Following a large protest by area residents Monday evening and a meeting of Edmonton City Council on Tuesday, the city has agreed to make some changes to its plans to remove a large section of on-street parking along 50th Street to allow for the installation of bike lanes.
The original plan called for on-street parking to be removed between 102 Avenue and 109A Avenue, an idea that drew several dozen residents from the communities of Fulton, Capilano and Goldbar to gather along the street Monday evening in protest.
“We have over close to 200 houses along both routes that this is their primary parking,” said protester Chris Short.
“We get arguments from people that, ‘Oh, well use your lane, use your garage,’ but a lot of houses don’t have a lane because we’re on a slope down to the river — we’re terraced down — and garages built in the area were built in the late ’50s early ’60s so most newer vehicles, SUVs can’t fit into them.”
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The protesters claim putting bike lanes in front of the houses would be especially inconvenient for the many seniors who live in the area.
“We want to work with the city,” said Ginny Archer. “We want to have our parking and the ability get to our house, ability for emergency services to get to houses, home care — all of these things.
“A lot of our residents are seniors. Bike lanes are great, but we can do both. We can have parking and bike lanes.”
On Tuesday, the protests appear to have some sway on the city.
Following a meeting of council, area councillor Ashley Salvador said there is an alternate plan that city administration has been directed to move forward with.
It would maintain on-street parking for about half the originally affected stretch of 50 Street.
“We’re looking at how to accommodate everyone,” said Salvador.
Describing it as “the best scenario possible,” Mayor Andrew Knack said, “Here’s a great example of where you can add bike infrastructure, maintain your lanes of traffic, maintain your parking — why wouldn’t you do it?”
However, the alternative design does come at a cost.
It is projected to cost about $4.9 million, compared to the cost of the initial plan which was $4.2 million.
How is this a priority during an affordability crisis? I have lived and biked in this neighbourhood for decades. This is not necessary.
Stop wasting public funds. Sick of seeing my taxes rise every year. You are pushing people out of Edmonton
All you folks in Edmonton, here in Calgary, we feel the same way about bike lanes. Don’t forget the electric buses that didn’t work so Calgary council ordered some too. Do you think our former mayors, gondork and sohi, were in cahoots with nenshi?
A bicycle is a childs toy, not a suitable mode of transportation for folks past puberty.
Deals were agreed to when we ALL BOUGHT OUR HOMES in the city of Edmonton but Mayors, more then one, continue to CHANGE HOW OUR TAX DOLLARS are being spent without home owners who continue to see always rising house taxes agreeing to it like bike lanes for one huge problem I have an issue with and would love to stop paying house taxes until the city goes BACK TO spending my taxes on what our taxes should be spent on, proper road repairs for one that need to be done before more bike lanes are put in. Get it Mayor and Council. Wish ALL EDMONTON HOMEOWNERS would hold back paying their house taxes until the city gets it’s spending habit UNDER CONTROL AGAIN.
While we’re at it – could Ebike riders (you know, the ones that go as fast as a motorbike???) NOT ride on the sidewalk??
People have lived there for decades and haves paid thousands of dollars to do so, and continue to do so.
Persons riding bikes pay $0
Math wise… Unhappy homeowners are paying for bike lanes for cyclists that don’t pay anything! Doesn’t add up…
For real though… there are so many dire issues in the city to be done than disturbing a beautiful community’s peace. How about fixing potholes instead? Thank is an issue most people stand and give praise about!!!
How does the cycling enthusiasts have such clout at city hall? These bike lanes are not needed or wanted!
The obsession with cyclists and bike lanes is stupid.
It causes more polution and we will never be like tiny little European towns.
Get over your self-righteous idiocy.
Knack and his far-left council will push it through anyway. Don’t count your chickens folks.
Good. Bike lanes are not used 1/2 the year in Edmonton. They are not used when it is rainy or very windy either. Removing something that is constantly used for occasional use does not make any sense.
BTW: when they put in bike lanes, bicycle accidents increase. People tend to forget when they drive their bikes, they are vehicles, and have to follow the rules of the road. When they dome to intersections, they do not know how to behave and hit cars, or hit pedestrians, or other bikes.
It’s time to look at the whole city bike lane debacle. I never see any bikes using the lanes around.
Most of the city is grid locked by some type of barriers. Remaining is looked after by pothe11s.
Lunatics at city hall,end.