Ontario plans to remove Toronto bike lanes on Bloor, Yonge, University

Ontario plans to remove sections of bike lanes on three major roads in Toronto as it considers whether to eliminate more bike lanes elsewhere.

The Progressive Conservative government last week introduced a bill that would require municipalities to ask the province for permission to install bike lanes when they remove a vehicle lane.

The government is going further, releasing a proposed new rule that would require the province to remove sections of bike lanes on Bloor Street, Yonge Street and University Avenue and restore them as vehicle lanes.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has complained that some bike lanes are creating traffic jams, particularly on the stretch of Bloor Street West, which is about a 10-minute drive from his home in west Toronto.

The ruling, which is posted for public comment until Nov. 20, says Ontario will also establish a process to review existing bike lanes created by removing a vehicle lane to decide whether they should be retained or removed.

The report said the City of Toronto would have to “provide support to facilitate” the removal of the three named bike lanes, and that an exception to the Environmental Assessment Act would be included.