Albert St, bike path, bikewest, cycling in Ottawa, LeBreton Flats1 Comment

BikeWest – part ii – from Bronson to the transitway

Westsideaction

The current transitway carries buses across LeBreton Flats and links them onto Albert Street (westbound) and Slater Street (eastbound) where Albert-Slater split, in front of the Good Companions Centre, located half way between Bronson and Booth Street. Above: The Albert-Slater split, where the transitway begins/ends, by the Good Companions Centre. Slater, on the right, was originally built expressly for streetcar traffic to access the downtown. Both Albert and Slater have dedicated bus-only lanes from the split right into the downtown core. These lanes will not be required for buses once the Downtown Ottawa Transit Tunnel (DOTT) is constructed and the … Continue reading BikeWest – part ii – from Bronson to the transitway

Albert St, Bayview, bike path, bikewest, cycling in Ottawa, Scott street2 Comments

BikeWest – part i – Opportunity Knocks

Westsideaction

The BikeWest project is an idea. An idea about how we can move beyond shared bike lanes. About doing something significant and big to promote cycling to work. An idea for a dedicated, separated-from-cars two way bike road capable of moving thousands of people between neighborhoods and to the downtown. At the same time, an idea that is affordable. Achievable in the medium term. An idea that doesn’t monopolize cycling resources or block other projects. A project that builds up Ottawa rather than dividing it. Ottawa has many cycle paths now, almost all of them provided by the NCC (bless … Continue reading BikeWest – part i – Opportunity Knocks

cycling in Ottawa, Nature, NCC2 Comments

Last traces of former rail line

Westsideaction

What may at first glance seem to be a jersey barrier*  in the woods is really one abutment of a culvert crossing on the former CPR (?) tracks that ran west along the Ottawa River where the Ottawa River Commuter Expressway is now. The rail right of way was expanded and converted into a car road allowance in the early 1960’s following Greber’s plans for scenic drives throughout Ottawa. Many of these drives were never completed, but the NCC still holds numerous rights of way undeveloped, waiting for LRT, other transit, or a serious non-recreational cycling network. Toronto, not blessed with the NCC … Continue reading Last traces of former rail line

Dalhousie, little Italy, somerset street

The Grapes are Coming

Westsideaction

Life in Dalhousie is never dull. As seen on Somerset Street, just west of Preston, another tractor trailer load of California grapes is unloaded by Silvano Musca, owner of Musca Wine Supplies. The grapes are crushed into juice on the premises, and sold directly to customers to ferment into artisanal wines. Some grapes are kept in huge drive-in refridgerated rooms for use later. Wine making is especially popular with the many Italian families that have traditional ties to Dalhousie and the Little Italy neighborhood, most obviously along Preston Street. Continue reading The Grapes are Coming

Albert St, bikewest, cycling in Ottawa, Dalhousie, LeBreton Flats, Scott street, westbike

Coming soon: BikeWest

Westsideaction

Starting Sunday or Monday I will deviate a bit from my catch-all blogging and post a multipart series on a project to improve the cycling experience from the downtown to Westboro. At the end of the series (next Friday?), the entire post will be available, with photos, as a single document, for anyone upon request to my email or to via comments on the blog (be sure to include your email address explicitly stated, it won’t show up even to me when you submit comments to the blog). Continue reading Coming soon: BikeWest

Bayview, Bayview Otrain, LeBreton Flats, O-Train, oc Transpo, pedestrians

Otrain “temporary” station at Bayview

Westsideaction

When the OTrain service began in 2001 it was a “temporary” experiment to see if Ottawan’s would like a train. That the service – derrided as being from nowhere to nowhere – quickly exceeded its longer time ridership projections was a pleasant surprise. Today it carries 50% more riders than the optimistic forecast. Still, being an experiment and all, the stations were designed to be “temporary”. Bayview Station was no exception. The City engineers designed the paved paths with steeply sloping gravel sides. No doubt their text books and tables told them that these would be “stable”. Of course, in … Continue reading Otrain “temporary” station at Bayview

Bayview Otrain, interprovincial transit study, LeBreton Flats, little Italy, LRT, O-Train, Prince of Wales Bridge6 Comments

Light Rail and the SW (OTrain) route

Westsideaction

I am constantly amazed at what I hear about light rail planning in the City. I have to conclude it doesn’t matter what happens, people will simple reinterpret it (twist it) to fit their own preconceived agenda. It is part of the hyper-partisan-ization of our society that I find distressing. There was a SW transit plan under Mayor Chiarelli. It ran on street surface in the downtown, accross the Flats and Dalhousie neighborhoods,  and turned south at Bayswater, ran along the OTrain line, managed to miss the airport, to Riverside,  to the new Strandherd Bridge over the Rideau and thence … Continue reading Light Rail and the SW (OTrain) route

Albert St, Bayview, City Centre, Dalhousie, Empress St, LeBreton Flats, O-Train, Preston street, Scott street, somerset street, streetscaping4 Comments

Bayview re-landscaped

Westsideaction

Looking east on Albert as it goes over the OTrain Boulevard trees, west side of Bayview seen from Scott Curious curb jogs, seen from Somerset looking north Field of Trees, between TomBrown Arena and Albert Sometimes the City makes me very happy. Like when I see the amount of generous landscaping going in along Bayview Avenue between Somerset and Albert/Scott. For several years the City waterworks people have been burying high pressure water mains in the area. Approx.where the sidewalk is shown in picture 4 & 5 is the route of the pipeline. There was a bare grassy lawn running from Tom … Continue reading Bayview re-landscaped

Dows Lake, Rideau Canal2 Comments

The Unfinished Deck

Westsideaction

I first noticed this steel girder structure in early Spring. There is a similar one on the other side of the concrete pier that extends out to the Dow’s Lake Pavillion (surely one of the better NCC projects, it adds needed life to the Lake). It looks like the steel should be topped with thick wood planks or concrete pavers, to widen the pier and improve the alignment to the new entrance to Mexicali Rosa’s and Malone’s Restuarant. Anyone know why the project has not yet been finished? Continue reading The Unfinished Deck

Dows Lake, Rideau Canal

Naval Flotilla on the Rideau

Westsideaction

I got rather excited to see Navy uniforms on Saturday cruising up the Canal. Mind you its not as fast as the Bras d’Or (hydrofoil)* or big as the Magnificent or Bonaventure (aircraft carriers), all now noticeably absent from our navy fleet. My dad was in the Navy forever, and being a navy brat, moved every year or two. I attended 9 schools before I graduated from high school. Maybe that’s why I haven’t moved from my Dalhousie neighborhood in the last 30 years. *I recall this story, I don’t know if it is true. Trudeau was PM. To make … Continue reading Naval Flotilla on the Rideau

Primrose, Woodpecker1 Comment

More Woodpeckers

Westsideaction

One of the first blogs I ever posted, in April past, was of a large woodpecker on Primrose Street. It got lots of comments and people stopped me on the street for weeks afterword to tell me what type of bird it was. Maybe it was fruitful and multiplied, because I have been watching two much smaller ones in the Flemish Beauty Pear tree in my backyard all week. Only the red-headed one is shown in these pictures; sometimes there is a very similar bird without the red head. To find the previous post, use the word cloud at the … Continue reading More Woodpeckers

Dalhousie, DCA2 Comments

New Dalhousie Community Association Blog

Westsideaction

The Dalhousie Community Association has a new information blog. It can be found at http://www.dalhousiecommunityassociation.blogspot.com/. The DCA represents the area from Bay Street on the east, to Bayview/O-Train on the west;from the Ottawa River/LeBreton Flats south to Carling Avenue. Dalhousie is one of the least known neighborhoods in the City, and its name is seldom recognized. With the new blog, they aim to improve communication and reach more residents. Be sure to subscribe to the blog to get updated news. Continue reading New Dalhousie Community Association Blog

Preston street, streetscaping

Icebergs … on Preston Street

Westsideaction

  A few days ago, I wrote of a meteorite – made of Luigi-ite – being found on Preston. – Now, icebergs ! – Icebergs float, but just barely. Most of their bulk is unseen underwater. – Who knew that fire hydrants had a similar tale? Shown here is a nice four-pack of hydrants, waiting for installation along Preston Street. Below the bright yellow tops, is a red pipe and way way down, is a valve point, to which a pipe runs to the water main. – I have made a point of looking for fire hydrants in a number … Continue reading Icebergs … on Preston Street

Booth St, condos, Dalhousie2 Comments

New plans on Booth Street

Westsideaction

Shown is the old Desjardins IGA/Loeb Booth Street, located just a few metres south of where Booth crosses Somerset. – The building has been vacant for several years. Attempts to find a new grocer have failed. A government funded study on installing a food coop floundered. The building has a typical industrial facade, but behind the facade I hear there are several old houses joined together. The result is uneven and shifting floors bridging stone foundations. – Thirty years ago Desjardins had the current Loblaws marketing plan in place. There were grocieries, and furniture, a hardware aisle, and upstairs a … Continue reading New plans on Booth Street

Dalhousie2 Comments

Blog Radio

Westsideaction

A number of MSM (Main Stream Media) read this blog. Several stories I have written about appear at day or two later in the local dead trees, twice as front pagers. Coincidence no doubt. A few days ago I wrote about police foot patrols in my Dalhousie neighborhood on the west side of the downtown. CBC radio did a followup interview today. Broadcast is estimated for Friday, 7.15am, 91.5 on your dial. Continue reading Blog Radio

bike path, NCC, ottawa river

NCC Oversight ?

Westsideaction

roof deckspiral ramp up in all its majestic ugliness Scene of the crime: Remic Scenic Overlook, along the Ottawa River Commuter Expressway at Tunney’s Pasture, between the parking lot and the river–Object: brutal concrete round structure with spiral ramp up to viewing area on its “roof”. The Guggenheim museum it is not.–Function: cobwebby door to interior. Sound of large pumps or motors working constantly. Probably pumps cool Ottawa River water through heat exchangers to chill the cubicle farms located in high rises immediately to the south (in area called a “Pasture”).–Worth climbing to viewing platform? No, not really. The roofscape … Continue reading NCC Oversight ?

bike path, cycling in Ottawa, Prince of Wales Bridge3 Comments

Memorial on Bike Path

Westsideaction

A small bouquet of plastic lillies and a funeral folder sit behind a small charred spot of grass where the Ottawa River bike path goes under the Prince of Wales railway Bridge. The charred spot looked like maybe a sweetgrass fire yesterday; today it has a votive candle in a holder there. The spot is so peaceful, a steady stream of cyclists, joggers, and pedestrians goes by. The sun shines. Geese swim by. The water looks cool and refreshing. Are we doing something to be remembered by? Cylist Paul Kenneth Dabene was murdered there on July 27, 2009. Continue reading Memorial on Bike Path

LeBreton Flats, little Italy, Preston street1 Comment

Preston Street meteorite identified ?

Westsideaction

The large stone-like lump arrived on Preston Street near Albert earlier this week. Its about 2m on each dimension, and very heavy. – It has no handle, ductwork, conduits, cables, bolt holes, or other humanly useful features. Why on earth would someone have made this giant lump of concrete? Or maybe no one on earth made it … its a meteorite made of Luigite ! Continue reading Preston Street meteorite identified ?

Claridge, condos, LeBreton Flats1 Comment

Blinding Urban Development

Westsideaction

It’s not often that I feel dazzled by the Claridge condo at 200 Lett Street on the Flats, but this sunset corrected that. BYW, the condo finally has a street number near the front door, but curiously confuses the viewer by showing the street number but not the street name, instead it is accompanied by the NCC marketing phrase LeBreton Flats. It’s not really 200 LeBreton Flats, it’s 200 Lett Street. Continue reading Blinding Urban Development

cycling in Ottawa1 Comment

Lanark cycling curiousities

Westsideaction

pedestrian sidwalk link from Lanark to Latchford, no sidewalk dip view west from Premier at midblock closing view from Lanark toward Latchford Photo 2 is looking west on Premier Avenue where it intersects Remic Avenue (these streets are just north of Scott, near the 30 storey Metropole condo, opposite the WestVillage townhouse complex). Both sides of the traffic calming closure are Premier Avenue, but the street is not open for cars to carry on to join Lanark Avenue just ahead. This prevents car commuters from short cutting through a residential neighborhood. It is open to cyclists and strollers on the … Continue reading Lanark cycling curiousities

bike path, cycling in Ottawa2 Comments

Real Bike Lanes

Westsideaction

I must confess to being a fan of real marked bike lanes, and not at all enamored of the “its an unmarked lane on a wider car lane” policy favored by our fair City. – The above two pictures are on Island Park Drive, which has wide, quite well maintained bike lanes on both sides of the street from Gatineau through to at least Westgate/Hampton Park (you can guess how far I rode on the street…). Throughout the trip, cars stayed off the bike lane and well into their own lane, except for two taxis that drifted all over it. … Continue reading Real Bike Lanes