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Bicycles will be allowed to join the slow daily parade of lunchtime amblers on Stephen Avenue, when the downtown cycling route pilot launches without any time restrictions on riding down the pedestrian-only strip.

Downtown businesses never wanted to share Stephen Avenue Walk with cyclists, but they were expecting at least a ban on pedalling during the busiest hours, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Mayor Naheed Nenshi and transportation general manager Mac Logan had both suggested limits made sense during lunch and major events like Stampede.

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But as planners finalized the rules for bike-only lanes throughout the core and ending the daytime bike prohibition on Stephen Avenue, they decided to give bikes all-day rights to start the one-year trial program, and modify later as necessary.

“They’re going to treat it as a true pilot,” said Kimberley Nelson, president of Bike Calgary.

“Why start off with all these rules and restrictions when you don’t know what beast you’re dealing with yet?”