Road Safety First: Building Safer Streets for a Growing Stittsville

Stittsville is growing, and our roads are getting busier.

Every day, residents are sharing the same streets in different ways: driving, walking, biking, using e-bikes, riding e-scooters, rollerblading, skateboarding, pushing strollers, walking to school, or trying to cross safely as seniors.

That means road safety can no longer be treated as a side issue. It must be part of how we plan growth.

This is not about blaming drivers, cyclists, scooter riders, or pedestrians. It is about building a safer system for everyone.

Ottawa's Data Shows Why This Matters

The City of Ottawa's road safety information shows that serious collisions are still a real concern.

Between 2019 and 2023, Ottawa recorded 62 collisions involving cyclists that resulted in a major injury or fatality. The City also reported six additional major-injury or fatal collisions involving e-bikes during that same period.

E-scooter use is also growing. Ottawa's 2024 shared e-scooter report shows approximately 252,000 e-scooter trips were completed during the 2024 season. That was an increase from approximately 179,000 trips in 2023.

The same report shows that complaints and safety concerns continue. In 2024, Ottawa received 460 e-scooter-related 311 inquiries. The majority were about mis-parking, but sidewalk riding was also recorded as a concern.

This matters because sidewalks must remain safe for pedestrians, seniors, children, strollers, and people with disabilities.

The lesson is clear: as more people use bikes, e-bikes, e-scooters, rollerblades, and other mobility options, we need safer design, clearer rules, and stronger public education.

Bike Lanes Are Road Safety Infrastructure

Bike lanes are not just for cyclists.

Good bike lanes make the road more predictable for everyone. Drivers know where cyclists and e-bike riders are expected to be. Pedestrians face fewer conflicts on sidewalks. Families feel safer letting children ride. Riders are less likely to be pushed into unsafe situations.

Without safe, connected bike lanes, people often end up making risky choices: riding too close to fast traffic, using sidewalks, or avoiding cycling completely.

If we want fewer cars on the road, we must give residents safe alternatives.

That means Stittsville needs better connections between neighbourhoods, schools, parks, recreation spaces, local businesses, and transit stops.

Helmets and Safety Gear Matter at Every Age

Helmets save lives.

For children and youth, helmets and safety gear should be treated as basic protection, not an afterthought. Kids using bikes, scooters, rollerblades, or skateboards should wear a properly fitted helmet. Depending on the activity, knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards, lights, and reflectors can also reduce injuries.

Adults should lead by example. When children see adults wearing helmets and riding safely, they are more likely to do the same.

The message is simple: if it has wheels, protect your head.

Rules Must Be Clear and Followed

E-bikes and e-scooters can be useful, but they are faster than many people expect.

Riders need to slow down near pedestrians, obey road rules, use proper lights or reflectors, and avoid sidewalks where riding is not allowed. Drivers also need to slow down, give space, check before turning, and watch carefully at intersections and driveways.

Road safety works only when everyone does their part.

What Stittsville Needs

Stittsville needs a practical road safety approach:

Safe streets should not come after growth. They must be built into growth.

As City Councillor, my focus will be practical: listen to residents, identify unsafe areas, push for safer infrastructure, and make sure Stittsville's roads, sidewalks, crossings, and pathways are planned for real life.

Road safety is not optional. It is about protecting lives. As Stittsville grows, we must build streets that are safer, smarter, and ready for the people who use them every day.