Those controversial downtown bike lanes are being torn down

WATCH: The City of Saskatoon says a bike lane on 23rd Street East downtown will be removed starting Wednesday.

The City of Saskatoon says a bike lane on 23rd Street East downtown will be removed starting Wednesday.

The temporary bike lane was installed as part of a pilot project in 2015 and was intended to end after two years. The plastic pillars separating the bike lane from the on-street parking often laid flattened by cars, and were considered "inadequate" by some in the local cycling community.

Councillors resolved to remove the demonstration project in June, 2025.

“There is a lot of history on [the] connecting downtown project, starting with the pilot project — the demonstration project — almost 10 years ago and we received previous direction to remove the protected bike lanes on 4th Avenue,” Jay Magus, director of transportation said in June, addressing council.

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“Then after that, a downtown network was approved by city council that include 19th Street, 23rd Street and 3rd Avenue and we were asked not to do further work,” said Magus.

The removals are expected to be completed in one week. The city says the curb lane, parking lane, and bike lane will be closed during this time, but sidewalks will remain open.

Future planning for the 23rd Street protected bike lanes will occur as part of the 23rd Street Greenway, a component of the city centre and district plan.