Debate continues over downtown cycle track

The tires could be spinning at City Hall next week as council once again debates the downtown cycle track.

One of the more controversial proposals would be to allow hundreds of cyclists onto Stephen Avenue.

Business owners are concerned the proposed track could hurt pedestrians and their bottom line.

Maggie Schofield is the Executive Director of Downtown Calgary. She says a cycle track, with an estimated 1,200 cyclists a day, will cause chaos and crashes and is frustrated by a lack of a disclosed design plan, despite a July 1 start date for the pilot project.

 “I don’t think in summer with a lot of pedestrians walking around it is necessarily a good idea to have cyclists. As well it just adds to the confusion and increases the risks of incidents.”

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Stephen Avenue is considered one of the most successful pedestrian walkways in North America.

In the summer it is filled with a number of programmed events. On Monday, City Council will be asked to approve a new strategy.

The cost of the one year pilot program is estimated at roughly $7 million. About $1 million would be used for changes to Stephen Avenue.