The city showed off its latest plan for bike lanes that will connect east Calgary to downtown at an open house on Wednesday night in Forest Heights.

The East Central Bikeways project would see bike lanes running east-west along Marlborough Drive N.E. and Eighth Avenue S.E.

Those lanes would be connected north-south along 40th Street S.E.

The city's cycling coordinator Tom Thivener says the lanes are needed.

"Since there's not safe infrastructure on the street, people end up riding on the sidewalk to the detriment of pedestrians and really to the detriment of themselves … because the sidewalk is not the safest place to be …" he said.

Thivener says the lanes will have minimal impact on traffic and parking.

"While there are some signed bicycle routes and several multi-use pathways in east central Calgary, there is currently limited infrastructure for people who want to bicycle," the city says on its website.

"The City has been working with stakeholders and the community to identify bikeway routes and facilities and improving conditions for those who drive, walk or bicycle."

Work on the project could start as early as 2017.

The city wants to create a network of bikeways that would connect east Calgary to the downtown. (City of Calgary )