A network of downtown bicycle lanes that Toronto city council approved in May has officially opened.

The bike lanes are part of the Richmond-Adelaide pilot project aimed at safety and improving connectivity for cyclists. Although the project is not yet complete, a number of lanes are now in place, separated by a paint barrier from motor-vehicle traffic.

When finished, the bicycle lanes will run along Richmond Street from York to Bathurst streets, and the Adelaide Street lane will run from Simcoe to Bathurst streets. They will be connected by north-south lanes on Peter and Simcoe streets.

Coun. Denzil Minnan-Wong hailed the opening of the bike network as a “much-needed initiative.”

“We know that this is one of the most used streets for cycling in the city, especially east-west,” said the councillor.

So far, cycle tracks have been installed on Simcoe Street from Front to Queen streets, and on Richmond from Bathurst to Niagara streets. Westbound lanes have been completed on Phoebe and Stephanie streets, and a southbound lane on Bathurst Street is also in place. The Adelaide lane is also now open between University and Bathurst streets.

The city still has to install the westbound lane on Richmond Street and part of the eastbound lane on Adelaide Street, as well as the north-south lanes on Peter Street from King to Queen streets. Traffic signals will also be modified to accommodate cyclists moving through the network.

Minnan-Wong criticized the project for taking nearly three years from start to finish. He also called for greater parking enforcement to ensure motor vehicles do not park in lanes meant for cyclists.

“I drove downtown this morning and cyclists, I know, were disappointed and I’m disappointed when you see trucks and taxis and all sort of vehicles parked in these cycle tracks,” he said. “What we have to do is make sure these cycle tracks are clear for cyclists because if they’re blocked, all this is for naught.

The project is estimated to cost $390,000 and the results of a final environment assessment will be released in the first half of 2015.