It’s a common practice for cyclists in Waterloo Region – even if it’s not a legal one.
For years, the region has had a bylaw prohibiting cyclists from riding two abreast on any regional roads.
A review of that bylaw has been ongoing for some time, and was put in front of regional councillors this week for their approval.
The recommendation from regional staff was to continue to bar cyclists from riding side-by-side.
Councillors overruled that, choosing to remove the ban.
Bob Henderson, the region’s manager of transportation engineering, says other existing rules of the road still apply to cyclists, including moving over when approached by larger vehicles.
“They can ride side-by-side, however they are obligated to move to the right to still allow vehicles to pass,” he said in an interview.
Graham Roe is a cycling advocate and the co-owner of the Berlin Bicycle Café in Kitchener.
He says he and other cyclists have been riding side-by-side all along, believing that the bylaw wouldn’t be enforced – because they feel it makes biking safer.
“Cycling two abreast … makes cyclists more visible. It also really defines that that motorist has to do a proper lane change to pass the cyclist,” he said.
“What the motorist needs to do is treat the cyclist as another vehicle. They need to make sure there’s enough room to pass.”
Evidence from other cities that have allowed side-by-side cycling shows no greater risks to cyclist safety under that approach, Henderson said.
The region only has jurisdiction over regional roads – meaning that city and township streets still fall under the jurisdiction of those municipalities.
In Woolwich, the township’s bylaw prohibits side-by-side cycling, and Mayor Sandy Shantz says no changes are imminent.
“We don’t have plans to revisit it at this point, but that’s not to say that we wouldn’t (in the future),” she said.
The new traffic bylaw, which removes the ban on side-by-side cycling, takes effect in January.
