Hi Chantal, thanks for your comments and questions. We expect drivers to drive with care and adjust their speed according to the road conditions. 

The changes to the road design are in accordance with provincial and national design standards. The vehicle lanes are more narrow than they were before, but are still above the minimum widths required in those design standards. The narrower width helps to reduce vehicle speeds, which improves the overall safety for all people using the street. This was an important consideration for Scottsdale Drive, as the street was already identified as a candidate for traffic-calming, due to the high proportion of vehicles that were travelling above the speed limit. 

In terms of Emergency vehicles, we consulted with Guelph Fire Services and Guelph Wellington Paramedic Services at the design stage, prior to installation of the bike lanes. We have also followed up with them after the installation and have confirmed that the protected bike lanes do not pose an obstruction to emergency vehicle access.

Thanks for your comments and observations, Mark. As part of this project, Scottsdale Drive has changed from a 4-lane to a 3-lane configuration (with a centre-lane for making left turns). Before we implement any changes to a road layout, we work with our Transportation Engineer to ensure that the design will operate safely and efficiently, i.e. to meet the required ‘Level of Service’ for traffic operations. Staff are visiting site regularly and are monitoring the traffic on Scottsdale Drive to ensure the design performs as intended. 

Thanks for this suggestion Shaun. We will definitely look at including new cycling infrastructure and 'rules of the road' in our education activities for the year ahead. 

Hello and thank you for the question. 

The bike lanes are a permanent installation and have been designed with snow clearance in mind. In winter, City crews will maintain the street to the same standards that they do now. They will use one type of plow for the road, and a different type of plow for the bike lane and sidewalks. 

The pre-cast concrete curbs (with flexible traffic bollards mounted on top) are pinned onto the road for stability. This is a standard and economical design that is being used in many towns and cities in Ontario. If a curb gets shifted or damaged, it is easy to re-position or replace if needed. This year is the first time that we are using this design on a large scale in Guelph, so Staff will be checking the curbs through all seasons to see how they perform. 

Staff will also be monitoring bike traffic and we expect that to grow in the months and years ahead as the quality and connectivity of Guelph's cycle network continues to increase. The bike lanes on Scottsdale Drive create a dedicated space for people to use bicycles, e-bikes, e-scooters, mobility scooters, skateboards etc., where previously there was none.

Thanks for these thoughts and questions! The Scottsdale Drive Bike Lanes project is not expected to be directly impacted by the Bill 212 proposals, as the construction contract was awarded in July 2024, prior to the dates for eligibility that are outlined in the Bill. 

The City of Guelph submitted feedback to the Government of Ontario regarding the proposed framework for the provincial approval of certain municipal cycling lanes proposed as part of Bill 212 – the Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, 2024. You can read the City's submission here.

Good afternoon, thank you very much for your kind words! The City undergoes a variety of education efforts related to cycling infrastructure and road safety. We recently launched a Vision Zero Storymap and Vision Zero Dashboard to complement Guelph's Cycling and Walking homepage; all of which are regularly featured on social media and the City's website. This summer, we completed in-person outreach at events such as the Guelph District Multicultural Festival, Public Works Week and the Guelph Farmers Market. We've also contacted residents in the Scottsdale neighbourhood via letter mail-out, newsletters and in-person pop-up events to share information, respond to questions and educate all travelers on the upcoming changes to the roadway. 

Hello GuelphiteNeighbour, thank you very much for your question and ideas. We really appreciate your thoughts with regards to this project and broader communications efforts within the City. We will discuss your ideas with our Communications staff and team members who oversee education/communications campaigns for the cycling program. Thank you! 

Hi Sifad, thank you for your thoughts. The project is directed by the Cycling Master Plan, which is a Council-approved plan that was developed with community engagement. The main goal of this HaveYourSay page is to keep people informed as the project moves along and answer questions. We do listen to and investigate concerns, and we address them where we can.