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Ride with Candidates: Jim Erb, Regional Councillor (Waterloo)

Posted on October 7, 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.

CycleWR volunteer Scott Weldon took Regional Council candidate for Waterloo Jim Erb for a bike ride this summer. Here’s what he had to say about it:

Had a great ride with Regional Council candidate @JimErbWaterloo. Insightful chat about the @UpTownWaterloo changing landscape, busy/dangerous areas, and the potential it holds. Thx for helping my daughter cross hectic Caroline St! #raisedcrossings @TravelWiseWR @Cycle_WR pic.twitter.com/p1b4ExZvdU

— Scott Weldon (@s_weldon) July 31, 2018

Here’s some more detail about the route they took and what they found along the way:

I brought along my two children (Isaac, 4yrs, Charlotte 6yrs).  We rode from Euclid Ave. (behind Seagrams Lofts) to Uptown Waterloo. We rode the new bike lanes heading North to Bridgeport Rd., then back South and home. I chose this route to show how hectic a simple ride Uptown can be (with or without two children).

We first stopped at Caroline and Father David Bauer (FDB) to discuss a few things. Firstly, the pedestrian crosses are NOT where people actually cross. Everyone quickly runs across Caroline at FDB Drive, then head to Willis Way. Jim Erb said that a long time ago he asked the City why they don’t connect FDB Dr. and Willis Way, to make it a better intersection (these two are currently offset by about 10m).  It was interesting to hear that Jim had already thought of this idea and proposed it to the City (exactly when and how I am not sure).

Secondly, I mentioned that Caroline is more narrow but cars still speed down it. There is NO traffic calming on Caroline and drivers take full advantage. I told him I would like to see raised crossings for the pedestrians crossing Caroline.

The Multi-Use Trail is also a difficult one. Cyclists are sometimes doing 30km/hr, are mixed with pedestrians trying to cross Caroline and not die, and cyclists also have to ride through the Alexandra then FDB Dr. crosswalks. Cars roll forward over the stop line and pose a big risk to cyclists/pedestrians (I heard a cyclist was already hit this spring at Alexandra). I also mentioned that the Multi-Use trail should remain at an elevated level as it goes through the Alexandra/FDB Dr. cross-walks (essentially creating a raised cross-walk, i. e. traffic calming.)

We then proceeded to the Uptown “protected” Lanes. I mentioned that a rollover curb provides another opportunity for cars to enter bike lane. This can easily be fixed with posts or planters….or some combination of the two. I mentioned that cyclist safety is compromised with this design, and it is all to save about 15 parallel parking spots on King St. Not to mention the possibility of being doored while in the bike lane. Another difficult point on bike lanes are cars turning right. Again, a few flexi-posts could be used just before the side streets to force drivers to pay attention and make a safe wider turn onto side streets (from King).

Finally, the Uptown Lanes end at the tracks at Waterloo Town Square. There are not even signs to direct people towards the Caroline MUT or the trail heading through Waterloo Park. This is a great example of the Region creating infrastructure that has major gaps. There is nothing ‘seamless’ about the integration of the trail network here.

And this is what Scott would like to see from the Region:

We need a strong voice that understands safe streets/speed limits/access for all abilities. I want a devoted cyclist, who understands the daily risks, to have a strong voice. Otherwise, we get disconnected crap. I’m still optimistic…….sometimes  😊

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For the second year, we will be conducting a Pedal For the second year, we will be conducting a Pedal Poll in conjunction with Velo Bikes Canada. Last year we counted over 2,000 people at 7 locations in Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo (the national organization got a little confused about the cities in Waterloo Region, corrected for this year.)We obtained the data summarized in the second image. Data like this will inform our efforts to establish better infrastructure and to remove barriers. It is great to see who is cycling but even more important, who is not cycling. Many other communities across Canada participate so comparisons are possible among communities and trends year over year.VOLUNTEER TO COUNT!The National Pedal Poll is running next week on June 7 to 11. We still need more volunteers to take a two-hour shift – we have fewer people volunteering than last year. It is important that we have a consistent level of data collection from year to year.Your two-hour shift will be at one of the predefined locations in one of the three cities and you can signup for a weekday or a weekend slot. Do not fear bad weather – we don’t want the count to take place in that case as the numbers might be depressed versus a good weather day, so your shift can be postponed to another day.Counting is simple – you use a provided app on your phone and tap a few buttons for each person that passes on a bicycle in either direction.Detailed instructions and support will be available.You are welcome to do more than one shift!*** Check the link in our bio for details ***
June is Bike Month! Here's a list of what's happen June is Bike Month! Here's a list of what's happening around Waterloo Region!*** Check the link in our bio for additional details and event links. ***---🚴 Bike Festivities - City of KitchenerSaturday June 11 @ 1:00pm
A fun and safe space for racialized communities to experience the joys of cycling.---🚴 Family Bike Show - City of KitchenerSunday, June 12 @ 2:00pm
Showcase your unique bikes in a “classic car show” style event – but for bikes of all kinds! You must register to showcase your bicycle.---🚴 Pride Ride – City of KitchenerFriday, June 17 @ 7:00pm
A group bike ride to celebrate Bike & Pride Month and bring visibility to members and allies of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.---🚴 History on Wheels - City of Waterloo MuseumBike tour. Price: $3.- New Bikers Tour on Saturday, June 11 @ 10am
- Experienced Cyclists Tour on Sunday, June 19 @ 3 pm---🚴 Scavenger Hunt - Cambridge Cycling and Trails Advisory CommitteeThe Cambridge Cycling and Trails Advisory Committee (CCTAC) has put together a list of clues for a City-wide scavenger hunt through the month of June.
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!
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