Posted by Les Faber in I came to a conclusion today about cycling in Ottawa. The infrastructure provided to us for cycling really sucks. There is simply no rhyme or reason to things. Go 1/2 kilometer on a public roadway and you will see anything from a shared route (bikes & cars) to a singular route without a shoulder.
You really have to be a hearty soul to cycle in Ottawa. And I am not even talking about the huge variances in weather. It is not uncommon to see ski-goggle clad cyclists riding beater bikes into town on a road without a paved shoulder with the temperature in the area of -20 below Celsius. Even in warmer times, it really takes an aggressive cyclist to parry with day to day traffic.
I often wonder if these people are doing it as a lifestyle choice (once you’ve gone green…. you never go back — or something like that)…. Or if they are just plain crazy. Do they have cars that they choose not to use? Or do they not have a car and a bike is their only means of transportation.
Helen & I went out on our wonderful Dutch fiets today. Awesome machines – made to take any kind of punishment you can throw at them. Things were fine riding around our neighborhood. But dare not venture on a main artery to go to the store to grab a bag of milk or whatnot. Forget it! You are taking your life in your hands. No paved shoulder on a bidirectional road with antsy Saturday drivers. No thanks. We’d have to risk life and limb to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases.
So where do situations like I mention above leave us? Not in a very good place. If you own a car you take it rather than do the right thing — which is cycling.
What are things like where you live?
Things are tough all over, including here in London, Ontario. My summer commute is a breeze thanks to multi-use pathways that are under-used during the work week. In winter, however, those paths are not maintained and quickly become almost unridable; even with studded tires, the icy surface becomes so dimpled it would shake you to bits if you don’t wipe out.
I am one of those goggled riders… I ride in every and any weather, with very rare exceptions, all year ’round. I have a car, but I love the winter ride, so I am a “lifestyle choice” rider, I guess.
Dear Mr. Cyclemania: I am looking for a bike route from MacLeod to Riverside and Hunt Club. Can you help?
Hi Lisa!
There are many ways to do this. I would take McLaren West to Percy; then head south (on Percy). Right on Holmwood (West). Then grab Bronson over the Canal and hit Colonel By to Hogs Back (along the cyclepath). Once at Hogs Back, take the bike path that winds its way through Mooney’s Bay Park to Riverside. Then head south to your destination!
There are dozens of routes you can take. The trick is getting from McLaren to Colonel By (avoid Queen Elizabeth as it just makes your ride longer).
The way back may be a bit different due to 1 – Way streets in Centretown.
Hey Les — This is interesting. It looks like they may be adding an east/west bike lane across downtown Ottawa.
http://ottawa.ca/residents/public_consult/bikelane/index_en.html