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Ride with Candidates: Ted Martin, Regional Councillor (Kitchener)

Posted on October 1, 2018October 7, 2018 by Emily Slofstra
Posted in: I bike I vote, Rides with Candidates

In the months before the 2018 municipal election, CycleWR volunteers have been taking municipal electoral candidates for bike rides to show off the best and worst of the cycling infrastructure in their ward/city/region. For a full list of completed rides, click here. CycleWR is a non-partisan organization that does not support any particular party or candidate. Summaries are written by volunteers or candidates and may not reflect the mandate or views of CycleWR. For more information, contact us at hello@cyclewr.ca.

Had a lovely #CycleWR bike ride tonight with candidate for regional councillor @TrusteeTed We rode out of Vic Park, across West St and past Sobey’s to the dreaded bike tunnel. #KW Cycling infrastructure helps drivers, cyclists, pedestrians: everyone. Build it and they will come. pic.twitter.com/qZA8mZoaXh

— Trish Holmes (@mrdarnley) August 16, 2018

Here’s more from Trish about how the ride went, and what it’s like cycling in that area:

We started in Victoria Park and went down the Iron Horse Trail until the slip trail that leads to West Street, and then on to the trail that leads to Westmount. We stopped at Westmount and talked about the bike and pedestrian tunnel there. Lights have been installed in the tunnel and it has, recently, been cleaned up (previously I’ve seen broken glass, garbage, barriers that obstruct vision, even dead animals and sometimes people are in there), but he understood that this isn’t appropriate bike infrastructure.

I’m all for making use of the facilities that already exist, but not at the risk of personal safety. Also, there is no alternative to the tunnel that would allow a cyclist to stay on their bike. If you want to maintain of a sense of legality, you have to go up to Westmount, down to the intersection, get off your bike, walk across and then bike back up and resume your journey. That’s fine, but if the city intends for cyclists to take the tunnel, there must be some sort of cyclist retro-fit that would make taking the tunnel safer. This lapse in consideration is common in the lesser-used trails throughout the cities.

Ted said he understood, but then asked how a regional councillor could help with a city issue. [But he also acknowledged] that Westmount is a regional road, so it was an interesting conversation about the overlap of jurisdiction and responsibilities, and how that is both beneficial and challenging.

Here’s what Ted says about complete streets in his platform:

“Roads designed and maintained for the safety and comfort of pedestrians and cyclists, children and seniors, public transit and horse and buggies. We must be a welcoming community, safe for everyone.”

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CycleWR is now a non-profit. Become a member today CycleWR is now a non-profit. Become a member today and help us change the conversation about cycling in Waterloo Region. Members help support and guide our work, get access to discounts, and more!Get your membership:
cyclewr.ca/join(Link in bio)
Cycling Risk SurveyCycleWR is keenly interested Cycling Risk SurveyCycleWR is keenly interested to learn more about how people in our community view cycling infrastructure. We have created a survey that delves into how people perceive the many infrastructure options that we find in Waterloo Region.We know that there is a lot of diversity in the comfort levels that people experience while cycling. We want to know: Will you only ride on trails and physically separated facilities? Which street designs do you find safest? How do you feel about one-way versus two-way cycle tracks? Which cycling facilities do you prefer to see when you are driving a car? We ask all these questions and more.This survey will inform our advocacy and the results will be shared both publicly and with municipal staff who are designing new facilities. The survey is quite detailed, so you’ll want to set aside 10-15 minutes to complete it. Please share it widely – we want to reach many people with varying levels of experience, from non-cyclists and beginners to daily riders.Start the survey now - the link is our bio (https://forms.gle/RLASz6joa27NUX8T7)Please respond by March 21st.Thank you!
What cycling projects are Waterloo, Kitchener, Cam What cycling projects are Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge, and the Region funding in 2021? Find out in our budget analyses. Link in bio.
Join us online on Thursday, January 21, from 7:30 Join us online on Thursday, January 21, from 7:30 – 9:00pm for a look at what we accomplished in 2020 and what’s coming up for cycling in the region in 2021 and beyond.Active transportation leads from the three cities and the region who will be joining us:
• Lisa Chominiec
Sustainable Transportation Coordinator, City of Cambridge
• Liz Christensen
Design & Construction Project Manager, City of Kitchener
• Darren Kropf
Active Transportation Planning Project Manager, City of Kitchener
• Louise Finlay
Project Manager, Bikeways, Trails and Greenspaces, City of Waterloo
• Kornel Mucsi
Manager, Transportation Planning, Region of WaterlooCheck the link in our bio for meeting instructions.
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