Residents worry Halifax bike lane will come at cost of parking, trees and safety

A proposal for a new bike lane on peninsular Halifax is getting pushback from localsworried about the potential loss of trees and parking.

The municipality's active transportation planners want to connect cyclists from Lower Water Street to University Avenue.

Six different options were discussed at a meeting Oct. 14, including four involving Morris Street. As many as 30 of48 trees could be cut down if the street is used.

"Where and how you widen the street would determine how many trees would come down," said Larry Haiven, who lives in the Schmidtvillehistoric district. "I mean we absolutely oppose that."

Another route would use Bishop and Clyde streets a move resident WilliamBreckenridge calls "just insanity."

"The street is way too narrow and there's too much construction," said Breckenridge, who lives on Clyde Street."It's not safe."

Breckenridge said a route along South Street could work, but he said planners are not keen on it because it has a steep hill. Plannersalso seem to prefer a direct route rather than any options that zigzagthrough the neighbourhood, he said.

Haiven said residents are not opposed to cycling or bike lanes butmunicipal officials and the committee working on the project are "not taking the concern of the community as seriously as they should."

More public consultation will take place by the end of the year or early next year.

A final recommendation on the new bike lane route is expected to go to regional council by the end of 2021.