Separated cycling facilities pilot coming this fall

Waterloo Region – With the goal of encouraging more people to cycle, the Region of Waterloo is launching a 5 km Separated Cycling Network pilot project. Construction of the pilot project will begin in late August or early September 2019. Once construction is completed, the pilot cycling network will be implemented on-street for an 18 month period.

Separated cycling facilities are designated bike lanes that are next to the roadway but physically separated from vehicular traffic. In the pilot, separated cycling facilities will be made “separate” by using a number of different treatments including bollards mounted on the pavement, precast concrete with mounted bollards, and planter boxes. The physical separation will help distinguish the area for cycling from motor vehicle traffic to increase the comfort of cyclists.

“This is an exciting pilot project I’m anxious to see get underway.” said Councillor Tom Galloway, Chair of the Planning and Works Committee. “The pilot will help to identify the best methods of moving forward with separated infrastructure for bike lanes.”

The 5 km network includes linkages along University Avenue, Columbia Street, King Street, Albert Street and Erb Street with connecting links along the Laurel Trail through Waterloo Park.

As part of the project, continuous monitoring, evaluation and opportunities for public engagement will be done to assess the project's impacts on the key measures for success, including, number of people cycling along the corridors, the safety of all road users in the pilot project area and vehicular traffic and travel times in the pilot project area. Regional staff will report back to Regional Council after the study has ended in Winter 2020 to present the outcomes of the pilot project.

A comprehensive education campaign will also be rolled out to help educate cyclists on how to use the new separated cycling facilities, and educate other transportation users on how to interact with the new separated cycling facilities. 

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For more information on the project: www.regionofwaterloo.ca/bikelanepilot/

Media Contact:

Ian Young , Senior Project Manager, Transportation and Environmental Services, 519-575-4511, IYoung@regionofwaterloo.ca