Laurier Avenue wrong for bike lane

Oh those pesky segregated bike lanes. They’re separated from traffic by parking and other barriers. Unfortunately, they do the same to people’s opinions – they set them apart.

It’s not that people don’t think Ottawa should have an east-west segregated bike lane across downtown where there are more than 24,000 bike trips each day. It makes sense to have a lane that is set apart from traffic so cyclists can travel safely. Cyclists have argued it might even attract more people to cycling because they feel more secure.

No, most people agree that the project is a good idea. The problem is where to put it. As is so often the case in Ottawa, this decision has not been an easy one.

The original choice was Somerset Street. In fact, it was the community’s overwhelming choice. In a survey this past summer of 271 individuals, business and community associations 155 chose Somerset Street as the route.

However, Somerset business associations protested the choice, saying that the street was too narrow and busy and the businesses relied heavily on curbside parking and loading zones.

So the route was changed to Laurier Avenue, which finished a distant third in the survey, behind Gladstone Avenue.

It’s important to take businesses into consideration in the decision. Businesses are vital to the area’s success. But the some of the same criticism that accompanied the Somerset choice apply to Laurier.

The change has drawn opposition from the Bank Street Promenade BIA. The BIA say having the lane on Laurier will create a multitude of delivery problems – many of the business on Laurier don’t have back lanes to get deliveries. Sound familiar?

That’s not to say there aren’t pro’s to having the lane on Laurier. The city says it’s a good choice for the project because the street has underground parking, so the loss of parking will be lessened. It also doesn’t have curbside garbage pickup or bus traffic. All are good points.

But if the main reason for picking Laurier over Somerset is that the lane will hurt business, this decision doesn’t make any more sense. Businesses on Laurier claim they will be just as affected.

Does this mean the lane should move to another street? The options are limited and residential streets won’t work because they don’t have traffic lights at major intersections.

An important point to consider is who will use the bike lane? Likely, the majority will be everyday people. The same people who chose Somerset Avenue as the location for the bike lane. For the bike lane project to be successful people will have to use it. Odds are people will use a bike lane that is more convenient for them.

Probably the one they chose in the first place.

That’s what it boils down to – if people will use it.

Sure, business concerns should be considered, but the argument that diminished parking on Somerset Street will hurt business is flawed

You can park a lot more bikes in front of a business than cars that might go elsewhere.