Cycling in Waterloo Region [Archive]

UrbanWaterloo

01-03-2010, 02:09 AM

A chance to ride with Lance
April 24, 2008
Johanna Weidner, RECORD STAFF
WATERLOO REGION

http://media.therecord.com/images/3a/0f/313084014338a2310a0e3e05f16d.jpeg
Lance Armstrong, shown during the 2005 Tour de France, will be biking with Jim Balsillie and 50 other cyclists who can each raise $25,000 for cancer centres.

RIM billionaire Jim Balsillie and cycling star Lance Armstrong will team up for a local bicycle tour to raise money for cancer treatment.

A select few will take to the backroads of Waterloo Region with Armstrong in the Ride with Lance fundraiser on June 14.

Money raised will go to the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre and the Odette Cancer Centre at Sunnybrook hospital in Toronto.

Balsillie, co-chief executive officer of Research In Motion, is a driving force behind the event. Armstrong is a seven-time Tour de France winner and a cancer survivor.

Riders who want to join the pack will need to raise at least $25,000, including a $1,500 registration fee. Only 50 people can join.

The route is being designed by Canadian cycling legend Steve Bauer. The Olympic silver medallist and Tour de France competitor cycled with Balsillie and Armstrong at a Lake Louise cancer fundraiser in June.

The route will cover about 100 kilometres over country roads around Waterloo Region and take between three and four hours.

"It will be rural, rolling terrain," said Bauer, who owns a St. Catharines company that organizes bike tours around the world.

The route will begin and end in the Kitchener area but is not yet finalized.

"I'm sure we'll get a great route together," Bauer said. "There's so many great roads around there."

The hefty fundraising requirements comes with some perks. Riders will enjoy a reception with Armstrong the night before the ride and brunch before they head out Saturday morning. Every rider, decked out in a team jersey and shorts, gets a chance to pedal at the front of the pack next to Armstrong.

At a post-ride dinner, the top five fundraisers will dine at Armstrong's table.

Website set up to promote Lance Armstrong fundraiser
April 26, 2008
Record staff
WATERLOO REGION
http://news.therecord.com/article/342148

Learn more about the Ride with Lance on the fundraiser's website at www.ridewithlance.ca. On June 14, Lance Armstrong will cycle with an exclusive group of riders on the region's rural roads to raise money for cancer treatment. Riders need to raise at least $25,000, including a registration fee of $1,500. Only 50 people can register. The event will benefit the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre and the Odette Cancer Centre at Sunnybrook hospital in Toronto.

Armstrong, Liggett take a ride
June 10, 2008
Record staff, news services
WATERLOO REGION
http://news.therecord.com/article/364432

One of the biggest names in cycle sports reporting will be joining one of the biggest names in professional cycling for a 100-kilometre ride in our area on Saturday. Phil Liggett, cycling journalist and longtime commentator of the Tour de France, will join a pack of 40 cyclists led by seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong through the hills of Waterloo Region. The event is the Ride With Lance, an eastern Canadian version of the annual western Canadian event that raises money for Alberta cancer facilities. For this event, each rider has to raise $25,000 to participate, for a total of $1 million, to be split between Grand River Hospital's Regional Cancer Centre and the Odette Cancer Centre at Toronto's Sunnybrook Hospital. For more on this event, visit Bill Bean's Take the Lane blog at http://therecord. blogs.com/take_the_lane/

Dinner with Armstrong spurs fundraising race
June 11, 2008
Johanna Weidner, RECORD STAFF
WATERLOO REGION
http://news.therecord.com/article/365073

http://media.therecord.com/images/e1/04/bffc020c41ff94da4fd883c8c967.jpeg
Cyclist Lance Armstrong, pictured during training in 2005, will be in Waterloo Region this weekend for a fundraising ride for cancer research.

Cycling star Lance Armstrong rolls into Waterloo Region this Saturday to raise money for cancer research.

Armstrong will be cycling the back roads with a select group of riders, who each raised at least $25,000 for the Ride with Lance fundraiser. Thirty-seven people, including 11 local riders, were registered by Monday. Jim Balsillie, Research In Motion's co-chief executive officer, is one of the top five fundraisers, with about $35,000 in pledges.

Balsillie helped organize the event to benefit the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre and the Odette Cancer Centre at Sunnybrook hospital in Toronto. The fundraiser was started by the Toronto hospital, and Grand River joined when Balsillie got on board and helped recruit Armstrong, said Nancy Hewat, executive director of the Grand River Hospital Foundation.

Balsillie cycled with Armstrong, a seven-time Tour de France winner and cancer survivor, at a Lake Louise cancer fundraiser last June.

"He's the catalyst to getting us involved," Hewat said.

It hasn't been decided how the money will be split between the cancer centres, she said. Local donors can direct their money to the Kitchener hospital.

On Friday night, Armstrong will speak to the riders briefly at a reception in Toronto. Each rider gets a chance to pedal side-by-side with Armstrong. The top five fundraisers get to sit with Armstrong at the dinner Saturday night. In the running for a spot at Armstrong's table is Ian Cook, president of Waterloo-based Cook Homes.

"It's one thing to be able to ride with Lance. It's another to be able to sit down with him," said Cook, who has raised more than $35,000.

Even before the 100-kilometre ride begins, the race is underway to raise the most money. "There's some competitive juices flowing," said Cook, 47.

He signed up for the event as soon as he read about it. "I pinch myself to think how lucky I am."

Beyond meeting Armstrong, Cook was thrilled by the personal challenge and the chance to help a good cause. He has been training on his bike and at the gym.

Designed by Canadian cycling legend Steve Bauer, the route is being kept secret by organizers.

Find out more or make donations at www.ridewithlance.ca.

THERECORD.COM

For more details about this ride and other cycling highlights, visit Bill Bean's blog, Take The Lane.

UrbanWaterloo

01-03-2010, 02:11 AM

Lance's Tour de Région; Lance Armstrong teams up with RIM's Jim Balsillie for a bicycle ride in Waterloo Region to raise more than $1.3 million for cancer centres
June 16, 2008
Greg Mercer and Charlotte Prong Parkhill; RECORD STAFF
NORTH DUMFRIES
http://news.therecord.com/article/367704

http://media.therecord.com/images/4a/6b/9f982ad24a97931a5378a0725579.jpeg
Lance Armstrong (left) lent his star power and cycled with RIM’s Jim Balsillie (right) yesterday to lead a bike ride yesterday that raised more
than $1.3 million for the Odette Cancer Centre at Sunnybrook Hospital and the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre.

http://media.therecord.com/images/41/09/b409dac4410f8fbb4824a256450f.jpeg
Morgan MacPhee of Elmira, 13, visits with Kate Hudson, left, and Lance Armstrong after the Tour de France champion led a ride through Waterloo Region on Saturday to benefit local cancer treatment.

http://media.therecord.com/images/ef/91/4be30a024b66bb756c68df77232f.jpeg
On Saturday, Lance Armstrong (centre, in yellow and black) was joined by 40 riders at Ride With Lance, a fundraiser for Sunnybrook Hospital’s Odette Cancer Centre in Toronto and the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre in Cambridge.

With a police motorcade, gushing fans and throngs of photographers, the Lance Armstrong show wound its way through the region's back roads Saturday.

In his wake, the cycling world's biggest celebrity left behind over $1.3 million for local cancer treatment.

That was the sum collected by entrepreneurs, doctors, lawyers and teenagers who raised more than $25,000 each for the chance to cycle 117 kilometres with the retired American athlete.

This was no Sunday jaunt. The secret route, which wound through North Dumfries' country roads, took just shy of four hours to complete under beaming sunshine.

Armstrong, joined at an earlier dinner by actor girlfriend Kate Hudson, lent his star power to an event that sparked a fundraising race for the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre and the Odette Cancer Centre at Toronto's Sunnybrook hospital.

His name not only attracted money, it drew quite a crowd, too. Dozens lined the road at the ride's starting point outside the Woerner House estate on Roseville Road, cheering wildly as the seven-time Tour de France winner bolted out of the gated compound and hit the road with his grinning entourage.

One fan arrived wearing a replica jersey of the U.S. Postal Service racing uniform that Armstrong once wore. The crowd peered down the estate's leafy drive, hoping to catch a glimpse of Armstrong at the pre-ride brunch.

Among those waiting at the gate was a very pregnant Maria Pegg, whose husband Shane, a sales manager and son of two cancer survivors, was riding in the group.

"If I go into labour, he'll have to go up and ask Lance to pick up the pace, and maybe swing by the hospital," joked Pegg.

Armstrong stuck with his pack for most of the route, rotating front-runners so everyone could have their photo taken with him. He signed the photos at the end of the ride, which wound back to the country estate on Roseville Road.

During the ride, after a few hours of keeping pace with the group of weekend warriors, Armstrong apparently decided to kick into a higher gear.

"Lance went by me so fast at one point, I thought he was one of the motorcycle cops," said Tom Wideman, a 47-year-old Kitchener restaurateur.

Morgan MacPhee, the 13-year-old Elmira boy who raised more than $10,000, marvelled that he saw Armstrong passing riders going uphill without using his hands -- while text-messaging on his cellphone.

Wideman said he and RIM co-chief executive Jim Balsillie -- a key factor in Armstrong's agreeing to do the event -- took 20 minutes to catch up to the group after stopping to fix a broken chain.

Balsillie had cycled with Armstrong at a Lake Louise cancer fundraiser last June, and used his connection to bring the celebrity here.

Only a week ago, 54-year-old rider Deb Gemmell didn't think she was going to get to be a part of the ride. The cycling enthusiast, diagnosed with breast cancer 18 months ago, desperately wanted to participate. She couldn't come up with the required $25,000.

Then, the Waterloo office of Canaccord Capital surprised her with the news they had come up with the money and registered her for the event.

Gemmell was honoured with the ride's coveted yellow jersey, traditionally given to the top fundraiser. It was presented to her by Armstrong and Perry Dellelce, who was the actual top fundraiser and co-chair of the event.

Gemmell is nearing the end of an exhausting schedule of surgery, radiation treatment and chemotherapy. Her treatment ends in September.

"Then we'll be back to normal," said her husband Jonathan Pearce.

The ride was "a dream come true for her," he added. "Lance Armstrong has always been an inspiration. Your attitude is the most important factor, and she's really positive."

One of the youngest riders was Mildmay's Isaac Wilkinson, 18. His mother Jackie was a patient at Grand River before she died of leukemia two months ago at age 48.

After her death, her son read about the Armstrong fundraiser. The teen bought a road bike and collected almost $30,000 around his small town, including money from a seven-year-old who asked for donations to Wilkinson's efforts in lieu of birthday presents.

Balsillie gets to share the joy during ride
June 16, 2008
Charlotte Prong Parkhill,RECORD STAFF
WATERLOO REGION
http://news.therecord.com/article/367714

Moments after completing the Ride With Lance, Jim Balsillie compared the event to a wedding day.

Except this was a marriage of two of his passions -- cycling and philanthropy.

"I'm thrilled!" he said, gulping from his water bottle. "It was fun. It was really perfect."

The RIM billionaire and avid cyclist teamed up with Sunnybrook and Grand River hospitals to bring cancer survivor and seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong to the region.

The Grand River cancer clinic is named the Balsillie Family Building in honour of donations he and his wife have made.

"Heidi and I care a lot about health care and social services among other things . . . and this is a chance to help," he said. "Part of the fun for me was to fuse Grand River and Sunnybrook a little bit more, a research hospital and a clinical one."

Balsillie is connected to Armstrong through biking and BlackBerrys. Armstrong's racing team used the RIM Smartphone. Balsillie rode with Armstrong in a Calgary fundraiser. The pair kept in touch and got to know each other.

"He thinks I'm his tech support for his BlackBerry," Balsillie said.

Armstrong wasn't the only celebrity on the route. Tour de France commentator Phil Liggett and Canadian cyclist Steve Bauer also hit the road, on a course Bauer designed.

Balsillie has done plenty of long-distance rides but still found the day challenging. "The pace is tough. You try to stay in the peloton (main group) as much as you can," he said, wiping sweat out of his eyes. "Waterloo Region has a tremendous number of great riders."

He said conditions couldn't have been better. The weather was good, the countryside was beautiful, spectators along the way were nice and the police did a great job of keeping everyone safe.

For Balsillie, the day was one of the highlights in his life.

"Gordie Howe would be the only one that would measure up," he said. "So for me it's massive, a huge thrill."

When he was growing up, he always had big dreams for himself.

"And then when you get a little older, the great joy is doing it together and sharing. Your dreams become a different kind of dream."

UrbanWaterloo

01-03-2010, 02:12 AM

Cycling summits aim to shape policy
August 28, 2009
By Brent Davis, Record staff
http://news.therecord.com/article/590759

WATERLOO REGION — Waterloo and Kitchener will be the hub of the provincial cycling world in September, as the cities host a pair of summits for the two-wheeled community.

The Waterloo Inn will be the site for the first Ontario Bike Summit from Sept. 20 to 22. Presented by the Share the Road Cycling Coalition, the summit will bring together politicians, planners and advocates with the goal of shaping a provincial cycling policy in the coming years.

A few days later, the Chicopee Ski and Summer Resort will be the setting for the first Ontario Mountain Bike Summit, which will combine hands-on trail building activities with seminars and networking opportunities.

“We’ve got a growing and burgeoning interest in cycling here,” said Eleanor McMahon, who founded the Share the Road Cycling Coalition after her husband, Greg Stobbart, an OPP sergeant, was killed in an off-duty cycling collision in 2006.

McMahon feels it’s time Ontario developed a comprehensive bicycle policy, similar to ones already adopted by Quebec and British Columbia.

The Ontario Bike Summit, she said, “is a beginning of a conversation with government” on making that happen.

To that end, she has invited representatives from Ontario’s Liberal, Conservative, New Democratic and Green parties to participate in a panel discussion.

McMahon believes the main thing holding back more provinces and municipalities from undertaking cycling master plans is that they don’t know where to begin.

She’s hopeful speakers, including Andy Clarke, Executive Director of the League of American Bicyclists, and Cycling England chair Phillip Darnton, will share their ideas and experiences.

“Most major cities in the world have seized on cycling,” McMahon said, citing its health and environmental advantages. “Why can’t we increase its popularity here?”

Calling Waterloo an ideal host for the summit, McMahon credited the city with its efforts to incorporate cyclists’ needs and concerns into its planning processes.

Later that week, the mountain bikers will roll into Kitchener for their own event, which will include group rides and trail work on the Chicopee property.

But there’s also a political slant to this summit, hosted by the International Mountain Bicycling Association, as organizers look to create a provincial mountain biking federation that can address the cyclists’ concerns on a wider scale.

“It can be very locally focused. We can target those issues we’re facing in our areas . . . but every jurisdiction is different,” said Jason Murray, one of the summit’s co-ordinators.

“We want to get everybody in the room,” said Murray, who will also be speaking at the Ontario Bike Summit.

Topics will include building bike parks and sustainable trails, organizing clubs and working with land managers. The latest film in the New World Disorder series will also have its Canadian premiere during the event.

Organizers chose Kitchener as an “attractive” location, with bike parks at Chicopee and McLennan Park and strong clubs in Waterloo and Guelph.

Murray said the two summits complement each other. “I think it does speak to the surging popularity (of cycling).

“We’re worried about rising gas prices, environmental impact, sustainability, childhood and adult obesity . . . They all seem to intersect with ‘Go ride a bike.’”

Registration for the Ontario Bike Summit begins at $140 per person, while the mountain bike summit costs $75.

For more information, visit the summit websites at www.sharetheroad.ca and http://go.imba.com/ontariosummit.

UrbanWaterloo

03-27-2010, 01:16 AM

I believe this was a ride to raise cycling awareness.

Cyclists (King & John) - March 26, 2010 4:50PM

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Transportation/CyclistsKingJohn-March262010-1.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Transportation/CyclistsKingJohn-March262010-2.jpg

mpd618

03-27-2010, 12:35 PM

I believe this was a ride to raise cycling awareness.

Must have been Critical Mass (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_Mass).

UrbanWaterloo

04-05-2010, 03:41 PM

PROPOSED RETAIL SALES TAX EXEMPTION FOR ALL HUMAN-POWERED CYCLES
REGION OF WATERLOO PLANNING, HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
Transportation Planning
TO: Chair Jim Wideman and Members of the Planning and Works Committee
DATE: April 6, 2010
Report: P-10-033 - http://region.waterloo.on.ca/web/region.nsf/8ef02c0fded0c82a85256e590071a3ce/D2594A003D3FC11D852576F80044E7D8/$file/P-10-033.pdf?openelement

RECOMMENDATION:
THAT the Regional Municipality of Waterloo authorize the Regional Chair to send a letter to the Provincial Minister of Finance, requesting the following, as described in Report No. P-10-033, dated April 6, 2010:
THAT the Retail Sales Tax exemption on bicycle sales continue when the Harmonized Sales Tax comes into effect and remain beyond its slated expiration date of December 31, 2010;
THAT the Province of Ontario extend the exemption to all human-powered cycles so that mobility restricted individuals can also benefit;
THAT the Province also extend the exemption to the first $1,000 for all cycles;
THAT should the exemption not be extended, the Province apply all revenues from the Harmonized Sales Tax on the sale of cycles to funding cycling infrastructure projects;
AND THAT this request be sent to the Federal and Provincial Ministries responsible for transportation, local MPs and MPPs, and to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)

SUMMARY:
Since the Province of Ontario made changes in 2007 to the Retail Sales Tax Act that exempted bicycles under $1000 from the Provincial Sales Tax, the Province and its Municipalities have gained momentum in promoting cycling as an active transportation choice. The Provincial Sales Tax (PST) exemption is slated to end on December 31, 2010, and it is unknown how the exemption will be handled under the new Harmonized Sales Tax (HST). Given the success of the program to date and the importance of encouraging cycling activity, the Regional Cycling Advisory Committee is recommending that Regional Council encourage the Province to continue the retail sales tax exemption for cycle purchases under the new HST and past the current program’s end date. Regional staff support this recommendation and have added a recommendation that, should the exemption not be extended, the Province uses all revenues from the Harmonized Sales Tax on the sale of cycles to fund cycling infrastructure projects.
Given the aging population demographics and the cost of specialized cycles for the elderly and those with mobility restrictions, it is also suggested that the Province expand the current program to include all human-powered cycles and a retail sales tax exemption on the first $1000 of all cycles, regardless of the total purchase price. In the event that the Province is unable to extend and expand the program, it is recommended that the Province use all revenues from the HST on the sale of cycles to fund cycling infrastructure projects.
The Region of Waterloo and the Area Municipalities have invested in bike lanes and trails for transportation, public health, and recreational purposes. The Region has made significant progress expanding cycling networks, with over 71 km added since 2007, and will continue to work towards accelerating the construction of planned routes. Encouraging the use of new and existing cycling facilities is an objective of the new Regional Transportation Master Plan (RTMP), as identified through public consultation.

UrbanWaterloo

04-09-2010, 10:15 PM

Website: www.ridewithlance.org

http://www.ridewithlance.org/AccountTempFiles/account402744/images/header.jpg

Grand River Hospital is proud to welcome Lance Armstrong back to Ontario for an unprecedented third Ride with Lance.

This event is an exciting, rare opportunity for cyclists to ride with, and spend a day in the company of cancer survivor and seven-time Tour de France winner, Lance Armstrong.

On Saturday, August 28, 2010, Lance Armstrong will take to the road with an exclusive group of cyclists in the fight against cancer.

This unique event is taking place in support of cancer programs and patient care for those living with cancer in Ontario.

Registered riders commit to raising a minimum of $20,000 to ride with Lance.

To sign up, riders must submit a non-refundable registration fee of $1,500 with the registration form. This fee applies towards your fundraising commitment, but under Canada Revenue Agency rules is not tax-deductible (it represents "benefits received" by each rider).

For more information please contact Grand River Hospital Foundation at 519-749-4205 or info@grhf.org.

Spokes

04-16-2010, 08:30 AM

Bike shop giving away free rides to worthy riders

April 15, 2010
Terry Pender, Record staff

KITCHENER — Margaret Pachnik wants to know how a new hybrid bicycle that retails for $750 could change your life.

Pachnik, the owner of Ziggy’s Cycle in downtown Kitchener, is giving away 25 bikes to the winners of an essay contest the store is running to celebrate a quarter century in business.

She said she wanted to mark the important anniversary in a way that promotes fitness, health, sustainable cities and give back to the community.

Pachnik said the store is hoping to get people who do not currently ride bikes, but want to start commuting to work on a bike, running errands on a bike, lose weight or help the environment.

The reaction was almost immediate after the Waterloo Region Freewheels Project was announced on March 25.

“We have quite a lot of essays,” Pachnik said.

Visit www.ziggycycle.ca to get an application form. Essays and applications can be submitted to info@ziggyscycle.ca or mailed to the store at 417 King St. West, Kitchener, N2G 1C2.

All essays must be in by May 7 and focus on the question—how would a new bicycle change your life? The winners will be called into the store for measurements so the proper size bike—a Cannondale Quick 4—can be ordered. Every winner gets a helmet, bell, kick stand and riding lessons along with the new bicycle.

More than half of the people who have submitted 300-word essays so far are women and their workplace is 10 to 15 kilometres from home.

“For our store it is quite an investment, but we feel good about it,” Pachnik said.

The store has posted notices on Facebook and Twitter. It has also notified some of the region’s biggest employers — RIM, Toyota and Schneider’s.

“We would like people from different walks of life and different professions,” she said.

The 25 winners will be asked to blog about their riding experiences and the changes in their lives. They will be asked to write about good and bad cycling routes and where improvements are needed. It is hoped this will lead to more people riding bicycles for commuting and errands.

tpender@therecord.com

Waterlooer

04-18-2010, 12:08 AM

I don't like some of the bike lanes that are going up on roads. I REALLY dislike having bike lanes that go in the middle of intersections, especially bigger roads like the bike lane that goes through the middle of University Ave. I find it very dangerous to bike in these areas and refuse to bike on the road. I like biking on the sidewalk, especially since not lots of people use them on some streets. Safer bike lanes are needed.

mpd618

04-18-2010, 02:54 AM

Maybe we should be demanding segregated cycling infrastructure?

The Region is putting together its guidelines for regional roads (http://www.region.waterloo.on.ca/web/region.nsf/c56e308f49bfeb7885256abc0071ec9a/b035cc0357b6e3e585256e440068bc7b!OpenDocument) right now, and regional arterial roads are the most important for cycling infrastructure. Please let them know soon what you want to see required or recommended for the roads and why. (There's a comment sheet at the link.)

jay

04-18-2010, 10:45 AM

I agree with not liking bike lanes in the middle of the intersection. I always bike on the sidewalk by Caroline/Erb because I've been almost hit being in the lane turning left at that intersection. I use trails mostly when I bike but I do use the sidewalks more then the "busy" roads. If someone is walking I just slow down and give them room. No one has ever gave me attitude for doing so.

Urbanomicon

04-18-2010, 11:08 AM

Maybe we should be demanding segregated cycling infrastructure?

As more of a driver than a biker, I would support this in a second, especially on high-speed arterial roads.

I think that there should be legislation in place forbidding bikers to bike on a road where the speed limit of that road is above 60 (with no bike lanes present). I have seen a number of bikers cycling down Homer Watson (no bike lane or shoulder) where most vehicles are travelling at greater than 80km/h. Needless to say it is a very dangerous situation. The speed differential between cars and bikes is too great and I have witnessed a number of bikers nearly get annihilated by passing vehicles. The enourmous traffic density on Homer Watson during rush hour worsens this problem since cars often cannot change lanes easily.

Waterlooer

04-18-2010, 11:21 AM

I would prefer having the road, curb, then bike lane, then sidewalk. This way drivers wouldn't have to worry about bikers and bikers wouldn't have to worry about drivers.

mpd618

04-18-2010, 03:56 PM

If we do segregated cycling infrastructure, we cannot avoid the more difficult part of it -- intersections. How do we do that in a way that actually works for cyclists?

Waterlooer

04-18-2010, 04:02 PM

If we do segregated cycling infrastructure, we cannot avoid the more difficult part of it -- intersections. How do we do that in a way that actually works for cyclists?

I would like it if the bikelanes were setup how sidewalks are in intersections. They just cross at the lights how pedestrians would.

mpd618

04-18-2010, 04:16 PM

I would like it if the bikelanes were setup how sidewalks are in intersections. They just cross at the lights how pedestrians would.

How about left turns? And ensuring that right-turning cars yield to the segregated bike lane (where cyclists would be less aware of those cars than in a regular bike lane)? Separate signals that have an advance for cyclists? This is nontrivial stuff.

Waterlooer

04-18-2010, 04:30 PM

How about left turns? And ensuring that right-turning cars yield to the segregated bike lane (where cyclists would be less aware of those cars than in a regular bike lane)? Separate signals that have an advance for cyclists? This is nontrivial stuff.

Good point. I was thinking the bikers should cross at the lights (going straight) then stop, turn left and cross at the lights again on to the bike lane.

Spokes

04-18-2010, 04:38 PM

Good point. I was thinking the bikers should cross at the lights (going straight) then stop, turn left and cross at the lights again on to the bike lane.

That's a bit of a pain though isn't it? Not the most efficient. We want a system where biking is a good/equal alternative to driving, both in efficiency and safety.

plam

04-19-2010, 11:25 AM

As more of a driver than a biker, I would support this in a second, especially on high-speed arterial roads.

I think that there should be legislation in place forbidding bikers to bike on a road where the speed limit of that road is above 60 (with no bike lanes present). I have seen a number of bikers cycling down Homer Watson (no bike lane or shoulder) where most vehicles are travelling at greater than 80km/h. Needless to say it is a very dangerous situation. The speed differential between cars and bikes is too great and I have witnessed a number of bikers nearly get annihilated by passing vehicles. The enourmous traffic density on Homer Watson during rush hour worsens this problem since cars often cannot change lanes easily.

Country roads are fine to bike on. 90km/hr.

Urbanomicon

04-19-2010, 12:12 PM

Country roads are fine to bike on. 90km/hr.

Country roads have shoulders which are more or less equivalent to bike lanes, although they are often not paved. I find most bikers on country roads ride on a thin strip of asphalt (about 2 feet wide) that is just outside of the painted edges of the road but before the gravel shoulder. Also, the traffic density on country roads is far less than high speed arterial roads allowing for cars to easily move over if necessary. I have no issues with bikers on country roads.

Waterlooer

04-19-2010, 03:14 PM

Country roads have shoulders which are more or less equivalent to bike lanes, although they are often not paved. I find most bikers on country roads ride on a thin strip of asphalt (about 2 feet wide) that is just outside of the painted edges of the road but before the gravel shoulder. Also, the traffic density on country roads is far less than high speed arterial roads allowing for cars to easily move over if necessary. I have no issues with bikers on country roads.

I agree. Country roads are fine with bikers, but I find it annoying when they're on arterial roads like Weber St. That's too dangerous.

plam

04-19-2010, 06:25 PM

Country road shoulders are not equivalent to bike lanes. They're usually gravel. You don't really want to ride on them. Most of the time I'm on the right lane marking, because that's where it starts to be bikable.

I agree. Country roads are fine with bikers, but I find it annoying when they're on arterial roads like Weber St. That's too dangerous.

Weber is a much more direct route to get to my destinations. Flatter than King St as well. I shouldn't really have to take a more circuitous route just because I'm on my bike.

I mean, it's just like walking. When there are overpasses across dangerous streets which are really out of the way, do people take them? No, they take the more direct route. If biking is going to be a reasonable means of transportation, it has to be convenient.

Weber is also not always busy. It was pretty quiet, for instance, yesterday evening, and it was really the best option for getting from Weber and Bridgeport to Weber and Fairway. Does it really make any sense to ban bikes at certain times of day only?

Waterlooer

04-19-2010, 08:28 PM

Country road shoulders are not equivalent to bike lanes. They're usually gravel. You don't really want to ride on them. Most of the time I'm on the right lane marking, because that's where it starts to be bikable.

Weber is a much more direct route to get to my destinations. Flatter than King St as well. I shouldn't really have to take a more circuitous route just because I'm on my bike.

I mean, it's just like walking. When there are overpasses across dangerous streets which are really out of the way, do people take them? No, they take the more direct route. If biking is going to be a reasonable means of transportation, it has to be convenient.

Weber is also not always busy. It was pretty quiet, for instance, yesterday evening, and it was really the best option for getting from Weber and Bridgeport to Weber and Fairway. Does it really make any sense to ban bikes at certain times of day only?

Oh I don't think biking should be baned at any time anywhere. There should just be bike lanes and more safer areas for people to bike. I just don't like biking on roads, that's all.

UrbanWaterloo

04-26-2010, 05:39 AM

WATERLOO REGION FREEWHEELS PROJECT
Development & Technical Services Committee
DATE OF REPORT: April 16, 2010 | DATE OF MEETING: April 26, 2010
SUBMITTED BY: Cycling Advisory Committee
PREPARED BY: Ronald Schirm, Supervisor of Crossing Guards (519-741-2232)
REPORT NO.: DTS-10-084 (http://www.kitchener.ca/Files/Item/item18897_dts-10-084.pdf)

RECOMMENDATIONS: For Information only

BACKGROUND: Representatives from Ziggy’s Cycle made a presentation at the Cycling Advisory Committee meeting on April 13 outlining the Waterloo Region Freewheels Project and the overall benefits of cycling in terms of personal health and wellbeing, the environment and the local community and how one of the goals of the Waterloo Region Freewheels Project is to encourage cycling in the city. The Cycling Advisory Committee directed staff to report to Council on behalf of the Committee in regards to this Project.

REPORT:
Ziggy’s Cycle is celebrating their 25th anniversary this year and wishes to recognize the support of the community over the years and encourage cycling in the city by initiating the Waterloo Region Freewheels Project. This project is based on the highly successful Biketown program that has been operating the United States for several years and features giving bicycles to individuals who are able to demonstrate that the bicycle is going to have a significant impact for them or their community. The Freewheels Project will give away 25 commuter bicycles and related safety gear on or about June 1, 2010.
Any resident in the region who believes that a bicycle would change their lives in some way is eligible to participate. Applicants would need to commit to using the bicycle for a year to partially substitute for automobile trips. Contestants are required to compose an essay of no longer than 300 words outlining their issues, needs and goals. The factors that will be considered by the selection committee of Ziggy’s Cycle, which participants may choose to include in their essay, includes the impact that having a bicycle will have on their lives and the community in terms of health, economics and environment.
There would be a survey upon acceptance into the program to assess attitudes towards cycling and perceptions of cycling infrastructure in Kitchener/Waterloo as well as a physical assessment. Participants would be required to blog about their experiences over the course of the summer riding season and changes in their physical health would be assessed periodically.
The central ambition of the project is to create meaningful change in the community by encouraging physical fitness and promoting environmentally sustainable transportation. Fitting will take place in May and the bicycles will be officially given over at a ceremony in early on or about June 1, 2010. Participants are expected to use their bicycles regularly for either utilitarian or recreational purposes. Upon successful completion of the Program the bicycles will be permanently given to the participants on September 10, 2010.
The Waterloo Region Freewheels Project is unprecedented in Canada and represents an important investment in the community, both in terms of the bicycles themselves and the awareness and information generated from the experience of the participants.

CONCLUSION: The Cycling Advisory Committee fully supports the Waterloo Region Freewheels Project as a positive initiative in promoting cycling and the benefits of cycling within our community. It is felt by the Committee that initiatives such as this one need to be supported by the City in order to aid in their success and the ultimate goal of getting more people on bicycles more often in our community.

smably

05-06-2010, 06:16 PM

Bike sharing has come to Waterloo! At...RIM?!

I could hardly believe my eyes when I spotted this today:
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k55/smably/bixi1.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k55/smably/bixi2.jpg

From the rather blurry second photo, you can see that there are eight stations spread around the RIM campus. I am really surprised and impressed that RIM has done this. I hope it gets a lot of use (I know I would use it if I still worked at RIM), and I hope UW and the City of Waterloo notice too.

BTW, the system they are using is BIXI (http://montreal.bixi.com/home), which originated in Montreal. It's a really cool system -- the stations are solar powered and are very cheap to install. The bikes are almost theft-proof and have fenders, skirt guards, chain guards, and racks. I would love to see this rolled out to the public across Waterloo. It would really put us on the map as an innovative community.

Spokes

05-06-2010, 07:54 PM

bixi in waterloo, wow. Im quite impressed. I wonder if it was something they initiated or if RIM did. It'd be nice to see it spread across the region.

This has been very successful in Ottawa.

Ken_Breadbox

05-06-2010, 08:02 PM

I came here from London in 1990 and was appalled at the attitude I got. People yelled at me to "get the f--- on the sidewalk where you belong". Ignorant idiots--there's a reason it's not called a "sideride". Has nobody read the Highway Traffic Act?

Now, granted, my fellow cyclists don't help matters much. I can't recall the last one I saw that wasn't breaking at least one law. How many do you know that use hand signals? That have a sounding device on their bikes? That stop at stop signs?

The problem is that in North America, bikes are toys. No number of bike lanes is going to change that.

This city needs more trails. In London, you can go almost the east-west length of the city travelling on about three hundred meters of street. If there's a way to do anything like that here, I haven't found it.

IEFBR14

05-06-2010, 08:23 PM

mpd618

05-06-2010, 08:35 PM

BIXI at RIM? I'm speechless....

Cyclists aren't going to get respect from anyone until they start to earn it.

(What do the people riding in Amsterdam and Copenhagen do to earn anyone's respect?)

Spokes

05-06-2010, 09:30 PM

I came here from London in 1990 and was appalled at the attitude I got. People yelled at me to "get the f--- on the sidewalk where you belong". Ignorant idiots--there's a reason it's not called a "sideride". Has nobody read the Highway Traffic Act?

Ya and theres still so many people that ride on the sidewalk, its rediculous.

Now, granted, my fellow cyclists don't help matters much. I can't recall the last one I saw that wasn't breaking at least one law. How many do you know that use hand signals? That have a sounding device on their bikes? That stop at stop signs?

Yes!

The problem is that in North America, bikes are toys. No number of bike lanes is going to change that.

Yup, you're dead on there, its not seen as a mode of transport by enough people here.

This city needs more trails. In London, you can go almost the east-west length of the city travelling on about three hundred meters of street. If there's a way to do anything like that here, I haven't found it.

Yes!

Spokes

05-06-2010, 09:31 PM

BIXI at RIM? I'm speechless....

In a good way?

mpd618

05-06-2010, 10:01 PM

In a good way?

This is awesome, and I didn't expect it from parking-lots-and-sprawling-campus RIM. Also, utility bikes with those features are a rare find around here -- hell, with this they've probably just doubled or tripled the number of bikes in the region with skirt guards.

smably

05-06-2010, 10:04 PM

Now, granted, my fellow cyclists don't help matters much. I can't recall the last one I saw that wasn't breaking at least one law. How many do you know that use hand signals? That have a sounding device on their bikes? That stop at stop signs?
How many do I know who are able to ride safely and considerately? Plenty. That's what matters to me, not whether they follow every single rule in the "Highway Traffic Act". (I mean, God, just look at the name of it! You can see where the authors' priorities were.)

I humbly suggest that cyclists would be better off directing their energy toward getting more people cycling, instead of calling fellow riders idiots and scaring off potential riders by making cycling out to be some kind of scary expert activity that's full of rules that must be followed. I would suggest that common sense, courtesy, and some basic knowledge are all you need to be a cyclist -- maybe that's a better message to spread.

This city needs more trails. In London, you can go almost the east-west length of the city travelling on about three hundred meters of street. If there's a way to do anything like that here, I haven't found it.
You can ride from Bearinger Road to Ottawa Street with only about 450 metres on-street. Of course, more cycling trails are good; not going to argue with that. :)

dunkalunk

05-07-2010, 09:33 AM

When I bike, I try my best to keep the lane, use lights, hand signals, ect. I may not always stop at stop signs, but at least I make sure to slow down to a bike stand at intersections and always yield to traffic that got there first. It really isn't a surprise that quiet residential streets filled with stop signs make the best cycling routes (Ellis Ave, Regina, Hazel Street, John Street).

I also try my best to be courteous to drivers, by keeping left in a right hand turn lane, or by staying as close to the curb as possible, but on some streets (Albert in Particular) this is just not possible.

I'm don't want to start a whole chicken-egg debate on the hazards that cyclists and drivers cause for eachother, but let me say this, people on bicycles and people on cars have equal capacity to be a pain in the others ass. For example, here is a few illegal things I notice a minority drivers doing:

-Failing to signal when passing
-Passing with less than 1m clearance
-Passing over the yellow line
-Passing within 50m of an intersection (I never understood the logic of racing a cyclist to a red light, I end up getting there by the time the light changes, and it's a good really way to wear out your breaks)

Cycling needs to get seen as a serious mode of transportation and bicycles need to be seen as a vehicle. Most drivers I encounter are very nice and courteous people. However, there is still that occasional asshole that grinds your gears. The same I imagine is also true vice-versa. Lumping cyclists into one malicious group and saying they need to earn respect is completely ignorant and prejudiced. It really requires an individual effort on everyone's part to use common sense and be courteous while using the roads.

IEFBR14

05-07-2010, 12:06 PM

Cycling needs to get seen as a serious mode of transportation and bicycles need to be seen as a vehicle. Most drivers I encounter are very nice and courteous people. However, there is still that occasional asshole that grinds your gears. The same I imagine is also true vice-versa. Lumping cyclists into one malicious group and saying they need to earn respect is completely ignorant and prejudiced. It really requires an individual effort on everyone's part to use common sense and be courteous while using the roads.First of all, I was posting primarily as a pedestrian rather than as a car driver. While I agree that there are good and bad people in every group, it seems to me that if cycling is to become a serious mode of transportation, cyclists are going to have to take steps to improve their perception by the entire public. That includes pedestrians as well as drivers. I can give you lots of anecdotes about bad cycling practices but here are some that involve pedestrians:

Too many cyclists continue to use sidewalks, even when there are lots of pedestrians using them and (astonishingly) when there are cycle lanes available. I might understand this in heavy motor vehicle traffic streets, but I've seen this on Caroline St in front of the mall as well as along Father David Bauer Dr. I've seen cyclists play chicken with seniors near Luther Village even when the seniors are using walkers or canes. How are you going to encourage the city to build more cycle lanes when you don't use the ones you already have?

In shared pedestrian/cyclist paths, too may cyclists are travelling far too fast or in parallel phalanxes to allow pedestrians to coexist safely. In one case, my wife and I were walking by Perimeter Institute when two cyclists came up from behind at great speed yelling for us to get out of the way. One passed on our right while the other passed on our left. Had we reflexively moved to the right to let them pass, there would have been a serious collision. It seems to me that some cyclists use their vehicles to bully pedestrians in the same way that some car drivers use their vehicles to bully cyclists. This has to stop.

Pedestrians have the same interests in reducing dependence on motorized vehicles and making the region more livable as you do. But cyclists aren't going to engender a sense of cooperation from your natural allies if some of you treat them with contempt.

Now I realize that it's only a minority of cyclists that are a problem. But it seems to me that their peers have to begin to apply some pressure on them to change attitudes and behaviour. The cops certainly don't have the resources to do it and likely they'd be less effective than peer pressure even if they tried to do it. If the cycling community doesn't take steps to self-police then the bad behaviour of a few will poison your relationship with pedestrians.

That's the sense in which I suggested that cyclists need to earn the respect of the public.

Razzie

05-07-2010, 12:19 PM

I noticed that the bikes have the city of Montreal logo on them. Hopefully its just a loan for a pilot project rather than because the system there isn't working as well as it could.

mpd618

05-07-2010, 12:27 PM

I don't think that all cyclists should or even can take responsibility for the actions of the ones who are discourteous (or worse). We need to provide the kind of cycling infrastructure that is attractive to would-be cyclists. Bike lanes on Caroline in front of the mall are an example of what not to do -- trying to go north to Laurel Trail is a cyclist's trap; small wonder that people ride on the sidewalk there or in other such places. Shared paths could probably use clearer rules about what is expected about the interaction between pedestrians and cyclists (and perhaps wider paths with lane markings).

But ultimately, this is the most important point: there is no "cycling community" -- there are just people who choose to ride a bicycle to get somewhere. If we want it to be a choice made by more people, then we cannot treat cycling as done by members of some selective group. So the conversation has to be about how we make cycling an attractive choice for us, not for them, and how to make it easier for us to share space in a way that is amenable to all. Virtually no one is wedded to a transportation mode, and we will have to abandon the rigid characterization of people as drivers, pedestrians, transit users, or cyclists if we are to make progress on changing how people get around.

Urbanomicon

05-07-2010, 01:19 PM

Now I realize that it's only a minority of cyclists that are a problem. But it seems to me that their peers have to begin to apply some pressure on them to change attitudes and behaviour. The cops certainly don't have the resources to do it and likely they'd be less effective than peer pressure even if they tried to do it. If the cycling community doesn't take steps to self-police then the bad behaviour of a few will poison your relationship with pedestrians.

That's the sense in which I suggested that cyclists need to earn the respect of the public.

I think that cyclists would gain more respect if they were more accoutable when they don't drive according to the rules of the road. I've seen cyclists (usually high school and university students) doing absolutely ridiculous things like driving the wrong direction in the middle of a 4-lane road with a median. They do it because they know that they won't get in trouble for it. Now I don't think that cyclists should necessarily require a license with demerit points in the same way that motorists do, but cyclists need to be punished when they drive dangerously, something more than a small fine.

IEFBR14

05-07-2010, 02:17 PM

But ultimately, this is the most important point: there is no "cycling community" -- there are just people who choose to ride a bicycle to get somewhere,
Then who's behind all these cycling websites (all found on the first page of a single Google search)?
http://waterloocyclingclub.ca/
http://wpirg.org/action-groups/past-action-groups/waterloo-region-concerned-cyclists/
http://www.salientia.ca/uwcc/
http://theorem.ca/~mvcorks/images/bike_comment.html
http://www.region.waterloo.on.ca/web/region.nsf/0/1AA83440219C06CE85256E4400576652?OpenDocument

the conversation has to be about how we make cycling an attractive choice for us, not for them, and how to make it easier for us to share space in a way that is amenable to all.Fair enough. But it seems to me that a significant number of cyclists are doing a good job of alienating those of us who do want to share our space.

P.S. It's also worth pointing out that we pedestrians were here first. Cyclists and motor vehicle drivers have invaded our space without seeking either our permission or cooperation to share that space. I'm not suggesting that they do so now as much as I'm trying to put some perspective on how some of us feel about you all ;)

smably

05-07-2010, 03:11 PM

You know, I keep seeing pedestrians darting out in front of cars, crossing against the signal, walking around drunk, spitting on the sidewalk, swearing, etc. How can pedestrians expect to be taken seriously when they behave so poorly? Why doesn't the pedestrian community self-police this kind of behaviour? I know it's only a minority of pedestrians who act like this, but you pedestrians who are safe and respectful need to put pressure on your peers to change their attitudes and behaviour!

I'm being facetious, but I hope I have made my point. Why should cyclists have to take responsibility for the actions of a few rude people? I am a pedestrian (and not a cyclist -- yet), but I find it really weird how some people feel the "cycling community" needs to somehow take responsibility for everyone who uses the same sort of vehicle.

Urbanomicon

05-07-2010, 03:17 PM

mpd618

05-07-2010, 03:22 PM

Then who's behind all these cycling websites (all found on the first page of a single Google search)?

The statement was a slight exaggeration, but the point remains: the vast majority of people who ride around town have nothing to do with any formal or informal cycling groups or communities. They just use a bicycle to get around town, and that's it.

P.S. It's also worth pointing out that we pedestrians were here first. Cyclists and motor vehicle drivers have invaded our space without seeking either our permission or cooperation to share that space. I'm not suggesting that they do so now as much as I'm trying to put some perspective on how some of us feel about you all ;)

Can we please stop making this an us versus them? It is counterproductive to think about "we pedestrians" or "we drivers" or "we cyclists", partially because it fosters hostility and partially because of the incorrect implication that we must fall in one of those groups. By the way, cyclists first "invaded" the streets way back in the 1890s (and in larger numbers than today, I think), and before motor vehicles pedestrians still had to contend with horses and carriages.

mpd618

05-07-2010, 03:26 PM

I see your point, but the primary mode of transit for pedestrians isn't the road, it's the sidewalk. Pedestrians only use the road when they are crossing it. I think that is the key difference.

The difference is arbitrary, and a consequence of pedestrians being forcibly removed from the roadway in the first part of the 20th century and of bicycles being thought of as analogous to cars here. Neither of those has to be so.

mpd618

05-07-2010, 03:37 PM

I think that cyclists would gain more respect if they were more accoutable when they don't drive according to the rules of the road. I've seen cyclists (usually high school and university students) doing absolutely ridiculous things like driving the wrong direction in the middle of a 4-lane road with a median. They do it because they know that they won't get in trouble for it. Now I don't think that cyclists should necessarily require a license with demerit points in the same way that motorists do, but cyclists need to be punished when they drive dangerously, something more than a small fine.

I do not think it is appropriate to attempt a program of disciplining cyclists when there are no coherent and simple rules that can be safely and easily followed by would-be cyclists. And the rules have to take into account the available infrastructure. As an example, imagine following all the rules of the road to travel by bicycle from the Bridgeport/Weber plaza to Uptown Waterloo and back: four-lane one-way highway to get there andthe same thing but several blocks over to get back. Riding on the sidewalk is the best of a bad situation here.

Spokes

05-07-2010, 03:51 PM

But ultimately, this is the most important point: there is no "cycling community" -

One thing I always find a bit surprising after coming back here from Ottawa is that I never see any large groups of cyclists around town whereas there you would all the time. Im not sure what the solution is there, if its bike shops getting groups together or what.

Then who's behind all these cycling websites (all found on the first page of a single Google search)?
http://waterloocyclingclub.ca/
http://wpirg.org/action-groups/past-action-groups/waterloo-region-concerned-cyclists/
http://www.salientia.ca/uwcc/
http://theorem.ca/~mvcorks/images/bike_comment.html
http://www.region.waterloo.on.ca/web/region.nsf/0/1AA83440219C06CE85256E4400576652?OpenDocument

While there's not arguing that they exist, when was the last time you saw them? They're not visible in the community at all, and I think they need to be.

Urbanomicon

05-07-2010, 03:51 PM

I do not think it is appropriate to attempt a program of disciplining cyclists when there are no coherent and simple rules that can be safely and easily followed by would-be cyclists. And the rules have to take into account the available infrastructure. As an example, imagine following all the rules of the road to travel by bicycle from the Bridgeport/Weber plaza to Uptown Waterloo and back: four-lane one-way highway to get there andthe same thing but several blocks over to get back. Riding on the sidewalk is the best of a bad situation here.

I agree. I don't know what type of rules you could create that would apply to 99% of the available infrastructure and still be understandable by a 10 year old. I'm not even sure that creating rules is the best idea, but I think that cyclists having virtually no responsibility is, as least in part, to blame for motorists viewing bikes as toys instead of a mode of transportation.

dunkalunk

05-09-2010, 09:52 PM

I agree. I don't know what type of rules you could create that would apply to 99% of the available infrastructure and still be understandable by a 10 year old.

I've thought of one idea for the Iron Horse and other multi-use trails. I made a quick flash mockup for people to look at:
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/5238/trailsign.png

Ideally, the trail would be made wide enough to make this kind of sign practical, and to allow for the painting of yellow lines.

Urbanomicon

05-09-2010, 10:35 PM

Looks good.

I wonder if a similar set of signs could be adapted for bike lanes.

dunkalunk

05-10-2010, 12:56 PM

People shouldn't be going the wrong way in bike lanes anyways. IMO, this needs to be a ticketable offence. I take the time to personally yell at anyone going the wrong way in a bike lane that I'm in, because I'm the one who usually has to weave into traffic and risk my safety to avoid a collision. Catching offenders would be really easy to, because all the cop car would have to do is turn on its sirens and pull into the lane while the cyclist is forced to make an emergency stop into the front grill of the cop car. (jk, except not really)

Where the road is already clearly marked for derectional travel, this shouldn't be an issue, however on paths which are both used as recreational trails and as a "bike highway" there needs to be at least some signage...

Urbanomicon

05-10-2010, 01:09 PM

I take the time to personally yell at anyone going the wrong way in a bike lane that I'm in

That was you?! :)

People shouldn't be going the wrong way in bike lanes anyways. IMO, this needs to be a ticketable offence.

Agree 100%. This is even worse when there are no bike lanes and they're going the wrong direction on the side of the road.

IEFBR14

05-10-2010, 01:27 PM

I've thought of one idea for the Iron Horse and other multi-use trails. I made a quick flash mockup for people to look at...
You mean that's not already the standard protocol, and if it isn't already covered by legislation, isn't just plain simple common sense and courtesy that should be obvious to all trail users? :eek: ;)

I believe there are already signs at strategic points along the Iron Horse trail that ask cyclists to dismount. I know there are such signs all over the public mixed use trails in the GTA, especially over bridges and at places where the trail width becomes constricted. Yet I've never -- no, not even once! -- actually seen a cyclist dismount in response to such signs. Why would they respect a Keep Left to Pass sign?

(N.B. I'm not trying to be anti-cyclist. I really would like to see cyclists coexist in harmony with everyone else. I'm just stating a reality based on many years of observation.)

dunkalunk

05-10-2010, 04:31 PM

It has to do with cyclist's perceptions of what is safe and what is not. I personally feel comfortable crossing the railroad tracks at a 30 degree angle, and the condition of the railroad crossing at king street, or waterloo street is 10 times worse than at the iron horse trail. Those bars sticking out into the path are more of a hazard for cyclists than the actual tracks are; if it weren't for the reflective tape, they would be invisible at night (there are no lights on this part of the trail either). If they really want to prevent people from crossing before a train, they should put up crossing lights.

Also, at road crossings, why would a cyclist dismount? The whole point of using a bike is that it is faster than walking, and competitive with car travel over short distances. To have to come to a full stop and get off every 200m, wait patiently for traffic, walk the bicycle across the street, and get back on, a cyclist has wasted a good minute or so of his time just crossing a street which would have otherwise taken at most 30 seconds if the cyclist had stayed on his bike and beat traffic. (I'm thinking of Union and Victoria Streets in particular)

And finally, the size of the signs are an issue, A cyclist cannot read the current signs effectively at a distance due to their size and lack of reflective tape. Why would any vehicle user obey such an un-official sign? (being facetious here)

Although, I think people would obey the keep right rule, even if they didn't keep right all the time, they would know which direction to move to let a cyclist by instead of freezing in place. This of course is completely dependent on A) The cyclist using their sounding device B) The person understanding what that signal means C) The person hearing the signal over their in-ear headphones. (big issue here)

Alluding to another thread about infrastructure in Rome, someone pointed out that our road infrastructure is designed in such a way to allow people to travel at relatively high speeds unimpeded without having to think, and the moment they are put into an unusual situation, they don't know how to use common sense or improvise. Unless you give people clear instructions with big signs indicating that cyclists do use this trail, and specifically how to react to a cyclist, both parties will continue to act unpredictably on mixed-use trails. People respond more quickly to short, simple instructions that are easily understood. IIRC, there is only one trail rules sign posted along the entire Iron Horse Trail at Caroline Street, and if you're in a hurry, you are not going to stop and read a list of rules.

What was intended as a recreational trail has been designed in a way to make itself a backbone for destination to destination bicycle travel in KW. If the trail is going to continued to be used for both recreation and for travel, there needs to be clear, succinct rules with graphics posted with large signs at every trail opening.

IEFBR14

05-10-2010, 09:19 PM

Also, at road crossings, why would a cyclist dismount?Because there's vehicular traffic coming down the road? Perhaps not dismount, but surely stop. In other situations, e.g. rail track crossings, bridges, etc. the idea behind dismounting is safety, both of the cyclist and other users of the trail.

I agree that a major flaw in our main trail system is all the road crossings, few of which have signals or other means for pedestrians and cyclists to cross safely. So much for promoting those modes of transportation over cars.

The whole point of using a bike is that it is faster than walking, and competitive with car travel over short distances.And that exposes a serious problem with sharing trails between "serious" cyclists and pedestrians. When cyclists are moving fast the relative speed difference leaves little time for either group to react and makes any collisions that might occur that much more serious. I doubt that painting lines in the pavement and putting up signs is going to alter the laws of physics.

To have to come to a full stop and get off every 200m, wait patiently for traffic, walk the bicycle across the street, and get back on, a cyclist has wasted a good minute or so of his time just crossing a street which would have otherwise taken at most 30 seconds if the cyclist had stayed on his bike and beat traffic. (I'm thinking of Union and Victoria Streets in particular)Agreed but you have to do it nevertheless when there's traffic. And again if the cities were serious about promoting the use of the trail system they'd put up signalled crosswalks at every road crossing that gave "us" priority over "them." Car drivers complained about diamond lanes when they were introduced but now they've become more accustomed to them, better appreciate why they're there and for the most part honour them. We need to do something similar with respect to trail crossings.

Urbanomicon

05-10-2010, 10:24 PM

And again if the cities were serious about promoting the use of the trail system they'd put up signalled crosswalks at every road crossing that gave "us" priority over "them."

How about railway style crossings where lights flash and arms go down across the road whenever it detects a biker coming down the trail.

Joking of course.:)

mpd618

05-11-2010, 12:30 AM

Signs really do have to be realistic. Keep right, pass left is an eminently reasonable solution to sharing a multi-use trail. But having it on a sign lets you know that the convention exists and is what other trail users expect you to follow. On the other hand signs requiring you to walk your bike over to Victoria & West and spend five minutes crossing are not realistic when you can cross in a straight line (depending on traffic).

As for the angled rail crossing, it really is a pain in the ass to dismount -- I ride around the bars and try to cross the tracks so that the angle is more perpendicular. If they were serious about making it a safe crossing, they would sink the tracks more fully into the pavement. By the way, those bars have killed at least one cyclist (http://news.therecord.com/article/406692).

It's about damn time we took our paths seriously: wider paths, consistent flat pavement, full lighting, serious signage, and raised/marked/signalized crossings. In particular for ones like the Iron Horse Trail, Laurel Trail, and the future Spur Line Trail.

IEFBR14

05-11-2010, 08:33 AM

signs requiring you to walk your bike over to Victoria & West and spend five minutes crossing are not realistic when you can cross in a straight line (depending on traffic).Remember, this applies to pedestrians too! As I keep saying, we need better crossings. In the case of Victoria we need at least a concrete island in the middle of the road that provides "safe harbour" so that people can cross in two stages with traffic coming at them in only one direction at a time. But as usual the city's response to pedestrian/cyclist dangers in heavy traffic is to post a sign that recommends an impractical solution :mad:

It's about damn time we took our paths seriously: wider paths, consistent flat pavement, full lighting, serious signage, and raised/marked/signalized crossings. In particular for ones like the Iron Horse Trail, Laurel Trail, and the future Spur Line Trail.Lack of lighting is a serious problem on the IHT. People have been mugged there on many occasions. Lighting shouldn't be that expensive using solar powered, battery-backed LEDs. In this application that would be feasible because we wouldn't need as much light as on roadways and 120VAC power may not be available along the full length of the trail.

dunkalunk

05-11-2010, 09:02 AM

Here's a short and sweet video on Streetfilms about a parallel rail crossing in Seattle and could be used as an example of what to do here:
http://www.streetfilms.org/how-to-properly-cross-rail-tracks-on-your-bike/

From the accompanying article:

Unfortunately, it's something I've seen even the most experienced cyclist do: wipe out while crossing a set of train tracks. As many of you know, you need to maneuver your bike's angle of approach so that you hit the rails as perpendicular as possible. But even knowing that, some demon riders don't slow enough to sashay properly, and heck: poor newbies have no idea how the road's mathematics work until it's too late!

In Seattle, they are trying something I have never seen before that goes beyond the usual warning signage: the DOT is using "sharrows" and markings to visually guide cyclists in the art of making some of these crossings. Anecdotally, it seems to work well. I found it reassuring that my path was predetermined as I approached instead of having to guesstimate. Stay within the lines - and all will be good.

But as John Mauro from the Cascade Bicycle Club points out, this is only an interim solution. This is the missing link in the famous Burke-Gilman greenway, and families out cycling for the day shouldn't have to contend with dangerous sets of tracks in the first place. Still, it is nice to see DOT's all across the country are getting creative and using cost effective solutions (just a few marks with paint) to keep us a little safer.

IEFBR14

05-13-2010, 08:02 AM

What a way to run, er, ruin a city: Oops! [Toronto] Councillor’s mistake derails bike lanes on University Ave. (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/oops-councillors-mistake-derails-bike-lanes-on-university-ave/article1567108/)
A plan to establish separated bike lanes along University Avenue was defeated Wednesday night – after a councillor made a voting mistake.

In a vote to remove a proposed segregated-lane pilot project from the city’s larger bike network plan, councillor Paula Fletcher voted “yes” by accident, she said, passing what would otherwise have been a tied (and defeated) amendment.

That means that a 12-week summertime pilot project that would have established the bike lanes on University Avenue was spiked.
Not that I'd want to ride a bike on University Ave, especially during rush hours, but still, there's got to be a better way. Does Waterloo use a similar vote counting system?

IEFBR14

05-14-2010, 07:23 AM

http://media.therecord.topscms.com/images/b0/30/85bc9dc347558a9c41e4289d1e4f.jpeg

Bike rental depots in motion at RIM (http://news.therecord.com/printArticle/711660)
They’re clunky, have only three gears, and look like they were built in the former Soviet Union.

But these bikes have got a whole lot of cycling advocates pretty excited.

Bixi, the bike-sharing system from the Montreal-based Public Bike System Company, has come to Waterloo. BlackBerry maker Research In Motion has installed eight bike rental stations around its company campus — and people who think it’s the answer to getting drivers out of their cars have taken notice.

They’re hoping the RIM pilot project can be expanded to other locations in the region. Officials at Wilfrid Laurier University, the University of Waterloo and the municipalities say they’re also interested.

The Bixi stations offer self-serve bicycle rentals for as little as $5 a day. It has taken off in places like Montreal, London, Boston, and Melbourne, but RIM is the first company to try it out. The six-month trial will last until November.

With about 6,000 employees and a cluster of offices close together, the RIM campus in Waterloo is an ideal setting for a bike rental system, said Bixi spokesperson Berenger Theriault. By swiping a credit card, users gets a code that unlocks a bicycle, which can be rented for free for 30 minutes and returned to any station. After 30 minutes, a charge is incurred.

The deliberately rugged and vandal-resistant aluminum bikes are locked at docking stations powered by solar energy. In larger centres, users can go online to check the availability of bikes at specific stations.

Kitchener councillor John Gazzola, who sits on the city’s cycling advisory committee, said the municipality ought to take more than a passing glance at the idea of introducing the Bixi system to the larger population.

“I think it’s worth looking at,” he said. “I think it’s a good idea.”

In Toronto this week, city councillors approved a plan to place 1,000 Bixi bikes in the downtown. The Public Bike System Company, which is a spinoff of Montreal’s parking authority, is spending $4.8 million to start the program there and another $1.3 million every year to keep it running.

Some would like to see the Region of Waterloo put a few Bixi depots at express bus stops. Done right, a good bike-rental system could replace the need for more expensive public transit projects, they say.

“It’s ridiculously convenient,” said University of Waterloo engineering master’s student Chris Roos, who used the Bixi bikes last summer in Montreal. “A colleague of mine thinks it could be more effective than a light rail system in getting more sustainable transportation options in the city.”

WLU has a car-sharing program, and UW has its Yellow Bike Program, a bicycle rental system that costs $20 per semester. But neither has anything like the convenience of the quick, spot A to spot B system of Bixi’s multiple easy-access stations. Both universities said they would be interested in exploring a bike-sharing partnership with RIM.

John Hill, a transportation planner with the Region of Waterloo, said the region would eventually like to adopt a system like Bixi, too. But the first priority needs to be building a better system of bike lanes and trails, so cyclists can get around more easily, he said.

Bike sharing does get a mention in the Region’s new transportation master plan, to be presented to councillors next month. But Bixi advocates will have to wait.

“It’s something that the Region would like to do,” Hill said. “But for right now, we’re really focused on building the network up, so we have places for people to bike.”

smably

05-14-2010, 03:10 PM

As reported on Wonderful Waterloo more than a week earlier. Yay new media!

IEFBR14

05-14-2010, 03:37 PM

As reported on Wonderful Waterloo more than a week earlier.
Yes I know. I posted this version for the, um, Record ;)

Urbanomicon

05-14-2010, 04:04 PM

As reported on Wonderful Waterloo more than a week earlier. Yay new media!

Well with 172 members and counting, we probably have more "staff" than the record, at least as far as writers are concerned.

smably

05-14-2010, 04:42 PM

Yes I know. I posted this version for the, um, Record ;)
Yeah, I wasn't criticizing, just thought it was interesting. Also because when I spotted the BIXI station at RIM, I was surprised that I hadn't seen anything about it in the Record or on the internet.

Spokes

05-17-2010, 09:23 AM

Local cyclists back law for more space from cars

May 16, 2010
By Terry Pender, Record staff

WATERLOO REGION — When Roger Baer rides his bicycle he watches the traffic coming up behind him as much as he watches the road ahead.

The veteran Waterloo cyclist believes the vehicles behind him are more of a threat as drivers steer around his moving bicycle.

That’s why Baer supports a proposed law to keep vehicles away from cyclists.

“I think in the future we are going to see more and more bikes,” Baer, who rides all year long, said. “I would be in favour of anything that would increase the distance between cyclists and cars.”

Baer was reacting to proposed legislation that New Democratic MPP Cheri DiNovo plans to introduce at Queen’s Park on Tuesday.

The legislation would amend the Highway Traffic Act and require vehicles to keep at least three feet away when overtaking cyclists at speeds of less than 50 kilometres-and-hour. The minimum distance increases to four feet when the vehicle is travelling at 50 to 80 kilometres-an-hour. It increases to five feet when vehicles are going faster than 80 kilometres-an-hour.

The proposed legislation was made more timely after a pickup truck plowed into a group of cyclists in Quebec, on Friday killing three riders. But the amendments to the Highway Traffic Act have been months in the making and are not a reaction to the Quebec accident.

Tim Kenyon, who chairs Kitchener’s cycling advisory committee, called the legislation an excellent proposal.

“Not least because it puts the issue of bicycle safety on the province’s radar and on every driver’s radar,” Kenyon said.

“I think it is a great first step, but it shouldn’t be the last step,” Kenyon said.

Don Pavey of Cambridge, who chairs that city’s cycling advisory committee, is happy to hear about the proposed law.

“I think from my experience it is probably a great idea,” Pavey said.

About 15 States and several American cities require drivers to keep at least three feet away from cyclists. France, Spain and Germany also have similar laws in place.

In Ontario, the Highway Traffic Act currently says drivers should “turn out to the left so far as may be necessary to avoid a collision” when passing a cyclist.

Pavey said drivers do not appreciate the winds created by their vehicles and how dangerous side mirrors, particularly on trucks, can be for cyclists.

“I think this law would tell motorists: ‘If you can’t drift out to the centre of the road to safely get past a cyclist, then you will have to slow down until it’s safe to do so,’” Pavey said.

Bob McMullen, a veteran cyclist and trail advocate, wonders how practical such a law would be. On two lane streets with lots of traffic a cyclist could hold up a long line of cars, McMullen said.

“I like the intent of it. Do I think the NDP have a hope in hell of getting it through? No,” McMullen said.

Under current laws bicycles have as much right to the road as a vehicle. Along some streets, such as King Street through downtown Kitchener, cyclists are encouraged by the city to take the whole lane. Drivers do not always appreciate that.

“It says a lot when you have to legislate common sense,” McMullen said. “I guess I like the intent. I would like the safety but there are implications.”

Nirala Sonder rides her bicycle a lot in Kitchener and would like to see more cycling paths built away from roads. But until that happens the proposed law is a good idea, she said.

“I think it is a step in the right direction,” Sonder said.

Dennis Hilker, a member of Kitchener’s cycling advisory committee, said he gets shocked by vehicles speeding just a few centimetres away from her elbows.

“I think, basically, it is just fantastic,” Hilker said of the proposed legislation. “I think it’s great.”

Nikola Mehes, another member of Kitchener’s cycling advisory committee, said the proposed law is a good idea but only if it is enforced.

“I don’t know what it will do until people are out there getting tickets,” Mehes said. “It would be great if it was part of the drivers’ exams.”

tpender@therecord.com

Urbanomicon

05-17-2010, 12:12 PM

The legislation would amend the Highway Traffic Act and require vehicles to keep at least three feet away when overtaking cyclists at speeds of less than 50 kilometres-and-hour. The minimum distance increases to four feet when the vehicle is travelling at 50 to 80 kilometres-an-hour. It increases to five feet when vehicles are going faster than 80 kilometres-an-hour.

That is just about the most unenforceble law I've ever heard. There is no way a police officer can quantifiably measure the distance that cars are away from cyclists, similarly there is no way a motorist can know the exact distance that they are away from a cyclist. If a police officer does try to give you a ticket, it would be rediculously easy to fight since there is no quantifiable evidence.

"Your honour, it looked like he was 2 feet away when he should have been 3 from my vantage point 3 cars back and one lane over".

I agree that cyclists should be kept seperate from motorists, especially on high traffic, high speed routes, but unenforceble laws aren't going to accomplish anything. I think most drivers already give cyclists the most room that they can give them without hitting the traffic in an adjacent lane.

Also, why is the law stipulated in feet instead of metres?

Spokes

05-17-2010, 12:30 PM

Ya I thought the same thing when I read the article. It's a step in the right direction in that it provides cyclists with added protection, but it won't work as it's written.

IEFBR14

05-17-2010, 01:42 PM

That is just about the most unenforceble law I've ever heard.
In addition to your points, how does this work with existing bike lanes? If I'm driving on a road that has a dedicated bike lane do I now have to give cyclists an additional meter or more wider berth in order to stay at the mandated distance? If so, and if that requires me to slow down in the face of oncoming traffic, then this will defeat the whole point of bike lanes in the first place.

I'm concerned that the intent of the proposed law isn't that it be enforced but rather to bring cyclist safety to the public's attention. The law can't be enforced for the reasons you give but also because the police lack the resources, never mind the will, to do it. So if the intent is to bring cyclist safety to the public's attention then unenforceable legislation is the wrong way to do it.

mpd618

05-17-2010, 03:00 PM

What exactly is the barrier (no pun intended) to cycling paths actually buffered from the road?

IEFBR14

05-17-2010, 09:43 PM

The law can't be enforced for the reasons you give but also because the police lack the resources, never mind the will, to do it.
Not only that, it would be a gigantic waste of time because there's already More than $1 billion owed in speeding fines (http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/810608--1-billion-in-unpaid-traffic-tickets-in-ontario?bn=1) and no mechanism to collect them.
Traffic scofflaws owe provincial municipalities more than $1 billion in unpaid speeding tickets and it is time to pay up, says the Ontario Association of Police Services Boards.

The drive by heist of revenue from lead foots, red light runners and illegal turners on roads in this province - actually $1,048,607,020.80 and counting – appeared to catch the cash-strapped Liberal government off guard...

Surprisingly, there is simply no mechanism to make people pay their speeding fines – especially those living out of the province, said Alok Mukherjee, president of the board, which governs local police departments. You can’t get arrested for getting a slew of speeding tickets, he added.

“You lose points … you can have your license suspended but you get it back,” he said. “Unless the consequences create a deterrent there is no incentive for people to pay because the consequences are pretty limited right now.”
P.S. While there may be no mechanism for the province to get paid, the auto insurance industry reaps a bonanza in premium increases justified by demerit points.

UrbanWaterloo

05-19-2010, 01:49 AM

http://www.region.waterloo.on.ca/web/region.nsf/646992a6b2d4dea085256e590071a3e9/6176cf54dfec6359852577270052ccdf/Body/0.EC!OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=gif

Enjoy a ‘Taste of CAN-BIKE’
May 18, 2010 | http://www.region.waterloo.on.ca/web/region.nsf/$All/6176CF54DFEC6359852577270052CCDF?OpenDocument

The weather is turning warm and cyclists are out in full force. Cycling is a fun, and easy activity the whole family can enjoy, but it does take a little skill – and the CAN-BIKE program can help develop those skills.

Designed for the more than 14 million Canadians who cycle, the CAN-BIKE program is a series of courses that promote the enjoyment and safety of cycling. CAN-BIKE instructors are nationally certified, highly skilled cyclists.

CAN-BIKE courses normally take 8 hours to complete, but on Thursday, May 20th, the public is invited to experience a ‘Taste of CAN-BIKE’. Open to any member of the public with a bike and a helmet, people are invited to drop by Waterloo Public Square between 12 noon and 1p.m. for some fun and cycling skill challenges.

What: “Taste of CAN-BIKE"
When: May 20, 2010
Where: Waterloo Public Square
Time: 12 noon – 1 p.m.

Rain or shine, join us and increase your cycling skill and confidence.

UrbanWaterloo

05-19-2010, 01:53 AM

http://www.kitchener.ca/images/logo_subpage.gif

Public meeting to review draft cycling master plan
Wednesday, May 19, 2010 | http://www.kitchener.ca/news/MediaDetail.asp?tid=19048

KITCHENER - The City of Kitchener is developing a Cycling Master Plan with the ultimate goal of creating policies, programs, design standards and infrastructure that support and promote both recreational and commuter cycling.
A public meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 19 in the Rotunda at City Hall to present the proposed cycling network and policies that will be included in the Cycling Master Plan. Participants can view the proposed facility types, summaries of previous consultations and maps of the proposed cycling network. The draft master plan will be presented to council in June for approval.

Meeting Details
Date: Wednesday, May 19
Time: 4:30 - 8 p.m.
Location: City Hall Rotunda, 200 King St. W.

Residents are invited to drop in anytime between 4:30 and 8 p.m.. There will be a presentation at 6:30 p.m. If you would like more information but are unable to attend the above session, email cycling@kitchener.ca or call 519-741-2232 or TTY 1-866-969-9994.

IEFBR14

05-19-2010, 09:30 AM

It’s a two-way street (http://news.therecord.com/Opinions/LettertotheEditor/article/713566)
The subject of protecting cyclists arises on a frequent basis. Two things that could improve the situation would be courtesy and common sense from both cyclists and drivers. That means cyclists must obey the rules of the road —stopping for traffic lights and at stop signs, and not shooting through intersections. Conversely, drivers need to give adequate space when passing and not getting to close when they come upon a rider.

Years ago this city required all cyclists to have a licence on their bike. It was granted after they showed they knew the rules of the road and displayed the ability to ride.

Perhaps the licensing for cyclists should be reinstated. Most vehicle drivers pay a $75 per year fee to have their car on the road. The money supposedly helps maintain the roadways. Perhaps if cyclists also paid a fee that money could be put to increasing the number of bike paths and expanding the bike lanes on city streets.
I realize this won't be a popular option here. I'm not even sure if I agree with it either. But for argument's sake... ;)

Spokes

05-19-2010, 10:16 AM

Im not sure you could enforce it to be honest with you. Nor is it the message you want to send, you have to pay in order to ride your bike. Are you going to make the little 14 year old kid riding their bike to school get one? I like the idea in terms of having cyclists knowing the rules, and for using the money for bike lanes and paths, but that's about it.

Urbanomicon

05-19-2010, 12:22 PM

IEFBR14

05-19-2010, 12:55 PM

Are you going to make the little 14 year old kid riding their bike to school get one?Perhaps. But if so, the price would be nominal. (It's time little 14 year olds got used to the idea of paying taxes. That's a facet of their education that will last a lifetime ;)) I'd like to see any revenue from it go to more safe cycling education in schools, recreation centres, public parks, etc.

Maybe just have the license required on roads with speed limits above 50km/h? (ie. main arterial roads, not residential roads).Other vehicles that use public roads are required to be licensed so I don't know why cyclists who use the same infrastructure should be exempted. A visible license (not license plate; when I was a kid we had yellow plastic tags about 10cm x 10cm) would serve a number of purposes:
1. Identify the owner of the bicycle. Currently, if a cop stops a cyclist, the rider isn't required to provide name and address. The cop could now obtain this from the tag number. This isn't for trivia but rather for more serious riding infractions that involve or could involve damage or injury.
2. Registration would include the bike's serial number. This would help identify and retrieve stolen bikes.
3. Raise some revenue, say $25/license, providing that money was used to promote cycling and safety and providing it was spent in addition to the region's current expenditures on such programs (i.e. not, "we now have $x tag revenue so we can cut the existing cyclist-related budget by $x and spend that money on something else altogether."

But yeah, it probably wouldn't fly politically.

KLM

05-19-2010, 01:03 PM

^^

that just would not work here,plate for bicycle?

whats next: plate for pedestrians ?

we want to subsidize cycling not to tax it.

IEFBR14

05-19-2010, 01:04 PM

whats next: plate for pedestrians ?
If you want to walk on the roadway, sure ;)

KLM

05-19-2010, 01:10 PM

thx ,I am doing fine on sidewalk :)

Spokes

05-19-2010, 01:46 PM

dunkalunk

05-19-2010, 05:56 PM

I took it upon myself to write a letter to the editor in response to that last one:

While I do agree that cyclists and motorists need to be aware of and show courtesy towards one another, the idea that bicycles should be licensed and feed like automobiles is absurd.

By requiring licenses for bicycles, you are discouraging bicycle use in a time when roads are becoming more congested, air is becoming warmer, and gas becoming more expensive. For many people, especially the poor and the young, their bicycle is often their only convenient and affordable means of transportation. And for those who are better off, why would they leave their car at home and take their bike if they know they had to go through the hassle of licensing and paying additional taxes for it.

And as for fees, a typical cyclist and rider weighs around 200 lbs while the average curb weight of a mid-size car is around 3000 lbs. The amount of damage that a bicycle does to a road's surface, and the amount of road maintenance required for cyclists is negligible in comparison.

The fact is that making passing distance guidelines law helps to educate drivers in what is considered 'adequate space' and in principle is an important step forward for cyclists and sustainable transportation.

While licensing bicycles would be an important step in identifying stolen bicycles, it should by no means be mandatory. If it were mandatory, it would put an extra burden on the young and the poor, and discourage casual bicycle use for everyone, in the same way that mandatory helmet laws do.

UrbanWaterloo

05-19-2010, 10:33 PM

Kitchener Cycling Master Plan Public Information Session

May 19, 2010

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Transportation/SAM_8265.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Transportation/SAM_8231.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Transportation/SAM_8238.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Transportation/SAM_8240.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Transportation/SAM_8264.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Transportation/SAM_8262.jpg

Comments being made on a Proposed Cycling Network Map
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Transportation/SAM_8257.jpg

Spokes

05-19-2010, 10:40 PM

Thanks for the pictures!! Were those comments in the last picture comments from people at the meeting?

UrbanWaterloo

05-19-2010, 10:48 PM

Yes, anyone could write their comments on the map. Videos are coming too but they take awhile to upload.

mpd618

05-19-2010, 11:36 PM

Here's a radical idea (not really): segregated bike lanes! Bike lanes right on roads with cars (and even worse, buses) travelling 50km/h are terrifying to bike on for most people.

panamaniac

05-20-2010, 12:00 AM

Here's a radical idea (not really): segregated bike lanes! Bike lanes right on roads with cars (and even worse, buses) travelling 50km/h are terrifying to bike on for most people.

Paid for by revenue from bike licences, perhaps? Actually, it would make sense to me if all roadwork these days included the creation of bike lanes. I remember having a licence for my bike when I was a kid, although there was no training involved - we just paid our fee to get the plastic plate and metal band to fasten under the back of the seat. I think it was probably more trouble and expense to administer than it was worth.

UrbanWaterloo

05-20-2010, 12:07 AM

Kitchener Cycling Master Plan Public Information Session
May 19, 2010 | Videos 1 & 2

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p_iiRxL2pMs

mpd618

05-20-2010, 12:36 AM

Paid for by revenue from bike licences, perhaps?

If we're going to do that, then we should start adding up how much taxpayer money is spent on roadways, and bill those hundreds of dollars to each annual car license. But if not, then let's acknowledge the positive societal impacts of more people cycling -- improved public health, livelier streets, more compact urban form, etc. -- and encourage instead of discouraging cycling.

waterloowarrior

05-20-2010, 01:16 AM

Municipal roads are funded through property taxes and development charges. Cyclists, pedestrians, transit users... all pay property taxes (and development charges if they are purchasing a new home) .....

waterloowarrior

05-20-2010, 01:21 AM

Perhaps. But if so, the price would be nominal. (It's time little 14 year olds got used to the idea of paying taxes. That's a facet of their education that will last a lifetime ;)) I'd like to see any revenue from it go to more safe cycling education in schools, recreation centres, public parks, etc.

Other vehicles that use public roads are required to be licensed so I don't know why cyclists who use the same infrastructure should be exempted. A visible license (not license plate; when I was a kid we had yellow plastic tags about 10cm x 10cm) would serve a number of purposes:
1. Identify the owner of the bicycle. Currently, if a cop stops a cyclist, the rider isn't required to provide name and address. The cop could now obtain this from the tag number. This isn't for trivia but rather for more serious riding infractions that involve or could involve damage or injury.
2. Registration would include the bike's serial number. This would help identify and retrieve stolen bikes.
3. Raise some revenue, say $25/license, providing that money was used to promote cycling and safety and providing it was spent in addition to the region's current expenditures on such programs (i.e. not, "we now have $x tag revenue so we can cut the existing cyclist-related budget by $x and spend that money on something else altogether."

But yeah, it probably wouldn't fly politically.

Toronto`s page on cycling licensing (why they don`t do it...)
http://www.toronto.ca/cycling/safety/lisencing/index.htm

Highway Traffic Act
http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_90h08_e.htm

Cyclist to identify self
218. (1) A police officer who finds any person contravening this Act or any municipal by-law regulating traffic while in charge of a bicycle may require that person to stop and to provide identification of himself or herself. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 218 (1).
Idem
(2) Every person who is required to stop, by a police officer acting under subsection (1), shall stop and identify himself or herself to the police officer. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 218 (2).
Idem
(3) For the purposes of this section, giving one’s correct name and address is sufficient identification. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 218 (3).
Idem
(4) A police officer may arrest without warrant any person who does not comply with subsection (2). R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 218 (4).

IEFBR14

05-20-2010, 08:25 AM

Highway Traffic Act
http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_90h08_e.htm

Cyclist to identify self
I wonder if that's been tested under the federal Charter of Rights and Freedoms (which trumps the HTA)? As a pedestrian I'm not required to carry ID, present ID or otherwise cooperate with a cop. That shouldn't be any different for a cyclist. (Motor vehicle drivers are a different category because they agreed to carry and show a driver's license when they obtained it. But neither pedestrians nor cyclists are licensed.)

As a practical matter, how would a cop know that I gave them correct name and address information since I don't have to show them any ID? I realize that contravenes the HTA as well.

N.B. I'm not advocating that people refuse to cooperate with the police. I'm not advocating that they provide false information. I'm only asking hypothetically and from a practical point of view, how a cop would know if s/he was given correct information.

And IANAL.

UrbanWaterloo

05-20-2010, 10:36 AM

Kitchener Cycling Master Plan Public Information Session
May 19, 2010 | Videos 3 & 4

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UrbanWaterloo

05-20-2010, 10:39 AM

let's acknowledge the positive societal impacts of more people cycling -- improved public health, livelier streets, more compact urban form, etc. -- and encourage instead of discouraging cycling.

+1

UrbanWaterloo

05-20-2010, 12:55 PM

Taste of CAN-BIKE - Waterloo Public Square

May 20, 2010

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa262/AndrewEH/Transportation/TasteofCAN-BIKE-WaterlooPublicSquar.jpg

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa262/AndrewEH/Transportation/TasteofCAN-BIKE-WaterlooPublicSq-1.jpg

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa262/AndrewEH/Transportation/TasteofCAN-BIKE-WaterlooPublicSq-2.jpg

panamaniac

05-20-2010, 07:17 PM

I wonder if that's been tested under the federal Charter of Rights and Freedoms (which trumps the HTA)? As a pedestrian I'm not required to carry ID, present ID or otherwise cooperate with a cop. That shouldn't be any different for a cyclist. (Motor vehicle drivers are a different category because they agreed to carry and show a driver's license when they obtained it. But neither pedestrians nor cyclists are licensed.)

As a practical matter, how would a cop know that I gave them correct name and address information since I don't have to show them any ID? I realize that contravenes the HTA as well.

N.B. I'm not advocating that people refuse to cooperate with the police. I'm not advocating that they provide false information. I'm only asking hypothetically and from a practical point of view, how a cop would know if s/he was given correct information.

And IANAL.

This is off topic and I'm no expert, but I think you are under a misapprehension. There may be no obligation to carry ID as a pedestrian (although it's so unwise not to do so, one hardly knows where to start) but if a cop is acting in accordance with the law (i.e. has a valid reason to stop you), I believe that he or she not only has the right to ask you to identify yourself, but you are obliged to do so - failure to do so (or worse, providing false information) could have legal consequences, depending on the circumstances. The answer to your last comment seems self evident - correct information can be confirmed.

Spokes

05-23-2010, 10:14 PM

We’re just not that into bicycles

May 22, 2010
Road Ahead column by Jeff Outhit

Cycling is healthy and pollution-free. It’s a popular way to get around in some places. But not here.

In 2006, planners counted all local trips undertaken in an average afternoon rush hour. Fewer than one per cent were taken on a bicycle. For every cyclist, there were 124 people in cars, 10 pedestrians and six transit passengers.

Local residents cycle for recreation. Almost nobody cycles to get around, apart from a few diehard commuters and some students. This likely reflects the snowy climate, suburban distances, unfriendly roads, disconnected cycling routes and lack of cycling culture.

You might think the way to encourage cycling is to paint more 1.5-metre cycling lanes onto our busiest streets, the roads that people use to travel greater distances. But that would be a mistake.

The new lanes would likely be shunned by all but a few cyclists, just as on-street cycling lanes are shunned today on busy roads. People generally don’t like cycling near fast traffic. They find the lanes unpleasant. They are a waste of valuable space.

The best way to encourage cycling as a transportation option is to separate bicycles from cars. Cyclists need buffers.

This could be achieved by installing on-street curbs or barriers, to separate bicycles from traffic. It could mean building off-road paths for bicycles. It could mean building multi-use trails or extra-wide sidewalks, to be shared by pedestrians and cyclists.

“There could be arguments that pedestrians and cyclists don’t go together,” Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr said recently. “But I can make a stronger argument that cyclists and cars don’t go together.”

There’s a hint of this approach in a proposal to change how our busiest roads are designed. New guidelines propose to make cycling lanes important on most regional roads, but only optional on the busiest roads, such as Homer Watson Boulevard in Kitchener, Northfield Drive West in Waterloo, and Franklin Boulevard in Cambridge. Any cycling lanes installed on our busiest roads would be separated from the road.

If there’s not enough cash or space to achieve this separation, the prudent move is to divert cyclists onto quieter streets with lower speeds and less traffic.

Fact is, very few adults ride bicycles. Even fewer want to cycle on busy streets. Adding painted cycling lanes won’t make busy streets any more attractive to them.

Jeff Outhit can be reached at 519-895-5642 or jouthit@therecord.com

Urbanomicon

05-24-2010, 12:50 AM

The best way to encourage cycling as a transportation option is to separate bicycles from cars. Cyclists need buffers.

Every once and a while Jeff gets it right.

The only other large hurdle is the huge distances between destinations due to all of our suburban sprawl.

mpd618

05-24-2010, 01:54 AM

The only other large hurdle is the huge distances between destinations due to all of our suburban sprawl.

Agreed. Though if most people live less than 5 km from their work, we're probably not too badly off. Our sprawl is hell for walking, but the older cores and the inner suburbs are quite navigable by bicycle.

panamaniac

05-24-2010, 10:35 AM

Every once and a while Jeff gets it right........

Like a rare gem among the turds.

dunkalunk

05-24-2010, 12:02 PM

I wonder if outhit is aware that cycling on the sidewalk is illegal under Ontario highway traffic law. :p. IMO, paved bike lanes should really be constructed on top of the curb beside the sidewalk, in this way, they are separated from fast moving trafic, and away from nasty road grit and sewer grates.

The article even though it carries a hint of his bias, is pretty much accurate at taking the temperature of cycling within the region of waterloo. If only Outhit wrote like this all the time.

FancyNancy

05-27-2010, 06:31 PM

As a recent uptown residence, I have enjoyed biking on the iron horse trail to work. Is there any plans to extend the trail to fairview mall?

mpd618

05-27-2010, 10:23 PM

As a recent uptown residence, I have enjoyed biking on the iron horse trail to work. Is there any plans to extend the trail to fairview mall?

Kitchener's proposed cycling network in its new Cycling Master Plan (http://www.kitchener.ca/living_kitchener/cycling.html) doesn't show anything like that. I'd love to hear some ideas for useful and feasible off-street path alignments (besides the obvious Spur Line path).

IEFBR14

05-30-2010, 08:20 AM

How one French town deals with the inevitable car-bicycle rivalry (http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/article/816124--how-one-french-town-deals-with-the-inevitable-car-bicycle-rivalry?bn=1)

http://media.thestar.topscms.com/images/ef/e5/7a6fb992490987af73a116e36df4.jpeg

On at least one street in Roanne, a pleasant town northwest of Lyon, the barrier [between motorized traffic and cyclists] is made up of parked cars. The parking lane is outside the bike lane, ensuring that no one leaves a car next to the curb, forcing cyclists out into the traffic...

It’s illustrative of how France, and other European countries, have developed a philosophy of live-and-let-live among drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.

Toronto has an ongoing and seemingly never-ending debate over whether cars or public transit should take precedence downtown. Cyclists, meanwhile, demand their fair share of the streets, and pedestrians plead for the cyclists to stay off sidewalks.

A car-friendly city or a bike-friendly city? Two wheels good, four wheels bad? Or vice-versa?

The French know this is a futile discussion. Neither cars nor bicycles are going to go away, so the only workable answer is peaceful co-existence. That means getting along with the foot-traffic, too.

Any Toronto pedestrian with an instinct for self-preservation quickly learns to look both ways before crossing a one-way street in case a cyclist is approaching against the direction of traffic.

This tends not to happen in France. Riders have far more respect for red lights and stop signs, rather than regarding them simply as an advisory to slow down momentarily. Nor do they ride on the sidewalk, loudly demanding unimpeded passage...

mpd618

05-30-2010, 10:00 PM

It would be very easy to have the parking buffer on Caroline Street, instead of that horrible zig-zag of the bike lane....

IEFBR14

05-30-2010, 10:49 PM

It would be very easy to have the parking buffer on Caroline Street, instead of that horrible zig-zag of the bike lane....
Yeah I had Caroline in mind when I posted that article. And yeah that zig-zag (or what I consider a slalom course) is also a problem for cars.

But while it would work well on the west side of Caroline I'm concerned that on the east side there are too many driveways, especially into Waterloo Square that would be a real hazard to cyclists. Consider car traffic turning into the parking lot or into Willis Way. They wouldn't see cyclists because their view would be blocked by parked cars. Now consider cars exiting the parking lot or Willis Way. They'd have to block the bike lane as well as the sidewalk (which they now do in any case) in order to see traffic on Caroline.

Another concern with this sort of bike lane is that car passengers might award door prizes to passing cyclists when they exit their cars. It's hard enough to get car drivers to look before they open. It would be even harder to get passengers to do it.

This isn't a panacea by any means. But it is a useful option that's worth looking at in certain situations. Another location where it might work well is on the east side of FDB across from the BarrelYards development once that's completed.

dunkalunk

05-30-2010, 11:13 PM

Nevertheless, a bicycle vault into a pile of squishy pedestrians is better than one into moving traffic. In general, placing the bike lane between on street parking and the sidewalk is a much better option than other low cost alternatives.

IEFBR14

05-31-2010, 07:42 AM

Nevertheless, a bicycle vault into a pile of squishy pedestrians is better than one into moving traffic.Only if you're a cyclist. That attitude isn't going to endear you with anyone who isn't, especially pedestrians, but also other cyclists who want to make the streets safe for everyone. No traffic construct will keep everyone safe unless all users of the roads and sidewalks show concern and respect for all other users.

dunkalunk

05-31-2010, 09:42 PM

I whole heartedly agree. Next time I'll remember to use the :p smiley if the comment is clearly meant to be tongue in cheek. :D

metropolis

06-01-2010, 12:22 AM

"Any Toronto pedestrian with an instinct for self-preservation quickly learns to look both ways before crossing a one-way street in case a cyclist is approaching against the direction of traffic.

This tends not to happen in France. Riders have far more respect for red lights and stop signs, rather than regarding them simply as an advisory to slow down momentarily. Nor do they ride on the sidewalk, loudly demanding unimpeded passage... "

... maybe they all stop on a stoplight in a sleepy suburb of Lyon because I've been to Paris and let me tell you the bike culture isn't all that different to Toronto. Now if you want to compare Lyon burb to K-W you'll find most cyclists here stop on the stop lights too... and likely in places like Burlington/Oakville. Bike rage is generated the same way car rage is: if you feel like you have to fight for your piece of road most of the way to your destination with people cutting you off or passing you when it really isn't safe to do so you get mad. More traffic = more anger, it's not rocket science.

smably

06-01-2010, 04:46 PM

Yeah I had Caroline in mind when I posted that article. And yeah that zig-zag (or what I consider a slalom course) is also a problem for cars.

But while it would work well on the west side of Caroline I'm concerned that on the east side there are too many driveways, especially into Waterloo Square that would be a real hazard to cyclists. Consider car traffic turning into the parking lot or into Willis Way. They wouldn't see cyclists because their view would be blocked by parked cars. Now consider cars exiting the parking lot or Willis Way. They'd have to block the bike lane as well as the sidewalk (which they now do in any case) in order to see traffic on Caroline.
Sight lines could be improved by removing one parking space on either side of driveways. I don't think drivers would even care on the east side of Caroline, since there's a large surface parking lot there anyway. Now is the time to eliminate on-street parking spaces, before something is built facing Caroline and businesses get attached to convenient on-street parking spaces.

IEFBR14

06-01-2010, 06:43 PM

Sight lines could be improved by removing one parking space on either side of driveways.Agreed. However that would further deplete the number of available parking spots in the area, causing merchants to increase the volume of their standard pro-parking whine.

Now is the time to eliminate on-street parking spaces, before something is built facing Caroline and businesses get attached to convenient on-street parking spaces.And that would raise the volume of whining beyond the threshold of pain. Still they may have no choice in the matter once the LRT gets built.

mpd618

06-01-2010, 11:53 PM

And that would raise the volume of whining beyond the threshold of pain. Still they may have no choice in the matter once the LRT gets built.

There's oodles parking off-street in the area, and a tiny handful on-street that is making life for cyclists difficult. Based on my experience, I'd say that as many as 1000 cyclists go through that stretch of Caroline each day -- I think they should take priority over the couple dozen who get to park on the street in front of nothing.

IEFBR14

06-02-2010, 08:37 AM

I think they should take priority over the couple dozen who get to park on the street in front of nothing.
I both understand and agree. It's the city politicians who pander to every whim of the merchants who you need to convince.

Another peeve about Caroline is that the sidewalks, especially on the west side, seem to get cleared of snow days after the streets in the area have been cleared. I've reported this to McLean on more than one occasion. All I ever got was lame excuses from lame politicians and bureaucrats. Bah!

mpd618

06-02-2010, 10:06 AM

Another peeve about Caroline is that the sidewalks, especially on the west side, seem to get cleared of snow days after the streets in the area have been cleared. I've reported this to McLean on more than one occasion. All I ever got was lame excuses from lame politicians and bureaucrats. Bah!

For that matter, the sidewalk on the west side is atrocious, tiny, and for a stretch is right next to the road. It should be a wide, buffered multi-use path to make a connection between Laurel Trail and the Iron Horse Trail. I don't see the city of Waterloo doing anything to this end.

UrbanWaterloo

06-13-2010, 05:37 AM

Regional Cycling Advisory Committee - June 15, 2010
5:00 p.m. - Meeting | Room 218, Regional Administration Building | Agenda (http://www.region.waterloo.on.ca/web/region.nsf/8ef02c0fded0c82a85256e590071a3ce/cf3eb085be8ba83e8525773f004eeff7!OpenDocument)

5. NEW BUSINESS
a) Kitchener Cycling Advisory Committee Priority Projects (http://www.region.waterloo.on.ca/web/region.nsf/8ef02c0fded0c82a85256e590071a3ce/CF3EB085BE8BA83E8525773F004EEFF7/$file/CMP.pdf?openelement)

7. INFORMATION/CORRESPONDENCE
a) George Street, Cambridge Reconstruction Update (J. Hill)
b) Weber Street, Kitchener Environmental Assessment Update (J. Hill)
c) 2010 Commuter Challenge Update (J. Hill)

Kitchener CMP Network Priorities
http://www.region.waterloo.on.ca/web/region.nsf/8ef02c0fded0c82a85256e590071a3ce/CF3EB085BE8BA83E8525773F004EEFF7/$file/CMP.pdf?openelement
All issues identified in priority sequence.

On Road Corridors
1. River Road: Riverbend/Bridgeport to King Street East (bike lanes already exist on several sections) (COK Street identified as core RMOW facility)
2. Wilson Avenue: 401 Pedestrian Bridge/Old Mill - cul de sac at Wilson Park (COK Street identified as core RMOW facility)
3. Margaret Avenue: City of Waterloo to Queen Street North (being designed at this time)
4. Krug Street: Entire length (COK Street identified as core RMOW facility)
5. Strasburg Road: Bleams to Huron – continue along Biehn Drive from cul de sac (there is access off of Huron Road) to Black Walnut (connects existing bike lanes from Ottawa to Bleams) (COK Street identified as core RMOW facility)
6. Union Street: Lancaster Street to Margaret Avenue (COK Street identified as core RMOW facility)
7. Guelph Street: River Bend Road to Moore Avenue
8. Franklin Street: Ottawa to Wilson (COK Street identified as core RMOW facility)
9. Glasgow Street: Knell to Park (connects existing Bike Lanes from Fisher Hallman to Knell) (COK Street identified as core RMOW facility)
10. Lorraine Avenue – Lackner Boulevard to River Road
11. East Avenue – as part of the Frederick Street reconstruction

Off Road Corridors
1. Dom Cardillo Trail – link from Franklin to Dreger to Ottawa at Manchester required (this will link to trail corridor from Shantz Lane to Krug Street)
2. Henry Sturm Trail (awkward section between Lawrence and Westmount needs to be addressed)
3. Laurentian Trail – Fisher Hallman to Homer Watson (link to and over Homer Watson needed)
4. Shantz to Krug Street trail – continuation to Fife Ave possible

Major Barriers
1. Wilson Avenue, Fairway to Kingswood. Very busy intersections, awkward lane configurations, multiple accesses to commercial sites
2. Ottawa Street at Manchester. Link at signal across Ottawa to trail segment to Krug Street and Manchester Road Bike Boulevard
3. Victoria west of Hazelglen: trail crossing across Victoria Street
4. Highland Road at Fisher Hallman: linking trail from Forest Heights (southwest corner) to trail to Victoria Park (northeast corner)
5. Highway 7/8 west of Fisher Hallman Road: bridge needed across highway to link Forest Heights trail system to Sunrise Center, Laurentian Trails system

Identified Regional Priorities (not identified in Major Barriers)
1. Courtland Avenue (Sydney to Overland): Trans Canada trail connection to Iron Horse trail. This project is at present in design stage, regional staff are working with the City to address this issue
2. Courtland Avenue at Stirling Avenue: Iron Horse Trail crossing. This project is at present in design stage, regional staff are working with the City to address this issue 3. Westmount Road from Block Line Road to Fisher Hallman Road.
4. Boulevard level facilities along the Homer Watson Boulevard corridor. Regional staff are investigating this possibility
5. Rail trail from Uptown Waterloo to Ahrens Street in Downtown Kitchener. This is the trail possibility that was identified in our cycle tour.
6. Charles Street from Rockway Drive to the downtown. As a continuation of the Connaught Avenue Bicycle Boulevard.

Spokes

06-13-2010, 11:45 AM

11. East Avenue – as part of the Frederick Street reconstruction

Hadn't heard about that, any details floating around anywhere?

Urbanomicon

06-13-2010, 12:05 PM

1. Wilson Avenue, Fairway to Kingswood. Very busy intersections, awkward lane configurations, multiple accesses to commercial sites

Apparently the region doesn't know its own street names. This should read:

1. Wilson Avenue, Fairway to Kingsway. Very busy intersections, awkward lane configurations, multiple accesses to commercial site

Kingswood isn't near Wilson; it runs between Strasburg and Block Line.

mpd618

06-13-2010, 01:53 PM

metropolis

06-14-2010, 11:43 PM

Agreed and they just redid that part of Victoria. Idiots

garthdanlor

06-15-2010, 11:47 AM

What about the absolutely huge barrier of Victoria Street to the Iron Horse Trail? That section is so difficult and time-consuming to cross that I'm not sure it's even appropriate to refer to the two segments as being part of the same trail.
Yeah, Victoria is by far the worst crossing on the Iron Horse. Queen and Courtland crossings aren't much fun either at certain times of the day. Not to mention being forced on to Ottawa at the end of the trail. I would love to see these crossings improved, and see the Iron Horse extended or connected to another trail.

mpd618

06-15-2010, 12:00 PM

I would love to see these crossings improved, and see the Iron Horse extended or connected to another trail.

I wonder if the Iron Horse Trail could be further extended along Schneider Creek, to the new Block Line or maybe Bleams Road.

A map of segregated cycling paths in the region would look very sad and disconnected.

garthdanlor

06-15-2010, 01:05 PM

I wonder if the Iron Horse Trail could be further extended along Schneider Creek, to the new Block Line or maybe Bleams Road.

A map of segregated cycling paths in the region would look very sad and disconnected.

Yes, I think following Schneider Creek would be a logical route. If we could get it connecting to the trails in and around Homer Watson Park, then we would essentially have an unbroken network of trails connecting UW to Conestoga College.

plam

07-13-2010, 09:06 PM

This sounds pretty awesome to me. "Bike parking takes over car parking spaces".

Toronto bike riders can celebrate a “first” today: the City has converted two car parking spots into parking for a minimum of 16 bikes.

I have noticed that there are more bike racks on King St in Kitchener now. +1! At the University of Waterloo outside the Davis Centre, there is barely enough space.

Now, I wish that my condo would have secure bike parking!

bcwessel

08-11-2010, 03:21 PM

Does anybody have a hi-res trail map for the region? I'm pretty unfamiliar with the on-road network, and even less so with the off-road network. Is the GoogleMaps directions feature my best bet? Thanks in advance.

IEFBR14

08-11-2010, 03:44 PM

Waterloo Region: http://www.region.waterloo.on.ca/web/region.nsf/0/1AA83440219C06CE85256E4400576652?OpenDocument and http://www.newwr.ca/transportation/Pages/GettingAround.aspx then follow the links.

Also, city of Waterloo: http://www.city.waterloo.on.ca/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=826 and GRCA: http://www.grandriver.ca/index/document.cfm?Sec=21&Sub1=87

taylortbb

08-11-2010, 03:56 PM

Does anybody have a hi-res trail map for the region?

The GRT system map is also a cycling map. The full-size maps are available for purchase for $2, definitely the easiest way to use them. TriTAG has a online copy of the system map which is zoomable, http://www.tritag.ca/resources/transit-in-waterloo-region/grt-map/ .

bcwessel

08-11-2010, 04:23 PM

Spokes

08-11-2010, 04:32 PM

KevinL

08-11-2010, 05:11 PM

Thanks for that. I biked down Ottawa from the Expressway to Strasburg today, and nearly died about 63 times. That stretch can give just about any road in the area a run for its money in terms of the speed at which cars travel and the frequency and severity of potholes and ridiculous intersections. Ottawa at Homer Watson might just be the asshole of the Region.

I live around there, and I never bike through that intersection if traffic is remotely heavy. It's my fastest way downtown as the crow flies, but not worth the aggravation and potential injury.

Courtland, at least, has an isolated path which bypasses the on/off-ramps and is reasonably separated from the road (though it's not in the best shape, to be honest).

bcwessel

08-11-2010, 05:59 PM

I live in the newer old suburbs of Kitchener, south-east from downtown (near the Aud just east of the Expressway), and the bike ride downtown couldn't better. Shaded, narrow streets and lots of amazing old neighbourhoods to travel through past East. Perhaps the best part is the variety of routes available to one with a reasonably good sense of direction (if you've never taken the time to stroll down streets like Lydia, Marner, and Ahrens and have or want an appreciation of just how wonderful this community can be, do yourself a favour a head there at your earliest opportunity.) Just about every street, no matter its size or zoning actually takes you somewhere! It's amazing how much you can learn about how a place works by travelling through it without the isolation of a personal automobile. Biking around town for a week should be mandatory for every traffic or urban planner before they're certified to start affecting change upon the places where people live (or will live in the future). You should've seen the looks I was getting from drivers biking down Ottawa. I couldn't help but think "why can't I be here, too?"

Spokes

08-11-2010, 06:05 PM

^^ I grew up in the neighbourhoods you're describing and you're right, riding through there is so nice!

Shawn

08-12-2010, 04:09 PM

My street is currently being redone to include a bicycle lane. It started out last week with the jack hammering of the end of my driveway at 7am (yikes) and is continuing today with them removing the road surface. Currently they're leveling and steam rolling the gravel. I wonder how long it will be a gravel street until they re-pave and paint...

KevinL

08-12-2010, 04:58 PM

I wonder how long it will be a gravel street until they re-pave and paint...

If it's anything like the roads they did last month in my neighbourhood, give or take a week. You'll get one layer of asphalt first, then the second (about an inch thick) a few days later.

Shawn

08-16-2010, 05:39 PM

If it's anything like the roads they did last month in my neighbourhood, give or take a week. You'll get one layer of asphalt first, then the second (about an inch thick) a few days later.

Thanks KevinL - your prediction looks to be on track. First thing this morning there were paving trucks here doing more work preparing the gravel surface. It was sprayed with something that looks like oil and steam rolled again. There also looks like some fresh pink paint marks on the edges of the street.

Who's gonna be the first WW'er to ride their bike on "my" cycle lane once it's completed?

IEFBR14

08-24-2010, 08:08 AM

Councillors give nod to new cycling master plan (http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/766631)
Councillors have approved in principle new planning steps that will make consideration of cyclists’ needs on city roads policy rather than an afterthought.

The Cycling Master Plan will see the construction of a network of 114 kilometres of segregated bike lanes, local bicycle streets and multi-use trails with the aim of significantly increasing cycling traffic in the city.

“People should be excited,” Ron Schirm, a city transportation planner, said in an interview. “I think people should take notice and get out there and cycle.”

The plan would be implemented over two decades and will cost the city about $6.1 million.

The development and technical services committee approved the plan in principle at a meeting Monday evening.

It replaces the city’s 1998 Bikeway Study that had become obsolete because of changes in programming, policy and infrastructure.

Much of the new cycling network will comprise so-called bicycle priority streets, or traffic-calmed areas that will make it easy for cyclists to navigate existing roadways.

The improvements will include signage indicating routes to major destinations and changes to major crossings that would give cyclists priority.

The plan also calls for eight kilometres of separated cycle lanes that can safely accommodate cyclists past driveways and intersections.

The remainder of the network will be made up of typical bike lanes and marked areas on shared roadways.

The idea is to make Kitchener a “bicycle-friendly city” and encourage people to use their bikes more for commuting, short outings and leisure.

While the plan takes into consideration the views of those already sold on cycling, the idea is really to reach out to the majority of residents who are typically “interested but concerned” about cycling on city streets, said Schirm.

The new polices also require engineering staff to automatically consider the needs of cyclists on any future road projects.

“We’ve flipped the responsibility,” said Schirm.

“The default is that we need to consider it and it needs to be justified at a senior level why it cannot be. Realistically, we can’t always accommodate everything, we understand that, but it needs to be justified.”

There are several road projects coming up in city planning, including reconstruction projects on Huron and Block Line roads, where separated cycling lanes will be looked at, he said.

Councillors also agreed to look at the creation of a halftime transportation co-ordinator position to oversee the implementation of the master plan. A decision on that will be made during the 2011 budget review.

The full Cycling Master Plan will be available on the city’s website in the next few days.
So that works out to $300k (or ~$1 per resident) annual expenditure and the construction of less than 6km of cycling lanes per year.

Some commitment :RpS_rolleyes:

YKF

08-24-2010, 02:46 PM

I'm pretty disappointed that $6.1 million will be spent over 2 decades, when it could be done in about 5 years. If the city was truly committed to making Kitchener bicycle-friendly, it should not take over 20 years to implement this plan.

KevinL

08-24-2010, 06:01 PM

Agreed. That is far too long a timeframe for something this straightforward (and relatively cheap).

UrbanWaterloo

09-23-2010, 03:08 PM

Bicycle Parking Project
http://www.waterloo.ca/desktopdefault.aspx?tabid=2607

The City of Waterloo has received a grant to install a secure bicycle-parking facility and to produce a map outlining local bikeways.

Public input is a key component of this project – the City wants to know where residents would like this shelter to be, and what form it should take.

To have your say on this project, please complete a short online survey (https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Q3DTD56).

It is anticipated that the shelter will be constructed in the fall of 2010.

The project’s cost will be split between the Ministry of Transportation Ontario’s Transportation Demand Management grant program and the city.

http://www.waterloo.ca/Portals/57ad7180-c5e7-49f5-b282-c6475cdb7ee7/CorpCommunications_images/bike_2.jpg

Public Consultation

An open house and workshop on the Waterloo Bicycle Parking Study is coming up.

September 23, 2010
Drop in between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Presentation from 7 p.m. to 7:25 p.m.
Workshop from 7:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.
Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex in the Hauser Haus (second floor)
The public is invited to come out and help determine:

Bicycle parking locations in all of Waterloo
Secured bicycle parking in uptown Waterloo
Suitable bikeways maps

38022274

IEFBR14

10-02-2010, 11:22 AM

When it comes to traffic solutions, choose safety over symbols (http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/785860)
ROAD AHEAD COLUMN BY JEFF OUTHIT
Painted bicycle lanes and signalized crosswalks symbolize the friendlier streets we want. They are not always practical traffic solutions.

Designated bicycle lanes tell cyclists they belong on the street. They tell motorists to share the road. Crosswalk signals tell pedestrians when to walk or stay. They tell motorists to watch for pedestrians who share the intersection.

These are important statements. I understand why some people want to make them.

But the reality about painted cycling lanes is that many residents feel unsafe in them. So they stay out of them, turning them into wasted space.

When planners surveyed 2,337 local cyclists in 2008, they found most prefer to ride off the road, even on streets with designated bike lanes. Most cyclists favour sidewalks or boulevards where they feel more comfortable.

The practical solution to encourage cycling is to separate bicycles from cars. This means installing curbs or barriers, building wider shared sidewalks, pursuing segregated cycling paths and developing a network of cycling trails. It means putting bicycles somewhere else than on our busiest streets.

Signalized crosswalks are often touted to make pedestrians safer. The reality is they can be very dangerous places.

Too often, careless motorists or careless pedestrians misread signals or fail to notice each other during a right or left turn. As intersections get bigger, crossing distances get longer, adding to pedestrian risks.

This is partly why roundabouts make practical sense. Some critics complain the circles can’t be safe for pedestrians because no signal tells a driver to stop. There’s concern for students who will cross at busy roundabouts coming to three high schools in Kitchener and Cambridge.

But pedestrians aren’t made safer by signals. They’re made safer by reduced speeds, shorter crossing distances, and attentive drivers. Roundabouts provide this without the false security of a signal.

Planners recently compared 81 traffic signals to 11 roundabouts over multiple years, with similar traffic and pedestrian counts. Pedestrians were hit 25 times at the signals and only once in a roundabout, when someone wrongly crossed through a central island and stepped into a driving lane.

The early calculations, though based on very small data, suggest pedestrians are twice as likely to be hit at signals.

I get the symbolism in painting more bicycle lanes and adding crosswalk signals. I lean more to traffic solutions that may actually work.

mpd618

10-02-2010, 12:50 PM

Our busiest streets are precisely the ones that need space for cycling, but yes, it does need to be separated.

IEFBR14

10-02-2010, 01:11 PM

Separated doesn't necessarily mean on those streets or directly parallel to them. It could be something almost totally separated like the Iron Horse or Laurel Creek trails -- providing there are safe ways to cross those "busiest streets" when it's necessary to do so.

smably

10-02-2010, 03:02 PM

Iron Horse and Laurel trails are great, but there are only so many opportunities to add trails like these. (One I'd particularly like to see is a spurline trail between Kitchener and Waterloo.) But where do you put off-road multi-use trails running east-west, for example? Those would likely have to be on-street, and most of the direct routes are arterials.

IEFBR14

10-02-2010, 03:38 PM

Urbanomicon

10-02-2010, 04:20 PM

But the reality about painted cycling lanes is that many residents feel unsafe in them. So they stay out of them, turning them into wasted space.

The practical solution to encourage cycling is to separate bicycles from cars. This means installing curbs or barriers, building wider shared sidewalks, pursuing segregated cycling paths and developing a network of cycling trails. It means putting bicycles somewhere else than on our busiest streets.

These are both very good points that the city needs to take seriously. If bikes are to be considered a serious form of transportation, planners must take into account all of the same factors they look at when constructing a road. Instead of just adding a bike lane to an existing road and saying "It's all bike friendly now", they should spend the time and money to develop actual bike routes that not only have some form of right-of-way, but also allow bikers to feel safe during their travels, whether these take the form of dedicated trails, paths, or segregated laneways.

plam

10-02-2010, 07:56 PM

My point is simply that where the opportunity exists to use dedicated trails that don't happen to parallel streets, e.g. abandoned rail lines, along waterways, etc., then I'd rather see resources spent on those. It's far more pleasant to cycle or walk along completely separate routes, often in a near-idyllic and more tranquil environment, than right beside traffic noise, exhaust fumes, visual pollution and the like. Admittedly that may increase the distance one has to travel slightly compared to linear routes but for me, at least, it's well worth it.

I'd rather take the shorter road along traffic. Mind you, I don't especially enjoy biking on Bridgeport/Erb near the expressway, and I might go a bit farther to avoid that. But in general, I understand that people tend to take the shortest way, even if it's less safe; there might be a certain threshold for that decision.

BuildingScout

10-03-2010, 07:13 AM

Iron Horse and Laurel trails are great, but there are only so many opportunities to add trails like these.

Not really. It would be rather easy to take for the public domain (with due compensation of course) certain right of ways between houses.

panamaniac

10-03-2010, 09:23 AM

Not really. It would be rather easy to take for the public domain (with due compensation of course) certain right of ways between houses.

Feasible, but not "rather easy", at least not in existing neighbourhoods. The cost and political heat would be considerable, I should think.

IEFBR14

10-03-2010, 10:05 AM

"Feasible?"

"Rather easy?"

Oh, really?

Even assuming there were no objections from the [literal] NIMBY crowd, where would the "due compensation" come from? We can't get local funding for an LRT so where would we get the money for this?

As for "due compensation" what would you consider to be fair? Assume the average lot width is 15'. That means you need about 70 properties per kilometer. Double that so that you can split the right-of-way between home owners on either side. That's about 140 properties per kilometer. Now assume that "due compensation" is a modest $10,000 per property. (Would you agree to give up a 1 or 2 meter strip at the back of your property for $10,000? I wouldn't.) That alone is about $1.5 million per kilometer.

But that's only the start. Add to that legal, administrative, surveying, etc. costs. That's got to be a few $1,000s per property. Add to that the cost of erecting fencing and/or other privacy barriers. Add to that the cost of constructing the trail itself. Again these costs have to be in the $1,000s per property. So you're looking at probably $10 million per kilometer.

We need about $200 million in local/regional funding to build the LRT. Getting the public to accept that is going to be a huge challenge. Yet that's only about 20 km of these "backyard" trails. Which would you rather have? Which do you think the public is more likely to agree to pay for?

Brenden

10-04-2010, 11:24 AM

Waterloo Region GPS Cycling Survey

CALLING ALL CYCLISTS!

Do you enjoy cycling? Do you wish Waterloo Region was more cyclist-friendly? Here is your chance to help make it happen!

WHAT IS IT? The Region of Waterloo and the University of Waterloo are conducting a GPS Cycling Survey to help the Region update its Cycling Master Plan. Volunteer cyclists are asked to carry around a GPS unit for a 2-week period, complete a cycling survey, and complete a one-day travel diary. The GPS unit itself is quite small; about the size of a large USB stick. It can easily fit in your jacket pocket or knapsack, but should be kept visible while you cycle. We have attached lanyards so they can be worn around the neck while cycling.

WHY ARE WE DOING IT? To find out where the most popular cycling routes are and what cycling facility and infrastructure types are most preferred. Results from this survey will be used to update the Cycling Master Plan and determine snow clearing priority routes for cyclists, which could improve winter cycling in Waterloo Region.

WHO CAN TAKE PART? All cyclists in Waterloo Region are invited to take part. It doesn’t matter if you cycle long or short distances, use trails or roads; if you cycle this survey is for you. Tell your friends!

WHEN? This survey started in March 2010 and will continue until early 2011. The Region has purchased 50 GPS units for this survey, which are rotated to volunteers on a monthly basis.

WHERE? Anywhere in Waterloo Region, including: Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and the Townships.

HOW? Contact John Hill, Principal Planner at the Region to sign up today!
p: (519) 575-4019 | e: jhill@regionofwaterloo.ca

MORE DETAILS!

Expectations of our participants include:

* Sign the consent form
* Pick up the GPS unit*
* Carry the GPS unit when you cycle for a 2-week period
* Return the unit when the study period is over*
* Complete a cycling survey and one-day travel diary
* Spread the word to fellow cyclists - the more data we can collect, the better!

Please Note: The pick-up and drop-off times will be determined by your availability. We do our best to accommodate the schedules of as many people as we can. For those participants who are unavailable during the designated times, delivery can be arranged.

Questions? Contact John Hill, Principal Planner at the Region
p: (519) 575-4019 | e: jhill@regionofwaterloo.ca

https://docs.google.com/gview?pid=explorer&srcid=1SD5nH81UftMr6Y3FBI1VvYMDX78RYLiGozUftphgHZx ez9AddlbRur39FLze&docid=326f7cd1e0f9e745e42708e6ed4fa7f6|8f4f8cc602f c4b8930898286f6e38a04&authkey=CJ_A_f0D&a=bi&pagenumber=1&w=800

063wloo

10-23-2010, 02:16 PM

Let's take the money for LRT and build a community connected with OFF-ROAD bike lanes. The new Y in West Waterloo should have easy access by off-road bike lanes. Both universities should be accessible by off-road bike lanes. The students that do ride their bikes sometimes ride in bike lanes on the wrong side of the street. When turning right, drivers look for pedestrians on the sidewalk, but not for bikers riding on the wrong side of the road. We have a new Boardwalk Shopping Centre in West Waterloo. How many people would risk their lives to cycle up there??

Waterlooer

10-23-2010, 02:22 PM

Jan d'Ally wants to build more trails and bike lanes :RpS_thumbup:

Spokes

11-01-2010, 12:29 PM

For those of you like me, who don't know a lot about segregated bike lanes, check out this article about Montreal's bike lanes. (http://centretown.blogspot.com/2010/10/montreal-part-2-bike-lanes-segregated.html)

After reading more about them, I think with all of our ultra wide roads, they're a great option.

Are there places in Waterloo Region where we're specifically considering segregated bike lanes?

Spokes

11-01-2010, 01:04 PM

Is there any chance the Region will consider using BIXI Region wide after seeing it being successful at RIM?

063wloo

11-01-2010, 01:25 PM

mpd618

11-01-2010, 01:27 PM

Are there places in Waterloo Region where we're specifically considering segregated bike lanes?

There is supposed to be an Active Transportation Master Plan starting up right about now, that will consider that. But no, currently there are no plans.

Is there any chance the Region will consider using BIXI Region wide after seeing it being successful at RIM?

RIM's project has rather little relevance due to its size. However, many cities are successfully rolling out bike-sharing, and there's a lot of talk already about setting up a bike-sharing system in Waterloo Region.

Spokes

11-01-2010, 01:36 PM

Article from Today's RECORD suggesting segregated bike lanes...

http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/804164

Personally, I would like to see segregated bike lanes or off-road trails to Uptown Waterloo from all major subdivisions and both Universities.

Fischer-Hallman North, from Erb to Beechlawn has a paved trail (not a sidewalk in any sense as it is very wide and is asphalt) on it's East side, as well as an on-road bike lane.
Casual cyclists tend to use the off-road trail as it is more relaxing and has a feeling of safety.

Ya that's partially what got me thinking about them.

Personally I'd rather bike lanes than off-road trails if I had to pick one or the other (but I dont, so I want both!). I think having cyclists on the streets helps to promote a more lively lifestyle and vibrant communtiy.

Spokes

11-01-2010, 01:37 PM

RIM's project has rather little relevance due to its size. However, many cities are successfully rolling out bike-sharing, and there's a lot of talk already about setting up a bike-sharing system in Waterloo Region.

Ya Id love to see it. The two examples I know best are Montreal and Ottawa, both are very successful, Montreal for 2 or 3 years now, and Ottawa is in it's 2nd I believe.

mpd618

11-01-2010, 03:14 PM

The place most crying out for a segregated bike lane is Caroline Street between Erb and Allen Streets -- the connection between Laurel Trail and the Iron Horse Trail. I think the best solution is a protected two-way cycle track on the west side. Unfortunately the current street reconstruction there is doing nothing of the sort.

IEFBR14

11-01-2010, 03:23 PM

Hey, don't shoot me. I'm just the [biking] messenger ;) I’m afraid of cyclists (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/facts-and-arguments/im-afraid-of-cyclists/article1778691/)
My name is Scott, and I am afraid of bicycles. Well, not bicycles so much as bicyclists.

I am afraid of them and afraid for them as I watch them weave and dart through the city, betwixt and between moving cars, parked cars, pedestrians and myriad other obstacles on or near the roads.

In the great urban debate of car versus bike, I reluctantly side with cars. I am a driver, mostly out of necessity, as I live in the 416 but work in the 905. Being a driver, however, does not mean I am against bicycling, or against urban bicycling.

I am aware of the examples in various other cities of cycling being a safe, idyllic mode of transport to work and pleasure. To hear it described, it all seems happy and wonderful.

Growing up in Northern Ontario, bicycling was a necessary pursuit. It was an easy way to travel around town and to and from friends’ homes. I never once felt unsafe or threatened by the other vehicles sharing the road. Of course, there was a lot more road to share up there.

My concern emerges when the idea of bicycling is transposed upon the reality of urban Toronto living. Our roads are clogged and congested. There is no space as it is, let alone for bicyclists who seem to move randomly amongst the chaos, without care for traffic lanes or traffic laws.

At any given time, cyclists can be found riding in the space between the curb and the curb lane, within the lane itself, on the dotted line between the lanes, on crosswalks and sometimes even on sidewalks. Simply put, cyclists are everywhere.

Safe driving involves knowing the patterns on the road – having an expectation of what other drivers will do at a particular time and in a particular scenario. But with cyclists, there appears to be no clear pattern to their movements and no obvious location to expect to find them when you’re driving.

Cars are on the road, pedestrians are on the sidewalk, but cyclists seem to be everywhere at once. They are on the road (like cars), but often do not stop at lights or stop signs. I have heard this described as an “Idaho stop,” because apparently in Idaho the law is bikes only need to yield at stop signs before moving through.

For my part, I would think traffic on a dusty road in Idaho is a little different than the intersection of Queen and Spadina. Undoubtedly, this is why “Idaho stops” are illegal in Ontario, or at least are supposed to be.

Cyclists are also occasionally on sidewalks, but moving faster and with sharper, pointier edges than your average pedestrian.

I am afraid of cyclists when I walk with my two-year-old daughter on the sidewalk and they speed past, narrowly missing her or us. I am afraid for them and cringe when I watch them weave recklessly through traffic.

I am afraid of them because I do not want to be the driver who collides with a cyclist who suddenly appears where he is least expected. I am afraid for them when I listen to the radio and hear an interview with a member of the Toronto Cyclists Union who questions the necessity for bike helmets.

I am sure at this point you have a strong opinion about what you’re reading. Motorists may agree with me, while cyclists likely disagree, perhaps strongly. And, of course, I do not mean to malign all cyclists, for I am sure there are many who follow the rules of the road and are as bothered by their reckless brethren as I am.

But here’s the rub: I am actually for bicycling in the city. I accept that it could be a simple, straightforward, environmentally friendly way to commute. It would be a boon to our collective cardiovascular health.

My problem isn’t with cycling in Toronto per se, but with cycling in Toronto as it currently exists. The same goes for any major Canadian city. The reality is that, in 2010, our roads are bursting at the seams. It appears people on the road are out for themselves, trying to get wherever they are going as quickly as possible. In the inevitable collision between a bike and a car, the bike is always going to lose. There are already too many “ghost bicycles” – white bikes placed at accident sites – seen around town.

I would be for bicycling in dedicated bike lanes, or bicycling in any context that is safe and accessible and doesn’t force cyclists to imperil themselves riding in heavy traffic. Bicyclists have the right to bike safely and properly, but motorists also have the right to drive without constantly worrying about when a cyclist might suddenly appear, speeding along without (shudder) a helmet.

The truth is that our current transportation model doesn’t protect either of these rights, and both sides of the divide are the worse off for it. I don’t profess to know how to fix things. I just know that from my vantage point, through my windshield, they certainly appear broken.

Urbanomicon

11-01-2010, 03:44 PM

From my perspective as a driver, I can certainly relate to a lot of what he is saying. Some cyclists are great, but others seem to have several screws loose. I realize that in some cases, it is more the result of the available infrastructure than the cyclist themself, but the system in general needs improving (for the safety of both cyclists and drivers).

Waterlooer

11-01-2010, 04:08 PM

I bike on the sidewalk most of the time (ESPECIALLY on a major or regional road). It's just too dangerous!! People expect me to bike on a road like Weber Street where cars are flying at 70-80 Km/hr and I'm only biking at 20 km/hr. That is ridiculous, you're going 4 times as slow and you want me to bike on it with no bike lane PLUS barely any one is walking here!. You should only be able to be on the road if you can keep up with traffic. If there's going to be bike lanes, then make them big enough so drivers don't have to worry about hitting them. I can understand a side street but a major road, no way. If a person if walking on the side walk, just bike around them (in downtowns we can have bike lanes there). If there is an increased % of pedestrians, then we could build a separate "sidewalk" just for bikers... I think it makes more sense (and is way safer) for the street to be laid out like this: Road, Curb, Bike lane, Sidewalk instead of this: Road, Bike lane, Curb, Sidewalk. I am a good biker but refuse to put my life on the line.

dunkalunk

11-01-2010, 04:39 PM

The position of on-road bike lanes also puts gravel, leaves, sewer grates, and roadside cracks into those bike lanes. They are also difficult to clear properly in the winter with the large snowplows currently used on arterial roads. Its probably safer to have no demarcated lane, or maybe at least markings for a shared lane than to have a standard bike lane.

dunkalunk

11-01-2010, 04:44 PM

To add, it also doesn't help that in most places, the concrete curb extends into the roadway and is slanted differently than the roadway. These concrete gutters not only catch water and bring it to the storm sewer, but it also does a great job at catching bicycle wheels and bringing them to the curb. I've actually fallen off my bike in this manner before when being passed too closely, and since then, I ride at least 6-8 inches out from all sewer grates and concrete gutters to the annoyance of the traffic behind me.

zanate

11-01-2010, 04:46 PM

Have you considered changing your route? I don't bike on Weber, or King, or University, or any of the major throughfares except where I can't otherwise avoid it!

But, there's a ton of routes to get around that can keep you off of these roads. I have to deal with getting to the other side of the expressway, which severely chokes my options, but I still have a number of routes which keeps the risk down. I'm not sure where you are coming from or going to, but I deal with Waterloo on bike and I deal with Weber on bike (mostly by avoiding it)-- and I keep a list of routes on google maps here (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=100932824426827963680.0004832bf698cacc5ba31&ll=43.486867,-80.51219&spn=0.056108,0.104284&t=h&z=14). You might have to study some maps and learn the side streets, but it pays off.

What I would advocate strongly is getting off the sidewalk. Google up "cycling sidewalk risk" to get a feel for the disparity between your perceived safety and your actual safety. I'm not suggesting that the sidewalk of Weber is a full 400% riskier than the roadway as some studies suggest is the norm... but you might be best served by being visible, being predictable, and practicing good route judgement.

Waterlooer

11-01-2010, 06:04 PM

bcwessel

11-01-2010, 06:28 PM

Waterlooer

11-01-2010, 06:41 PM

Note to pedestrians: Avoid Waterlooer wherever possible.

Haha!! :RpS_lol:

IEFBR14

11-01-2010, 10:05 PM

I disagree that the road is safer than the sidewalk. The worst that could happen is that you fall off or hit a pedestrian. The worst thing that could happen when riding on the road is that you get hit by a car and die.So hitting and possibly seriously injuring or even killing a pedestrian is OK? I guess I'm going to start walking with hiking poles and use them for self-defence from cyclists.

Note to cyclists and especially Waterlooer [in jest, of course]: My hiking poles aren't rubber-tipped like canes. They have sharp, pointed carbide tips. You don't want to run into them. So if you see someone walking in Uptown with hiking poles, give me a wide berth ;)

dunkalunk

11-01-2010, 10:10 PM

Spokes

11-01-2010, 10:17 PM

If a bicycle is being used as a vehicle, it really should be on the road and not the sidewalk. Then again, there is a lot that needs to be done and maintained to make them as safe for cyclists as multi-use trails.

Legally bicycles are supposed to be ridden on the road, not the sidewalk. A bike has to be a trike (3 wheels) to be allowed to be riden on the sidewalk.

bcwessel

11-01-2010, 10:52 PM

To the debate concerning off-street versus on-street biking paths and lanes, I think that the visibility of cycling as a viable mode of transportation should be considered. I personally believe that a quality bicycle network will take advantage of all opportunities to promote the connectivity of the overall system, and that off-road trails on their own dedicated routes and through parks can be extremely pleasant and functional for riders. However, on-street bike lanes have several advantages as well. It would be extremely difficult and impractical to develop an entire network of bike trails that never had to interact with other forms of motorized traffic. It also makes the network more difficult to use if learning an entirely new map with new routes is required on the part of the casual cyclist. Nobody likes being lost, and -- as ridership patterns on twisting suburban bus routes suggest -- everybody hates figuring out convoluted routes that travel through places they don't recognize. Beyond the logistics of developing a fully dedicated off-road system, and rider confusion, in my opinion one of the great added benefits of the on-street bike lane is its ability to demarcate space for an alternative mode of transportation while at the same time making that alternative a highly visible option to other road users. As a regular cyclist in this region, I suggest that one of the most dangerous parts about biking along busy routes in this region is the average driver's total confusion when it comes to the bicycle. I can only assume that a large part of this confusion stems from a general lack of experience and practice in dealing with bicycles. If the bicycle network becomes too dominated by off-road routes, the visibility of the biker is diminished, potentially making the inevitable (though in this case diminished) interactions between bike and car that much more dangerous. Many European cities with bicycles making up a high share of total traffic frequently cite driver awareness as a key component to the safety of the bike network, and as a result how much the network is used. (I would also offer that better bicycle training should be a prioriety, not merely for riders but for drivers as well. We make damn sure that our kids know how to swim, and if we really want to make our communities less car dependent, it only makes sense to treating cycling in the exact same way.)

Urbanomicon

11-01-2010, 10:59 PM

Note to pedestrians: Avoid Waterlooer wherever possible.

I think what Waterlooer was trying to say is that a cyclist is more likely to be killed by a collision with car than a pedestrian is by a collision with a cyclist.

Waterlooer

11-01-2010, 11:05 PM

Legally bicycles are supposed to be ridden on the road, not the sidewalk. A bike has to be a trike (3 wheels) to be allowed to be riden on the sidewalk.

So' you're saying a 6 year old who rides a 2 wheel bike has to bike on the road?

Waterlooer

11-01-2010, 11:08 PM

So hitting and possibly seriously injuring or even killing a pedestrian is OK? I guess I'm going to start walking with hiking poles and use them for self-defence from cyclists.

No, I didn't say that. I said cars could kill you, and a bike hitting a pedestrian will make you fall over at WORST. I agree with Rob Ford, biking on a busy road is like swimming with the sharks.

dunkalunk

11-01-2010, 11:16 PM

bcwessel

11-01-2010, 11:38 PM

No, I didn't say that. I said cars could kill you, and a bike hitting a pedestrian will make you fall over at WORST. I agree with Rob Ford, biking on a busy road is like swimming with the sharks.

To your first point, I'm simply going to say that that's flat out false: http://www.google.co.nz/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=pedestrian+killed+by+bicycle

To your second point, I'll say that if Mayor Ford (shudder) is in fact right, perhaps calming the traffic is a more reasonable approach than asking everybody to avoid the street. Nobody is advocating releasing sharks into our public pools, and so it might be inappropriate to advocate releasing more and faster cars onto our public roads. When designing cities it's important to keep reminding ourselves that people live in cities.

smably

11-02-2010, 12:25 AM

Anyone know whether a pedestrian has ever been killed by a cyclist in Waterloo Region?

As I've argued with regard to roundabouts, it is important to consider the perceived safety of an activity or type of infrastructure, and not just the actual, statistical safety. Just as roundabouts may discourage pedestrianism and cycling because they are perceived as unsafe, banning bicycles from sidewalks may result in fewer cyclists. I certainly wouldn't want to ride on King Street (http://www.tritag.ca/blog/2010/04/19/king-street-west-an-incomplete-street/) with fast-moving traffic, no matter how safe anyone claims it might be. It's becoming clear that there's safety in numbers (http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/10/more-proof-safety-in-numbers-cyclists.php) for cyclists, and one of the best ways to improve cycling safety is to get more people on bikes.

And don't forget the public health benefits of active transportation. How many heart attacks do we prevent by letting people ride on the sidewalk? Has anyone even studied this?

smably

11-02-2010, 12:33 AM

Of course, the ideal solution would be to add physically separated cycling infrastructure on every arterial road. But we know that's not going to happen -- not for many years, at least.

bcwessel

11-02-2010, 12:51 AM

Currently, the modal share for cycling in the region sits at around 1.1% - just below the National average (1.2%). Presented with such a low share of total trips, the impact that cycling has on our side walks is fairly moot. There just simply isn't the traffic to pose a significant problem in terms of cyclists and pedestrians sharing the side walk infrastructure. However, if we are successful in attracting more people to ride for at least some of their trips, allowing bicycles on side walks will become an increasingly significant problem. I just don't think it's a good idea to engender notions that a) bicycles are appropriate on side walks (which they are not, if they represent even a modest component of a transportation system) and b) that bicycling is unsafe on roads, because roads are only for fast-moving cars. If we encourage people to ride on the side walk by making it legal, or by not enforcing the current laws against it we run the risks of creating an unsafe environment for our pedestrians, and furthering the perception that motorists need not share the road safely with other users. The real solution, as you've mentioned above, is to make roads safer for bicycles by improving on-street infrastructure and calming the existing automobile traffic to a level that reflects the multi-modal use of a street that's built for everybody.

IEFBR14

11-02-2010, 08:40 AM

No, I didn't say that. I said cars could kill you, and a bike hitting a pedestrian will make you fall over at WORST.And you missed my point (rhetorical only, so far, but soon to be physical too ;) )

You're saying that because you don't like being at the bottom of the food chain on busy roads, you'll use sidewalks, even if it's illegal and dangerous to do so, because that would put you at the top of that food chain. Well as a pedestrian, who's at the bottom of both food chains, I resent that attitude. It's not going to engender any common ground in our efforts to make Waterloo more hospitable for those of us who use non-motorized forms of transport.

I agree with Rob Ford, biking on a busy road is like swimming with the sharks.Then evidently you do like swimming with the sharks, Ford being a good example of a hybrid between the bullhead (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullhead_shark) and megamouth (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megamouth_shark) varieties.

zanate

11-02-2010, 09:25 AM

I disagree that the road is safer than the sidewalk. The worst that could happen is that you fall off or hit a pedestrian. The worst thing that could happen when riding on the road is that you get hit by a car and die.

This is a commonly held opinion-- you're not alone in this regard. Many cyclists feel this way.

However, there are a number of studies which disagree with you, and you need to know about them if your opinion is going to be an informed one. According to them, the worst thing that could happen when riding on the sidewalk is that you get hit by a car and die... and it's more likely.

One study is Wachtel and Lewiston (1994) (http://www.bicyclinglife.com/library/riskfactors.htm). The noteworthy parts:

The average cyclist in this study incurs a risk on the sidewalk 1.8 times as great as on the roadway.

The greatest risk found in this study is for bicyclists over 18 traveling against traffic on the sidewalk. Each of these three characteristics is hazardous in itself; combined, they present 5.3 times the average risk.

Even right-way sidewalk bicyclists can cross driveways and enter intersections at high speed, and they may enter from an unexpected position and direction—for instance, on the right side of overtaking right-turning traffic. Sidewalk bicy*clists are more likely than roadway bicyclists to be obscured at intersections by parked cars, buildings, fences, and shrubbery; their stopping distance is much greater than a pedestrian’s, and they have less maneuverability.

Moritz (1996) (http://www.bicyclinglife.com/Library/Moritz1.htm) came up with the same dire numbers. He came up with a Relative Danger Index from his data with "Other (most often sidewalk)" as 5 times more dangerous as the typical road situations.

So... given that the data goes against many cyclists' intuition, the burning question is, what makes sidewalks so dangerous? Some reasons are mentioned in the quote above, but mainly-- when you're on the sidewalk you are not where motorists watch out for traffic, you have a much higher number of conflict points (intersections with driveways) and every street you cross is a right or left hook opportunity. Furthermore, sidewalks promote a high rate of counterflow traffic, and riding against the flow of traffic is about the single most dangerous thing you can do (and I hate seeing it in the bike lanes on Columbia!) Anyway, you can read more about different studies and the reasoning here (http://www.bikexprt.com/bikepol/facil/sidepath/sidecrash.htm).

The reason I've put this together is because I have an opinion, too-- that sidewalk cycling as a safe practice is a dangerous myth, and needs to be dispelled. Please consider the facts and take a hard look at your cycling habits.

Spokes

11-02-2010, 09:50 AM

To the debate concerning off-street versus on-street biking paths and lanes, I think that the visibility of cycling as a viable mode of transportation should be considered.

While not ignoring everything else you said, which was fantastic, I want to focus on this.

You're so correct when you say this. The visibility is a HUGE factor. We in Waterloo Region are impacted by perceptions all the time. There almost seems to be a perception that cycling isn't a viable form of transportation. By having segregated on street bike lanes, this would change significantly.

Spokes

11-02-2010, 09:51 AM

So' you're saying a 6 year old who rides a 2 wheel bike has to bike on the road?

LEGALLY, yes. In theory no.

Are you 6? All Im saying is that the law dictates that two wheeled bicycles are riden on the road.

Shawn

11-02-2010, 10:09 AM

LEGALLY, yes. In theory no.

Are you 6? All Im saying is that the law dictates that two wheeled bicycles are riden on the road.

In many Municipalities and Cities it is illegal, including in Waterloo. See Traffic and Parking By-law #08-077 (http://www.waterloo.ca/Portals/57ad7180-c5e7-49f5-b282-c6475cdb7ee7/PS_BYLAW_documents/2008_077TRAFFIC.pdf). However, the loophole that allows children to ride their bikes on the sidewalks is "No person shall drive a bicycle having a wheel or wheels more than 50 centimetres in diameter or ride a skateboard on any boulevard or sidewalk except on a driveway"

Of course we all know that this law is not really enforced (you're not getting a ticket if caught), but be sure, if you do cause an accident or injure a pedestrian, you will be charged under this law and you will be considered and held liable.

IEFBR14

11-02-2010, 10:14 AM

So you're saying a 6 year old who rides a 2 wheel bike has to bike on the road?LEGALLY, yes. In theory no.
Based on bcwessel's and zanate's excellent posts maybe they shouldn't because it's more dangerous for them to ride on sidewalks than on the roads ;)

(I.e. Maybe they should learn to sink or swim with the sharks as soon as they're able to ride a bike.)

Added: More seriously, I suspect most 6 year olds ride their bikes on sidewalks in residential areas, probably with adult supervision, where there are fewer pedestrians and cars, and they do so at lower speeds, compared with adult cyclists who ride on sidewalks along busy streets that lack bike lanes and have lots of traffic at side streets, mall entrances, business driveways and the like.

Waterlooer

11-02-2010, 11:50 AM

I don't understand why you can't ride on the sidewalk especially when no one is walking on it?

Spokes

11-02-2010, 12:37 PM

I don't understand why you can't ride on the sidewalk especially when no one is walking on it?

Because in the eyes of the law you are a vehicle which means you go on the road as the sideWALK is for pedestrians.

smably

11-02-2010, 01:11 PM

So... given that the data goes against many cyclists' intuition, the burning question is, what makes sidewalks so dangerous? Some reasons are mentioned in the quote above, but mainly-- when you're on the sidewalk you are not where motorists watch out for traffic, you have a much higher number of conflict points (intersections with driveways) and every street you cross is a right or left hook opportunity. Furthermore, sidewalks promote a high rate of counterflow traffic, and riding against the flow of traffic is about the single most dangerous thing you can do (and I hate seeing it in the bike lanes on Columbia!) Anyway, you can read more about different studies and the reasoning here (http://www.bikexprt.com/bikepol/facil/sidepath/sidecrash.htm).
I wonder whether these studies looked at causation. That is, can we assume that if we took all the sidewalk cyclists and made them ride on the road, would they have a lower collusion/injury rate? Or is it possible that the cyclists who are willing to ride in the road are generally the ones who have done some kind of training, who are more sure of their skills, and who are better able to minimize their collision risk? In other words, are the studies comparing "spandex cyclists" against casual cyclists?

And, as I wondered earlier, what is the risk of developing health problems related to a sedentary lifestyle compared to the risk of injury from riding your bike on the sidewalk? Because I think those are the choices for a lot of people right now: ride a bike where they feel safe (off-street cycling paths, quiet residential streets, and sidewalks on arterials) -- or drive.

Because in the eyes of the law you are a vehicle which means you go on the road as the sideWALK is for pedestrians.
Whether it's reasonable to consider bicycles equivalent to motor vehicles, that is another question (http://psystenance.com/2010/07/25/twelve-reasons-why-vehicular-cycling-isnt-enough/) altogether.

zanate

11-02-2010, 01:36 PM

Urbanomicon

11-02-2010, 02:28 PM

Waterlooer

11-02-2010, 03:06 PM

OK, what if side streets had no bike lanes and we have to bike on the road there, OK? Then on collector roads, there's "normal" bike lanes (with no barrier) that we have to bike on. But for major arterial roads, there are bike lanes we have to bike on but they have barriers (like someone said in another post) that separate the cars, bikes, and pedestrians. I would bike on major arterial roads if they have a separated bike lane.

IEFBR14

11-02-2010, 03:13 PM

I don't understand why you can't ride on the sidewalk especially when no one is walking on it?
I have no objection to that. I take it then, that you don't ride your bike on the sidewalk when pedestrians are present (unlike all the cyclists I encountered this afternoon as I walked along Caroline (where there are bike lanes!) and King St N from Erb to University.)

Waterlooer

11-02-2010, 03:30 PM

I have no objection to that. I take it then, that you don't ride your bike on the sidewalk when pedestrians are present (unlike all the cyclists I encountered this afternoon as I walked along Caroline (where there are bike lanes!) and King St N from Erb to University.)

I can understand how cycling on the sidewalk of Caroline with people walking and bike lanes isn't good. However, I think biking on the sidewalk on King from Erb to University is completely fine... for now. It's not safe to bike on the road there, but that will change if there are bike lanes with barriers there. I really hope bike lanes will have barriers when they put them on major roads.

mpd618

11-02-2010, 03:56 PM

Studies showing sidewalks being more dangerous suffer from the two factors mentioned above: they are comparing more experienced with less experienced cyclists, and they are comparing quieter streets with busier arterial roads.

If you read those studies and decide that it's safer to cycle on the road on King Street North (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=king+st+%26+weber+st,+waterloo,+on&sll=43.47061,-80.474792&sspn=0.195341,0.441513&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=King+St+N+%26+Weber+St+N,+Waterloo,+Waterloo +Regional+Municipality,+Ontario,+Canada&ll=43.489024,-80.527628&spn=0.012205,0.027595&t=h&z=15&layer=c&cbll=43.489024,-80.527628&panoid=RcUBKwypulWE-BxMnGSfWA&cbp=12,341.59,,0,6.82), you're nuts. The danger of sidewalks to cyclists, however large it may be, comes in the form of driveways and crosswalks -- places where cars are intersecting your path. And this is a danger one needs to be acutely aware of -- one should exercise the same caution as a pedestrian. However, on large and scary arterials, it's also true that driveways don't tend to be very frequent.

So if, in the absence of good infrastructure, people cycle defensively on sidewalks and give way to pedestrians -- I think that's far better than people not cycling at all.

It is, of course, unacceptable to ride in a reckless fashion on a sidewalk. Though I wonder whether we'd actually be better off if those people were piloting a 2 ton vehicle instead.

IEFBR14

11-02-2010, 04:19 PM

I think biking on the sidewalk on King from Erb to University is completely fine... for now. It's not safe to bike on the road there
So by that logic people should be able to ride mopeds or even SmartCars on those sidewalks because it's unsafe to use them on roads that are populated by ignorant and careless drivers of everything from larger cars to semi-trailers?

ISTM that if a cyclists feels the need to ride on a sidewalk because the roadway is too dangerous they should at least slow down and give pedestrians a wide berth. When the sidewalk is being used by many pedestrians they should even get off their bikes and walk.

IEFBR14

11-02-2010, 04:24 PM

However, on large and scary arterials, it's also true that driveways don't tend to be very frequent.
While you're correct about frequency of occurrence of driveways along major roads, the frequency that they're used (i.e. traffic volume) is much higher too. I'd argue that this is way more than enough to offset the lower frequency of occurrence, i.e. there are far more opportunities for people using sidewalks, walking or cycling, to be hit by cars crossing them.

Waterlooer

11-02-2010, 04:54 PM

So by that logic people should be able to ride mopeds or even SmartCars on those sidewalks because it's unsafe to use them on roads that are populated by ignorant and careless drivers of everything from larger cars to semi-trailers?

Not at all. If the vehicle can keep up with the traffic then yes, it has to be on the road. But if a vehicle can't keep up with traffic (bike) it should have a separate section for it like how the sidewalk is separated from the road.

bcwessel

11-02-2010, 05:03 PM

I wonder whether these studies looked at causation. That is, can we assume that if we took all the sidewalk cyclists and made them ride on the road, would they have a lower collusion/injury rate? Or is it possible that the cyclists who are willing to ride in the road are generally the ones who have done some kind of training, who are more sure of their skills, and who are better able to minimize their collision risk? In other words, are the studies comparing "spandex cyclists" against casual cyclists?

And, as I wondered earlier, what is the risk of developing health problems related to a sedentary lifestyle compared to the risk of injury from riding your bike on the sidewalk? Because I think those are the choices for a lot of people right now: ride a bike where they feel safe (off-street cycling paths, quiet residential streets, and sidewalks on arterials) -- or drive.

Whether it's reasonable to consider bicycles equivalent to motor vehicles, that is another question (http://psystenance.com/2010/07/25/twelve-reasons-why-vehicular-cycling-isnt-enough/) altogether.

While I take some issue with your classification of the competent cyclist as a "spandex cyclist" (Hey! We're regular people, and many of us wear regular pants and shirts...pretty much all of the time!)* I think this is an excellent point. It seems a fair assumption that being under-trained to properly ride a bike in an urban area would lead to a lack of confidence in and amongst even moderate traffic, which would likely lead many to find areas segregated from other vehicles on which to bike. This lack of training, it stands to reason, will generally share a high correlation with overall unsafe ridership. There's a reason driver's ed. starts in a parking lot, and not on the expressway.

*There are those who even suggest that making helmets mandatory can actually make cycling LESS safe. The thinking goes that a safe cycling network relies heavily on its strength in numbers. Not only do more cyclists make cycling a more visible (and less stigmatized) form of transportation, but also the more people that cycle in any given place, the more likely a driver is to know somebody personally that rides a bike regularly. The less specialized biking feels, the more likely the average person is to pick their bike at least some of the time. The no frills Dutch citybike has gone a long way to getting "suit-and-tie cyclists" out on the road (see what I did there?) In North America, bicycles are for kids and Lance Armstrongs, and that goes a long way to dissuading people from viewing cycling as a normal, adult way to get around. (It's either a hobby, or you're a little off if you ride a bike past age 16.) I have absolutely no data to back up the above claim regarding helmets, but it's an interesting argument to think about.

mpd618

11-02-2010, 05:04 PM

While you're correct about frequency of occurrence of driveways along major roads, the frequency that they're used (i.e. traffic volume) is much higher too. I'd argue that this is way more than enough to offset the lower frequency of occurrence, i.e. there are far more opportunities for people using sidewalks, walking or cycling, to be hit by cars crossing them.

Of course. My point is that if you are aware of how vulnerable you are at those spots, you can be appropriately cautious there -- but be able to ride without fear for the long distances between those driveways.

IEFBR14

11-02-2010, 05:21 PM

I have absolutely no data to back up the above claim regarding helmets, but it's an interesting argument to think about.
I'm glad we're having these discussions on things like the relative safety of sidewalk usage, helmets, road design, etc. There's lots of stuff here that I bet most people have never thought about. As I said before, we (pedestrians and cyclists) are a small minority as it is. We'll have far more success in making the majority of K-W residents and politicians more amenable to our needs if we work together. And we can better do that if we better understand the issues, including from each other's perspectives. Thank you all for taking the time to share your information and views.

bcwessel

11-02-2010, 05:33 PM

This is where I first found a credible source (i.e. not somebody who was mad about getting a ticket for not wearing their helmet) questioning the merits of mandatory helmet laws. It's a long lecture, but it touches on many of the issues being discussed above, and the speaker does a good job of delineating the obstacles standing in the way of greater bicycle ridership, and some of the positive steps cities can take to make it a more attractive and normative option for members of the community. And at the very least, it includes some great shots of networks we should be striving to emulate (it's important to dream big sometimes).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrIlB6C8uqs

Spokes

11-02-2010, 08:15 PM

So by that logic people should be able to ride mopeds or even SmartCars on those sidewalks because it's unsafe to use them on roads that are populated by ignorant and careless drivers of everything from larger cars to semi-trailers?

ISTM that if a cyclists feels the need to ride on a sidewalk because the roadway is too dangerous they should at least slow down and give pedestrians a wide berth. When the sidewalk is being used by many pedestrians they should even get off their bikes and walk.

Good god don't get me started on people riding mopeds on the sidewalk. I couldn't believe my eyes.

plam

11-03-2010, 06:34 AM

Not at all. If the vehicle can keep up with the traffic then yes, it has to be on the road. But if a vehicle can't keep up with traffic (bike) it should have a separate section for it like how the sidewalk is separated from the road.

Horses and buggies also ride on the road. I've passed one on my bike.

I've seen a lot of people biking on the sidewalk in the middle of Uptown Waterloo (right outside Whole Lotta Gelata, for instance). Now that's not a place for biking on the sidewalk. It's far too close to shop entrances.

IEFBR14

11-03-2010, 07:52 AM

I've seen a lot of people biking on the sidewalk in the middle of Uptown Waterloo (right outside Whole Lotta Gelata, for instance). Now that's not a place for biking on the sidewalk. It's far too close to shop entrances.
That's nothing unusual. I see it virtually every time I walk to Uptown, including yesterday. Some cyclists, including those who appear to be middle-aged and/or are wearing helmets, even try to pass me in front of entrances to places like the Huether Hotel that have patio tables taking up half the width of the sidewalk. That's hardly respectful, let alone safe.

(Yes, some car drivers demonstrate similar disregard for pedestrian, but that's no excuse for cyclists.)

P.S. But Waterloo is nothing like downtown Toronto, where bike couriers show no respect to anyone at any time under any circumstances.

mpd618

11-03-2010, 10:50 AM

I've seen a lot of people biking on the sidewalk in the middle of Uptown Waterloo (right outside Whole Lotta Gelata, for instance). Now that's not a place for biking on the sidewalk. It's far too close to shop entrances.

I ride on the sidewalk there when I'm going to a shop (at a pretty leisurely pace). The sidewalk being pretty narrow and congested itself, the rest of the time I generally ride on the road, hostile as it is. (Buses and cars angling for space on 1.5 lanes of traffic, cars speeding to the next light, parked cars with their door space, delivery vehicles...)

Oliver.Ashton@Remax.net

11-03-2010, 11:07 AM

P.S. But Waterloo is nothing like downtown Toronto, where bike couriers show no respect to anyone at any time under any circumstances.

That's an unfair statement.

IEFBR14

11-03-2010, 11:17 AM

That's an unfair statement.In what way?

Oliver.Ashton@Remax.net

11-03-2010, 01:31 PM

In every way possible. There are plenty of respectful bike couriers downtown Toronto.

Don't let one bad apple spoil the bunch.

IEFBR14

11-03-2010, 02:12 PM

There are plenty of respectful bike couriers downtown Toronto. Don't let one bad apple spoil the bunch.
My experience has been quite the opposite. Several two-wheeled terrorists for every courteous courier. Especially in the King St financial district. I've even had them yell at me to get out of their way as they were weaving through pedestrian "obstacles" at high speed. No sympathy from me on that front.

IEFBR14

11-03-2010, 02:13 PM

Back to cycling on sidewalks in general, Woman, 56, dies after sidewalk crash with cyclist (http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/678257)
"This is a stark reminder that although (fatal cyclist collisions) are a rarity, this is exactly why we don't want bikes on the sidewalks," Sgt. Tim Burrows of Toronto police traffic services said. "They really are made for pedestrians."
In this case the 15-year old cyclist avoided criminal charges because his bike wasn't large enough, even though it obviously was lethal enough.
The teen cyclist was not injured and did not commit a criminal offence, Staff Sgt. Brian Bowman said, though the investigating officer will be sitting down with a prosecutor to see if there is any interest in laying charges under city bylaws. "It's not a good idea to ride a bicycle on a sidewalk but not strictly illegal," Bowman said, adding that the tire size (less than 61 cm) of the teen's bike would allow him to ride on the sidewalk.

smably

11-03-2010, 02:20 PM

P.S. But Waterloo is nothing like downtown Toronto, where bike couriers show no respect to anyone at any time under any circumstances.

Several two-wheeled terrorists for every courteous courier.
Bike couriers show no respect to anyone ever, except for the ones who do?

IEFBR14

11-03-2010, 03:55 PM

Bike couriers show no respect to anyone ever, except for the ones who do?
Fair enough. Change "any" to "most."

[Posted from the Apple store at Yorkdale on my way down to Union Station and more close encounters with rude bike couriers ;)]

bcwessel

11-16-2010, 04:39 PM

http://vimeo.com/16552771

Spokes

11-16-2010, 06:33 PM

Cool video!! Thanks!

bcwessel

11-19-2010, 11:57 PM

http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2010/nov/09_0193.htm

roezone

11-20-2010, 05:39 PM

Make King street safe for cyclists and you won't have bikes on the side walk. The stretch of King by the Heuther is horrible. It's two tiny lanes plus parking, it's a sham.

Just last week I was trailering my daughter home from Waterloo park and there was no way I was going to ride on the road on King. Sorry to the folks on the patio, tuck in your legs! Usually I avoid that stretch of King on my bike but sometimes it's a necessary evil.

In response to: plam
I've seen a lot of people biking on the sidewalk in the middle of Uptown Waterloo (right outside Whole Lotta Gelata, for instance). Now that's not a place for biking on the sidewalk. It's far too close to shop entrances.
That's nothing unusual. I see it virtually every time I walk to Uptown, including yesterday. Some cyclists, including those who appear to be middle-aged and/or are wearing helmets, even try to pass me in front of entrances to places like the Huether Hotel that have patio tables taking up half the width of the sidewalk. That's hardly respectful, let alone safe.

rwmcintosh

11-20-2010, 09:15 PM

This is a commonly held opinion-- you're not alone in this regard. Many cyclists feel this way.

However, there are a number of studies which disagree with you, and you need to know about them if your opinion is going to be an informed one. According to them, the worst thing that could happen when riding on the sidewalk is that you get hit by a car and die... and it's more likely.

Neither study claims that you are more likely to die by riding on the sidewalk. And the numbers cited by the studies are no where near dire ones. They are just numbers.

The first study you only deals with intersection collisions. I must say that's a pretty narrow view of the dangers of cycling. Lots of cycling gets done outside intersections. One sentence from that study acknowledges this shortcoming:

"It is possible that non-intersection accidents are more likely to result in fatalities."

Since the study is not concerned with non-intersection crashes, then they are not considered. But the numbers are given that 39% of fatalities are linked to intersections or driveways nation wide. That means a cyclist can cut his risk of death by 61% when riding on the sidewalk. When cyclists say sidewalks are safer, those are the numbers they refer to.

The second study does not list penalties at all for "Relative Danger", it's only a ratio of incidents to rider miles. Again, no mention of fatalities.

I'll grant you that travelling fast on a bicycle in the sidewalk is playing with fire though. Drivers do not look for 30kph traffic there, they expect that to be in the street. If you slow down and look left and right at intersections it's safer by a long-long shot.

Shawn

11-20-2010, 11:19 PM

Just as an example... This week I was almost was hit by a cyclist who was riding on the side walk.. and I was in a car. It was a residential street and I was approaching a stop sign. As I approached the stop sign, I looked both ways for pedestrians.. and slowed to a stop at the corner. As a driver you look to determine how far back from the stop sign you should stop. Not all intersections have white lines painted that show where you can safely stop that won't block the path of a pedestrian if you're stopped there. If there is no white 'stop line' and no pedestrians -- you will tend to stop further out so you have a better view of oncoming traffic. Anyway, the next thing I know this cyclist came flying off the sidewalk (who wasn't there seconds before) nearly hitting my car.

Of course, I was the one who got the angry look and disgust by the cyclist!!

As a driver, when you're approaching an intersection that has side walks, you are looking for comparatively slow moving pedestrians who appear they want to cross or are approaching the corner. I looked -- both ways -- it was empty. In the short time it takes to roll to the stop sign, a cyclist can travel a much further distance than a pedestrian and BOOM! come flying off the sidewalk.

So, in summary -- I totally understand how riding a bike on a sidewalk can be dangerous - in a different way - but still dangerous.

Waterlooer

11-21-2010, 12:08 AM

But couldn't that still happen if the cyclist was biking on the road?

Shawn

11-21-2010, 12:28 AM

But couldn't that still happen if the cyclist was biking on the road?

No, think about it. It's all about position. If the cyclist was on the road, they'd be about 2 meters in front of me. A sidewalk is set back from the road and is on the 'inside' of the stop sign, not the outside of the stop sign where a road is.

I was stopping at the stop sign, not stopping in the middle of the intersection. Because there was no white line painted to show where I should stop, I stopped where I could get the best view of oncoming vehicular traffic. I had already looked and didn't see pedestrians waiting to cross or even approaching the intersection. It was a cyclist, on a side walk, moving at a speed much greater than someone walking (or even jogging) that screws this all up. Remember, many residential sidewalks obscure the view with hedges, trees, mail boxes, newspaper boxes. You can easily see a slow moving or waiting pedestrian and stop accordingly, but if something is moving faster than to be expected at a pedestrian crossing - you're in trouble.

What happened to looking both ways before crossing a street? Does that not apply to cyclists on a sidewalk? I know it wouldn't apply if they were on the road, that's why I have to stop at the stop sign to let traffic pass (which would include the cyclist if they were on the road). But, if you're biking on a sidewalk, you should stop and look both ways, not bolt across the street like you're on the road, not the sidewalk. You can't have the best of both worlds.

IEFBR14

11-21-2010, 08:06 AM

and slowed to a stop at the corner. As a driver you look to determine how far back from the stop sign you should stop. Not all intersections have white lines painted that show where you can safely stop that won't block the path of a pedestrian if you're stopped there.
Kudos on three counts, (1) coming to a [who wudda thunk?] stop at a STOP sign, (2) knowing why your tax dollars pay to paint those white lines and (3) stopping behind them to let pedestrians cross the street. That makes you and me about the only drivers who actually know and obey that :lol:

Of course, I was the one who got the angry look and disgust by the cyclist!
Well at least you didn't get a middle finger.

roezone

11-21-2010, 10:12 PM

As a driver, when you're approaching an intersection that has side walks, you are looking for comparatively slow moving pedestrians who appear they want to cross or are approaching the corner. I looked -- both ways -- it was empty. In the short time it takes to roll to the stop sign, a cyclist can travel a much further distance than a pedestrian and BOOM! come flying off the sidewalk.

So, in summary -- I totally understand how riding a bike on a sidewalk can be dangerous - in a different way - but still dangerous.

Shawn, my experience with drivers in Waterloo Region is that they are not expecting cyclists anywhere. As a cyclist in Waterloo Region it's unfortunate that you've got to ride assuming motorists aren't going to see you.

In the situation you describe you definitely got the short end.

plam

11-22-2010, 09:22 AM

Shawn, my experience with drivers in Waterloo Region is that they are not expecting cyclists anywhere. As a cyclist in Waterloo Region it's unfortunate that you've got to ride assuming motorists aren't going to see you.

In the situation you describe you definitely got the short end.

Agreed. Mind you, I always ride, anywhere, assuming that motorists aren't going to see me. It's a good survival tactic, not just in Waterloo Region. But, yes, besides running into people on the sidewalk, the major problem for a cyclist with riding on the sidewalk is that you are going the wrong speed for where you are.

rwmcintosh

11-22-2010, 03:36 PM

Cyclists
We got an inside scoop on RIM's bike share. It's an innovative project to be sure.

http://waterloobikes.ca/2010/11/09/rim-a-corporate-bixi-bike-share/

Spokes

11-22-2010, 06:49 PM

Cyclists
We got an inside scoop on RIM's bike share. It's an innovative project to be sure.

http://waterloobikes.ca/2010/11/09/rim-a-corporate-bixi-bike-share/

Great read...that bixi project has been going on at RIM for a while now, hopefully the Region takes a look at it as a case study and implements it Region wide.

IEFBR14

11-22-2010, 08:38 PM

http://news.therecord.com/App_Themes/TheStar/images/recordlogo_print.jpg

Waterloo Region is on the map with Google Maps urban bike trails (http://news.therecord.com/News/article/817809)
Cycling enthusiasts across Canada will soon be able to turn to Google for help with their next urban bike expedition.

The online information giant announced Monday that it is introducing a Bike Directions feature to its popular Google Maps site, allowing users to highlight bike-friendly trails and roads in nine major Canadian cities.

The tool will be available in Ottawa and Gatineau, Que. later this week, the company said.

No other release dates were immediately available, but Google said the feature will also be available for maps of Waterloo Region., Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Kelowna, B.C.

Bike Directions, which has been available in the United States since March, uses colour coding to flag routes that are safe for cyclists.

A dark green line indicates a bike-only trail, while a light green line represents a dedicated bike lane along a road, Google said. Roads that are not designated biking areas but tend to be suitable for cycling are highlighted with a dotted green line, the company added.

Users also have the option of customizing routes to their preferences, such as finding short cuts or selecting routes that avoid hills.

Google relied on information provided by the cities to compile route data in some regions, the company said, adding it will implement a reporting tool that will allow users to suggest other bike routes for inclusion.

The Association of Commuter Transportation of Canada praised Google for creating a tool that will promote green travel in Canadian urban centres.

“Easy access to information is a powerful resource for supporting and encouraging the choice of sustainable travel options,” association chair Lorenzo Mele said in a statement.

“The introduction of Google Bike routing in Canada will put cycling at the forefront of people’s thoughts as they search out the optimum way to get to their destination.”

bcwessel

11-23-2010, 04:22 PM

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/drivers-at-fault-in-majority-of-cycling-accidents-28489

roezone

11-23-2010, 09:11 PM

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/drivers-at-fault-in-majority-of-cycling-accidents-28489

Thanks for the link. Based on my observations here in Waterloo I doubt those statistics. I'd love to get my hands on the study and the actual numbers. I commute by bike and take the Laurel trail between uptown and bearinger on a daily basis. Tonight on my way home, I don't think I passed a cyclist who had proper lighting and many were wearing dark clothing to boot. It's made me think we need to run an awareness program for cyclists.

bcwessel

11-23-2010, 09:24 PM

Thanks for the link. Based on my observations here in Waterloo I doubt those statistics. I'd love to get my hands on the study and the actual numbers. I commute by bike and take the Laurel trail between uptown and bearinger on a daily basis. Tonight on my way home, I don't think I passed a cyclist who had proper lighting and many were wearing dark clothing to boot. It's made me think we need to run an awareness program for cyclists.

I can't vouch for the validity of the study, and the methodology used seems more than a little suspect (one can only assume that "judged to be at fault" is open to a great deal of interpretation). However, the conclusion that "there was a need to improve driver awareness of cyclists and other road users, and to encourage motorists to use their indicators for longer. They also called for greater consistency in cycling facility design" should be a guiding truism for promoting active transportation, in my opinion.

zanate

11-24-2010, 10:30 AM

I can't vouch for the validity of the study, and the methodology used seems more than a little suspect (one can only assume that "judged to be at fault" is open to a great deal of interpretation). However, the conclusion that "there was a need to improve driver awareness of cyclists and other road users, and to encourage motorists to use their indicators for longer. They also called for greater consistency in cycling facility design" should be a guiding truism for promoting active transportation, in my opinion.

Drawing any quantitative statistical conclusions from this one is going to be unreliable. The study has one huge potential sampling bias (how were the "13 adult cyclists" selected? The fact that they're on the road and wearing helmets already makes me think that they are regular, experienced cyclists and probably the kind to be more likely to be following the rules.) The study itself very likely also modified the cyclists' behaviour (I got a camera on my helmet for a study, it's going to make me follow the rules better so I don't look bad). Finally, it's such a small sample set overall that that the error bands are huge.

It's more interesting to draw an impression of the sort of things you tend to see when you are a cyclist following the rules in an urban environment. Arguably, these are the cyclists who should be exposed to the least risk, by following the road rules with the knowledge that their actions are being studied. And yet, they're exposed to careless and thoughtless risk on the part of drivers who often appeared unaware of their dangerous actions. This is still good information, but only in that it begs for closer, more rigorous study and careful examination of why these incidents are happening. And the initial conclusions that they do draw are good ones... just that generalizing that the entire cyclist population is usually in the right might be stretching it.

I'm pedantic about following the rules of the road while cycling, I'm well dressed and lit, and I put over a thousand km of pure commuter cycling this year on a route that keeps me off of the big thoroughfares as much as possible. And yet, I can think of three separate near misses that occurred this year alone and all three were drivers failing to notice me or allowing my right of way.

So yeah... I don't think the study can say that unlit, helmetless, unpredictable cyclists are not a major problem... they are. But so are careless and thoughtless drivers, and it's the drivers who are most likely to seriously injure someone else.

bcwessel

11-24-2010, 03:45 PM

"The study itself very likely also modified the cyclists' behaviour (I got a camera on my helmet for a study, it's going to make me follow the rules better so I don't look bad). Finally, it's such a small sample set overall that that the error bands are huge."

I believe that the study analyzed the behaviour of the cyclists being captured by the helmet cams, rather than the behaviour of those wearing the helmets. So, the same size is considerably larger and more diverse, and the modification of behaviour would require those external cyclists having knowledge of the study and its aim, and also an ability to identify the special helmets. However, I generally agree with you that the study is a flawed one. I still feel that the overall conclusion is valid, that motorists in generally need to be made more aware of the presence and needs of other road users. The street makes up such a large and important part of our daily lives, and it should be an inclusive space. That our streets are so thoroughly dominated by the automobile goes a long way towards deterring those who wish to act our their mobility in different ways from doing so.

KevinL

11-24-2010, 04:10 PM

Google Maps is adding cycling-optimized directions (http://news.nationalpost.com/2010/11/23/bike-directions-coming-to-google-maps/) for numerous Canadian cities, including Waterloo (Kitchener as well?), soon (some a soon as this week).

ETA: There's a Record article (http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/818685) too! They clarify this means all of Waterloo Region.

roezone

11-24-2010, 11:58 PM

At WaterlooBikes we're trying to archive local bike commutes on a google map. If you don't mind giving away your neighbourhood, it'll create an interesting picture of common waterloo bike commutes.

http://waterloobikes.ca/routes/

Any takers?

zanate

11-25-2010, 09:39 AM

Any takers?

You bet!

rwmcintosh

11-25-2010, 11:29 AM

I added mine. It's great to read all the tips in this map.

rwmcintosh

12-06-2010, 06:21 PM

plam

12-06-2010, 07:16 PM

Quick question. My take on this forum is that it's fairly pro-LRT. What with the huge banner that was appearing at the top every time I came here.

roezone's article about LRT makes it seem like a pretty bad idea for cyclists. How do you guys in this thread respond?

http://waterloobikes.ca/2010/12/06/light-rail-transit-a-deathtrap-for-cyclists/

I tend to not worry about getting hit by cars (although I do take measures to have them avoid me). But it seems to me that people already worry a lot about biking on King St, so it's not clear to me that it would actually get worse. Perhaps more relevantly, I think that having fewer cars is going to reduce the risk of getting hit by a car: the increased auto traffic from not having an LRT would be far worse, especially when one usually doesn't ride on King.

rwmcintosh

12-06-2010, 08:13 PM

I tend to not worry about getting hit by cars (although I do take measures to have them avoid me). But it seems to me that people already worry a lot about biking on King St, so it's not clear to me that it would actually get worse. Perhaps more relevantly, I think that having fewer cars is going to reduce the risk of getting hit by a car: the increased auto traffic from not having an LRT would be far worse, especially when one usually doesn't ride on King.

I see what you mean... sort of. Why wouldn't you want a more bike inclusive plan for downtown? There's some artists renderings where it looks damn scary. You are essentially caught between one lane of cars and one lane of train. That's a tough choice to make if you need to take a spill. :RpS_thumbdn:

smably

12-06-2010, 09:31 PM

The answer is: the detailed design has not been started, and that is the time to make sure that the design is bike-friendly. Nothing is set in stone right now. The pictures are conceptual renders, not an approved design.

roezone

12-07-2010, 01:06 AM

Great article in the record this past weekend profiling winter cyclists. I may be biased as #Waterloobikes was referenced towards the end and got some unexpected exposure.

http://news.therecord.com/article/824956

Record file photo
Whether for pleasure or commuting, lots of people keep their bikes on the road through the winter.

David Bebee/Record staff
Jeff Casello (right), a University of Waterloo civil engineer specializing in transportation is leading a study that uses GPS units to track the movements of study participants as they cycle around the region. Team members include Jonathan Pinto (left) and James Lapointe.
Freewheeling in the snow

BY TERRY PENDER, RECORD STAFF
WATERLOO REGION — As temperatures drop, many cyclists put their bikes away for the season. But Brad Mitchell breaks out warm clothing and prepares for another winter of bicycle commuting.

Mitchell rides from Dunbar Road in Waterloo to the Toyota plant in Cambridge every work day — 17 to 20 kilometres one way depending on the route. The weather forces him into a friend’s car only a couple of times each winter.

“It feels good, it keeps me young,” the 45-year-old forklift operator said.

There is a lot of anecdotal evidence that says more people are cycling through the winter. Now, the University of Waterloo and the Region of Waterloo are trying to put some hard numbers to the stories.

The university and the region want people such as Mitchell to take part in a study that tracks their riding habits with small global-positioning system (GPS) units.

Jeff Casello, a University of Waterloo civil engineer leading the study, said municipal governments want to make effective and efficient investments in infrastructure. If it can be demonstrated that a lot of people cycle in the winter, then good arguments can be made for better plowing of bike lanes and trails, Casello said.

The data from the study could also be used to make the case for better trails and bike lanes connecting origins and destinations that are used by a lot of cyclists, Casello said.

Winter riders interested in the study can contact Gary March at the Region of Waterloo at 519-575-4757, ext. 3740 or gmarsh@regionofwaterloo.ca for more information. Study participants are supplied with a small GPS unit they are asked to turn on when riding.

With warm clothes and studded tires, Mitchell actually enjoys the winter rides, particularly when he gets off shift at 4 a.m. and there are almost no vehicles on the road.

“I never have any intention of owning a car again,” Mitchell said. “If I had to give up riding my bicycle to Toyota I would give up my job.”

Mitchell has extra large boots that he wears for winter cycling so he can wiggle his toes. He starts layering clothes with farmer john-style spandex pants and bib with a warm lining. Then comes a couple of layers of tops made of long-fibre wool. On the outside is a windproof winter jacket with a high collar.

“I have a good pair of winter cycling gloves and they keep warm to minus-18 (C),” Mitchell said.

In the winter, Mitchell rides a three-speed fixie (fixed-gear bicycle) with studded tires. With a fixie, there is no coasting. When the wheels are moving the pedals are going around, and Mitchell likes the extra control.

The exercise, the fresh air, the quick and quiet commute through snow-covered city streets is something he likes a lot.

“It feels good, it keeps me going. Driving a car deadens the senses,” Mitchell said.

He is at one end of the spectrum that includes custom-made bikes, special clothes and gear. Lynda Carson, a 50-year-old university professor, is at the other end, with very little special equipment.

“Chain guards and fenders are the key,” Carson said. “After I ride to work I need to take off my coat and go into the classroom looking like an adult.”

After two visits in recent years to cycle-friendly Amsterdam, Carson came home and immediately bought an upright commuter bicycle with a rack.

“We need more bike lanes and we need them plowed in the winter and not treated as a place where they dump the extra snow and gravel,” Carson said.

As a professor, Carson can afford to buy or lease her own vehicle, but chooses instead to ride a bicycle year round.

It’s the same for Mona Lynn, a 51-year-old lawyer who lives in the Victoria Park neighbourhood in Kitchener and cycles to work in the University of Waterloo’s research and technology park every day, all winter long as well.

Lynn rides a used mountain bike that cost $30, and during the winter she adds a pair of ear muffs, good mitts and waterproof hiking boots.

“I just keep it well oiled, that’s it,” Lynn said of her winter maintenance.

With a little initiative, Lynn said cycling to work year round is a real option for anyone who wants to be greener, work fitness into their daily routine, get to work in a predetermined time regardless of traffic, and save $8,000 to $10,000 a year in after-tax income.

“It is easier for me to do my shopping on the way home, too,” Lynn said. “I ride right up to the entrance of a store instead of driving around a parking looking for a space.”

Lynn said she wants to ride the 6.5 kilometres to work rather than spend that time shovelling a driveway and scraping off a car.

Graham Roe started a blog about year-round bicycle commuting, where cyclists can find support and encouragement to stick with it through the winter. The blog can be found at waterloobikes.ca.

“It can be hard when you are sitting on your bicycle in the snow and a 26-year-old in a BMW pulls up beside you,” Roe said.

The introduction to the blog says it all: “For most, winter means bringing the bikes indoors and breaking out the trainers. We’re trying to break that mould and stick it out. So this will be a place to whine about weather, vent about drivers, rave about gear, share maintenance tips, brag about great finds and celebrate human-powered commuting.”

Roe, 36, likes the workout of riding in the winter, doing his bit for the environment, and he is trying to get his family down to one car. This will be his third winter riding to work, which is five kilometres one way.

Roe ordered a bicycle with a belt instead of a chain and an internal hub so the gears are not exposed to salt and water. Studded tires are a must, he said.

Stephen Preece, a Wilfrid Laurier University professor, bought a single-speed bicycle for winter riding equipped with studded tires. The 48-year-old is also heading into his third winter and looks forward to it.

“I wanted to see if I could go car free,” Preece said. “I wanted to see how much I could do on a bike in the winter and I have found I can do quite a bit.”

Preece wants to cycle, walk and join the Grand River Car Share instead of getting another vehicle.

“I just like to ride,” Preece said. “I get fresh air, it is healthy, and it will also save me some money in the end. All of that combined makes it a no-brainer.”

A large, windproof coat with a hood and layers of clothes keep Preece warm.

“The only time it is really tricky is when there is a lot of fresh snow,” Preece said.

The hardest part of winter cycling occurs when car drivers follow too closely, the WLU professor, said.

“All I want to say to drivers is: ‘Is it really going to cost you a lot to slow down and give us a little extra room?’ ” Preece said.

Everyone who cycles in the winter says the same thing about plowing — city crews must push the snow back well off the road so the bike lanes are also clear.

Frank Wilhelm-Mauch, a 39-year-old physicist at the Institute for Quantum Computing in Waterloo, used a bicycle as his main form of transportation when living in Germany and Holland. For Canadian winters, Wilhelm-Mauch uses a mountain bike and studded tires.

“It gets me my daily workout, we avoid the need for two cars, and when it is sunny, minus-10 and you are dressed, it’s like cross-country skiing. It’s pleasant,” Wilhelm-Mauch said.

After cycling through four Canadian winters, Wilhelm-Mauch knows when to cycle and when to call it quits.

“When it is minus-20, I take the bus, but down to minus-12 or -15 I do cycle,” Wilhelm-Mauch said.

The hardest part of winter cycling is deciding to do it.

“Once you get going it is great,” said Colleen Cooper, a public health nurse who oversees the bicycle training program called CAN Bike. “It is really quite liberating. The cold air on your face, it is really quite fun.”

Cooper said manoeuvrability, visibility and predictability are always important for safe cycling, and much more so in the winter.

Cooper said you should ride at least one metre from the curb or snowbanks so you have room to steer around obstacles.

Be visible to car drivers by using lights and bright clothes, possibly a reflective vest. Be predictable by following the rules of the road. And communicate with drivers by using hand signals and eye contact.

tpender@therecord.com

bcwessel

12-10-2010, 06:54 PM

Mia Birk (http://www.miabirk.com/blog/?p=211+), as usual, is a source of calm and inspiration. If you're not familiar with Joyride (http://www.miabirk.com/), I highly recommend that you give the rest of her blog a good read.

UrbanWaterloo

12-26-2010, 05:00 PM

Important Cycling Tip: Make Sure To Collect Your Bike :RpS_tongue:

UW Student Life Centre - December 26, 2010

http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Transportation%20and%20Infrastructure/Cycling%20-%20UW%20Student%20Life%20Centre%20-%20December%2026,%202010%20-%202%20Resized.JPG

All these bikes have tickets.
http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Transportation%20and%20Infrastructure/Cycling%20-%20UW%20Student%20Life%20Centre%20-%20December%2026,%202010%20-%201%20Resized.JPG

Daev

12-29-2010, 10:24 AM

http://static.mmgdailies.topscms.com/css/TheRecord/images/td_header_h1_a_bg.gif

Above the gridlock (http://www.therecord.com/opinion/letters/article/306529--above-the-gridlock)

Re:

It’s time to think outside the bus. Take utility poles, for instance. If someone is a science show buff like me, they’ve probably seen a Daily Planet segment about the “Shweeb” (from the German schweben — to float or suspend) — an elevated, individually-pedal-powered pod suspended from a steel beam.

While I’m not suggesting that the good burghers of our town pedal themselves all over the place, it’s interesting to note that with pedal power alone people were able to attain speeds of 60 km/h. A computer-controlled electrically powered system based on that concept could be incrementally installed without ripping the whole city up by using the footprint now taken by utility poles whose functions could be integrated into the design. Benefits include weatherproof transportation (the wheels are underneath and inside the beam) and utility lines.

If implemented widely it would not be cheap, but would give residents good reason to get out of cars, car payments, repairs, insurance, fines and potential accidents for a service they would gladly pay for. Why not? Who’s really looking forward to an increasingly gridlocked rat race? To borrow from the German again, how about a community with the spirit of “Commutelichkeit?”

Paul Reibling

Kitchener

Anyone heard of 'Shweeb' before? Seems like an interesting idea as a transit system, maybe something comparable to BIXI?

The writer of this opinion piece seems to believe using it in lieu of a Rapid Transit system, however I don't believe it could do that. :RpS_thumbdn:

Has anyone heard of any cities adopting this technology? :RpS_confused: