastating-accident

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