The Ecological Case for Sidewalks

All the buzz around proposed sidewalks in Manor Park raises an important question:

Are sidewalks ecological?

Our Council Watcher Harry Hitsman dug into the question: www.ecologyottawa.ca/ecological_c...

#OttWalk #OttRoll #Ecology #OttCity

For a local organization advocating for school streets, follow @schoolstreetsyow.bsky.social.

More info: schoolstreetsottawa.ca

Finally, this October, we vote for a new Council. Remember these decisions when casting your ballot. 3/3

#SchoolStreets #OttWalk #OttRoll #OttBike

Beechwood Avenue Public Realm Plan The City of Ottawa has initiated a Functional Design Study for Beechwood Avenue from the Vanier Parkway to Beechwood Cemetery (as shown in map below). The study will explore the following in developin...

Feedback opportunity!

@en.ottawa.ca is undertaking a Functional Design Study for Beechwood Avenue.

While this is a major walking, rolling, and biking area, current facilities are patchwork and spotty.

Complete the survey before Apr 10! #OttBike #OttWalk #OttRoll

engage.ottawa.ca/beechwood?to...

Ecology Ottawa challenges City's problematic report on right turn on red

For more information on @en.ottawa.ca staff's problematic report on right turns on red, and general prioritization of driver convenience over human safety: www.ecologyottawa.ca/rtor_delegat....

We know what to do; all that’s lacking is political will.

#RTOR #OttWalk #OttRoll #VisionZero

Protect vulnerable road users in Ottawa! Protégez les usagers vulnérables de la route à Ottawa !

Want to support making #Ottawa safer for people outside of cars? Sign our petition: www.ecologyottawa.ca/rtor_petition

#RTOR #PedestrianSafety #OttWalk #OttRoll #OttBike

Q: If elected, will you commit to prioritizing pedestrian, cycling and affordable public transit infrastructure over automobile infrastructure in meeting the future growth in travel demand in the urban area? A: YES

Remember, this city doesn’t have a #VisionZero plan, just a #VisionTwentyPercentLess plan. Tim seems to be doing things contrary to his @ecologyottawa.bsky.social survey answers. #ottWalk #ottRoll #ottBike

www.ecologyottawa.ca/2014-11-01-h...

Protect vulnerable road users in Ottawa!

Learn more about our campaign to protect vulnerable road users in #Ottawa and sign the petition.

We’ll be working on this. #OttWalk #OttRoll #OttBike

www.ecologyottawa.ca/rtor_campaign

Yellow truck traffic going in, red coming out.

Where dump trucks, 20 an hour, are going to turn right. And then later left coming out.

Where dump trucks, 20 an hour, are going to be turning here both ways from Bank and to Bank.

Little hidden entrance to Lansdowne where dump trucks are going to be crossing pedestrian traffic going in and out.

As far as I understand it, dump truck traffic is crossing a bike lane and 3 sidewalks on the way in and out of Lansdowne. Yellow in my first image is incoming from the 417. Outgoing in red and through Old Ottawa South not sure how far??? Someone is going to get injured/die #ottWalk #ottRoll #ottBike

Pellerin: What if snow-clearing prioritized sidewalks and stairs first? As the mayor of Stockholm has said, driving a car in 10 centimetres of snow is not a problem. You just need to slow down. But walking in 10 cm of snow is a lot more…

Now's perhaps a good time to re-read this reflection by @brigittepellerin.bsky.social on how we could approach snow-clearing equitably.

Stockholm shows that equitable snow-clearing is possible; it's just a question of political will.

#OttWalk #OttRoll #OttCity

ottawacitizen.com/opinion/pell...

Photo of a sidewalk with a snow plow path that veers around a parking pay station.

Photo of another sidewalk with a snow plow path that veers around another parking pay station.

Photo of a third sidewalk with a snow plow path that veers around yet another parking pay station.

I already knew to hate when utilities are installed in the middle of the sidewalk, but I didn’t realize the consequences for winter accessibility—i.e., since plows can’t make it through, they plow these spots poorly. All to maximize space for #Autowa. #OttWalk #OttRoll

Photo of a street with new sidewalks. Asphalt not yet laid.

Photo of a street with new sidewalks and fresh asphalt.

Photo of a sidewalks with significant dip toward the street.

Is it just me, or are sidewalks in #OttCity urban areas being widened during renewals?

Shots are Breezehill and MacLaren. Obviously happy if they’re wider, although still inadequate. Also, ramps to driveways still rob much of this space (third shot). #OttWalk #OttRoll

Photo of two lamp posts in the middle of a sidewalk next to a cycling facility and a car lane.

Just noticed these lamp posts. Assume it’s #OttCity’s decision, but clear NCC’s standards and lamps—presumably part of the canal project?

Anyway, no idea what we’re doing installing these in the middle of the sidewalk in the year of our Lord 2025 🤦‍♂️ #OttWalk #OttRoll

Got an email back! Looks like it will be updated shortly and the data set will include 2017/01/01 - 2024/12/31. #ottBike #ottWalk #ottRoll

Three Manor Park residents demand the city build sidewalks in lawyer letter Rideau-Rockliffe ward Coun. Rawlson King exceeded his authority as a city councillor by deferring the sidewalk construction, they argue.

It's great to see local residents fighting back against this decision.

As we've said, accessibility and safety are more important than neighbourhood character.

Moreover, deferring sidewalks here would set a bad precedent for a good policy. #OttWalk #OttRoll

ottawacitizen.com/news/manor-p...

The pathway is fully open this morning!

Just be careful when crossing PoW and Preston with the metal plates and hot patch asphalt. 🧑‍🦽🚶‍♀️🚲
#ottbike #ottwalk #ottroll #ottbiketraffic

Councillor says sidewalks planned for Manor Park neighbourhood will be deferred Rideau-Rockcliffe Coun. Rawlson King says a plan to install sidewalks in the Manor Park neighbourhood as part of a road renewal project will be deferred.

This outcome is very disappointing.

As one resident with mobility challenges put it, accessibility is always more important than neighbourhood character.

This decision also sets a concerning precedent for an important active transportation policy. #OttWalk #OttRoll

www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...

A FedEx van is mostly parked on a sidewalk

You’d think after no doubt thousands of complaints over the years, #FedEx gives some clear instructions not to block sidewalks and not limit accessibility for say wheelchair users #ottwalk #ottroll #Ottawa

The Trillium temporary pathway is blocked off again this morning at 5:30am with no detour set up on Preston. 🧑‍🦽🚲🚶‍♀️
#ottbike #ottbiketraffic #ottwalk #ottroll #DetoursForPeople

📣 As of 5:30am Trillium pathway detour is closed between Carling and PoW with no "detour of the detour".

I managed to push aside the construction cones and proceed through the work zone.

If it reopens, please share!🧑‍🦽🚲🚶‍♀️

Now for my rant...sorry! ⬇️
#ottwalk #ottroll #ottbike #ottbiketraffic

Photo of a road with three lanes for cars and construction on the left side where a sidewalk and bike lane once were.

Next up: the sidewalk I’m on disappears, ostensibly because of construction.

Meanwhile, the three lanes for cars are unaffected.

Priorities, anyone? Balance? #OttWalk #OttRoll

(Note the #OttBike lane has also disappeared.)

7/

Photo of a street corner where the sidewalk has large chunks missing and is partially patched up with asphalt. Situation at the street corner opposite is similar.

First up: severely eroded sidewalks.

Fortunately for me, I’m pretty able-bodied and only dragging my wheeled appendage.

What’s this like for folks using a wheelchair or pushing a stroller? #OttWalk #OttRoll

6/

Lindenberg: Sidewalks will make Manor Park more accessible, livable and safe Sidewalks may seem like a small thing to some, but for many , they are the difference between independence and isolation.

Excellent op-ed on the proposal for sidewalks in Manor Park by resident Mark Lindenberg.

“Charm and tradition should never come at the cost of the accessibility, inclusion, walkability, and safety of the whole community.”

#OttRoll #OttWalk #OttCity

ottawacitizen.com/opinion/lind...

For more on our most recent campaign to protect vulnerable road users in Ottawa: bsky.app/profile/ecol...

#OttWalk #OttRoll #OttWalk #Ottawa #OttPoli

Protect pedestrians and cyclists in Ottawa! Protégez les piétons et les cyclistes à Ottawa !

Sign our petition here: www.ecologyottawa.ca/rtor_petition

#VisionZero #OttCity #Ottawa #OttWalk #OttRoll #OttBike

The Fight for Sidewalks in Manor Park

It’s #OttCity policy to build sidewalks in #Ottawa neighbourhoods where they’re missing.

This is good policy: it improves accessibility. It’s also supported by extensive public consultation.

So why is the City backtracking in Manor Park?

#OttWalk #OttRoll

www.ecologyottawa.ca/manor_park_s...

Left turning drivers don't see eastbound drivers moving, so they keep going directly into the path of cyclists and pedestrians, who have an "advanced green".
I brought this up with the city, but then pandemic hit. Last I heard it was still like this. 2/2
#ottbike #ottwalk #ottroll

I don't know the circumstances of the incident, but this video from a few years ago show that left turning drivers (westbound approach) still have a green light when pedestrians and cyclists get an advanced green over eastbound drivers. 1/2
#ottbike #ottwalk #ottroll

Ottawa! Vigil this Friday at 6 PM at City Hall for the (as-yet unnamed) pedestrian killed yesterday at Laurier & Elgin. Let's get loud about safety. Please spread this message far and wide for safer streets. #ottwalk #ottroll #ottbike

Pedestrian struck by pickup truck in downtown Ottawa has died: police Ottawa police say a woman in her 20s has died after being struck by a pickup truck in downtown Ottawa Monday afternoon.

Fuck this stupid intersection and fuck cars. #ottwalk #ottroll #ottbike
www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...

A path leading up a slope. The path is eventually blocked by a fence at the top

I always ride up this little known path off Merivale to @canadiantirecorp.bsky.social and feel bad for those in a wheelchair who can’t squeeze between the yellow bar and the garden centre fence. How much effort is it to put a diagonal corner fence in? #ottwalk #ottroll @seandevine9.bsky.social