Ride with Candidates: Chantal Huinink, Regional Council – Waterloo

For the 2026 municipal elections, CycleWR volunteers have been taking municipal electoral candidates on bike rides to show off the best and worst of the cycling infrastructure in their ward/city/region.

Below is a summary written by CycleWR volunteer Adrian Vantyghem, on their ride with municipal candidate for Waterloo Regional Council, Chantal Huinink.

Disclaimer: CycleWR is a non-partisan organization that does not endorse a 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.

Chantal is an incumbent Regional councillor representing Waterloo. She uses a motorized wheelchair, so is very familiar with the importance of having a reliable network of safe sidewalks and trails as well as an efficient public transportation system.

Chantal and I met at Waterloo Public Square and chatted while we rolled through Waterloo Park. Part of our conversation focused on projects that the Region is planning to undertake, including the two-phase plan to add cycling paths on University from Weber to Albert and Albert to Westmount. These projects are needed in order to create a connected active transportation network for all ages and abilities. However they are tied to road reconstruction projects which often get delayed because of how expensive they can be. We also discussed how Ontario’s Bill 60 prevents our Region from adding bike lanes that replace car lanes, even if those roads are overbuilt for cars. This means that cyclists will have to wait years just to be able to safely use Regional roads.

When our roll brought us to the Waterloo Park entrance on Westmount we discussed the lack of connectivity on that stretch of road. I suggested that the Region consider adding a multi-use path on the east side of Westmount between the park entrance and University Ave, where it would connect with existing infrastructure. This is a small project that would make a meaningful difference to anyone wanting to connect to the park. Chantal met this suggestion with excitement and an eagerness to make it happen.

Throughout our roll we also discussed micromobility in the Region. Chantal expressed her support for bike and scooter-share programs and was happy to hear that the Neuron e-scooters that were removed are to be replaced with Lime e-scooters and e-bikes. She also commented on e-scooters that are operated dangerously fast and asked whether we should impose speed limits on our multi-use paths. We discussed how speed limits without enforcement are just suggestions. And if we do want to start enforcing speed limits for micromobility devices, is that a better use of funds than trying to enforce speed limits for cars. Chantal was very open to hearing feedback and in trying to find a solution that works.

Accessibility was an unintended but recurring theme on our trip. From paths of loose gravel to potholes on the roads to overly-steep stretches of sidewalk, navigating these obstacles in a wheelchair was challenging. A city that wants to be welcoming to all ages and abilities needs to be cognizant of these types of challenges.

Overall I am heartened by how eager Chantal was to hear my perspective as someone who cycles. She asked for a follow-up email covering some of the specifics that I mentioned, like individual Regional projects and the design of protected intersections, so she could spend time looking into it. She is clearly driven to make real change, especially when it comes to relatively small issues that can be fixed quickly.