Ontario to Commence Removal of Bike Lanes on Major Toronto Roads Following Court Ruling

📅 6 days ago

The Ontario government will begin removing bike lanes on Bloor Street West as part of its plan to restore vehicle traffic, following a court ruling that overturned a previous injunction.

The Ontario government has announced that construction work aimed at removing bike lanes on a key thoroughfare in Toronto will start next week. This decision follows a significant ruling by Ontario’s top court in August, which overturned a previous court's decision that had halted the government's initiative to eliminate protected bike lanes along several prominent routes, including Bloor Street, Yonge Street, and University Avenue. Dakota Brasier, a spokesperson for Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria, confirmed that the work to reinstate vehicle lanes on Bloor Street West is set to commence on Tuesday. Last year, a lower court had ruled against the province's efforts to replace the existing protected bike lanes with additional car lanes; however, the Ontario Court of Appeal determined that the initial judgment had effectively established a right to bike lanes that did not exist under current regulations. Following this ruling, the provincial government has been moving forward with its plans to revamp the cycling infrastructure in the city, despite the ongoing objections from municipal leaders. In a related development, the province issued a bid request last month for a study and design project that will explore options for restoring vehicle traffic on the segments of the affected roads currently designated for bike lanes. The successful contractor will also be tasked with identifying potential solutions for retaining or modifying bike lanes, particularly in locations where such changes would not exacerbate traffic congestion.

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