Series of bike and scooter accidents in Ottawa sows concern

A recent series of five road accidents injuring cyclists and other road users and killing two has advocates for safe active transportation concerned.

These incidents, which took place from September 24 to last Friday, occurred at different times of the day and in different locations across the city.

The common point? They all coincide with the start of fall and, as several municipal councilors note, the increase in traffic on the roads since civil servants returned to the office at least three days a week.

Fears of become one of those statistics

The vice-president of the cycling promotion organization Bike Ottawa’s Dave Robertson says his family members are worried It’s only a matter of time before they become one of those statistics.

We shouldn’t think this way.

In the early morning of September 24, Chanel Charette was hit by a vehicle while she was cycling at the corner of Lajoie and Montreal streets, in the Vanier district.

The 33-year-old woman died in hospital two days later. At the same time, a cyclist in his 50s was found in critical condition in Nepean.

The man died from his injuries according to Ottawa police. His injuries were attributed to unknown circumstances.

Police have arrested a man for dangerous driving in connection with the death of Chanel Charette and are asking for the public’s help in the incident in Nepean.

We really need to transition from self-centered planning to people-centered planning.

Dave Robertson hopes information collected by police will be useful quickly in city planning.

Not just downtown

Two of the collisions, including the one that killed Chanel Charette, occurred in the Rideau-Vanier district, where Stéphanie Plante is the councilor.

It seems to be spreadingshe notes. It’s not just a downtown issue now.

The intersection of Lajoie and Montreal streets was already the subject of review, since another collision took place there in 2022.

The City has reduced the authorized speed on some secondary roads, but arteries could benefit from a reduction in the speed limit, according to Stéphanie Plante.

A person seated securely in their car does not have the same vulnerability as a pedestrianrecalls the advisor.

Councilor Laine Johnson, who represents the College ward where the incident in Nepean took place, described the recent events as more than frustrating.

When I look at these five incidents, I think we are in a transition as a city. How quickly we make this transition is somewhat up to us.

There are people who travel using alternative modes of transportation. With a struggling public transportation system, we see more and more people using their carsadds Laine Johnson. But we also see people taking other alternatives. There are pressures from all sides.

Separated bike lanes, improved pedestrian crossings and protected intersections are beginning to see the light of day across the Ottawa landscape.

The results of a review of the speed policy should be published in early 2025. Regardless, the City’s investments in active transportation are still too little, according to the College neighborhood councilor.

It’s a worthwhile investment for the future of our city.she concludes.

With information from Guy Quenneville, CBC News