Overview
- Justice Paul Schabas found that Bill 212’s directive to remove or reconfigure bike lanes violates section 7 of the Charter by putting road users at increased risk of harm and death.
- Protected lanes on Bloor Street West, Yonge Street and University Avenue remain intact under an April injunction while the full Charter challenge proceeds.
- The ruling cited consensus expert evidence that restoring vehicle lanes would induce more driving and therefore fail to alleviate traffic congestion.
- Bill 212 continues to require provincial approval for new bike lane installations even as the court bars forced removal of existing protected lanes.
- Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation announced plans to appeal to the Court of Appeal and has not ruled out invoking the notwithstanding clause.