Ottawa's First Segregated

Bicycle Lanes

Laurier Avenue Pilot Project

The Process from Planning to Implementation and Monitoring

Robin Bennett, MCIP RPP

Transportation Planning, City Of Ottawa

July 9, 2013

CIP/PIBC Conference, Vancouver

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Presentation Overview

• Rationale

• Cycle Track Design • Public Engagement Process

• Lessons Learned

Laurier

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Background

Ottawa Cycling Plan Vision (2008):

Develop a visible and connected cycling network of on and off-road facilities that is used by all types of cyclists to identify Ottawa as the premiere cycling capital of Canada and as one of the most sustainable transportation cities in the world.

Goals :

• Triple the number of person-trips made by bicycle

• Make cycling safer for cyclists of all skill and age levels

• Link, connect, and expand existing cycling facilities

Vancouver NYC

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65 km

70 km

2758 km2

Cycling Infrastructure in Ottawa • Unpaved Pathways: 105 kms • Paved Pathways: 235 kms • Bicycle Lanes: 141 kms • Paved Shoulders: 205 kms • Cycle Tracks 2 kms

TOTAL: 688 kms

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Mode Choice Distance Travelled

0-5km 5-10km 10-15km >15km

Auto 34,800 27,100 10,900 15,800

Transit 16,400 16,000 6,500 11,300

Bicycle 3,500 800 100 100

Walk 51,200 400 0 0

Total 105,900 44,300 17,500 27,200

% of All Trips 54% 23% 9% 14%

Background

Daily Trips to Downtown Ottawa

2005 OD Survey

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Corridor Selection Process

Stage 1 – 33 east-west downtown streets analysed Screening Criteria: Traffic Signals at Major Intersections, Route Continuity,

East-West Connections, Ottawa Cycling Plan

Stage 2 – 12 remaining streets analysed in more detail Screening Criteria: Safety, Traffic Impacts, Transit Operations, Business

Impacts, Pedestrian Impacts, Urban Design, Costs, etc.

Route Selection Process

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Laurier Bike Lanes

Laurier Bike Lanes- A critical cross-town link

East-West Bikeway (12 km)

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Informational Video

<Run Laurier_FINAL_ mp4 video>

Runtime:4:45 min.

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Background Laurier Avenue West (2009)

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Background Laurier Avenue West (2012)

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Background Laurier Avenue West (2009)

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Background Laurier Avenue West (2012)

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Communications

• Website: www.ottawa.ca/bikelane

• Informational Video

• Flyers / Postcards / Radio / Newspaper

• Public Service Announcements

• On-street Ambassadors

• Wayfinding Signage / Maps

• Targeted Key Stakeholders

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Public and Technical Advisory Committees

• Approximately 30 people who live and/or work on Laurier West, including local community and condominium associations, businesses, and city advisory committees

• City staff from various departments (Public Works, Accessibility Office, By-Law, Fire, etc.)

• To contribute and review monitoring indicators, survey questions, and materials being presented to Transportation Committee and Council

Monitoring Objectives

• Provide a framework for Council to decide the outcome of the pilot project

• Identify areas in the corridor requiring design refinements

• Identify potential gaps or limitations in the City policy/standards related to cycling facilities

Pilot Monitoring / Public Engagement

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Pilot Monitoring Indicators

1. Cycling Volumes, Demographics & Modal Share

2. Traffic Operations/Road Safety Review

3. Parking/Loading/Delivery

4. Maintenance Operations

5. Accessibility

6. Vehicle Access (in/out of private driveways)

7. Emergency Services

8. Cycling Operations

9. Pedestrian Operations

10. Business Operations

11. Effect on Residences

12. User Clarity

Cambridge

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Pilot Monitoring Indicators: Before and After Bicycle Volumes

(Peak Periods, Both Directions)

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Pilot Monitoring Indicators: Downtown Cycling Mode Shares

Source: Annual Cycling Index of 65 downtown intersections Source: Origin-Destination Surveys

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Pilot Monitoring Indicators: Reported Collisions

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Pilot Monitoring Indicators Video Safety Evaluation

• 44 days of video

• 50,000 motor vehicles

• 18,500 bicycles

Laurier segregated lanes improve cyclist safety

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LESSONS LEARNED - SUMMARY

Select Key Indicators

• Physical separation resulted in tripling of cycling volumes and increased modal share

• Safety for all modes improvement based on reported collisions before/after

• Motorist travel time across corridor not significantly affected despite loss of travel lanes

• Higher % of female cyclists compared to city average

• Intersections functioning at acceptable levels

• Separation with precast curbs has operational, maintenance and aesthetic limitations

• Overall before / after maintenance costs the same

• Parking revenues to city down slightly; parking changes had negative and positive results

• Fire service response times not adversely affected

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Next Steps

Transportation Committee July 5, 2013

Council July 17, 2013

Immediate Changes Summer / Fall 2013

Short-Term Changes 2014 – 2018

Long-Term Changes Post 2018

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Design Mitigation Recommendations

Immediate (2013)

• Minor pavement markings and signage adjustments, mainly between Bronson

Avenue and Bay Street to provide 22 additional on-street public parking spaces.

Short-Term (2014 - 2018)

• Construct raised cycle track in 2014 on north side of Laurier between Bronson

Avenue and Bay Street and a new multi-use pathway through the OCDSB lands

• Study the use of cycling signal heads along Laurier Avenue

• Implement a voluntary signage program for private property owners as part of

on-going Cycling Safety Awareness Program

Long-Term (Post 2018 when Laurier Avenue West is reconstructed)

• Convert remaining segregated bicycle lanes to a raised cycle track

Thank You

www.ottawa.ca/bikelane

Colin.Simpson@ottawa.ca