Guelph city council will be sending a letter to the province in opposition to recent comments Premier Doug Ford made about potential changes limiting where municipalities can put bike lanes.
Ford has commented that he wants to see bike lanes banned on busier main streets and kept to side streets.
The motion, put forward at Tuesday's council meeting by Coun. Erin Caton and seconded by Coun. Rodrigo Goller, voices council's opposition to any such changes should they come forward.
The motion will see a letter sent "to oppose the media reported planned provincial legislation to restrict municipal bike lane placement as counter to: Guelph's Vision Zero goals, best practices in transportation management, climate change initiatives, cost management or future infrastructure maintenance, Bill 185's development goals and economic benefits to businesses."
While no such legislation has yet been tabled, Caton said it's important to "act proactively" so that the municipality's opposition might have more impact.
"Because it's at the stage before it's being written" is more reason to do this, Caton said, calling Ford's apparent plans a "Toronto-centric" view being imposed on other municipalities.
The motion passed 10-2, with Mayor Cam Guthrie and councillor Michelle Richardson opposed.
The mayor felt the letter was too soon because no legislation has been tabled and council would be reacting to media reports.
"I'm not really down for that," Guthrie said, adding the motion should come forward when and if the legislation is tabled.
