CfSC news

More than 100 CfSC members, politicians and the cycling public attended CfSC's 25th annual general meeting at Tom Brown Arena on October 20.

The meeting opened with a talk from Marie Lemay, the CEO of the National Capital Commission, who said the NCC was studying whether to twin NCC multi-use paths, and was looking to work with other partners to improve cycling in Ottawa.

She was followed by Roger Geller, the cycling coordinator for Portland, Oregon, who showed many pictures of facilities in his city to explain how Portland had given more space to cyclists.

Lastly, Christine Leadman, city councillor for Kitchissippi, the ward that contains the arena, talked about challenges and opportunities for cycling in Ottawa, including increasing the city cycling budget next year, and ensuring that Scott Street would not be ruined as a cycling route if light rail is introduced from downtown to Tunney's Pasture. She is concerned that the huge numbers of buses that now use the Transitway would be diverted on to Scott between Holland and downtown.

Members elected a new Board of Directors. Zlatko Krstulich moved up to President, and Hans Moor was elected as vice-president and Alayne McGregor as secretary. Two new directors were also elected: Rob Brooks and Paul Clarke.

The meeting also gave the board a mandate to investigate changing the name of Citizens for Safe Cycling. The change must be ratified by the membership: either by a mail-in vote with at least 50%+1 of members in favour, or at a general meeting.

View Roger Geller's slideshow "Portland, OR: A Tale of Three Cities"    (67 MB pdf)

Marie Lemay's speaking notes

Everyone welcome - please bring your friends!
At the Tom Brown Arena  (Bayview at Scott Street)  [map]

Print the poster and post at your workplace or cyclist hangout

• Special guest speaker: Richard Geller, Cycling Co-ordinator for Portland, Oregon explains how Portland turned the corner to become a leading cycle-friendly city
• Special guest speaker: Marie Lemay, CEO of the National Capital Commission will outline the NCC's vision for cycling in our capital
• Pizza and socializing
• Annual reports: learn about and discuss about the accomplishments of the past year
• CfSC members elect the 2009-10 Board of Directors

There will be elections for several officers, including President. If you wish to run or submit a motion, please contact President Tom Trottier at 613-860-6633 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

CfSC is very concerned that the proposed Pay & Display parking ticket machine procurement process does not include provisions to ensure adequate year-round bicycle parking.

Options have not been made available to replace any parking meters that are removed as a result of this process. The bicycle parking system offered by Velocity is seasonal, and indeed these racks have not yet been installed today, yet many cyclists are out on the street.

Parking meters provide a very secure form of year-round bicycle parking. There are a variety of alternatives, including Toronto's example of simply cutting the 'heads' off of parking meters and installing rings to turn them into ring-and-post racks, or simply replacing the parking meters with bicycle racks in other parts of the neighbourhood (such as the various forms of bicycle parking installed and to be installed along Bank Street during its ongoing reconstruction).

Whatever alternatives are used, some alternative is necessary when and if parking meters are phased out for Pay & Display units.

A letter outlining the above concerns has been sent to the City of Ottawa.