Business owner and cyclist Rick Valenti said to city council Monday night 100 per cent of Ellis Street businesses are against green bike lanes being added to the busy street.
(SHANNON QUESNEL / iNFOnews.ca)
December 17, 2013 - 3:20 PM
PENTICTON - Bicyclists and business owners planted their red flag again for the city's green bike lane plans.
Business owner Rick Valenti presented a stack of letters from fellow Ellis Street owners and residents, some who are cyclists themselves, to city council on Monday night.
Valenti said 100 per cent of Ellis Street businesses are opposed to the proposed bike laning. The Ellis Street design was one part of a city-wide bike laning program that was already underway. Green bike lanes can be seen on parts of Government Street.
Valenti said creating a bike lane on Ellis would have killed 68 parking spaces and parking, especially free parking, is the biggest reason any store gets business.
"In a nutshell we are pleading with you to do something in favour of businesses and merchants and people who live on Ellis Street."
He said he wants a solution. He doesn't want an argument. In October city council chambers were filled with owners and residents at an emergency Ellis Street bike lane open house. Some residents had a few choice words for councillors but others were more willing to talk.
"We are not here to fight with you guys. We're in love with you, man."
Mayor Garry Litke confirmed the Ellis Street bike lane plan was put on hold in November and it will be back before council sometime in January.
To contact a reporter for this story, to send photos or videos, email Shannon Quesnel at squesnel@infotelnews.ca, call 250-488-3065, send tweets to @shannonquesnel1 or @InfoNewsPentict.
News from © iNFOnews, 2013