The city will give concrete protection to cyclists routinely forced to dodge transport trucks that end up in the Cannon bike lanes near Wellington Street.

The changes are a win for vocal cyclists, truck-counting volunteers - and even tactical "ur-banana-ism."

Long-standing complaints about 18-wheelers rumbling through lower city neighbourhoods got a visual, viral boost this year when residents started posting online photos and videos of close calls. The effort was meant to coincide with the city's first review of designated truck routes in years.

One alarming video showed veteran cyclist Sean Burak being forced out of the "protected" Cannon Street cycle track by a wide-turning transport truck from Wellington Street.

Burak called the truck-invasion of the bike lanes at that corner a "daily occurrence" and an "unnecessary" risk to cyclists on busy two-wheeled path. Nearly 1,000 cyclists used it daily during the summer of 2017.

Statistics also show 11 bike-vehicle collisions serious enough to be reported to police from 2014 to 2017.

Volunteers with Environment Hamilton and other local groups have been counting trucks at intersections like Wellington to bolster the case for a redirection of highway-bound transports.

Activists also placed bananas in the protected cycle track at Wellington - they dubbed it tactical "ur-banana-ism" - to squashily illustrate the problem. A TVO series highlighting urban renewal in cities even filmed at the location in August.

City council voted Wednesday to add concrete curbs to protect bike lanes at the problem intersection as well as a bump out on the north-west side of Wellington to ensure a safer truck turning radius.

Coun. Jason Farr, who represents the ward, credited "dedicated" citizens for proving to the city the street and bike lane design needed to change.

The protective concrete curb and new pavement markings should finish all major work needed on the months-long reconstruction of Cannon Street. The popular cycle track should officially reopen by the end of October.

The next public meeting on the larger truck route review is slated for Nov. 1.

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