Vancouver city staff are recommending a bike route plan that would block a section of Point Grey Road for local traffic and cyclists only.

The proposed route would bridge a gap in the city’s 28-kilometre walking and cycling route that stretches from Coal Harbour to Jericho Beach.

“This is one of our hot spots for cycling activity and we see this tremendous opportunity for more growth. We just need to provide the facilities,” director of transportation Jerry Dobrovolny told reporters.

“We’ve heard loud and clear that the current corridor does not meet the needs.”

The plan would create four stretches of separated bike lanes along York Avenue, Cypress Street and Point Grey, eliminate 200 area parking spots, and transform York into a series of alternating one-way streets for traffic.

In addition, the city would make Point Grey a “local street” between Alma and Macdonald streets, with improved green space and park expansions for residents of the ritzy neighbourhood.

Meanwhile, the roughly 10,000 cars that travel the one-kilometre stretch daily would be forced onto 4th Avenue or other parallel traffic arteries.

NPA Councillor George Affleck blasted the plan for putting cyclists’ needs above motorists’.

“Staff and Vision are saying this is going to be for everybody, but when I look at it – when we have 10,000 cars versus 400 bicycles – you have to do the math on that,” Affleck said. “Who is this for?”

If the plan is approved, the first phase, estimated to cost $6 million, would begin next year.

To read the full report, visit the City of Vancouver website.

With a report from CTV British Columbia’s Maria Weisgarber