The City of Charlottetown won't create cycling lanes when it upgrades University Avenue this summer, despite pushing the province to put them on Riverside Drive.

"The city cannot advocate having cycling lanes and sidewalks on Riverside Drive if we're not going to do it on main avenues like University Avenue, said city councillor Mitchell Tweel. "So you run the possibility of having a double standard and being inconsistent."

There's not enough room for cycling lanes, but there will be a shoulder, said Paul Johnston, manager of public works for the city.

"On University Avenue there will be about a half-metre between the painted shoulder line and the edge of curb. Unfortunately, that's also the area where we've got storm basins and some other infrastructure that cyclists don't always enjoy having to ride around or over," said Johnston. "A dedicated bike lane should be about a metre wide and we just didn't have two extra meters for lanes in either direction on University Avenue." Student Mabrahtu Araya would like to see cycling lanes on the major thoroughfare.

"Before I came here I was in Europe. It's very good because they have lanes for bicycles and stuff," said Araya. "And it makes it easier for people who want to ride instead of just driving cars, you know?"

Other residents have contacted Tweel with the same request.

He doesn't think it's too late to make room for cyclists on University Avenue.