Preston street truffle hunt
Seen growing along the Cyclopiste de Preston trail along the O-Train corridor. Maybe they are truffles … it is Little Italy after all. Continue reading Preston street truffle hunt
Category: cyclopiste de preston
Integrating streets, sidewalks, with ped-bike paths
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
Integrating streets, sidewalks, with ped-bike paths
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
Cyclopiste de Preston (vi)
Most of the photos in the previous posts on this cycling route showed the path in winter or early spring. That is not the most attractive time of year. Here are a few shots in summer, to show what a pleasant route the Cyclopiste de Preston could be for cyclists and pedestrians; for recreational, short-haul and commuter users; and for easy access to and from the Preston mainstreet. Continue reading Cyclopiste de Preston (vi)
Cyclopiste de Preston (vi)
Most of the photos in the previous posts on this cycling route showed the path in winter or early spring. That is not the most attractive time of year. Here are a few shots in summer, to show what a pleasant route the Cyclopiste de Preston could be for cyclists and pedestrians; for recreational, short-haul and commuter users; and for easy access to and from the Preston mainstreet. Continue reading Cyclopiste de Preston (vi)
Cyclopiste de Preston (v): Young to Carling
From the turning circle where Young meets the Otrain cut, there is a convenient bridge over the train. Note the lack of curb dip on this end for cyclists (there is one at the other end of the bridge). A similar but wider and more friendly overpass is planned for Hickory Street, a few blocks south near the Otrain station at Carling Avenue. Looking south, the stonedust path passes between the backyards of houses and the Otrain cut. The path needs to be widened and re-covered with stone dust which is worn down to the mud in some spots. There … Continue reading Cyclopiste de Preston (v): Young to Carling
Cyclopiste de Preston (v): Young to Carling
From the turning circle where Young meets the Otrain cut, there is a convenient bridge over the train. Note the lack of curb dip on this end for cyclists (there is one at the other end of the bridge). A similar but wider and more friendly overpass is planned for Hickory Street, a few blocks south near the Otrain station at Carling Avenue. Looking south, the stonedust path passes between the backyards of houses and the Otrain cut. The path needs to be widened and re-covered with stone dust which is worn down to the mud in some spots. There … Continue reading Cyclopiste de Preston (v): Young to Carling
Cyclopiste de Preston (iv) Gladstone to Young
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
Cyclopiste de Preston (iv) Gladstone to Young
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
Cyclopiste de Preston (iii), south of Somerset
Picture 1 is the view from the Somerset viaduct looking south towards Gladstone and the Queensway. The Otrain track is barely visible in the cut on the right. Most of this land is City owned (a small portion is NCC, but it is not required to make the underpass). At the Somerset end, the right of way is quite wide. It would be relatively straightforward to connect the Somerset bike lane and sidewalk surfaces with the bike route using a slope, although a switchback might be required. A 16′ drop requires 320 feet of ramp, plus some flat spots. To … Continue reading Cyclopiste de Preston (iii), south of Somerset
Cyclopiste de Preston (iii), south of Somerset
Picture 1 is the view from the Somerset viaduct looking south towards Gladstone and the Queensway. The Otrain track is barely visible in the cut on the right. Most of this land is City owned (a small portion is NCC, but it is not required to make the underpass). At the Somerset end, the right of way is quite wide. It would be relatively straightforward to connect the Somerset bike lane and sidewalk surfaces with the bike route using a slope, although a switchback might be required. A 16′ drop requires 320 feet of ramp, plus some flat spots. To … Continue reading Cyclopiste de Preston (iii), south of Somerset
Cyclopiste de Preston (ii)
The first photo was taken mid-winter, from the area behind the City Centre warehouse complex; the Otrain track is on the right, going south under Somerset viaduct. This shows there is considerable open space on the east side of the track for a cycle path. A cycling and pedestrian underpass would be straight ahead centre in the photo. The underpass, a precast concrete “box”, would be a few feet above the current track level, and set back from the track far enough to allow for a LRT station on the far side (southside) of Somerset, should one be installed. There are … Continue reading Cyclopiste de Preston (ii)
Cyclopiste de Preston (ii)
The first photo was taken mid-winter, from the area behind the City Centre warehouse complex; the Otrain track is on the right, going south under Somerset viaduct. This shows there is considerable open space on the east side of the track for a cycle path. A cycling and pedestrian underpass would be straight ahead centre in the photo. The underpass, a precast concrete “box”, would be a few feet above the current track level, and set back from the track far enough to allow for a LRT station on the far side (southside) of Somerset, should one be installed. There are … Continue reading Cyclopiste de Preston (ii)
Cyclopiste de Preston (i): Cycle Path along the Otrain Corridor
The Carling-Bayview community design plan calls for a bike path along the Otrain corridor. So does the City’s official cycling plan. Parts of the path were built in the early 1960’s when the NCC removed the street-level railway tracks and consolidated them into the new “cut” dug from Carleton U to Bayview, where the Otrain now runs, and the furture southwest LRT lines will run. The path has trees on both sides (moreso on the rail cut side) and a variety of views into back yards and small industries along the Preston side of the path. These walking and cycling … Continue reading Cyclopiste de Preston (i): Cycle Path along the Otrain Corridor
Cyclopiste de Preston (i): Cycle Path along the Otrain Corridor
The Carling-Bayview community design plan calls for a bike path along the Otrain corridor. So does the City’s official cycling plan. Parts of the path were built in the early 1960’s when the NCC removed the street-level railway tracks and consolidated them into the new “cut” dug from Carleton U to Bayview, where the Otrain now runs, and the furture southwest LRT lines will run. The path has trees on both sides (moreso on the rail cut side) and a variety of views into back yards and small industries along the Preston side of the path. These walking and cycling … Continue reading Cyclopiste de Preston (i): Cycle Path along the Otrain Corridor