Cycling in Waterloo Region

[dtkvictim]

I don't understand these bags at all. They left them on for both Ontario and Gaukel, when both are to be permanently closed for cars (well, Ontario only in one direction). At best they are just confusing ... why not simply remove them?

I emailed Darren Kropf about the Ontario St lights, and he said he has forwarded it to the Region for an update, as the lights are their responsibility. He said "signal upgrades" so presumably the old lights are supposed to come out, and a new bicycle light should go in? I guess bureaucracy doesn't provide an option for using the existing lights in the meantime...

I assume something similar is happening at Gaukel, since the street hasn't been permanently reconstructed. It's still "temporarily" closed.

I heard back from the Region via Darren on this. They are apparently needing to test the signal controller to ensure there is no interference with LRT operations, and the Ontario St lights should be upgraded in "the coming weeks". Perhaps this is their excuse for having not done anything with Gaukel St as well, though I don't really think it provides any explanation for bagging the signals.

I don't like to question the expertise of people in a field I know almost nothing about, but this response smells like BS to me.

1. These signals behave exactly the same as the existing standard signals they are replacing/augmenting, with no special timing (though perhaps new capabilities they aren't using are being integrated and tested)
   
2. They have already installed these bicycle signals at another intersection crossing LRT tracks (Water & Duke)
   
3. If it takes week or perhaps months to test a single intersection, something is seriously wrong with the organizational processes and technology
   

Or am I missing some validity to this response?