Mayoral Candidate Brad Bradford Vows to Remove Bloor Street W. Bike Lanes
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Bradford claims the lanes cause gridlock and hurt business, while cycling advocates argue the traffic narrative lacks evidence.
Toronto mayoral candidate Brad Bradford has committed to removing bike lanes on Bloor Street W. between South Kingsway and Resurrection Road if elected, as CBC Toronto first reported. Speaking at a news conference, Bradford stated that the lanes are dangerous for cyclists, create gridlock for other road users, and negatively impact local business foot traffic, noting that "sales are down, traffic and congestion is up," according to CBC Toronto.
Bradford, who has served as the councillor for Beaches-East York since 2018, admitted he previously voted in favor of a 2025 city council proposal to build over 20 kilometers of bike lanes outside the downtown core. He told CBC Toronto that while the idea seemed sound on paper, real-world feedback made it clear that the decision was a mistake. He proposed that future bike lanes be located on residential side streets, parallel roads, hydro corridors, urban ravine systems, and existing parks and trails rather than main arterials.
Michael Longfield, executive director of Cycle Toronto, told CBC Toronto that the idea that three kilometers of bike lanes on Bloor Street W. are responsible for city traffic issues is not based on evidence. Longfield described the rhetoric as a regression into a "bikes-versus-cars" conversation.
Other candidates have weighed in on the issue. Former Conservative MP Chris Alexander told CBC Toronto that the mayor should not have the final say on bike lane placement and called for an agreed-upon standard and neighborhood buy-in. Meanwhile, Braman Thillainathan, speaking for Mayor Olivia Chow, told CBC Toronto that Bradford intends to spend millions in tax dollars to reverse a decision he once championed.