Kitchener-Waterloo

Bollards and more signs coming to uptown Waterloo bike lanes

The bike lanes on King Street in Waterloo will get new flexible bollards along with more signage and pavement markings to make them safer for cyclists.
This altered photo, which was in a report presented to the region's planning and works committee, shows what the bollards on King Street might look like. (Region of Waterloo)

The new bike lanes on King Street in uptown Waterloo will get flexible bollards and more signs and pavement markings to make them safer.

Regional council approved the changes during Thursday's council meeting.

The move will prevent vehicles from driving or parking on the bike lanes, and provide a better separation for cyclists and pedestrians.

The bollards will be put in place this year between the Ion tracks and Central Street. They will also be made part of the plans for streetscaping taking place up to University Avenue in 2020 and 2021.

Advocates have asked Waterloo and the region to do more to protect cyclists after the new bike lanes were revealed last summer. Despite the bright green paint indicating the lanes, there were still problems with vehicles parking on the lanes or driving onto them.

A cyclist rides on King Street in uptown Waterloo. Regional council has approved a committee recommendation to add flexible bollards and more signage to the bike lanes to keep cyclists and vehicles better separated. (Joe Pavia/CBC)