OTTAWA, 30 Nov. 2011 – Citizens for Safe Cycling says the traffic and parking plans for Lansdowne Park overestimate the number of people cycling to major events, especially considering the lack of effective bike infrastructure at and around the site.

"The City is counting on a large number of people cycling to football games and other major events, but isn't planning adequate facilities to attract and safely accommodate them," says Hans Moor, president of the local advocacy group. "That affects motorists, local residents and businesses as well as cyclists. If the city doesn't get the cyclists it expects, traffic congestion and parking availability will be worse."

The City of Ottawa's latest Traffic and Parking Management Plan for Lansdowne, released in September, projects a three-percent modal share for bicycles at major events, meaning that 1 out of 33 people is expected to cycle there.

While that may not sound like a lot, the experiences of Portland, Ore., and Minneapolis, Minn., show this is an unfeasible goal. According to 2009 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, these cities have the highest bicycle usage in the United States. Yet they have attained a modal share of only two percent and one percent, respectively, for cyclists at similarly sized sports events.

"CfSC is optimistic about Ottawa's progress in planning and funding cycling initiatives, and we're impressed that the plans for Lansdowne include convenient, distributed bike parking throughout the site, plus additional secure bike parking for special events. But we are worried that the overall traffic management and  parking plan is built on faulty assumptions."

CfSC proposes the following measures to attract cyclists to Lansdowne:

• Provide better access to and from Centretown by adding another north/south bicycle route through the Glebe.
• Create bi-directional bike lanes on Holmwood between O'Connor and Bank, to provide safe connections to the entrances to Lansdowne.
• Work with the National Capital Commission to create direct access to Lansdowne with a controlled intersection on Queen Elizabeth Dr. between Bank and Fifth Avenue
• Create a permanent, guarded bicycle parking facility near the stadium entrance.
• Ensure that all bicycle racks are sheltered.

CfSC representatives will discuss these issues at tomorrow's Lansdowne Traffic Impact Open House, hosted by the Old Ottawa South Community Association and the City of Ottawa. The meeting is at the Glebe Community Centre (175 Third Avenue at Lyon Street) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 1.

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