Voters in South Burlington gave a big boost to bike paths on primary day.

"It gives people a safe place to bike without getting killed by the cars," said Paul Bakeman of South Burlington.

Two or three times a week, you can see Bakeman out for a ride. He likes the city's bike path network but there are trouble spots.

South Burlington's recreation path network has been a work in progress since 1990. But even after nearly 30 years, City Planning and Zoning Director Paul Conner says significant gaps still remain.

"A bunch of different areas where some small sections could make a big, big difference," Conner said.

Currently, there are some gaps where the recreation paths don't connect. That's what the city hopes to fix.

"Our goal is to do as many of the projects as quickly as we can," Conner said.

Conner says about 75 percent of voters Tuesday were in favor of Pennies for Paths, which he calls a "game changer" for the community. But taxpayers will foot the bill-- $3 million over 10 years. An average homeowner can expect to pay another $33.61 per year, a condo owner about $24.11, bringing into city coffers $300,000 a year for the next 10 years.

That money would go to several spots but there are several the city's Bike and Pedestrian Committee identified including:

-A section of Dorset Street near the Mill Market and Deli

-A section on Allen Road

-Sections of Spear Street and Hinesburg Road

-Crossings on Williston Road and Shelburne Road

That last one is welcome news for Bakeman.

"Going across Shelburne Road can be a bit of a problem to get down to the Burlington bike path," he said. "That would be a nice place to connect up or figure out a way to cross the road actually."

The city says they've actually been working on plans for several years now, so they're hoping to start work next spring now that voters have given their approval.