Cycling in Waterloo Region

[Spokes]

Waterloo approves segregated bike lanes on King
May 26, 2015 | Paige Desmond | Waterloo Region Record | Link

WATERLOO — After much encouragement from the cycling community, and a bit of criticism, Waterloo council unanimously approved the installation of segregated bike lanes on King Street Monday night.

"What I understand we're doing here is we're rightsizing our road to make all road users feel better respected in that space," said Coun. Diane Freeman, an avid cyclist.

Ward Coun. Melissa Durrell said the project team worked hard.

"We knew we were going to do this once and we wanted to do it right," she said.

The lanes are generally preferred to painted, on-street lanes because they physically separate bikes from traffic with a small curb.

The work is part of the uptown streetscape improvement project being undertaken in co-operation with the Region of Waterloo.

Following regional approval in June the plan will see a redesign of sidewalk, road, lighting and bike lane infrastructure from Erb Street all the way to University Avenue at a cost of at least $10 million.

Seven delegations told councillors what they think of the plan.

"Tonight we have the opportunity to make the uptown a truly complete street where everyone can belong and be safe," said Mike Boos of the Tri-Cities Transport Action Group, which endorsed the plan.

Construction on the entire length would take place from 2017 to 2019, likely in phases, with the city working from Erb Street to Central Street and the region continuing from Central to University Avenue.

Patti Brooks, executive director of the Uptown Business Improvement Area, said business would prefer the work start as soon as possible following light rail transit construction because businesses just want to get it over with.

"Making the LRT and the streetscape project be seamless is probably the best idea," Brooks said.

Graham Whiting, a cyclist, business improvement area member and a member of the project committee, said he was worried about the loss of 22 on-street parking spaces on the west side of King Street.

"You need to be very careful to make sure we don't impact those businesses which are vital to our uptown too dramatically," he said.

Whiting noted he might lose a few friends in the sustainability crowd for his comments, and asked that through the detailed design process for the project the loss of parking be given attention.

Phil Hewitson, manager of active transportation and light rail, said the city approved a transportation master plan in 2011 that emphasizes complete streets for all modes of transportation.

"We do not want to pit one transportation mode against another," he said.

Chris Klein, of the region's active transportation advisory committee, said the importance of improved pedestrian infrastructure shouldn't be overlooked.

"Above all uptown Waterloo must be walkable first," Klein said.

The proposal:

•Four-metre wide sidewalks on both sides of the street, with tree plantings and benches between the sidewalk and bike lanes

•1.8-metre wide segregated bike lane on the west side of the street

•1.5-metre wide segregated bike lane on the east side of the street

•Parking between the road and sidewalk on the east side only

•Elimination of 22 parking spaces on the west side of the street

•One lane for vehicle traffic in each direction

•New lighting