Living Car Free - City Video: Pro-transit, anti-car

City of Ottawa video (http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/public_consult/beyond_2020/intensvideo_en.html) (see links at bottom of that page).

Intensification ? = my couch and parking spot?
I can hear it already the strange guy under the stairs.
The gentleman in the tree house. Sandy and her tent.

Intensfictaion in Arizona = Drop house :)

Found this very interesting. Just last night a group of us were discussing a similar idea at dinner and talking about the comparison with European towns and cities.

Thanks for posting.

I liked it so much, it made me want to move to Ottawa! LOL! They are truly headed in the right direction but did you notice how much importance they are putting on lightrail? Without question, lightrail is the heart and soul of this "Intensification" urban development because the majority of those living in the city are going to have to become car free in order for it to work.

My hats off to the people of Ottawa but they did not stop the sprawl. If you listen carefully, the burbs are expanding at an even faster pace then the city and this is going to be a huge problem in the future. The Ottawa urban planners are dreaming if they think the lightrail is going to expand to the burbs in the future because it would cost hundreds of billions to do this.

The good news is that the main core of Ottawa has a great future ahead of them. They are spending billions in rail lines to replace the ones they distroyed 50 years ago. However, I can see skyscrapers in this cities future and probably a subway by the end of this century. This city will become a tourist attraction for the world just like Paris and New York.

Thanks for posting.

I liked it so much, it made me want to move to Ottawa! LOL! They are truly headed in the right direction but did you notice how much importance they are putting on lightrail? Without question, lightrail is the heart and soul of this "Intensification" urban development because the majority of those living in the city are going to have to become car free in order for it to work.

They also emphasized light rail because they are trying to sell the public and other levels of gov't on a $4billion LRT project.


My hats off to the people of Ottawa but they did not stop the sprawl. If you listen carefully, the burbs are expanding at an even faster pace then the city and this is going to be a huge problem in the future. The Ottawa urban planners are dreaming if they think the lightrail is going to expand to the burbs in the future because it would cost hundreds of billions to do this.

They 'burbs used to be independent cities with their own municipal planning - to an extent we are stuck with the results of policies from before the forced amalgamation of 2001. Those in the 'burbs have had a hard time accepting that LRT will not be extended to their communities in the near future. I think the video was meant to placate them somewhat. Meanwhile we are still spending millions on expanding the BRT network to the far 'burbs.


The good news is that the main core of Ottawa has a great future ahead of them. They are spending billions in rail lines to replace the ones they distroyed 50 years ago. However, I can see skyscrapers in this cities future and probably a subway by the end of this century. This city will become a tourist attraction for the world just like Paris and New York.

Not sure about a subway - other than short tunnel proposed for downtown. Much of the LRT network will run at surface, or just below grade like the existing pilot project does.

I think LRT will change the face of Ottawa - but with so many changes to the plan, lack of commitment from city hall, and recent problems with our transit I am not convinced it will ever be built. Still, nice to see the commitment in this video... even if it is only a virtual commitment at this point.

Sounds like there is pressure on the city from the province of Ontario to deal with urban sprawl. Is this the main driver behind intensification? Or does a majority of citizens really feel the need for this? Downtown Ottawa used to be a relatively unfriendly spot to drive a car, so perhaps there are more people who support LRT and its side effects. When I lived there 20 years ago, it was difficult and expensive to drive into the city center to work. It must be much more so nowadays.

Overall, what's the level of support for intensification among the average citizens?

It's too bad the state and municipalities in the US aren't getting their ducks in a row.

Sounds like there is pressure on the city from the province of Ontario to deal with urban sprawl. Is this the main driver behind intensification?

That's certainly a big one, but the biggest pressure is financial. Thanks to previous provincial governments, the city is responsible for everything from utilities to policing to welfare and social services. Every year since amalgamation has brought deep cuts, and most also tax increases. Even the most sprawl-happy city councillors now see that we have budget issues - and sprawl is expensive.


Or does a majority of citizens really feel the need for this? Downtown Ottawa used to be a relatively unfriendly spot to drive a car, so perhaps there are more people who support LRT and its side effects. When I lived there 20 years ago, it was difficult and expensive to drive into the city center to work. It must be much more so nowadays.

You should have seen it during the bus strike! Citizens in the urban core support intensification - with caution. I suspect that was a motivation for that video, people fear than intensification means the house next door will be replaced by a 50-story condo.

Outside the greenbelt support is much weaker. These are people who did not ask to be part of "Ottawa", chose to live the burb life (for most, anyway), and are asked to support LRT and other plans when won't directly benefit them.


Overall, what's the level of support for intensification among the average citizens?

I'm not sure, to be honest. I do see a high level of support that "something must be done". I think that, if the public is sufficiently well informed of the issues (and bothers to learn!) support will grow. I also think that once some of the early steps are done (e.g. simple re-zoning) and the sky doesn't fall, people will accept the change.

There are other encouraging signs. A new road which would have brought many more cars downtown was defeated. Another new road project was just approved, and described as "10 lanes, 5 in each direction: 3 for cars, 1 for transit, and 1 bike lane". I found it very encouraging that the bike lanes and bus lanes were considered "lanes" in the total count.

Hey Pat as long as you're describing transport in Ottawa I heard a story from a friend who claimed that her sister would ice skate to work down a canal in the city center. Is that a tall tale or do people really use ice skates as transport in the colder months?

yah, people do that.
there are even a couple of people that canoe to work from across the river in Quebec. Not many mind you.

The demand for single family houses with yards is not going away, and only so many detached houses can fit within already developed areas. (After living in various towers and apartment complexes, I've decided that I hate them and will never live in anything larger than a fourplex or sixplex ever again.) Until you stop population growth, the sprawl will not stop. Why not simply focus upon making present and future suburban areas more walkable and bikeable? Make the sprawl more hospitable to the car-free.

The demand for single family houses with yards is not going away, and only so many detached houses can fit within already developed areas. (After living in various towers and apartment complexes, I've decided that I hate them and will never live in anything larger than a fourplex or sixplex ever again.) Until you stop population growth, the sprawl will not stop. Why not simply focus upon making present and future suburban areas more walkable and bikeable? Make the sprawl more hospitable to the car-free.

I find that suburban areas are now reaching population sizes of regular cities. In fact, that is the future of cities within 15 miles of the center. As the population grows, the cost of housing increaes to the point where single family homes are purcahased and large scale apartments are constructed. Otherwise, you have something similar to San Francisico where the only thing on the market are single family homes costing over 500K!

What wil end the sprawl will be the end of gasoline. Those living within 15 miles of the center in Ottawa will be in much better shape than those 50 miles or more 100 years from now.

I find that suburban areas are now reaching population sizes of regular cities. In fact, that is the future of cities within 15 miles of the center. As the population grows, the cost of housing increaes to the point where single family homes are purcahased and large scale apartments are constructed. Otherwise, you have something similar to San Francisico where the only thing on the market are single family homes costing over 500K!

Although SF is one of our densest cities, as most of its single family homes share sidewalls with each other.

I certain hope that we don't see the expansion of the large scale apartment complex. I hate those things. They are ugly. Hallways are echo chambers that amplify noises that you and your neighbors make. They have a large footprint and require the destruction of greenspace. Also, the anonymity of large complexes can make it hard to hold residents accountable for destructive behavior. If we must densify, I'd rather see something more similar to Chicago, Montreal or Boston: triplexes. Basically, dwellings that look like houses but hold multiple units. I think that is more likely anyway, as they are far cheaper to construct. If we are to experience an oil and materials shortage, skyscrapers are likely to go the way of the car.


What wil end the sprawl will be the end of gasoline. Those living within 15 miles of the center in Ottawa will be in much better shape than those 50 miles or more 100 years from now.

In that case, there is no need to do anything, except wait :lol:

That's certainly a big one, but the biggest pressure is financial. Thanks to previous provincial governments, the city is responsible for everything from utilities to policing to welfare and social services. Every year since amalgamation has brought deep cuts, and most also tax increases. Even the most sprawl-happy city councillors now see that we have budget issues - and sprawl is expensive.

Still... the councillors sound like they have been able to connect the dots between infrastructure costs and the number of taxpayers you can fit into a square kilometer.

I don't hear any such talk in Des Moines, which is a little less than half the population of Ottawa (and seems even more spread out...). In fact, the city councils are often trying to keep population density down, like setting limits on the number of inhabitants per house and approving lot sizes that are enough to fit about 3 houses. I'm guessing that when people finally connect the dots here in the Mid West, there will be the same sort of depressing rants that you currently hear when they mention the lack of railroad infrastructure....

I suspect what it boils down to is that city government officials, elected or otherwise, are not well educated about ideas that have spawned elsewhere.

Still... the councillors sound like they have been able to connect the dots between infrastructure costs and the number of taxpayers you can fit into a square kilometer.

Unfortunately that does not always translate to decision making. We have a problem, post-amalgamation, that we are a "city" with the largest rural population in Ontario! So even if the urban councillors approve a concept, the rural ones often vote against because their constituents share the cost but get no benefits.

Ottawa is great at forward-thinking policies, official plans, and public consultations. I've learned not to get too optimistic about *results*.

What wil end the sprawl will be the end of gasoline. Those living within 15 miles of the center in Ottawa will be in much better shape than those 50 miles or more 100 years from now.

That and the rising cost of suburban homes. If/when cities make developers pay the full cost of extending the infrastructure, and that cost gets passed on to home buyers.... that home in the 'burbs will seem much less attractive!

Hey Pat as long as you're describing transport in Ottawa I heard a story from a friend who claimed that her sister would ice skate to work down a canal in the city center. Is that a tall tale or do people really use ice skates as transport in the colder months?

Yup, its true! We have the world's longest open-air skating rink. (Avoiding the word "largest", big debate there). The Rideau Canal was built as a military transport corridor, in case the US invaded us again. Never got used as such, but used throughout the summer for small pleasure crafts, and in the winter it is partially drained, allowed to freeze, and open for skating. You can rent skates at kiosks along the canal, as well as buy beaver tails.

Downtown section of Canal. (http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=MacKenzie+King,+Ottawa,+Ottawa+Division,+Ontario&sll=45.373101,-75.650823&sspn=0.011592,0.029933&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=FfActQIdVA99-w&split=0&z=16)

As this thread seems to wind down, I'm hopeful that others might take a while and look at the video. There's a lot of ideas here that would work in other North American cities.

As this thread seems to wind down, I'm hopeful that others might take a while and look at the video. There's a lot of ideas here that would work in other North American cities.

I've seen it twice and each time, I learned more and liked what they are trying to do. They said in the video that intensification will not bring more traffic. Nothing could be further from the truth! LOL!

They better start making it harder to park your car by elimination free parking entirely. As more large scale housing is constructed and the population reaches 1.3 million, they better begin surcharging for cars driving in the city like London. There is no way your're going to have that lightrail crawling along with traffic at 2 mph! Ottawa better start building underground parking and making it expensive. Park and Rides outside of the green zone is a must.

There is no way your're going to have that lightrail crawling along with traffic at 2 mph!

The LRT will be grade-separated from traffic, just as the BRT is now. The only difference is the new downtown tunnel - removing the only significant conflict that currently exists between rapid transit and traffic.


Ottawa better start building underground parking and making it expensive. Park and Rides outside of the green zone is a must.

There are several park-and-ride lots outside the greenbelt already; others are planned.