Cycling in Waterloo Region

[danbrotherston]

Also possible to go present at the committee meeting on Tuesday as I plan to do.  Frankly, I'd rather see the "do nothing" plan than the current recommended plan, but I plan on asking council to endorse the original "recommended" plan, or a MUT for the entire length, not sure which yet.

So did you convince them?

Again, I was half listening, but I think the staff person misspoke when they said that there was nothing in the Ontario Traffic Manual that would limit the width of the lane:
 
Page 181:
"Where a designated bike route is identified on a bridge…railings and barriers should not be a more severe hazard than the object or condition from which the cyclist is being protected. The roadside
infrastructure should have a smooth surface and a minimum 0.6 metres of lateral clearance from the bicycle facility"

Page 77:
"Conventional Bicycle Lane desired width = 1.8m suggested minimum = 1.5m"

The staff report recommends a lane width of 1.48m which is smaller than the minimum under regular circumstances and certainly does not allow for the extra 0.6m of clearance; I guess that is allowed because it is just a suggestion.

Sadly I did not.  It was a very personally frustrating experience.

Thank you very much for the links, I didn't actually dig through the OTM Book 18, I know the requirement is in the CROW manual, and also a requirement for roadways.

I got the impression from the responses of the councillors that they actually played a big part in staff's insistence on four lanes of traffic.

Most frustrating was that same staff members statements on the infrastructure. To me, it showed a serious lack of understanding of the entire issue. He did apparently misspeak about the requirements. And now that I know that, I am very tempted to blast an email to all of council. It absolutely drives me bonkers.

The worst thing he said, however, at least in my opinion, is he said that a curb was no different from a wall. Which is pretty offensive to a coworker of mine who is only alive today because a curb is different from a wall. He was hit by a transport truck on an overpass, and fortunately was pushed onto the sidewalk. If it has been this bike lane, I wouldn't be enjoying his company today. And that's not even touching on the part where you need more space away from a wall than you do a curb.

If I was permitted, I would actually go to the actual council meeting on this issue, and argue for a sidewalk instead of a bike lane. Honestly, not out of spite, just reason. For two actually, one, practicality. Pedestrians would be forced to cross the road twice to get around the lack of sidewalk. Cyclists are allowed to use the road, so they don't have to cross if they're comfortable in traffic, and anyone who would be comfortable using that bike lane, would also probably be comfortable riding in traffic. The second reason, as I pointed out, they'd be safer too. I just cannot believe they are removing a sidewalk.

I'm sure not a whole lot of people use it now, but I bet I could get all of them to complain about the loss if I had the time to stand out and survey about them about it.

So I'm not really sure how to proceed at this point. I think if someone else cares as much as I seem too, they could present at council. But I am very tempted to send an email to council, or at the very least that staff member (whose name I did not catch), to point out the inaccuracies of his statements. But maybe I'm just overreacting. It's not like this would be the worst thing in the city, just the newest.