Halifax is now using plastic posts and parked cars to create a protected bike lane on a short stretch of road heading in and out of the city's downtown.

The pilot project runs for 300 metres on Rainnie Drive. A protected bike lane became possible after Rainnie Drive was turned into a one-way street when the roundabout was built at North Park and Cogswell streets.

Cyclists are separated from traffic heading into downtown by plastic posts and a lane where vehicles can park.

The bike lane itself is actually two lanes running in each direction. Each is 1.5 metres wide, separated by a yellow line in the middle.

A report by city staff says if this section works well, the bike lane could be extended by 200 metres to Brunswick Street.

In a news release, the city says the Rainnie Drive project fits into its larger goal of having a cycling route that runs from the North Common to the Halifax Central Library and the Spring Garden Road area.

Protected bike lanes offer a number of benefits to all road users. For pedestrians using the sidewalk, there is now more space between them and vehicles. For drivers, it means they don't have to share the space with cyclists.