diff --git a/lib/route_downcaser/downcase_route_middleware.rb b/lib/route_downcaser/downcase_route_middleware.rb
index 7037128..ca00ea6 100644
--- a/lib/route_downcaser/downcase_route_middleware.rb
+++ b/lib/route_downcaser/downcase_route_middleware.rb
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ def downcased_path(uri)
     end
 
     def downcase_path_segment(segment)
-      URI.encode_www_form_component(URI.decode_www_form_component(segment).downcase)
+      uri_encode(uri_decode(segment).downcase)
     end
 
     def path(uri)
@@ -77,6 +77,14 @@ def has_querystring?(uri)
       uri_items(uri).length > 1
     end
 
+    def uri_decode(uri_segment)
+      URI.decode_www_form_component(uri_segment)
+    end
+
+    def uri_encode(uri_segment)
+      URI.encode_www_form_component(uri_segment)
+    end
+
     def uri_items(uri)
       uri.split("?", 2)
     end