Bikes on Sidewalk By-laws in Waterloo Region

In August John Gazzola, councillor for Kitchener Ward 3, opposed the protected bike lane pilot project and suggested that bike riders should just ride on the sidewalk.

This was is original tweet

His original tweet was here:

In an effort to more fully explain my thoughts on cycling let me share my experiences. I have been cycling on Westmount Rd for the last 18-20 years. It is a very busy street with miles & miles of sidewalks on each side of it. I continue to ride on the sidewalk. No harm to pedest.

— John Gazzola (@jgaz3) August 15, 2020

And Councillor Gazzola repeated the same idea later in the Kitchener Citizen, Matt Rodrigues clipped the article here:

Fun. (p.s. it’s still checks notes against the by-law to ride on the sidewalk as an adult) pic.twitter.com/rAcUOCGQdl

— Matt Rodrigues (@mattjrodrigues) August 27, 2020

I thought that this was against local by-laws in Waterloo Region, but I was unsure at the time. After some follow up it turns out that it is against the by-laws in every municipality, with the following exceptions: * I could not find the Wellesley traffic by-laws * North Dumfries does not include anything other than a definition for "sidewalks"

By-laws

For my own future reference I have collected the links and quoted the appropriate by-laws

Kitchener

PART II - DEFINITIONS

...

Bicycle includes a tricycle having a wheel or wheels of more than 50 centimetres in diameter.

...

Pedestrian means any person afoot, any person in a wheelchair, any child in a wheeled carriage, and any person riding a non -motorized bicycle with wheels less than 50 centimetres in diameter.

...

PART IV -GENERAL

1. Operation of Vehicles
   1. Driving_On a Boulevard Sidewalk or Multi -Use Trail
      2. No person shall ride a bicycle on any boulevard or sidewalk except at a driveway.

BY-LAW NUMBER 2019-113 OF THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF KITCHENER A by-law to regulate traffic and parking on highways under the jurisdiction of the Corporation of the City of Kitchener.

Cambridge

Sidewalks: Sidewalk cycling is not permitted in Cambridge. This can be dangerous especially when crossing intersections and driveways. A bicycle is defined as a vehicle under traffic laws.

Cycling

North Dumfries

"Sidewalk" shall mean any municipal walkway or road works for the accommodation of pedestrians on that portion of a highway between the property line and the edge of the roadway

THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF NORTH DUMFRIES BY-LAW NUMBER 3093-19 BEING A BY-LAW TO REGULATE AND CONTROL OPERATIONS IN THE TOWNSHIP OF NORTH DUMFRIES

Waterloo

PART II - Definitions

...

23. “pedestrian” means any person afoot, any person in a wheelchair, any child in a wheeled carriage, and any person riding a non-motorized bicycle with wheels less than 50 centimetres in diameter;

...

Part IV -General

1. Operation of Vehicles
   1. Driving on a Boulevard, Sidewalk or Multi-Use Trail
      2. No person shall drive a bicycle having a wheel or wheels more than 50 centimetres in diameter or ride a skateboard on any boulevard or sidewalk except on a driveway.

CITY OF WATERLOO BY-LAW NO. 08 –077BEING A BY-LAW TO REGULATE TRAFFIC AND PARKING ON HIGHWAYSUNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY OF WATERLOO

Waterloo Region

PART II - Definitions

...

25. “pedestrian” means any person afoot, any person in a wheelchair, any child in a wheeled carriage, and any person riding a bicycle that is not a motor-assisted vehicle with wheels less than 50 centimetres in diameter

...

Part IV -General

1. Operation of Vehicles
   1. Driving on a Boulevard, Sidewalk or Multi-Use Trail
      4. No person shall drive a bicycle having a wheel or wheels more than 50 centimetres in diameter on any sidewalk except on a driveway or to directly supervise a child riding a bicycle having wheels not more than 50 centimetres in diameter

By-Law Number 16-023 of The Regional Municipality of WaterlooA By-law toRegulate Traffic and Parking on Highways Under the Jurisdiction of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo and toRepeal By-law 06-072

Wellesley

I could not find the by-laws for Wellesley.

Wilmont

Part II - Definitions

...

28. “pedestrian” means any person afoot, any person in a wheelchair, any child in a wheeled carriage, and any person riding a bicycle that is not a motor-assisted vehicle with wheels less than 50 centimetres in diameter;

...

Part IV - General

1. Operation of Vehicles
   1. Driving on a Boulevard, Sidewalk or Multi-Use Trail
      2. No person shall drive a bicycle having a wheel or wheels more than 50 centimetres in diameter on any sidewalk, boulevard or multi-use trail, except on a driveway or to directly supervise a child riding a bicycle having wheels not more than 50 centimetres in diameter;

THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF WILMOT BY-LAW NO. 2016-52 A BY-LAW TO REGULATE TRAFFIC AND PARKING ON TOWNSHIP HIGHWAYS

Woolwich

PART II - Definitions

...

23. **Pedestrian** means any person afoot, any person in a wheelchair, any child in a wheeled carriage, and any person riding a non-motorized bicycle with wheels less than 50 centimetres in diameter;

..

33. **Sidewalk** means that part of a highway with a surface improved with asphalt,concrete or gravelfor the use of pedestrians.

... PART IV -GENERAL

1. Operation of Vehicles
   1. Driving on a Boulevard, Sidewalk or Multi-Use Trail
      2. No person shall drive a bicycle having a wheel or wheels more than 50 centimetres in diameter or ride a skateboard on any boulevard or sidewalk except on a driveway.

TOWNSHIP OF WOOLWICHBY-LAW NO. #70-2006A BY-LAW TO REGULATE TRAFFIC AND PARKINGON HIGHWAYS UNDER THE JURISDICTIONOF THE TOWNSHIP OF WOOLWICH ANDTO REPEAL BY-LAW NO. 45-2002

Well, that was...fun.

One day, maybe we can hope for by-laws which are easier to link and reference and not be buried in PDFs.