The constant freeze-thaw cycle in Ottawa has left many sidewalks covered in layers of ice centimetres thick, while ironically making the Rideau Canal more difficult to skate on.

Rachel Eugster wiped out on a sidewalk earlier this week in Hintonburg, landing her in the hospital.

"I was on my way to meet a friend for lunch," she said. "I was just thinking, 'This is ice really slowing me down.'… I fell on my wrist with the cast to prove it."

Eugster says she understands the city can't control the weather but believes they could do a better job of removing ice and snow.

"The sidewalks are not cleared as meticulously as they used to be," she said.

The city says it's working to improve the conditions and is now applying a grit and salt mixture to the sidewalks to improve traction.

Staff are also out looking for particularly bad areas.

Canal ice affected

Meanwhile, the freeze-thaw has left the Rideau Canal in less-than-perfect condition even as thousands of people are expected to skate during Winterlude this weekend.

Three people broke bones on the skateway within a half an hour during the lunch hour on Friday.

"If you're a novice, just be very careful," said J.P. Trottier, spokesman for the Ottawa Paramedic Service. "Slow down. There are a lot of ruts. There's that freeze-thaw we've seen all year, all this winter, and it's just not very good for the ice conditions."

Trottier said the most important safety tip is for skaters to wear helmets. If a skater doesn't have a hockey or ski helmet, they should wear a bicycle helmet. It's not as effective, but better than nothing, he said.