Cycling

You can ride your bike anywhere in Waterloo Region. In the cities, bike trips of less than five kilometres often take no more time than driving. You can even use Bus 'n' Bike to combine cycling and Grand River Transit rack-equipped vehicles to make longer rides easier.

To get started, check out our Cycling Map or you can plan a cycling trip using Google Maps.

For newer cyclists, the Cycling Safety Booklet and the Cycling Brochure provide information on sharing the road, the benefits of cycling and what you need to get started.

If you'd like to combine cycling and transit, learn more with our Bus 'n' Bike Brochure or check out the Bus 'n' Bike video below.

Walk Cycle Waterloo Region: The Region of Waterloo's Active Transportation Master Plan

We're creating an action plan to make it easier to walk, cycle, and roll in Waterloo Region.

The Active Transportation Master Plan (ATMP) will develop a plan for safe and comfortable access to make cycling and walking a real choice for transportation in the Region of Waterloo. 

More information can be found on the ATMP page.

Regional Cycling Master Plan

The Regional Cycling Master Plan, approved in 2004, identifies key cycling networks and establishes guidelines for the Region to work with Local Municipalities and other stakeholders toward an integrated network of regional, local and off-road routes over the next 20 or so years.

For more detail, read our Regional Cycling Master Plan

Maps from the Regional Cycling Master Plan:

Map 2 - Existing Cycling Facilities (including Trails)

Map 3 - Origins, Destinations and Major Barriers

Map 4 - Regional Network

Map 5 - Regional Network (Urban Enlargement)

Map 6 - Complete Network

Map 7 - Complete Network (Urban Enlargement)

Visit the Open Data portal for the Regional Cycling Routes dataset.

Cycling & traffic skills

The Canadian Cycling Association's CAN-BIKE program is a series of courses for cyclists on all aspects of road safety. Oriented toward recreational and utilitarian cycling, it is the only accredited bicycle safety training program in Canada.

To take or organize a CAN-BIKE course, contact Colleen Cooper, Public Health Nurse, at 519-883-2008, ext. 5324, or by email.

Tap water refilling stations

The Region of Waterloo is working with the Blue W Program to identity local businesses and public facilities that will refill your reusable bottle with tap water, free of charge.

Finding a Blue W location is easy:

• Look for the Blue W sign posted in storefronts
• Go to BlueW.org and use the mapping tool (computers and smart phones supported). Upon entering your location details, the three closest Blue W sites will appear.

For more information, visit the Blue W website or visit the Water on Tap website to learn more about tap water in our community.