Cycling in the City

OC Transpo recently launched new Bikesecure sheltered parking at Fallowfield, Greenboro, St-Laurent and Strandherd stations. These bicycle parking facilities are sheltered, secured and reserved for registered customers only. Bikesecure spaces cost $10 a month plus a one-time fee of $6 for the key fob. Bikesecure is another way OC Transpo makes it easy for customers to connect to transit by bike. Customers interested in the program can call 613-842-3777 to register. Funding for the Bikesecure shelters was provided in part by the Government of Canada through the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund. More information is available at octranspo.com.

The City of Ottawa’s Stage 2 Light Rail Transit (LRT) project will deliver 44 kilometres of rail and 24 new stations. On top of that, the project also includes construction of approximately 25 kilometres of new active transportation facilities. In 2021 that includes the construction of two significant multi-use bridges for use by pedestrians and cyclists only; one over the Rideau River and one over Hunt Club Road. Neighbouring the O-Train South Line in both locations, these two bridges are anticipated to begin construction this year.

The 60-metre bridge over the Rideau River will connect the Rideau River Eastern Pathway at Vincent Massey Park to the Carleton University campus and LRT station. The 80-metre bridge over Hunt Club Road, together with a multi-use pathway along the east side of the rail line, will connect the Emerald Woods – Sawmill Creek communities to the South Keys commercial area and LRT station. For more information visit the Stage 2 LRT Project webpage.

Many of the City’s recently constructed cycling facilities include permanent bike counters that record the number of bike trips. The City reviewed count data from 2010 to 2019 to understand trends in cycling trips. The analysis included annual data from 21 counters along 16 different cycling facilities in wards 11 to 18, those closest to the downtown core. The data was then analysed and weighted based on cyclist volumes and uniqueness. As shown in the chart below, the number of cycling trips along these routes increased by approximately 80% over this nine-year period.

With the onset of the pandemic in 2020, Ottawa residents made fewer trips by all modes. There was a particularly dramatic reduction in commuting trips to and from downtown, as many office workers began working from home. Correspondingly, bike counters recorded fewer total bike trips on most cycling facilities in 2020. There was also a change in the weekday pattern with trips being more evenly distributed throughout the day, rather than being concentrated in the morning and evening commute hours. This indicates that more people chose cycling for trips other than commuting, including for outdoor socially-distanced exercise.

The City of Ottawa has partnered with EnviroCentre to provide a campaign that encourages people to cycle as a fun and healthy option for getting where they need to go. There are free workshops and cycling resources, prizes and a fun app to track your distance and the impact of choosing to ride a bike. No matter the reason you cycle (this year brings with it many changes in travel patterns), consider signing up and logging your bike trips this June! Let’s Bike Ottawa!
For information and to sign-up visit www.letsbike.ca 

The City of Ottawa is undertaking an Environmental Assessment (EA) study and project to further the design for an interim multi-use pathway on the Prince of Wales Bridge. The study is exploring the construction of an interim multi-use pathway on the existing inactive and retained Prince of Wales rail bridge. The scope of work will include some structural repair work, deck modifications to create the pathway surface, railings, and work on the approaches and bridge lighting.

The City is in the process of applying for federal funding for the construction of this project. Timing for construction has not been confirmed and will be subject to City budget and federal funding approval, as well as design and permit approvals. More information, including the completed EA report, can be found on the City’s website.

Following the first year of the electric kick scooter pilot last year, the City has approved the pilot to continue in 2021. Last year over 72,000 people made a total of 238,000 trips on e-scooters, with many riders reporting that using an e-scooter meant that they used their car less frequently. In 2021 the total number of available e-scooters could increase to 1,200 vehicles operating in a larger central area, with potentially up to a further 300 vehicles operating within a suburban satellite location too.

More information will be available on the City’s webpage as the 2021 season comes closer to launching.

Design is underway on a number of cycling initiatives in the vicinity of the Riverside Hospital, Billings Bridge – Alta Vista neighbourhood. These initiatives include a significant cycling safety improvement project on Smyth Road at the east-end of the McIlraith Bridge along with two smaller improvements to local east-west and north-south cycling routes. Modifications planned for the Smyth Road and Riverside Drive intersections will better connect the bike lanes on the McIlraith Bridge to routes and destinations which can be accessed from the intersection of Smyth Road and the Riverside Hospital.

Other planned improvements nearby include a segment of eastbound bike lane at the west end of Pleasant Park Road and minor improvements to cycling connectivity along segments of Rodney Crescent and Billings Avenue. More information can be found on the City’s project webpage with plans to be posted later this spring.

Spring signals the start of the 2021 construction season. Projects that were on pause through the winter months will be restarting and some new construction projects beginning. Projects begun in 2020 which are planned to be completed later this year and opened for use include the cycle tracks on Bay Street between Laurier Avenue and Wellington Street, and on Heron Road, between Clover Street and Bank Street. An extension of the Aviation Pathway from Ogilvie Road to Cyrville LRT Station will also be completed.

Cycling in the City - May 2020

Ride Into Spring With OC Transpo’s Bikesecure Parking

Stage 2 Light Rail – New Active Transportation Facilities

Cycling Trends 2010 to 2019... and 2020

June Is Let’s Bike Month!

Prince Of Wales Bridge - Interim Multi-Use Pathway

Rack & Roll 2021

Electric Kick Scooter Pilot In Ottawa Renewed

Smyth Road Cycling Safety Project And Neighbourhood Cycling Improvements

Spring Construction Season