Waterloo Region Connected

Full Version: Cycling in Waterloo Region
You're currently viewing a stripped down version of our content. View the full version with proper formatting.
(06-24-2020, 10:04 AM)jamincan Wrote: [ -> ]Classic chicken and egg problem. "I don't need bike parking because no bikes to our store."

Interesting. I generally don’t like mandates, but given the mandated car parking, bicycle parking should be mandated in the zoning bylaw.
(06-24-2020, 03:00 PM)dtkmelissa Wrote: [ -> ]
(06-24-2020, 01:26 AM)Acitta Wrote: [ -> ]Apparently, the owners of the shopping centres at Highland & Westmount do not realize that cyclists also go shopping. I do much of my shopping on Highland by bicycle. I will be avoiding shopping at any shops in those particular strip malls in the future.
I used to have a few small 'business-card' style notes that simply said that I'm a cyclist and would love to bike to your establishment but there's no place to park my bike. I included my email to follow up. I did have one or two businesses follow up with me. I haven't done that for awhile, but I do think it is important (if able) to let folks know there's a demand for more bike parking. Unfortunately, with many of the plazas, bike parking decisions are made at higher levels than any one business owner.

This is a good idea, and communication can help solve this lack of understanding from business owners. I don't think they actually care whether their customers arrive by car (and in fact, probably prefer if they don't...parking costs money...and cars cost money...meaning people arriving not by car have more money to spend and cost less to service)...but often just don't have any idea...they have the same assumptions that most people in the city do.

And yes, they are made at a higher level, but large clients can sway a landlord obviously...that being said, there is also a problem of power...handing a card to the part time minimum wage cashier at a corporate owned fast food chain won't do anything...even though that tenant might have a lot of power over the landlord...on the other hand, at a tiny mom and pop shop, you'll probably get someone who cars and is responsive, but has less power over their landlord.

There is of course middle ground...if you handed it to the location manager at sobeys, they would probably care and have some power...but you have to explicitly ask to see the manager.
Even a cashier may hand the card to a manager, so it's not necessarily a lost cause. It all helps to increase awareness.
(06-24-2020, 04:15 PM)danbrotherston Wrote: [ -> ]There is of course middle ground...if you handed it to the location manager at sobeys, they would probably care and have some power...but you have to explicitly ask to see the manager.

I've observed the store manager (I think) just walking around at the Bridgeport Sobey's. Some of us probably look respectable enough to get their attention and point out ways they could improve.
I had a discussion a couple years ago with a business who had a new bike rack outside, they said that they had just called the city (or maybe the city called them?) and city workers installed the bike rack for free. So in some cases it may just be a matter of the business requesting one?
(06-25-2020, 09:16 AM)goggolor Wrote: [ -> ]I had a discussion a couple years ago with a business who had a new bike rack outside, they said that they had just called the city (or maybe the city called them?) and city workers installed the bike rack for free. So in some cases it may just be a matter of the business requesting one?

If the space in front of the business was city owned, that would be an easy solution (Assuming there is space for both bikes and sidewalk).  When I worked at the airport in Breslau, it wasn't too difficult to get the region to agree to a bike rack at the front of the terminal.  [The operations manager at the time did inform me it was a bit of a fight, as they had to work it into their budget... but he did make it happen].

Plaza's are private property, and I can't see the city installing infrastructure at no cost there.

Coke
(06-25-2020, 09:27 AM)Coke6pk Wrote: [ -> ]
(06-25-2020, 09:16 AM)goggolor Wrote: [ -> ]I had a discussion a couple years ago with a business who had a new bike rack outside, they said that they had just called the city (or maybe the city called them?) and city workers installed the bike rack for free. So in some cases it may just be a matter of the business requesting one?

If the space in front of the business was city owned, that would be an easy solution (Assuming there is space for both bikes and sidewalk).  When I worked at the airport in Breslau, it wasn't too difficult to get the region to agree to a bike rack at the front of the terminal.  [The operations manager at the time did inform me it was a bit of a fight, as they had to work it into their budget... but he did make it happen].

Plaza's are private property, and I can't see the city installing infrastructure at no cost there.

Coke

The problem with car oriented plazas is their inaccessibility from the sidewalk.
(06-25-2020, 09:27 AM)Coke6pk Wrote: [ -> ]
(06-25-2020, 09:16 AM)goggolor Wrote: [ -> ]I had a discussion a couple years ago with a business who had a new bike rack outside, they said that they had just called the city (or maybe the city called them?) and city workers installed the bike rack for free. So in some cases it may just be a matter of the business requesting one?

If the space in front of the business was city owned, that would be an easy solution (Assuming there is space for both bikes and sidewalk).  When I worked at the airport in Breslau, it wasn't too difficult to get the region to agree to a bike rack at the front of the terminal.  [The operations manager at the time did inform me it was a bit of a fight, as they had to work it into their budget... but he did make it happen].

Plaza's are private property, and I can't see the city installing infrastructure at no cost there.

Coke

The case I mentioned was at ShortFinger Brewing, and the bike rack was installed on private space, beside their building. I can see how plazas would be more complicated but the city could also put racks next to the trail, near commercial spots?
In other news, there is an EngageWR consultation on the University Ave W reconstruction.

https://www.engagewr.ca/University-Ave

I wrote about how vertical separation is necessary and that they really need to not do like Ottawa St.
(06-27-2020, 04:48 AM)plam Wrote: [ -> ]In other news, there is an EngageWR consultation on the University Ave W reconstruction.

https://www.engagewr.ca/University-Ave

I wrote about how vertical separation is necessary and that they really need to not do like Ottawa St.

Based on the alternatives, it seems clear to me that Alternative 3a is the obviously correct choice, subject to the proviso that the curbs between the motor vehicle and bicycle lanes should be regular curbs, not those ridiculous roll curbs.

I’m not optimistic.

Also, it doesn’t mention that west of King we already have Alternative 2, so that wouldn’t really be an upgrade — we’re entitled to that alternative without any discussion.

Also, shouldn’t they be considering a 2-lane configuration (with turn lanes, both right and left, provided everywhere that turning is permitted)?
One of my biggest issues with cycling on University Avenue is playing leapfrog with buses. I would like it if the buses didn't need to stop in the bike lanes.
(06-27-2020, 11:38 AM)timc Wrote: [ -> ]One of my biggest issues with cycling on University Avenue is playing leapfrog with buses. I would like it if the buses didn't need to stop in the bike lanes.

I specifically mentioned in my response that the redesign should take inspiration from the recent Commonwealth Avenue reconstruction in Boston that I noticed while living there briefly. Physical curbs between drivers and cyclists, an LRT Wink, and the bike lanes swerve around the bus shelters so cyclists can by-pass the busses.

Here is a street view of Commonwealth and St. Paul where you can see the bike lane continuing behind the bus shelter.
[attachment=7119]
(06-29-2020, 11:10 AM)eh-cun71 Wrote: [ -> ]
(06-27-2020, 11:38 AM)timc Wrote: [ -> ]One of my biggest issues with cycling on University Avenue is playing leapfrog with buses. I would like it if the buses didn't need to stop in the bike lanes.

I specifically mentioned in my response that the redesign should take inspiration from the recent Commonwealth Avenue reconstruction in Boston that I noticed while living there briefly. Physical curbs between drivers and cyclists, an LRT Wink, and the bike lanes swerve around the bus shelters so cyclists can by-pass the busses.

Here is a street view of Commonwealth and St. Paul where you can see the bike lane continuing behind the bus shelter.

Looks like a vast improvement over 15 years ago. More of a streetcar than an LRT though. Good to get the bike/bus interaction right. Zurich has something similar I think (couldn't quite make out what Boston did from Google Street View).
Those temporary bike lanes are not giving value for money

D'Amato takes on the all-powerful cyclists' lobby...
Odd how everyone that cycles is automatically painted as part of a lobby group. I strongly disagree with that.