A group of Toronto cyclists found themselves in a showdown at Ontario’s highest court on Wednesday, defending their victory in opposing the province’s plan to remove three key bike lanes in the city.
These cyclists, which include a bike courier and a university student, successfully argued that the government’s untested strategy to eliminate protected bike lanes poses a safety risk. The Court of Appeal for Ontario is set to review the provincial government’s appeal on the matter.
The province contended that the initial court ruling would essentially establish a right to bike lanes, a claim that was rejected by a Superior Court justice last year.
Justice Paul Schabas pointed out that the government persisted with the plan despite advice from its own experts that it would not alleviate traffic congestion and might even worsen the situation. Removing or altering the bike lanes, he warned, could lead to more accidents and casualties, a consequence the government sought to shield itself from by adding an immunity clause.
Premier Doug Ford’s administration had passed a law in 2024 to remove 19 kilometers of protected bike lanes along major Toronto streets, a move met with criticism and legal action from cyclists and advocacy groups.
Keyphrase: Toronto bike lanes battle