The results of a recent survey show support for turning a busy section of Calgary’s 17 Avenue into a pedestrian-only zone next summer.
Faith Barton has lived and worked in the downtown stretch of the neighbourhood for six years. She is excited about the proposed pilot program that would make 17 Avenue SW between 4 and 8 Streets car-free on weekends in the summer of 2026.
“When we have the Red Mile during hockey season, it’s so fun to see just the street filled with people. And I think it will become a great community hub to have more people hanging out – going to the pubs on 17 Avenue and then shopping the smaller businesses,” she said.
The survey on the Open Street Pilot Project was carried out by the Beltline Neighbourhoods Association (BNA). Of the more than 1,500 Calgarians who responded to the survey, 82 per cent support the initiative. There is also 54 per cent support from local businesses.
The BNA executive director says the idea is modelled on similar pedestrian zones in other cities, as well as Stephen Avenue right here in Calgary.
“17 Avenue is now almost becoming a victim of its own success, where it is getting overcrowded in the summertime,” said BNA director Peter Oliver. “The traffic is congested, multiple light cycles, the cars are stuck sitting there, the sidewalks are overflowing.”
Fjallraven manager Chris Fournier says the local community is better when more pedestrians visit the store.
“It’s hard to escape from the idea that car is the end-all-be-all,” he said. “But I really think it can create a more wholesome and integrated landscape.”
Some residents did express concerns about the construction already in the area, lack of public parking, and traffic spilling over onto other streets. But many still welcome the idea of fewer cars in the summer.
Local resident Patrick Leslie is in support of the proposal.
“The thing I like least about traffic in the summer is the noise from all the motorcycles and big trucks, so I think a little less of that would be nice around here,” he said.
The next phase of the project is consultation with the city.