The many voices of Mann Avenue residents angered by plans to install two protected bike lanes on their street, resulting in the loss of all street parking, have been heard by District of Saanich councillors.

B次元官网网址淩arely have I got so many notices inside my inbox rapidly in succession from a number of people I respect,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Nathalie Chambers at a meeting on Sept. 23. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a bit of a shock.B次元官网网址�

Mann Avenue residents have said they feel blind-sided by the plans after they received a project notification on Sept. 13 informing them of the bike lanes plans for Mann Avenue, between Wilkinson Road and Glanford Avenue. Construction to prepare the road for the bike lanes began days later.

Residents fear the loss of all street parking will cause chaos in the neighbourhood, with homes affected forced to park on neighbouring side streets instead.

B次元官网网址淚 know these cars will be parked on my street,B次元官网网址� said Alex Cook, Vanguard Place resident, at the meeting, who described the bike lanes as a council B次元官网网址渧anity projectB次元官网网址�.

B次元官网网址淲e have a perfectly good infrastructure for cycling,B次元官网网址� Cook added, pointing to the Centennial Trails.

B次元官网网址淢any driveways are already full,B次元官网网址� said Greg Gillespie, Mann Avenue resident, who added he was confident side streets will B次元官网网址渂are the bruntB次元官网网址� of parking.

Whilst the District of Saanich says the Mann Avenue bike lanes have been in the works since 2018, with ample opportunities for the public to have their say, residents have said they were unaware.

At the districtB次元官网网址檚 meeting, Coun. Colin Plant proposed a motion for council staff to prepare a presentation outlining the timeline, objectives and chronology of the Mann Avenue project.

B次元官网网址淭he public has made it clear they want to know more,B次元官网网址� said Plant, acknowledging the plans have caused B次元官网网址渟ignificant community upsetB次元官网网址�.

Plant also highlighted the public and councillors have not yet seen any design of the bike lanes.

B次元官网网址淭he plans have carried forward without the level of public engagement we would like to see,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think we should go forward with plans when there may be a chance of not being successful and making a whole bunch of people miserable,B次元官网网址� said Chambers later in the meeting. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not always right.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚f we donB次元官网网址檛 got it right, we got to make it right, before we make it wrong,B次元官网网址� she added.

Some councillors, along with Mayor Dean Murdock, questioned the purpose of a presentation, raising concerns it might derail the project causing a financial impact as contractors have already been hired for the project.

PlantB次元官网网址檚 motion narrowly passed, with five councillors voting for and four against. The presentation will be made at the council meeting on Oct. 7.

In response, Mann Avenue residents have been rallying the troops. A flyer has been circulated through the neighbourhood encouraging people to attend the meeting.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e looking for collaborative ways to balance the needs of our community and the broader transportation plan," says the flyer. B次元官网网址淟etB次元官网网址檚 show the council that weB次元官网网址檙e ready to work together for the best outcome! This is our chance to make sure we are heard."