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 B次元官网网址渁nticipatedB次元官网网址� to start with road maintenance and paving activities in September.

Construction began days after the residents received the notice.

Locals say there was B次元官网网址渮ero consultationB次元官网网址� 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.

B次元官网网址淭hat was a big shock to us,B次元官网网址� said Tina Ashmore, Mann Avenue resident. B次元官网网址淚t felt like we were hit upside the head. And it felt like there was no communication with us.B次元官网网址�

Concerns have also been raised about the impact the project will have on sidewalks.

B次元官网网址淲e 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,B次元官网网址� 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.

B次元官网网址淭his project has been identified in the last two versions of our Active Transportation Plan, in 2018 and 2024, respectively,B次元官网网址� 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.

B次元官网网址淢y neighbour said there may have been B次元官网网址� a soft kind of implication of a bike lane,B次元官网网址� said Ashmore. B次元官网网址淏ut nowhere in any planning did it say it was going to be removing all residential street parking and putting in protective bike lanes.B次元官网网址�

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.

B次元官网网址淩esidents on Mann Avenue are asked to park their cars on private property or find alternate parking,B次元官网网址� said the district spokesperson.

Ashmore describes the districtB次元官网网址檚 response as disheartening.

B次元官网网址淲e've never said, 'Don't put bike lanes here,'B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淏ut 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.

B次元官网网址淵et this entire neighbourhood, the people on Mann and the side streets, are going to feel immediate repercussions, and for every day of our lives.B次元官网网址�