Some good news for cyclists in the Region of Waterloo. On Thursday, the area announced it is changing how its roads are built. The region is introducing slimmer traffic lanes, tighter curb turns and more intentional cycling infrastructure as part of a long-awaited update to its Street Design Guidelines.
It’s the first revision to the guidebook since way back in 2013. Transportation Director Mike Henderson says the changes are all about improving safety while still keeping people moving.
“This isn’t about flipping a switch overnight,” Henderson said to CityNews. “It’s about bringing our standards up to date with what’s already proven to work.”
Among the key shifts are narrower vehicle lanes designed to calm traffic and reduce noise. There are also design changes like tighter intersection corners that discourage speeding, particularly in pedestrian-heavy areas.
Lane widths, once as wide as 3.65 m in the good ole 1980s, are now closer to 3.35 m.
“Squeezing lanes slightly encourages drivers to slow down where it matters,” Henderson said. He added the approach can improve safety without compromising traffic flow.
Henderson said that building roads wider than necessary drives up long-term maintenance costs and can unintentionally invite faster driving.
Cycling infrastructure is also getting a rethink. Rather than relying on painted lines, the updated guidelines favour clearer separation between cyclists, pedestrians and vehicles where space allows. As is often said by cycling advocates, “Paint ain’t infrastructure.”
Each roadway will be designed based on its specific context and constraints. “We need to do the smart thing for drivers, walkers, cyclists. Everyone who uses that street,” Henderson said.
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Canadian Cycling Magazine…