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Ontario Court Rejects Ford’s Plan to Remove Toronto Bike Lanes

Justice Paul Schabas ruled that tearing out or reconfiguring protected lanes breaches Charter protections for life and security; the government has said it will appeal.

A bike lane in Toronto is seen in this file image.
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Cyclists on Bloor Street West. The Ontario government passed a law last fall giving itself power to remove existing bike lanes along Yonge Street, Bloor Street and University Avenue.

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.