Torontonians roll down Yonge Street toward Nathan Phillips Square on Bike to Work Day. (Dwight Friesen/CBC)

Toronto city council has approved a multimillion-dollar refurbishment of Jarvis Street that includes two new and controversial bicycle lanes.

By a vote of 28-16 council decided to eliminate the reversible centre lane and redesign Jarvis into four lanes of vehicular traffic, along with two bike lanes.

Right now, Jarvis is the only main street in Toronto that has five lanes, with the traffic flow in the centre lane changing direction based on the time of day.

After a day-long debate council approved more than $6 million for the plan that includes widening sidewalks, planting trees and putting up historical plaques.

But it was the bicycle lanes that drew the ire of some councillors and hundreds of motorists.

Coun. Doug Holyday and some of his suburban colleagues don't think there should be any more bike lanes until the city knows how well they're being used.

"I know in Etobicoke they're not used at all. I travel those bike lanes … day in, day out, three, four times a day, sometimes. And I don't see anybody. Week in, week out, I don't see anybody," said Holyday.

Yvonne Bambrick, executive director of the Toronto Cyclists Union, who has lobbied for the change, said the revision to Jarvis Street will encourage more people to cycle.

"The car has dominated our road space for a long time and we're just starting to take seriously — and make space for — active transportation. That includes pedestrians and that certainly includes cyclists," said Bambrick.

"Half the people who own cars in the city also use their bikes," said Coun. Adrian Heaps on CBC's Metro Morning.

"So the idea behind it is that someone leaves their car home one day a week and ride their bike while they're reducing their emissions by 20 per cent. They're addressing health issues and climate change issues, as well," he said.

The Jarvis Street plan is likely to be a major issue for Mayor David Miller in the next municipal election.

Miller's vision is that transportation priorities should be about moving people, not cars.

In total, the redesign will cost $6.3 million, with the bike lanes costing between $50,000 and $100,000.

The plan still needs to undergo an environmental assessment.