As part of a transit-oriented weekend organized by an exciting collaboration between YPT Montreal and YPT Toronto (https://www.ypttoronto.org/), it was great to discover some of the latest features of the cycling and walking network of the City of Ottawa last weekend.

The soon-to-open LRT Confederation line (https://www.ligneconfederationline.ca/the-plan/where/) will provide 13 new stations connecting downtown Ottawa to communities in the east and west and it is anticipated to provide for a demand of 24,000 passengers per hour and direction in the peak. A visit to the uOttawa station serving the university demonstrated an integrated planning of the station so it can successfully connect to Ottawa’s wider cycling and walking network. A cycle ramp (photo) integrated with a shared footpath connects the campus through the station to the Rideau canal network.

The station is a great example of how direct cycling and walking routes to a station encourage multimodal trips but also ensures that the station does not prevent direct connectivity between neighbourhoods through a transit line. Clear wayfinding and adequate facilities for secured and covered cycle parking are also a key ingredient of successful multimodal integration at stations – it will be interesting to hear how this experience is lived by future users of the LRT!