The separated bike lanes experiment along Bloor Street has demonstrated they should stay – for good.

That’s the conclusion reached by city staff, who say in a just released report, the number of cyclists pedaling along the 2.4-kilometre stretch of Bloor West between Avenue Road and Shaw Street, has increased by 49% since June 2016 – making it the second busiest cycling route in the city.

Staff also say the bikes have brought more customers to area businesses while slowing vehicular traffic by an average of two to four minutes.

Mayor John Tory knows how he’ll vote when the report goes to city council next month.

”I will report the staff recommendation to keep the bike lanes with continued improvements to be made to safety, street design and practical improvements for local businesses”.

The report first goes to the city’s public works and infrastructure committee October 18 and then city council which meets November 7-9.