[Org4j-announce] Sept 19 Mass Bike Ride DRAW THE LINE

Thu Sep 18 02:35:26 PDT 2025

 This event was included in last week's sendout, but now has all details
confirmed:

DRAW THE LINE:  Sept.19 Mass Bike Ride, Ottawa-Gatineau

la version française est disponible ici
<https://www.fridaysforfutureottawa.org/fr/the-get-ready-ride/>
[image: MAP bilingue S19 Mass Bike Ride + Feeder Rides.jpg]

On September 19th — the eve of the September 20th DRAW THE LINE National
Day of Action and the Ottawa-Gatineau march — the D.T.L. Mass Bike Ride
will take back the streets of downtown Ottawa-Gatineau.

Friday evening, September 19th,
we will meet 6:00pm at Confederation Park (Elgin/Laurier)
and will depart at 6:30pm or shortly thereafter.

There are also 'feeder rides' from different locations outside of the
downtown core, departing at 5:30pm, to all then converge at Confederation
Park for 6:00pm.

The ride will be in 'Critical Mass' style, which means we cycle as a big
group on the streets, filling a lane of traffic (or multiple, depending on
the size of the ride) and deciding on the route as we go.

Please read the full notes below to understand how it will work.

It is a fun, inspiring, broaden-the-horizons action:

We can bring the DRAW THE LINE message in a different manner,
to join the urgent calls for people, for peace, for the planet.

We hope you will be there - let’s ride!

Also, please help spread the word about this ride!

The ride wasn’t part of the DRAW THE LINE initial plans,
so we need your help now to make sure people will know about it:

   -

   Email this announcement to people you know and through broader networks.
   -

   Share social posts from Fridays For Future Ottawa feeds: FB
   <https://www.facebook.com/FridaysForFutureOttawa/>, IG
   <https://www.instagram.com/fridaysforfutureottawa/>, X
   <https://twitter.com/FFF_Ottawa>.
   -

   RSVP to the Facebook event page
   <https://www.facebook.com/events/1086991263647475/> and invite friends.
   -

   Get social media graphics, printable flyers/posters, and more to use
   here:
   https://tinyurl.com/s19bikepromo (includes map of Feeder Ride locations)
   -

   Check out the main website for Sept 19 ride and Sept 20 march:
   www.FridaysForFutureOttawa.org <http://www.fridaysforfutureottawa.org>

Specific notes on the ride:

** Feeder Rides **

We have set a few locations for people to meet at, and ride together to get
to the main ride departure point at Confederation Park.

Each of these four locations is meet ~5:15pm, depart 5:30pm or thereafter:

   -

   Gatineau: Maison du Citoyen
   -

   Westboro Beach: ~ Kichi Zibi Parkway @ Lanark Ave
   -

   Billings Bridge mall: parking lot near the McDonalds
   -

   Lees LRT Station: Western edge of uOttawa Lees campus.

Some feeder rides have en-route join-in points (be there by 5:45pm)

   -

   Bayview LRT, at intersection of the bike paths (join Westboro Beach ride)
   -

   uOttawa main campus directly beside the LRT station (join Lees LRT ride)

Note: The Lees LRT feeder ride, with the uOttawa LRT join-in point, is
designed to be kid-friendly, as it is completely on bike paths, and also is
a shorter distance to accommodate slower riding.

Note2:  We have ‘anchor people’ lined up to be at each feeder ride, but in
case something arises and they aren’t there, it is simply up to the people
there to decide to depart and get to Confederation Park.

** Kid-Friendly **

The entire ride is kid-friendly. It is a slow-paced ride and our numbers
provide safety on the streets.

But for young children (and their parents) who may not have the energy for
the full ride, we will start with a ride from Confederation Park to
Parliament, and some laps on the circle road around the field on the Hill.
This, and with the 'bike-path-only' feeder ride from Lees LRT, may be
enough for some. But the whole ride will be welcoming and accommodating.
After Parliament Hill, we'll ride the streets of Centretown, the Market,
maybe Hull.

** Signage **

There will be signs and flags of various types, along with zip ties,
available on site at Confederation Park to gear up with before departure.
You are also encouraged to bring your own flags or signs as desired!

The themes of DRAW THE LINE are expanded upon further below.

** Collaboration with vigil / march for Palestine **

'March To Ottawa <https://marchtoottawa.com>' is a vigil on Parliament Hill
and accompanying actions September 15-19 against Canada's complicity in the
genocide of Gaza. They are holding a march starting 6pm on Friday evening,
from the Museum of Civilization. One of the DRAW THE LINE demands is an
arms embargo on Israel.

We are not formally affiliated with the March to Ottawa, but have been in
contact with them. We hope to do a 'ride-by' of the march, as well as end
our ride at Parliament Hill

for the 8pm-ish closing ceremonies of the week-long efforts.

* Risk

To participate in this Critical Mass style ride is at your own risk. The
collective numbers of the ride provide safety, but there is always some
inherent danger of riding a bike on the roads in proximity to cars.

** DRAW THE LINE demands **

In September 2019, the global Climate Strike / March mobilization included
some 40,000 or so people came together at Parliament Hill, and there have
been climate marches in subsequent Septembers. This year, to address the
urgent circumstances we face, we are focusing on five interconnected issues.

The Ottawa-Gatineau DRAW THE LINE march articulates five themes:

🌍 Building a renewable future

🌿 Upholding Indigenous sovereignty

✊ Fighting for migrant justice

🕊️ Standing up for peace and democracy

💪 Investing in people and public services

A detailed explanation and call, co-signed by 21 prominent Canadians:

"Draw the Line: Tell the Carney Government to Pick a Side"

https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025/09/13/Draw-Line-Tell-Carney-Government-Pick-Side/

An open letter signed by over 200 musicians in Canada:

"Music Draws The Line"
https://www.musicdrawstheline.ca/

** World-wide actions **

This is also part of a global mobilization with actions September 19-21:

https://drawtheline.world lists actions across Canada and in other
countries.
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