A commercial property owner in Killarney is speaking out against the City of Calgary's construction plans along 26th Avenue S.W., arguing that a proposal to install dedicated bike lanes will negatively affect customer access to local businesses.
Rose Crowley, owner of Knight Enterprises, which operates in a commercial strip mall in the 3400 block of 26th Avenue S.W., expressed concern that the city's plan to improve the east-west thoroughfare between 37th and 14th Street S.W. will permanently remove on-street parking along 17 blocks. She worries that the loss of curbside parking will reduce customer traffic to businesses along the corridor.
"There will be no parking whatsoever for any of the businesses that are already here," Crowley said in an interview.
The city-led project, with a budget of $15.2 million, will see protected bike lanes and multi-use pathways installed on either side of the roadway, replacing the current unprotected bike lanes. The project also includes repaving the avenue, installing new street lights, and upgrading intersections with curb extensions and wheelchair ramps with tactile strips to increase visibility. "Floating" bus stops will be added between the bike lane and road, allowing buses to pull over without crossing into the bike lane. The speed limit along 26th Avenue S.W. will also be reduced from 50 km/h to 40 km/h.
To create space for these improvements, on-street parking will be removed from a 12-block stretch on the south side of 26th Avenue between 37th and 25th Street, and on the north side of the avenue between 22nd and 14A Street.
"As communities along 26th Avenue S.W. grow, more people will rely on (the corridor) to get around," the city's project webpage states. "This project helps prepare for growth by creating safe, well-connected travel options for people walking, biking, taking public transit and driving."
The city notes that the current mix of painted bike lanes and shared lanes places cyclists in moving traffic, and buses crossing into painted bike lanes to make stops create potential disruption points. "By upgrading the current state to protected bike lanes and multi-use pathways, we increase the physical separation between different road users, creating a safer space to travel for all," the city's website says.
Construction is slated to begin this spring and will likely take two years to complete, though timelines may shift due to weather, supply chain delays, or unexpected site conditions.
Area councillor Peter Demong said he also hears from residents about the need for traffic calming and cyclist safety, acknowledging the concerns but emphasizing the project's benefits for road safety.
Crowley, whose building houses Caffe Francesco, Inglewood Pizza on 26th, and Nick's Barber and Hair Styling, noted that the strip mall's parking lot is often full in the afternoons, forcing customers to park along the street. She fears the removal of street parking will hurt these businesses.
