Cycling in Waterloo Region

[Canard]

This is why I hate the outright ban on bicycles on the sidewalk.

There are many sidewalks out there that could easily serve as de facto MUTs, but there is no way to legitimately "share" it with pedestrians.  If I'm riding on the sidewalk because the road would try to kill me, there is no way to interact with a pedestrian that is not "evil cyclist hauranging poor pedestrian". I yield to pedestrians, but I feel like I can't initiate a polite interaction, like ringing my bell, because it will be interpreted as me demanding they get out of my way (kind of like is a car honks at bike on the road).

I agree with you on all points, Markster - so well said on all counts.

The only spot I've ever ridden on the sidewalk is Courtland, between Block Line and Hayward, to get to the Block Line station to take pictures.  But I felt awful doing it, and, like you, didn't ring my bell but just very slowly went around someone, apologizing as I did - and he said "Hey, I don't blame you!!", which made me feel a little better about doing it.

I see so many places around (like Fairway, and Hespeler Road) where there is this huuuuuge grassy area off to the sides of the roads, one super-narrow sidewalk... and grass.  And it drives me nuts and I just can't understand why that isn't a MUT.

I just sheepishly avoid areas like this altogether when biking.

I've tweeted several times about the single lone "Shared Pathway" sign on Caroline and am assured that staff are "looking into it".