Advertisement 1This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Beltline Neighbourhoods Association director Peter Oliver spoke with media on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 about turning certain streets into pedestrian-only corridors. Brent Calver/PostmediaArticle contentThere is widespread public support for a car-free pilot project along 17th Avenue S.W. next summer, a new survey suggests.Sign In or Create an Accountor View more offersArticle contentBut a group that represents businesses along the busy corridor said much more consultation is needed before determining if it’s worth pursuing the idea seriously, while the city said no plans are currently in the works to close the street to vehicles.Article contentWe apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Article contentArticle contentThe Beltline Neighbourhoods Association conducted public engagement last summer in a bid to gauge how residents and area businesses felt about making a portion of 17th Avenue S.W. vehicle-free.Article contentNoon News RoundupYour weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links, news highlights, analysis and features.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.Thanks for signing up!A welcome email is on its way. 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Browse here.Article contentResults were released Wednesday, indicating 82 per cent of approximately 1,500 public respondents supported the idea of an “open street” pilot project along 17th Avenue during weekends next summer.Article contentIn a separate survey, 54 per cent of 40-plus businesses along the street said they liked the idea as well.Article contentThe biggest drivers for support of car-free streets were having more space to walk, more space for businesses to set up extended patios, and a reduction in vehicular congestion, noise and pollution, said Peter Oliver, director of the BNA.Article content“Right now, we know the street is suffering during peak times, like on the weekends, from a lot of congestion,” Oliver said. “Cars are sitting at the lights for multiple cycles, there’s pollution, there’s noise.Article contentArticle content“That’s actually keeping people away from here, and one of the interesting things we found was the most common mode of people coming to the street was by walking.”Article content Pedestrians walk past rows of parked cars on 17th Avenue in Calgary on Sunday, April 7, 2024. Brent Calver/PostmediaArticle contentThe idea of restricting vehicles from certain retail-focused streets has been successful in other Canadian cities, Oliver noted, including Montreal and Vancouver. He added that Calgary has flirted with the concept as well, in Inglewood and Kensington, as well as during the 4th Street Lilac Festival.Article contentSeventy-seven per cent of the BNA’s respondents said they’d visit 17th Avenue more often if the road was devoid of cars, Oliver said.Article contentAnother finding from the poll was that most of the avenue’s foot traffic is from residents who live within two kilometres of the street, and that walking is their most common mode of transport.Article content‘Nuance’ to 17th AvenueArticle contentThe most popular preference among the poll’s respondents — 34 per cent — was to close a seven-block stretch of 17th Avenue between 11th and 4th Streets S.W., from Fridays to Sundays, in July and August.Advertisement 1This advertisement has not loaded yet.Trending Calgary Stampede, July 9: Midway stabbing sends three to hospital | Unexpected finds at BMO Centre Market | Music picks Local News Calgary apartment residents say management handled tenant death poorly Local News Advertisement 1Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Videos capture brawls on and off Stampede grounds, four arrested after midway fight Local News 'Cry about it!': Hockey world buzzes as ex-NHL enforcer brawls slowpoke golfer on Alberta course Cult of Hockey 'I could not believe he hit me': Senior couple attacked in northwest Calgary Crime Advertisement 2AdvertisementThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article contentBut while Oliver said the public seems mostly in favour of a car-free 17th Avenue, a group that represents hundreds of the street’s retailers is more cynical.Article contentIn 2023, the 17th Avenue Business Improvement Area conducted its own survey. The BIA found that of 23 businesses polled, 16 were against the idea of a car-free street. They cited concerns it would reduce sales by deterring customers coming to the Beltline from other parts of the city.Article content“The bottom line is, any survey that comes out, you want to make sure there’s a good cross section of people, a good sample,” Tulene Steiestol, the BIA’s executive director, said Wednesday.Article content“There’s concern that definitely more due diligence, more outreach and more consultation need to be done.”Article content The City of Calgary is thinking of making a section of 17th Avenue a pedestrian walkway during the summer months. Photo taken in Calgary on Thursday, May 30, 2024. Darren Makowichuk/PostmediaArticle contentStretching more than 40 blocks, 17th Avenue S.W. has a lot of “nuance,” Steiestol said. She argued that blocking vehicles from one block may impede the only access to an adjacent condominium’s parkade.Article contentArticle contentOr, in the case of a store like Canadian Tire, she said many customers may purchase items that are too heavy to carry a large distance on foot.Article content“We look at this really seriously in wanting to make sure the best interests are being taken across the board,” she said.Article contentSome businesses skepticalArticle contentThat skepticism was echoed Wednesday by Michael Playe, the manager of Black Sheep Pâtisserie, located on 17th Avenue between 7th and 8th Street S.W.Article contentHe said he understands the appeal of a pedestrian-only street from a visitors’ perspective, but that closing access to vehicles and eliminating parking would likely hurt his business, since many of the bakery’s sales are from pickup orders.Article content“On 17th Avenue, there is a lot of construction, and when there is no parking because of the construction, we have way less customers in the shop,” Playe told Postmedia. “So for us, it’s not a good thing, because I do think that in Calgary, if people can’t drive to go somewhere, they don’t really want to walk, and if they can’t park, I think it would be kind of very bad for the business.”Article contentArticle contentOliver acknowledged that some businesses along 17th have been skeptical of pedestrianization — 36 per cent of those surveyed said they were opposed to it, while 10 per cent were unsure — but that a narrow majority still expressed support for the concept.Article content“I think there’s just a little bit more caution with businesses,” he said. “It’s going to be really important going forward that we continue to engage local businesses to make sure we’re doing this in a way that benefits them.Article content“And really, the goal here is to support the local economy, local businesses, and make the street more accessible and more inviting.”Article content Beltline Neighbourhoods Association director Peter Oliver spoke with media on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 about turning certain streets into pedestrian-only corridors. Brent Calver/PostmediaArticle contentNo plan for pedestrianization at this time, says cityArticle contentWith the survey completed, Oliver said the next step is to engage with the city this fall on the actual feasibility of a car-free pilot project and in terms of how it would be designed, noting an open street would require bus routes to be redirected and emergency response protocols and traffic patterns to change. Article contentUltimately, Oliver said it’s up to the city whether or not to pursue a pedestrianization pilot.Article contentIn a statement Wednesday, the city said it’s aware of the BNA’s survey, but that implementation of a car-free pilot project also requires support from the local BIA and other stakeholders.Article contentAt this time, there is no plan for any pedestrian-only zones along 17th Avenue, the city said.Article content“Further engagement would also be required to gauge interest and understand how a pedestrian-only space could displace traffic and transit, impact emergency access and affect the surrounding communities and businesses,” the city stated.Article content Featured Local Savings