Ottawa cycling advocate calls for better signage in construction zones
'In some cases they've done a very good job ... in other cases it just hasn't been dealt with at all'
As construction projects in Ottawa shift into high gear for the summer in preparation for Canada's 150th birthday party in 2017, the city needs to be more consistent with its signage, says the vice-president of Citizens for Safe Cycling, a group that advocates for people who travel on two wheels.
Alex deVries says cycling during construction season doesn't have to be dangerous if there are proper detour signs that include destinations and enough notice when cyclists are expected to merge with vehicular traffic.
"A concern is the inconsistency," said deVries.
"In some cases they've done a very good job of ensuring that there's a proper route for cyclists but in other cases it just hasn't been dealt with at all."
Construction guidelines the city published in 2012 are "inconsistently followed," deVries said. "So what we end up with is a mish-mash of different kinds of facilities, and that makes it difficult to know what to expect."
Motorists need to relax in narrow construction passages
Radio-Canada fitted a camera onto the helmet of a journalist to get a sense of what travelling through the downtown core on a bike is really like. It shows narrow passages cyclists have to navigate between cars, construction pylons and concrete barriers.
City traffic engineers are constantly monitoring the network, trying to keep it safe for pedestrians, drivers and cyclists through the tough conditions, says Rideau-Vanier ward Coun. Mathieu Fleury.
Motorists need to make sure not to pass cyclists in narrow construction passages unless they can ensure one metre of space between their vehicle and the cyclist. Without that one metre of room, motorists need to relax and stay behind cyclists, even if they're slower than cars.
"Keep in mind that a cyclist might be going slower but in the Highway Traffic Act they're considered a motor vehicle," said Fleury. "You're to respect them as if they were a car in front of you."
But cyclists also need to follow the rules of the road, Fleury says. When cyclists don't stop at red lights or stop signs, for example, it creates tension with motorists. And too often cyclists use sidewalks or bike the wrong way on one-way streets, he says.
Now that spring has arrived and more people are biking, Ottawa police say they're working harder to educate the public on road and cycling safety.
"The cycling world is growing year per year. ... The biggest challenge is getting people to share the road," said police spokesman Const. Chuck Benoit.
