01-21-2022, 09:52 AM
(01-21-2022, 09:42 AM)jamincan Wrote:(01-20-2022, 09:39 PM)ac3r Wrote: It's almost like it can be all of the above. The maps are antiquated, the routes are often very not safe and there is not sufficient signage that simply says "go here". I'm not a religious bike freak, I just want to get around the city on one when I feel like it without needing to take out life insurance, so it would be cool to not have to Google things and plan out an entire route so I am not hurt. Considering there are so many bike people on here, I'm not sure why you guys are so pissy about my complaints. A pile of bricks on Joseph Street got you guys going for weeks, so I'm not sure why my complaints seem invalid.
I've said in the past and a still believe that probably the biggest bang for the buck improvement the region and city could make for active transportation is identifying a minimum network of safe routes from various sectors on the city and then signing those really well and addressing obstacles along them. There are some areas that are worse off than others (and Hidden Valley is one, in my opinion, though also very low priority), but there are the bones of a pretty decent safe network that some targeted spending could make highly effective. Discoverability remains a huge problem, and uptake in active transportation is going to be hindered until it is properly addressed.
This is in fact, the City of Kitchener's specific strategy right now.
But I still disagree that Hidden Valley is "worse off". Discoverability is very poor, but there is a reasonably safe and convenient route in and out of the area. I'm far more likely to cycle there than somewhere like Williamsburg, Pioneer Park, or Bridgeport.