Adding cycling lanes to existing infrastructure is akin to carving a games room out of a two car garage: space for one activity is taken to placate the carping of others who are complaining they have no space in which to play Xbox. Thanks, family.

Okay, maybe that’s an overly specific and totally-not-personal example. The fact stands, however, that the creation of bike lanes often necessitates the removal of space formerly reserved for vehicles. Be it a driving lane or parking space, something usually goes by the wayside to make room for cyclists and their Victorian antiquities.

Last week, a total of 2.8 kilometres of bike pathways were approved by the Transportation Standing Committee of the Halifax Regional Municipality. Set to build cycling infrastructure along Upper Water Street, Hollis Street, Terminal Road, and George Street, the project’s next step is to be approved by municipal council.

In terms of traffic control, these new bike lanes will cause some changes, including the elimination of right turns on red at a few signalized intersections, places where such a move is currently permitted. This may rankle the nerves of some drivers, potentially causing some backups where none previously existed. However, this is yet to be seen.

The proposal also discusses an oft-cited reason against bike lanes: the impact their creation has to on-street parking. Authors of the report show a best scenario of -16 to +8 parking spaces in the area after the bike lanes are installed. The optimistic projections are counting street areas currently closed for construction not directly related to these bike lanes as being turned into parking spaces, something which may or may not happen. If it does not, the parking space count could shrink by more than these estimates.

Last year, council moved forward with a section of protected and painted bike lanes in another part of the city, a plan which called construction to begin in 2019 and the expenditure of $435,000. Later that year, some business owners in another part of the city railed against the planning of other lanes, saying it could impact the number of people shopping at their stores. Those in favour of the plans say bike lanes will encourage cycling in the city, promoting active transportation and cutting pollution in the area. Halifax is home to several universities and colleges, whose students are squarely in the cycling demographic, so this argument has some merit.

Whatever side of the debate one is on, the arguments for and against bike lanes will likely continue long after these lanes are installed.