Premier Doug Ford pledged to rip up existing bike lanes just days after Transport Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria was wary of going that far.
“It isn't enough to keep an eye on future bike lanes … We need to and will remove and replace existing bike lanes on primary roads that are bringing traffic in our cities to an absolute standstill,” Ford said in a Thursday speech to the Empire Club.
Ford’s comments further flesh out his government’s recent crackdown on bike lanes across the province.
On Tuesday, Sarkaria teased legislation the Tories will table when MPPs return to Queen’s Park next week.
The upcoming bill will require municipalities to seek provincial approval before adding new bike lanes that would take away lanes for cars. Sarkaria also said the province will request data from cities on bike lanes installed within the last five years so he can decide whether or not they should remain.
Sarkaria was asked explicitly whether the new measures meant existing bike lanes would be torn out.
"As of right now," the lanes are staying, he said. His upcoming bill is intended to bring "informed decision-making and oversight to a process that is frankly out of control.”
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow spoke out against Ford's latest comments.
“I’ll say it again — I do not support limiting city powers. Let’s not go backwards. It’s always better when we work together. Ripping up our roads will make congestion worse,” Chow said on Thursday.
“Meanwhile, the province’s failure to deliver transit projects on time has led to long construction delays and years of road closures that have made it harder to get around our city. The province should be focused on finally opening the Eglinton Crosstown and Finch West LRT and fixing the chaos at Metrolinx,” she added.
The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) also voiced its opposition.
“Bicycle lanes are an essential element of urban transportation planning and road safety. Requiring provincial approval would be a significant overreach into municipal jurisdiction,” AMO said in a statement on Tuesday.
Asked about Ford’s latest comments, AMO’s spokesperson said the organization needs to review the actual legislation before commenting further.
The battle against bike lanes could be one of the most heated fights the Tories pick ahead of a potential snap election next year. The move is expected to strongly appeal to the party’s suburban voter base, who largely rely on cars for transit.
The bill comes as Ford and other Progressive Conservative MPPs have been speaking out against new bike lanes in Etobicoke, the heart of Ford Nation.
Late last year, the premier went off-script at a press conference in Milton to chide Chow.
"Get rid of those bike lanes on Bloor in Etobicoke. I think we see one bicycle come through there every single year," he said.
Christine Hogarth, a fellow PC MPP who represents Etobicoke—Lakeshore, just south of Ford's Etobicoke North riding, used her time during a committee hearing on the province's finances to complain about the lanes.
The bill is also expected as the City of Toronto proposes a major cycling network expansion over the next three years. By 2027, the city aims to add another 100 kilometres of new lanes along streets such as Avenue, Dupont, Wellington, and Gerrard, plus rehabilitating 40 kilometres of existing lanes.
