Herring Cove Road might go on a diet, and many Spryfield businesses don’t like it.
Halifax regional council will decide tonight if they’ll reduce it from four lanes to two plus a turning lane.
This “road diet” would make room for bicycle lanes.
“It makes people come out and give cycling a try,” said Stephen Bedard, co-chair of the Halifax Cycling Coalition.
He added studies show bike traffic tends to increase by 10 to 30 per cent when a bike lane is installed.
But business owners think reducing lanes will congest traffic in an area where developments are going up.
“We’re in favour of any kind of active transportation, we’re just opposed to any reduction of the lanes,” said Bruce Holland, executive director of the Spryfield and District Business Commission.
“It will congest the traffic which will deter from people wanting to shop in the main shopping district in Spryfield.”
Bedard said slowing down traffic can be a good thing for businesses.
“It gives motorists a chance to slow down and look at what businesses are in the area.
“Nine times out of 10 in the studies we’ve found, businesses get a boost when the road diets go down like this.”
