More bike boxes coming to Waterloo intersections

The city of Waterloo, Ont., is the first municipality in the region to use bike boxes at intersections to offer cyclists an advantage in traffic.

The box is a marked area between the crosswalk and the stopping line for cars, allowing riders to jump to the front of the line when coming to a red light. Cyclists can move in front of car traffic in order to be the first vehicles away when a light changes from red to green.

The first bike box was installed in 2011, at the intersection of Lexington Road and Davenport Road, with two more pending approval this year, slated for Lexington intersections at University Avenue and at Bridge Street.

Despite the step forward, there are still changes that can be made to make the boxes more effective. Presently, the traffic lights are timed to allow for fast moving traffic, which can be daunting for some cyclists. Engineers are considering adding a bike specific signal where bike boxes have been installed, giving a headstart to cyclists.

Bike boxes allow for a two-phase left turn for a cyclist. Instead of a standard left turn from the left lane, a cyclist would stay in the curb lane to the far side of the intersection in the bike box facing the desired direction of travel. When the signal changes, the cyclist can make the left.

There is no master plan for the installation of bike boxes in the city of Waterloo. Each is considered on a case-by-case basis.