The city’s plan to roll out more bike lanes will be debated Monday night.
Shuniah Street resident Barbara Brayshaw-Fontaine is making a deputation to council, bringing along a petition with over 190 signatures protesting the city’s plan to put bike lanes on her street when upgrades are made later this year.
"This would take away the on street parking," Brayshaw-Fontaine said. "We want to make council aware that we are not happy about that decision sand we want to work with council to make some changes."
Parking on Shuniah is vital for the neighbourhood, she said. And while administration has told residents that visitors could park on side streets instead, Brayshaw-Fontaine said people who live on those streets don’t want the bike lanes either.
"The people even on the side streets were signing the petition saying they don’t want us parking on the side streets. It’s affecting everyone," she said.
The busy street, which sees up to 9,000 vehicles a day, isn’t used by bikers very much because of the traffic, Brayshaw-Fontaine said.
"I think most of the biking public that’s out there would rather pick a side street that’s a little less busy than have a bus coming up behind you.”
Instead of bike lanes throughout the city, Brayshaw-Fontaine said Thunder Bay needs to revisit its original plans to build paths throughout the city. Bike lanes are only for cyclists while recreational paths can be used by everyone she said.
"Biking and walking trails are for everyone so that’s what I would like to see, a more inclusive use of the trails," she said.
City council will hear several deputations both for and against bike lanes before deciding on a recommendation by administration to put bike lanes on Balsam Street, John Street, McIntyre Street, Shuniah Street, Syndicate Avenue, and Victoria Avenue.
