WATERLOO - This summer, cyclists will be able to bike along a network of almost five kilometres of bike lanes that are physically separated from traffic, as the region tests a new kind of cycling infrastructure.

In July, the region will install the 4.45-kilometre network of separated bike lanes, connecting Waterloo's two universities with uptown Waterloo. The lanes will be separated from traffic by concrete curbs or flexible bollards and will be plowed in winter.

"I think this is kind of a benchmark decision, in terms of our commitment to active transportation," said Coun. Tom Galloway.

The network runs from the University of Waterloo, along University Avenue, north on King Street and west on Columbia Street, with another short leg along Erb Street in the uptown. The roads were chosen to provide as many direct routes between residential areas and destinations such as the university campuses. The routes also connect with other trails and with Ion stops.

Waterloo Bike Lanes | Candace Dingle

The network will run as a pilot project for 18 months. The goal is to see if cycling numbers go up, how road traffic is affected, what all road users think of the lanes, and how easy the network is to maintain.

If people like the network, the region will consider making the lanes permanent, extending the network further, and possibly setting up similar networks in Cambridge and Kitchener.

Regional staff say they are "very confident" the project will get more people cycling. "In other cities they've seen increases of 1000 per cent," Steve van De Keere, director of transportation at the region, told councillors at a recent committee meeting.

Several other cities, including Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver, have such lanes.

Installing the lanes - mostly at night and on weekends to reduce traffic disruptions - will cost $1.9 million. With additional costs reaching $350,000 a year, mainly for snow removal.

"I think it's a good start," said cycling advocate Robin Mazumder. "Columbia and University are both pretty terrifying to ride a bike on," and separating cyclists from traffic will make them far more inviting for cyclists of all ages, he said.

The network could be controversial because it eliminates some driving lanes and will increase traffic backups in some areas.

The network will reduce King Street to just one driving lane in each direction between University and Columbia, and reduce Erb Street from three driving lanes to two.

The reduced lanes will mean that during rush hours, traffic at King and University could back up past Hickory and Regina, and make left turns harder. But staff say traffic tie-ups could decrease over time as drivers avoid the intersection.

"I think we're going to hear from people, when you remove active lanes to put in a bike lane and perhaps in the wintertime not seeing the volume of traffic in terms of cyclists on these lanes," said Coun. Michael Harris.

Other councillors worried about winter maintenance. "The weather we've had over the last couple of months, where we've had sub-zero temperatures and freezing rain and then heavy snowfalls, I think motorists will look at this type of setup and say, 'Nobody's using this thing,' " said Coun. Geoff Lorentz.

The experience in cities like Montreal shows that cyclists will still use bike lanes in the depths of winter, if they're cleared of snow, van De Keere said.

Plowing could be challenging, since a smaller plow will have to clear the bike lane after road plows go through. "The first winter, 2019-2020 winter, will be the big litmus test in terms of maintenance challenges and cyclist usage," van De Keere said.

Winter maintenance is essential, Mazumder said. "If we really want to use cycling as a method of transportation, you need to ensure the infrastructure is accessible all year."

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