Vancouver city planners say bike lanes, like this one on Dunsmuir Street, encourage people to get out of their cars to commute downtown. (Mark Forsythe/CBC)

Debate is heating up over another bike lane proposed for downtown Vancouver.

The city began its first round of public consultations Wednesday on a proposed two-way, 1.5 kilometre bike lane along Hornby Street between the Burrard Bridge and Dunsmuir Street.

Cyclists say the lane will make the route safer to use.

The city says the bike route installed earlier in June on Dunsmuir Street downtown proves that dedicated lanes get people out of their cars.

"On Dunsmuir, we've seen a 400 per cent increase [in bike use]," said city engineer Lon LeClaire.

Tax reduction demanded

But some Hornby Street business owners are unhappy about the plan.

"We rely on the parking across the street," said Nelson Skalbania, who owns the Wedgewood Hotel.

"That cycling lane, which they don't use at night, which they don't use at winter time, don't use much of the year, is going to be empty and hurting our business. So, they should reduce the taxes by half for the businesses that are going to be affected."

The Hornby Street bike lane proposal is expected to come before Vancouver city council before the end of September.

With files from the CBC's Emily Elias