Cycling advocates protest Ontario's removal of Toronto bike lanes

Explainer

Ontario has officially removed a 1.2-kilometre stretch of bike lanes on Bloor Street West in Etobicoke, prompting a Halloween protest at Queen's Park and a planned legal challenge at the Supreme Court of Canada. Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria announced the removal on Friday, citing low usage as the reason. Cycle Toronto and other advocacy groups are seeking to appeal a court ruling that allowed the province to proceed with taking out protected lanes. The work on the Etobicoke stretch follows an Ontario Court of Appeal decision that permitted the removal over the city's objections. Protesters showed up on the lawns of Queen's Park with decorative bikes and signs on their backs, such as "Bike Lanes Save Lives."

"We heard from communities, and that's why we moved forward on this first part of removal on Bloor Street West," Sarkaria told CP24 Breakfast. "The remainder of which will come subsequent in the next construction cycle." The provincial government insists that removing lanes around sections of Bloor Street, Yonge Street and Avenue Road and around Queen's Park will ease traffic congestion. The recent removal work has already caused tension between construction crews and cycling advocates, leading to the arrests of four people largely related to mischief during protests in recent weeks. That unease between protesters and police has caused a sense of unease among the cycling community, said Michael Longfield, executive director of Cycle Toronto.

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What are protesters and advocates saying?

Dozens of cycling advocates gathered on the lawns of Queen's Park on Saturday with signs and decorative bikes, some in Halloween costumes while volunteers passed out candy and chocolates. A skeleton wore a bright orange shirt while mounted on a bike nearby. Michael Longfield said the mood on Saturday afternoon was full of optimism despite previous clashes. "The premier might have taken one kilometre from us but folks are ready to defend the remaining 18," Longfield said. He believes there is still time to change Premier Doug Ford's mind about the bike lanes.

Longfield said the issue became a hot topic during Toronto's recent municipal election and a key conversation among voters. "If anything, Torontonians have elected even stronger voices on cycling," he said, referring to Mayor Olivia Chow, who was re-elected Monday for a second term. Disability rights advocate Oda Al-anizi, who uses an e-bike attachment on his wheelchair, said the dedicated lanes are crucial for his safety and mobility. "The city has been more open to me and I've been able to more easily have a social life or go to work," he said. Al-anizi, a longtime Toronto resident, said bike lanes are an issue for people with disabilities and mobility issues.

What is the legal status of the bike lane removal?

Cycle Toronto and other advocacy groups have asked the Supreme Court of Canada to weigh in on Premier Doug Ford's plans and appeal an Ontario Court of Appeal ruling that allowed the removal of protected bike lanes. Nosy Mag reported in October that Ontario was set to begin removing the lanes on Bloor Street West the following week after the court ruling. The legal fight centres on provincial authority over municipal infrastructure, with the province moving ahead despite objections from the City of Toronto. The groups are seeking intervention from the country's highest court to challenge the decision.

How do bike lanes affect people with disabilities?

For Oda Al-anizi, a disability rights advocate who lives with a spinal cord injury, the bike lanes have transformed his ability to handle the city over the past few years because of a new e-bike attachment to his wheelchair. He said bike lanes are especially important for those who don't feel seen by drivers on the road or have accessible transit modes. "Drivers can't see sometimes. I am pretty low and [they] can get aggressive," Al-anizi said. "For me, it's very important to be in a dedicated space for bike lanes. It makes me feel a lot more safe." He argued that the dedicated space is essential for his sense of security on the road. The advocacy groups are now preparing their case for the Supreme Court of Canada, hoping to halt further removals planned for the next construction cycle. The protest and legal action highlight the ongoing debate over urban infrastructure and safety in Toronto.

With files from The Canadian Press, The Globe and Mail and CityNews