The National Capital Commission has suspended Sunday Bikedays on Kichi Zībī Mīkan for Sunday, October 5, 2025, citing safety considerations.
The agency said in a notice that the planned cycling program on the riverside parkway would not operate on Sunday while it manages safety needs along the corridor.
The NCC did not immediately elaborate on specific triggers for the pause, which can range from crowd control to overlapping activities or operational constraints.
Kichi Zībī Mīkan, formerly the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway, runs along the Ottawa River west of downtown and is typically part of the NCC’s Weekend Bikedays program that opens portions of federal parkways to people on bikes, scooters, and on foot during set periods from spring through early fall.
The program is popular with families and recreational riders who use the car light window to move between shoreline greenspaces, the Canadian War Museum area, and neighborhoods to the west.
Sunday’s suspension affects only the designated Bikedays hours on Kichi Zībī Mīkan. It does not signal a broader change to the seasonal program, which the NCC has routinely adjusted on specific dates to accommodate construction, events, or safety operations.
The agency indicated that regular scheduling is expected to resume after Sunday unless it issues a further advisory.Cyclists who rely on the car light period may want to shift to nearby multi-use paths or adjust ride times to quieter periods.
Drivers and transit riders should account for typical weekend volumes rather than the reduced traffic flow that Bikedays can create. Travelers are encouraged to monitor NCC channels for any updates before heading out.
Cafés and attractions that usually benefit from concentrated morning foot traffic during Bikedays may see a flatter pattern, while bike shops and rental operators could field more questions about alternate rides.
The episode is a reminder that demand for safe, low stress routes in the capital region remains high, and that program logistics have real world spillovers for local retail, tourism, and events.
In Ottawa, the NCC’s parkway management acts as a bellwether for active transportation trends that influence public realm spending and waterfront activation.
While a single day suspension will not move markets, it underscores how transportation programming can affect neighborhood footfall and the use of public spaces that anchor nearby commercial strips.
Kichi Zībī Mīkan was officially renamed in 2023 to reflect Algonquin heritage. The corridor’s role as both a scenic drive and a weekend recreation spine has made it a fixture of the capital’s outdoor economy.
The NCC said it will provide updates as needed. Riders planning a Sunday spin should check the latest advisory before setting out.
