Bike parking and repair stations

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Secure public bike parking lockers

As part of the Public Bike Parking Strategy, the City of Ottawa is now offering secured bike lockers as a safe way for cyclists to store their bike in strategic downtown Ottawa neighbourhoods.

Secure Bike Parking Lockers are available at the following locations:

  • 141 Clarence Street, along the west wall inside the parking garage close to the Murray Street exit
  • 170 Second Avenue, outside the Glebe parking garage near the entrance/exit on Second Avenue
  • 234-250 Slater Street, at the surface parking lot adjacent to the sidewalk
  • Other locations to come!

The Secure Public Bike Parking program is new to Ottawa and before additional locations are explored, the rollout of these units will be monitored to help identify possible future enhancements. 

  • Units have 6 individual lockers that can each hold 1 bicycle. 
  • You may confirm locker availability and start your rental session before arrival.
  • There is no time limit when using the locker.

Using the Locker

  • Download the Vélo-Transit application on your Android or Apple device.
  • Create an account and choose the desired location. Lockers are available on a first come, first serve basis. 
  • Select “Pay as you go”, followed by your desired locker number.
  • Enter your payment details and confirm the start of the rental.
  • Select “Open door” and wait for approximately 30 seconds.
  • Store your bike by laying your mobile device flat on the lock for 5 seconds to unlock it. The door will lock automatically after 8 seconds or as soon as the door closes. 
  • Retrieve your bike by following the previous step to unlock.  
  • To stop your rental, click “End Rental or Stop Service” in the Vélo-Transit application.

Fees

  • First 2 hours: free
  • Each additional hours: $0.50/hour
  • The rental period will continue until the user ends their session through the Vélo-Transit application.

Any questions or concerns about the Secure Public Bike Parking lockers may be reported by calling 3-1-1.

No matter how you secure your bike, make sure it’s registered.

Looking for some tips on keeping your bike safe

Bike parking

The City of Ottawa offers several options for parking your bike:

  • At city-owned parking lots and garages
  • Various Transitway and LRT stations, City of Ottawa Client Service Centres, community and recreation centres and parks
  • Roadside ring and post bike racks
  • Bike Corral Program provides seasonal parking from April to November at the following locations: 
    • Byward Market
      • York Street and Sussex Drive
    • Centretown
      • MacLaren and Bank streets
      • Gloucester and Bank streets
      • Cooper and Bank streets
    • Glebe
      • Second Avenue and Bank Street
      • Glebe Avenue and Bank Street
      • Fourth Avenue and Bank Street
    • Westboro
      • Golden Avenue and Richmond Road
    • Wellington West
      • Wellington Street West and Fairmount Avenue
      • Hamilton Avenue North and Armstrong Street
  • OC Transpo offers secure bike parking at Greenboro, Strandherd, St-Laurent, and Fallowfield stations.

Winter maintained bike parking

The City of Ottawa is currently piloting an initiative where bike racks in close proximity of essential services (such as grocery stores, pharmacies, etc.) will be maintained, allowing cyclists to use them throughout the winter months. This winter, bike parking will be available at the following locations: 

  • 111 Albert Street
  • 174 Bank Street
  • 276 Bank Street
  • 296 Bank Street
  • 326 Bank Street
  • 375 Bank Street
  • 386 Bank Street
  • 455 Bank Street
  • 702 Bank Street
  • 738 Bank Street
  • 754 Bank Street
  • 778 Bank Street
  • 869 Bank Street
  • 264 Elgin Street
  • 280 Elgin Street
  • 225 Preston Street
  • 50   Rideau Street
  • 200 Rideau Street
  • 306 Rideau Street
  • 322 Rideau Street
  • 363 Rideau Street
  • 298 Richmond Road
  • 300 Richmond Road
  • 410 Richmond Road
  • 170 Second Avenue
  • 712 Somerset Street West
  • 752 Somerset Street West
  • 760 Somerset Street West
  • 793 Somerset Street West
  • 794 Somerset Street West
  • 1057 Wellington Street West
  • 1069 Wellington Street West
  • 1085 Wellington Street West
  • 1101 Wellington Street West
  • 1130 Wellington Street West
  • 1188 Wellington Street West
  • 1308 Wellington Street West
  • 1355 Wellington Street West
  • 1399 Wellington Street West

Bike repair stations and instructional videos

There are more than 50 bike repair stations available at various locations across the City of Ottawa.

The City is pleased to offer a sponsorship option for individuals, private entities, or non-for-profit organizations wishing to support the implementation of a bike repair station. The following conditions apply:

  • Requesters are required to provide the City with one or more potential locations (with supporting photos) and a brief description of how the bike repair station will benefit the public (i.e. important cycling community, proximity to cycling infrastructure, etc.).
  • The sponsor will be required to sign an agreement in accordance with the City of Ottawa’s Sponsorship Policy .
  • The sponsorship contribution is a fixed lump-sum payment of three thousand dollars ($3,000), payable to the City of Ottawa.
  • In return, the City will commit to display the sponsor’s name at the bike repair station for at least the first three (3) years of operation.
  • The bike repair station will be installed on City of Ottawa property (including the right-of-way) and will remain the sole property of the City.
  • The City will be responsible for maintaining the bike repair station.

To request a new bike repair station or to report an issue with an existing station, please send an email to hello.velo@ottawa.ca. We will respond to all inquiries within five (5) business days.

Instructional videos

Changing Tire
*Guitar strumming*

How to change a tire

Place seat onto stand
Remove wheel from bicycle
Deflate the tube by pushing valve
Break the seal between the tire bead and the rim
Use the leaver to pull tire bead over the rim
Slide lever around the wheel
Remove the tube and hang safety off the ground
Remove tire, and inspect tire and wheel for debris and damage
Re-mount one tire bead mount tube at valve hole
Tuck the tube into the tire
Starting at the valve stem mount the other bead hook
Apply pressure evenly with both hands around to the opposite side of the valve stem inflate your tire (see “how to pump a tire” video)
Remount wheel into frame
Patching Tire
*Guitar strumming*

How to patch a tire

Before you watch this:

complete steps 1 to 7 of “how to change a tire”
Inflate tube as full as possible (see ‘How to pump a tire’ video)
Maneuver tube to listen and feel for air escaping
Identify the puncture and circle it with a marker
Open your patch kit
Choose the sandpaper, sand an area larger than the patch, until darker
Apply glue
Spread glue to a larger area than the patch
Wait 3-5 min for glue to dry
Test by touching edge (glue should be tacky)
Select patch from the kit
Firmly place the patch
Roll finger to make sure the full surface area is covered
Now, refer back to ‘how to change a tire’ at the appropriate step:

If the tire may be damaged, proceed to Step 8. Otherwise, go to step 9.
Perform a visual inspection before riding
Pumping Tire
*Guitar strumming*

How to pump a tire

Remove valve cap
Presta valve and Schrader valve
Loosen Presta valve and press to release air
Unscrew Schrader cap, and place pump chuck
Place the correct style of pump chuck onto the valve and lock into place.
Note: there are 2 different slots in the pump head depending on which type of valve you have
Pump and monitor the gauge.
Inflate to recommended PSI, and defer to lower range on tire
Close lever to unlock
Screw in Presta valve, install valve cap and tighten lock ring
Preform a final visual inspection before riding 
Troubleshooting the pump:  

*guitar strumming*

Interactive map for bike parking, winter maintained bike parking and bike repair stations

Bike racks on private property

Does your organization require bike parking for its staff or patrons? Hello Vélo – a new initiative by Parking Services – incentivizes private organizations (such as local businesses) by subsidizing 50 per cent of the cost when purchasing a bike rack from the City’s inventory. 

A poster describing how to request a new bike rack for private property

Only while quantities last! Black 4-ring “hanger” bike racks can be purchased for $400 plus tax, which is 50% off our bulk purchase cost. A fantastic deal! 

Photo d'un porte-vélos à 4 anneaux

Interested in getting a new bike rack for your organization? Please email hello.velo@ottawa.ca and Parking Services will help you place your order. Please note that we only accept payments via e-transfer and that your organization will be responsible for pick-up and installation. 

For bike parking zoning requirements, please visit Bicycle Parking Space Rates and Provisions or OntariobyBike.ca to help make your business more bicycle friendly.

Public bike parking strategy

For information about the City of Ottawa’s Public Bike Parking Strategy, please visit Parking Strategy and Studies.

Report a damaged bike rack or an abandoned bike

If you notice a damaged bike rack on the public right of way, or you want to report an abandoned bike, please call the City of Ottawa at 3-1-1. Please be ready to provide an address or intersection, and any relevant details.

Requesting new or replacing existing bike racks on City property

Are you aware of a location in the public space where bike parking is unavailable or insufficient? Please submit requests for new or replacement bike racks to parking.operations@ottawa.ca. Please include an address or intersection of the request and any relevant details, including pictures (optional). We will respond to all inquiries within five (5) business days.

We will assess all requests to identify the bike parking solution that is best supported. The outcome may be influenced by space constraints or other factors, such as visibility, accessibility and sidewalk conditions. Where a need for bike parking is identified, locations will be prioritized for installation.

As part of the City’s Public Bike Parking Strategy, we plan to offer more types of bike parking services in the future.