Latest news with #activeTransportation
CTV News
6 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Community group takes over Mayfair Theatre marquee to promote Bank Street bus lane pitch
The marquee at the Mayfair Theatre included a message about supporting bus lanes on Bank Street by the community group Strong Towns Ottawa. May 29, 2025. (Dave Charbonneau/CTV News Ottawa) The marquee at the Mayfair Theatre on Bank Street was not showing a movie Thursday morning, but instead a message about bus lanes. A local community group is raising awareness about their demand for dedicated bus lanes on the busy street through a campaign that includes the sign on the marquee and ads that play before movies at the local cinema. Strong Towns Ottawa says none of the options the City of Ottawa is considering for the future of Bank Street are adequate. The city is exploring ways to improve transit and active transportation on a busy corridor of Bank between the Rideau Canal and Highway 417 but says full time bus-only lanes and removing all on-street vehicle parking have been eliminated as options. Instead, the city is proposing having dedicated bus lanes only during peak traffic periods in the morning and afternoon. 'A simple change could make for a much better Bank Street: instead of only having bus lanes for 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evening, let's have them 24/7! The on-street parking should be moved to the plethora of options available surrounding Bank Street,' a statement on Strong Towns Ottawa's website says. Derrick Simpson, a volunteer with Strong Towns Ottawa, who also serves as the transportation board chair at the Centretown Community Association, says it's been one year since the City of Ottawa spoke to the community about the Bank Street plan. 'We were really excited by that, and we haven't heard anything since,' Simpson told CTV News Ottawa. 'We figured this was a good way to get some attention and make sure that people are still thinking about this.' The city held a public open house on its plans for Bank Street in June 2024. A second public open house is planned for June 2025, according to the city's website, but the exact date and details have not yet been announced. The plan is slated to go before the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee and Council in September. Simpson said he was disappointed by the city's rejection of 24/7 bus lanes. 'We especially think that for event days, it's very important. There's only about 1,000 parking spaces in Lansdowne and the Redblacks' stadium seats around 20,000. We need other ways for people to get there and we believe the bus is the best option,' he said. 'We know OC Transpo has been struggling a lot with reliability and we think this would help get people to work faster, get people home faster, help them get to school on time, so we really think this is about reliability. It's making sure the bus shows up on time and gets you where you need to be on time.' Two routes serve Bank Street, the 6 and the 7. The 6 has frequently dealt with cancelled trips, according to statistics provided to the transit committee. On-street parking issue Strong Towns Ottawa says on-street parking is one of the main things contributing to delays on Bank Street. 'It takes up 2 full lanes, 6.6m of the 12.6m (over 50%), road. This space could much better serve those moving through, as well as those staying in the area,' the group says on its website. Simpson said this affects buses as well. 'We've had buses stuck in traffic, we've had buses waiting behind parked cars, and we think this is a great way to make sure people can arrive on time,' he said. According to data from the City of Ottawa, parking on Bank Street accounts for seven per cent of the total supply in the area. There are 143 spaces on the street out of a total supply of 2,000 spaces, including parking garages. There are 971 parking spaces at Lansdowne and another 139 in the Second Avenue garage. Parking utilization is higher in the evenings and on weekends. According to a City of Ottawa survey, nearly a third of respondents (32 per cent) said bus lanes were the most important feature for a redesign of Bank Street, while 13 per cent cited on-street parking as their most important feature. Forty-five per cent of respondents who drive to Bank Street said they'd be willing to walk between five and 10 minutes after parking to reach a destination, and 15 per cent said they'd be fine with a longer walk. Simpson says Strong Towns Ottawa volunteers will be out near the entrance to the Second Avenue parking garage between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday to meet with community members and raise awareness about the issue. The ads at the Mayfair Theatre will run until June 15. 'The community response so far has been really, really good,' said Simpson. 'We raised the funds for this in less than two hours, so we were blown away by the community response.' Details on the Bank Street Active Transportation and Transit Priority Feasibility Study can be found on Engage Ottawa.
CBC
6 days ago
- General
- CBC
City of Charlottetown shares plan to make Grafton Street safer and more efficient
Social Sharing Charlottetown residents are getting a first look at the city's plan to make Grafton Street safer and more efficient, which is in line with its 10-year active transportation plan. The city held an open house on Wednesday to present concept designs for the Grafton Street Master Plan. This key corridor connecting the Hillsborough Bridge to the downtown core will see improvements focused on the stretch between Edward Street and West Street. Richard MacEwen, director of community services for the city, said the plan was designed to make the street safer for everyone — pedestrians, cyclists and drivers alike. "Safety is the number one priority when we're looking at these projects," MacEwen told CBC News. "We want to improve the safety access throughout the city. We want people to feel comfortable, on their bikes, when they're walking." Residents can provide feedback on the city's website. The city is gathering community and stakeholder feedback before finalizing the plan, which will then be presented to city council for approval. Improving traffic flow, accessibility At the open house, residents were shown several concept designs, including proposals to improve safety and traffic flow at places like the intersection of Pownal Street and Edward Street. The city says vehicle volumes at these spots suggest traffic signals are warranted. The plan also recommends accessibility improvements. These include pedestrian ramps and curb extensions, which reduce crossing distances and make it easier for drivers to see pedestrians, and vice versa. Currently, many intersections along Grafton Street lack things like textured ground surfaces that help visually impaired people navigate safely. In cases where tactile warning surface indicators do exist, they often aren't configured in a standardized way, the plan notes. Transit changes Changes to the bus stops by the Confederation Centre could also be coming. Two options are under consideration. One is to introduce three parallel bus layby stops on the eastbound side and one on the westbound side of Grafton Street. The other is to build three angled layby stops eastbound and one parallel stop westbound. Both options include formalized pedestrian landing pads for passengers to board and exit. These changes would affect more than a dozen parking spaces across the street from the Holman Grand Hotel and Confederation Court Mall, though. "Again, it's thinking about public safety, and where it's easy for people to get on and off a bus safely," MacEwen said. Charlottetown resident David Daughton said he supports these proposals. "That has some merit, in terms of not having people behind buses with flashing lights on like we have now. And half the people know they're allowed to pass a slow-moving vehicle. The other people are sitting there waiting because they don't know what's going on," Daughton said. "You can't have buses blocking the road all the time, every time they want to pick up people." Still, Daughton raised a concern about the visibility of pedestrian crossings along Grafton Street due to faded road paint. "If you and I go down to… downtown now, at least 50 per cent of the crossings will be invisible because there is no white stripe left on the crossing, which is dangerous," he said. Daughton added that other countries have found solutions for permanent, year-round crossing markers, and he hopes Charlottetown can do the same.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
A State Senator has secured $800,000 for additions to Constitution Trail
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) — An Illinois State Senator has received $800,000 to help with the expansion of the Constitution Trail in Bloomington. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) was able to secure funding through the Illinois Department of Transportation that will help improve pedestrian and cyclist safety on the trail, he said in a news release. 'Expanding Constitution Trail provides our residents with safe and accessible pathways to commute, exercise, and enjoy the outdoors,' Koehler said. 'Projects like this improve quality of life, encourage active transportation, and foster more connected communities.' The trail extension will add a 10-foot-wide path designed to be multi-use so pedestrians and cyclists alike can enjoy the trail, he said. The new section will run parallel to Bunn Street before it heads northwest and crosses, using an already existing path underneath Interstate 55 Business in the southeast part of Bloomington, he said. The funds are part of a statewide investment that looks to improve alternative transportation methods, such as biking and walking, for safer travel for Illinoisans. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CTV News
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- CTV News
Edmonton to offer e-ride workshops this summer
Hundreds of e-scooters are hitting Edmonton's streets this week with launches from companies Lime and Bird Canada The City of Edmonton is holding a series of events to teach Edmontonians all about e-rides and active transportation. Street Sparks will encourage Edmontonians to embrace the future of micromobility, a range of small and lightweight vehicles, like e-scooters and e-bikes, designed to transport drivers short and medium distances to promote cleaner air, the City of Edmonton said on Monday. 'This is a fantastic opportunity for Edmontonians to experience the benefits of micromobility in an inclusive and safe environment,' said papastew Coun. Michael Janz. 'The Street Sparks events will provide valuable experience and education to help residents feel confident and make informed choices about sustainable transportation options.' At the event, people will get a free, hands-on experience with e-rides and learn from Edmonton's micromobility vendors Bird, Lime and Neuron. Street Sparks will include test rides, safety workshops and entertainment like games and food trucks. The events will take place on Saturday, July 5 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Booster Juice Recreation Centre and Saturday, July 19 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Mayfield Park.
CBC
26-05-2025
- CBC
Students encouraged to get on their bikes and ride to school this week
Students across Waterloo region are being encouraged to bike to school this week. Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region is working with local school boards and municipalities to encourage students to use two wheels to get to class instead of riding in a vehicle and getting dropped off by their parents. Louise Finlay, the project manager with active transportation for the City of Waterloo, told CBC KW's The Morning Show host Craig Norris, that the week is a chance for students to "get to experience the joy and excitement of riding a bike, enjoy the freedom of getting around on two wheels." "It helps develop new skills and builds or continue a habit with their family or friends. And they get to know and understand their neighborhood and community better," Finlay said. Exercise helps students get 'ready to go learn' There are other benefits to biking backed by studies, said Janice Jim, vice president of Cycle Waterloo Region "There's actually been scientific research that shows that participating in walking or biking to school gets [students] ready to sit down and learn at school," Jim told CBC News. "They're a really great way to start the day for students and parents." Finlay agrees. She says students who have physical activities in the morning are more "alert and ready to learn." But parents, especially those with younger kids, may still have reservations on letting their children ride their bikes to school. Jim says "most places are safe" for cyclists and there are plenty of ways for parents to ensure that their children are as safe as possible. One of Jim's suggestions is finding an alternative route that's not on the main roads, or has a separated bike lane or trail. Finlay shares a similar advice, suggesting people should plan their routes in advance and "ride it during an off-peak time to gain confidence." There's also the idea of the parents riding with their children and Jim suggests that parents could start their own "bike bus." The idea is that parents can set a route based on their needs and destinations, Jim said. Just like a bus, parents and their kids can follow the route on their bikes together until they reach the end point. The group picks up kids along the way, and it gets bigger as the ride goes along. "A group of kids riding together with parents, it's a much safer way to do it," Jim said. Cycling infrastructure Finlay says there's a variety of infrastructure in place for bike riders in Waterloo. That includes road bike lanes, trail networks, and separated bike facilities. "What that means is that we're separated from the vehicles, from the cars on the road through multi-use paths and actual barrier curbs," she said. In August, PeopleForBikes, an advocacy group that ranks cities across the world on how effective their bike networks are in connecting people to their destinations, ranked the City of Waterloo as number one in Ontario, and eleventh in Canada for its bike networks. Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe said the city knows it can do more to expand and improve its cycling network, "but it's wonderful to have our connected community recognized as a leader. "We're investing in cycling lanes and in safety, because people want to bike, and we want to make sure they can get where they want to go," McCabe said. As for Kitchener, Jim says the Bike to School celebration is the city's way of celebrating their completed downtown grid network. She says there's a "whole network of separated bike infrastructure" that people can use to get around the city. Jim says she's hoping the growing cycle infrastructure in the region encourages more people to ride their bikes. "The point of the region and the cities building this infrastructure is allowing all ages and abilities, anyone, any age, can walk, ride a scooter, ride [an] e-bike and not be worried about being hit by a car," she said. "Everyone can do it." Bike to school week starts Monday, May 26 until Friday, May 30. The celebration is in the lead up to bike month, which starts in June. Students who want to win prizes such as gift cards and cycling prize packages are urged to register through the STSWR website. Biking safety information is also available on the website.
