Calgary

Coun. Sean Chu wants cheaper bike plan for Stephen Avenue

Sean Chu wants to scale back how the city will separate cyclists from pedestrians.

Downtown cycle track will include the pedestrian mall

A woman on a bicycle rides in a special bike lane on a downtown street during summertime.
The entire downtown cycle track will open this summer on a temporary basis. (CBC)

A city councillor wants to drastically cut how much money is spent to accommodate cyclists on Stephen Avenue.

Calgary's new downtown cycle track network is expected to be up and running this summer on a one-year trial basis.

Sean Chu, the councillor for Ward 4, said the city plans to spend nearly $600,000 to change the pedestrian mall to allow for cyclists.

"Why can't we spend, let's say, $10,000 for paint and just paint the line on the road," he said.

The city has yet to explain how it plans to spend the nearly $600,000 on the street. Designs are expected to be made public in the coming months.

Under current plans, cyclists will be allowed on Stephen Avenue during off-peak times and no physically separated track will be built.

The city could spend the money on entry and exit gates, additional seating areas, planters, public art and installing patterns on the ground to help direct cyclists and pedestrians.