by Worldchanging Canada local blogger, Mark Tovey: The Rideau Canal, iconic emblem of Ottawa’s beauty, is, as of today, a UNESCO world heritage site, joining twelve other Canadian sites. It was chosen not for its natural charm, but because “it bears witness to the fight for control of the north of the American continent.” However, there is probably another way the Rideau canal should be recognized — as an emblem not of beauty or war, but of sustainable, person-powered commuting. As I noted in a previous Worldchanging post, Ottawa is already one of the bicycling capitals of the continent, in large part due to its 170 km of bicycle paths, of which the Rideau canal is one of the most important backbones. You can cycle almost the entire length of the Rideau bicycle path without ever having to cross a road. On Sundays, during the summer, Ottawa closes the road that runs beside the canal as an impetus to recreational cycling, walking, and in-line skating. People cycle both sides of the canal to get to work in both summer and winter, in one of the coldest capitals in the world. It’s not unusual for Ottawans who live near the canal… (more)
(Posted by WorldChanging Team in Transportation at 12:10 PM)