Cycling in Waterloo Region

[jamincan]

It's almost like it can be all of the above. The maps are antiquated, the routes are often very not safe and there is not sufficient signage that simply says "go here". I'm not a religious bike freak, I just want to get around the city on one when I feel like it without needing to take out life insurance, so it would be cool to not have to Google things and plan out an entire route so I am not hurt. Considering there are so many bike people on here, I'm not sure why you guys are so pissy about my complaints. A pile of bricks on Joseph Street got you guys going for weeks, so I'm not sure why my complaints seem invalid.

Speaking for myself, I have been cycling for nearly 50 years and have never owned a car. I am used to cycling on streets with all kinds of traffic in big cities and small, so not much bothers me, so I find it strange when someone is terrified by Waterloo Region traffic. I cycled on Victoria St. North many times without the benefit of the recently built MUTS.  I am not even bothered much by the "bike lane of death" on Northfield, though it is not for the faint of heart. The region is getting much better with the building of bike lanes and MUTS. We need to keep the pressure on for more of that, but I guess that I am more comfortable in situations that others find intolerable. One thing that I notice, is that too many cyclists don't have a mirror on their bike or helmet. Having a good mirror helps to keep one from being surprised by a car suddenly passing within inches of you, which reduces the stress of cycling in traffic.

I'd rate myself as a highly competent and confident rider and even I avoided Victoria St. N. in the pre-MUT era. The thing is, if we as a city/region what more people to choose to ride bikes, we can't just toss them onto streets like that and tell them that in another 50 years they won't even blink. They'll just say fuck that and hop in their car.