Staff recommends Ottawa green light E-Cargo Bikes for use on streets and bike lanes
The city of Ottawa hopes a new e-cargo bike pilot project will encourage delivery companies to use bikes instead of vehicles in the downtown core, as well as create new transportation options for families and tourists.
The Transportation Committee will vote Wednesday on a recommendation to create a Cargo Power-Assisted Bicycles Pilot Project, allowing the use of e-cargo bikes for personal and commercial use.
Ottawa must create its own E-Cargo Bike Bylaw following recent changes to the Highway Traffic Act, reclassifying some existing e-bikes over 55 kilometres as e-cargo bikes. Municipalities have the authority to enact a bylaw permitting the use of e-cargo bikes.
Under the plan, Ottawa would create separate e-cargo bikes bylaws for personal and commercial uses.
All e-cargo bikes will be able to use roads, on-street bike lanes, cycle tracks and segregated bike lanes. Commercial e-cargo bikes will be prohibited from using Ottawa's multi-use pathways, while all e-cargo bikes will be banned from sidewalks.
Existing bicycle parking facilities may be used by all e-cargo bikes.
A pubic survey found 91 per cent of respondents indicated support for the use of both personal and commercial e-cargo bikes.
REDUCING TRUCK TRAFFIC IN URBAN AREAS
City staff say as a result of increased online shopping and on-demand food delivery services, the city is seeing an increase in the number of delivery vehicles on the streets.
The report notes new operational concepts have been piloted in Europe, New York, Montreal and Toronto, using e-cargo bikes to decrease truck traffic in urban settings.
"Commercial e-cargo bikes can effectively replace delivery vans in urban areas, thus providing a greener and more efficient alternative to support the same delivery demand," said staff, noting one e-cargo bike has been found to be capable of replacing one standard delivery truck and service an area within a three to five kilometre radius of a cycling logistics centre.
Under the E-Cargo Bike Pilot Project, commercial e-cargo bikes would be required to have the company name or logo on two opposing sides of the vehicle, as well as a four-digit identifier number.
The report for the Transportation Committee says staff expect approximately 25 commercial e-cargo bikes to be operating in the downtown core within the first two years of the pilot project.
Commercial e-cargo bike operators will be allowed to apply for a short-term parking permit to use loading zones and no parking zones for 15 minutes when actively engaged in delivery activities
"Commercial e-cargo bike delivery services through accommodative parking policies and permit procedures will assist in reducing heavy vehicle traffic, greenhouse gases and will contribute to making Ottawa’s streets safer," says staff.
E-RICKSHAWS
City staff say the pilot project would open the door to the possibility for e-pedicab/e-rickshaw uses, creating an option for residents and tourists in popular areas.
The Licensing Bylaw would be amended to add e-rickshaws, and require that a licence be obtained to operate the vehicles where passengers are being transported.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Police investigating shooting outside of Drake's Bridle Path mansion: source
Toronto police are investigating a shooting that took place outside of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion early Tuesday morning, a source tells CP24.
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
3 Indian nationals accused of murdering Hardeep Singh Nijjar facing court in B.C.
Three Indian nationals accused of murdering Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar are due to face court Tuesday over the killing that triggered a major diplomatic rift with India.
Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife's edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Highlights from the 2024 Met Gala exhibit: Sleeping Beauty would wake up for these gowns
Sure, she was a royal princess and all. But there’s no way Sleeping Beauty — either before or after her nap — ever had quite the fabulous wardrobe that’s been assembled at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.