The City of Waterloo has identified a number of streets to receive Neighbourhood Bikeways. These locations have been prioritized based on their role in the overall cycling network and will be opening throughout the next few years - starting in 2025 and based on available budget. Follow this project to see when a Neighbourhood Bikeway is coming near you, and how they connect you to your city.

What is a Neighbourhood Bikeway?

Provincial traffic manuals describe these as cycling routes that typically operate on low-volume and low speed routes that provide a network connection and facilitate trips through a neighbourhood.

Features differ depending on the street. These can be low key features such as wayfinding signs and bike symbols on the road or can sometimes incorporate other measures to reduce traffic speeds and volumes on the street, such as traffic calming. The overall intent is for cyclists to be able to navigate safely and conveniently through a neighbourhood to get to their planned destination.

The City has implemented several Neighbourhood Bikeways over the past few years and are looking to expand this program based on results from the Transportation Master Plan. These bikeways are an integral part of the overall cycling plan.

Why create Neighbourhood Bikeways

Our updated cycling network has a variety of existing and planned cycling routes to connect people to key destinations across the city to help access daily needs such as transit, schools and amenities.

This network will feature different types of cycling infrastructure based on the type of street. It could include separated cycling lanes and multi-use-paths on busy and high-trafficked corridors, as well as local neighbourhood streets that may simply require navigational aids such as signs and road paint - also known as a Neighbourhood Bikeway.

What will I see on my street?

City staff will be starting with a minimalistic approach to these bikeways using signs and road paint symbols as shown below, with the signs being located based on guidelines from provincial traffic manuals.

These features will have no impact to existing driveways or existing parking conditions on streets receiving Neighbourhood Bikeways.

The City’s contractor will complete the pre-marking and paint works on behalf of the City of Waterloo. The paint work will generally be completed over night, in addition the City's transportation staff will install signs and signposts.