By Argyro Vourdoumpa and Andriana Simos.
In recent days, Adelaide City Council has released a plan to cut 170 car parks in the city for a new bikeway, prior to consulting affected businesses and organisations.
This move has angered the Greek community as the plan will cost the local Greek Orthodox Church up to 80 nearby car parks on Franklin Street to make way for the city bikeway.
President of the Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia, Bill Gonis, tells The Greek Herald that the bikeway will mean older people, most over 70 years of age, who want to visit the church and community centre are no longer able to park their cars nearby.
“It’s going to impact us so we’re now trying to organise a meeting with the Lord Mayor of Adelaide to discuss the issue. We want to work collaboratively with them,” Mr Gonis says.
The new path will take bike riders from West Terrace along Franklin Street then Flinders Street, to turn right on to a bikes-only Gawler Place and then left on to Wakefield Street.
In a statement to The Advertiser, an Adelaide City Council spokesman said council administration has not “proactively approached anyone to discuss the east bikeway at this stage.”
They said engaging with businesses will begin once approval for the project has been given.
