Photo of Banff's Pedestrian Zone / photo source Town of Banff X page
The September long weekend may might be one the last chances to get that Banff Avenue mountain selfie as Banff residents voted to end the town’s downtown pedestrian zone.
Since 2020, the town of Banff has been closing its downtown core from the intersections of Wolf Street to Buffalo Street to offer extra space for businesses, pedestrians, and bicycle parking.
Over the years Banff residents have had mixed opinions about the pedestrian zone as vehicle traffic being detoured from Banff Ave created more traffic along residential streets.
Because of the divide among the town’s residents and a petition calling for Town Council to make a change to the annual pedestrian zone, Town of Banff held a special ballot on August 12 to decide the fate of the Banff Avenue pedestrian zone.
With a total 2,523 votes cast in the special ballot, 1,194 voted to keep the zone 1,328 voted to end the zone.
By the end of the September long weekend, businesses along the downtown core will have to take down outdoor patios and retail displays.
The road along Banff Avenue will re-open to vehicles once traffic lights have been reset.
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