Cycle Toronto win!
Last week, after months of advocacy kicked off by our “I Love Bike Lanes” petition, Cycle Toronto was joined by individuals Eva Stanger-Ross and Narada Kiondo launching a historic legal challenge against the province’s anti-bike lane legislation, Bill 212. Represented by lawyers from Ecojustice and Paliare Roland LLP, the lawsuit seeks an injunction to stop the removal of target bike lanes on Bloor Street, University Avenue, and Yonge Street.
In response to our legal action, the province has backtracked from an alleged December start and confirms no bike lane removal will begin until at least March 20, 2025.
Rumours had been circulating for weeks since the legislation passed that the province was determined to rush ahead against all judgement. In a recent newsletter, Ottawa Centre MPP Joel Harden disclosed alleged conversations between the two levels of government:
The government has notified the City of Toronto that it is retaining its own contractors to undertake bike lane removals. They have targeted 500 metres of the most western section of the Bloor Street bike lane and 400 metres of the Yonge Street bike lane. They intend to have this work completed before the end of December 2024.
While timing road construction with spring is consistent with best practices, nothing about Bill 212 has been conventional. This confirmed delay is a big step.
And our goal is that they don't ever get the chance to start at all.
