An advocacy group claims Bloor Street bike lanes in Etobicoke are under scrutiny for potentially endangering lives.
Cody McCrae, the founder of Balance on Bloor, a community advocacy group, revealed that after analyzing data obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, the average emergency response time along a section of Bloor Street West has reportedly increased by 143 seconds since the installation of bike lanes.
McCrae emphasized the critical impact of this increase, stating, “That’s not just a delay. It could mean the difference between survival and tragedy. This issue transcends a simple debate between bikes and cars; it’s about transparency and priorities.”
In response to these findings, McCrae emphasized the importance of transparency from the City of Toronto, urging for accessible and accurate response time data without the need for FOI requests.
CityNews contacted the City for their perspective, where they reiterated that there has been no significant change in emergency response times before and after the implementation of the bike lanes on Bloor Street West, which have been in place since 2023.
While some community members express concerns about increased congestion due to the reduction in traffic lanes, others, including cyclists, highlight the positive impact on traffic speeds and safety.
Beyond the debate over bike lane usage, discrepancies in cost estimates for lane removal have also emerged. Balance on Bloor claims that the City’s projected cost of $48 million for removing the bike lanes vastly differs from independent contractor estimates, raising questions about transparency and accountability.
Local businesses, such as the Crooked Cue restaurant, have experienced negative financial implications and are part of an ongoing lawsuit against the City, citing decreased foot traffic and economic challenges.
Amidst these local controversies, proposals to relocate the bike lanes off the main arterial road to alleviate gridlock face opposition from cycling advocates who stress the importance of a connected network of bike lanes for safe and efficient travel.
The local dispute occurs against the backdrop of the Ford government’s decision to appeal a court ruling deeming the removal of bike lanes on major Toronto streets, including Bloor Street, as unconstitutional, citing concerns about cyclist safety and traffic congestion.