Protected bike lanes proposed for University Ave.

Downtown Toronto could become a lot more bicycle-friendly this summer if plans are approved for some major changes.

Although council will be asked to approve a number of new bike lanes and modifications to existing lanes, the idea that is getting the most attention is a plan to temporarily redesign University Avenue to accommodate bicycles.

The suggestion is to remove two traffic lanes along University and replace them with two protected bike lanes.

Protected lanes are commonplace in other parts of the world - placing a physical barrier between traffic and bicycles - but not in Toronto. The University Avenue experiment would be the city's first.

Yvonne Bambrick of the Toronto Cyclists' Union says with protected, bicycle-only lanes ridership in the city will soar.

"A lot of people want to get out of their cars and the number one thing we hear is, 'I would do it if I felt safer. If there were bike lanes there I'd get on my bike more often, if I felt safer.' So we need to be providing Torontonians with choices," said Bambrick.

Under the proposal, bikes would go in the two centre lanes on University Avenue, next to the pedestrian median that runs down the middle of the street. The bike lanes would be separated from vehicles by posts.

The protected lanes will run from Richmond Street West in the south to Wellesley Street West/Hoskin Avenue in the north.

Using the centre lane, say planners, means curbside parking will not be affected.

The proposal is for a three-month pilot project from July to September. City staffers say traffic shouldn't be much slower.

Drivers aren't thrilled with the proposal.

"I think it's a horrible idea for the driver, like [the bike lanes] on Dupont [Street]. It now takes me 10 minutes extra to get to work in the morning because of the one lane less," said Danny Kulpinski.

But Dave Cyr, who rides a motorcycle, says the city should give it a try.

"That street, [University Avenue] although slow like every Toronto Street, it tends to move because there's four lanes. There's so many lanes.But if you did it on Spadina [Avenue] it wouldn't work."

There are also small sections of other roads slotted for bike lanes.

The idea is to connect them to existing bike lanes, allowing for bike travel across the city.

The proposal will have to be passed by city council.