The Ontario Court of Appeal has overturned a lower court’s ruling that blocked the Ford government’s plans to rip out certain downtown Toronto bike lanes.
The decision paves the way for the removal of bike lanes on parts of Yonge Street, University Avenue and Bloor Street.
In a statement issued shortly after the decision came down, Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria called it a “decision for common sense and for respecting the appropriate division of roles between duly elected legislatures and the courts.”
The Court of Appeal took issue with the lower court’s perceived wading into legislative business.
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“It is illegitimate for courts to involve themselves in matters of legislative policy,” Justice Grant Huscroft wrote in the unanimous decision. “Policy is for politics.”
Michael Longfield is the executive director of Cycle Toronto, one of the groups behind the initial charter challenge. “We’re disappointed with the decision,” he said, “but it does nothing to dispute the facts that bike lanes do not cause traffic congestion and ripping them out will put people’s lives at risk.”
Longfield argued the battle isn’t just about cyclists and bike lanes. “The bike lanes on Bloor West have been approved by city council multiple times. This is about bike lanes, but also about respecting local democracy.”
Longfield said they are still exploring potential next steps, saying “they intend to keep pursuing this to the fullest extent of the law.”
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Toronto mayoral candidates weigh in
Brad Bradford weighed in on the decision with a post on X, saying the court confirmed his thoughts on bike lanes on Bloor.
He also included a message to Queen’s Park, saying the government has “made its point” and it’s time to let the city do this job, in tandem with residents.
Mayor Olivia Chow responded directly to Bradford’s post, saying she’s been working with the province to find a path forward that keeps every road user safe, and that she’s disappointed “to see a member of council undermine the city’s right to determine its own future and repeatedly side with provincial overreach.”
Bro relax. There are close to 10k people living in Liberty Village alone. I am sure some of them work in those professions you mentioned.
Ford represents all of Ontario, including GTA from Hamilton to Barrie to Bowmanville where Toronto’ police, fire, plumbers, electricians, accountants, doctors, engineers live – they don’t live in Liberty Village & they don’t bike to work. They lose time & money with congestion. End of discussion.
And to his other comment, cyclists in Toronto have shared roads with cars for over a century. We are all considered vehicles under the law. Many cyclists are capable of riding a bike on a road as is and without a bike lane. We don’t need special attention. Thats very similiar to what the judges said in this case.
If Anon Knew Anything. Of course hospitals gave input, as they always would have even for temporary bike lanes which was the case here, during a pandemic when ambulance use was critical. That does not mean that the lanes were permanent. Besides that, ambulances are not the only users of University. You missed the entire point of my earlier comment and replied with a non sequitur. Typical leftie
Right Wingers will learn that ripping out a few bike Lanes will not improve congestion, it will make traffic worse. Slug ford’s own internal documents admit this. Drivers will also now have to share the arterial roads with cyclists and scooters, slowing them down more. You ford fools are sooooooooo stupid. 🤡 🌎
They would know that the university bike lane was designed with direct input from the hospitals. The bike lane is also wide enough for emergency vehicles to use it.
You give up! You’re also a liar!
For those below who chime in without knowing the full story, please educate yourselves.
University is a major artery, one of few left in the core that get people to where they need to go. Those bike lanes were brought in “temporarily” during the darkest days of the pandemic as traffic was down and governments wanted people to go outdoors and stay active. They were supposed to be removed when shelter in place was lifted. The city not only did not remove them, they did the opposite by ALSO adding a two-way bike lane one block east on York, even though York is heavily used right now for bypassing of the 501 streetcar during the construction of the Ontario Line which the province is building for us, without city tax dollars. Thats the thanks we gave Ontario. They are building a subway for us, and we backtracked on removing a temporary bike lane while adding another bike lane one street over in the middle of a hugely important streetcar diversion route.
Grow up! We all need to use our roads and live in this city. Many of us are also cyclists. But unlike you, we don’t demand bike lanes everywhere. We were raised at a time when we learned cycling safety at school from Toronto police officers. We know better than to pass a streetcar on its left, or to use a right turn only lane on King as our personal bike lane.
The province has the right to dictate policy – time to review a couple more recent court decisions with that in mind…
Secondary roads are already blocked up. Anyone that thinks that removing bike lanes will make traffic a breeze after removal is in another reality.
Ford government needs to stay in their own lane and leave municipal affairs to the municipalities across Ontario. Heck, Ford can’t even run provincial affairs without messing them up.
Surprise dimwits! Thanks for wasting money and clogging our roads.
It’s about time ….. Common Sense!!!!!!
I agree with the Premier….there should be bike lanes on SECONDARY STREETS AND NOT THE MAIN STREETS.
Good
Only an idiot believes that bike lanes are a Charter Right