Cycling in Waterloo Region

[danbrotherston]

Actually, it wouldn't necessarily, you could easily accomodate a narrower path using turnouts (an option we should use to reduce road costs too mind you), but in any case, a 5 meter path is still cheaper than the 2x 3m paved shoulders that would be needed on a highway to give any semblance of accomodation for buggies.

Not necessarily. If the shoulders aren’t paved they’re usually gravel, so paved shoulders just involve paving an area that would be graded anyway. A separate path is a whole additional exercise in grading followed by paving.

That being said, a separate path would actually provide a really good experience for buggies, bicycles, and walkers alike and would therefore make it much easier to enjoy our countryside without a motor vehicle. I’d be in favour.

I mean, paving isn't cheap, but if you notice European roads often don't have gravel shoulders either.