Councillor warns of 'culture war' over province's plan to limit bike lanes

An Ottawa city councillor is warning of a looming "culture war" between motorists and cyclists in the city as the province moves forward with a plan that would limit municipalities' ability to build new bike lanes.

If the proposed legislation is passed, Ottawa and other cities will need approval from the province before replacing traffic lanes with cycling infrastructure.

Capital ward Coun. Shawn Menard, who's facing a battle over bike lanes on Bank Street in his ward, said the legislation will only heighten tensions.

"There's just concern that we're setting ourselves back, that it's not going to do anything for congestion and that it's just a political ploy that's going to make things less safe for people on the road," said Menard, who chairs the city's environment and climate change committee.

"I think it's a culture war that they're trying to create because it's not going to help drivers," Menard added. "Congestion will remain the same, if not get worse because you're just adding more and more cars in there instead of having alternatives like transit, like walking, like biking, like scootering."

O'Connor Street bike lane singled out

On Tuesday, the province said under the new legislation, municipalities would need to demonstrate that any proposed bike lanes won't have a "negative impact on vehicle traffic" by reducing vehicle lanes and adding to traffic congestion.

Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria used O'Connor Street in Ottawa as an example of poor  implementation. A separated, bi-directional bike lane running the length of O'Connor from the Queensway to Laurier Avenue was opened in 2016. 

"Lanes were pointlessly taken away on the key artery, making it unsafe for drivers and cyclists alike," Sarkaria said Tuesday during a news conference in Toronto.

We need to do the opposite of what [the province is] doing.- Dave Robertson, Bike Ottawa

Menard said on the contrary, bike lanes on O'Connor Street and elsewhere have been "exceptionally successful and helped traffic flow." That includes recent upgrades to cycling infrastructure on the Bank Street Bridge, he said.

In an emailed statement to CBC, Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said the city "remains committed to ensuring that we have a comprehensive transportation network that meets the needs of all residents, including cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists.

"Bicycle lanes are an important part of our transportation infrastructure that we have been investing in for many years, and we will continue to do so within the new framework proposed by the provincial government."

Call for more bike lanes, not fewer

Dave Robertson, vice-president of cycling advocacy group Bike Ottawa, said the city's bike infrastructure isn't perfect, but he argued for more of it — not less.

"We need to do the opposite of what [the province is] doing," Robertson said. "If you make the bike lanes really safe and enjoyable ... people are going to start using those more and more."

Robertson believes the provincial plan will lead to more injury and death on the city's roads.

"Not giving people the mobility options they need to get around in their city is going to hurt people, so I do hope that they reverse their decision," he said.