In the Grovenor neighbourhood in west-central Edmonton, one road could soon see a new bike lane as part of the city’s plan to make streets more bicycle- friendly.
Residents CityNews spoke with say they’re opposing these lanes, saying they will eliminate street parking and cause disruptions to both residents and businesses.
“It will block all of the parking on our side of the street,” said Carly Beaulieu, a resident.
Beaulieu spent about $30 thousand on rezoning her home located in the neighbourhood. She’s looking to expand her midwifery business and add a new birthing centre in the backyard. But she says she might have to change her plans if street parking is lost.
Carly Beaulieu, a resident. (Hiba Kamal-Choufi, CityNews)
“Our clients, moms, pregnant moms, pregnant people, families with new babies, will need to park across the street and walk across the street to enter into our business. Six to seven spots for sure will be lost if not more,” said Beaulieu.
Beaulieu is one of 300 residents who signed a petition asking the City of Edmonton to rethink the proposed bike lanes, which would run on 148 Street from Stony Plain Road to 104 Avenue, then on 104 Avenue from 142 Street to 149 Street, and on 144 Street from Stony Plain Road to 107 Avenue.
“We currently do, of course, have bike infrastructure on our roads, right now, and we’re not sure exactly why they would’ve changed it from what we currently have, and why we’re putting in where there’s only parking on one side of the street. Now we’re reducing that access again to our disabled,” said Marissa Loewen, the president of the Grovenor Community League.
Marissa Loewen, the president of the Grovenor Community League. (Hiba Kamal-Choufi, CityNews)
Residents say they weren’t consulted about these lanes, but city administration says public engagement for the bike plan was completed in 2019 and 2020. The city is adding parking removal along the new Grovenor local street bikeway routes to ensure adequate roadway space for vehicles and cyclists to safely pass one another and to meet design standards, ensuring safe roadway operations.
But one cyclist says he doesn’t see the benefit of adding a new bike lane in the area.
“There’s no bike path on Canora that joins to this one. And there’s no bike path in Glenora, so we’re like on an island on ourselves with a bike lane,” said Greg Eby, a resident.
Road in Grovenor neighbourhood, where bike lanes are expected to be installed. (Hiba Kamal-Choufi, CityNews)
The councillor representing the area says he heard from concerned residents as well as cycling groups and is trying to find a compromise.
“I think there’s a lot of unique solutions we could do and people brought these forward that we could maybe shift into that or make a couple of changes on that on some of the routes that are being proposed right now,” said Reed Clarke, the Councillor for Ward Nakota Isga.
Eby, however, says, “They should listen to the people in the community when they do these things.”
Bike lane in Edmonton. (Hiba Kamal-Choufi, CityNews)
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