Mann Avenue residents in Saanich claim they have been blind-sided by plans to install two protected bike lanes on their street, which will result in the loss of all on-street parking.
Residents received a project notification from the District of Saanich on Sept. 13 informing them of the bike lanes plans for Mann Avenue, between Wilkinson Road and Glanford Avenue.
The notice explained the district is currently working on design plans, but construction is “anticipated” to start with road maintenance and paving activities in September.
Construction began days after the residents received the notice.
Locals say there was “zero consultation” on the project and fear the loss of on-street parking will cause chaos in the neighbourhood, with 70 Mann Avenue homes affected, forced to park on neighbouring side streets instead.
“That was a big shock to us,” said Tina Ashmore, Mann Avenue resident. “It felt like we were hit upside the head. And it felt like there was no communication with us.”
Concerns have also been raised about the impact the project will have on sidewalks.
“We will now need to put our garbage on the sidewalks for pick-up, limiting the ability of strollers, walkers and pedestrians to move down the street,” said Ashmore.
A petition has been launched by Mann Avenue residents, appealing to the council to pause their plans to allow time for a proper consultation.
But according to a spokesperson from the District of Saanich, the Mann Avenue bike lanes have been in the works since 2018.
“This project has been identified in the last two versions of our Active Transportation Plan, in 2018 and 2024, respectively,” said the spokesperson.
The district says it has provided many ways for the public to learn about the plans and have their say in the planning phase, including numerous open houses, meetings with local community associations, notices in utility bills, community meetings, social media posts and website updates.
But Ashmore says she and her neighbours were unaware. She explains that neighbours have scoured community networks and websites for information, turning up empty. One neighbour, she says, did find some information alluding to a bike lane in their area.
“My neighbour said there may have been … a soft kind of implication of a bike lane,” said Ashmore. “But nowhere in any planning did it say it was going to be removing all residential street parking and putting in protective bike lanes.”
In response to the residents' concerns, the District of Saanich said the garbage bins on the sidewalks will not block the entire sidewalk, allowing sufficient space for pedestrians to pass. They also said the project will not directly affect parking on side streets.
“Residents on Mann Avenue are asked to park their cars on private property or find alternate parking,” said the district spokesperson.
Ashmore describes the district’s response as disheartening.
“We've never said, 'Don't put bike lanes here,'” she said. “But it feels as though we are being victimized. We are going to be the victim of the bike lanes, which I feel very few people will use.
“Yet this entire neighbourhood, the people on Mann and the side streets, are going to feel immediate repercussions, and for every day of our lives.”
