Bayridge Drive Cycling & Pedestrian Improvements

Consultation has concluded, you can read the engagement summary to find out what we heard.

• Engagement summary

  The City of Kingston collected data about the future improvements to Bayridge Drive between Henderson Boulevard and Cataraqui Woods Dr. We wanted to hear from the community about proposed active transportation upgrades along Bayridge Drive.

  How we engaged 

  Get Involved Website - May 16 to June 6, 2022

  A survey was available for community members to provide their feedback and answer how they currently use the corridor and how they might in the future.

  During that same period, a digital map was made available on the same webpage where community members could place pins to identify rest stop locations or other areas of interest.

  151 engaged participants completed surveys, and 501 aware participants visited the project page. 

  Open House – May 24, 2022

  An online open house was held and attended by more than 30 community members. A presentation was made by members of the project team who then answered questions.

  A recording of the open house is available on the City's YouTube channel.

  What we heard - Summary of key themes identified in community feedback

  The following summary presents the findings of a survey conducted to assess the interest and identify potential improvements for cycling in Kingston’s Bayridge Drive area. 73.2 per cent of the respondents are residents that live near the area and 76.5 per cent frequently travel along Bayridge Drive.

  The results showed that 90 per cent of the respondents expressed a strong interest in using the Bayridge Drive area for recreational cycling purposes. Responses emphasized the scenic appeal and the potential for enjoyable cycling experiences along this route. However, 79.6 per cent of the respondents were concerned about the lack of separated and or protected bicycle facilities in the area. Likewise, 71.2 per cent expressed feelings of exposure and vulnerability due to the absence of protected bike lanes and proper signalling systems.

  Map tool

  The mapping tool allowed participants to view the project elements on an interactive map. It also allowed them to drop pins and identify preferred areas for rest stops or other comments and to have them identified with that location.

  

  Four pins were dropped, one (pink with a white star) for a preferred rest area location and three (green with a little "i") with general comments. The pin locations and the comments associated with the pins are copied below.

  • First comment pin, between Milford Drive and Old Colony Road on the west side of Bayridge: A multiuse path is a recreation route not an active transportation tool. Having pedestrian (dog walking) and bicycles does not make for safe active transportation. The dog walkers are worried about the faster moving bicycles and the bicycles are worried about getting clotheslined by a dog leash. Multiuse is not an active transportation solution.
  • Preferred rest area pin, between Craig Lane and Hudson Drive beside Bayridge Park on the west side of Bayridge Drive: Good place to take a break. Soccer fields, baseball diamond, tennis and pickle ball courts. Add an ice cream stand and you have a nice spot to stop.
  • Second comment pin, shown on the east side of Bayridge drive just south of Acadia Drive:
  • Riding South along Bayridge drive, I typically ride all the way down to Front Road. It is unlikely that most riders will cross the road to get to the bike path. I would prefer the bicycle line to be on each side of the road.
  • Third comment pin, on the west side of Bayridge Drive, just south of Henderson Boulevard at the point where the golf course and airport meet:
  • Why does the bike lane end at Henderson? I would like to see it continue all the way to Front road. I also agree with the other comment that it should be on both sides of the road, I do not want to have to cross the road to continue south to Front road.

  Survey Results

  Which of these options best describes your relationship to the project area?

  Among the participants, a significant portion of 76.5 per cent reported travelling along Bayridge Drive while an additional 73.2 per cent indicated residing close to the area. Respondents were allowed to select more than one option.

  Do you or someone in your household currently bike along Bayridge Drive?

  • 39 people (25.8 per cent) responded sometimes.
  • 48 people (31.8 per cent) responded yes.
  • 64 people (42.4 per cent) responded no.

  Myself or someone in my household would like to be able to bike along Bayridge Drive for the following reasons.

  More than 90 per cent of survey takers indicated they would like to be able to bike along Bayridge Drive.

  • 117 cited recreation.
  • 75 cited grocery shopping.
  • 51 cited commuting.

  Do you feel that there are barriers to biking along Bayridge Drive?

  A notable portion of 79.6 per cent of the respondents expressed their perception of a deficiency in separated and/or protected bicycle facilities. Furthermore, 48.3 per cent remarked on the absence of bicycle facilities at intersections.

  Off road biking facilities along Bayridge Drive would increase the likelihood of me or someone in my household biking.

  A significant portion of 59.3 per cent of the respondents agreed that the presence of off-road biking facilities along Bayridge Drive would amplify the appeal and enthusiasm for biking. A small percentage (19.3 per cent) indicated such facilities would not have a significant impact on whether they or someone in their house chose to bike.

  Please indicate types of cycling facilities you or someone in your household may use along Bayridge Drive

  84.2 per cent of the respondents would use any off-road bike facilities (e.g. Multi-use pathways and/or cycle tracks), while 81.3 per cent would use off road cycle tracks.

  This project will introduce new roadway features for bikers. Please advise on which of the following bike features you have heard of and understand how they work.

  Out of the respondents, a notable 95.2 per cent demonstrated awareness and comprehension of the functionality of a multi-use pathways. Similarly, 83.6 per cent of the respondents expressed familiarity and understanding how cycle tracks work.

  • 104 respondents said they were familiar with bike signals.
  • 106 respondents said they were familiar with crossrides.
  • 92 respondents said they were familiar with protected intersections.
  • 139 respondents said they were familiar with multi-use pathways.
  • 122 respondents said they were familiar with cycle tracks.
  • 83 respondents said they were familiar with bi-directional cycle tracks.

  Part of this project includes better cycling and pedestrian facility connections to transit stops along Bayridge Drive. Will this increase the likelihood of you or someone in your household using transit?

  • 14 people (9.3 per cent) reported being unsure.
  • 45 people (30 per cent) responded yes.
  • 55 people (36.7 per cent) responded no.
  • 36 people (24 per cent) responded maybe.

  Residents were specifically asked for suggestions on additional initiatives that the City could undertake along Bayridge Drive to promote increased biking within their households. They were also invited to provide any other feedback they had regarding this matter.

  In response to both inquiries, the predominant concern expressed by residents regarding Bayridge Drive was the absence of sufficient separation between bike lanes and vehicle traffic. In addition, residents expressed a desire for increased signage and educational resources pertaining to cycling on the road, emphasizing the need to address the needs of cyclists in addition to motorists.

  Furthermore, residents also suggested the maintenance of pathways during winter should receive the same attention and priority as the roads dedicated to cars. This recommendation emphasizes the importance of ensuring safe and accessible cycling infrastructure throughout the year, regardless of the season.

  Themes identified in the open-ended survey responses are summarized below with relevant comments from the surveys included. Please note comments are copied verbatim and have not been edited for style or grammar. Feedback that did not follow the City of Kingston's Guidelines for Participation is omitted from the feedback.

  Separation between bike lines and vehicle traffic
  

  • Off road cycle tracks / multi use pathways on Bayridge would be amazing. Intersection safety and giving preference to cyclists/pedestrians will be important to encourage use. Please also consider winter maintenance for these pathways similar to the great winter maintenance that roads dedicated to cars receive.
  • Great project! I think having off road bike lanes is essential to getting more people biking. I would love to see this project continue on other roads, such as Taylor Kidd/John Counter.
  • Please do not remove vehicle traffic lanes to accommodate bike lanes.

  Speeding Vehicles

  • Ensure the intersection at Cedarwood also has bike crossings as mentioned, also car speed control. Cars speed so much along Bayridge, anytime I do use the bike on there it is quite scary.
  • I like to cycle and walk, and my boyfriend takes transit as his primary mode of transportation. He lives near Bayridge so we'd definitely enjoy greater access to active transportation around this area. Cars seem to drive quite fast there. Anything that makes Kingston an easier and safer city to be active in is appreciated!
  • I bike almost everywhere I need to go. I face a lot of harassment and dangerous incidents from motorists. Please no more bike lanes on busy roads, only protected bike infrastructure like cycle tracks. Many people in this city want to bike but the roads are just so unsafe. Seeing this type of infrastructure being installed is a breath of fresh air in a city that is the most hostile to cyclists I have ever experienced.
  • Enforce speed limits for motor vehicles. Build protected bike lanes that are also maintained in the winter.

  Parking for bikes

  • There is no bike parking available. If for example I want to bike to Metro for groceries, there are no good options for securing my bike. For my husband, I think bike parking at a express bus stop would also be helpful as then he could bike to the bus and bus the rest of the trip as he doesn't feel safe biking down Front Road either.
  • To question 11. During a travel in Germany, I found amazing that they had bike parking with canopy above. To increase bike / transit, would it be feasible to have a pass with bike rental option? To get to the buss in bike, it has to be two thing furfill, a safe parking spot or a place to carry bike on bus or a place to pick a bike to carry on destination...

  Winter maintenance

  • More connections need to be made. Bike lanes have a tendency to disappear right when you need them most (ie, Taylor-Kidd & Gardiners Rd). Many start from nowhere and lead to nowhere. A solid, protected corridor is needed to go from the west end to downtown. Lanes/Paths need to be maintained in the winter as well. I ride all year round to commute, do errands and for leisure.
  • With people trying to use bikes and walkways for longer into the year, please do invest in clearing and salting the bicycle and walking paths more frequently in the winter.
  • Traffic signals that prioritise bikes along with winter maintenance.

  Next steps

  Construction on the first phase of the project began in 2023 with work on the multi-use pathway from Cataraqui Woods Drive. Phase two will begin in 2024.