A draft City of St. John's plan to make the municipality more bicycle-friendly was a hit with people who turned out Wednesday night for a public meeting.

The city has been working with outside consultants for the past two years on the plan, which includes widening some streets to accommodate bike lanes.

The plan, which would require about $6 million over a 20-year period, would also widen off-road trails to allow cyclists.

Laura Brown Laengle, one of about 60 people who turned up for the meeting at city hall, said she cycled to work when she lived in Ottawa, and has been frustrated that she cannot do the same for her commute to her job at Confederation Building.

"My great hope for this cycling plan and the implementation of this bicycle plan in the city is that I will be able to bike to work," she said.

The draft plan got an endorsement from an early critic. Philanthropist and former insurance executive Paul Johnson, who founded the Grand Concourse Authority and its system of walking trails throughout the city, said he is prepared to help implement the plan.

However, Johnson said he does not think that allowing bikes is an upgrade to trails.

"As far as our walkers are concerned, that's probably downgrading the walk," he said.

Resident Michael Wilkshire said he would like to see the plan implemented in fewer than 20 years.

"My time frame is not 20 years," he said. "I'm not going to be around that much longer. When can I see some trails that I can use as opposed to my grandchildren?"

The first phase of the plan should launch later this year, so long as the Newfoundland and Labrador government agrees to help finance it.