Re: Mer Bleue Community Design Plan
tOM Trottier
I'm glad you mention the bike lanes along Tenth Line, Mer Bleue, Innes, and the
Blackburn Bypass. These are important features to aid commuters and other cyclists
going places.
But I saw just one illustration with bicycles inside the report, on p. 44.
One other photograph on p.56 shows a bike lane with a big "No Parking" sign, which I
think should be "No Stopping" in Ottawa. And a car parked in the bike lane.... Please
show some photographs and designs which _encourage_ cycling.
I see no mention of the multi-use pathway along the LRT which would help commuters
going to a station or along the LRT, though the off-road path along the Hydro right of
way would be nearby. The 2003 Transportation Master Plan specifies that there should
be a pathway alongside the LRT. Surely it should ease access by local residents to
LRT stations by being accessible to nearby residents.
Section 5.16 specifies a pedestrian network "connecting schools and parks", almost all
on sidewalks. While sidewalks are good, don't you think it would make sense for there
to be easy ways to reach the LRT stations by foot or bike? EG, a pathway alongside
the LRT with connections to the internal streets? There seems to be a couple of paths
indicated in the demonstration plan on p. 50 providing shorter ped/bike paths to the
LRT stations, but no path is shown along the LRT, nor connnections to it.
Also, you show two main E/W roads crossing the area. Around them is a warren of
streets with offset meetings. Could you please consider having them meet directly so
that cyclists can choose them for more traffic-free cycling and so that cars and
pedestrians and cyclists have safer sight lines. You might even try orienting them to
provide alternate ways to reach the LRT stations by foot or bike.
You have no section on bicycle parking. This must be considered for apartment and
commercial buildings. Ideally, apartments should have accessible single-bike opaque
lockers to deter theft and encourage cycling. Shopping areas and institutions like
schools need visible bicycle stands. Offices need showers and supervised parking.
These should be specified in the CDP.
How can we encourage cycling and walking by mostly ignoring these healthy activities?
They are both recreational and utilitarian activities. Please build them into the CDP.
tOM Trottier
-- Quidquid latine dictum sit altum viditur --
,__@ tOM Trottier, 758 Albert St,
_-\_<, Ottawa ON Canada K1R 7V8
(*)/'(*) N45.412 W75.714 +1 613 860-6633
CfSC representative on Ottawa Roads and Cycling Advisory Committee
Citizens for Safe Cycling director
CfSC Cycling Safety & Promotion Chair
"When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair
for the future of the human race." ~H.G. Wells