Category: cycling in Ottawa

cycling in Ottawa, somerset street, streetscaping3 Comments

Cycling Progress

Westsideaction

The Public Advisory Group for the proposed downtown-area segregated cycling track meet last night. It’s a diverse group including 3 BIA’s (Chinatown BIA, Somerset Village BIA, Bank St BIA), two community associations (DCA, CCA), cycling advocacy groups (Cycle Vision Ottawa, Citizens for Safe Cycling), politicians former and current, etc. City planners unveiled the route choices and the criteria they used to narrow the list down to a smaller set of five leading options. They applied a numerical rating scheme to winnow the choices, which came in for a lot of discussion. The selection remains somewhat arbitrary and contestable. The most … Continue reading Cycling Progress

cycling in Ottawa, somerset street, streetscaping

Cycling Progress

Westsideaction

The Public Advisory Group for the proposed downtown-area segregated cycling track meet last night. It’s a diverse group including 3 BIA’s (Chinatown BIA, Somerset Village BIA, Bank St BIA), two community associations (DCA, CCA), cycling advocacy groups (Cycle Vision Ottawa, Citizens for Safe Cycling), politicians former and current, etc. City planners unveiled the route choices and the criteria they used to narrow the list down to a smaller set of five leading options. They applied a numerical rating scheme to winnow the choices, which came in for a lot of discussion. The selection remains somewhat arbitrary and contestable. The most … Continue reading Cycling Progress

bike path, bikewest, Boston, cycling in Ottawa3 Comments

Boston cycle path

Westsideaction

The following pictures were taken on the cycling path along Vassar Ave in Cambridge (Boston) MA. Vassar goes through the MIT campus, and recent streetscaping had been done to narrow the road, add boulevard trees, and a bike path which was heavily used when I viewed it on several occasions. In the picture below, it transitions from on-road to being at the same grade as the sidewalk, set back from the street by a row of trees. Despite being in front of the most prestigous engineering school in the world, there is a puddle in the path. The path was … Continue reading Boston cycle path

bike path, bikewest, Boston, cycling in Ottawa

Boston cycle path

Westsideaction

The following pictures were taken on the cycling path along Vassar Ave in Cambridge (Boston) MA. Vassar goes through the MIT campus, and recent streetscaping had been done to narrow the road, add boulevard trees, and a bike path which was heavily used when I viewed it on several occasions. In the picture below, it transitions from on-road to being at the same grade as the sidewalk, set back from the street by a row of trees. Despite being in front of the most prestigous engineering school in the world, there is a puddle in the path. The path was … Continue reading Boston cycle path

cycling in Ottawa2 Comments

Constitutional Privilage to Park Cycles

Westsideaction

These two pictures are of the indoor bicycle parking facility at Constitution Square downtown. It is a three tower office tower complex. The bikes take up at least 8 car parking spaces. This photo was taken late in the afternoon, so many cyclists would have already left work. It certainly holds one lot of bikes. I wonder how many other parking garages or hidden cycle parking lots are in the downtown, unseen by the public and thus contributing to the unseen and uncommented upon growth of cycling as a mode of transport. Continue reading Constitutional Privilage to Park Cycles

cycling in Ottawa

Constitutional Privilage to Park Cycles

Westsideaction

These two pictures are of the indoor bicycle parking facility at Constitution Square downtown. It is a three tower office tower complex. The bikes take up at least 8 car parking spaces. This photo was taken late in the afternoon, so many cyclists would have already left work. It certainly holds one lot of bikes. I wonder how many other parking garages or hidden cycle parking lots are in the downtown, unseen by the public and thus contributing to the unseen and uncommented upon growth of cycling as a mode of transport. Continue reading Constitutional Privilage to Park Cycles

cycling in Ottawa4 Comments

cycling is an art

Westsideaction

On the Sparks Street Mall near Bank a store has this bicyle outside its windows. Clearly it is an advertisement, designed to draw people closer to the windows and shop door. It is nonetheless a welcome addition to the Mall. It also indicates the increased status of cycling in Ottawa and society in general, when bikes are now a suitable element of “art”. Downtown Ottawa is … dull. I think a good part of that is due to gross over-regulation of everything: patios, signs, setbacks, mandated tinted glass so dark you cannot see into the shops, etc. Therefore the art cycle … Continue reading cycling is an art

cycling in Ottawa

cycling is an art

Westsideaction

On the Sparks Street Mall near Bank a store has this bicyle outside its windows. Clearly it is an advertisement, designed to draw people closer to the windows and shop door. It is nonetheless a welcome addition to the Mall. It also indicates the increased status of cycling in Ottawa and society in general, when bikes are now a suitable element of “art”. Downtown Ottawa is … dull. I think a good part of that is due to gross over-regulation of everything: patios, signs, setbacks, mandated tinted glass so dark you cannot see into the shops, etc. Therefore the art cycle … Continue reading cycling is an art

cycling in Ottawa2 Comments

cycling evidence

Westsideaction

We all see cycling porn shots of Holland and other European countries. A favorite is to show a gizillion bikes parked outside a train station or on a central square. This Ottawa picture is taken up close, so the whole thing is filled with a sea of parked bikes. Alas, the sea does not continue out of the frame, this is all there were. It’s a exposure of cycles, but really our bounty is modest. Next time I get into the Constitution Square garage, I will take a picture of the ever-increasing size of the popular indoor cycle parking garage … Continue reading cycling evidence

cycling in Ottawa

cycling evidence

Westsideaction

We all see cycling porn shots of Holland and other European countries. A favorite is to show a gizillion bikes parked outside a train station or on a central square. This Ottawa picture is taken up close, so the whole thing is filled with a sea of parked bikes. Alas, the sea does not continue out of the frame, this is all there were. It’s a exposure of cycles, but really our bounty is modest. Next time I get into the Constitution Square garage, I will take a picture of the ever-increasing size of the popular indoor cycle parking garage … Continue reading cycling evidence

Bayview, cycling in Ottawa1 Comment

Driving in Circles

Westsideaction

A traffic circle is being installed at the intersection of Bayview/Burnside/River Street, in the Bayview Yards area, between Larouche Park and the old city sewer works yards that back onto the Ottawa River Parkway and Lemieux Island. I am hoping the centre of the circle will be planted with trees. Pedestrian crossings are on the ‘straight stretches’ a few meters outside the circle and permit peds to cross the street one lane at a time taking refuge on the triangular islands. Only three streets arrive at the circle, sort of like a Y. Each street is only one lane, so … Continue reading Driving in Circles

Bayview, cycling in Ottawa

Driving in Circles

Westsideaction

A traffic circle is being installed at the intersection of Bayview/Burnside/River Street, in the Bayview Yards area, between Larouche Park and the old city sewer works yards that back onto the Ottawa River Parkway and Lemieux Island. I am hoping the centre of the circle will be planted with trees. Pedestrian crossings are on the ‘straight stretches’ a few meters outside the circle and permit peds to cross the street one lane at a time taking refuge on the triangular islands. Only three streets arrive at the circle, sort of like a Y. Each street is only one lane, so … Continue reading Driving in Circles

cycling in Ottawa, cyclopiste de preston, O-Train, Preston street1 Comment

Integrating streets, sidewalks, with ped-bike paths

Westsideaction

There is a pedestrian-cyclist path along the east side of the Otrain cut from Carling to Young Street. Hopefully this path will be rebuilt and extended next year (a study is underway) to become a really useful cycling link “Cyclopiste de Preston”. Some careful thought needs to be given to how the path will connect to the sidewalks and pavements of the adjacent dead-end streets – there are many of them. Currently, only one street has its sidewalk (and only on one side) properly connect to the recreational path. This works well for pedestrians, but what are cyclists supposed to … Continue reading Integrating streets, sidewalks, with ped-bike paths

cycling in Ottawa, cyclopiste de preston, O-Train, Preston street

Integrating streets, sidewalks, with ped-bike paths

Westsideaction

There is a pedestrian-cyclist path along the east side of the Otrain cut from Carling to Young Street. Hopefully this path will be rebuilt and extended next year (a study is underway) to become a really useful cycling link “Cyclopiste de Preston”. Some careful thought needs to be given to how the path will connect to the sidewalks and pavements of the adjacent dead-end streets – there are many of them. Currently, only one street has its sidewalk (and only on one side) properly connect to the recreational path. This works well for pedestrians, but what are cyclists supposed to … Continue reading Integrating streets, sidewalks, with ped-bike paths

cycling in Ottawa3 Comments

modern cycling

Westsideaction

I read on a cycling blog the other evening about a guy visiting Holland. He was impressed with all the cycling infrastructure, but incredulous about one feature of dutch bikes. They don’t have any brakes. Seriously, he thought they didn’t have brakes. Instead he told me, it is necessary to pedal backwards ! He swore it’s true. Am I so old that only I remember when all bikes were “coaster” brake: you pedaled forward to go forward, you stopped pedalling to coast, and you pushed in reverse to apply the brakes. Has everyone born since the popularity boom of the … Continue reading modern cycling

cycling in Ottawa

modern cycling

Westsideaction

I read on a cycling blog the other evening about a guy visiting Holland. He was impressed with all the cycling infrastructure, but incredulous about one feature of dutch bikes. They don’t have any brakes. Seriously, he thought they didn’t have brakes. Instead he told me, it is necessary to pedal backwards ! He swore it’s true. Am I so old that only I remember when all bikes were “coaster” brake: you pedaled forward to go forward, you stopped pedalling to coast, and you pushed in reverse to apply the brakes. Has everyone born since the popularity boom of the … Continue reading modern cycling

bike path, cycling in Ottawa, cyclopiste de preston, Preston street1 Comment

Cyclopiste de Preston (iv) Gladstone to Young

Westsideaction

The Cyclopiste de Preston is a cycling arterial running from the Ottawa River – Bayview – under Somerset – cross Gladstone – under the Qway using an existing underpass – and joining the existing ill-maintained path running from Young Street along the Otrain corridor to Carling and then further south. The path is in the Official Cycling Plan, but since work started in 1962 has been stymied by lack of an underpass under Somerset street. Detailed design work for the underpass is underway now, as part of Somerset reconstruction. If enough people support the idea (tell your councillor!) the underpass … Continue reading Cyclopiste de Preston (iv) Gladstone to Young

bike path, cycling in Ottawa, cyclopiste de preston, Preston street

Cyclopiste de Preston (iv) Gladstone to Young

Westsideaction

The Cyclopiste de Preston is a cycling arterial running from the Ottawa River – Bayview – under Somerset – cross Gladstone – under the Qway using an existing underpass – and joining the existing ill-maintained path running from Young Street along the Otrain corridor to Carling and then further south. The path is in the Official Cycling Plan, but since work started in 1962 has been stymied by lack of an underpass under Somerset street. Detailed design work for the underpass is underway now, as part of Somerset reconstruction. If enough people support the idea (tell your councillor!) the underpass … Continue reading Cyclopiste de Preston (iv) Gladstone to Young