The feud between bike path supporters and bike path opponents is currently at an all-time high in Toronto. On October 21, the Government of Ontario released Bill 212 entitled “Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, 2024”, an initiative of the Doug Ford government intended to allow the provincial government to take control of development (and removal ) of bicycles The introduction of lanes within the cities, which the municipalities have previously planned and implemented on their own.
Specifically, Bill 212 requires municipalities to obtain provincial approval to develop bike lanes that remove a lane of traffic, and pending review by the province, “regulations may be adopted requiring the removal of existing bike lanes.” Doug Ford specifically mentioned the Bloor, Yonge and University bike paths as targets for Bill 212 and said the matter was a done deal.
In response to the announcement, hundreds of cyclists took to the streets, meeting at the Legislative Building on Oct. 24 before marching along Hoskin Avenue and then Bloor Street, with many making sure to ride in lanes as they usually do would have to do The bike paths will be removed.
Cyclists gather outside the Ontario Parliament to protest the abuses of power-hungry provincial politicians, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor Kotsy
Doug Ford posted a video on Instagram saying that “commute to work is taking twice as long for Torontonians who now drive to work” since bike lanes were added. Those who oppose his views are more concerned about accessibility and safety – a legitimate concern considering six cyclists have been killed in Toronto so far in 2024 alone. An article produced by CBC examines Doug Ford's claims.
Bill 212 states that legislation to remove these lanes would be exempt from the Environmental Assessment Act and there would be a “requirement for the City of Toronto to provide assistance” with the removal of existing lanes.
The City of Toronto's budget for bike infrastructure in 2024 is $31 million – a 55% increase from 2023. Many sections of bike paths along Bloor have just been completed, and if the city has to remove them, there will certainly be more spark controversy.
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