Therien: Cyclists, wear a darn helmet!
Ottawa Citizen

By Emile Thérien, Ottawa Citizen, June 26, 2016

Safe cycling starts with the cyclists themselves. This is an indisputable fact and make no mistake about it. And that should start with wearing a bike helmet.

A 2010 study found that mandatory bike helmet laws are effective in reducing cycling injuries and fatalities and are no impediment to ridership numbers. Ryan Zarychanski, an assistant professor of community health services and internal medicine at the University of Manitoba, who co-authored the study that investigated this matter, said that an “all ages” law should be adopted by all provinces.

Boil-water advisory issued for Richmond community
Ottawa Citizen

By Ottawa Citizen, June 26, 2016

Ottawa Public Health has issued a boil-water advisory for users of the communal well water system in the Kings Park community in Richmond.

The advisory is due to a depressurization in the communal well system in the area, and remains in effect until further notice.

Reevely: Ottawa’s bike-friendliness is a lie
Ottawa Citizen

By David Reevely, Ottawa Citizen, June 26, 2016

Biking to work downtown, I see a woman in front of me nearly get killed by a careless driver on Laurier Avenue. Only her own quick reflexes (and good brakes) keep her from being right-hooked by a HVAC company truck, whose driver turned south onto O’Connor Street without checking to see whether he might murder anyone.

One block later, at Metcalfe Street, a guy pulls his minivan half into the bike lane, illegally, and then his passenger flings her door open to hop out, right in our way.

Elgin Street redesign open to input from residents
Ottawa & Region
News
Ot

By Jon Willing, Ottawa Sun, June 24, 2016

The city is tearing up and redesigning Elgin Street, but first it needs a blueprint for how the prime commercial strip should be transformed.

Should there by cycling lanes? Fewer parking spots? Wider sidewalks?

“There will be a need for compromise,” development review manager Derrick Moodie predicted.

Lyme disease cases more than triple in Ottawa
Ottawa & Region
News
Ottawa

By Andrew Duffy, Ottawa Sun, June 24, 2016

Statistics show that the number of Lyme disease cases reported in Ottawa more than tripled last year, and public health officials warn the problem could get worse.

“We know the ticks are here — and we know that we have ticks that carry Lyme disease in Ottawa,” said Dr. Robin Taylor, the city’s associate medical officer of health.

Rapids studded with rebar no place to swim
Ottawa & Region
News
Ottawa Sun

By Megan Gillis, Ottawa Sun, June 24, 2016

A Gatineau first responder warned swimmers to stay out of the Deschênes Rapids, after a man and woman in their 20s who swam through them across the Ottawa River on Friday are “lucky to be alive.”

“It’s a very, very dangerous location for swimming,” said Jean-Guy Leclerc, director of operations for Gatineau’s fire service, adding that even when the water is as low as it is now, the rapids are powerful and studded with rebar from an old dam.

One-metre rule between cars, cyclists gets heated reaction online - Ottawa - CBC News

By Kristy Nease, CBC News Ottawa, June 24, 2016

When you're driving, do you make sure to keep at least one metre between your vehicle and the cyclists you pass?

If not, each offence in Ontario could cost you $110 and two demerit points — and Ottawa police say they'll start enforcing the law soon.

But before that happens, police are conducting an educational, awareness-building campaign about the relatively new rule, which came into effect in Ontario in September 2015. To do that, they're using two fancy new gadgets that beep when drivers get within one metre of them.

Your letters for Saturday June 25: Cycling and the one-metre rule
Ottawa Citizen

By John A Beggs and others, Ottawa Citizen Letters to the Editor, June 25, 2016

What if the cyclist swerves?

Re: Beware the one-metre bike rule, police warn, June 22.

I am completely in favour of protecting cyclists on our city streets. But the way in which the law is described in your article leaves me perplexed, especially since an offence will involve demerit points for offending motorists. If a cyclist swerves to avoid an obstacle such as a sewer cover or broken or damaged pavement – goodness knows we have plenty of that everywhere in our city – and in so doing comes closer than one metre from a car, who gets ticketed?

Cycling up, water use down in Ottawa, but too many still drive to work: study
Ottawa Citizen

By Don Butler, Ottawa Citizen, June 24, 2016

We’re cycling more, using less water and living in a warmer and wetter capital city. But we’ve made little real progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and too many of us still drive to work on our own.

Those are some key facts that emerge from a batch of environment and sustainability indicators released Friday by the Community Foundation of Ottawa.

The indicators — covering transportation, energy and climate, land use and ecology, and water, waste and sewage — are the latest additions to Ottawa Insights (ottawainsights.ca), the foundation’s Web-based community knowledge centre launched in April.

Ottawa region entering ‘moderate’ drought condition: officials
Ottawa Citizen

By Tom Spears, Ottawa Citizen, June 24, 2016

The Rideau River watershed is entering a “moderate” drought, and even if the possible showers forecast for Monday do arrive they are not expected to help.

The Rideau is flowing at 15 per cent of its normal rate for this time of year. Large streams that feed into it are flowing at an average of six per cent of normal, and small streams “are intermittent or dry,” says the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority.

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