Ride Into Spring With OC Transpo’s Bikesecure Parking |
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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.
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Stage 2 Light Rail – New Active Transportation Facilities |
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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.
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Cycling Trends 2010 to 2019... and 2020 |
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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.
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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.
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June Is Let’s Bike Month! |
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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
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Prince Of Wales Bridge - Interim Multi-Use Pathway |
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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.
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For the first time ever, in 2021 all
OC Transpo buses will have bike racks installed to help customers make
connections to transit using their bikes. Tips on how to use the bike
racks are available at
octranspo.com. Rack & Roll is available each year from spring until fall.
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Electric Kick Scooter Pilot In Ottawa Renewed |
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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.
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Smyth Road Cycling Safety Project And Neighbourhood Cycling Improvements |
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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.
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Spring Construction Season |
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| 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. |
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