Cycling in Waterloo Region

[bravado]

Curbs at crossings on the Weber St MUT (Water St to Spur Line) have been replaced and widened, and crossrides (or whatever they are called) have been painted. It is now much easier (and legal) to cycle through these intersections. Though definitely still used caution crossing Weber/Victoria... I hate this intersection.

Also didn't notice until posting this, but it looks like bicycle signals are being installed too (maybe required for crossrides). Hopefully, politics willing, these can be used one day to provide safer signalling.

Yeah, this intersection doesn't get enough attention for how badly designed it is.  It is right in the heart of the downtown, two blocks from the LRT right at the main train station. And yet you have an intersection designed with 100% of the priority on moving cars quickly. It is extremely dangerous for those walking because drivers always take turns very fast. Crossing distances are long, and the train station doesn't even have a fucking walkway to it.

And yet it was designed with bike infra. It shows that even when directly instructed to, our regional engineers are unwilling or unable to build anything but car infra.

And yet, almost nobody will talk about it. Engineers think it's fine, politicians don't notice or care. Even pedestrians and cyclists barely have a word to say. Because it is exactly that, utterly utterly normal.

This is why I'm a radical...because this is not an acceptable normal. The crossride is a bandaid...it's not a bad thing to put on...but we need to stop the madmen with machetes who are shredding our city.

I hear what you’re saying fellow citizen, but the Standards Book over here says otherwise. Have a nice day and try not to die!