Thank you for your interest in contacting your councillor about bike parking in the new Zoning By-law! Below is some language you can use in your conversation or correspondence. In general, we suggest a) keeping to the point, b) sharing your personal experiences, c) citing existing commitments by Council, d) requesting follow-up.
Please also consider CCing us ([email protected]) if you write your councillor! That helps us keep track of engagement, and we'd also be happy to keep you apprised of developments on this file!
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Dear Councillor:
I am concerned about changes to the draft new Zoning By-law that would water down the amount and quality of bike parking in new developments.
Draft 2 of the By-law sought a reduction of bike-parking minimums in a variety of residential and commercial buildings, and shockingly seeks to impose maximums in large retail stores.
A set of recommendations proposed by staff, moreover, would make bike parking further from entrances, eliminate shelter, allow long-term parking to be outside of buildings, and lower parking rates in residential buildings and the suburbs.
These recommendations are backward. We need bike parking at both our homes and our destinations, and retrofitting buildings is much more costly than constructing appropriately the first time. Moreover, our Official Plan rightly commits to increasing use of sustainable transportation modes like biking.
It’s also concerning that staff only consulted industry and not community members or advocacy groups, and that they consider the provision of adequate bike parking negatively.
I would ask that you oppose the changes mentioned above and instead support bike parking rates and standards that will help us be the sustainable city that our Official Plan commits to.
Finally, I would ask for a response from you that includes a commitment to standing up for accessibility and mobility in Ottawa.
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]