I very strongly oppose the…

I very strongly oppose the proposed legislation. Deciding where to build cycling facilities, and getting the subsequent Complete Street design as part of a complete network, is a complex task. It requires detailed knowledge of local pedestrian, cycling and car traffic patterns, possible alternative routes for cars, and the desires of the local population for alternatives to car travel for commuting, errands, and recreation to destinations across the city. The local context is critical. City staff are experts in transportation planning, and can consider all of these factors. Decisions should be made at the local level, not by a provincial politician. The additional red tape will delay valuable improvements in the Waterloo Region, while adding wasteful costs.

Building safe cycling facilities will inevitably lead to replacing trips that were taken by cars with trips by bikes, reducing road congestion. However, the impact is not necessarily immediate. New cycling facilities need to be accessible from other safe cycling routes as part of a network and provide time for residents to adopt a new way to travel. Maximum cycling volume will come when the cycling route is part of a strong network that allows cyclists to safely go to many desired areas of the city, including along major roadways.