Vision Zero Ottawa

Thank you to all ofthe community who advocated to make the core safe for people who walk, ride and roll. Together we will continue the effort to achieve the obvious. #4.

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American Economist Lant Pritchett proposed that changes to social norms generate 4 reactions:

1. First Perceived as Silly
2. Then Controversial
3. Then Progressive
4. Then Obvious

On No RTOR in the urban core, City council and staff are somewhere between (1) and (2)

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#ottbike #ottwalk

Ottawa's latest pedestrian fatality. We don't know the details. We know that this person has a family and community grieving a life cut short. We know that our city council and management have a road safety policy of accepting tragedy as inevitable. This tragedy is an outcome. Not an accident.

An infographic in a colorful whimsical style shows a parent and two children riding bikes through a meadow with tulips and flowers.

Kidical Mass Ottawa is getting ready for another season of joy, connection, and being the future we want to see.

Learn more about the movement and how you can get involved. Volunteers of every kind make this joyful event happen - we want to hear from you.

visionzeroottawa.ca/newsletter/

Screen capture of the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee members, including the Bike Ottawa representative.

On February 26, 2026, Bike Ottawa delegated at the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee on the topic or right turns on red (link to video in post).

We encourage you to watch all the other delegations who had compelling arguments, data, and personal stories.

bikeottawa.ca/2026/02/27/r...

Public Works and Infrastructure Committee – February 26, 2026 YouTube video by Ottawa City Council

We spoke at PIWC to support Cllr Troster’s inquiry and advocacy on No Right Turns on Red in the urban core.

A flawed city staff report on RTOR shows that we have a lot of work to do in making the city safe to cycle, walk and roll.

Watch at 1:06:45

www.youtube.com/live/Q08A6s-...

Horrific. Just saw this on national news. I’d like to think city leaders will respond with steps to make Ottawa streets safer, but they just voted against some. #ottawa #autowa

Any driver movement responsible for any percentage of crashes with pedestrians or people on bikes is a percentage worth fixing.

That's the whole point of vision zero.

#SubSkeet.

YES. This is the whole point of Vision Zero. We shouldn't accept any deaths or serious injuries for the convenience of motorists. @visionzeroottawa.bsky.social

How citizen-led data tools are filling knowledge gaps about Ottawa's transit system Transit advocates are tracking service reliability for OC Transpo buses and trains to shed light on everyday realities.

Awesome to see the folks at @bettertransitottawa.ca getting the recognition that they deserve!

The passion is invigorating to see, and the tools are super useful as well!

ottawacitizen.com/news/citizen...

Check out their block tracker: bettertransitottawa.ca/tracker/blocks

Looking for some suggested language to email your councillor about prohibiting vehicular turns on red downtown?

We've got you: www.ecologyottawa.ca/suggested_la...

#RTOR #SafeStreets #OttCity #Ottawa

DUI was once a minor infraction. It took the efforts of MADD to make it both legally and socially unacceptable.

Today, distracted driving has become common - and increasingly tolerated - even though its consequences for human life are just as severe. It’s time we treat it with the same seriousness.

One of the more disturbing sections of the city's report on right turns on reds : they say that banning right turns on reds will lead to worse safety because drivers will be impatient and kill/injure people due to being inconvenienced.

We can't seriously be hiding behind this right?

Making Intersections Safer for Pedestrians Leading Pedestrian Intervals and No Turn on Red restrictions are common interventions that are often paired with each other to reduce the likelihood that motorists will crash with people walking.

"“Right turn on red restrictions are not standard practice when introducing leading pedestrian or leading bike intervals,” Gonthier said."👀👀👀👀👀 www.alexandriava.gov/transportati...

This is deeply concerning.

City staff recommending against making our streets substantially safer is irresponsible. The statistics don't even show the whole picture, as many near misses don't get reported.

Driving is a privilege, and it does not come before the lives and safety of our residents.

FAQs: Prohibiting vehicular turns on red downtown

Oh, and for some more information on RTOR (right turns on red—although left turns should be prohibited too), check out our FAQs. 4/3 #VisionZero #SafeStreets

www.ecologyottawa.ca/faqs_rtor

City-wide red light right turn ban creates ‘potential safety impacts’: Ottawa staff A blanket ban on right turns at red lights at intersections across the City of Ottawa could create “potential safety impacts, concerns and increased traffic congestion” and should be assessed on a cas...

@en.ottawa.ca staff’s thinking remains rooted in the bad old days—incidentally the same that produced #Ottawa’s unsustainable sprawl.

We’ve since realized that prioritizing a handful of drivers’ momentary convenience over everyone else’s safety is wrong. 1/3

www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...

I mean, we wouldn't want to implement a policy where we'd surpass Vision 20%. 🤔
#Ottawa #Autowa #VisionZero

Ottawa Staff on Right Turn on Red:
“They’re really stuck in 50s and 60s standards… how can I get that car through the intersection 30 seconds faster, and those 30 seconds could really make a difference to the life of a pedestrian”

Thank you @arieltroster.com

www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...

Vehicle emissions standards = livable cities + public health.

Canada has historically followed the U.S. on vehicle emissions.

But as the U.S. guts EPA rules, Canada must choose:
🇪🇺 Match the EU’s stronger standards, or
🇺🇸 Follow the U.S. down a path of unhealthy cities

Clean air is non-negotiable 🌍

Baby in stroller left with minor injuries after near-miss with driver in Kanata A stroller tipped over following a near-miss with a driver in Kanata on Thursday morning, leaving a baby with minor injuries.

A baby in a stroller was injured by a car driver, in the exact location where the Ford government forced the city to remove a speed camera.

I am so tired of how the provincial government is actively making our city less safe.

ottawacitizen.com/news/baby-st...

This poor family 😥. I'm glad they are (mostly) physically okay.

There's a reason this @tomflood.bsky.social graphic resonates with me and so many others.

Have you ever thought about how your last act might be a final push of the stroller to try and save your kid's life. I have. Far too often.

We know this:
– A terrifying moment for a parent and child
– happened near a school and former speed camera location

The Ford Government chose to remove a proven safety tool making the community less safe. This near tragedy was predictable.

ottawacitizen.com/news/baby-st...

Tired: Police enforcement alone to manage speed compliance, same risky behaviours repeating. Necessary, but ineffective and reactive. 🚓😮‍💨

Wired: Canada adopts EU-style Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA)- helps drivers stay within limits by default. Safe systems > Endless enforcement. 🚗⚡🛑

Snowstorms are hell for wheelchair users—but they don't have to be "You can't physically move. You can't do anything."

“The failure of…cities to adequately clear snow so that disabled people with mobility devices can safely get around is both an infrastructure failure and a policy choice, leaving those people stuck in one area and stripping them of their autonomy.”

www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

Ottawa can do better — but only if we push past rigid thinking and imagine safer, more human streets.

👀✨ Where do you want to see street art in Ottawa? Intersections? School zones? Main streets?

Drop your ideas 👇 and help Ottawa help itself.
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#ottcity #ottwalk #ottbike #otttraffic

🚫Ottawa Transportation Planning’s take: No. It might distract drivers.

That mindset is the real problem. Streets designed only for cars cause speeding. Streets designed for people command attention and care. That’s the point.

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A scene depicts a street curb and a child squatting with a paint roller. The child uses a roller to paint the street.

A leafy residential street in a wide angle shot features a work of art on the street. The whimsical artwork resembles the thorax on an insect in vibrant yellow and blues

An overhead photo of an intersection at night time features a lively work of art painted on the tarmac. The artwork resembles a Florida themed scene of palm trees silhouettes and people on bike and foot.

🎨 Street Art = Traffic Calming 🚦

Street art isn’t a gimmick — it’s a proven placemaking tool that works.

✅ Adds colour, pride, and identity to our streets
✅ Slows vehicle speeds — especially near schools 🏫
✅ Signals “people live here,” not “drive through faster”
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Les aménagements urbains influencent-ils le comportement des citoyens? | OHdio | Radio-Canada Écoutez l’extrait de l’émission Moteur de recherche : Les aménagements urbains influencent-ils le comportement des citoyens?

Les aménagements urbains influencent-ils le comportement des citoyens? Réponse courte : oui. Écoutez! 👇

ici.radio-canada.ca/ohdio/premie...

Seems like a good time to ask parents to not drive their kids to school if there’s an alternative. 25-40% of morning traffic is now the school run. And to advocate for safe separated infrastructure to allow active transport to school for kids.