Cycling advocates say the infrastructure will not only help businesses, but also help residents maintain physical and mental well-being.
“Simply put, when people feel safe, more people will ride and walk – especially locally – and more people riding and walking means more business for local merchants,” AccessPoint on Danforth Community Health Promoter and Scarborough Cycles coordinator Marvin Macaraig said.
He cited the peer-reviewed Bloor Street Bike Lane Economic Impact Study 2009 to 2017 conducted by The Centre for Active Transportation when he added “the myth that parking is essential to small business has been disproved in this case.”
The study looked at the effect of bike lanes on Bloor Street in Bloor West Village and the Annex. Additionally, the city’s point of sale data from the Bloor Street West Bike Lane pilot in 2017 showed that sales volumes increased by 4.45 per cent after bike lanes were installed.
Cycling advocates insist they do not want a solution that negatively impacts local businesses.
Read full article here: Danforth Avenue bike plan approved as part of city’s COVID-19 relief plans