Ward Nakota Isga Councillor Reed Clarke has received a petition signed by approximately 300 residents of the Grovenor neighbourhood, calling for a rethink of the city's planned bike lanes in the area. The petition, delivered late last week, highlights concerns about accessibility for people with disabilities and the loss of on-street parking.
Clarke toured the proposed bike-lane route earlier this week and identified six locations where disabled driver access would be affected. "We are absolutely not against bike lanes, but we don't want to have active transport impede with folks who are disabled, who do need access to the fronts of their houses, who have to have deliveries," he said.
The bike lanes are part of the city's Active Transportation Network Expansion Program, which aims to connect 104 Avenue from 142 Street to 149 Street. The proposed lanes would run on 148 Street from Stony Plain Road to 104 Avenue, then on 104 Avenue from 142 to 149 Street, and on 144 Street from Stony Plain Road to 107 Avenue.
Clarke emphasized that the community supports active transportation but questions the specific route. "I think everyone supports active transportation and bike lanes. That's not the argument here. I think people really want to get into the specifics of it and say, hey, cool, but there might be another way here. There might be a better connection, a better route, and I'm hearing that from the community."
Resident Carly Beaulieu, who signed the petition, expressed concern about losing street parking. She spent $35,000 over two years to rezone her home on 104 Avenue near 147 Street to expand her midwifery business, Lucina Midwives, which includes a future birthing centre. "I'm thinking about changing plans if street parking is lost," she said, noting that her clients are pregnant women who need easy access.
Clarke noted that the bike lanes would exist in isolation, without connecting corridors to neighbouring areas like Glenora and Canora. Additionally, 102 Avenue bike lanes are currently impassable due to Wellington Bridge construction, and ongoing LRT work in Grovenor adds to the disruption. "Drive along Stony Plain Road, where concrete barriers make it impossible to see if anyone is planning to cross the road either on foot or by bike, and it's easy to understand why it would take a brave person to try and pop out into traffic," he added.
The councillor is calling for a more thoughtful approach that balances active transportation with the needs of all residents, including those with disabilities and local businesses.
