Bike lanes another blow to small business in Beltline
Posted May 29, 2019 5:19 pm.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) — A local pizza joint in the Beltline fears it’ll close down in a mere six months due to the extension of bike lanes outside their business.
Speaking with the owner of Pizzeria GAGA, who says if the bike lanes are extended on 12th Ave it will greatly impact their business. #yyc pic.twitter.com/WVOEhdOZG1
— Jenna Giles (@j_hamilton04) May 29, 2019
Pizzeria GAGA has been serving the neighbourhood for 10 years but with the latest news from the city that they will be extending the 12 Ave bike lanes, they are worried the extension will hurt their business.
“Bike lane is taking parking, which is very important to us, 90 per cent of our customers actually come in by cars. We don’t have much walking and definitely don’t have people using bikes in this area. We are going to lose a big amount of customers,” said the owner of the pizza shop, Nebojsa Zeljic.
Council voted in favour of making bike lanes permanent in Calgary in December 2016.
The bike lane will stretch further along 12th Ave from 11 St to 16th St S.W.
Zeljic said his property tax has also increased and he doesn’t see another option.
“In order to survive we have to do something and I can’t fight against the City of Calgary, if I can I would, but I can’t and we are not fighters. It’s much easier to make that move and just move somewhere else where people will appreciate what you do.”
Zeljic adds they wouldn’t try with any other business in the Calgary area, maybe Airdrie or Okotoks.
660 NEWS reached out to The City of Calgary and Ward 8 Councillor Evan Woolley, but didn’t hear back in time of publishing.
-With files from City News
