I like all your ideas, Derrick, except the one about increasing the speed limits for scooters. I now see them zip by at incredible speeds (e.g. on the bicycle path on O'Connor), unsafely imo. As for bike sharing, I'd first want to know why it works in Montreal (if it does) and why an earlier attempt here -- sponsored by the NCC, I believe -- failed; I saw no bike sharing racks this summer.
Wayfinding signs is what BIAs could really get behind -- inclusive, and at multiple points.
I believe bike shares in Ottawa failed previously because there simply wasn’t enough bikes or station locations. If I recall correctly Ottawa had about 300 bikes, which isn’t enough to get around the City.
For sure Ottawa needs better mobility and way finding. No reasonable person questions that. When I think of cities that do nightlife well, though, and when I’ve experienced them, it wasn’t because there was a designated Uber drop off location. I can think of a lot of reasons why those places were fun at night, but in order to need to use a scooter past 11pm I need a reason to be there past 11pm in the first place.
Agreed, this list was just meant to be more realistic, as the night council won't have much power or influence. These ideas tinker at the edges but won't solve any big problems.
Are apartment buildings still being built without integrated drop-off circles? I take Lyft a lot and having to be dropped off in the street because an apartment or office building doesn’t have that basic amenity is frustrating. I like your idea of designating a parking spot in front of a row of small retailers.
The problem with an integrated drop off circle is it takes up a huge amount of land. In built up urban areas it may not be the most efficient use of space.
Turning street parking during certain hours to a drop off zone is likely much simpler and cost effective.
I like all your ideas, Derrick, except the one about increasing the speed limits for scooters. I now see them zip by at incredible speeds (e.g. on the bicycle path on O'Connor), unsafely imo. As for bike sharing, I'd first want to know why it works in Montreal (if it does) and why an earlier attempt here -- sponsored by the NCC, I believe -- failed; I saw no bike sharing racks this summer.
Wayfinding signs is what BIAs could really get behind -- inclusive, and at multiple points.
I believe bike shares in Ottawa failed previously because there simply wasn’t enough bikes or station locations. If I recall correctly Ottawa had about 300 bikes, which isn’t enough to get around the City.
Montreal’s system has more than 11,000 bikes.
For sure Ottawa needs better mobility and way finding. No reasonable person questions that. When I think of cities that do nightlife well, though, and when I’ve experienced them, it wasn’t because there was a designated Uber drop off location. I can think of a lot of reasons why those places were fun at night, but in order to need to use a scooter past 11pm I need a reason to be there past 11pm in the first place.
Agreed, this list was just meant to be more realistic, as the night council won't have much power or influence. These ideas tinker at the edges but won't solve any big problems.
I've got a more big dreaming list of ideas here: https://x.com/DerrickSimpson_/status/1759916427534901474
Are apartment buildings still being built without integrated drop-off circles? I take Lyft a lot and having to be dropped off in the street because an apartment or office building doesn’t have that basic amenity is frustrating. I like your idea of designating a parking spot in front of a row of small retailers.
The problem with an integrated drop off circle is it takes up a huge amount of land. In built up urban areas it may not be the most efficient use of space.
Turning street parking during certain hours to a drop off zone is likely much simpler and cost effective.