● What the City of Ottawa is planning to spend on cycling in 2016.

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson gave his 2016 Budget Address on November 12. Here’s what he had to say about cycling and cycling related expenditures for 2016:

In 2016, we will also continue our investments to ensure ensuring cycling remains a safe and attractive option for commuters and families.

For example, this budget proposes to allocate $200,000 to maintain our 40-kilometre winter cycling network.

I am pleased to tell you that we will also move forward on two key bike lane projects this year.

The first is a partnership with the NCC and the Embassy of the United States of America for bike lanes on Mackenzie Avenue.

This will provide better cycling connectivity and remove the unattractive jersey barriers in front of the embassy.

I want to thank United States’ Ambassador Bruce Heyman who brought this offer to me several months ago.

In 2016, we will also break ground on the first phase of the O’Connor Street bike lane, which will be a great north-south option for cyclists.

This will be a perfect complement to the Laurier Bike Lanes, which will likely celebrate their 2-millionth rider by this time next year.

In addition to this, we’ll invest $1.1 million for cycling improvements on Cyrville Road.

Looking ahead, we will also open the $9.2-million Somerset-Donald pedestrian and cycling bridge.

This will be the fifth bridge we’ve opened in the last three years.

The $25-million investment in cycling during the last term of Council was the largest this city’s ever seen.

At the end of this term we are on track to do even better by investing more than $31 million over four years.

And on the strength of the recommendation made by our transportation committee, we will make an important down payment of $4.8M million on the Fifth and Clegg Pedestrian Crossing linking the Glebe to Old Ottawa East.

Click here for the Mayor’s entire budget address for 2016.