Green Light in Guelph for Historic Bicycle Ramp to Underground Parking
Work is underway in Guelph, Ont. that will see a historic bicycle ramp as part of a development to add 30 units of affordable housing to the former Northern Rubber building. The barrier-free access to secure on-site underground bicycle parking in the building’s basement via the ramp is a landmark decision for the City.
Guelph is striving to become a bicycle-friendly place to live. In late January, advocates, developers and City Council gave the project a green light.
Typically, a project with this many units would require more than 150 motor vehicle parking spaces, but Council permitted the project to move forward with just over 100 spaces that are complemented by over 100 secure bicycle parking spaces.
Advocates at the Guelph Coalition for Active Transportation (GCAT) played an important role in the project. The use of ramps to access bicycle parking facilities is more common in Europe, and Guelph’s bicycle ramp initiative may be the first of its kind in Canada — or perhaps even in North America.
The project also backs onto one of GCAT’s priority multi-use trails where the group would like to see an expansion of the Trans Canada Trail, now referred to as The Great Trail.
“Just imagine riding your bike downtown for groceries along the trail, and then returning home and biking down a ramp straight into your secure bicycle parking area,” says GCAT president Mike Darmon.
“This building could set a precedent for all developments along the trail, similar to the 15-minute city concept becoming popular in Europe.”