The Mosaic Canada landscaping event in Jacques Cartier Parc in Gatineau deserves all the kudos it has been getting. I think it is by far the finest 150 celebration element of the past year. One of things I was paying … Continue reading Mosaic Canada – in the grove
So YES, there are successful examples of place making from Ottawa streets. Let’s look at two. To promote a special autumn festival event, the Italian Canadian Community Centre has installed fall-themed decor at many intersections along Preston. They instantly change … Continue reading Placemaking on streets
In mid-September, the transfer walk from the OTrain to downtown-direction buses will change. This is also the transfer walk from buses coming from the west end connecting to the Trillium OTrain line. And its the walkway for local residents to … Continue reading OTrain Trillium marathon
Back in 2012 I showed you the picture below. The first apartments on the current rebuild of LeBreton Flats (Claridgeland) had been occupied for a year or so, and baby toys were starting to appear in windows. I asked, how … Continue reading Tot Lot Not
A few years go I was all keen on the notion of finding some sort of rule, or algorithm, that explained what the next type of development would be in a neighbourhood. Would it improve or drag down the neighbourhood? … Continue reading On the impact of Sally Anne in Vanier
So the city “wants” to extend the Trillium Line south a bit further, almost but not quite to Riverside South suburb. Alas, it can’t afford the cost. Sob. Sob. Let me suggest that it is eminently affordable, the city has … Continue reading Incrementalizing the OTrain
Some SLOW signs are appearing around the neighbourhood. I noticed the first ones on Laurel, and then on Primrose: I think they are well intentioned. It will be interesting to see if they work. The City filmed some of the … Continue reading Signs good and bad
This week yet another community will appear before Transportation Committee asking for STOP signs to slow speeding traffic and make neighbourhood intersections safer. Asking for STOP signs is a tactical error, as it shifts the debate from the road safety … Continue reading Non-stop traffic calming
Whatever is happening recently, we have a habit of extrapolating indefinitely into the future. But circumstances change, and what was true before is not necessarily true in the future. Consider the trope: “tiny condo”. If I had a dollar every … Continue reading Return of the large apartment
The new Confederation Line LRT is getting mostly new stuff all along its route. New stations, new tracks, new signals, new bridges. Here is a pic of the west portal. The new library will go immediately to the right. To … Continue reading Reusing old stuff for the new LRT
Over on LeBreton Flats there’s an interesting array of fences. The newest one, still under construction as you read this, is along the aqueduct. It’s a stern fence: At least 5′ high, maybe 6′, its a reasonably decorative metal fence, … Continue reading Fence viewing around the Flats
Out on LeBreton Flats, at the corner of Booth and Wellington / Sir John A Parkway, the NCC has reinstalled the Fleck fountain, as part of its Bold Drive By Experience temporary landscaping project. While the landscaping looks a little thin on plant material, maybe it will grow on us over time. Temporary could mean anything at all when it comes to the NCC. The trees might well die of old age. There is an explanatory panel on site: The landscaping and fountain does add some attraction to the otherwise bleakness of the Flats. For some years, the NCC apparently … Continue reading Dry water fountain
SO, the City is considering five separate road underpasses or overpasses in the area where Woodroffe makes it out to Barrhaven. Initial costs are $430 million dollars. An admittedly very preliminary guesstimate. Not including the cost of construction detours, moving … Continue reading About those Barrhaven underpasses …
A number of interesting changes and opportunities for west side bus routes are coming up in the next few years. Let’s play the bus route planning game! The official plans: To “encourage” people to use the new Confederation Line, and … Continue reading The bus route planning game
There are two interesting (well, to some of us …) takeaways from regarding the landscaping starting around Bayview Station. First, that the landscaping is underway while major construction continues. But as soon as a patch of ground is finished active … Continue reading Pedestrians protected from overland flooding
Ottawa truly is the city that fun forgot. Or maybe the city that frets endlessly about being sued. In a park-short neighbourhood with three different multi-storey public staircases, no opportunity for fun may be indulged in. Someone might smile. But … Continue reading Friday Traveller: Active transportation in Montreal
Not yet quite a religious holiday, but observed by many who partake in the sacramental activities of the Force and the Sacred Blocks: Continue reading May the fourth be with you …
This house on Elm has a front tree bearing bright shovels and rakes. The presence of possibly traumatic (fake?) stuffed birdies means it is not there to amuse the younger set of pedestrians. Art materials can be found anywhere, even at … Continue reading Plastic Art that Amuses
There is always something attractive about the sterotypical mouse hole in the wall. Little arch, small scale, friendly mouse. Then there is this house, where the wood panel separating two front porches was jigsawed out to make this very large … Continue reading Mouse Hole for Posties
The city is offering four options, or concepts, for improving Merivale in the traditional main street area between the Farm and Carling Avenue. Three of the options involve a road diet, ie right-sizing the road for the amount of traffic … Continue reading Does transit priority really mean … do nothing?
In honour of the No 2 Bus, here is a WSA story from 2012: It was a hot and sunny four o’clock as I left Loblaws in Westboro. My two cloth bags didn’t seem to have much in the line … Continue reading Spaggetti Dinner on the No 2 Bus
Merivale Road is a curious creature. It is a place, a destination, thus functioning as a street. It accesses adjacent land, giving it value. And it also has a somewhat conflicting role as a through road to get from one area … Continue reading The three ages of Merivale
The new Bayview Station site is always interesting to watch. Remember what the old western abutment looked like?: The old abutment was removed, new pillars were constructed, and a new wall is being built to conceal the supporting bridge pillars: … Continue reading Retaining walls at Bayview Station
So a few days ago I aired some folk’s grievances about “illegal crossings” and “suicidal” pedestrians. Such behaviour is only irrational when viewed from a motorists perspective. So turn about is fair play. Just like pedestrians and cyclists, motorists seek … Continue reading Unconscious drivers
The nice weather brings out new views of the city. This ByWard Market building has a pleasing red brick colour, and a decorative clock tower. But maybe that clock tower has another function. I was surprised each morning I noticed … Continue reading Out and About in Spring
