Toronto cyclists taking part in the 2009's Bike to Work Week clog downtown Yonge Street. (Dwight Friesen/CBC)

Toronto will not be getting two temporary, protected bike lanes in the middle of the downtown core. On Wednesday night city council turned down the idea to build the lanes on busy University Avenue.

Council voted 15-13 to scrap the proposal.

But the decision is a controversial one — especially after Coun. Paula Fletcher said she mistakenly pushed the wrong button during the vote.

Fletcher says she pushed the red button instead of the green. If her voted had been counted the way she says she wanted it to, the vote would have ended in a tie.

"I feel terrible," she said just a few minutes later. She said she would help to push the idea through when the new council is elected.

The idea was condemned by many who said losing a lane of traffic in each direction on one of the city's busiest avenues would increase traffic congestion. But others, especially cyclists, applauded the move claiming it would make people feel safer on the road.

"I've spoken to many councillors and we will commit to getting this through in the new round of council," she said.

But that's months away — the election isn't until October.

Yvonne Bambrick, spokesperson for the Toronto Cyclists Union, said to lose such a close vote because of "a glitch and a bit of absent-mindedness at the crucial moment is just completely disheartening and frustrating."

The pilot project was to be a first for Toronto: bicycle lanes physically separated from other traffic by barriers.

All other suggested bike lanes passed, however Bambrick says those are all more minor projects.

Close to half the 44-member city council and Mayor David Miller were absent from Wednesday night's vote.