You may be seeing more and more of them these days in Montreal - the 327 km of new temporary bike paths and pedestrian corridors to keep everyone social distancing during the pandemic but which are prompting some more complaints.
"I had no idea, I was wondering what's going on," said the owner of Tapeo restaurant in Villeray, Victor Afonso.
Afonso told the Aaron Rand Show neither neighbours nor elected officials knew about the bike path taking up half of Villeray Street and parking in front of the businesses including his restaurant.
"Everybody seemed absolutely oblivious," said Afonso.
Ensemble Montreal city councillor Francesco Miele said they'll be tabling a motion at the next city council meeting calling for public consultations for the second phase of the project.
"It's a total improvisation - it's imposed on people," said Miele.
Miele said they also want assurances that these bike paths and pedestrian corridors are temporary and will be dismantled in September.
Executive committee member responsible for mobility Eric Alan Caldwell cites the urgency for social distancing but promises changes if necessary.
Caldwell insists they did consult with borough engineers and public health officials and that in times of a pandemic, they may have to forego the normal process of public consultations.
"We need a quick response for the needs of Montrealers," Caldwell told CJAD 800. "This quick response gives us the burden to listen to what people are living and adapt the situation."
"We have to deploy them quickly and we have to adapt them where there's issues."
Merchants on St. Laurent in Little Italy recently complained that they were not consulted about the city's plan to shut down the boulevard between St. Zotique and Jean Talon. The city has since backtracked and is discussing options with merchants. Merchants on Van Horne in Côte-des-Neiges had similar complaints.
Afonso said he's not anti-bike path - just upset that no one told him and his fellow merchants and residents about this new hurdle while they are already stressed dealing with the impact of COVID-19.
"Let's press pause - let's see if there's not a better alternative," said Afonso.
"If the people in our borough that we have elected are not even being consulted, I'm sorry - I feel worried about that, I feel desperate, I feel hopeless. It means there's no voice anymore."