Cyclists ride in opposition to Ford government’s plan to remove bike lanes
Premier Doug Ford’s bike lane removal and street reconfiguration plans may already be underway in Toronto but the battle over the future of cycling in the city continues. On Saturday, dozens of cycling advocates took that battle to the streets of Toronto, not just to the protected bike lanes along Bloor Street, but to the […]
Cyclists gathered in Toronto to protest Premier Doug Ford's plans to remove bike lanes from protected areas along major streets like Bloor, Yonge, and University. The city's cycling advocates argue that the bike lanes have been in place for years, with council approval under multiple mayors, and emphasize their importance to commuters and safety.
Despite an Ontario court blocking the plan last summer, the Ontario Court of Appeal recently overturned the decision, leading advocates to vow continued resistance. Mayor Olivia Chow proposed a restoration plan for both traffic lanes and protected bike lanes, but the province rejected it. NDP MP Alex Gilmour joined the protest, urging Ford to focus on other pressing issues while preserving the city's infrastructure.
Ford maintains that bike lanes cause traffic congestion, citing a report claiming gridlock costs Ontario $56 billion annually. The province is now seeking proposals to study and redesign traffic lanes on various streets, with plans to keep or reconfigure bike lanes where deemed appropriate.
Written by urgent.news from CityNews's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
