The city has proposed separated bike lanes on Sherbourne Street in downtown, and residents now have three weeks to provide input on the new design.

The current north-south bike lanes will be upgraded to include a barrier between cars and bikes. A concrete divider will run north of Gerrard Street to Bloor Street, and a raised track will run south of Gerrard to Front Street.

Construction on the three-kilometre strip could begin in the summer, the city said.

The Toronto Cyclists Union said it may be the first separated bike lane in Toronto. A network of separated bike lanes has long been a goal for the union, director of advocacy Andrea Garcia said in a statement.

“We are proud to see the first piece of this network become a reality,” she said.

“The Toronto Cyclists Union will continue its work to ensure that a network of separated bike lanes is built in the downtown core so that cyclists of all ages have a safe way to travel by bicycle.”

If the plan is approved, there won’t be any more street parking on Sherbourne, and left turns at King and Shuter streets will be restricted during rush hour.  However, the city said additional parking spots will be created on side streets off Sherbourne.

Last year, Toronto city council voted to remove existing bike lanes on Jarvis, one block west of Sherbourne.  The north-south lanes cost $59,000 to install and an estimated $200,000 to remove. 

What do you think of bike lanes on Sherbourne? Let us know in the comments, and let the city know too.