Ontario Government Approves Legislation Restricting Bike Lane Expansion

November 26, 2024 TruthUSA

Ontario has recently approved a law mandating municipal approval for the installation of bike lanes on major roads, potentially resulting in the removal of existing lanes in Toronto.

The legislation, referred to as Bill 212, also restricts cyclists’ ability to sue the government over accidents in areas where bike lanes have been eliminated.

The bill was quickly passed and received royal assent on Nov. 25 with a 66-27 vote in its favor after the third reading.

Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria announced the legislation last month to address traffic congestion, particularly in Toronto.

The bill paves the way for the province to remove bike lanes on sections of Bloor Street, Yonge Street, and University Avenue without consulting the City of Toronto.

Premier Doug Ford has consistently advocated for the removal of bike lanes to ease congestion on Toronto roads.

The province is concentrating on optimizing traffic flow on select roads to alleviate gridlock, as Ford mentioned in a press conference on Nov. 25.

“Three or four roads” are the focus of this effort, with collaborative efforts between Ontario and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow.

“She believes the Bloor Street West lanes should be removed, as the previous mayor has acknowledged a mistake,” Ford stated.

“This is not about opposing cyclists; they can utilize secondary roads. One percent of the population shouldn’t monopolize 50 percent of the roads.”

No Lawsuits

The legislation has seen some modifications since its introduction, notably an amendment introduced last week to prevent lawsuits stemming from bike lane removal.

New Democrat MPP Jessica Bell raised concerns about this addition during the Nov. 25 bill debate.

Sarkaria emphasized the importance of cyclists using secondary roads for safety.

“We’ve got to get this city moving,” he said. “It’s about making sure that everyone is safe on the roads.”

While many cycling advocates oppose the removal of bike lanes, a protest outside Queens Park was organized by Fight for Bikes, a group founded by two University of Toronto students.

“Bike lanes … allow us to navigate the city and afford to live here, if they are under threat, so are we,” they expressed on the group’s website.

The legislation also includes provisions for expediting the construction of priority highway projects like Highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass.

Highway 413 will link Highway 400 to the Highway 401/407 express toll route interchange area, spanning four to six lanes across the York, Peel, and Halton regions.

Work on the Bradford Bypass, connecting Highway 400 and Highway 404 through the York Region, has already commenced. Additionally, plans to extend Highway 413 are scheduled to start in 2025.

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