Report to/Rapport au :
Cycling Advisory Committee/
24 April 2003 / le 24 avril 2003
Submitted by/Présenté par :
Jennifer Lowe, Chair / présidente,
Bicycle Parking Improvement Sub-committee / Comité special sur
l’amelioration du stationnement pour les bicyclettes
Contact/Personne-ressource : Rosemary Nelson, 580-2424, ext./poste 21624,
Rosemary.Nelson@ottawa.ca
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Ref N°:
ACS2003-CCV-CAC-0007 |
OBJET: rapport D’AMÉLIORATION DU Sous-comité sur le
stationnement des bicyclettes
That the Cycling Advisory Committee recommend to the Transportation and Transit Committee and Council, approval of the recommendations contained herein.
Que le
Comité consultatif sur le cyclisme recommande au Comité des transports et des
services de transport en commun et au Conseil municipal d’approuver les
recommandations soumises à l’examen du comité.
A lack of available bicycle parking facilities that cyclists feel comfortable using is a concern for the cycling community. A Better Bicycling survey found that an increase in the number of convenient bicycle parking facilities would improve the visibility of cycling as a transportation alternative to motor vehicles. City of Ottawa information also supports this finding. One objective of the Cycling Advisory Committee is to ensure that the City of Ottawa provides adequate, secure and highly visible parking on public and private property. This includes facilities that are located near building entrances, are provided with weather protection where possible, and are placed in well-lit and highly visible locations to ensure security of property and personal safety.
Challenges:
· The requirement and commitment of private property owners to provide adequate and secure bicycle parking facilities through improved zoning bylaws and incentives.
· The provision of reliable and consistent parking throughout the city (i.e. the best types of racks to be installed where there is a demand by cyclists).
· Adequate funds to provide all of the necessary resources.
· To monitor the City’s commitment to their “Bicycle Parking Requirements by Land Use” policy
· Education of the public on proper use of the parking facilities so that they can be used to their fullest potential.
The
following report has been divided into various issues that concern cyclists
regarding bicycle parking facilities. Both benefits and challenges are
recognized for each issue and recommendations have been made on how to improve
bicycle parking facilities in the City of Ottawa.
Overview of bicycle
parking programs and services currently offered by the City of Ottawa (Based on a list provided by Program
Manager, Walking and Cycling, Spring, 2002)
The City of Ottawa’s Municipal Bicycling
Parking Strategy includes the following components:
Municipal parking lots/garages – The City
provides bicycle parking at all municipal parking lots and garages. Where bike
racks are within the garage structure they are available year-round. Bike racks
in surface lots are usually removed during the winter.
Municipal right-of-way – bike racks are primarily provided via a contract with the Velocity Media. Velocity is an Ottawa based company that provides outdoor and indoor advertising on bike racks. Velocity has a contract with the City to provide this parking that extends until 2006. The City also installs post and ring bike racks on widened sidewalks or “bulbouts”.
Municipal facilities (centers of employment) – The former City of Ottawa installed a number of bicycle parking spaces at centers of employment for employees of the City of Ottawa. There is currently an initiative to define bicycle parking requirements at administrative offices as part of the City’s internal TDM program.
Municipal Facilities (community centers, recreation complexes, etc.) – Bicycle parking is available at former City of Ottawa facilities. There is currently an inventory of locations in the new City ongoing to determine the appropriate provision of bicycle parking.
Municipal Supervised Bike Parking – This is a seasonal operation located in the Byward Market to provide secure bike parking and client service information. It is a fee for service operation that is run by Markets Management, a special division of the City.
Development Application review – Consideration of bicycle parking is required as part of development/site plan application process. The bicycle parking requirements are established in the Zoning Bylaw.
Municipal Bicycle Lockers – This is a pilot operation at the Fallowfield, Greenboro and Place d’Orleans Transitway stations, targeting Park ‘N Ride customers.
Bike Rack Contract (Velocity)
In 2002, the City committed to a five-year contract with Velocity Media for the provision of bicycle racks throughout the city. While there are some benefits arising from the arrangement, there are also several challenges.
Benefits:
Challenges:
The bicycle rack contract was a good stop-gap measure. Clearly, it is time that Ottawa provide a higher level of service to cyclists. The City could serve cyclists better by developing a plan over the next two to three years to providing its own bicycle parking upon expiration of the current contract. In the meantime, the city should consider minimizing advertising from the downtown core for the benefit of citizens and the tourism sector.
In lieu of some advertising, community-based social marketing promoting sustainable transportation (following rules of the road, safe cycling courses, public transportation, use of helmets, cycling as a fun and healthy activity, etc.) would be preferred.
Recommendations:
1.
Develop a plan for city-provided bicycle parking and
begin implementation before the current contract (with Velocity Media) expires
to ensure a smooth transition. This plan must be cyclist focused.
2.
Develop a post & ring rack compatible with snow
clearing equipment so that year-round parking can be provided.
3.
Promote the purchase of bicycle racks by private
businesses for the convenience of their clients. These can be self-purchased
and placed on private property or the City of Ottawa can provide installation
for approved models on city right-of-ways on sites convenient for the business’
clients. Businesses can attract and welcome cyclists by having convenient, high
quality racks.
Parking Meter Replacement
The City of Ottawa is currently participating in a pilot project to replace existing parking meters with “Pay N’ Display” machines. This project will have the old meters completely removed. There are some advantages and disadvantages to this arrangement:
Benefits:
Challenges:
The parking meters have always provided excellent parking facilities for cyclists in areas where bicycle racks are sometimes full or inadequate. Most of the meters are placed in convenient spots for cyclists. If the parking meters are to be replaced by the Pay N’ Display machines then the posts could be retained to have ring and post attachments. These attachments are inexpensive and favoured by cyclists – they would be even more inexpensive if the original parking meter posts were retained and just the rings were installed. These inexpensive racks have been popular and very successful for cyclists and Municipal staff alike in other cities, such as Toronto.
Recommendations:
1.
Retain a number of the parking meter posts, where
feasible, and attach ring and post heads to provide more bicycle parking in
much needed areas such as Bank Street, Elgin Street and the Byward Market.
2.
That these replaced bicycle parking facilities be
placed in locations close to entrances and storefronts.
3.
Install additional bicycle parking facilities to
provide more parking for cyclists, to replace the removed parking meter posts.
Byward Market Supervised Bicycle Parking
The City of Ottawa provides a bicycle parking facility for cyclists, where, for a fee, a cyclist can leave their bicycle in a supervised area. The supervised parking area is open during regular business hours in the summer months. This facility is also used as an information booth for tourists.
Advantages:
Challenges:
Although the facility provides cyclists with safe and secure parking, according to the reports provided by the City, it appears that this facility is not used to the extent that it could be by cyclists. This facility is a worthwhile incentive for cyclists to commute to the Byward Market area but could be improved upon.
Recommendations:
1.
That this facility continues to be monitored by the
City to determine its use as to the number of people using it as a bicycle
parking facility versus information booth for tourists.
2.
Better promotion of the supervised area as a bicycle
parking facility.
3.
Promote more cost sharing with tourism as there is a
significant amount currently, but the 2002 report indicates more is needed (for
all services at this facility).
4.
Extend hours of supervised parking.
The City of Ottawa is currently offering a pilot project in providing secured bicycle lockers for cyclists at Park N’ Ride parking lots. For a fee, a cyclist can rent a locker for a period of time that will provide them with a secure parking spot at an OC Transpo Park N’ Ride station. At the end of the pilot project, City staff will evaluate the program’s success.
The lockers may encourage people who normally drive their cars to a Park N’Ride parking lot to use their bicycle instead as they will feel confident that their bicycle is safe from theft and the elements.
1.
That the City of Ottawa continues to monitor the pilot
project and have the report available to OCAC at the project’s end.
Bicycle Parking on Private Property
The City of Ottawa currently does have requirements for bicycle parking on certain types of private property; this is regulated through the zoning bylaws. The City of Ottawa does not supply bicycle parking for private property owners but does offer advice on the best practices for choosing and installing bicycle parking via a brochure.
It would be advantageous to both private property owners and cyclists to increase the number and quality of bicycle parking facilities – the better the facilities, the more cyclists will frequent their services.
Recommendations:
1.
Redesign and increase visibility and availability of
brochure available to private property owners who wish to install bicycle
parking.
2.
Increase the current number of bicycle parking
facilities required for private property owners when zoning applications are
submitted.
Covered Bicycle Parking
The City of Ottawa currently offers limited covered parking facilities for bicycles within the downtown area. The covered parking facilities provide protection for bicycles from the elements, therefore increasing the life of the cyclist’s vehicle.
Cyclists would welcome an increase in these types of facilities in high traffic areas as long as personal and property safety is not compromised.
1.
That more covered bicycle parking be offered to
cyclists by the City of Ottawa
2.
Security issues need to be monitored and addressed
(e.g. visibility, access. lighting, personal safety)
It is expected that this report will be the first of many that chart the progress of bike parking so that the City of Ottawa will be the standard for world-class bicycle parking. It is this Committee’s view that bike parking policies and programs in the City of Ottawa should reflect the priority that the City places on sustainable transportation and should be a public symbol of the community’s commitment to cycling and cyclists. We hope that this report contributes to this evolution.
Bike Rack Contract
(Velocity)
1.
Develop a plan for city-provided bicycle parking and
begin implementation before the current contract (with Velocity Media) expires
to ensure a smooth transition. This
plan must be cyclist focused.
2.
Develop a post & ring rack compatible with snow
clearing equipment so that year-round parking can be provided.
3.
Promote the purchase of bicycle racks by private
businesses for the convenience of their clients. These can be self-purchased
and placed on private property or the City of Ottawa can provide installation
for approved models on city right-of-ways on sites convenient for the business’
clients. Businesses can attract and
welcome cyclists by having convenient, high quality racks.
Parking Meter
Replacement
1.
Retain a number of the parking meter posts, where
feasible, and attach ring and post heads to provide more bicycle parking in
much needed areas such as Bank Street, Elgin Street and the Byward Market.
2.
That these replaced bicycle parking facilities be
placed in locations close to entrances and storefronts.
3.
Install additional bicycle parking facilities to
provide more parking for cyclists, to replace the removed parking meter posts.
Byward Market
Supervised Bicycle Parking
1.
That this facility continues to be monitored by the
City to determine its use as to the number of people using it as a bicycle
parking facility versus information booth for tourists.
2.
Better promotion of the supervised area as a bicycle
parking facility.
3.
Promote more cost sharing with tourism as there is a
significant amount currently, but the 2002 report indicates more is needed (for
all services at this facility).
4.
Extend hours of supervised parking.
Bike Lockers
1.
That the City of Ottawa continues to monitor the pilot
project and have the report available to OCAC at the project’s end.
Bicycle parking on
Private Property
1. Redesign
and increase visibility and availability of brochure available to private
property owners who wish to install bicycle parking.
2. Increase
the current number of bicycle parking facilities required for private property
owners when zoning applications are submitted.
Covered Bicycle
Parking
1.
That more covered bicycle parking be offered to
cyclists by the City of Ottawa
2.
Security issues need to be monitored and addressed
(e.g. visibility, access. lighting, personal safety)