The Burrard Bridge bike lane stays until March at least , after a decision Tuesday by Vancouver city council. (CBC)

Vancouver city council has voted to extend the trial bike lane on the Burrard Street Bridge until after the Olympics and to scrap any plans for widening the span over False Creek.

"It is safer," Coun. Heather Deal said Tuesday. "It's not slower, to any significant degree. It's working tremendously well. We're just thrilled today."

About 26 per cent more cyclists are using the bridge, according to a report from city staff. One enthusiast said the bridge seems less intimidating now.

"When I used to cycle across the bridge, before the trial, my heart was literally in my throat the whole way across," said Lisa Slakov of the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition.

Worries about traffic gridlock as a result of closing a lane for bikes apparently have been unfounded.

The worst traffic slowdown is at Pacific Avenue and Thurlow Street, where the wait during the afternoon rush is three minutes longer than it was, according to staff.

Lane has new opponents

There have been unanticipated negative effects, however. The ban on right turns from Pacific Avenue onto Hornby Street has hurt some local businesses.

"This has been a very trying summer for me," said Ron Appleton of Appleton Galleries. "There's just no traffic. I can stand in the middle of the road and nothing will hit me."

People living on the 800-block of Beach Avenue have the opposite problem — too many vehicles.

"There is just an awful lot more cars, there's more pollution, there's more noise," said local resident Wenda Deane.

There have also been complaints about the closure of the pedestrian walkway on the east side of the bridge, according to city staff.

All issues will be on the table again when the bike lane comes before council again in the spring of 2010.