Bike Parking Strategy

Ottawa’s Public Bike Parking Strategy Approved!

We are pleased to announce that on April 14, 2021, Ottawa City Council approved the Public Bike Parking Strategy and Implementation Plan. Resident feedback was an important feature of our engagement process as we developed the Strategy. Thank you to all who provided input and helped us to reimagine an even-more bike-friendly Ottawa.

We are excited to move forward with initiatives that will ensure the City is able to meet current and future demands for bike parking for our residents, commuters, business owners, and visitors.

Background

Ottawa is increasingly becoming a biking city. As more and more residents are cycling, it has become clear that we need to ensure we have the supports in place to make the experience a positive one. This includes a Public Bike Parking Strategy that allows for convenient and accessible bike parking where it’s required throughout the city.

Why do we need a Public Bike Parking Strategy?

In 2019, the City wrapped up an update to the Municipal Parking Management Strategy.

This was an opportunity for us to look at how we manage our public parking facilities, policies, and revenues. During that process, we heard that there was a desire and a need to look at how bike parking is managed in the City. In some areas, the demand for bike parking exceeds the facilities that are provided and there are opportunities that exist to continue to promote and encourage cycling. This all requires a defined program and objectives.

Public Bike Parking Strategy Development Process

Some of the planning highlights that went into the development of the Public Bike Parking Strategy included:

● 17 stakeholder meetings during the first phase of consultation which involved gathering perspectives related to bike parking and identifying issues and opportunities

● Our Bike Parking Strategy survey was available from July 24 to September 7, 2020. Thank you to all who participated.

● Public workshops were held during the week of October 19th, 2020 and the slide deck from the presentation has been published.

● You can check out the ‘As We Heard It’ report summarizing the consultation feedback from the first phase of consultation

● 19 stakeholder meetings during the second phase of consultation which involved gathering feedback on the draft outcomes. The slide deck from the February 18th workshop has been published.

What Is Next?

The Public Bike Parking Strategy provides us with a framework to shape the way our City responds to the needs of our residents. Even if you aren’t a cyclist, implementing the Strategy and building a program around bike parking will impact the way our community looks, where bike parking is installed, and how our streetscape functions.

As we build the Public Bike Parking Program, we will be following through on the Strategy’s recommendations — like developing a Bike Parking Index tool, restructuring the parking request intake process, and establishing program-related roles, responsibilities and timelines as we move forward in 2021. Over the next three (3) years, expect to see upgrades in technology, more secure bike parking options, and other innovative programs.

Things to look forward to as we develop the Public Bike Parking Program include:

● A streamlined, customer-focused bike parking request intake process, which will make it easier for residents and visitors to provide feedback on all matters related to bike parking where they live, work, shop and play;

● A data-driven & proactive approach to bike parking installation and maintenance;

● Forward-thinking bike parking solutions that account for emerging trends in active transportation;

● Public access to bike parking information

● Research and development of more secure bike-parking options in the City, which meet the needs of commuters, residents, business owners and visitors.

We want to thank you again for your input in creating the Public Bike Parking Strategy. Moving forward, as new initiatives and programs are developed, we will be providing updated content on Ottawa.ca related to bike parking.