Windsor's Environment, Transportation and Public Safety Committee is divided about how the city should go about closing the Windsor Bike Loop connection.
Seven solutions were developed for closing the approximately three-kilometre gap between bike lanes on Wyandotte Street East and the Clairview Trailhead.
Several business owners and cycling advocates spoke before the committee Wednesday night. The majority have asked them to endorse reducing Wyandotte Street East to two lanes of traffic with the addition of protected bike lanes and street parking.
Administration has recommended the committee endorse another option.
This would involve conducting additional studies of the area.
Cyclists would also be forced to use a 5.3 kilometre alternative route using current bike paths on Pillette Road and Seminole Street.
With a vote of 3-2 the committee voted to adhere to administration's recommendation.
Councillor Fred Francis says the administration's recommendation was the most responsible of the several options.
"You know, it is the most balanced and reasonable option without drastically changing the entire traffic network in an area that might have negative consequences," says Francis. "That is something as a city councillor I am always aware of. Every decision we make often times is not simple. Often times there are many moving parts and we have to take that into consideration."
Councillor Chris Holt says he thinks the other option provides more concrete solutions.
"These businesses owners are here saying 'we want that' and who are we as a council to say that is not an option," says Holt. "Tonight we basically we told them that is not an option. So I am saying that we can not pit one mode of transportation against another mode of transportation when at the end of the day we are talking about economic development."
The seven proposed solutions will be brought before city council at an upcoming meeting, where a decision will be made.