Ontario is preparing new legislation that will require municipalities to obtain provincial approval before constructing bike lanes that remove vehicle lanes. This move is designed to ensure that new bike lane projects won’t worsen traffic congestion, particularly in high-traffic areas.
Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria announced the proposed changes on Tuesday in Toronto, stating that cities will need to show evidence that new bike lanes won’t negatively affect vehicle traffic. The province will also review bike lane projects implemented over the past five years to assess their impact on traffic flow.
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“We’ve seen a rapid expansion of bike lanes, especially during the pandemic when traffic was lighter, and their effects on congestion weren’t fully understood,” Sarkaria said to CP24. “While bike lanes are vital for urban mobility, we need to make sure they don’t come at the cost of reducing road capacity, particularly on already congested streets.”
The announcement comes as bike lane projects in Toronto, like those installed in West Toronto in 2023, have sparked controversy. Local residents and business owners have raised concerns that removing vehicle lanes to accommodate bike lanes has worsened congestion in the area.
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Premier Doug Ford, who resides in in the area, has also voiced concerns about the impact of bike lanes, claiming they create significant delays for drivers and hinder emergency vehicles. However, the City of Toronto has disputed this claim, stating that there have been no official complaints from emergency services regarding the bike lane changes.
New bike lanes would be under provincial control
Under the new legislation, the decision to remove vehicle lanes for bike lanes would no longer be made by municipal staff but by the provincial transportation minister. Sarkaria hinted that the province would review existing bike lanes in major Toronto locations, with the possibility of requiring changes in the future based on traffic data.
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This shift in authority will likely prompt cities to reconsider how they balance the needs of cyclists and motorists, as urban areas continue to evolve with competing demands for road space. The government has emphasized that bike lanes, when thoughtfully integrated, are an important part of…
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