The town of Banff has decided against keeping its summer pedestrian zone on Banff Avenue. The decision comes after a recent vote that has sparked considerable debate among residents and visitors alike.
The Town of Banff, renowned for its stunning natural beauty and bustling tourism industry, held a referendum this week to determine the fate of the pedestrian zone. The initiative, which began in 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, had become a popular feature during the summer months. However, the voting results reveal a divided community, with a narrow majority opposing the continuation of the car-free area.
Out of 2,523 votes cast, 1,328 residents voted against maintaining the pedestrian zone, while 1,194 supported its continuation. This close margin highlights the complexity of balancing tourism, local business interests, and community preferences in a town that relies heavily on visitor traffic.
The pedestrian zone, which operated annually from the May long weekend to the Thanksgiving long weekend, had transformed Banff Avenue into a vibrant, walkable space. It featured additional public seating, bicycle parking, and flower planters, creating an inviting atmosphere for both tourists and locals. Many restaurants had expanded their patios onto the street, while retailers took advantage of the increased foot traffic with outdoor displays.
As a result of the vote, the Banff Town Council is now required to pass a bylaw rescinding the original decision to maintain the annual summer pedestrian zone. The dismantling process will begin promptly after the bylaw is passed, with the removal of public amenities, followed by the deconstruction of restaurant patios and retail displays.
The town will also need to make several logistical changes to accommodate the return of vehicle traffic. This includes adjusting traffic light signal timing at key intersections such as Wolf Street and Buffalo Street, and coordinating with lights on Spray Avenue. The gates that allowed Roam Transit to enter the pedestrian zone will be removed, along with the large planter barricades at each end of the zone and on Caribou Street.
The decision to create a pedestrian zone on Banff Avenue was initially implemented in 2020 as part of the town’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It continued through subsequent summers and was maintained as a pilot project in 2022 and 2023. Earlier this year, in January 2024, the Banff Town Council had voted to make the annual pedestrian zone a permanent summer feature.
However, the decision faced opposition from a group of residents concerned about the impacts of traffic being detoured off Banff Avenue. In March, these residents submitted a petition to overturn the council’s decision, leading to the recent vote.
It comes at a time when other cities are pedestrianizing streets, with mixed success. Business owners in Vancouver’s Gastown area complain that business is down after Water Street had cars removed for the summer, and Montreal has also been pedestrianizing streets with what appears to be greater success.
