Ontario moves to dismantle and redesign Toronto bike lanes after appellate court decision

After an Ontario Court of Appeal decision permitting the removal of 19 kilometres of protected bike lanes, the provincial government said it will commence work to restore car lanes on key Toronto corridors, starting with a 600-metre segment of Bloor Street West. A request for proposals has been launched to explore design alternatives that might retain or modify bike lanes on streets including Yonge Street, University Avenue, Queen's Park and Avenue Road.

Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria argued the lane restorations will reduce gridlock and benefit local businesses, though internal ministry reports suggest collisions could rise by up to 54 percent if lanes are removed. The province also cited secondary streets like King and College as better options for cyclists. The announcement fuels a heated municipal election issue, with mayoral candidates taking opposing stances on the bike-lane policy.