Ontario Moves Forward with Bike Lane Removals on Bloor, Yonge, and University

Ontario's plan to remove bike lanes on three of Toronto’s busiest streets is progressing.

On Tuesday, the provincial government announced it had hired an engineering firm to design the reinstatement of vehicle lanes on Bloor Street West, Yonge Street, and University Avenue.

"Our government has heard loud and clear from residents and businesses about the problems with gridlock," said Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria. "The failed approach of installing bike lanes without considering drivers or local businesses is not working. By freeing up some of Toronto’s most important roads, we’re bringing common sense back to municipal planning."

Sarkaria’s office confirmed that Stantec Consulting Ltd. has been retained for the project and that lane removal will begin as soon as possible or in the spring. The province will cover all costs, with final expenses reported in public accounts.

The move follows Bill 212, passed last year, which requires municipalities to seek provincial approval before installing bike lanes that remove traffic lanes. The legislation, known as the Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, also grants the province authority to dismantle existing bike lanes on the three major streets.

Premier Doug Ford, who recently requested the dissolution of provincial parliament to trigger an early election, has previously argued that bike lanes should be limited to secondary roads. Citing Statistics Canada data, he claimed only 1.2% of Toronto’s population commuted by bike in 2011, with the number rising to 2% (15,750 daily riders) by 2021. He dismissed city staff’s $48 million cost estimate for removing the bike lanes—nearly double the $27 million installation cost—as “hogwash.”

The law also shields the provincial government from lawsuits filed by injured cyclists or their families in areas where bike lanes have been removed.

Biking advocates argue the decision will increase safety risks, pointing to evidence that bike lanes reduce road accidents for all users. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow has criticized the move as “arbitrary”, suggesting it could worsen congestion rather than alleviate it.