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The potential removal of nearly 100 on-street parking spots so a councillor can blaze a trail for safe cycling in the city has some Wellington West residents asking for help from the mayor and demanding more consultation.

The drama centres on a 600-metre stretch of Spencer Street, between Western and Holland avenues. The residential street is one block north of the Wellington Street West commercial strip.

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The city has upgraded the underground pipes and sewers and it’s time to finish the road reconstruction and landscaping.

Spencer Street is suggested as connector route for cyclists in the official Ottawa-Gatineau cycling map, but the city isn’t required to add bike infrastructure to the street.

However, Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper is promoting a new road design that would paint bike lanes on both sides of the street, resulting in the loss of 97 on-street parking spaces.

Incensed residents and business owners have been signing petitions and writing to Mayor Jim Watson, demanding the retention of on-street parking.