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Cycling enthusiasts braved the rain at Colchester Harbour Wednesday to take part in a short bike tour and Open House about the County Wide Active Transportation System.
It was the first in a series of public sessions that will be held as the County of Essex and its partners seek input as they update the CWATS Master Plan, which was developed in 2012. The Master Plan is being updated over two years to reflect lessons learned and to incorporate best practices and the latest trends in active transportation.
The next pop-up Open House will take place at the Essex County Civic Centre on Friday, June 14th during the 6th Annual CWATS Celebration and Glow Ride. Participants who pre-register for the celebration on Eventbrite will receive a free T-Shirt.
“We are seeking the public’s valuable input so we can create a plan that works even better for the community,” said Jane Mustac, Director of Infrastructure Services.
The team is seeking input from pedestrians, cyclists and users of other non-motorized vehicles about the state of the CWATS network and suggestions for improvements. Are there any missing links or gaps? Are there opportunities for new active transportation links? Should routes be added or removed? What are your short, medium and long-term priorities for the system?
“We are looking for feedback and input from everybody on all of those aspects,” said Mustac.
About 25 cyclists took part in a short ride Wednesday led by Sue and Tom Omstead of Share the Road Essex County, an independent, grassroots organization dedicated to cycling and safer cycling routes and infrastructure. They then asked questions of the consultant team and provided ideas and suggestions for the CWATS network.
The County Wide Active Transportation System is an ever-expanding network of bicycle lanes, multi-purpose pathways, paved shoulders and shared roadways. It will eventually include about 800 km of active transportation corridors linking the County’s seven local municipalities and connecting with trail systems in Windsor and Chatham-Kent.
Big projects on tap for 2019 include the completion of a one-way cycle path on County Road 20 from Leamington to Kingsville, the completion of paved shoulders from County Road 23 to Evergreen Road on historic County Road 50 and significant progress on a multi-use pathway on County Road 2 in Lakeshore.
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