("Bike lanes now!" written on the road by a city construction notice that used to include bike lanes. Image: Joshua Best)
On September 11, 2025, more than one hundred people joined Cycle Toronto’s Rally and Ride for Eglinton, demanding that the City of Toronto deliver on its commitment to build safe, protected bike lanes along Eglinton Avenue now.
Participants gathered at Eglinton and Holly Street, just east of Yonge, and rode together west on the 1.7 km of existing lanes before stopping at the vacant Chaplin LRT station.
(Over 100 participants joined the Rally and Ride for Eglinton. Image: Joshua Best.)
The event was organized in reaction to the City abruptly reversing course and announcing it would delay installation of the EglintonTOday Complete Street. In spring 2024, City Council approved building nearly eight kilometres of bike lanes from Mount Pleasant Avenue to just past Keele Street.
Sections for the bike lanes have already been built by the province. The City was due to complete the work in summer and fall 2025 alongside scheduled road resurfacing, ensuring efficiency and protecting the project from Bill 212 interference. By moving ahead with resurfacing but postponing the bike lanes, the City will drive up costs, disrupt traffic twice, and risk giving the Province an opportunity to block the lanes altogether.
Speakers at the Rally included Cycle Toronto’s executive director, Michael Longfield, Yael Boyd and Graham Pressey from Marlee 4 Kids, road safety advocate Robert Zaichowski, and Jess Spieker from Friends and Families for Safe Streets.
(Cycle Toronto's executive director, Michael Longfield, speaking at the Rally and Ride for Eglinton. Image: Joshua Best.)
The event connected directly to Cycle Toronto’s petition campaign, which urges Mayor Olivia Chow and City Council not to delay and to move forward with the bike lanes and Complete Street as promised. More than a thousand residents and businesses have already signed, showing that midtown communities are no longer willing to accept excuses or broken promises.
(Participants at the Rally and Ride for Eglinton. Image: Joshua Best.)
The Rally and Ride for Eglinton sent a clear message: Torontonians want action, not another missed opportunity. Delays with the LRT are no excuse. Eglinton deserves safe, complete streets today.
