A controversial plan to build an east-west bicycle lane along Toronto's Bloor Street and Danforth Avenue from Etobicoke to Scarborough is picking up speed.

The proposal will go before the city's public works and infrastructure committee next week.

The most controversial part of the plan is a proposal to take out a lane of parking on each side of Bloor, and replace it with a bike lane.

Storeowners on streets redesigned to incorporate bicycle lanes have complained that a loss of on-street parking would translate into a loss of business.

But a recent study of the Annex neighbourhood has revealed some surprising results.

Eric Kamphof, manager of Curbside Cycle, says it's a myth that most customers arrive by car.

"We're standing on Bloor Street right now and this right here is an expressway. No one is stopping their car to shop at Curbside Cyle right now, or get a haircut, or buy soap ...," he said.

The report, "Bike Lanes, On-Street Parking and Business," published in February 2009 by the Clean Air Partnership, found that in the Annex neighbourhood, only about 10 per cent of patrons at local businesses arrive by car. The other 90 per cent arrive by foot or bicycle.

The study also noted that even during peak periods, 20 per cent of the spaces in nearby parking lots were not used.

'Not many by car'

Prem Sharma, owner of Piya's Boutique, says the report confirms what he has already known: Most of his customers arrived on foot.

"Mostly its local," said Sharma, "or by TTC. I would say walking, rather than by car. Maybe on the weekend some are driving in, but not many by car."

Many store owners, like Kamphof, believe bike lanes would improve business.

The report, by researchers at the University of Toronto, confirms that view.

"The spending habits of cyclists and pedestrians ... and the minimal impact on parking all demonstrate that merchants in this area are unlikely to be negatively affected by reallocating on street parking space to a bike lane," it says. "On the contrary, this change will likely increase commercial activity."

People shopping on Bloor Street appear to bear out the study's findings.

Susan MacDonald, who popped into her local bookstore, says she would use a bike if it were an option.

"I usually ride on Harbord [Street] because there are bike lanes there, but I needed to come here today, so I rode on Bloor [Street] and it's a bit more dangerous. But we need both. We need safety for bicycling and we need parking."

Parking still needed, resident says

MacDonald says there needs to be a rebalancing to take into account that not all people or neighbourhoods are car dependent.

However, Tom Kaempfen disagrees with the city becoming even more car unfriendly than it is.

"I mean there's nothing wrong with making thing's easier for the bicyclists. I don't have a problem with that. If you can do it without getting rid of parking, it would be much preferred," he said.

The report is expected to be an important support for the pro-bike lane forces as the proposal moves forward.