How We Build Places for People in Ottawa
Can I get your help with two things please? (Especially if you like ice cream or have a cargo bike.)
Everyone agrees that city centres are struggling. And that something needs to be done.
The Globe and Mail thinks a good place to start is:
the power of pedestrian-only areas to revitalize cities
They argue that cities like Ottawa need to experiment more with what places like Montreal are doing. Make places more pedestrian friendly and watch the business activity follow.
The Usual Suspects
As we’ve seen, any attempt in Ottawa to rebalance public roads to provide more space for people results in a knee-jerk reaction from certain segments of the city, like AM talk radio.
How to drag Ottawa kicking and screaming
I feel that talk show reactionaries, even if they are in a minority, will dominate the debate until Ottawa is able to demonstrate the power of pedestrian-only areas.
The way to tip the narrative is to show people first hand what is possible with pedestrianized streets. Too many people can’t imagine this an anything more than a closed road.
The NCC has given us a golden opportunity with the Queen Elizabeth Driveway. As I’ve talked about recently, the NCC is inviting communities groups and individuals to bring activities and events to the street. They’re offering a stage. They’re offering space. They’re making it super simple.
The NCC hasn’t really told anyone yet, but the application form it is now officially up on their website.
I’d appreciate your help
I’m involved in getting a few community-led activities onto the QED, including one this Saturday, 13 July around 11am. A mass of cyclists are going to arrive to put on a demo of different cargo bikes. Anyone cargo-bike curious can speak with owners and learn more.
We’re also giving away free ice cream, to anyone passing by. Why? Because what is better than free ice cream on a hot summer day?
Two asks
And so my request of all of you dear readers.
Anyone with a cargo bike, come out and join us on Saturday morning. Share the love.
I’m trying to find about 25 people who would each kick in $20 to buy ice creams. We can put big smiles on the faces of about 500 kids if enough of us contribute.
If you would be willing to donate $20 so that we can hand out free ice cream to kids, please let me know. Email neil.saravanamuttoo@mac.com, or if you prefer to just cut to the chase, kindly send a $20 e-transfer to that email.
💯 of money will go to ice cream!
And a third one
I actually have a third ask. Come out Saturday morning to the QED and stop by and say hello. Enjoy an ice cream. Enjoy the street painters, who will also be nearby.
The NCC is giving us an amazing opportunity to show what the community can do with pedestrianized streets. Part of that is just people showing up and being present.
Let’s use the QED opportunity this summer to show Ottawa what can be done when streets are made available to people.
The simplicity of the application process and the straightforward criteria -- wow, this is a first for the NCC and one City bureaucrats could draw a lesson from. Come on, Ottawa, let your creative juices flow!