As Ottawa continues to expand its cycling infrastructure, residents share their perspectives on the city’s efforts to make cycling safer and more accessible for all
Ottawa is working to become a bike-friendly city, but safety concerns for cyclists remain. Some residents see the improvements, others believe infrastructure and driver awareness are still lacking.
Owen Stafford, who works at SportChek, says cycling safety depends largely on location, but downtown Ottawa remains a particularly risky area.
“ I don’t bike, but I see cyclists weaving through traffic downtown, and it looks dangerous,” Stafford said.
Jessica Smith, who works at the Rideau Centre, agrees. “Downtown Ottawa is completely dependent on the time of day, and I don’t think it’s safe to do any activities downtown at night.”
The City of Ottawa has made significant efforts to address cycling safety. In recent years, it has expanded bike lanes, added cycling signals at key intersections, and launched a safe cycling education program to promote road awareness for both cyclists and drivers.
The city has also recommended specific cycling routes designed to be safer and more accessible, but some residents feel these measures are not enough.
Smith acknowledged the improvements but pointed out that most enhancements have been concentrated in commercial areas rather than in residential neighborhoods, where many cyclists begin their journeys.
“I’ve seen them improve and expand the bike lane for commercial and federal buildings,” Smith said. “But I think residential areas are the biggest problem because people are starting at their houses, not the office building.”
Beyond infrastructure, some argue that road safety is a shared responsibility between the government, cyclists, and drivers. Xican Liu, a senior psychology student at the University of Ottawa, believes improving cycling safety requires cooperation from all road users.
“As a government, they can improve facilities to increase safety, but as individuals on the road, we should also have safety awareness,” Liu said. “Drivers should look behind them before opening their doors to avoid hitting cyclists, and cyclists need to follow traffic rules, like stopping at red lights.”
Winter conditions further complicate cycling safety, with icy roads and reduced visibility making it riskier for riders during colder months. Some cyclists have also raised concerns about vehicles blocking bike lanes, forcing them into traffic. The issue of enforcement also comes into play, as some residents believe that both cyclists and drivers need to be held more accountable for following the rules of the road.
As Ottawa invests in cycling infrastructure, safety remains a key concern for residents. While the city has taken steps to improve bike lanes and road conditions, challenges such as dangerous intersections and winter hazards persist. Some believe more needs to be done to protect cyclists, while others say progress is heading in the right direction.
With cycling’s growing popularity, concerns about safety continue to rise, leaving the question open: Is Ottawa truly a bike-friendly city, or is there still a long road ahead?