Edmonton biking compromise preserves parking on 50th Street at higher cost
After community pushback, the city will maintain on-street parking for half the originally affected stretch while adding bike lanes, increasing the project cost to $4.9 million.
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Edmonton city council has backed a revised plan for 50th Street bike lanes that addresses resident concerns about losing on-street parking, a shift that comes after a large Monday protest and community pressure.
The original plan would have removed parking between 102 Avenue and 109A Avenue — eliminating spaces for roughly 200 homes in Fulton, Capilano, and Goldbar that rely on street parking because many lack garages or lanes due to the neighbourhood's terrain.
Protester Chris Short argued at Monday's rally that many houses sit on slopes descending to the river and garages built in the 1950s and early 1960s can't fit modern vehicles and SUVs. Senior residents would especially struggle with the loss of accessible parking.
The new plan will maintain on-street parking for about half the originally affected stretch of 50 Street while still accommodating bike infrastructure and traffic lanes. Councillor Ashley Salvador called it "the best scenario possible," and Mayor Andrew Knack stated the revised design proves Edmonton can add bike infrastructure without sacrificing parking.
The alternative comes at a cost: roughly $4.9 million compared to the initial $4.2 million budget. City administration has been directed to move forward with the modified design.
