HomeMy WebLinkAboutHK - 2021-02-02 - Item 4 - DTK Cycling Grid - Wayfinding & Street Furniture CCNHCD & VPAHCDDate:January 19, 2021
To:Heritage Kitchener
From:Darren Kropf, Active Transportation Planning Project Manager
cc:
Subject:Downtown Cycling Grid
Wayfinding & Street Furniture
Civic Centre Neighbourhood HCD & Victoria Park Area HCD
Background
On December 14, 2020, Kitchener City Council approved the protected downtown cycling grid, a
connected network of cycling infrastructure for all ages and abilities. It connects to popular trails
like the Iron Horse Trail, Spur Line Trail, and the Great Trail, creating a new way for people to
access all that downtown has to offer. More information can be found in the staff report:
https://lf.kitchener.ca/WebLinkExt/0/doc/1885330/Page1.aspx
A boulevard multi-use trail on Margaret Avenue (Victoria Street to Queen Street) will maintain the
grass boulevards and trees, as required by the Civic Centre Heritage Conservation District Plan.
Separated bike lanes on Joseph Street (Victoria Street to Queen Street) run parallel to the Victoria
Park Heritage Conservation District Plan.
Section 7.3.4 and Section 7.3.6 of the Civic Centre Neighbourhood Heritage Conservation District
Plan contain recommendations for street signage and street furniture in the district. Page 83 of
the Victoria Park Area Heritage Conservation District Plan contains guidelines and policies for
furniture and signage within the district.
City staff is seeking feedback from Heritage Kitchener on proposed street furnishings (i.e.
bike racks) for Civic Centre, as well as wayfinding signage that will be posted through Civic
District and Victoria Park neighbourhoods.
Wayfinding Signs
Wayfinding and network information help people make decisions about how to navigate and get
to desired destinations. The city’s wayfinding approach is to ensure the signs are predictable and
consistent with surrounding municipalities. There are three types of signs, which will become the
city-wide standard for cycling routes.
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Advance Warning Signs
Provide notice in advance of a coming decision point.
Decision Making, Directional Signs
At a decision point, provides direction to select destinations through directional arrows, as well as
time to destination and amenities, such as transit, shopping, recreation, etc. Pedestrian
information will be added, where appropriate.
Bike Route Confirmation Signs
Provide confirmation, reassure people cycling of their direction, and confirm additional
destinations reached along the route.
Note: regulatory signage will also be installed, as directed by the Ontario Traffic Manual. On
Margaret Avenue specifically, this includes Rb-71 Shared Pathway, Rb-1 40 km/h Speed Limit,
Rb-51 No Parking and Rb-73 Bikes Yield to Pedestrians.
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Street Furniture
Bike racks are proposed next to a new bus shelter on Margaret Avenue near Victoria Street, as
well as on Joseph, Cedar and Water streets. Known as “Inverted-Us”, the bike racks provide two
points of contact for a bike to lean against while locked up.
Project Contact
Darren Kropf
Active Transportation Planning Project Manager | Transportation Services | City of Kitchener
519-741-2200 ext. 7314 | TTY 1-866-969-9994 | darren.kropf@kitchener.ca
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