Cycling & Active Transportation

Ottawa election issue

Cycling & Active Transportation

Compare candidate plans for bike lanes, pathways, cycling safety, complete streets and active transportation.

Research priority 4/5 4 candidate positions 5 cited sources Reviewed Sep 8, 2026

Why Cycling & Active Transportation matters

Cycling and active transportation are core municipal responsibilities involving protected bike lanes, multi-use pathways, complete streets, traffic calming, winter maintenance, cycling safety and connections to transit. Ottawa’s Transportation Master Plan and Active Transportation Network guide long-term investment in safe, connected transportation choices.

This issue compares how candidates would expand cycling infrastructure, improve safety, balance road space, integrate cycling with OC Transpo and maintain facilities year-round.

Published positions

View this issue in the full comparison →

Mark Sutcliffe

Mayor of Ottawa

Position
Support
Coverage
Extensive public information
Evidence
Inferred from public record
Reviewed
Sep 8, 2026

Supports balanced multimodal transportation including cycling investments.

Key commitments

  • Continue Active Transportation Network implementation.
  • Support Complete Streets projects.
  • Integrate cycling with road reconstruction.
  • Improve cycling safety.
Read the full position

Sutcliffe supports implementing Ottawa’s Transportation Master Plan and Active Transportation Network while balancing the needs of motorists, pedestrians, transit users and cyclists. Cycling investments are generally incorporated into broader transportation and road reconstruction projects rather than presented as a standalone platform.

Supporting sources (1)
  1. Transportation Master Plan City of Ottawa Open source ↗
View Mark Sutcliffe’s complete profile →

Jeff Leiper

Mayoral Candidate

Position
Support
Coverage
Extensive public information
Evidence
Direct campaign platform
Reviewed
Sep 8, 2026

Strong supporter of protected cycling infrastructure and safer streets.

Key commitments

  • Expand protected bike lanes.
  • Improve road safety.
  • Support complete streets.
  • Integrate cycling with transit.
Read the full position

Leiper has consistently advocated for protected bike lanes, complete streets, improved pedestrian infrastructure and better integration between cycling and transit.

Supporting sources (1)
  1. Campaign Priorities Jeff Leiper Campaign Open source ↗
View Jeff Leiper’s complete profile →

Alex Lawson

Mayoral Candidate

Position
Under Review
Coverage
Limited public information
Evidence
No clear public position found
Reviewed
Sep 8, 2026

No dedicated cycling platform published.

Key commitments

  • No verified cycling platform.
  • Improve transportation infrastructure.
  • Publish cycling-specific commitments.
Read the full position

Lawson emphasizes transportation infrastructure, reliable services and efficient spending but has not published specific commitments on cycling infrastructure.

Supporting sources (1)
  1. Ottawa Deserves Better Alex Lawson Campaign Open source ↗
View Alex Lawson’s complete profile →

Neil Saravanamuttoo

Economist and community advocate

Position
Under Review
Coverage
Limited public information
Evidence
Candidate statement or interview
Reviewed
Sep 8, 2026

Saravanamuttoo links transportation planning to lower congestion and neighbourhood decision-making, but has not released a dedicated cycling or active-transportation platform.

Key commitments

  • Reduce congestion through stronger transit.
  • Direct growth-related resources back into affected neighbourhoods.
  • No dedicated cycling or active-transportation plan identified as of July 29, 2026.
Read the full position

Saravanamuttoo’s published transportation material focuses primarily on transit affordability, reliability and network design. His broader platform favours investing in existing communities and allowing neighbourhoods to shape local priorities, which could include walking and cycling infrastructure.

No detailed commitments were identified on protected cycling lanes, winter maintenance, sidewalks, multi-use pathways, Vision Zero or allocation of road space. The campaign’s position remains under review until a specific active-transportation plan is released.

Supporting sources (2)
  1. 4-Point Transit Recovery Plan Neil Saravanamuttoo / the 613 · May 25, 2026 Open source ↗
  2. A New Era of Responsible City Spending Neil Saravanamuttoo / the 613 · Jun 3, 2026 Open source ↗
View Neil Saravanamuttoo’s complete profile →

Sources used for this issue

Sources may be cited by more than one candidate position. Duplicate links are shown only once here.

  1. Transportation Master Plan City of Ottawa Open source ↗
  2. Campaign Priorities Jeff Leiper Campaign Open source ↗
  3. Ottawa Deserves Better Alex Lawson Campaign Open source ↗
  4. 4-Point Transit Recovery Plan Neil Saravanamuttoo / the 613 · May 25, 2026 Open source ↗
  5. A New Era of Responsible City Spending Neil Saravanamuttoo / the 613 · Jun 3, 2026 Open source ↗

Public transparency

How this page was assembled

This issue page compares each candidate using public campaign material, official records, interviews and credible reporting.

Positions reviewed
4
Sources cited
5
Directly attributed
2
Last reviewed
Sep 8, 2026
What these labels mean

Coverage describes how much specific public information supports a summary. It does not rate the candidate or policy.

Evidence basis explains whether a conclusion comes directly from a campaign platform or statement, or is inferred from an official record, municipal policy or reporting.

How updates and corrections work

Research is revised when candidates publish new material, a source changes, or a reader identifies an error. Updates are reflected in the reviewed dates shown throughout the site.

Correction suggestions should include the page, statement and supporting source so the claim can be checked.