One street, two visions: the bike lane debate
Some say the new bike lanes will create safer streets. Others fear lost parking and want provincial help
The City of Edmonton is expanding transit in the Delton and Alberta Avenue areas with proposed bike lanes and plans to reduce parking, sparking mixed reactions within the community.
The expansion, based on the city’s Bike Plan, includes adding a protected bike lane on 96 Street between 119 Avenue and 124 Avenue and removing parking along 92 Street, 96 Street, and 124 Avenue. These changes are part of a larger $100-million network expansion plan scheduled for completion by 2026.
The city says the Active Transportation Network Expansion is intended to improve access for Edmontonians and create a system that meets both current and future needs, but some residents see it differently. Thomas Ogonoski, a senior living on 96 Street, says losing street parking would make day-to-day life harder for his multi-person household.
He questions where people will park going forward. “There’s just not enough room for everybody,” he adds.
When he received the city’s letter about the new infrastructure plans, he wished there had been better communication and more effort to involve residents in the decision-making process.
“It was too late for us to do anything about it,” Ogonoski says.
Feelings of helplessness turned into action for some. Delton resident Jeremiah Rawling launched a petition opposing the bike network expansion. Rawling collected hundreds of signatures from community members in protest of the city’s plans.
“The people have spoken,” he says. “We expect our voices and our signatures to count.”
In addition to the petition, two community meetings were held for Delton and Alberta Avenue residents to discuss the proposed transit changes. Residents at the meetings voted to contact the provincial government for support. Rawling later reached out to the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Dan Williams, on behalf of the group.
“It’s so ridiculous that the only thing we can do is beg the province for help,” he says.
Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors, took to the social media platform, X, to express his concerns over planned bike lanes on 132 Avenue. He asked the City of Edmonton to stop building bike lanes at the expense of driving lanes.
“Albertans expect their tax dollars to build and expand infrastructure – not block and reduce it,” Dreeshen said.
Amid the backlash, there’s also strong support. Many residents say the bike lanes offer several benefits to the community, including safer, more active, and better-connected streets.
“It could save the life of someone from an inattentive motorist glancing at their phone,” says Sasha Stanojevic, Alberta Avenue resident. “It could improve the commute of someone who needed a little more security to choose to bike to work. It could mean feeling more comfortable to walk somewhere, and so getting to know a neighbour along the way. It could mean an alley is cleaned up and beautified for the regular use of a new parking spot. Most of these are small things and add up to a more pleasant way of living.”
Stanojevic says provincial intervention in a municipal matter is a dangerous overreach.
“The provincial government overriding our local vote and dictating how we design our neighbourhoods worries me even more than getting hit by a car,” he adds.
At the first Delton and Alberta Avenue community meeting, Stanojevic was limited to 90 seconds to speak in support of bike lanes. He expressed the positive impact that affordable bicycle transportation has on his family, with car expenses being so high.
Other bike lane supporters in the neighbourhood, like Brian Weber, say dedicated cycling infrastructure helps revitalize the area, connect people and create less car-dependent communities.
Weber also believes provincial intervention would be a poor indication of local democracy. “I would be kind of horrified if they do [intervene],” he says.
As tensions over the project continue, several residents have directly contacted Councillor Ashley Salvador, who represents the Delton and Alberta Avenue area, to share their concerns about the new transportation network.
In response, Salvador explained that 96 Street was identified as a priority because it builds on an existing active transportation route to the south. This new infrastructure will fill in a missing link, creating a continuous connection along 96 Street that extends as far south as Jasper Avenue.
Salvador emphasized that decisions impacting parking and operational changes are not taken lightly. “Designated curbside accessible parking that is actively in use will not be removed unless suitable alternatives are provided,” she added.
The city encourages residents to contact ActiveTransportation@edmonton.ca with questions and concerns.
Bad idea.
As a resident on 119ave I already have to deal with the two infill houses newly constructed, meaning four families in each as opposed to one…all owning vehicles and of course no back alley garages.
So parking on street is at a premium.
Being semi-retired I have time to relax in my front yard where I get to watch the maybe four or five cyclists per hour on our street (which by the way has a 30km/h speed limit).
Si we are supposed to get rid of parking, make it more difficult for the majority of road users for four or five cyclists?
The city needs to get its priorities straight and realize that Edmonton, whether they like it or not because of our long winters and urban sprawl is still a car centered city.