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Yet, while the region has chosen to continue with "separated cycling lanes" in other areas of the city on regional roads, using dif- ferent types of separation, the city must decide what to do on some of its streets. Those include Columbia Street and Albert Street, where planters (between University Avenue West and Seagram Drive) in- tended to separate traffic from cyclists as part of the pilot were used for dump- ing garbage and displaced, and subsequently removed due to damage. For now, flexible bol- lards remain on Albert Street, with staff expected to report back later in the year on the possibility of interim solutions for both roadways. Separated lanes, by mounting flexible bollards on curbs, were preferred by cyclists in other areas and seen as providing an extra buffer of protection between vehicles and bikes, increasing ridership in the process. Overall, however, there were concerns with winter maintenance of the facili- ties and costs associated. Hazem Elgabra, who was cycling on Columbia Street, said he's OK with the painted lines that are a big improvement com- pared to other areas. He'd rather see the city spend its money on developing dedi- cated cycling areas rather than just temporary road improvements. "Really, I think they have to widen this whole thing, push onto the prop- erties," said Collins, who has provided lots of feed- back and filled out all the surveys. "It's our next level here -- this is what we need for our mental health and our wellness," she said. "If we don't make it safe, people won't want to get on it and youth will look for safer al- ternatives. "Trials are taxing and annoying; let's start mak- ing some action plans here." Based on the city's cur- rent capital budget and forecast, Columbia Street and Albert Street aren't due for reconstruction and are unplanned and unbud- geted. Longer term plan- ning for the Columbia cor- ridor must consider things such as the Ion Stage 3 route planned along the University Avenue corri- dor in the next 20 years and how that might impact transportation patterns, the staff report says. City Coun. Jeff Henry said he senses people's dis- appointment and it's some- thing he shares as a cyclist. Henry said the staff recom- mendation presented an un- fortunate gap between the end of the region's pilot and a viable alternative, which won't be realized until next spring at the earliest. Any interim outcome must be "durable and safe in- frastructure" that's separat- ed from traffic for years to come, said Henry, noting that temporary separation imple- mented along Columbia will play a role in shifting people's modes of transportation. Henry said council needs to look ahead to sub- sequent budget cycles in the near term to extend a separated connection to Fi- scher Hallman Road and establish an east-west cy- cling route along Colum- bia, from Erbsville Road all the way to King Street. STORY BEHIND THE STORY: The Region of Waterloo and City of Water- loo are contemplating next steps after experimenting with separated bike lanes on various stretches of road. We wanted to hear from cyclists to get their first-hand accounts. NEWS Continued from page 1 Cyclists travel along a portion of Columbia Street West where flexible bollards used to delineate bike lanes have been removed. Bill Jackson/Metroland COUNCILLOR SENSES PEOPLE'S DISAPPOINTMENT