Ontario government bike lane removals spark Toronto protests

The Ontario provincial government, led by Premier Doug Ford, has implemented several policies favoring motorists and overriding municipal decisions regarding cycling infrastructure. Under Bill 60, the “Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act,” the province has gained authority to prohibit municipalities from installing cycling lanes that occupy general traffic lanes without ministerial approval. This legislation also allows the provincial government to override Toronto City Council decisions to remove existing lanes on major routes such as Bloor Street, Yonge Street, and University Avenue.

In Etobicoke, recent efforts to remove bike lanes on Bloor Street West near Islington Avenue have led to confrontations between police and cyclists. Protests organized by groups such as Friends & Families for Safe Streets (FFSS) have taken place to oppose the removals. These actions follow a broader trend of provincial interventions, including the removal of municipal speed enforcement cameras and the acceleration of highway construction projects like the Bradford Bypass and Highway 413.