Premier Doug Ford and his government are planning new congestion prevention legislation that is expected to limit where and how municipalities can build new bike lanes.
The Ontario government is considering legislation that would ban bike lanes, a proposal first uncovered by CBC News. Sources confirmed that the idea has been discussed, but Transport Minister Prabhmeet Sarkaria declined to comment on whether the idea would be included in the upcoming bill.
Wrong direction for cyclists
“We are looking at various proposals when it comes to congestion management,” Sarkaria said when asked about the plans. “The city is seeing record traffic congestion and explosive population growth, making commuting difficult.”
Doug Ford wants to eliminate Toronto's bike lanes
Renowned cycling lawyer David Shelnutt expressed deep concerns about the Ontario PC government's proposed bill to halt bike lane development. Shelnutt said the bill is the wrong response given the increasing number of cycling fatalities across the province. He noted that recent fatal accidents in Ontario make the bill especially hard on the families of the victims. Shelnutt called for the government to focus on increasing penalties for those who harm road users.
Ford focuses on bicycle infrastructure
Asked about his proposed legislation on Monday, Premier Ford said he aims to “get traffic flowing.” Premier Ford argued that major road bike networks are contributing to the problem. “We want to make sure all modes can move quickly, that's the bottom line, making sure we're not putting bike lanes in the middle of the busiest roads in the country,” he said.
The prime minister suggested his planned bike lane bill could require cities to build cycling infrastructure on side streets in residential areas, modelled on efforts made by his brother Rob when he was mayor of Toronto.
“Believe it or not, my brother Rob has actually installed more bike lanes than David Miller,” Ford said, “but instead of putting them in the middle of streets like University Avenue and Bloor Street, he put them on secondary arteries and side streets. You can't clog up traffic just because of your political beliefs.”
Robin Richardson: A passionate advocate for bike lanes in Toronto
He suggested the bike network was preventing emergency services from moving quickly through downtown, a claim that has been denied as false by several cycling advocates. “It's a complete disaster. It's a nightmare,” Ford said.
Other politicians were quick to oppose the bill. “Residents want efficient, affordable and safe ways to get around our city, which is why the City of Mississauga has worked hard to invest in transit and bicycle infrastructure to combat traffic congestion in our city,” said Mississauga city councillor Alvin Tello. “As chair of the Mississauga Bicycle Advisory Committee, I urge the province not to introduce more red tape into this process. This new policy will add another obstacle to our urban planning, not only putting cyclists at risk, but doing absolutely nothing to ease congestion.”
So far in 2024, six cyclists have been killed in Ontario's capital city.
