Report to/Rapport au :
Comité des transports et des services de transport en commun
and Council/et au Conseil
23 September 2003 / le 23 septembre 2003
Submitted by/Soumis par: Diane Dupuis, Chair/Présidente,
Cycling Advisory Committee / Comité consultatif
sur le cyclisme
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 SUR L’AMÉLIORATION DU stationnement des
bicyclettes
That the Transportation and Transit Committee recommend that Council approve the following recommendations:
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 and
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’s 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
the Cycling Advisory Committee 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)
Que le Comité des transports et des services de
transport en commun recommande au Conseil d’approuver les recommandations
suivantes :
Contrat – Support de bicyclettes(Velocity) :
1. Élaborer
un plan de stationnement municipal pour bicyclettes et lancer sa mise en oeuvre
avant l’expiration du contrat actuel (avec Velocity Media) pour assurer une
transition harmonieuse. Le plan doit
être axé sur les cyclistes.
2. Concevoir un support à poteaux et à
anneaux compatible avec l’équipement de déneigement pour permettre le
stationnement toute l’année.
3. Promouvoir
l’achat de supports de bicyclettes par les entreprises privées pour la
commodité de leurs clients. Les
supports peuvent être achetés directement par l’entreprise et placés sur les
propriétés privées, ou la Ville d’Ottawa peut installer les modèles approuvés
sur les emprises municipales à des emplacements qui conviennent aux
clients. Les entreprises peuvent attirer
et accueillir les cyclistes en ayant des supports de bicyclettes pratiques et
de haute qualité.
Remplacement de parcomètres :
1. Conserver certains poteaux de
parcomètres, dans la mesure du possible, et ajouter des anneaux ainsi que des
têtes de poteau pour offrir davantage d’espaces de stationnement pour les
bicyclettes dans les secteurs sensibles comme la rue Bank, la rue Elgin et le
marché By.
2. Faire en sorte que les nouvelles
installations de stationnement pour bicyclettes soient placées à proximité des
entrées et des devantures de magasin.
3. Aménager des installations de
stationnement pour bicyclettes supplémentaires en vue d’offrir davantage de
stationnement aux cyclistes, en remplacement des poteaux des parcomètres
supprimés.
Stationnement surveillé pour bicyclettes au marché By
:
1. S’assurer
que cette installation continue d’être surveillée par la Ville afin de
déterminer le nombre de personnes qui l’utilisent comme installation de
stationnement pour bicyclettes ou comme kiosque d’information pour touristes.
2. Améliorer la promotion de l’aire
surveillée pour le stationnement de bicyclettes.
3. Promouvoir un partage accru des
frais avec le tourisme compte tenu du montant considérable actuel, le rapport
de 2002 faisant état de besoins supplémentaires pour tous les services offerts
à cette installation.
4. Prolonger
les heures de stationnement surveillé.
Consignes pour bicyclettes :
1. La
Ville d’Ottawa doit continuer de contrôler le projet-pilote et de préparer un
rapport pour le Comité consultatif sur le cyclisme à la fin du projet.
Stationnement pour bicyclettes sur les propriétés
privées :
1. Remanier la brochure à l’attention
des propriétaires de propriétés privées désireux d’aménager une installation de
stationnement pour bicyclettes et accroître la visibilité ainsi que la
disponibilité de ladite brochure.
2. Accroître le nombre actuel
d’installations de stationnement pour bicyclettes exigées sur les propriétés
privées lors de la présentation de demandes de zonage.
Stationnement couvert pour bicyclettes :
1. La
Ville d’Ottawa doit offrir davantage de stationnement couvert pour bicyclettes.
2. Les questions de sécurité doivent être
suivies et traitées (p. ex. : visibilité, accès, éclairage, sécurité
personnelle).
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
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 the
Program Manager, Cycling and
Pedestrian Facilities,
Mobility and Area Traffic Management Division, TUPWSpring, 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 Transportation Demand Management 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 and 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’s clients. Businesses can
attract and welcome cyclists by having convenient, high quality racks.
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 post and ring 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 bicycles instead, as they will feel confident that their bicycles will be 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.
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.
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 bicycle 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.
Transportation and Parking Operations staff concur with the general direction of the recommendations of this report. The recommendations relate to programs already offered, to a certain degree, by the City. The report makes recommendations to further strengthen the provision of parking for bicycles.
Staff recommend that each recommendation of the Cycling Advisory Committee be added to the Department’s work program, and further review and study be undertaken in consultation with CAC. The upcoming Cycling Plan will include bicycle parking, and this provides an opportunity to further examine services being provided, as well as possible enhancements.
Bike Rack Contract (Velocity):
Staff concur with a review prior to renewal of this contract.
Staff concur with the objective of retaining as many opportunities for
bike parking as possible. However,
staff do not concur with the automatic retention of all existing meter posts
for bike parking, as other operational and aesthetic issues may require removal
of existing posts. Staff concur that in
such cases, alternative bike parking facilities should be provided where the need
is evident.
Staff concur with continuing to
maintain this facility. This is a cost
issue, and by sharing operating costs (Tourism and Bike Parking), services are
being provided much more cost-effectively than before, when both facilities ran
independently.
Staff concur.
Staff concur on first recommendation. Second point can be considered at time of reviewing zoning by-laws.
Staff are currently seeking another suitable location in the downtown
core. Security issues are being
examined.
N/A
N/A
N/A
Staff will be able to determine
the additional costs of implementing the recommendations following additional
review and study. All recommendations
are, to varying degrees, already included within existing City programs and
budgets. If implemented, budget
adjustments/increases will be required in certain programs.
Staff will review recommendations as part of the Departments’ work program and consult with the Cycling Advisory Committee on any proposed changes.