This proposed legislation is…

This proposed legislation is an overreach by the provincial government in an area usually delegated to municipalities. It will also have negative environmental and other impacts.

Environmentally, bike lanes reduce reliance on cars, leading to fewer emissions and improved air quality. Without them, cities remain car-centric, contributing to pollution and urban congestion.

From a transportation perspective, bike lanes promote safer, more efficient mobility by encouraging cycling as an alternative to driving, which alleviates traffic and improves overall access in dense urban areas. Limiting bike lanes restricts this mobility, making cities less accessible for non-car users.

For local businesses, bike lanes can increase foot and bike traffic, bringing in more customers who might otherwise avoid congested areas. Reducing bike lane infrastructure could hurt local economies by limiting access for these patrons.

With respect to the Bloor bike lanes in particular, which Premier Ford has discussed removing, the head of the local Bloor Annex BIA has come out and said that the removing these bike lanes, which have now been in place for many for many years, will have a negative economic impact on local small businesses on Bloor.

Overall, removing bike lanes hinders sustainable urban development. The provincial government’s policy proposal is completely misguided and will harm the communities, both residents and small businesses, that are impacted.