A pilot project will see cyclists riding along Stephen Avenue Walk. As part of the City’s cycling plan bicycles will be allowed on the 8th Avenue pedestrian mall starting July 1st.
The walk runs from 1st street S.E. to 3rd Street S.W and is a pedestrian street between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. each day. During other times, motorists, pedestrians and cyclists share the road.
At least one cyclist says the plan is long overdue. “There’s effectively three blocks where you can’t ride west of 7th Avenue, 8th Avenue and 9th Avenue, so inevitably we end up riding on 8th Avenue. It’s just the best way to do it, so we do it carefully and quietly and sneakily because we can’t really do it” said Darcy Scott, Bike Courier.
Maggie Scofield with the Downtown Business Association doesn’t agree. “We welcome bikes on Stephen Avenue as long as people are walking them and most people seem ok with that.” She also said “We just don’t think it provides enough plusses to compromise business activity and the safety of pedestrians.”
City staff in charge of the bike plan told council they conducted “extensive consultation” with stakeholders along Stephen Avenue, but what they didn’t include in the report is that those stakeholders, the businesses, have never been in favour of putting bikes along Stephen Avenue saying it would be dangerous for people walking and bad for business.
Interestingly, the pilot project will begin on Canada Day – the busiest day of the year on Stephen Avenue Walk.
The Downtown Business Association asked the City to at least delay the start of the pilot project, but so far the City has refused.
For more information on the Stephen Avenue pilot project click HERE.
