The road diet on Lincoln Avenue in San Jose’s bustling Willow Glen area is here to stay, to the cheers of many and to the frustration of critics.

The San Jose City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to make the street narrowing between Coe and Willow avenues permanent, ending a year-plus heated debate over who should get priority — drivers who use Lincoln in hopes of shaving time off commutes or pedestrians and bicyclists who have long lobbied for slower speeds and bike lanes along with a safer downtown.

“It’s fair to say this has been the most studied of a city road in our history,” Mayor Sam Liccardo said, adding that “this has been good for the community.”

Around 45 locations were studied, crash and speed data analyzed, pedestrian and biking counts taken and sales tax revenues tallied to see the impact of the road diet on businesses on what is called “The Avenue.”

Studies of Lincoln and nearby streets showed 1,000 fewer cars exceeding the 25-mph speed limit by 10 mph, slightly fewer crashes, a rise in the number of walkers and more people hopping on bikes. But some parallel routes such as Bird Avenue now have more traffic as motorists scramble to nearby streets.

“The road diet has removed our spontaneous shoppers,” said Robin Levine, who with her husband owns two restaurants. “Drivers are frustrated.”

Added another business owner: “The road diet sucks.”

But Lisa Dowell, of San Jose, said: “Since the road diet was implemented, I’ve heard fewer screeching brakes outside my office window, where a pedestrian crosswalk exists. Drivers have slowed down and they can no longer try to go around a car that stops for a pedestrian. I feel it is safer with fewer lanes of traffic. Yes, it can back up at Willow, but that’s a small price to pay for the safety of our community.”

And Jim Gardner said his business near the Peet’s Coffee shop has “been terrific” since the changes.

The biggest beef that critics expressed was a need for more parking. But the Lincoln test did not reduce any of the 1,546 available parking spaces, which had approximately 60 percent occupancy during the day.

San Jose and cities throughout the Bay Area are narrowing streets in attempts to make them safer. This includes Hedding Street, Tully Road, Branham Lane, Camden Avenue and Moorpark Avenue in San Jose, plus Grand Avenue and Lakeshore Drive in Oakland, Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco, Mary Avenue in Sunnyvale and Pruneridge Avenue in Santa Clara.

Steven Suehi of San Jose was initially a critic of road diets, but his opinion is softening.

“I have accepted the wisdom of our city fathers,” he said. “Outside of rush hour, the left-hand turn lane has made the road safer. Maybe a longer commute time and traffic gridlock at rush hour is worth it.”

Join Gary Richards for an hourlong chat noon Wednesday at swww.mercurynews.com/live-chats. Follow Gary at Twitter.com/mrroadshow, look for him at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com or 408-920-5335.