Where to eat oysters in Charleston, SC ? There are so many choices and you won't go wrong very often in Charleston. But I wanted to know where to eat oysters in Charleston, SC for the very best our city had to offer. I wanted to know where to take my visiting friends and family on their precious few days in Charleston. This is the result of that search. Here are the very top spots and most memorable oysters available in town right now (in this local girl's humble opinion).
First stop, a newer raw bar on Bay called 167 Raw . I walked in at lunch time and took a seat at the pretty marble bar.
Everything in the case is on display and available to purchase as well.
Kyle asked me what kind of oysters I liked and I told him, "All". He inquired, "Big or little? Salty or mild?" trying to pair me with my best oyster match. This day he had 7 oyster varieties on offer. "Yes, and yes" , was my unhelpful yet true response. You see, I just really enjoy oysters. I've never met a fresh one I couldn't appreciate. I grew up buying them by the bushel to enjoy on the half shell along the banks of the Chesapeake. When I was younger we would often vacation on the Outer Banks of North Carolina where Awful Arthurs was our usual first stop. We would all order up a personal peck of oysters (that's about 25 ) each. Only then had vacation truly begun.
My vacations didn't truly begin until a peck of oysters had been consumed.
I have spent a good deal of time in France where I kicked my cocktail sauce addiction and grew an appreciation for mignonette and the briny flat beauties from Brittany. In New Orleans I discovered that I loved oysters as a late night recovery breakfast when fried up and served in a crusty Po' Boy. And upon my arrival in the Lowcountry, I learned I also could throw down at an oyster roast. Like I mentioned before, I like oysters.
One of Paris's many perfect oyster bars- L'Ecailler du Bistrot has flat iodine rich oysters rarely found elsewhere.
An oyster Po' Boy from Casamentos in New Orleans.
So, Kyle being an agreeable sort offered up, "How about I just take a look at what we have and give you what looks best." I also wanted to try one of their tacos so I went ahead and ordered a Crispy Oyster Taco ($6)with guacamole too. I watched the guys get to work on my order, excited to try the results.
Fried Gulf Oysters served in a double tortilla with guacamole in-between and topped with fresh salsa and pickled onions.
What I got was a fantastic classic raw bar experience. As good as any to be found. Expertly shucked, flipped, and iced right in front of me. Fresh horseradish grated right then, no little shell bits or sand, and no tiny fork required. That's confident shucking.
Expert shucking on display at 167 Raw Chharleston. No shells, no forks, no problem.
Frozen mignonette atop a Mayflower Point oyster.
Serious happy slurping followed. Cocktail sauce is served only on request here (do try at least one without it). The house mignonette was classic. And Kyle even hooked me up with a little of his shaved frozen mignonette. It gave a beautiful icy flavor without watering down the bivalves. My taco came out hot and fresh with a good quantity of crispy oysters and fresh slasa and guacamole. Delicious. I could go broke hanging out here (and that's at a reasonable $2.50 a oyster). All the seafood in the display case varies and is available to bring home with you as well. In fact, the original business plan was to primarly be a market which served a little food. The menu just was so popular they had to put in more seats to meet the demand. It's that good. I enjoyed both the Mayflower Points and the Onsets. I especially liked the shaved frozen mignonette – it was an option I'd love to see always available on the menu. A couple of days later I went in at happy hour when oysters and clams are half priced. They had a completely different selection of oysters to choose from (so great right?).
The first visit selection of oysters included Mayflower Points and Onsets.
167 Raw has a friendly laid back vibe and offers tacos and choices beyond raw bar fare.
Every day 167 Raw's oyster menu changes based on availability.
Options this day included South Lakes from PEI ,which don't show up on menus very often. This is because they haven't accepted new purveyors for years, but 167 Raw has a sister restaurant (of the same name) in Nantucket and is hooked up. We got a mixed dozen which included Sunken Meadows, South Lakes, and Pemiquid Points.
Shown here clockwise starting at 6 in sets of 4 are Sunken Meadows, South Lakes, and Pemequids. All half price at happy hour!
Although all were good, the South Lakes were I believe my favorites – nice size cup, briny but lush and balanced. I could have just sat there very happy with a personal peck. But I had to save some budget for the rest of my oyster tour. I thanked Kyle and promised to be back. Soon. In fact, I just made another New Years resolution -to become a regular here. If you are looking for a classic oyster bar experience on par with anywhere in the world, this is your go to spot. Next stop- Leon's Oyster Shop.
A great find on Upper King Street offers really good oyster options on the menu.
Leon's makes creative use of its body shop past.
Leon's offers an affordable house oyster as well as a high end option for more.
Leon's is that classic "joint" that you hope to find on vacation.
You'll need to drive/cab up to the newly blossoming part of town on Upper Upper King Street to dine at Leon's Fine Poultry and Oysters. In what use to be an autobody shop is now what now my Daddy would call a "Joint". And I mean that in the best most endearing way. Because I love a "joint". If when you travel if you like to visit places that feel more local than tourist- you will love it here. Leon's has a great roadhouse feel complete with jazzy blues music and a friendly and approachable menu and staff. The expertise of partners Tim Mink (think Poe's and Taco Boy) and Brooks Reitz (formerly of FIG and The Ordinary and of Jack Rudy Cocktail Mixers) shows here. They seem to have a stellar understanding of how atmosphere, service, and a sense of place impact diners. And how really great food doesn't always mean formal. The selection of raw oysters weren't as varied as 167,but I liked that they had two price points. There were house or premium varieties ($1.5 and $3.5 each). The house were a classic Chesapeake oysters- Seaside Salts and a great value at $1.5 each. Really nice affordable oysters if you love them atop a saltine with some cocktail and hot sauce. The premiums were Buzzards out of Massachusetts. We got a half dozen of both to compare.
Pictured here are Buzzard bay in front and Seaside Salts in the back.
I could have easily eaten several dozen of the house oysters and been transported back in time. It was also nostalgic to find that Leon's has a "cheap beer" section on the menu offering up options like $2 Miller Lite ponies. Oh, the family fishing trip memories supported by that tiny bottle. How it satisfy your thirst but never get hot before you could finish it. It seems perfect that they would have it here. They also have a great selection of today's craft beers and good wine. I could have sat there eating oystes and drinking ponies for the rest of the afternoon quite happily. Wishing my Daddy were there with me to enjoy it…. But in the interest of discovery, I went ahead and got some of the Char Grilled Oysters on offer. Oh my garlicky goodness, was I happy that I did. They were buttery, fantastic and not at all over cooked.
Garlic and butter invite dipping.
Perfect hushpuppies with honey butter make a great side dish to oysters.
The oyster sandwich piled high with fried beauties, avocado, and that same hot sauce was also a clear winner. I really must recommend you get a side of hushpuppies here. Best I've had anywhere in town. Perfect soft moist center, crispy but not oily, and served with honey butter. You won't regret it. I walked to the near by parking lot a very happy, very full customer. Be sure and look for their lot- free parking downtown is a real perk. This is where I'll be bringing my Dad and brothers when they visit to enjoy some char grilled oysters, ponies and laughter.
Parking is offered at Leon's- look for the entrance before getting to Leon's on King.
In my opinion, my best and often most memorable romantic dinners have often included oysters (in season). So next, my husband and I headed to dinner at what many in the know consider to be our city's finest restaurant- The Ordinary. This is the talented Chef Mike Lata's baby. It is also known as one of the best oyster bars in the country. You just can't write about oysters and not eat dinner here.
Simply one of the finest restaurants anywhere.
Housed in a former bank, The Ordinary is a delight for all your senses.
The Ordinary offers up some of the finest local oysters on the half shell available, so we started with those. Chef Lata understands the difference locally sourced ingredients make in a dining experience. He has proven for years at his FIG Restaurant across town. In wine and food we would call this understanding "Terroir". Chef Lata has dubbed his concept here "Merroir" – being foraged from our local waters seasonally.To that he has added the best available professionals in servers, in creating a daily beer menu, in interior design and of course suppliers. Aiming for a flawless dining experience for his customers (and hitting it on our visit).Lady Islands and Caper Inlet Blades were the locals available that night.
The Ordinary offers amazing local oysters.
The sign above the bar says it all.
The Ordinary does offer a fun selection of sauces with a creative twist with their raw oysters. But the truth is, though I tried the delicious sauces, I found the delicate oysters were best with a small squeeze of lemon and shred of fresh horseradish. Some may say that even that was gilding the lily. Next we tried a couple of the oyster shooters. Half shells topped with cucumber water then served atop a shot of mango vodka sweetness. Good option for the first timer or fearful, but not our personal favorite of the night. Our talented and engaging server Brittany recommended we not miss the Fried Oysters with Beef Tartare. Thank you Brittany.
Great painless option for those wanting to try an raw oyster.
A Revelation in flavor and texture.
It sounded odd and was hard to imagine, but boy am I glad I listened to her. We were won over in one amazing bite. Of all the dishes in this post this is the one I never knew I loved but I am so happy I found. Inspired and unique yet oddly familiar. Crispy but with a creamy umami from the beef tartare. This is this dish that will impress any out of town "foodie" looking for a local thrill.Don't be afraid – order it. There is a story about the origins of this dish being a mix up somewhere in Europe with Chef Lata trying to get some tartar sauce with his fried oysters and getting Beef tartare instead. Good story- might even be true. Even though we were focusing on oysters, Brittany tipped us off about ordering the razor clams with apple ,cilantro and watermelon radish. So fresh and perfectly balanced. This is one of their original dishes and you see why it has stayed on the menu. Almost reminded me of a Vietnamese flavor profile.
Even on an oyster post this clam dish deserves a nod.
Oyster sliders on soft buttery rolls with a nod to Vietnam.
Next up was the perfect spin on a oyster slider. Incredibly soft house made buns (available as a side) cradled crispy greaseless oysters with banh mi influenced pickle. And great paired with the Razor Clams. Our last (but not least )recommended oyster dish at The Ordinary was house smoked oysters. Served with an wonderful homemade hot sauce and baked saltines. Everyone gets to make their own perfect bite.
Create your own perfect bite with house smoked oysters at the Ordinary.
This is what I'd order at the bar by myself with a drink before dinner. Might even steal it to serve at home when entertaining.Fun and fresh but with a nod to the classic. We quite simply loved each and every dish here. But the Crispy Oysters with Tartare and the Locals on the half shelf are the dishes that beckon me back. This is where you take me to celebrate or impress someone with oysters (Is my husband reading this and making notes?). There is a reason this place has a stellar national reputation, it's not hype.
Somewhere between a joint and a world class restaurant is where most of us dine out most of the time. Which brings us to Amen Street. Nestled on Bay street in a historic building within the beautiful French Quarter of Charleston is Amen Street.
Amen Street Restaurant is located in the beautiful French Quarter of Charleston.
Sit at the bar to take advantage of their $9.95/doz local oyster happy hour.
It's too pretty to be called a joint and too casual to be fine dining. Which makes it a great place for me to recommend for happy hour or a casual meal with oysters when walking around downtown. The happy hour stand out to me was the unique affordable ($4-5) wines on tap that pair well with oysters. The dry Redenuff, Dry Rose of Sangiovese or the $2 Yuenglings were a great pick for enjoying with oysters on the half shell. The house oysters here are local Ace Blades and were a fresh and flavorful bargain. If you are looking to enjoy a dozen oysters with a cocktail without blowing your dinner budget- you will be very happy at this comfortable classy bar. Because in Charleston, everyone can afford to enjoy local oysters on the half shell. Outside of great happy hour specials, Amen Street also offers many varieties of oysters on the half shell as well as menu options like an oyster po' boy.
Award Winning oyster Shooters with house vodka can kick off your night.
Ace Blade Oysters for $9.95 a dozen at Amen Street. Heaven.
We also just love the street life on display through the big windows and the creative oyster chandeliers that add so much to the lively atmosphere. Here, it's even possible to bring your do to enjoy some oysters out front on the sidewalk tables. The good life for sure.
Sometimes the very best oyster is the one closest to you.
Daniel Island, South Carolina is close to all Charleston has to offer.
. I happen to have the joyful blessing of living on Daniel Island , SC (which is technically part of Charleston but does require bridge crossings to eat everywhere I've mentioned so far). Sometimes a girl just gets a craving for a dozen on a Tuesday night nad there is homework and basketball practice to consider. Until about a year ago, I just had to be patient and plan a night into town soon. But now that The Islander has opened a short bike ride from my house, that has all changed. The Islander is owned by the Holy City Hospitality Group that incudes downtown favorites like Rue de Jean, Coast, and Virginia's on King. All of which serve some oysters. But here on island we are spoiled with a multitude of bivalve choices on The Islander menu. The Tuesday I was in Chef Whisenant was working with some nice sized Chesapeakes. You can order them in everything from their naked shells to a sushi soy wrap. We started with oysters 3 ways which showcased 3 toppings of fresh salsa. I favored the tropical which had a little thai chili kick.
Oysters 3 Ways is a delightful start to any meal.
Then we ordered the baked oysters available in three styles as well. Bienville with shitakes and crabmeat, BBQ with fresh grated horseradish, and the ever popular Rockerfeller with spinach and parmesan. We decided to sample all and had different favorites among us. Next we got their beautiful roasted kale salad topped with crispy oysters. All the menu salads can be topped with oysters at The Islander. But the Local Kale with avocado, bacon lardons, and Chipotle Vinaigrette was a great match with the crispy oysters. The giant platter of fried oysters with jalapeno cole slaw and Rue De Jean famous frites is also a solid choice (and affordable at $16.99). Although this is my neighborhood resource for an oyster fix, I do encourage you to make the trip to our piece of paradise to enjoy this great spot. Stellar cocktails, open beachy atmosphere, and lots of fresh creative ways with seafood make it more than just a neighborhood place.
Delicious offerings just a bike ride away for me.
From top pictured are Rockerfeller, Bienville, and BBQ Baked Oysters-all good.
Two more reasons we love The Islander- Kids Menu.
And finally we have to recommend the perennially favorite for the Lowcountry oyster roast, Bowens Island Family Restaurant. This concept was new to me when I moved here. But for over sixty years Bowens has been steaming up local bivalves and creating memories.The basic idea is that most SC oysters grow in clusters and are not really suited to a half shell presentation. But they are delicious. So locals steam them up outside in burlap sacks over grates until they are just opened and then stand around eating them while drinking beer for hours. Reminds me of a crab boil in Maryland in feel and messy style. Some like cocktail and saltines- some are purists and just slurp them up. I recommend you ask for them roasted lightly so you can get at them but still preserve their juicy tenderness.
Bowens Island makes for a memorable experience.
Bowens Island family restaurant is justifiably famous for their oyster roasts. Yes there are lines and its not fancy but it is all part of the experience. And I personally love the rustic charm. The giant piles of oyster shells everywhere testify. It is about a 20 minute drive outside of town towards Folly Beach, and totally worth it. You pay one price ( $23.00) then eat until you can't possible handle another oyster. Then your roaster gives you one more shovelful and you finish it anyway. Go at sunset and bring friends for a memorable night of oysters on the marsh – local style.
As I said in the beginning, this in no way covers all the great places to enjoy an oyster in Charleston. Maybe you have a local place you can ride you bike to. Or a revelation dish or fresh take on a classic. Share the wealth and comment below! Where to eat oysters in Charleston, SC? Anywhere and as often you can I say.
Thanks Angie for reading and commenting. Remember our vacation to Duck,NC that chicken pox almost stole? I actually thought of you when I had the Littleneck Clams on the half shell last week, your favorite right? Thanks for the support.
I loved learning your favorite place to have oysters, I want to try The Ordinary! I think there is no better place than having them at home. That way they are cooked exactly to perfection and I can have as many as I want (and at a really good price). Have you ever tried steaming oysters on the EvenGlo grill?
How about you Jessica? You have some great healthy recipes- any good ideas for oysters? They seem a natural for healthy eaters!
On your suggestion we went to leons….so great! Thank you! I'm not sure how I've missed this place. So charming and great food. The house oysters were great! (Says my bro and husband) Personally I couldn't get enough of the fish fry and hush puppies. Thanks! Call me next time you are doing research around town!!
It's such a great part of blogging- eating your way through town. So glad you enjoyed Leon's. I'm looking at an Awendaw, SC Outdoor adventure day research you would probably love- stay tuned.


But last week, we made that job a lot easier for the incoming administration of Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio; in fact, we've already balanced the next mayor's first budget even before he takes office.
And that's a first in modern memory — and maybe even a first in the city's entire history.
Five months ago, when the city adopted its current budget, we projected that there would be a gap of roughly $2 billion between revenues and expenses for the next budget — for what will be called Fiscal Year 2015, beginning next July 1.
But thanks to the economic growth our administration has encouraged — and also because of our major cost-saving reforms in how city government operates — we've now been able to close that gap, well ahead of time.
Our growing economy is certainly good news for our city.
It means more jobs for New Yorkers, and also more tax revenues to pay for the city services that we all rely on.
And the personal income and real estate transaction taxes that the city collects are running well ahead of the projections we made earlier this year — something that's helping balance next year's budget.
At the same time, a number of steps we've taken to reduce city government expenses are also starting to pay off, big time.
A good example is our proposal to seek competitive bids in selecting the primary health insurance provider for city employees and retirees.
That prompted the current provider not to ask for increases in the insurance premiums that the city pays — something that hadn't happened in the previous 15 years.
And that's going to save taxpayers $364 million in the next fiscal year alone.
The budget for Fiscal 2015 also includes funds to settle currently expired contracts with city unions, and pay realistic raises to city workers.
As part of such settlements, employees would have to agree to make reasonable contributions to their health care costs.
Currently, more than 90% of city employees pay "zero" toward their health care premiums; taxpayers cover the entire cost.
That's in sharp contrast with state employees, who typically pay a substantial share of their health insurance premiums.
During the past 12 years, we've weathered some of the worst economic calamities New York has ever seen.
And we've charted a steady course toward economic growth in all five boroughs and fiscal responsibility at City Hall.
We're proud of all we've achieved — and now we want the next administration to do even better.
The balanced budget we're handing off to them now — more than seven months before the next fiscal year begins — will help them get off to the best possible start.


After the change in Government of West Bengal, now there is proposal to change the name of the state. Mamata Banerjee chief Minister of West Bengal proposed that since in India there is only one state West Bengal and there is no existence of East Bengal, so West Bengal name has no meaning.
It was before division of Pakistan when East Bengal and West Bengal were two states but after the division of Country East Bengal went to Pakistan and later was separated from Pakistan and emerged as a new Country Bangladesh. After that in India only one state West Bengal existed.
Communist intellectuals are opposing any change in the name of the state. According to them there is historical importance in the name West Bengal and there is no need to change the name. Sunil Gangopadhyaya a senior writer claimed that the name West Bengal like other state is well known and should retain its originality.
On the other hand intellectuals who are in favor of change claims that there is no harm in changing the name of West Bengal and many capitals name has been changed like Calcutta became Kolkata, Bombay became Mumbai, Madras became Chennai. Even state name has been changed like Orissa became Odisha. According to famous painter of West bengal Jogen Chowdhury, there is no harm in change of name of the state since in India there is only one Bengal, so if West is ommitted it will be better.
Since everything is being changed in this new Government, so there is no doubt that if there is any proposal to change the name of the state, it will be changed in coming days. Now the question is what will be the new name of the state, only West will be omitted or there will be a completely new name. Now Once the assembly decides to change the name of state West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee had already given consent on two names. One is "Bangla" and other is "Bangdesh". Thius in coming days we can see that West Bengal state iis changed into Bangdesh or Bangla.


7. Who among the following is a Muallaqa writer?
(A) 630 – 632 A.D.
(B) 632 – 634 A.D.
(C) 638 – 641 A.D.
(D) 635 – 638 A.D.
28. Which of the following pairs is correctly matched?
29. Which of the following is not correctly matched?
36. Which of the following pairs is correctly matched?
37. Which of the following pairs is not correctly matched?
41. Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched?
45. Who among the following is not a Mufassir?
49. Which of the following pairs is correctly matched?
58. Which of the following pairs is correctly matched ?
68. Which of the following pairs is correctly matched?
69. Which of the following pairs is not correctly matched?


Green Bay, Wis. – Today Séura announced a new, advanced outdoor TV feature that is exclusive to Séura Storm Ultra Bright outdoor televisions – Séura Adaptive Picture Technology. The patent-pending technology has 110 picture mode variations that adapt as outdoor lighting conditions change throughout the day and night to ensure the best outdoor viewing experience. Adaptive Picture Technology is the first ever solution that automatically adjusts both backlight brightness and picture settings to create the optimal television viewing experience outdoors.
"Consumers naturally expect their outdoor technology to work the same way their indoor technology works – meaning they don't even need to think about it…it just works," said Keegan Coulter, Séura Vice President of Sales and Marketing.


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Art: Art Show, Gallery
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Art: Art Show, Art Talk, Gallery, Painting, Photography
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Thu 1/20/22 - Mon 1/31/22 at 10am-6pm
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Art: History/Science, Museum, Art Show, Gallery
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Fri 1/21/22
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Mon 1/24/22 at 10:30am-3:30pm
Tue 1/25/22 at 10:30am-3:30pm
Wed 1/26/22 at 10:30am-3:30pm
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Mon 2/7/22 at 10:30am-3:30pm
Art: Mixed Media, Multimedia
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Art: Sculpture
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Art: Art Talk, History/Science
Art History Lecture Series: Caitlin Schwarz (via Zoom)
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Art: Painting, Gallery
Color Intensive Painting Foundations Workshop with Elio Camacho
Nationally-known Bay Area teacher and artist Elio Camacho will help you learn how to build a strong foundation for your painting in this one-day, color intensive workshop. The workshop is structured for beginners through advanced students, and includes dem... Pence Gallery
Sun 2/6/22 at 9:30am-4:30pm
Art: Art Show, Gallery, Painting, Ceramics/Pottery, Mixed Media, Prints
2nd Friday ArtAbout!
Mark your calendar! The Pence Gallery is open for 2nd Friday ArtAbout on February 11th, 6-9pm. Our gallery is one of multiple businesses that participate in 2nd Friday ArtAbout, so you don't want to miss a night full of art. We will have three fantastic ex... Pence Gallery
Black History Month Art Show & Crafters Event
Come join us at the Old Sugar Mill as we celebrate Black History Month. We will have art from local artists, vendors, live music, food trucks and more. Tickets are free and come with one souvenir wine glass. Tickets can be found at: https://blackart... Old Sugar Mill
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Screenwriting Basics
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Mon 2/28/22 at 6pm-8pm
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text:
How Dark Money Works
by Oisin Curran
A demonstrator holds a sign outside the U.S. Chamber of Commerce during a rally against the Supreme Court's decision in favor of Citizens United, which allows private citizens and corporations to make unlimited donations for political campaigns.
NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images
The year was 1988. That fall Vice President George Bush Sr. was battling Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis for the U.S. presidency. Dukakis was doing well. He had a strong economic record in the form of the so-called "Massachusetts Miracle" of the 1980s.
Then on Sept. 21, an ad called "Weekend Passes" began appearing on televisions across the country. It stated that while George Bush supported the death penalty, Dukakis not only opposed it, he also supported weekend furloughs for convicted murderers. This was actually a policy Dukakis inherited from his Republican predecessor and one that the governor also ended. But the ad told a simple and devastating story about a convicted murderer named Willie Horton who, on one of these "weekend passes," stabbed a man repeatedly and raped his girlfriend.
The ad, later seen as a crucial turning point in the campaign, marked the beginning of the end for Dukakis's presidential bid. Many viewed "Weekend Passes" as a particularly virulent form of negative advertising and "dirty tricks" campaigning. It came under intense criticism for, among other things, allegedly exploiting racist attitudes toward African-American criminals. The Bush campaign, however, was able to officially disavow the ad since it was funded by an outside group called the National Security Political Action Committee (NSPAC). The NSPAC, headed by former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Thomas Moorer, supported Bush's campaign without being formally linked to it [source: Kamber].
Fast forward to the election season of 2012. Sal Pace, a Democratic candidate for the Colorado House of Representatives, is quietly sitting in a pew at a Catholic church in his home county of Pueblo when a 10-year-old girl approaches him and asks whether he's really trying to cut her grandmother's Medicare. The heavy cuts to Medicare actually had bipartisan support and had no direct effect on patients' care, but Democrats around the country were getting the blame thanks to a barrage of TV ads.
Americans for Tax Reform, the organization funding the ads, was designated as a nonprofit — unlike a political action committee (PAC). That means it wasn't legally required to disclose its donor list [source: Scherer]. And because the funds used in those political ads had anonymous sources, they're known as "dark money."
501(c)(what?)
Lighting the Dark
The Underwood Tariff Act, named for the pleasant-looking Sen. Oscar Underwood, re-instated the federal income tax.
Philipp Kester/ullstein bild via Getty Images
Sure, dark money has a cool name, but what about its backstory? To boil it down, dark money is the result of a convergence between a seemingly innocuous tax statute and a deeply divisive Supreme Court ruling. Sensational stuff? In its own way, yes. Let's start with the tax status.
Back in 1913, the U.S. Congress enacted the so-called "Underwood Tariff Act" (aka the Revenue Act of 1913). That's the one in which the feds reintroduced income tax. Included in the act were a bunch of exemptions, one of which was for nonprofit groups [source: Gershman]. It's generally thought that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce was behind this statute, which would make sense because the Chamber just happens to be a nonprofit. This exemption included in the 1913 Act is considered the forerunner to 501(c)(4) designation, but it's unclear exactly when that precise nomenclature appeared. The 501(c)(4) designation refers to two different types of nonprofits: "social welfare organizations" and "local associations of employees" [source: IRS].
By 1959, the government had accepted the idea that these organizations could be involved in politics and had codified them as "action organizations." By 1981 the rules were further loosened with the result that such a group could be politically engaged and still retain 501(c)(4) status if it limited its engagement to the promotion of "social welfare." It doesn't take a tax accountant to see that this kind of language is a slope waiting to be slipped down [source: Gershman].
Indeed, 501(c)(4) has always been slippery, but the slope it established turned out to be the setting for an avalanche.
On to part two: In 2010, the Supreme Court handed down a ruling in the case of "Citizens United v. the Federal Election Commission." In a nutshell, the ruling defined corporations and unions as individuals and spending as a form of free speech. Since the free speech of individuals is protected by the First Amendment, the ruling meant that corporations are allowed to spend as much as they want when it comes to political campaigns. While direct contributions to candidates remain limited, contributions to the PACs that support them are completely unlimited. PACs, however, are inconveniently obliged to disclose the names of their donors [source: Levy].
Say you want to help create an ad that viciously attacks a candidate. Maybe, to up the ante, you wouldn't be averse to spreading a little misinformation. This kind of thing looks bad if it can be traced back to you and your associates. That's where dark money comes in. By shoveling funds into a nonprofit "social welfare" organization with 501(c)(4) status, you can avoid all that. Your donation remains anonymous, and the organization can fund away without any fear of blowback. In fact, the 501(c)(4) organization can even donate your funds to a PAC. When the PAC discloses its sources, all that pops up is the name of the nonprofit. You and yours stay safely hidden behind the dark money curtain, and, best of all, you can give as much as you want.
So while the 501(c)(4) designation has been around for decades, the Citizens United decision made it deeply relevant to American politics.
Charles Koch -- who, along with his brother David, makes up one half of the wealthy "Koch brothers" -- is the billionaire CEO of Koch Industries.
Bo Rader/Wichita Eagle/MCT via Getty Images
In the lead-up to the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries of 2016, the national environmental nonprofit Friends of the Earth Action aired a TV ad praising Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders for his record on issues such as the Keystone XL pipeline. As a "social welfare" organization, Friends of the Earth Action is classed as a 501(c)(4) and is therefore not required to disclose its donor list. Critics, notably from Hilary Clinton's campaign, have accused Friends of the Earth Action of being a dark money outfit. Friends of the Earth Action has countered by promising to release the names of all donors who have contributed more than $200.
Other left-of-center nonprofits are also politically active. Examples include the League of Conservation Voters, Patriot Majority USA and Planned Parenthood. In the 2012 election cycle, for instance, Patriot Majority USA received more than $2 million from labor unions. In all, the group raised enough anonymously donated funds to funnel more than $7 million into campaigns for the presidency, the Senate and the House [source: Blumenthal].
But while liberals make use of the dark money loophole, they can't match conservatives for sheer volume. During the same 2012 election cycle, 83 percent of anonymous spending was deployed against Democrats [source: Scherer]. Founded by billionaire conservative activists the Koch brothers, Americans for Prosperity was a big spender ($36 million), as was Crossroads GPS ($71 million), the organization created by Karl Rove, George W. Bush's former chief political strategist. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce was no slouch either ($35 million). Remember them from that little statute in the Underwood Tariff Act of 1913? They were really thinking ahead!
But those numbers will likely be dwarfed in short order. As of November 2015, the amount of dark money spent in the run-up to the 2016 election was already more than 10 times the amount spent during the same period in the previous election. During the 2012 cycle, the dark money tally topped out at $308 million [source: Kertscher]. So if things keep up, the anonymous spending total for the 2016 election could number in the billions.
It's doubtful Thomas Paine had dark money in mind when he was brainstorming "Common Sense."
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
In the 2012 campaign cycle, almost 9 of every 10 ads funded by dark money were negative and the Annenberg Public Policy Center determined that 26 percent of them were misleading. Ads paid for by organizations that disclose their donor lists were often deceptive too, but at a slightly lower rate than dark money spots [source: Scherer].
So does dark money threaten to corrupt U.S. politics? There's been a lot of hand wringing about dark money, especially from the left. One could easily argue that liberals are just mad because they're getting seriously outspent. But is there any merit to the concerns that have been raised?
The general argument goes something like this: Big money has a significant influence on politicians. If those proffering the big money are not required to disclose their identities, then their influence is potent but secretive. In other words, the general public has no way of knowing who helped get a politician elected nor what they want in return for their generosity.
Others have argued that there is no linear relationship between the amount of money raised and a successful campaign. Many candidates have raised massive sums of money only to drop out of primaries or ultimately lose an election. In recent memory, Texas Sen. Phil Gramm, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean all spent many millions before dropping out of presidential primary races [source: Dubner].
If money doesn't guarantee a win, it's tempting to ask why not simply ban campaign contributions altogether? The general answer is that political campaigns are expensive — when you need to reach hundreds of millions of potential voters, you need major funds to get your message out.
Those who oppose dark money aren't necessarily against campaign financing; they're arguing for transparency. Actually, in its controversial Citizens United ruling, the Supreme Court agreed, writing, "transparency enables the electorate to make informed decisions and give proper weight to different speakers and messages." It would seem that dark money wasn't an intended consequence of the ruling [source: Beckel].
But not everybody agrees. Pointing out that Thomas Paine's "Common Sense," in addition to "The Federalist Papers," were first published anonymously, some have argued that anonymity is a vital part of speaking truth to power and that transparency could put a chill on free speech. If donors are required to disclose their identities, they might fear a backlash [source: Beckel]. Of course, this argument presupposes that speech can be equated with money, which is itself the contested notion at the core of the Citizens United decision. Is writing an anonymous check for millions of dollars the same as keeping your name off the byline of a political manifesto? Not exactly, but it takes money to disseminate the manifesto, and in that sense some might argue that money and speech are, if not synonymous, closely linked.
Still, the First Amendment guarantees the right to free speech, not the right to broadcast it to the widest possible audience. It seems hard to get around the fact that if nothing is done about dark money, those with the deepest pockets will have more secretive influence than those who don't. Is that a problem? If your answer to that is "no, that's the way the world works," then dark money probably doesn't really bother you. If it's "yes," read on to find out what's being done to curb dark money spending.
Members of the so-called Tea Party were none too pleased when the IRS admitted it was looking particularly closely at their political groups and donations.
SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
In 2013, campaign finance reform activists and consumer advocate groups proposed that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) should force corporations to inform shareholders of their donations to political and nonprofit organizations. The proposal received an unprecedented 600,000 comments from the public, the majority in favor of it. If enacted, the proposal would mirror a similar rule that requires labor unions to disclose their contributions to politicians, political groups and nonprofits. However, without comment, the SEC dropped the proposal from its 2014 agenda [source: Blumenthal].
Organizations with 501(c)(4) status aren't supposed to be able to empty their coffers into campaigns. There's actually a rule that says they're not allowed to use more than half their resources to fund political activities. The problem is, that rule is really hard to enforce. The Internal Revenue Service decided to give enforcement a go, but they got their knuckles seriously rapped by Congressional Republicans as a result. They were accused of partisan targeting of conservative nonprofits. While a Department of Justice inquiry found no criminal wrongdoing, the chastened agency was reprimanded for "poor judgment" [source: Watson].
In 2013 a Treasury Inspector General report suggested that the IRS elucidate its rules about what constitutes political activity in order to shed some light on dark money. But when the agency tried to do so, congressional Republicans blocked the effort in a rider attached to an omnibus spending bill in December 2015 [source: Watson]. Another rider in the same bill prevented the SEC from forcing corporations to reveal their donations to shareholders [source: O'Donnell].
Individual shareholders have been submitting private requests for information about political contributions to large public companies, and in some cases, the corporations have voluntarily obliged. With all efforts to get the government to police dark money so far stymied, perhaps this is the way forward for now [source: O'Donnell].
One argument that shareholders might use is that too much in the way of campaign contributions and political lobbying can be bad for business. When companies seek political favors, they engage in a behavior known as rent-seeking. In a nutshell, this means they're trying to get a piece of the existing pie rather than concentrating on making the pie bigger or making other pies (i.e., creating wealth). If rent-seeking turns out to be a successful strategy for companies in general, and nobody's creating wealth, this could result in a stagnating economy [source: Craig and Madland]. Shedding some light on the sources of dark money might help prevent that gloomy fate.
Author's Note: How Dark Money Works
I've got a great way to put a stop to all this partisan whatnot — let's go back to the source: Athenian democracy. Ancient Athenians used a system called sortition to select government officers. Basically this meant that all citizens over 30 could put their names forward for selection from a lottery machine. Government by lottery! No more campaigns, no more campaign contributions and no more dark money. The only risk would be that your Aunt Hilda could end up being President. But is that really so bad?
How Campaign Finance Works
Why do people vote?
How to Start a Non-profit Organization
Who writes and enforces the U.S. tax code?
Center for Competitive Politics
Beckel, Michael. "What Is Political 'Dark Money' — And Is It Bad?" The Center for Public Integrity. Jan. 20, 2016. (Feb. 11, 2016) http://www.publicintegrity.org/2016/01/20/19156/what-political-dark-money-and-it-bad
Blumenthal, Paul. "Corporate 'Dark Money' to Get Free Pass After SEC Drops Disclosure Proposal." Huffington Post. Dec. 2, 2013. (Feb. 11, 2016) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/02/corporate-dark-money_n_4372574.html
Blumenthal, Paul. "Labor Unions Fueled Major Liberal 'Dark Money' Group in 2012." Huffington Post. Nov. 21, 2013. (Feb. 10, 2016) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/21/labor-unions-dark-money_n_4311663.html
Craig, John and David Madland. "How Campaign Contributions and Lobbying Can Lead to Inefficient Economic Policy." Center for American Progress. May 2, 2014. (Feb. 11, 2016) https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/report/2014/05/02/88917/how-campaign-contributions-and-lobbying-can-lead-to-inefficient-economic-policy/
Dubner, Stephen J. "How Much Does Campaign Spending Influence the Election? A Freakonomics Quorum." Freakonomics Blog. Jan. 17, 2012. (Feb. 10, 2016) http://freakonomics.com/2012/01/how-much-does-campaign-spending-influence-the-election-a-freakonomics-quorum/
Ehrenhalt, Alan. "'Dark Money,' by Jane Mayer." Jan. 19, 2016. (Feb. 10, 2016) http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/24/books/review/dark-money-by-jane-mayer.html
Faturechi, Robert. "The Conservative Playbook for Keeping 'Dark Money' Dark." ProPublica. Feb. 4, 2016. (Feb. 5, 2016) https://www.propublica.org/article/the-conservative-playbook-for-keeping-dark-money-dark
Gershman, Jacob. "The History of the 501(c)(4) Exemption." The Wall Street Journal Law Blog. Nov. 26, 2013. (Feb. 10, 2016) http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2013/11/26/the-history-of-the-501c4-exemption/
Goodman, Leah McGrath. "As Dark Money Floods U.S. Elections, Regulators Turn a Blind Eye." Newsweek. Sept. 30, 2014. (Feb. 11, 2016) http://www.newsweek.com/2014/10/10/dark-money-floods-us-elections-regulators-turn-blind-eye-273951.html
Internal Revenue Service. "Social Welfare Organizations." Nov. 18, 2015. (Feb. 10, 2016) https://www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/Other-Non-Profits/Social-Welfare-Organizations
Internal Revenue Service. "Types of Organizations Exempt Under Section 501(c)(4)." Jan. 22, 2016. (Feb. 10, 2016) https://www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/Other-Non-Profits/Types-of-Organizations-Exempt-under-Section-501(c)(4)
Kaiser, Charles. "Dark Money Review: Nazi Oil, the Koch Brothers and a Rightwing Revolution." The Guardian. Jan. 17, 2016. (Feb. 5, 2016) http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/17/dark-money-review-nazi-oil-the-koch-brothers-and-a-rightwing-revolution
Kamber, Victor. "Poison Politics: Are Negative Campaigns Destroying Democracy?" Perseus. 1997. (Feb. 18, 2016) https://books.google.ca/books?id=ORIXBQAAQBAJ&dq=nspac+thomas+moorer&source=gbs_navlinks_s
Kertscher, Tom. "Ten Times More 'Dark Money' Has Been Spent for 2016 Elections, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin Says." Politifact Wisconsin. Nov. 5, 2015. (Feb. 11, 2016) http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2015/nov/05/tammy-baldwin/ten-times-more-dark-money-has-been-spent-2016-elec/
Levy, Gabrielle. "How Citizens United Has Changed Politics in 5 Years." U.S. News & World Report. Jan. 21, 2015. (Feb. 10, 2016) http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/01/21/5-years-later-citizens-united-has-remade-us-politics
Mandle, Jay. "Dark Money." Huffington Post. Oct. 22, 2013. (Feb. 10, 2016) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jay-mandle/dark-money_b_3794468.html
O'Donnell, Katy. "White House Surrenders on 'Dark Money' Regulation." Politico. Dec. 18, 2015. (Feb. 11, 2016) http://www.politico.com/story/2015/12/white-house-dark-money-216956
Scherer, Michael. "Dark Money: The Rise of Outside Spending in 2012." Time. Nov. 1, 2012. (Feb. 10, 2016) http://swampland.time.com/2012/11/01/dark-money/
Watson, Libby. "New Spending Bill Prevents Agencies from Regulating Dark Money." Sunlight Foundation. Dec. 18, 2015. (Feb. 11, 2016) https://sunlightfoundation.com/blog/2015/12/18/new-spending-bill-prevents-agencies-from-regulating-dark-money/
Wonderlich, John. "A Comprehensive Disclosure Regime in the Wake of the Supreme Court's Decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission." Sunlight Foundation. (Feb. 11, 2016) https://sunlightfoundation.com/policy/documents/comprehensive-disclosure-regime-wake-supreme-court/
Zuvich, Cady. "Is 'Dark Money' Boosting Bernie Sanders?" The Center for Public Integrity. Jan. 21, 2016. (Feb. 9, 2016) http://www.publicintegrity.org/2016/01/21/19167/dark-money-boosting-bernie-sanders


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OttawaVeloOutaouais
Biking around Ottawa and the Outaouais
Commute Routes
Category: Biking in Winter
Queensway Mid-Town Bridges
The provincial Ministry of Transportation is planning on replacing a number of bridges that go under the Queensway. The overall recommendations prepared by the consultants studying the design requirements of the bridges is to maintain the status quo. This would be a lost opportunity to re-visit the design of these underpasses to meet modern transportation needs and accommodate infrastructure requirements for all users including pedestrians, cyclists and motorized vehicles. For more insight on this potential opportunity, click here.
This weekend I travelled under the bridges in sequence as shown on the map below, beginning with the westernmost span along Holland Avenue. I've given them a grade on safety, from 0 (super dangerous, stay away) up to 5 (one that I would feel confident recommending to all riders within the 8-80 age range).
Holland Avenue is 4 lanes of speeding traffic heading under the bridge, or it's crammed with commuter traffic during the week. Bike infrastructure would be a great asset along this strip, particularly for the kids attending Fisher Park School, located just on the north side of the bridge.
OVO-Safety-Scale : 1/5.
Holland Ave, from the north side of the Queensway
Holland Ave, from the south side of the Queensway
Parkdale Avenue is much like Holland Avenue in terms of traffic, but with more frantic distracted drivers jostling to get on and off Queensway ramps.
Parkdale Ave, from the north side of the Queensway
Parkdale Ave, from the south side of the Queensway
Fairmont Avenue is one of the safest roads under the Queensway. It connects residential areas on either side and has minimal traffic. There is usually ample space on the shoulders, as evidenced by the snow piled in the outside lanes. I imagine there is room to introduce bike lanes without having to increase the width of this bridge.
OVO-Safety-Scale : 3/5. Cleared bike lanes on either side would get it to 5/5.
Fairmont Ave, from the north side of the Queensway
Fairmont Ave, from the south side of the Queensway
Bayswater Avenue is also a pretty good street to ride along and under the Queensway. Similar to Fairmont it could use cleared bike lanes. It was the only one with lights on under the bridge.
Bayswater Ave, from the north side of the Queensway
Bayswater Ave, from the south side of the Queensway
The O-Train Bikepath is fantastic. Whoever has been clearing and salting the path in a very timely manner all winter deserves the OVO-Safety-Scale Gold Medal!
OVO-Safety-Scale : 5/5
O-Train Path, from the north side of the Queensway
O-Train Path, from the south side of the Queensway
Preston Street is the only road bridge that embraces the notion humans pass under it. There are the Little Italy signs at the entrances to the tunnel, painted murals, some streetscaping, and park benches. There are ample sidewalks, but no bike infrastructure, and the only potential remaining bit of shoulder that might possibly be used for bike lanes is taken up by street parking. So it's nice on a quiet Sunday morning, but not so safe during the rest of the week when it becomes a busy roadway with no infrastructure for cyclists.
Preston St, from the north side of the Queensway
Preston St, from the south side of the Queensway
Rochester Street has some shoulder space, and there are lights at both ends for the Queensway on & off ramps, but speedy traffic makes it unsafe.
Rochester St, from the north side of the Queensway
Rochester St, from the south side of the Queensway
Booth Street is similar to Rochester but because it is a block away from the on and off ramps it seems less frantic. There is also some shoulder room heading under the bridge. On the north side a meridian has recently been added, which must help with traffic calming, but it takes away any room for cyclists. Heading south, one is nudged on to the sidewalk.
Booth St, from the north side of the Queensway
Booth St, from the south side of the Queensway
Bronson Street heading under the Queensway is one of the most dangerous stretches to ride along in the city. It's always filled with busy traffic, even on Sunday afternoons. It's also dangerous for the many pedestrians with traffic rushing the lights to get across lanes heading on and off Queensway ramps.
Bronson Ave, from the north side of the Queensway
Bronson Ave, from the south side of the Queensway
Percy Street has a nice wide two way bike lane and traffic lights at either end to get across Chamberlain St on the south side and Catherine on the north. I also believe it is destined to be cleared next winter, so in anticipation of that, it gets:
Percy St, from the north side of the Queensway
Percy St, from the south side of the Queensway.jpg
Bank Street is always busy. It really needs bike infrastructure as it's an important link between residential communities and businesses on either side of the Queensway. The intersection at Catherine Street is particularly dangerous.
Bank St, from the north side of the Queensway
Bank St, from the south side of the Queensway
O'Connor St is a one way heading south. It has a summer bike lane heading in that direction under the bridge, but getting there from downtown is dangerous. O'Connor is a speed strip for drivers rushing out of downtown towards the Queensway. Without a protected segregated bike lane I could not recommend biking along O'Connor, or across Catherine and the Queensway on ramp. Under the bridge, in the summer, gets a 4/5 but getting there merits a 0/5. There's no bike lane for those heading north.
O'Connor, from north side of Queensway
O'Connor, from the south side of the Queensway
Et voila. Lot's of room for improvement. The consultants are welcoming comments until March 13th.
Author ottawaveloPosted on March 2, 2015 March 30, 2015 Categories Biking in Winter, Ottawa3 Comments on Queensway Mid-Town Bridges
Biking Over the New Coventry Pedestrian and Cycling Bridge
The Coventry Pedestrian and Cycling Bridge over the Queensway links the Ottawa train station to a semi-professional baseball stadium, but more importantly facilitates a traverse across the Queensway highway, the most predominant north/south barrier that stretches the width of the city. The following video captures the hasty termination of the oficial launch as it quickly wound down due to cold weather (-14ºC not including wind chill) I filmed the following traverse heading north over the bridge, and down the ramp on the other side to the edge of the stadium.
The following map describes my ride to the event from Centretown (blue line) and back (purple line). The blue cyclist emoji is where the momentous occasion unfolded.
Author ottawaveloPosted on February 9, 2015 June 16, 2017 Categories Biking in Winter, OttawaLeave a comment on Biking Over the New Coventry Pedestrian and Cycling Bridge
Biking to and Skiing Through the Arboretum : Version 2
Ottawa is very fortunate to have a wonderful arboretum quite close to Centretown, located between the Rideau Canal to the east and Prince of Wales Drive to the west. A four kilometre machine groomed cross-country ski trail that runs through it has recently been prepared for the annual Winterlude Triathlon. Normally the breaking in of ski trails is left to intrepid skiers, as described in my first post on Biking to and Skiing Through the Arboretum. This modus operandi will most likely return once the next significant snow fall occurs, however until then it is definitely worth taking advantage of the groomed trail, identified by the purple line on the map below. Accessing the arboretum from the edge of Dows Lake is a fine way to get to the trail. The blue line on the map is a suggested bike route to get there from Centretown. Here's how it goes.
Our adventure begins near the corner of Somerset and Cambridge. I bundled my skis and poles into a ski bag, strapped them to the side of my hiking backpack, and headed out.
I rode along quiet streets towards Dow's Lake, crossing busy Gladstone at the traffic lights at Arthur Street. On the opposite side of Gladstone I continued down Arthur Lane.
View across Gladstone to Arthur Lane
To get beyond the Queensway I turned on to Booth Street from Arlington. As Booth is one of the few roads that goes under the Queensway it can get busy, particularly during the week. A meridian has recently been added to the middle of the road along Booth just north of the Queensway underpass, narrowing the lane at this pinch point. If traffic is heavy I may choose to take to the sidewalk along Booth between Arlington to Raymond Street. This Sunday it wasn't so bad. Booth Street widens once again beyond the intersection at Raymond as it heads under the Queensway.
SQUEEZE! – Pinch point, intersection at Booth & Raymond
At the north end of Booth there are traffic lights to help get across busy Carling Avenue. On the other side of Carling there is a plowed path that cuts through Commissioner's Park to the Queen Elizabeth Driveway.
Access to path through Commissioner's Park on the other side of Carling
There aren't any traffic signals to help get across the Driveway to the Rideau Canal Western Pathway so watch out as drivers tend to speed along this stretch. It's a much calmer crossing on Winterlude weekends when they close the Driveway for all vehicles except OC Transpo shuttle buses.
I then rode along the Rideau Canal Western Pathway, which is cleared throughout the winter, to the Dow's Lake Pavilion.
Rideau Canal Western Pathway towards the Dows Lake Pavilion
To get to the groomed ski trail I took the well travelled path just to the right of the Dow's Lake service ramp. If this path proves to be inaccessible by bike, I would lock my bike to a post or canal railing near the pavilion and ski in from this location, however on this occaision I had no difficulty getting through.
Trail to the right of Dow's Lake access ramp……that continues past the canons
I then locked my bike to this sign post a short distance further along the path, right where the groomed trail passes by. I've found this to be a fine spot to access the Arboretum to go skiing, even without a machine groomed trail as most often another skier has already arrived ahead of me, although early one morning after a big snowfall my daughter and I took the lead and broke trail, which can be exciting too.
The trail winds through the arboretum like so.
One of the joys of the arboretum in the winter is seeing the varied mix of users, making it a veritable winter playground. On a typical outing one may expect to come across snow shoers, skiers, tobogganers, skaters along the canal, fellow cyclists and dog walkers.
UPDATE– February 2nd: It snowed a few centimetres last night, making the trail less groomed but discernible. Someone had ridden a Fat Bike along the packed skate ski portion of the trail which must have been fun. Portions of the trail run along paths popular with dog walkers, but the classic ski tracks are off to the side. I hope to revisit the route throughout the winter. Definitely worth it.
Author ottawaveloPosted on February 1, 2015 February 3, 2015 Categories Biking in Winter, Nature, Ottawa, Rivers2 Comments on Biking to and Skiing Through the Arboretum : Version 2
Citizens for Safe Cycling 4th Annual Family Winter Cycling Parade : The Route
The Fourth Annual Citizens for Safe Cycling Family Winter Parade takes place on Sunday, January 25th starting at 11am. This year's route follows a 4km elongated east-west loop through Centretown, beginning and ending at the south entrance to City Hall. Here's how it goes.
Ottawa City Hall south entrance
Riders will head south on Cartier Street for a short block before turning left onto Cooper Street. Cooper is a one way that curves south just before it reaches Queen Elizabeth Drive and becomes The Driveway. There's a stop sign where The Driveway meets Somerset Street. Traffic on Somerset doesn't have a stop, so crossing Somerset requires a gap in traffic. I've hi-lited on the map where this occurs at other intersections along the route. Gaps in traffic were frequent and generous at all intersections on the two wintry Sunday mornings I tested out the route at 11am.
Just beyond Somerset the route veers right on to MacLaren Street. MacLaren is a calm one way heading west through Centretown.
MacLaren Street
There is a potpourri of interesting architectural styles to be seen along MacLaren, like this well preserved home built for lumber baron JR Booth in 1909 at the corner of Metcalfe & MacLaren.
Booth residence
Or this assortment of styles from various decades throughout the history of Centretown.
Architecture along MacLaren St
The parade will then turn north onto Bay Street beside Dundonald Park. There is a bike lane along Bay Street that unfortunately isn't cleared in the winter, but it is a quiet street on Sunday mornings in January.
Bay Street
The tour will then turn right onto the Laurier Street Bike Lane which IS cleared and salted throughout the winter.
Laurier Bike Lane
After crossing Elgin Street the parade will turn onto the plaza on the north side of City Hall.
North side of City Hall
Riders will then follow the short path on the west side of City Hall to complete the loop.
Path beside City Hall
FINISH/ARRIVÉE
POST EVENT UPDATE: It was a big success! Around 50 riders showed up. A thorough description of the event can be found on the Citizens For Safe Cycling website by clicking here.
The 4th Annual Winter Bike Parade! (Photo : Hans Moor)
Author ottawaveloPosted on January 19, 2015 January 28, 2015 Categories Art & Architecture, Biking in Winter, OttawaLeave a comment on Citizens for Safe Cycling 4th Annual Family Winter Cycling Parade : The Route
Biking to the Rideau Canal Skateway from Centretown
One of Ottawa's finest winter assets is the the Rideau Canal Skateway. Walking there from most parts of Centretown is pretty good, but if you live on the western edge of the ward it may be more convenient to go by bike. Here's how.
If your starting point is west of Bronson, find your way to Arthur street and head north (see blue line on the following map). There's a traffic light to help get across busy Somerset. Turn right on Primrose, then left on Cambridge, which veers right and becomes Laurier. On the other side of the lights at the intersection of Laurier and Bronson is the start of the Laurier Bike Lane heading east, which is cleared and salted throughout the winter.
If you are starting on the east side of Bronson, the safest road to follow to the Laurier Bike Lane is Bay Street, a one way heading north. It has a bike lane that is not cleared in the winter, but sections of it are often partially visible, depending on the amount of snow.
I follow the Laurier Bike Lane all the way to the plaza at City Hall, just east of Elgin Street. I then cross Laurier at the crosswalk in front of the plaza and cut through Confederation Park where there are stairs down to the canal skateway. You can lock your bike to the steel tube railing that runs pretty much the length of the canal.
Rideau Canal Access point at Confederation Park
The canal is void of skaters in the above photo because this section hadn't opened yet, however when it is good-to-go it tends to be very busy, especially on weekends or during Winterlude, so I often prefer accessing the canal at the end of Somerset street. To do so, I cut through the plaza and around City Hall (purple line on above map). I then follow quiet side streets and cross Queen Elizabeth Drive at Somerset where there is a crosswalk to the canal pathway. There are some cleared stairs that bring you down to the ice, just to the right of the pedestrian bridge over the canal, like so.
Access to skate way at the end of Somerset St
The paths along either side of the canal are cleared, so you can bike to to most of the many access stairs.
On the way back I followed the canal path to and through Confederation Park (green line on map).
Path through Confederation park
This brought me to the corner of Elgin and Laurier, and back on the Laurier Bike lane heading west. The segregated & cleared portion unfortunately ends at Bay Street. There is a narrow non-segregated bike lane but it isn't cleared. Laurier is a busy street. If the lane is full of snow I take to the sidewalk.
Laurier west of Lyon
If you are staying on the east side of Bronson, the best street to take south is Percy. It too has a bike lane, but similar to the one on Bay, it isn't cleared in the winter. I live west of Bronson, so I continue straight along Laurier and cross at the traffic lights at Bronson.
Et voila – happy skating!
Carla on opening day, 2015
Author ottawaveloPosted on January 12, 2015 January 13, 2015 Categories Biking in Winter, Ottawa, RiversLeave a comment on Biking to the Rideau Canal Skateway from Centretown
Multi-use path along the new extension of Preston Street : A winter bike access to the Canadian War Museum
UPDATE 2017 – This extension is now out of commission as it was only temporary until the Booth Street Bridge was completed. Unfortunately the Booth Strret Bridge has awful bike infrastructure. Promises have been made to improve them.
Preston Street has been extended between Albert Street and the Sir John A Macdonald (SJAM) Parkway. That's because Booth Street north of Albert will be closed for two years while they build the Light Rail Transit. The new extension of Preston includes a multi-use path which will provide winter bike access to the Canadian War Museum. This is an improvement as the section of Booth it is replacing was treacherous to ride along even in the best of snowless conditions. Because this shared pathway also provides pedestrian access to bus stops along it's length, I am confident it will be cleared all winter (to be confirmed after the next big snowfall). Today I went and tried it out. Blue line is my ride there, orange line is the way I should have gone to get to the start of the extension, and purple line is the way I rode back to access the Laurier Bike Lane.
I approached from the south along Preston starting at Primrose Avenue. I chose Preston because Albert is very dangerous to cross or ride along and there are traffic lights where Preston and Albert intersect. Preston has always been a busy street and promises to become more so now that it is a main north/south artery towards the Chaudière Bridge over to Gatineau. Apart from the new extension, there are no bike lanes along the length of Preston, which in the winter becomes even narrower with the snow, so I took to the sidewalk for the block between Primrose and Albert. In retrospect I should have taken the cleared O-train path under Albert and accessed the sidewalk on the north side of Albert, as suggested by the orange line on the above map. There's a short section of sidewalk to follow heading east before it joins the path that runs along the north side of Albert.
Preston between Primrose and Albert
The new extension and multi-use path begins on the north side of Albert.
The paths weave behind bus shelters located along the path.
Where it runs adjacent to the road, the path is separated from the traffic with low concrete curbing and attached fiberglass tabs
Getting across the SJAM Parkway intersection to the museum first requires crossing to the west side of Preston. The SJAM consists of multiple lanes of speeding traffic, and Preston has a large merging turn on to SJAM. This creates the type of intersection where drivers anxiously rush the light as they transition from one busy street to the other. I had to make eye contact with a driver before he halted suddenly and let me cross, even though there are multiple no-right-on-red signs.
Crossing the intersection at Preston and SJAM Parkway
Once arrived safely on the other side of SJAM I rode along the quiet service road to the entrance to the museum.
Entrance to the Canadian War Museum
On my return trip, after taking the new path back to Preston and Albert, I continued east along the path on the north side of Albert. It ends at the corner of Commissioners St and Albert. Plans are afoot to introduce multi-use path links between Albert and the Laurier Bike Lane, as described here. Until such time the best way to get to the Laurier Bike Lane is to push your bike up the side walk on the west side of Bronson. Unless traffic is very light, I suggest taking to the sidewalk not only because it's a steep little hill up to Laurier, but cars really roar around the corner and up the hill, often clipping the edge of the sidewalk at the corner of Slater and Bronson.
Well worn corner of Bronson & Slater
Author ottawaveloPosted on December 26, 2014 April 26, 2017 Categories Art & Architecture, Biking in Winter, Memorials, Ottawa2 Comments on Multi-use path along the new extension of Preston Street : A winter bike access to the Canadian War Museum
Winter bike ride to the Bayshore Park Community Oven
Members of the community surrounding Bayshore Park came up with a great idea – to build a brick oven for people to come together and cook. On Saturday I packed up some prepared bun dough and biked over to the park to attend one of their scheduled oven lightings, and it was fantastic.
The blue line on the map below describes the route I followed to get there. Purple lines are deviations I took on the way back.
Our adventure begins at the base of the hill leading up from the O-Train path to Somerset St, both of which are cleared of snow! If anyone needs a bike route to get to this starting point, send me your cross street and I would be pleased to figure it out.
Hill heading up from OTrain path to Somerset
I crossed Somerset and followed the cleared bike lane to the west side of the bridge. UPDATE: On January 5th this bike lane and the one on the opposite side of street were not cleared of snow, and it is uncertain when or if they will be plowed. When they aren't cleared I take to the sidewalk, as cars tend to speed when heading up and over this bridge.
Over Somerset Bridge
The bike lane ends suddenly on the other side so I took the short set of stairs to the right, down to Breezehill Avenue.
Steps down to Breezehill from Somerset
I then wove my way along quiet streets through the Hintonburg and Wellington Village neighbourhoods, all the way to the intersection of Scott Street and Carleton Avenue where there are lights to safely cross speedy Scott Street. I then followed the cleared multi-use path that runs along the north side of Scott.
Multi-use path along Scott Street
The path continues to be cleared beyond Churchill where Scott ends, as far the parkway along the river. The path that runs along the south side of the parkway isn't cleared, however there is a very well trampled desire-line path to Fraser Avenue that was easy to follow, especially with my studded front tire.
Trampled desire-line path over to Fraser Avenue
I biked up quiet Fraser and across Richmond road at the lights to access the multi-use path that runs between Richmond and Byron all the way to New Orchard Avenue.
Multi-use path between Byron and Richmond Road
I crossed back over to the north side of Richmond at New Orchard Avenue where there are traffic lights. The bike lane heading west along Richmond starts at New Orchard, however the level of snow clearing varied. Between New Orchard and the bridge it wasn't great, however the lane heading over the bridge was cleared.
Bike lane before the bridge heading west along Richmond ….. and over the bridge
Once over the bridge I turned onto Regina Lane that runs parallel to Richmond for a short spell. There's a great mural part way down the lane. More detailed photos of the work can be found here.
Regina Lane mural
I continued along residential streets through the Lincoln Heights neighbourhood, and took advantage of a small opening in the fence along Greenview Avenue to access Farrow Street.
Opening in the fence along Greenview Avenue
UPDATE: March 2020 – they have paved this little link and it gets cleared.
Paved link from Greenview to Fallow
The final challenge was to get to Bayshore Drive without having to ride along busy Carling Avenue. This required following a couple of short, well traversed but not cleared, pedestrian paths between Kempster to Wylie avenue and Oakley to Birchdale avenue.
Path between Kempster and Wylie avenues
Then it was across Carling to Bayshore Drive, along Woodridge Crescent, and into Bayshore Park where sits the communal oven. When I arrived there were a whole bunch of wonderful people cooking and sharing an assortment of dishes. Tom, the head baker of the day cooked up the little buns I had prepared and they turned out perfect! Everyone was very pleased.
To know more about how the oven came to be check out this CBC interview with John McDougall the oven builder and Mete Pamir, one of the community organizers. They also have a Facebook page with more history.
Bayshore Park Community Oven
Success! Tom the baker, et les petits pains maison!
Time to head home. On the return trip I couldn't ride back along Regina Lane because it's a one way heading west. Closer to Centretown, I avoided Breezehill because it's hard to see cars coming when crossing Bayswater heading east, as the two streets meet on the inside of a curve. Crossing Somerset at the top of the Breezehill stairs to get to the bike lane heading east is a bit tricky as well, as it's hard to see cars coming over the crest of the bridge.
Author ottawaveloPosted on December 23, 2014 March 23, 2020 Categories Biking in Winter, Commute Routes, Ottawa, Public Art2 Comments on Winter bike ride to the Bayshore Park Community Oven
Winter ride from Baseline&Clyde to Barrhaven
A fellow cyclist is in need of a winter bike commute route from Barrhaven to the corner of Merivale and Baseline. That's because the bike path along Greenbank which he follows on his summer commute is full of snow. The green line on the map is his regular summer route. Here's a description of a winter route I plotted and tested a couple of days after this season's first big snow fall, identified by the blue line on the map. I started from Merivale & Baseline. The purple line is a slight variation I took on the return trip.
Our journey begins in the parking lot at the end of Granton Avenue that fronts onto Clyde. Granton is accessible via a short, well trodden path to the left of this photo.
looking west down Granton Ave
I wove my way along quiet residential streets to always-busy Meadowlands Drive. There isn't a traffic light where Meadowlands intersects Sullivan Avenue, however there is a cross signal half a block east in front of the school which I took advantage of on my return trip as there was no let up in traffic. I also had to use the sidewalks along Meadowlands to get to and from the crosswalk.
View of Meadowlands signalled crosswalk in front of St Gregory School seen from Sullivan Ave.
I continued down Sullivan and turned west on Novice towards Woodroffe Avenue.
The biggest obstacle to commuters heading south of Ottawa are the two sets of east/west railway tracks. It's a challenge to choose which of the minimal number of places to get across are the safest. On this route the crossing of the first set of tracks happens along the busy six lane Woodroffe underpass. There are bike lanes along Woodroffe, which were mostly cleared, except for one spot heading south where it suddenly was filled with snow for a short stretch. Up until that spot the sidewalk wasn't cleared, but now it was, thus the snow in the bike lane. There are bus lanes beside the bike lanes and there weren't any buses coming up behind me so I managed to bike around the short section of snow filled bike lane. If there were buses roaring up behind me I probably would have chosen the sidewalk.
Bike lane along Woodroffe. Cleared most of the way…. then filled for a short stretch.
I continued along the Woodroffe bike lane which was mostly cleared, however the crossing at Hunt Club Road was pretty treacherous with six lanes of impatient traffic meeting six other lanes of impatient traffic. I chose to avoid this intersection on the way back (see purple line on map) which I'll describe in more detail further down the post. I've also been told by a local cyclist that the Woodroffe bike lane between Knoxdale and Hunt Club is often filled with snow due to the limited space between the road and the concrete sound barrier. The purple line detour avoids this as well.
Woodroffe bike lane heading south between Knoxdale and Hunt Club
I was pleased to get off of Woodroffe at the entrance to the Nepean Sportsplex, and onto the CLEARED multi-use path that runs along the east side of Woodroffe all the way to Fallowfield Road. And it's a pretty spectacular ride too. There's a section that floats through a tall pine wooded area, while the rest is mostly farmland.
Path along Woodroffe through the woods
There's a bit of an obstacle course where the path crosses the second set of tracks, but it's very manageable and safe if navigated slowly.
Crossing train tracks along Woodroffe
I crossed at the intersection of Woodroffe and Fallowfield over to the cleared bike path that runs along the north side of Fallowfield to Via Park Place.
Towards path across Woodroffe along Fallowfield.
At Via Park Place I crossed at the lights over to the very well cleared path that continues along Fallowfield before veering south alongside the Transitway and train tracks.
Path between new Barrhaven housing and the Transitway
I got off the path at Berrigan Drive and followed it across Greenbank Road. Greenbank is a busy street, and when there are signs warning drivers about a red light camera as you approach, one can imagine what a frantic intersection it promises to be. I didn't find it too crazy or dangerous, but I did consider the sidewalk.
Approach to Greenbank Road
I then rode along Wessex and Exeter Road to the round-about at Jockvale Road. I was very pleased to notice a cleared path running along the south side of Jockvale Road, which I followed over the train tracks.
Cleared path along Jockvale Road
I was impressed to see Barrhaven United Church thriving on another form of heavenly energy – large sections of their roof are covered with solar panels.
Barrhaven United Church
Not far beyond the train tracks I turned off the path along this short cleared link that brought me to Pickwick Drive.
Path link to Pickwick Drive
I then wove my way along quiet residential streets to my final destination – the corner of Flanders St and Peacock Crescent, deep in the heart of Barrhaven.
Flanders & Peacock
Now I had to get back before it got dark! Here's a view of the farm along the Woodroffe path.
Farm along Woodroffe path
Here's a description of the detour I took to avoid the crazy Woodroffe/Hunt Club intersection (purple line on the above map): I turned onto the path that runs parallel to the entrance to the Nepean Sportsplex.
On the left: Looking north along Woodroffe Ave. ………. On the right: The bike path heading in to the Nepean Sportsplex. I chose right.
The bike path ends at the edge of the parking lot. I biked through the expansive lot to the north/east corner where the path continues for a short distance to a signalized crosswalk that is MUCH more civilized than attempting to cross Hunt Club along Woodroffe.
Safe way to get across Hunt Club
I then rode along residential streets, popping out onto Woodroffe at Medhurst Drive. Once again the bike lanes were partially cleared. The sidewalk was completely cleared.
Woodroffe bike lane under the train tracks heading north
Once beyond the train tracks I turned off Woodroffe onto Norice, and retraced my route all the way back to the little path at the end of Granton Avenue that leads to the building at the corner of Baseline and Clyde. Ta-dah!
Path at the end of Granton Ave.
Author ottawaveloPosted on December 14, 2014 April 26, 2017 Categories Biking in Winter, Commute Routes, OttawaLeave a comment on Winter ride from Baseline&Clyde to Barrhaven
Winter bike route from The Glebe to the RA Centre
A friend was wondering whether there was a safe winter bike route from The Glebe to the RA Centre. There is, as per the map below, but it's quite circuitous – sadly so, when you consider how physically close the two destinations are from each other. At the time of the RA's conception, driving was the de facto mode of transpo and, by default, still is. As we wait for the powers-that-be to bring our city's cycling infrastructure up to par, I suggest the following as the safest winter bike route to get there. I also recommend a studded front tire for winter riding.
Winter cycling along Bronson is to be avoided. I crossed Bronson at Fifth Ave where there are traffic lights.
Crossing Bronson at Fifth Ave
The other side of Bronson becomes a pleasant meander along Madawaska Drive to Commissioner's Park which explodes with tulips come springtime. A minimal number of city paths are cleared throughout the winter which often forces one to rely on shared Desire Lines, i.e. trampled down paths popular with pedestrians regardless of whether plowers were instructed to clear them or not. I followed this one that cuts across the park to the edge of the Queen Elizabeth Driveway. This path is proportionally more trampled relative to the skate-ability of the canal.
Path through Commissioner's Park at the end of Madawaska to Queen Elizabeth Drive
On the other side of the driveway I rode a short distance along the plowed-and-salted Rideau Canal Western Pathway to Preston Street. I crossed at the lights to the usually cleared bike lane along Prince of Wales and followed it for a short distance to the lights at the entrance to the Arboretum, just over the O-Train tracks.. If biking along Prince of Wales seems (understandably) spooky, the sidewalk between Preston and the entrance to the Arboretum is clear, and usually empty. UPDATE – 2019: There is now a bi-directional bike lane from Preston Street almost all the way to the Arboretum. It ends just before going over the O-Train tracks.
Biking along Prince of Wales Drive between Preston St and the entrance to the Arboretum just over the train tracks
Once safely in the Arboretum I rode along the cleared/not salted path that ends at the bottom of the hill that officially isn't to be used for toboganning.
Path from the north edge of the Arboretum
I then relied on some of winter cyclists best friends – dog walkers! The Arboretum is extremely popular with dog walkers who, within hours of a snow fall, recreate a network of well trampled paths. My destination was the canal locks across from Carleton University which can be traversed 12 months of the year. The paved path along the canal proper isn't always trampled flat, however there is one that goes up through the Fletcher Wildlife Garden which hi-lites the beauty of Desire Lines. They exist where people want to go. In the winter, dog walkers park in the Fletcher Wildlife Garden parking lot. From there they work their way down through the arboretum, not along the official paved path that hugs the canal, but along the old service road that leads down from the parking lot.
Another reason I like to follow this route is the passion the Fletcher Wildlife Garden maintenance crew has for this microcosm of varied natural environments. Around every corner along the myriad of intimate paths they have created initiatives that engage visitors to the subtleties of the surrounding natural environment, like this insect hotel.
Insect Hotel
I crossed at the locks and followed the Rideau Canal Eastern Pathway, which is cleared-&-sanded, all the way to Hogs Back.
Path to Hogs Back
The path up and over the falls is salted as well, as is the path along Hog's Back Road to Riverside Drive.
UPDATE – 2019: A new bi-directional bike lane has been added to the south side of Brookfield Road from Riverside Drive to the round-about making it much safer.
Brook filed Road looking east with the new bi-directional bike path introduced in 2019
I then crossed at the roundabout over to the cleared & salted path that winds down beside the transit station and up to Heron Road. I then crossed at the lights at Heron, and continued along the equally cleared and salted path behind the Sir Leanord Tilley building.
Path beside the Tilley building
While driving to the airport I've often noticed two small pillbox shaped pavilions on either side of Bronson which I assumed to be some sort of utility stations, but are actually access points to an all-season pedestrian tunnel under Bronson. The wide circular stairwell has very shallow steps and ample room to either push or carry ones bike.
Pillbox shaped building – access to passageway under Bronson
Bronson pedestrian underpass
Once on the east side of Bronson, I cut along the salted path towards the tall government buildings. UPDATE 2019 : Previously this route followed Data Centre Road down the hill towards Riverside Drive. This updated route now follows a cleared and salted path on the north side of the Canadian Revenue Agency building down to the parking lot of the RA Centre, as indicated on the above map. It's safer (no cars) and more direct.
Concrete path along the north side of the Canadian Revenue Agency building that becomes an asphalt path that leads down to the RA Centre parking lot.
RA Centre
Author ottawaveloPosted on December 6, 2014 December 26, 2019 Categories Biking in Winter, Commute Routes2 Comments on Winter bike route from The Glebe to the RA Centre
Biking to Hockey One, or Figure 8, From Centretown for Skate Sharpening
One of the finest places in the city to get your skates sharpened is at Figure 8, or Hockey One, on Industrial Avenue. They do a great job and keep track of how you like them done. Hockey season has started up for hundreds of kids around town and my sons skates needed sharpening. Blue line on the map is the bike route I took to get there from Centretown. Purple lines an alterations I took on my way back.
I rode along the Laurier Bike Lane which extends east of Elgin in front of the Provincial court house and City Hall.
Laurier Bike Lane extension from Elgin St
There's a short bike lane just beyond City Hall to the right along the exit from Laurier to the Queen Elizabeth Driveway, as shown in the photo below, however there's a sign at the opposite end suggesting the lane is for cyclists riding towards oncoming traffic. All a bit confusing, so if you do take this bike lane watch out for cyclists heading your way along with cars exiting off Laurier. A safer bet would be to cut through the plaza in front of City Hall (See green line on above map that I followed on my winter ride, crossing the Driveway at Somerset). UPDATE – Summer 2018: There is presently a bi-directional multi-use path on the right side of this exit (not shown on the photo) making this exit much safer.
Exit to the right off Laurier towards the canal
I rode along the canal, crossed over the pedestrian/bike bridge at the end of Somerset, and continued along the canal until I turned off at the exit up to Pretoria Bridge.
Turn off towards Pretoria Bridge
That took me to the intersection of Hawthorne Avenue and Colonel By, on the east side of the bridge. Things get a little tricky at this spot. If traffic is bad I recommend crossing to the opposite corner and walking your bike for a short distance along the sidewalk to where it veers left along Echo Drive, like so.
Making your way over to Echo Drive
I then turned down the first street on the left which is Graham Avenue. It has a bike lane.
Graham Ave
Graham ends at Main Street, and continues as Lees Avenue across the intersection. There is a bike lane along Lees heading east, but it doesn't start for a hundred yards or so east of Main. Depending on the amount of traffic, it may be safest to walk your bike along the sidewalk to where the bike lane starts. UPDATE – Summer 2018: The east bound bike lane now starts at Main St.
Lees Avenue bike lane
The Lees bike lane abruptly ends at Chestnut Street. Drivers always speed along Lees Avenue. Without a bike lane it's extremely dangerous. The 'Share the Road' sign partially obstructed by trees does nothing to alleviate this danger. I turned right onto Chestnut. UPDATE – Summer 2018: The east bound bike lane now extends to the bridge over the Queensway.
UPDATE January 8: Bike lane wasn't cleared so I took the first opportunity to get off Lees and turned on to Rosemere Avenue.
Corner of Lees & Chestnut where the Lees bike path ends
This took me to Springhurst Ave where I turned left and followed it to the path that brought me to the Rideau River Nature Trail.
Path at the end of Springhurst
UPDATE – January 8: The Rideau River Nature Trail is not cleared in the winter, but it is packed down by pedestrians. I managed to ride along the path for half the distance and pushed my bike the rest of the way. A day or more without a snowfall and it most likely would be entirely bikeable.
Rideau River Nature Trail in the winter
I took the path along the transitway bridge over the river, like so.
Bridge over the Rideau River
I continued past the OC Transpo hub to the intersection at Riverside Drive. I won't deny this is a spooky major intersection, however don't let it intimidate you. There are usually many other pedestrians and cyclists crossing at this spot and the path does continue on the other side of Riverside Drive along Industrial Avenue.
Path continues in the distance on the other side of Riverside Drive
Hockey One / Figure 8 is a bit further down Industrial Avenue, however the bike path veers away diagonally at Alta Vista Drive. True to it's name, Industrial avenue has industrial quantities of cars and trucks desperately jockeying amongst themselves for lane position, so I followed the path off to the righ at the south east corner of Alta Vista and Industrial, and circled back behind Hockey one via neighbourhood Way. This adds just a few seconds to the ride and is definitely worth the safety factor.
Bike path turn off at Industrial and Alta Vista
UPDATE: Fall 2015 – They have installed a bike rack just to the right of the front door under the overhang and told me they would leave it there throughout the year. A fine and encouraging initiative.
On the way back, rather than get back on to Lees, which hasn't any bike lane heading west, I rode up Evelyn Avenue where I crossed Main. I then cut through the school parking lot to Graham Avenue.
Author ottawaveloPosted on October 22, 2014 July 23, 2018 Categories Biking in Winter, Ottawa2 Comments on Biking to Hockey One, or Figure 8, From Centretown for Skate Sharpening
Need a bike route?
If you are looking for a bike route to work, or any other destinations around the region, send me two points of reference: a starting point (like a street intersection, or address, or landmark, etc) and the final destination. These can be sent via the 'Leave a comment' tag, or by email at OttawaVeloOutaouais@gmail.com . If the start and finish destinations are within an hour's ride from each other (and most are) I will scout out a bike route and describe it on this blog, or point you to a link if I've aready tried it out.
Biking in Winter
Suggested rides for visitors to the region
Bike Ottawa ( previously Citizens for Safe Cycling)
Hans on Bike
Right Bike
OttawaVeloOutaouais Blog at WordPress.com.


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