The controversial construction of a city bike lane has sped up vehicle traffic on the downtown road, city council says.

The city finished installing the separated bike lane on 7th Street S.W. this summer, replacing a lane on the east side of the one-way road.

It was a controversial move welcomed by many cyclists, but not drivers.

The number of cycling trips down 7th Street has since more than quadrupled, with the commute by car also improving.

“We were pleasantly surprised to find that whether you were driving or biking, your trip took less time,” said city transportation engineer Blanka Bracic at Friday’s transit and transportation committee meeting.

Bracic attributed the improved traffic flow to the optimization of traffic lights to accommodate the new separated bike lane.

“Incredible, but true,” Bracic said, after Ward 14 Councillor Peter Demong asked her to confirm that vehicle traffic had improved after the installation of the cycle lane.

But the good news did not convince Ward 4 Councillor Sean Chu the city should move ahead on the creation of a two-way cycle track along 1st Street S.E.

He called the plan “madness”, saying congestion on the road was already heavy and would get worse if the cycle track was constructed.

“It’s not right,” he said.

“In a way, it’s almost anti-car. They talk about reducing pollution. You know the best way to reduce pollution? Synchronize green lights.”

When complete, the 1st Street cycle track will run from the Bow to the Elbow Rivers. At least part of the route should be open to cyclists by July 2014, city bicycle co-ordinator Tom Thivener said.

The route is part of a network of bike infrastructure that will contain 180 kilometres of bike lanes and 30 kilometres of cycle tracks by 2020.

The city currently has 26 kilometres of dedicated bike lanes, and 1.2 kilometres of cycle tracks.

Chu said he would prefer the 1st Street cycle track be installed on a street further east, but he didn’t think it was necessary to construct a new one.

“We have beautiful pathways,” he said. “Why do we have to take a lane away from vehicles?”

Thivener said the city will work to optimize the traffic signals at each intersection on 1st Street to minimize the impact on traffic.

Kimberley Nelson, president of cycling advocacy group Bike Calgary, said the 1st Street cycle track would be a good connector since it will extend to both river pathways, but cyclists needed a better east-west route through downtown.

Some cyclists are also concerned about the lack of safe crossings along the ring road toward the outskirts of the city.

Don Hollingshead of the Elbow Valley Cycle Club said the city should consider the impact of Stoney Trail on cyclists. The Calgary Greenway, a 138-kilometre network of pathway, parallels the ring road in most areas, but there are few crossings.

“Cyclists are basically unable to get across the ring road,” he said.

Thivener said the city is putting together a team to work with the province to ensure cyclists will be provided access to Fish Creek, the Weaselhead and the Highway 8 corridor when the southwest portion of Stoney Trail is constructed.