General Road and Highway Discussion

[dtkvictim]

Yeah, lots of cars parked up the curb. I believe it's mostly legal parking. The Netherlands is great for biking, but definitely much less good for walking (although still far better than most of Canada). FWIW...drivers do block bike lanes and sidewalks, albeit less often than in Canada because well, frankly there's less need--and literally no other reason. But it's also less of an issue, because the roads are just generally safer.

Is parking like this legal there? https://www.google.com/maps/@52.0619017,...384!8i8192

It's one of the first streets I dropped into, and it surprised me. Not terribly harmful I guess, but still surprised me. Not nearly as bad as what I often see in footage from the UK though, where it's seemingly normal to block the majority of a sidewalk while parking on narrow roads.

[danbrotherston]

Yeah, lots of cars parked up the curb. I believe it's mostly legal parking. The Netherlands is great for biking, but definitely much less good for walking (although still far better than most of Canada). FWIW...drivers do block bike lanes and sidewalks, albeit less often than in Canada because well, frankly there's less need--and literally no other reason. But it's also less of an issue, because the roads are just generally safer.

Is parking like this legal there? https://www.google.com/maps/@52.0619017,...384!8i8192

It's one of the first streets I dropped into, and it surprised me. Not terribly harmful I guess, but still surprised me. Not nearly as bad as what I often see in footage from the UK though, where it's seemingly normal to block the majority of a sidewalk while parking on narrow roads.

I cannot imagine that it isn't allowed, as it is extremely common. That being said, there are places where it is apparent that drivers are expected to park half up the curb (usually not blocking completely the sidewalk), but the curb is almost always hard surfaced. I've never seen it where people are expected to park up on grass. In other cases it appears to be a situation where "unusual parkers" (i.e., tradespeople, not residents nor visitors) park up the curb, and this I've seen on grass more than once (this for example, often happens on my street as there is no parking in front of our homes).

The Netherlands is not anti-car...by any measure. To the contrary, they have a high car ownership rate (although lower than the EU at large) and have many many roads, free parking, etc. I know a lot of people point out Copenhagen as the better learning experience for NA, but I think the Netherlands is pretty much the thing that NA planners don't want you to know about (or even admit to themselves), because it shows just how grossly incompetent they have been. I plan to write a piece about it soon.

FWIW...the Netherlands does far more to limit the harm that vehicles cause than EVs do--cars do not dominate the cities, they are reasonably restricted in places where it makes sense, and people have complete freedom NOT to own one, or to own one if they want...if it wasn't for climate change (and air pollution)...it might even be sustainable.

[dtkvictim]

To add to the Gaukel St speculation, No Entry signs were added to the pedestrian portion, I think in the last few days. I think this either suggests that the remainder of Gaukel St will be opened to through traffic, or that more permanent closure infrastructure is being installed on the pedestrian portion (previously the No Entry signs were on those movable wooden barricades).

[GtwoK]

Anyone know if they're planning on finishing the Ottawa St (at King / Charles) reconstruction before the end of the year? From what I recall, asphalt plants shut down around mid november, and they've still got the whole King / Ottawa intersection dug up as well as between there and Charles. Would be a pain to have that detour in place until the spring

[Rainrider22]

I actually writing to my councilor to enquire. I am becoming concerned with exactly what you said. This is terrible planning and the contractors are taking way too long for 600 meters of roadway...

[timio]

I've seen paving done as late as mid December, so there's still likely time.

[dtkvictim]

Is straight through actually prohibited? I noticed the road paint shows only left and right turns, but my understanding is that's not legally binding. There would need to be a no straight through sign up, which I haven't seen (though also haven't looked closely). I was assuming it was just a paint error.

A bit off topic, but since the original discussion was here... There are indeed no straight through signs up now:

[ijmorlan]

Why is the straight-through bicycle lane green only in one direction? My initial thought was that the other direction didn’t have a must-turn for motor vehicles, but that’s not what the paint on the road on the far side of the intersection seems to be saying.

[dtkvictim]

Why is the straight-through bicycle lane green only in one direction? My initial thought was that the other direction didn’t have a must-turn for motor vehicles, but that’s not what the paint on the road on the far side of the intersection seems to be saying.

(Perhaps an admin can this can be moved to the cycling thread if needed)

Because the cycle track, just behind me, is bidirectional (both directions on one side). So bicycles going straight south, the straight through that isn't green, are crossing the path of northbound motor traffic that must turn right or left and so they have to yield to motor traffic I think. Whereas for bicycles going straight northbound, both north and southbound motor traffic, which has to turn, will be crossing the path of the bicycles and must yield.

It's a garbage intersection, and a minority of people will understand how to use it (both cyclists and motorists). Heck, I'm not even 100% confident in what I've written.

[ijmorlan]

Heck, I'm not even 100% confident in what I've written.

Thanks for the attempt. I’m looking forward to getting down there to see it in person.

[Chris]

I can't wait for one cyclist to let hook another from that left turn box. I don't understand why it's painted in that location? I think that box should be rotated 90 degrees for a turn onto Ontario?

I was so excited for this cycling network but the implementation seems really awkward.

[clasher]

So the idea with that left turn box is instead of just waiting for the green to make a standard left turn, you sit there and wait for another green to avoid crossing in front of the few cars and bikes that use Ontario street?

[Chris]

So the idea with that left turn box is instead of just waiting for the green to make a standard left turn, you sit there and wait for another green to avoid crossing in front of the few cars and bikes that use Ontario street?

If that is the purpose I would never use it. If I were on my bike and turning left I would signal my turn and wait next to that well placed and sunken manhole cover.

[clasher]

So the idea with that left turn box is instead of just waiting for the green to make a standard left turn, you sit there and wait for another green to avoid crossing in front of the few cars and bikes that use Ontario street?

If that is the purpose I would never use it. If I were on my bike and turning left I would signal my turn and wait next to that well placed and sunken manhole cover.

yeah I plan on just doing a normal left at that intersection.

[the_conestoga_guy]

Looks like the EngageWR site has been updated for the Lancaster Street Reconstruction project. There's now a link for the proposed layout drawings, plus a survey. It appears that the preferred alternative layout includes grade-separated cycle lanes, which is a nice change for the Region.

https://www.engagewr.ca/kitchener-lancaster-street