Premier Doug Ford’s government has received approval from the Court of Appeal for Ontario to remove 19 kilometers of protected bike lanes in Toronto. This decision, released on Friday, overturns a lower-court ruling from July 2025. The legislation enabling the province to eliminate bike lanes along Bloor Street, Yonge Street, and University Avenue was initially passed in 2024 at Queen’s Park. Despite legal challenges by Cycle Toronto and other advocacy groups, the bike lane infrastructure remained in place.
In the previous 2025 ruling, Ontario Superior Court Justice Paul Schabas deemed the removal unconstitutional, citing the increased risk of harm and death, which impacts the right to life and security. However, a panel of three Appeal Court judges stated on Friday that there is no constitutional obligation to regulate road usage in a specific manner. The Ford government has consistently argued that removing the bike lanes would alleviate traffic congestion in the Greater Toronto Area.
The Appeal Court judges’ decision emphasized that the original ruling overstated the negative consequences of removing bike lanes. They highlighted that injuries and fatalities would only occur if cyclists chose to ride on roads without designated bicycle lanes.
Ontario’s Minister of Transportation, Prabmeet Sarkaria, praised the court’s ruling as a victory for common sense and the separation of roles between elected legislatures and the judiciary. The Ministry of Transportation has been contacted by CBC Toronto to inquire about the timeline for the bike lane removal process.
Premier Ford expressed his satisfaction with the court’s decision on social media, stating, “Common sense wins.” In response, the provincial Liberals accused Ford of aspiring to be the “Premier of Toronto.”
Michael Longfield, executive director of Cycle Toronto, criticized the decision, stating that it undermines evidence-based decision-making and endangers lives by removing bike lanes. Despite concerns raised by advisors and external experts, the judges in the recent decision asserted that legislative policy is not arbitrary based on differing expert opinions.
Internal ministry documents disclosed during the legal challenge indicated that the government was aware of the potential ineffectiveness of the bike lane removal in reducing congestion and increasing road collisions. However, the Appeal Court ruled that the government is not obligated to heed expert advice on legislative matters.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow’s office emphasized the importance of collaboration between the city and the province to ensure road safety for all users. Mayoral candidate Brad Bradford supported the court’s decision, advocating for municipal governments to have control over bike lane placement rather than judicial intervention.
Bradford urged the province to collaborate with the city and its next mayor to determine the next steps regarding bike lanes on Toronto streets. Mayor Chow expressed disappointment with council members undermining the city’s autonomy in determining its future in favor of provincial directives.