As we get closer to our hearing date for our Charter challenge, we would like to say thank you to our members. Since 2008, Cycle Toronto members have helped achieve incredible things including bike lanes on Bloor, University, and Yonge. Join us today to be part of the fight to keep them. As a registered charity, even $5 a month helps keep our wheels turning.
Table of Contents
- Statement from the Executive Director
- Rally for Justice and Charter Challenge Hearing
- Province's internal documents revealed
- Remind the Premier: Bike lanes could have saved our daughter
- Welcome, Ben
- Social Media Spotlight
- In the Media
- Events
In this special edition of the Ring & Post, we invite you to a pre-hearing rally and our day in court, plus give a recap of everything Bill 212. Enjoy!
Statement from the Executive Director
Cycle Toronto’s Charter challenge against the province’s anti-bike lane legislation will be heard Wednesday, April 16.
Thanks to your support, we’ll keep fighting to save every single meter and kilometre of bike lane, and restore the power of decision making to local democracies.
Join us this Tuesday for our Rally for Justice. Together, we’ll win.
-Michael Longfield, Executive Director
Rally for Justice and Charter Challenge Hearing
On the evening before our Charter challenge against the province’s anti-bike lane legislation, join us to stand up for local democracy and a city that prioritizes people, not just cars.
Meet at 6:00 pm at the “Scales of Justice” bike rack just south of 361 University Avenue. The event will be about an hour long.
The following day, on Wednesday, April 16th, Cycle Toronto’s case against Bill 212 will be heard in court. The time and location of the hearing are to be confirmed, so save the date to join us in court.
Province's internal documents reveal province knows Bill 212 not in the public interest
Internal documents that were revealed in court in March reveal that the province knows that their anti-bike lane legislation is arbitrary and not in the public interest:
- “Cycling has been shown to have a positive impact on congestion in North American cities.”
- “....the net result of bike lane removals could simply be more vehicles queued along already congested streets without significant reductions in travel times.”
- “[removing protected bike lanes]...suggests more than 54% increase in the total number of collisions (i.e., for all road users, not just those involving cyclists).”
The documents show what we’ve been saying all along: ripping out three Toronto bike lanes won’t reduce congestion, a key claim repeated by the province without evidence to justify the legislation, and it will put lives at risk.
And take a look at the released documents yourself by clicking here.
(Cycle Toronto's Michael Longfield deputes at City Hall on April 8th. Image: City of Toronto)
Remind the Premier: “Bike lanes could have saved our daughter”
Back in October, George and Karen Amaro shared their tragic and preventable story. Their daughter Alex was tragically killed while riding her bike on Dufferin Street in December of 2020. George poignantly stated: "We don’t want just motorists to get home to their families faster, we want everybody to get home to their families... we never had that with our daughter. She never got home to us."
They appealed to the premier directly: “bike lanes could have saved our daughter”.
“Folks, I pride myself on returning my calls,” the premier has often repeated.
To date, the Amaros have not heard back.
Tell the premier it’s not too late to tell George and Karen: "I’m stopping Bill 212."
(Alex Amaro.)
Welcome, Ben
Last issue we welcomed our new Development Officer, Arezoo. Our team continues to grow with Ben San Juan joining as Cycle Toronto’s new Programs Manager, overseeing Cycle Toronto’s engagement and education programs like Bike Month, Bike Valet, and Big Toronto Bike Ride.
You might have met Ben as a Cycling Educator at one of our workshops or Learn-to-Ride classes. Ben also brings nearly a decade of experience in nonprofit management to this role. Most recently, Ben worked as the Operations Director at For Youth Initiative, a local charity supporting Black, racialized and newcomer youth. We’re excited to see him bring his experience and passion to foster a more inclusive and sustainable lens to our engagement and outreach work.
“My name is Ben San Juan and I am a Cycling Educator turned Programs Manager with Cycle Toronto. I am your everything cyclist: I'm a city commuter during the week, shredding mountain bike trails on the weekend, family Costco runs on my cargo bike, and when the weather permits, I drop my daughter off at daycare in a bike chariot. Starting off as a Cycling Educator and being a part of group rides, workshops at library, e-cargo events and the typical big orange tent community outreach has fostered my love for this work. I'm joining at a critical time where years of outreach, mass rides and advocacy hang in the balance. We're now a six member staff team but we also enlist the help of our Educators, volunteers and members and, together, it's important we lead this work for the future of cycling in Toronto.”
-Ben San Juan
(Ben and his daughter.)
Social Media Spotlight
Can’t get enough Cycle Toronto content? Although our newsletter is monthly, we post on our social media channels daily. Follow us on Instagram, Bluesky or TikTok to stay up-to-date on Cycle Toronto news and events. Here’s a highlight from this month:
(An Instagram reel summarizing Cycle Toronto’s battle against Bill 212. Click image to visit original post.)
In the Media
Ontario open to collaborating with Toronto on bike lane removals: Ministry of Transport | CBC
Chow teases potential bike lane compromise with Queen’s Park | Toronto Today
Bike lanes compromise under discussion between Toronto, province | Toronto Star
Events
Taking Action for Safe Streets
When: Saturday, April 12th from 2:00 - 4:00 pm
Where: North York Central Library
Councillor Cheng’s Community Environment Day
When: Sunday, April 13th at 10:00 am
Where: Earl Haig Secondary School at 100 Princess Avenue
Cycle Toronto’s Rally for Justice
When: Tuesday, April 16th at 6:00 pm
Where: Just south of 361 University Avenue
Find out more and RSVP by clicking here.
Charter Challenge Hearing
The time and location are currently to be determined for our Charter challenge hearing, but stay tuned for updates as we will have those details shortly.
When: Wednesday, April 16th (Time TBD)
Where: TBD
Thanks for reading. Join us today to be part of the fight. As a registered charity, even $5 a month helps keep our wheels turning.
