Cycling Vision Ottawa

While surfing I ran across a group called Cycling Vision Ottawa that is trying to get the City to allocate proper funds to increasing the network of cycling lanes here. I'm not affiliated with them or anything, I just thought this is a progressive issue close to home so maybe it would be of interest. Their website isn't much I'm afraid but it's here.

Using the instructions there, I sent them the following to forward to my city councillor. Feel free to use/adapt any or all of it for your own letter.

Dear {name},

Especially in light of the bus strike, and the potential for similar events in the future given the fact that public transportation has not been designated an essential service, I find it quite disturbing that the City would place such a low priority on cycling lanes. For many people, especially in circumstances such as these, cycling is their only means of getting to work, school, the doctor's office, or even the food bank. There are also countless others who would cycle more often if only they felt safe cycling along the routes they must take. If people can't take the bus, and can't afford a car, yet feel endangered on their bicycles, what are they to do?

The strike notwithstanding, it behooves us all to make our city as bike-friendly as possible, for a number of reasons. First, while mass transit remains better than having the equivalent number of cars on the road, buses still contribute to pollution and therefore impact the health of all. Second, obesity is becoming a more widespread problem. It is a well-known fact that both air pollution and obesity are important contributors to a wide array of health problems. By encouraging people to cycle, we will be improving the overall health of everyone here. Over time, this translates into lower health care costs, shorter wait times, and less demand on public assistance, among other things.

Portland, Oregon, is the city to watch in North America in terms of being bicycle-friendly. They have quadrupled their cycling lanes since the 1990's and bicycle use has quadrupled accordingly in the same timespan, with no increase in crashes. This is only one of many excellent examples of the direct correlation between cycling lanes and the number of bike commuters. I lived in Portland for a time, until two years ago, and can attest from personal experience that the number of cyclists on the road there is truly astounding. Our good city could follow suit and reap the numerous advantages of such an arrangement.

I strongly support the development of an effective network of cycling lanes, including segregated lanes, and pathways, to make cycling in Ottawa more inclusive of those who prefer or need a degree of separation from motorized traffic. As a fellow cyclist, I imagine you are likely of the same mind and I am preaching to the choir. I ask City Council to allocate sufficient funds to the Ottawa Cycling Plan for this purpose.

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.

Best regards,

{name}