Studies across North America…

Studies across North America have shown that the addition of cycling lanes, particularly when a car lane is removed, can lead to mixed outcomes regarding overall congestion. In cities like New York, Montreal, and Vancouver, data suggests that initially, the removal of car lanes may contribute to localized congestion. However, over time, traffic volumes tend to stabilize as drivers adapt by changing routes, opting for public transit, or shifting to cycling. A notable finding is that protected cycling lanes can increase the number of cyclists, thus reducing the number of cars on the road. In some cases, overall traffic congestion improves as more people use alternative modes of transport. For example, studies in cities like Vancouver and Portland have shown a long-term reduction in vehicle volumes and better flow on main roads, as fewer drivers compete for the available space, and more people shift to cycling.

Therefore, if anyone has noted riding congestion, this has likely dissipated by now and caused by increased numbers o people without proper access to public transit rather than bicycles. If anything, on-street parking which reduces roads to one lane anyway have a worse effect, as cyclists then have to weave into that one lane of traffic (dodging the lane where cars are parked) and slow down all of the cars in the driving lane, rather than being separated into another bike lane where they are not impeding traffic.

Main Street and O'Connor street in Ottawa are prefect examples of this: the traffic is bad on Main, but was always bad due to the on-street parking effectively making Main Street a one-lane street. Now residents are able to bike safely, and do not impede local traffic. Plus the design still allows for on-street parking. This has helped the overall flow of the neighbourhood. Repeating this model on Bank Street in Old Ottawa South and the Glebe, both neighbourhoods with high rates of commuter cycling, would also help with the traffic flow there (which is slow due to all of the parked cars anyway).