Take The Lane

Waterloo Region Record eyes our cycling infrastructure

Here's a teaser video to this Saturday's feature in the Waterloo Region Record that looks at the area's cycling infrastructure, and the interactions between cyclists and motorists.

It's written by Catherine Thompson, who puts her seat in the saddle to get up close and personal with the cycling scene.

And based on the teaser video, ya don't mess with Thompson, who shouts at a motorist who is cruising through the roundabout crosswalk that she is walking her bike through: "Jesus, you're supposed to stop!"

Yes, you're supposed to stop. 

 

Use your head and get a bicycle light

This is probably the worst time of year for cyclists, for accidents and near-accidents.

It can get so dark, so quickly, and so many cyclists I see on the roads, trails and sidewalks (!) are riding without a bike light.

It's the law in Ontario, under the Highway Traffic Act. You must have a forward-facing white light, that is attached to the bicycle — those helmet-mounted lights don't meet the letter of the law.

I know that many cyclists, when I speak to them about this, say, "Well, I don't ride at night."

In the late summer and early fall, night has a way of creeping up on you. The law says your illumination is required one half-hour before sunset and one half-hour after sunrise. Perhaps not so many cyclists are out one half-hour after sunrise, but it is so easy to be out one half-hour before sunset. The sun sets today at 7:23 p.m., which means if you are on your bicycle, you need a front light turned on at 6:53 p.m.

Yet how many people do that? 

Be one of those who does.

Bill's Bicycle Basics: You need a bell

It is apparently not widely known that cyclists MUST have an alarm bell on their bicycle.

In the past few days, I've seen seasoned adult cyclists and young adult riders, cruising trails, roadways and parking lots without a bell.

Actually, you need not restrict yourself to a bell. The Ontario Highway Traffic Act, Section 75 (5) states:

"Every motor vehicle, motor-assisted bicycle and bicycle shall be equipped with an alarm bell, gong or horn, which shall be kept in good working order and sounded whenever it is reasonably necessary to notify pedestrians or others of its approach."  (I have always wanted a gong for one of my bikes, but the ability to deploy it quickly has made me hesitant.) 

It's a fine that totals $110. Quite a bit to pay for forgetting to get a bicycle bell that can cost as little as $7.

Pictured above are a dringdring bell by Annie Legroulx (sadly out of production); a turtle-shaped squeaky horn and a custom bell by Electra. The Electra bell was about $10. The dringdring was about double that. You can pay up to $40-$50 for an air horn, if you want one.

I used the turtle horn for about a year, but found that, especially on multi-use trails, the high-pitched "squeak-squeak" wasn't taken too seriously by people I was overtaking. Maybe they thought it was a kid toy or a dog toy. They often didn't turn around to look back or move over.

So I went back to the traditional bicycle bell. Most people can hear the bell, and begin to move to the side of the trail without looking back.

And that, more than not having to pay the fine, is the point of a bicycle bell.

It's an alarm system. It alerts people ahead (whether walking or riding) that you are moving at a speed that will overtake them. 

Ideally, you'll use your voice as well. Whether it's a curt "Passing on the left" or a more pleasant "Hi folks, I'll be passing you on your left," the intention is to alert someone that you are coming through.

Without that alert, they could easily walk into you, turn left suddenly to avoid some object on the path, or simply gesticulate right into your face while they are making a point with their walking companion.

Cyclists who breeze by pedestrians, or other cyclists, without the simple courtesy of ringing a bell or saying a few words, are a danger to themselves and to others.

Get a bicycle bell!

Then use your bell, or yell.

 

 

 

Taking a stand on protected bike lanes

About four dozen people interested in safe urban cycling infrastructure lined the west side of King Street between Princess and Dupont streets in Waterloo tonight, to make a point about protected bicycle lanes.

The point is that the new bicycle lanes in Uptown Waterloo aren't protected. At least, not on the west side.

On the east side of the street in this section, parked cars act as a barrier between those using the bicycle lanes and motorists. The idea of using a car as a buffer for cyclists is nothing new, but it's a welcome addition to the cycling infrastructure in the very busy Uptown core.

But on the west side, there really isn't anything to differentiate the bicycle lane from, say, a raised parking area. No bollards, raised curbs, flex posts or street furniture mark the bike lane boundary. The slightly elevated curb might even be considered an invitation for a vehicle to roll up onto it, as did this truck on the east side.

On several occasions, I have seen vehicles actually pull completely onto the bike lane, to discharge passengers or cargo. It was a parked truck that disconcerted his cycling daughter earlier this year, that motivated Scott Weldon to make this lack of differentiation an issue.

Weldon and Jeff Fedor organized tonight's People Protected Bike Lane, modelled on similar events in Boston and San Francisco. 

A steady stream of volunteers arrived before and after the 5 p.m. start time, to line the street, standing roughly along the roadway edge of the bike lane, to provide a human buffer between cyclists and motorists.

Some of the cyclists using the lane appeared a bit baffled about what was going on, but enjoyed the applause they got. Based on friendly honks from the motorists and one friendly air-horn equipped trucker, some of the motoring public got the message.

Weldon and Fedor hope that Waterloo councillors, prospective councillors who will be seeking a seat in this fall's municipal election, and urban planners will get the message.

Weldon noted that it's ironic that planters and other street furniture on the west side will be placed on the boundary between the pedestrian sidewalk and the bicycle lane.

Indeed. How much better it would be to have those buffers placed on the boundary between the motorists and both sets of vulnerable roadway infrastructure users. 

Such a buffer has the additional value of reducing stress for drivers, who would not have to worry about whether a cyclist would roll off the not-really-separate bike lane onto the roadway. It sounds like a win-win.

 

 

Standing up for bicycle lanes

Cyclists from Waterloo Region will join forces to create a people-protected bike lane tonight in Waterloo.

Waterloo resident, cyclist, parent and community voice Scott Weldon is hosting the event tonight from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on King Street in Uptown Waterloo to raise awareness about the value of protected bicycle lanes in congested areas, particularly such places as the urban core.

The new Waterloo Uptown cycling lanes may be a bit confusing for motorists, who apparently think they can park or drive in them. A bit unnerving for a cyclist using the lanes, as Weldon's six-year-old daughter discovered this year.

Weldon is arguing for some kind of physical barrier — planters, posts, curbs, whatever — to more clearly define the spaces.

A good turnout would be a message to city council members, in this, a municipal election year.

You can sign up for the event through this Facebook event page.

Turning our faces to the river

I've always been interested in why some people in the Waterloo Region turn their faces to the river, while others turn their backs to it.

I'm a "face-to-the-river" person. So I was happy to be among a dozen or so others who participated in Water Cycle on Thursday night, riding along the Grand River from Bridgeport to Breslau.

We opened with introductions and a smudging ceremony by Mary Anne Caibaiosai, an Ojibwe Anishnaabe artist living in Kitchener, who is among the Water Walkers taking part in this year's All Nations Grand River Water Walk. 

Organized by Philip Martin of Cycling Into The Future, the evening ride was a chance to talk about and think about the Grand River, the wildlife that call it home and the role it plays in our community. Along the way, the group made offerings of tobacco to some of the streamlets that feed into the Grand, and talked about the trees and wildlife along the river: flora and fauna that Caibaiosai says that First Nations elders speak of as relatives.

It was a mindful evening. 

Waterloo cyclist counter just the beginning of bike data collection

Today's story in The Record about the new bicycle counter on King Street in Waterloo could be just the beginning of cycling infrastructure data collection in the region.

One has to look no further than this article in the European Cyclists' Federation newsletter, which discusses the first year of a cycling congestion alert system in Copenhagen.

Yes, my two-wheeler friends, cycling congestion is a thing. It was a thing back in 2011, when this article appeared in The Guardian newspaper,  about how the explosion of Copenhagen cyclists, both tourists/visitors and cycle-enthusiastic residents, was threatening to overwhelm that city's widely lauded cycling infrastructure.

The North American response to traffic congestion is pretty much always to build more lanes for cars, and we know how well that has worked out. The Danes, wisely, looked for other options, and last year, tested an electronic updating system that provides real-time bicycle traffic updates, alerting commuting cyclists (and other riders) to upcoming cycle congestion and suggesting alternate routes.

The ECF article concludes that cyclists want the same kind of infrastructure commitment that motorists get. As planners on this side of the Atlantic absorb this, expect to see more cycling information signs on your favourite routes.

A Grand cycling opportunity

It is surprising how many people in Waterloo Region under-value the Grand River.

I have heard people refer rather mockingly to "the mighty" Grand, or complain about the inconvenience it poses in getting around the region.

But the 280-kilometre-long Grand River is a grand river. It's the backdrop for cultural events, a corridor for wildlife, a spot for fishing, photography, walking and watercraft, and a major water source in a watershed that is home to one million people. Oh, and it features some great cycling trails.

The All Nations Grand River Water Walk is an annual event that celebrates the practical and spiritual role of the river in our lives. 

This year, Philip Martin, founder of Cycling Into the Future, is sponsoring Water Cycle, a fundraising bicycle ride to support the Water Walk. Because the protocols established by the First Nations organizers of the Water Walk preclude cyclists from accompanying the Water Walk directly, this event was created to show support for the river and the walkers.

Water Cycle will be held Thursday, Aug. 30 at 6 p.m. in Kitchener. The opening ceremonies will be on the Walter Bean Grand River Trail behind the Tim Horton's near Lancaster and Bridge streets. Riders are asked to bring a donation to help provide food and lodgings for the water walkers. 

The ride will be along the Grand River, through Bingeman Park to the J.A. Pollock Family Trailway, with the closing ceremonies to he held at the canoe launch near the Victoria Street bridge. Martin advises to be prepared for some hilly sections on the trail.

To register, contact Philip Martin at 226-789-8615 or by email to [email protected] 

Great advice on advice not to take

I love this "seven tips" that cyclist shouldn't believe, from Lizard Head Cycling Guides.

Maybe because I do wear gloves, I do eat while riding, I do use the "granny gear", etc.

These postal delivery vehicles belong in bicycle lanes

I thought it was amusing to read the Toronto Star story that ran earlier this year, about how Canada Post vehicles are the worst offender for those ticketed for parking in Toronto bicycle lanes.

While my partner and I were in France this fall, I was delighted to see postal vehicles that absolutely belonged in bicycle lanes.

 

This is a La Poste France delivery bicycle, ridden by a 40-something woman who was delivering small parcels and letter mail in the plaza near where we were staying in Caen.

She said the rugged, electric-assist bicycles are equipped with weather-proof bags, and are ideal for navigating some of the narrow streets in the old French city of about 110,000 people. She said there are about 100 of these bicycles servicing the community.

Now, here is an option for mail delivery in urban areas. Ottawa could look to this as a creative way to reduce its carbon footprint, as well as legitimizing bicycles (in the eyes of motorists) as part of our everyday road user community.