Bike lanes approved for Pillette Road in east Windsor

Bike lanes will be added to a stretch of Pillette Road in Windsor's east end after council approved the plan Tuesday night.

Cycling advocates, who were pitted against angry residents who vehemently oppose the plan, celebrated the decision. They have long been looking for a direct route between Tecumseh Road E. and South National Street.

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Several councillors tried to have the plan postponed until an ongoing transportation plan is complete in order to see howPillettefits into the overall needs of the city. Several residents also argued to stop the addition of bike lanes in order to preserve parking along the road.

But the call for improving safety for cyclists prevailed.

"Are we going to give them a bike lane to make it more safe for them or are we going to say parking's more important?" said Coun. Rino Bortolin.

Staff will now remove parking on the from the east side of the street to make room for the bike lanes, which will connect cyclists to other parts of the city with existing infrastructure.

Currently, both sides of thePilletteallow for parking, but spaces are limited to just one side of the street between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. Reducing parking to just one side will be more than enough to meet demand even during peak hours, according to a city staff report.

A survey of the area showed parking on the west side of the street would be sufficient for the busiest times of the week.