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Some people in Toronto want the next mayor to remove bike lanes

'Keep Toronto Moving' says cycling infrastructure is worsening congestion

Toronto bike lane
April 25, 2023
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A Toronto organization wants mayoral candidates to make killing off bike lanes part of their campaign. Keep Toronto Moving claims that, “a significant proportion of Toronto residents report being negatively affected by the increase in dedicated bike lanes in Toronto.” This goes counter to data released by the city that shows that bike lane usage has increased dramatically, with little or no increases to congestion.

Toronto bike lane pilot data: Cycling increases, slight rise in motorist trip time

A similar group, BeRationalTO opposed making the Yonge Street bike lanes permanent. Something that the city ultimately approved. The group claimed that emergency services were hindered by the bike lanes.

Toronto bike lanes are a good thing, not bad

Toronto cycling advocate Robin Richardson, debunked this in an interview with BlogTO. “Their baseless claim that EMS and fire department response times have gone up and have been debunked repeatedly,” she said. “The chiefs of both services deputed at IEC last year to state that response times have not increased since the bike lanes and cafés went in, and in fact, this area has the fastest emergency response times in the whole city.”

“Ill-conceived bike lanes endanger cyclists and pedestrians. They hurt retailers and restaurants. They transform once-quiet residential streets into congested feeder routes between major thoroughfares, which themselves become gridlocked no-go zones,”the group claims on its website.

Bike infrastructure makes for a better city

Richardson says that the new bike lanes may take time for motorists to adjust to, but it’s a good thing.

“It is human nature to be uncomfortable with change, and I think that’s what we are seeing here,” Richardson said. “Toronto has spent decades prioritizing motor vehicle travel, and as a result most people think of driving as the default and believe ‘roads should be for cars.’ But as the city grows, with more people living close to downtown, many residents do not own cars. That means choosing instead to walk, cycle or take transit to get where they need to go. Everyone should be proud of the progress Toronto has made in its bike lane expansion initiatives.”

Anthony Furey really hates bike lanes

One mayoral candidate has been even more vocal in his disdain for bike lanes, even making it part of his campaign. Anthony Furey said that if he is elected mayor, he will remove bike lanes on major roads.

A petition by BeRationalTO in 2022 suggested something that most Canadian cyclists know is false. “The 16 land-locked streets continue to suffer the brunt of delays, congestion. The lanes go virtually unused, three seasons a year.”

As anyone who commutes all year round in most Canadian cities, proper gear and clothing make it perfectly possible to ride here most of the time.

How to commute all year-round

Many cyclists were quick to refute most of what Furey claimed.

The Bicycle Mayor of Toronto chimed in.

“Lol With hundreds of health care workers (from nurses to technicians to doctors to medical students plus patients) utilizing the protected cycling infrastructure. Yes this is why, on top a number of other reasons, that you will not be elected the Mayor of Toronto.”

Other replies pointed out that removing the bike lanes is a bad idea. “Bike lanes are an important part of creating safe and accessible streets for all modes of transportation. Complete streets, which prioritize safety and accessibility for all users, have been shown to be effective in many cities around the globe,” @AlaviMosen posted.”Removing bike lanes will negatively impact many post secondary students and commuters who rely on biking and bike-sharing for transportation.”

Well-known cycling advocate, CyclingMikey, was even bolder to Furey.

“I’m from the Netherlands and you’re as dumb as a rock.”

The Toronto mayoral election is June 26.