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It’s been a terrible last few weeks in Ottawa for people outside of cars.
A woman in her 70s was killed while biking in Manotick, a woman in her 20s was killed by a pickup driver downtown, two children—one biking in Barrhaven, the other scooting in Stittsville—were struck by drivers, a woman was struck walking in the Byward Market—and so on. And this comes after earlier this year, a man in his 80s was killed cycling on Bank St, a woman in her 50s was killed by a truck driver on Smyth Rd, and someone using a wheelchair was killed near the Trainyards—the same day two pedestrians were struck, and one killed, on Innes. And there are many more.
This is atrocious. Our city is not safe for basic mobility.
In the aftermath of this carnage, the idea of banning right turn on red (RTOR) arose—most notably by Somerset Ward Councillor Ariel Troster, who proposed this measure downtown. We at Ecology Ottawa have been contemplating this measure and a few like it for some time, and we think now is the time to act.
To be sure, many intersections downtown already ban RTOR; the City has correctly recognized certain intersections as particularly dangerous. But banning RTOR across downtown would provide a consistency currently lacking. It would also provide evidence of this measure’s efficacy to prepare a broader roll-out in other parts of the city.
A driver "cheating" into the crosswalk as pedestrians walk past.
This situation is unacceptable. In any healthy society, the most vulnerable—in this case, those outside of cars, and those with limited mobility—are afforded the most protection.
The standard prioritization of transportation modes.
In North America, by contrast, we’ve built cities and enacted policies that privilege car traffic flow over protection for the most vulnerable. Think of the complete absence of crosswalks in urban highways like Riverside Dr, Innes Rd, or Baseline; or how our roads so often widen at the intersection, extending the distance for pedestrians or cyclists crossing; or how we only install cycling facilities “where possible,” even in our widest roads.
And the numbers bear out this privileging of car speed over human safety. According to the Ottawa Police, there were 218 collisions involving pedestrians in 2024, 5 resulting in death, and 123 collisions involving cyclists, 100 of these resulting in injuries—and we know that so far, 2025 is greatly exceeding 2024 in terms of death.
A pickup truck blocking a crosswalk, forcing a person using a mobility device outside the crosswalk.
Of course, these numbers don’t reflect near misses, which presumably are many, as well as people who avoid certain intersections, or simply don’t take certain trips, because of the danger to them.
In this light, prohibiting vehicular turns on red downtown seems like a small step—and it is. (Note also that we’re asking to prohibit both right and left turns on red, which is relevant with the many one-way streets downtown.) We’re also asking that this measure, which will be relatively easy to implement, serve to prepare a broader city-wide prohibition. We’re also asking that this prohibition be default in intersections with protected element, whereas they’re currently only suggested.
Other cities have made or are making similar moves. Ann Arbor, MI banned right turns in its downtown; Cambridge, MA banned right turns on red in November 2022; Washington, D.C. enacted a ban this year. Of course, Montreal has always prohibited right turns on red, as has New York City. So Ottawa wouldn’t be breaking new ground by any means.
As with any change, we know prohibiting vehicular turns on red may provoke questions or concerns. For this, we're preparing answers to some frequently asked questions, so stay tuned.
So what can you do? Here are a few things:
- Sign our petition and share it in your network
- Contact your councillor to voice your support
- Follow us on social media (@EcologyOttawa) or subscribe to our newsletter for updates on this campaign
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* Note that we use the terms "walk" and "pedestrian" here inclusively, following the City of Ottawa: "Recognizing that not everyone can walk, the term “walking” encompasses traveling with the use of mobility aids such as a wheelchair, cane, or walker. Likewise, the term “pedestrian” is inclusive of people using mobility aids." (Transportation Master Plan, 65)
