Waterloo Region Concerned Cyclists

Kitchener Adds Bike Racks in Core

Cyclists hope $20,000 expansion of parking is just a first step for city along green path

TERRY PENDER - The Record

KITCHENER (Jan 19, 2007)

Kitchener's modest attempt at making the downtown more bicycle friendly is getting the qualified support of cycling enthusiasts.

A city proposal would see $20,0000 spent in 2007 to install 60 post-and-ring bicycle racks throughout the core.

"Bicycle parking and bicycle use is a legitimate form of transportation that we will be moving toward more and more in the future," John McBride, the director of transportation planning, told the city's environment committee yesterday.

"Within the downtown we have a shortage of bicycle racks, and we recognize that."

It was the validation that Waterloo Region Concerned Cyclists was waiting to hear.

And one of the group's representatives, Cheryl Lousley, said she hopes the new racks are only a first step in Mayor Carl Zehr's agenda for a greener city.

"We have this sense thatthey are going to take this environmental focus," Lousley said. "And it's important that the parking division is acknowledging that cycling is a legitimate mode of transportation that ore and more people are going to be using."

Lousley was supported by Dorte Koster, another member of the cyclists group.

"There are still a lot of things to do, but it's a good start," Koster said.

Based on previous spending priorities, city hall traditionally gives cyclists little to cheer about.

Kitchener's system of trails is 30 to 50 years behind schedule.

And while the city plans to spend $20,000 this year on bicycle racks in the core, it still wants to spend more than $10 million on a new parking garage in the downtown.

But Lousley wasn't focusing on all that yesterday.

She is happy to see more bicycle racks for the downtown.

"This actually is a really important first step," she said. "I don't think people realize how significant the parking issue is for cyclists."

McBride also announced that cyclists will be included in any traffic counts conducted by city staff, and cycling groups will be consulted for any future transportation plans.

Making the city more bicycle-friendly supports efforts at intensification in urban centres, a report by McBride said.

Cycling "may end up being one of the more preferred methods of travel as urban densities increase in the future."

Before the bike racks are installed in the downtown, changes will be made to the design because thieves can snap a ring using a two-by-four and quickly steal a bicycle.

Once the design flaws are sorted out, the city is proposing to install bicycle racks in several parts of the core.

These include King Street from Victoria to Frederick, Civic Square, Victoria Park, Duke Street, Weber Street, the Kitchener Public Library and the main offices for Waterloo Region.