OC Transpo wraps up another successful season of Rack & Roll

Ottawa – With another season for OC Transpo’s Rack & Roll program drawing to a close, the time comes to put the racks away for the approaching winter. This year, OC Transpo experienced a 42% increase in overall weekday usage of the bike racks on its buses. Designed in 1999, the Rack & Roll program now consists of 240 rack-equipped buses and allows cyclists to greatly expand the areas in which they can enjoy cycling in and around the city. 

This year’s expansion saw more buses equipped with racks on routes 2, 7, 85, 95, 97, along with the addition of bike racks to routes 1 and 118. Routes 95 and 97 continue to be the busiest routes due to their length of travel, enabling cyclists to enjoy various paths and destinations that might otherwise be unavailable.  

The City continually takes proactive steps to improve conditions for cyclists through initiatives such as Rack & Roll, adding new bike lanes on city roads, and increasing facilities for bicycle parking. As a result of the growing popularity of cycling programs available to Ottawa residents, this fall, the City will invite cyclists of all ages and skill levels to help shape a 20-year Ottawa Cycling Plan. Development of the plan is just getting underway. The City will ask for public input on the plan’s goals and objectives at a public open house in the next few months. Watch for more information on the City’s Web site at www.ottawa.ca and ads in daily newspapers. By taking part, residents will ensure their input is heard in the planning of ever-expanding cycling facilities that promote a cleaner and healthier city. 

As cyclists make plans for next year, they can still take advantage of Rack and Roll while it lasts. The removal of all bike racks will take several days, so some cyclists may be fortunate enough to get in a few final trips on buses that have not yet had their racks removed. For further information on OC Transpo services, call the OC Transpo Information Centre at (613) 741-4390 or visit the Web site at www.octranspo.com. Commuters can also call 560-1000 plus their bus stop number to get schedule information up to one week in advance. 

For more information:       

Communications & Marketing
(613) 580-2450