Ontario Court Clears Way to Remove Toronto Bike Lanes

The Court of Appeal for Ontario ruled unanimously on Friday that the provincial government may proceed with the removal of 19 kilometres of protected bike lanes along Bloor Street, Yonge Street, and University Avenue in Toronto. The decision overturns a lower court ruling that had blocked the removal on the grounds that it created unconstitutional safety risks for cyclists.

The appellate court determined that the previous judge improperly entered the realm of political policy-making and erroneously created a constitutional right to bicycle lanes. The court asserted that the Charter of Rights and Freedoms does not require the legislature to establish such infrastructure and that whether a policy is wise or unwise is irrelevant to its constitutionality.

Premier Doug Ford's government argued the removals are necessary to reduce traffic congestion on the city's busiest streets. Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria maintained that bike lanes should be restricted to secondary roads rather than primary vehicle arteries.

Cycle Toronto challenged the 2024 provincial law, arguing that removing the lanes puts lives at risk and serves as a costly distraction from government responsibilities. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow's office stated she continues to seek solutions that balance vehicle capacity with safe cycling infrastructure.