Re: 'City changes proposed bike lane plan after uproar'Article, May 23.

The plan to change the routing of the proposed bike lanes along Annette between Runnymede and Jane is in no way a "compromise" as touted by councillor Saundercook. It is a one-way decision, influenced by the councillor, after he buckled to the verbal opposition he received from the Annette merchants during the April open house and their subsequent door-to-door flyer campaign against the bike lanes.

I see this as an extremely short-sighted decision by the City and clearly shows business concerns get preference over public and resident's safety. Annette Street is the major thoroughfare - not St. John's Road. It would be silly to assume that cyclists will travel north the half a kilometre up to St. John's to make their way east or west. I suspect the stretch along St. John's will not even be an actual bike lane but a "signed route", which offers no safety or protection from cars.

I have walked along this stretch of Annette at various times of the day during the week and found there would still be spare spots if parking was only allowed on one side. Is it that much of an inconvenience for the Merchant's to have their customer who drive walk across the street? Let's not lose sight that many of these businesses don't even open up much before 10 a.m. or 11 a.m. and some are even closed certain days during the week.

The entire stretch of Annette Street needs bicycle lanes - as a traffic calming mechanism - it is just getting too dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians. The current repaving project along Annette will only result in motorists speeding up between Runnymede and Jane in the absence of something like a bike lane and the fact they no longer have to dodge numerous potholes.

It is unfortunate that the city and councillor Saundercook have taken this position. The Annette merchants too are missing a good opportunity to work with the surrounding residents, many of whom provide a good chunk of their walk-in business, and support an initiative that could beautify and make Annette one of the premiere streets in the neighbourhood.

Andrew Moody