Community reactions mixed over bike lane project
Posted Jun 24, 2010 By Rosalyn Stevens
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EMC News - Depending on who you ask, the city's current study for a segregated bike lane project is the bestor the worstidea out of city hall in recent times. But a pair of city councillors said they're satisfied with the study that is taking place, which includes a series of public consultation meetings held recently.
James Rubec, Ottawa West EMC
Parking on Somerset St. is one of the greatest issues of concern in relation to the city's planned segregated bicycle path project.
The pilot project will see a separated lane for cyclists in the downtown core, and the current suggestions include streets from Preston St. in the west to Elgin St. in the east, and between Wellington St. and Catherine St. And depending on where the lane is placed, the impacts could vary.
River ward Coun. Maria McRae, who sits as chair of the city's transportation committee, worked with Somerset ward Coun. Diane Holmes to put a stop to the original plan, which would have seen a lane constructed with little to no public consultation. That's why the project is now accepting public comment, Coun. McRae said, and the solution will be a compromise of the city and public's wishes.
"It doesn't have to be an all or nothing thing," she said. "If there's an opportunity to reach a consensus, that's where I'm going to be looking."
She added that the future of the pilot project is not in question, despite the mounting opposition.
"There's no doubt in my mind that a pilot will move forward," she said. "If we build this and the residents don't want them, they're not going to use it."
"I think it's a good start," Coun. Holmes added. "It's starting to get people talking about it, which is what we need. You have to work these things through, and talk these things through."
Colin Simpson, project manager of the pilot, said there has been concern about parking impacts, which would be different depending on where the lane is placed. However, what's certain is that a portion of the roadway would be given up to cyclists, in an effort to make the city's streets safer.
"It's in the public right of way...but the bike lane is physically separated from the motor vehicle lane," he said.
Eric Darwin, president of the Dalhousie Community Association, and an avid cyclist, said he is happy that the city is proceeding with the pilot.
"The idea is to encourage people who are too afraid to bike with the cars, to get the confidence up," he said. "The design feature is, you want it (so) a 9 year old child can use it...or so should a 60 year old woman feel comfortable."
While he said he understands the worries of some business owners, especially those on Somerset St. who say they will lose customers with the loss of parking, Mr. Darwin said he believes cyclists would fill that gap.
"Cyclists want to go to the same places as motorists," he said. "Anybody who's been building these things has been pleasantly surprised."
Shawn Menard, who heads up the Centretown Community Association, said he would like to see further study on the project, and additional consultation. After attending one of the consultation meetings, he said many were left with a feeling that the city needs to do more work.
"It's because they didn't do much in the first place," he said. "There's much more needed on this."
Grace Xin, executive director of the Somerset Chinatown BIA, said organization is not in favour of a route along Somerset St., but declined to comment further pending an approved position paper by the executive.
"We support the project in general, but Somerset St. is not the street to try it on," she said.
In the Preston St. Area, BIA executive director Lori Mellor said she is very worried about the impact this project would have on businesses. She said Preston St. and Somerset St. are not "shop heavy," but cater more to customers looking for a nice meal. And you won't see people coming in from across the city, on their bicycles, for a nice meal.
"People are not going to take their bicycle to go for Chinese food dinner, or for brunch after Sunday Mass," she said. "We keep being told vaguely that this is good or businesses, but really what kind of businesses have they looked at?"
Coun. Holmes said the background research has come from a number of case studies in various cities across the US, including Portland and New York City.
"I know in other cities, bicycle parking is available, and if you get enough cyclists, it will be a benefit to business," she said.
Ms. Mellor, however, said she's not buying it. She said she wants the city to go back to the drawing board, and produce real numbers to ease the worries of businesses.
"We would love to get there, but I think that they're doing this too fast," she said. "I'm really quite upset that (city staff are) telling us without any data, that this is good for business. It's caught fire and I don't think anyone's thinking through the consequences."
Mr. Simpson said that once comments have been compiled from the community meetings and comment period, which runs to the end of June, a report would be drafted and presented to the transportation committee in the fall.
Coun. Holmes said that budget needs would be worked into the 2011 budget process.
For more information, visit www.ottawa.ca/bikelane.
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