2015 FCM Sustainable Communities Award — Transportation

Laurier Avenue Segregated Bike Lane Project

Transcript

Over 1.25 million bike trips have been counted on Laurier Avenue West since the City of Ottawa, ON, implemented the province's first downtown segregated bicycle lanes in July 2011. Launched as a pilot project, the new bike lanes were declared a success in July 2013 and are now a permanent feature.

The 1.5-kilometre stretch along Laurier falls under a larger plan to create a 12-kilometre East-West Bikeway and increase Ottawa's cycling mode share from approximately two-and-a-half per cent to five per cent. The bike lanes along this busy street are separated from vehicle traffic by concrete curbs, plastic poles and decorative planter boxes. The project includes several elements that are new to Ontario, including durable green thermoplastic road paint to support a two-stage left-turn system and special yield signs for right-turning motor vehicles. Signal lights now include a green arrow to allow cyclists a head start through intersections. An extensive public communications initiative includes project monitoring via bicycle counters that upload cycling data to a public website on a daily basis. A state-of-the-art video monitoring system identifies near collisions and safety issues. 

Results

Challenges

• Initially the city chose slightly narrower lanes to accommodate roadway width constraints, but these were too narrow for cyclists to pass each other safely. 
• The city had to remove 122 parking spaces from Laurier Ave. Although 144 spaces were added on adjacent streets, businesses resisted the loss of direct parking on Laurier, and the city launched a publicity campaign to inform people of the new parking spots.
• To keep the pilot project cost-efficient, the city used pre-cast curbs rather than temporary markers. The curb buffers were too high and resulted in some pedestrians tripping over them.

Lessons learned

• Engage all stakeholders early and often to develop consensus. 
• Provide lanes wide enough for cyclists to pass one another safely (a minimum of two metres).
• If feasible, pour concrete to raise bike lanes to the same height as the sidewalk.
• Consider the impacts to on-street parking, loading areas, taxi stands and accessibility; and develop a parking mitigation strategy with an associated communications plan.

Resources

• City of Ottawa Segregated Bike Lane Pilot Project
• Automated bike counter data page
• Cycling in the Capital: Laurier Avenue Segregated Bicycle Lane Pilot Project
• Report to Transportation Committee and Council (July 2013)
• Report to Transportation Committee (January 2011)
• Report to Transportation Committee and Council (August 2010)
• Ottawa Cycling Plan
• Ottawa Official Plan
• Ottawa Transportation Master Plan

Project Contact