Toronto’s bike lanes on Bloor, University and Yonge streets will remain in place for now, thanks to a temporary injunction issued by Justice Paul Schabas in April. 

The injunction prevents the Ford government from proceeding with the removal of the lanes until a decision is made on a Charter of Rights and Freedoms challenge. Cycling advocates, backed by Cycle Toronto and Ecojustice, argue that the removal violates cyclists’ charter rights to life and security.

The Ford government campaigned in February’s election on a plan to remove downtown bike lanes and passed Bill 212, the Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, in November. The provincial government contends that bike lanes contribute to congestion and proposes diverting cyclists to secondary roads.

Former MPP for Etobicoke–Lakeshore, Christine Hogarth, was one of the Ontario PC party members leading the push to remove the bike lanes, especially the latest section on Bloor Street West in Etobicoke. 

The removal became a political issue during the last provincial election campaign, and although Doug Ford’s Ontario PC party won easily, Hogarth lost her seat. 

A provincial report suggests the first bike lanes to be removed would be “500 metres of the most western section of the Bloor Street bike lane and 400 metres of the Yonge Street bike lane.”

Recently, the Ford government announced that it would be willing to renegotiate the removals with the City of Toronto.

Cycle Toronto, Ecojustice and bike lane users Eva Stanger-Ross and Narada Kiondo filed their challenge last December, claiming that removing the bike lanes “puts lives at risk.” In April, the group failed to secure a temporary injunction to stop the lane removals. However, internal government documents reveal that removing the bike lanes might not alleviate congestion and could increase collisions while negatively impacting local businesses.

“The passage of Bill 212 was an arbitrary and dangerous decision by the Ontario government,” said Bronwyn Roe, a lawyer with Ecojustice. “The provision we’re challenging violates the section 7 charter-protected rights to life and security of the person. Countless studies have shown that bike lane infrastructure saves lives. By removing three core bike lane corridors in Toronto, the province is directly putting the lives of Ontarians at risk.”

These impacts will be felt most acutely by low-income and new Canadian communities who disproportionately rely on cycling as a safe and affordable method of transportation.  

Despite the government’s stance, Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria expressed openness in April to keeping bike lanes, provided a lane of traffic is also restored. City staff has estimated the cost of removing the bike lanes at $48 million. Despite Bill 212, the City of Toronto is moving forward with its bike network expansion, including on key corridors such as Eglinton Avenue.