Cycling in Waterloo Region

[tomh009]

It's disingenuous to say that we need arterials (of course we do, but the above configuration works for arterials carrying that volume in many places) because x% of the population commutes by car. That proportion commutes by car at least in part because we have such poor infrastructure. Creating "solutions" for cyclists that involve walking their bike the last few blocks to their destination will not increase cycling's mode share.

I am supportive of better cycling infrastructure (even if I personally walk much more than cycle).

But I also believe in a realistic approach. Proposing to removed lanes from major arterial roads like Weber will be a very difficult proposition to sell, because 90% of the population does commute by car. That's why I think we would be better off improving infrastructure away from such roads. Not all destinations are on Weber anyway. And taking a side street to Weber would only involve half a block on the sidewalk at most (not a few blocks), whether walking the bike or riding on the sidewalk. I think the odds of success on such an initiative would be far greater.

You can't change the region into an Amsterdam overnight. And even then -- even in Amsterdam, there are arterial roads that are not nice for cycling.