In a plan that gladdens the hearts of cycling advocates — and mayoral hopeful Rocco Rossi calls “sheer madness” — city hall is looking at building European-style bike lanes along University Ave. this summer.

The three-month pilot project will see two lanes — one northbound, one southbound —–removed from Richmond St. W. to Wellesley St. W./Hoskin Ave. Cyclists will get their own lane alongside the inner median, separated from motorized traffic by a metre-wide buffer and solid dividing posts.

Parking won’t be affected.

These protected lanes would be the first of their kind in the city’s history, said Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker, who chairs the public works and infrastructure committee.

If successful, the University project could pave the way for similar dedicated bike lane construction along other routes, such as Jarvis St. and Dundas St. W., he said.

“We’ve thought about it a lot. We’ve talked about it a lot. And this is the first experiment,” said De Baeremaeker, whose committee will vote on the proposal next week. “People aren’t willing to risk their lives to ride their bike to work. If we can create separate bike lanes where the cyclists feel safe (and) the motorists feel comfortable ... we could get thousands of people out of their vehicles and onto their bikes.”

If the proposal gets approval from public works, which De Baeremaeker predicts it will, council will vote on the issue next month.

Not surprisingly, Rossi quickly made a statement denouncing the plans.

“Pulling two lanes of University Ave. out of commission ... is sheer madness,” he said. “This is a recipe for traffic gridlock and a democratic insult to the people of Toronto.”

The issue of bike lanes has already become important in the fall election campaign. On one side, Rossi has loudly voiced his opposition to bike lanes on major routes such as Jarvis St. and University Ave. On the other, deputy mayor Joe Pantalone has been a strong advocate.

Rossi has asked Mayor David Miller to stop bike lane expansion and let voters decide this fall.

The idea scored high marks from cyclist Cyndy Dunn, as she pulled up to Queen and University Tuesday afternoon.

“University Ave is terrifying. Buses pass by with, literally, a foot of room,” said the 50-year-old lab technician. “I have all the safety gear you can imagine — lights on my helmet, backpack, reflective gear, a bell, a rear-view mirror (on my helmet) and I’m still scared I’m going to get die.”

Motorist Michael Hall, on the other hand, thinks the proposal is crazy.

“I think we have to accommodate bike lanes, but why here?” asked the 50-year-old, who commutes downtown for work. “It’s the same thing with Jarvis.”

Cost details are still being worked out, but Daniel Egan, manager of pedestrian and cycling infrastructure for the city, estimates the project will cost between $30,000 and $40,000.

“We were looking for a place where we could really try something significantly different,” he said. “(University) is one of the few streets that has four lanes in each direction.”

Early studies showed there was an “excess capacity” of cars along the avenue, said Egan, so the lost lane shouldn’t cause significant delays.

Councillor Adam Vaughan, whose downtown ward runs right along University, said he’s interested to see the project’s impact.

“If it works, it works, and if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t. This is a couple months of trying something to see if we can’t unlock some potential on one of our wider streets,” he said. “If it’s a crazy idea, we can rescind it. If it’s great, we can make it more permanent.”

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Other recommendations for new bike lanes include added routes along — among others — Bay Street, from Queens Quay to Front St. W. and from Dundas St. W. to College St.; Lansdowne Ave., from Bloor St. W. to Dupont St.; Rathburn Rd. from Mimico Creek to Kipling Ave.; Spadina Cres. from Spadina Ave. to Spadina Ave. N.; York Mills Rd. from Scarsdale Rd. to Lesmill Rd.; and Westhumber Blvd., from Martin Grove Rd. to Kipling Ave.

Last February, the city announced it would move ahead with controversial plans to put bike lanes along Jarvis St. while removing the centre reversible vehicle lane. Rossi has said that if elected, he would remove this, and any other new lanes, installed along major routes.

New bike lanes recommended

Bay St., from Queens Quay to Front St. W., and from Dundas St. W. to College St.

Landsdowne Ave., from Bloor St. W. to Dupont St.

Rathburn Rd., from Mimico Creek to Kipling Ave.

Spadina Cres., from Spadina Ave. to Spadina Ave. N.

York Mills Rd., from Scarsdale Rd. to Lesmill Rd.

Westhumber Blvd., from Martin Grove Rd. to Kipling Ave.

Brunswick Ave., from College St. to Bloor St. W. (further community consultation needed)

Modifications to existing lane on Annette St. between Runnymede Rd. and Westholme Ave. and between Beresford Ave. and Runnymede Rd. to provide additional parking.