Nick Lachance
CCE CONTRIBUTOR
Meandering through Waterloo and Kitchener the Iron Horse Trail creates a corridor of greenery between the main artery of the cities and their suburban counterparts. Running 5.5 kilometers between Uptown Waterloo and Ottawa Street in Kitchener, the trail offers a quiet scenic journey through the two cities. A pleasant alternative to traveling down King street, the Iron Horse Trail shelters travelers from the sound of major intersections, periodically breaking this serenity when the trail crosses Westward reaching streets.
But is it safe? Rumors of gangs, muggings and murders hang over the secluded unlit trail. Technically the Iron Horse Trail is only open to the public between 6am and 11pm but undoubtedly there are those who travel it regardless of time of day. There is no definitive answer to this question but the major consensus of people on the trail around dusk was yes it is safe, regardless of time of day.
My personal journey took me from one end to the other and back again. Along the way I met several pleasant people who were more than willing to share their thoughts and experiences with me. The enjoyable bike ride coupled with the positive feedback I came across changed my preconceived notions about the trail. Personally I would go for a ride or walk on the Iron Horse Trail anytime up to dusk, but would feel uncomfortable being there much later do the seclusion and lack of lighting.
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