The Cost of Convenience: Etobicoke Bike Lane Removal Sparks Outrage
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
As the Ford government begins ripping up cycling infrastructure on Bloor Street, advocates warn of safety risks and question a $48 million price tag.
*(Opinion: The decision to dismantle the Etobicoke bike lanes is a regression in transit safety. By prioritizing a few minutes of driver convenience, the province is disregarding the actual lives of commuters who rely on protected infrastructure to navigate the city safely.)*
As first reported by CityNews Toronto, work is underway this Tuesday to remove bike lanes on Bloor Street in Etobicoke. The move is part of a broader Ford government plan to restore motor-vehicle lanes on several busy corridors, including Yonge Street, University Avenue, Queen’s Park, Queen’s Park Crescent, and Avenue Road.
Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists is organizing a demonstration to coincide with construction. Group leader Geoffrey Bercarich told CityNews Toronto that 1,000 or more cyclists intend to occupy the lanes on Bloor Street West between Royal York and Islington. Bercarich noted that while they aim to disrupt the process, demonstrators are unlikely to physically block crews due to a strict policy warning of severe criminal charges.
Mayor Olivia Chow has called the provincial decision "outrageous," arguing the government is overstepping its mandate. Simultaneously, Michael Longfield of Cycle Toronto questioned the estimated $48 million cost to address 19 kilometres of roads.
The removal follows a legal battle in which the Ontario Court of Appeal upheld the province's authority to redesign roads, overturning a lower-court ruling regarding cyclist safety. Cycle Toronto is now considering an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada.