A Sikh gurdwara in Brampton is urging the city to reconsider bike lanes installed on Guru Nanak Street, citing significant traffic congestion and inconvenience for worshippers and local residents.
Members of the Gurdwara Guru Nanak Mission Centre raised their concerns at a Brampton city committee meeting this week. They explained that since the bike lanes’ implementation, traffic flow to and from the gurdwara has been severely affected, particularly on weekends when attendance peaks.
Manohar Singh Bal, director of the gurdwara, explained that Guru Nanak Street previously had two traffic lanes and a left-turn lane that facilitated access for westbound drivers entering the gurdwara. The introduction of bike lanes, protected by barrier poles, has reduced the roadway to a single lane, resulting in frequent traffic jams.
“With the allocation of one lane to the bike lane, the entire road has been converted to a one-lane road,” Bal stated. “This has resulted in traffic jams on many sides of these roads. And this has negatively impacted the flow of traffic both coming in and out of the gurdwara. This chaotic situation is especially visible on weekends, when large numbers of individuals and families visit.”
Bal further highlighted that the situation is aggravated by the absence of a left-turn signal for drivers turning onto Guru Nanak Street from Dixie Road, north of Bovaird Drive.
While city councillors acknowledged the problem, none proposed removing the bike lanes entirely. Instead, alternative solutions were discussed.
“It’s insane the amount of traffic that gets stuck there,” said Councillor Harkirat Singh (Wards 9 & 10). He suggested city staff explore the possibility of removing the barrier poles to improve traffic flow. Singh also recommended that, as part of planned upgrades to the gurdwara, city staff should consider redesigning the site to create additional access points beyond the single existing driveway.
Councillor Gurpartap Singh Toor (Wards 9 & 10), who frequently visits the area, agreed that the bike lanes were poorly planned. “I wish that we could design things better, especially for bike lanes… to not have people hate bike lanes,” Toor remarked.
Ward 1 & 5 Councillor Rowena Santos noted that while bike lanes remain a polarizing topic, they are essential for enhancing mobility across Brampton.
A city report exploring potential remedies is expected later this year.
Meanwhile, the issue could attract provincial attention. Premier Doug Ford recently stated his government intends to review all bike lanes across Ontario and consider removing those that contribute to significant traffic problems.
As the debate continues, the gurdwara and local residents hope for swift action to alleviate the congestion and improve accessibility for all road users.