Urbana- Area bike riders could soon have their very own paths through downtown Urbana. But not everyone's convinced it's the best thing for the area. The proposed plan calls for Main Street to become a three lane road instead of the four lanes it currently has. That would leave room for a bike lane on the far side of each street. But some would rather see the space used for something else.

Viewed through the eyes of cyclists Main Street becomes a hazardous road way.

"Personally I don't think it's safe to ride a bike down this part of downtown," says Pete Schnabel, owner of La Gourmandise Bistro.

City leaders aim to solve the safety situation by installing bike paths through the heart of downtown.

"It would become a three lane street instead of a four lane street and on each side of the road there would be a bike lane," says 4th ward Urbana City Councilman, Brandon Bowersox.

"I think the city is underestimating the congestion that sometimes occurs," says Carolyn Baxley, owner of Cinema Gallery.

Instead some downtown business owners would rather see the space used for parking.

"It's better for my business if we can somehow increase foot traffic here and I think by putting parking spaces in instead of bike lanes, I'm in favor of that," says Schnabel.

Baxley says a year ago the city had a different plan that most business owners preferred.

"We're all united on this that we would really like angled parking on the north side of this block," she says.

Now city leaders say that plan's been scrapped.

"Regardless of bike lanes, there's no opportunity to add angled parking because the street here on Main Street isnt' wide enough," says Bowersox.

Regardless of the plan Baxley says she just wants to be heard.

"We would like to have more of a voice in this because we don't feel like we have one right now," she says.

This plan is a year in the making at this point and is still in the planning stages. The city hasn't axed diagonal parking all together downtown but says it's just not possible here on Main Street and is looking to possibly install it on side streets.

Reported by Kate Springer.Urbana Bike Path Plan Causes Controversy