There are now three “ghost bikes” in front of City Hall. I wish there were none.
One was installed in 2019, to remember a person who was killed while cycling at Laurier and Elgin. And on Tuesday, we installed two more – to remember Karl Mann and Chanel Charette, two people who were killed by road violence just in the last two months.
While we have made significant strides in the downtown core when it comes to building protected bike lanes, we are still not at the point where we have a functional and safe grid for cyclists to get across the core. And if the Ford government has its way, we could stand to lose all the ground we have gained over the last five years and be prevented from building more bike lanes on roads where we may have to remove a lane of car traffic.
Unbelievably, the proposed “Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act” would concentrate the power to approve any bike lane in any municipality in Ontario in the hands of the provincial transportation minister. The Ford government, which was elected on a promise to “cut red tape,” is threatening to slow down and/or deny the approval of crucial safe cycling infrastructure. And Premier Ford also said he would order the province to rip up cycling infrastructure that he doesn’t agree with – specifically mentioning the Bloor Street bike lane in Toronto and the O’Connor bike lane here in Ottawa.
All of this is not based on data, of course. Because if Premier Ford did even a little research, he would learn that bike lanes do not increase congestion and that adding lanes of car traffic only makes it worse. The O’Connor Street bike lanes have been overwhelmingly successful and are a much-loved part of our active transportation infrastructure, with over 150,000 uses per year.
While it often goes underdiscussed in conversations about traffic and modal share, the reality is that many cycling infrastructure projects are put in as a direct response to tragic accidents and deaths of cyclists on the road. Cyclists are not just statistics – they are beloved family members, colleagues, and community members. This legislation is profoundly disrespectful to thousands of Ontarians whose lives have been profoundly changed by a road accident.
People I speak to in Somerset Ward want common sense policies – to get from Point A to Point B safely whether that’s on foot, by bike, by bus, by train, or by car. Bicycles are part of traffic and deserve space on our roads. Municipalities know what their residents are asking for – and it’s safer streets. There’s still time for the province to do the right thing for Ontarians, and to pull back from this outrageous over-reach and withdraw this uninformed and dangerous bill.
Here's how you can take action:
My heart was warmed on Tuesday by the hundreds of residents who joined us in a hastily organized rally for safe bike infrastructure at City Hall. I know that when we stand together, we can win.
Warmly,
Ariel
Staff from Councillor Troster, Leiper and Menard's offices painting a ghost bike at City Hall.
Councillor Troster with Rebecca Dorris from the Ottawa Community Food Partnership, at a rally in support of the city’s new Poverty Reduction Strategy.
Proposed “bubble zone” for protests
A lot of you have written to me about the motion that is going to Council next week, asking city staff to look into the idea of creating “bubble zones” to protect religious institutions and schools from protests. As someone who has spent decades participating in rallies and picket lines (also having worked for many years in the labour movement), I am certainly sensitive to concerns about how a potential bubble bylaw could prove to be an over-reach.
It is worth noting that the only current “bubble law” in effect in Ottawa surrounds the Morgentaler clinic – keeping fundamentalist anti-choice protestors from interfering in women and gender-diverse people’s health care access. It is something that the pro-choice community lobbied for and was implemented with the help of former Somerset Ward councillor Catherine McKenney and Yasir Naqvi, who was then the MPP for Ottawa Centre.
I contemplated whether something similar could help protect schools from anti-trans agitators, after spending hours in front of Broadview PS in June 2023. That day, I stood arm in arm with members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, preventing white nationalists and transphobes from spewing hate at school kids. When I informally consulted with community members about whether they thought a bubble law could be helpful, opinion was mixed.
This is why I think this idea deserves a public hearing, with robust consultation and the opportunity for people to come and make deputations at a city committee. A proposal like this one should not be taken lightly, and there should absolutely be carve-outs for picket lines, student protests, and many other similar situations.
The motion being voted on at council next week simply asks staff to explore the idea of a bubble bylaw and report back to council. Should it pass, it would take months for staff to come back with recommendations, and then the public would get an opportunity to speak out about whether they agree or disagree. I will continue to collect your feedback and will reach out when there are opportunities for you to weigh in on this important issue.
Plouffe Park Halloween party
The second annual Plouffe Park Halloween party is taking place on Sunday, October 27 at 3pm!
Don your best costume and join neighbours for pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating, fun games and ghoulish activity stations!
Trick or Treat with the Mayor
Come Trick or Treat with the Mayor and your favourite costumed characters in the “Weird and Wonderful” Heritage Building where you will be welcomed by the Enchanted Witches and Goblins of Elgin Street! Collect special treats as you venture into the Ghost Chamber and down the Hall of Villains for more goodies and fun. See what’s brewing inside City Hall where you can meet your favourite, fun costumed characters in Jean Pigott Place and meet the Tooth Fairy!
Where: Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue West
When: Saturday, October 26th, 2024 @ 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Zoning by-law consultation
There's still time to provide your feedback on the draft zoning by-law! Click here to learn more about the draft by-law, provide your feedback and learn about upcoming consultation events.
City budget consultation
It’s your city, your budget, and we want to hear from you! The City of Ottawa engages with residents each year to gather ideas and feedback as it drafts the budget for City Council’s consideration. Your feedback helps shape the City’s budget priorities and contributes to decisions about investing in a sustainable, secure, and prosperous city for all.
You can fill out the budget survey and provide feedback online here.
In Ottawa, we are currently losing 31 affordable apartments for every one that we build.
Budget season is in full swing at City Hall and will be the focus of our work in the Ward 14 office until the final vote on December 11.
Last week I shared a video talking about the misinformation being spread about proposed newcomer reception centres in suburban Ottawa.