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“As someone who both cycles and walks that section of seawall quite frequently, I think that it’s very, very imperative that we now separate the modes of transportation as much as possible,” Deal said.

More than a dozen speakers signed up to protest the plan for $6.4 million in improvements to the Point Grey portion of the greenway.

Area resident Arnold Silber called the planned improvements a waste of money and unnecessary, noting that he had a difficult time understanding why the city would entertain spending millions on walking and cycling in the area “when we could easily divert these funds to help those in our inner city where money is needed for social amenities and services.”

Silber said earlier decisions to turn Point Grey Road into a local street with bike lanes had boosted the value of his home, but said he believed this round of improvements would not.

When Peter Ladner, a former Vancouver city councillor who lives in the area, said he supported the idea, other speakers tsk-tsked, groaned and muttered in protest. Coun. Andrea Reimer reminded the audience to remain civil — something she said rarely needed to be done in council chamber.

The 28-km Seaside Greenway runs from the Vancouver Convention Centre around Stanley Park, alongside False Creek and terminates at Spanish Banks Park.

Coun. Adriane Carr said she was supportive of the city doing what it can to address and help mitigate climate change, including paving the way for more biking and walking.

“The fact that we are creating a better alternative for people to be able to use non-vehicle or non-fossil fuel-based transportation is important,” she said.

mrobinson@postmedia.com