Closure of Queen Elizabeth Driveway

By Richard Webb

Once again, we are faced with the spectacle of different public authorities implementing contradictory policies. The long-established Glebe Traffic Plan introduced measures to keep automobile through-traffic off residential streets, by preventing access from the Queen Elizabeth Driveway (QED) to such streets. However, by restricting automobile traffic on the QED, the NCC ensures that traffic that would otherwise bypass residential areas must use residential streets.

Keep in mind the purpose for which various types of roads exist. Residential streets were constructed to service local houses, apartments, public buildings and commercial establishments. Roads such as the QED were constructed specifically for the purpose of allowing traffic to bypass residential communities (hence their higher speed limits), often with restricted access and egress points. To restrict the use of such roads to cyclists and pedestrians negates their very purpose.

The interests of four groups are involved—drivers, residents, cyclists and pedestrians (the difference between cyclists and pedestrians being usually ignored, even though their interests may also give rise to conflict). The City’s order of priority is cyclists and pedestrians, local residents, then drivers.

As a result, extensive steps have been taken to discourage car traffic, including the removal of lanes (e.g., the Bank Street Bridge, Main Street), the construction of traffic hazards (euphemistically referred to as “traffic calming devices”) and the elimination of parking spaces by the installation of dedicated bike lanes. Cyclists are favoured by such lanes and by acceptance of their right to ignore the usual traffic rules (e.g., stop signs, lights, one-way streets). Pedestrians are favoured by non-enforcement of rules relating to traffic lights, causing increased automobile congestion on local streets.

Most of us would agree that reducing car traffic is a worthwhile endeavour, and if such traffic could be completely eliminated, so much the better. But the reality is that there will always be some need for such traffic. Carrying a month’s worth of family groceries on a bicycle may work on the streets of Delhi, but it is not feasible in Ottawa. Carrying couches down Bank Street is difficult at best. Asking centenarians to ride bicycles in the winter or carry their groceries home on foot is a non-starter. To pretend that we can get rid of all automobile traffic is unrealistic.

The need for automobiles is inversely proportional to the quality of the available public transportation system. A reliable, comprehensive and affordable public transportation system – concentrated on areas of maximum population density – works in Toronto, New York, etc. But Ottawa’s system is unreasonably costly, unreliable, slow, infrequent and fails to provide meaningful service to many areas. Indeed, the city’s primary goal seems to be to get suburban commuters to and from downtown for work – a questionable goal in an era of remote work – rather than creating an infrastructure within the city to serve residents generally. No thought appears to have been given to north/south routes along the main transportation corridors, like Bank and Bronson, that have high population density and event locations, like TD Place. In fact, even the east/west LRT route has been constructed across areas of low population density, like the former Sir John A. MacDonald Parkway, rather than across areas of greater population density, like Baseline.

And even if we accept that increased opportunity for pedestrians and cyclists is warranted, restricting the QED for automobile traffic is overkill. There is already a system of paths in place for pedestrians and cyclists – and a large buffer zone between the canal and the QED – which offer a more pleasant experience than driving or walking on a roadway. And cyclists may already cycle on the roadway, whether or not it is closed. The only beneficiaries are those few pedestrians who prefer walking on roads to walking on paths.

Richard Webb is a long-time Glebe resident with an active interest in community affairs. He was instrumental in achieving the return of the Mutchmor skating rink.