New calming measures and the addition of bike lanes on a major stretch of Bowness Road has some motorists and residents steaming about being stuck in traffic.
Over 20 blocks of the busy road now have bike lanes on either side and a centre lane reserved for left hand turns.
The changes were made in an effort to slow traffic through the community but many motorists are frustrated.
“I think it's ridiculous that nine percent of Calgarians ride bicycles and they are changing the roads when 98 percent of people drive cars,” said driver, Nathan Horvath.
Ward 1 Councillor, Ward Sutherland says too many vehicles were speeding down the road and slowing down traffic is what the changes were supposed to accomplish.
“Most of it was just safety. We’ve had for years, concerns from the Belvedere School. The school, the parents committee, about the constant speeding throughout, right in front of the school, and really no schools have four lanes running in front of it. It’s a good cash cow for the city because they catch hundreds of people speeding every single week, but it's never solved the problem,” he said.
The west end of Bowness Road was never actually a four lane road and in reality was a wide, two lane road, a leftover from the days when Bowness was a town.
The new lane configuration seems to be working and slowing traffic and while it annoys many drivers, several people living along the road think it's great.
“I like them,” said one resident, “Because nobody can pass you in the playground zone.”
“Since they did it I’ve noticed a 50 percent reduction of traffic on Bowness Road. I love it,’ said Dave Heerschop.
An online petition calling for the changes to be reversed has garnered 500 signatures but the area councillor says so far he's only received three calls from people complaining about the traffic changes.
(With files from Kevin Green)
