A Vancouver politician wants the city to examine whether a proposed separated bike lane should be placed on parts of West 7th Avenue rather than running along West 10th Avenue behind Vancouver General Hospital.

The city's three options for West 10th Avenue all include separated bike lanes, which would replace up to 77 metered parking spots.

In a notice of motion, NPA councillor Elizabeth Ball suggests that staff should look at relocating this separated bike lane to West 7th Avenue only between Oak and Ash streets.

Ball also calls upon her fellow councillors and the mayor to direct staff to ensure "sufficient sheltered drop-off/pick-up locations in front of entrances to each medical facility along West 10th Avenue, directly connected by gentle ramps and raised crosswalks to slow traffic".

Health facilities in this section of West 10th Avenue include the B.C. Cancer Agency, B.C. Cancer Research Centre, VGH Eye Care Centre, Mary Pack Arthritis Centre, Blusson Spinal Cord Centre, Centre for Hip Health and Mobility, and the Gordon and Leslie Diamond Health Centre.

"The addition of the bicycle route would also leave inadequate space for taxis, HandyDart, private cars, or emergency vehicles (especially in cases of vehicle breakdowns or catastrophic events)," the notice of motion states. "The current plans do not provide enough safe, dedicated pick-up and drop-off locations for seniors accessing medical facilities."

Ball brought forward her notice of motion after concerns were expressed by the seniors' advisory committee earlier this year. It's on the agenda for the council meeting on Tuesday (November 1). But because there are already people registerd to speak about the matter, it will be bumped over to a subsequent council committee meeting.

The off-Broadway bike route was originally designated along West 7th Avenue. It button-hooks up Vine Street to West 8th Avenue before continuing farther west.

However, many cyclists preferred riding above West Broadway on West 10th Avenue even after the creation of the off-Broadway route. So council later designated this as another bike route extending from Victoria Drive to Trafalgar Street.

Next spring, city staff is expected to deliver a recommended design option to council for a separated bike lane on West 10th Avenue. This will follow a third round of open houses.

One option is a two-way bike lane on the north side of West 10th Avenue, another is a two-lane bike lane on the south side of the street, and the third is for two unidirectional lanes on each side.

Reconstruction of the roadway along West 10th Avenue in the city's health precinct is expected to begin next year, according to the city website.