Highway 416 creates a new cycling barrier

For immediate release: Friday August 1, 1997

The new Baseline Road connection to Highway 416 has created a major barrier for people who need to cycle in Nepean and through the west end of the region, according to Citizens for Safe Cycling (CfSC). CfSC is working to prevent similar obstacles being created as part of the upcoming Nortel expansion.

"All we’ve heard recently is how wonderful the 416 is and how it will increase tourism, " said Citizens for Safe Cycling President Brett Delmage. "But at the same time, the construction of Highway 416 has made Ottawa-Carleton more like Los Angeles, and has diminished the quality of life that is essential to attract growth industry like Nortel to our region. Residents and tourists value our clean air, our green environment and the opportunities for all members of their family to get around by bicycle. The 416 has harmed all of these."

Delmage commutes by bicycle through the Baseline-Richmond-416 intersection every day on his way to Kanata where he is employed as a software engineer. Baseline Road has been widened to 8 lanes where it crosses the new 416.

"This intersection used to be a small, simple intersection that anyone would feel comfortable cycling through. But now I have to be very cautious cycling through this intersection, and I’m an advanced defensive cycling skills instructor! Any cyclist going west, into or through Bells Corners from Baseline Road has to cross two lanes of high speed traffic, including a 416 on-ramp, and turn in a double-left turn lane to get there. Cyclists simply proceeding straight through this intersection on Richmond Road can find themselves in the middle of 4 lanes, with high speed (70-80 km/h) traffic speeding by on both sides. It’s very unpleasant, and intimidating for the average cycling resident, and there are no practical, alternate east-west routes through this part of the region."

"Would your mother cycle through this intersection to go shopping? If you lived in Bells Corners, would you let your kids cycle to the Britannia Theater on these roads, even though it’s only short distance by bike? The construction of the 416 and widening of adjacent regional roads and intersections has isolated people and has taken away their opportunities to enjoy life."

Delmage said a growing number of cyclists and residents are worried that similar barriers will be created near the Nortel expansion. Initial plans call for widening of roads and intersections in the vicinity to accommodate the unchecked growth of thousands of car trips each day. Nortel residents simply trying to get to work by bicycle would be faced with similar challenges trying to get to work. CfSC is currently working with Nortel’s consultants and RMOC planners to try to prevent this.

"Nortel decided to expand in Ottawa-Carleton because of our high quality of life here," said Delmage. We don’t believe that unpleasant and intimidating roads and intersections are a part of that."

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For more information: Citizens for Safe Cycling 722-4454

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