Location
Difficult crossing of the NCC Ottawa River pathway where it meets up with the NCC Watts Creek pathway at Carling.
The NCC Watts Creek pathway crosses Carling to meet up with the NCC Ottawa River pathway, which heads downtown. In rush hour, both the bicycle pathways and Carling are very busy.
At the crossing, there is one bicycle warning sign on Carling heading west, but nothing heading east.
The problem
Cyclists are forced to cross a very busy intersection without the aid of signals. There are also no markings on the pavement to clearly indicate that this is a defined place where bicycles frequently cross. Cyclists often have to wait a long time to find a break in traffic that will let them cross. Many cyclists give up and just ride on Carling.
There are also significant curbs that divide the paths from Carling.
The solution
- install a traffic light
- put clearer signs for cars indicating that this is a bicycle crossing
- paint lines on the road so cars know where cyclists will be crossing
Sorry, this is the right place for posting this set of comments. From Carling west to get on Ottawa River Pathway at Watts Creek takes much caution. Anywhere bikes mixed with actual 80km/hour traffic can be of a hazard. This is a bad spot, with all the western commuters crossing or merging into the pathways from Carling. City can do some small things and make a big difference. In addition to what has been suggested:
1) a bike lane on this stretch of the Carling on or off road on the south side for morning eastbound bike traffic,
2) biker operated stop light, or yield sign (cyclist wait at the sign and cars stop like any pedestrian crossing)
3) Improve the bike path on the south side of Carling starting from here–it is in very rough shape- a reason bikers are on the road competing for space with cars.