The City of Kitchener is considering spending up to $80,000 to put in bike lanes on Bedford Road

KITCHENER — Residents on a quiet Kitchener street are questioning the need to spend up to $80,000 to put in cycling lanes on a road that’s so quiet they say cyclists can easily navigate it without special infrastructure.

The City of Kitchener is considering spending up to $80,000 to put in bike lanes on Bedford Road, a little street next to Rockway golf course, to connect two key cycling routes: the Iron Horse Trail and new cycling lanes going in this fall along Courtland Avenue.

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The city is proposing putting in a multi-use trail along Bedford, which sees 95 cars travel on it a day, most going 45 km/h or less. The trail would be separated from traffic by a painted buffer and flexible posts that would come out in winter to allow snow plowing.

Adding bike lanes means either removing parking on Bedford or converting it to a one-way street. Residents on Bedford are adamantly opposed to putting in the trail, saying the city is proposing solutions where none is needed. They argue all that’s needed are signs showing cyclists the route between Courtland and the Iron Horse Trail, and perhaps better lighting.

Cyclists, walkers and cars have already figured out how to coexist on the street, said resident Carolyn Keating. “We love the fact the street is used the way it is,” she said. “We have zero problems with safety. It’s already working.” “We have avid cyclists on this street who think it’s ridiculous,” Carolyn Wilson said about the plan. The options have very different price tags — putting in signs and pavement paint would cost about $1,000 while multi-use lanes could cost from $50,000 to $80,000. The project is funded by a provincial cycling infrastructure grant, said Darren Kropf, a project manager with the city. Unused money could be used for another approved cycling project, he said. The city’s own cycling and trail advisory committee couldn’t agree on a preferred option, with some members arguing for a consistent, dedicated multi-use trail, and others saying nothing more was needed than signs to show people the route between the two trails. While Kropf says it’s not feasible or necessary to put in cycling infrastructure on every local street, this one makes sense. “It’s a key connection,” he said, noting that 250,000 people a year use the Iron Horse Trail. “We really want to make sure we have a safe, seamless and connected route,” that all cyclists, from experienced cyclists to families with young kids, feel comfortable using.

Traffic counts on a Saturday afternoon and a Tuesday during rush hour showed more cyclists than cars use Bedford. Improving the links to other trails will likely encourage even more walkers and cyclists, Kropf said. “It’s overkill,” said Sean Campbell. He believes the money could be better spent improving cycling infrastructure on busy streets that are more dangerous to bike on. “I’m totally for making it easier to cycle,” he said. “But there’s no evidence of a safety issue on this street. Why don’t you try the signs and the paint first, and see if people are making the connection, or if there’s a safety issue. There’s a simpler way to accomplish this without disrupting everything.” The city will hold a public meeting on Oct. 4 to present its preferred option. Council will vote on the project in December, with the project expected to go ahead next spring. ————————