After spending hours Wednesday afternoon hearing the concerns of a number of Edmontonians, a city committee has voted to hold off on plans to install bike lanes on two different routes.

The city’s Transportation Committee voted late Wednesday afternoon to seek more feedback from residents affected by the 76 Avenue and 121 Avenue bike routes, before moving forward with installing bike lanes.

The decision came after a four hour meeting at City Hall, where about 20 people showed up to share their views on the proposed 26 kilometres of bike lanes set to be laid out this year.

Speakers ranged from concerned citizens, to members from the Edmonton Bicycle Commuters Society.

While some spoke in support of the added lanes, saying they would help with traffic congestion in the Whyte Avenue area, others are worried about parking and how the lanes could affect seniors with mobility issues – still others said they were never notified of the changes.

“Somebody needs to be held accountable for the notification process, somewhere along the line,” Barbara Fedun said. “So far, I haven’t seen anybody raise their hand or send me an e-mail response clarifying my confusion about who really is responsible for having notified people, stakeholders, of that community, and that is a very serious concern of mine.”

Fedun hasn’t lived in Edmonton for many years, but her parents still live in the home she grew up in, on 76 Avenue – and she’s concerned they may lose parking because of the lanes that are slated for installation in front of their home.

She told CTV News she’s started a petition, and has gathered several hundred signatures to stop the bike lane proposed for that avenue.

On the other hand, Ross Goodine lives on 83 Avenue, and he believes a bike lane would help reduce traffic congestion in the area.

“I would love to see parking removed from my street, I would love to see no cars on my street at all, just a pedestrian walking space with a bike route through it, that for me would be what would make my street something I would love to be a part of,” Goodine said.

According to the city, about 54 percent of Edmontonians ride bicycles in the summer and fall, and 57 percent said they would like to do that more.

This year, the city is planning to add 23 kilometres of bike lanes on streets in several parts of the city – since 2010, 46 kilometres of bike lanes have been added on city streets.

The additions this year would be done at a cost of $1.5 million.

With files from Veronica Jubinville