Ouellette Ave. lane shrinkage for beauty, but not for bicycles, city planners say

‘Why would we not take the opportunity to look at bike lanes?’ asks councillor

Ouellette Avenue between Wyandotte and Elliott streets will shrink from four lanes to two in a $5.6-million bid to spruce the area up.

But much to the concern of cycling advocates, the streetscaping meant to calm traffic — despite being one of the widest stretches of downtown — will not include bike lanes.

“Cities across Canada and the United States and Europe are finding ways to incorporate bike infrastructure to their downtowns,” said Bike Windsor Essex executive director Lori Newton, noting that Woodward Avenue in Detroit will enjoy an upgrade with sidewalks, bike lanes and light rail. “For Windsor to say on our big wide streets we don’t have enough room for cycling infrastructure — I think not.”

The project will be started with underground work in August. The road will open again and then the streetscaping will be completed in the summer of 2018.

It is Phase 6 of an Ouellette Avenue rejuvenation. And since the already redone section of Ouellette Avenue to the north do not have bike lanes, nor do the blocks to the south, city planners felt it did not make sense to remove other public space for bike lanes on only two blocks.

“It will animate the street,” city planner Thom Hunt said.

“The streetscaping will create spaces for people to gather in front of businesses there in unique ways.

“It will be beautiful.”

The idea is to create space for patios, walking, trees, parking, bus stops and public art. Including bike lanes would have required a 10-foot wide strip along the two blocks.

Coun. Jo-Anne Gignac, the only councillor to vote against the project, made a failed motion to defer the project for one month in order to investigate whether bike lanes could be included.

“If we’re going to look at traffic calming, why would we not take the opportunity to look at bike lanes?” Gignac asked.

“Let’s at least have the conversation.”

One of the issues is that the Bicycle Use Master Plan, created by a previous council in 2000, does not identify Ouellette as a bike route. Instead, it calls for more cycling infrastructure on Dougall Avenue.

Mayor Drew Dilkens noted that bike lanes were considered but that it would have only been for two blocks and that it doesn’t match the BUMP plan — which council could reconsider. But administration said the project would be delayed if it was deferred for a month.

Coun. Fred Francis summed up the mood of most councillors, who did not want to wait any longer to beautify more of Ouellette Avenue — especially a strip that fares poorly economically compared to the northern section.

“When it comes to this area, I don’t want to be patient,” Francis said.

“This area needs help and it needs help yesterday.”

Coun. Chris Holt, a cycling advocate, was torn on the issue. He did not want to delay the project so he voted for it but he would have preferred bike lanes.

“We have to make a change in our transportation priorities in this city,” Holt said.

“But I’m not going to hold up this plan.”