Downtown Rideau has high traffic volumes of over 250,000 employees, residents, tourists and shoppers visiting the area each day. To ensure it maintains an impeccable appearance, the Downtown Rideau BIA pursues a standard level of "basic services" from the City of Ottawa and implements "enhanced" maintenance programs to supplement the municipality's basic services:

 

Sidewalks                                                 

                       
The Downtown Rideau BIA hires outside resources and encourages its member properties and tenants to clean, sweep and clear snow on public and private walkways, sidewalks and alcoves each spring and winter; and as required throughout the year.

Litter & Weeds  

During the summer and throughout the year, the Downtown Rideau BIA hires outside resources and encourages its member properties and tenants to remove litter and weeds from tree and flower planters, sidewalks, curbs and other surfaces.

Graffiti Removal   

Throughout the year, the Downtown Rideau BIA hires outside resources to remove graffiti from public and private property and fixtures at street level.  The BIA does not remove graffiti from second storey properties and encourages member properties and tenants to restrict access to second storeys to prevent vandals from placing graffiti above street level.  Restricting access to second storeys will also avoid the city requirying its removal at the owners expense and assists the BIA's efforts to keep Downtown Rideau free of graffiti.

  

The Downtown Rideau BIA monitors and reports the cleanliness and maintenance of public and private property and other street service providers of furniture and fixtures including transit shelters, vending boxes, lampposts, tree planters, bicycle racks, waste receptacles, lighting, etc. In addition, the BIA provides "enhanced" services to its street furniture assets (decorative lampposts, banner hardware, waste recptacles), with pressure washing, repair and painting each spring and peak visitor periods throughout the year, as well as debris removal when required.

Downtown Patrol
The DRBIA annually hires private security to assist with crowd control and protect private property during special events such as Canada Day.  The 'Downtown Patrol' monitors Downtown Rideau in late evening and early morning hours. They perform door checks, respond to building security alarms, call in response from police and assist police upon request.  They are also an information resource for public and tourism inquiries and the BIA's "eyes on the street".

Ottawa Police Service
The DRBIA works closely with the Ottawa Police to help ensure that Downtown Rideau remains a safe place to work, live and visit.
 

Safet Audits & Lighting 

 The Rideau BIA, along with the municipal, police and community resources conducts annual safety audits of Downtown Rideau. The audit identifies opportunities to improve safety in the area, which mostly pertain to lighting issues. The BIA contacts property owners and other stakeholders with requests to address concerns noted with their property and does a follow up to determine whether action has been taken.

 

Transit Security

The Rideau BIA recognizes an opportunity to utilize transit security resources in Downtown Rideau and is pursuing discussions with local transit authorities to this end. Discussions could include transit drivers reporting activity to police, increased lighting, video surveillance and late night/early morning vehicle patrols.

 

Ambience
Numerous studies conclude that serene music and engaging activity minimizes civil disobedience and loitering in public spaces. In support of this theory, the Rideau BIA is pursuing the installation of music and street theatre performances in high pedestrian traffic areas to discourage negative social behaviour.

 

Loitering

 To discourage loitering, and consequently obstruction of entering businesses and the destruction of flowers and trees, the Rideau BIA installed iron "picket" railings on the edges of tree planters along Rideau Street.