- On Friday, the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled unanimously (3-0) in favor of the Ford government, allowing the removal of Toronto's downtown bike lanes, overturning a previous ruling by Superior Court Justice Paul Schabas that deemed the removal unconstitutional.
- Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria called the ruling a victory for common sense and emphasized the government's mandate to address traffic and gridlock, which costs Ontario's economy over $56 billion annually.
- Despite the ruling, cycling advocates have vowed to continue their fight against the removal of bike lanes, with the possibility of appealing to the Supreme Court of Canada.
- The law empowering the province to remove bike lanes along Bloor Street, Yonge Street, and University Avenue was initially passed at Queen's Park in 2024.
- In July 2025, Justice Paul Schabas ruled that the removal of bike lanes would be unconstitutional, citing increased risks to cyclist safety.
- The Ford government has argued that removing bike lanes would improve traffic congestion in the Greater Toronto Area.
The Ontario Court of Appeal's ruling allows Premier Doug Ford's government to remove 19 kilometers of bike lanes in Toronto, reversing a previous decision that deemed the action unconstitutional.12
Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria stated, "Today’s court ruling is a victory for common sense and for respecting the appropriate division of roles between duly elected legislatures and the courts."34
The court's unanimous decision criticized a lower court's ruling for focusing on policy rather than legal arguments.
Justice Grant Huscroft emphasized, "We are governed by those whom we elect and they are accountable to the people for the choices they make, not to the courts."
Despite the ruling, cycling advocates, including Michael Longfield of Cycle Toronto, expressed disappointment and vowed to continue their fight, stating, "I want to be clear that bike lanes do not cause traffic congestion. Removing them will put people's lives at risk."56
The court's decision allows the government to legislate the removal of bike lanes without constitutional implications, asserting that legislative policy does not have to align with expert opinions.
The ruling specifically protects bike lanes on Bloor, University, and Yonge Streets, which were challenged by advocates citing safety concerns.
The Ford government argues that bike lanes should be on secondary roads, not major thoroughfares, to alleviate traffic congestion, which costs Ontario's economy over $56 billion annually.9
The legal battle may continue, as advocates consider appealing to the Supreme Court of Canada.
“The ruling overturns Justice Paul Schabas's July 2025 decision that found the removal unconstitutional. Cycle Toronto's Michael Longfield called it 'disappointing' and said the group will fight 'to the fullest extent of the law,' with an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada still possible.”
