- Ontario's top court has ruled that the province is free to remove Toronto bike lanes, upholding Premier Doug Ford's appeal.
- Ontario’s transportation minister, Prabmeet Sarkaria, called the decision a victory for common sense; the government has not yet announced when or if it will remove the lanes.
- Michael Longfield, executive director of Cycle Toronto, expressed disappointment, noting bike lanes help pedestrians and other drivers and have a strong traffic calming effect.
- The court of appeal judges wrote there is no charter right to bike lanes and the government is free to change legislation; they stated courts cannot find legislation unconstitutional because experts predict policy failure.
- Toronto’s mayor, Olivia Chow, said she has been working with the province to negotiate a path forward that keeps every road user safe; Longfield hopes for an alternative that still makes room for cyclists.
Ontario's top court ruled on Friday that the province can remove bike lanes in Toronto, a decision that reverses a previous ruling which deemed such actions unconstitutional. The Ford government had sought to eliminate the lanes despite their recent installation, citing a need for legislative flexibility.1
The court's decision stated there is no constitutional right to bike lanes, allowing the government to change legislation as it sees fit. Justice Huscroft emphasized that courts cannot deem legislation unconstitutional based on predictions of policy failure, asserting, “Neither the government nor the legislature is under any obligation to accept policy advice.”
Michael Longfield, executive director of Cycle Toronto, expressed disappointment, stating, “This isn’t just about keeping people on bikes safe. It helps pedestrians. It helps other drivers.” He highlighted the lanes' role in enhancing traffic safety in urban areas.467
Toronto's mayor, Olivia Chow, is seeking to negotiate with the province to ensure safety for all road users. Meanwhile, Ontario's transportation minister, Prabmeet Sarkaria, called the ruling a “victory for common sense.” The government has yet to announce a timeline for the removal of the bike lanes.23
The legal battle began when cycling advocacy groups challenged the province's plans, arguing that removing the lanes would increase risks to cyclists and pedestrians. The 2024 legislation aimed to remove 19km (12 miles) of bike lanes, but was paused pending the outcome of the court's decision.
“Cycle Toronto's Michael Longfield expressed disappointment, saying bike lanes help pedestrians and drivers with a strong traffic calming effect. Mayor Olivia Chow said she is negotiating with the province for a path that keeps all road users safe, while Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria called the ruling a 'victory for common sense.'”
The Guardian
