Alayne McGregor - 1997 Ottawa-Carleton Cyclists' Advocate of the Year

Alayne McGregor, a phenomenal advocate for cycling for the past 8 years, was long overdue for the advocacy award which came her way at CfSC's November 1997 Annual General Meeting. There isn't a councillor in Ottawa or the Region who has escaped her calm, reasonable, unyielding arguments.

The monumental task which Alayne set herself in the past three years was to keep cycling and the interests of cyclists foremost in the revision of the Region's Official Plan and Transportation Master Plan (TMP). There were endless meetings, open houses and consultations; stacks of documents as tall as the activist herself; and no shortage of bone-headed outrages to combat. What percentage of commuters use their bicycles? Let's count them during a winter blizzard. At least now we know why the figures seem so odd.

We now have an Official Plan which puts pedestrians and cyclists first, and commits the Region to increasing the number of cycling commuters. It's up to all of us to make sure the Region follows through on that promise: but it's a promise that might never have been made at all without Alayne's years of work.

Alayne also found time for more than her share of CfSC Board work, monitoring councillors' voting records, representing CfSC at provincial cycling gatherings, and more. In her spare! time, Alayne also serves on the Board of the Ottawa Public Library, advocating for another important community institution.

Thank you, Alayne!

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