Expansion of Driving School Prohibition Zone around Walkley DriveTest Centre
At Thursday’s February 18th EPPS committee meeting I put forward a motion to expand the driving school prohibition zone as shown in the map below labelled 1 and 2 around the Ministry of Transportation’s DriveTest facility at 1570 Walkley Road.
The Ministry of Transportation recently updated its test route, and this expansion will help address ongoing traffic and safety concerns in the surrounding residential area. The main factor determining what streets are included in a prohibition zone is whether or not it is part of the MTO test route. Other factors include volume of driving school traffic, construction in the area, and the number and types of complaints registered.
Driving school instruction in test routes can create congestion and safety risks for residents and pedestrians, especially with new drivers practicing maneuvers like three-point turns and parallel parking. The new prohibition zone, which will take effect later this year aligns with practices in other Ontario cities and helps keep our streets safer.
If you see a driving instructor operating in the prohibited area, please note the time, business name, and license plate if possible, and report it via 3-1-1 so By-law Enforcement can investigate.
Motion to Consider a Review of Wildlife Feeding in Ottawa
At the same EPPS committee meeting yesterday, my colleague Councillor Dudas put forward a motion asking the City to consider undertaking a Bylaw review (next term of Council) of Wildlife Feeding in Ottawa.
The goal with any potential new Bylaw would be to reduce conflicts with animals such as raccoons, skunks, coyotes, and even bears, which can happen when food is easily accessible.
The motion, approved yesterday, does not create any new by-law or ban bird feeders. The motion was to ask staff to consider adding a review of this Bylaw to a future work plan, which would include fulsome public consultation.
