Home > News

Doug Ford wants some Toronto bike lanes scrapped

Premier of Ontario asked mayor to get rid of infrastructure

November 1, 2023
Share on SMS

Premier Doug Ford minced no words about his thoughts on some new bike lanes in East Toronto on Tuesday. Construction began in September and only recently finished. But people are already complaining. The new infrastructure aims to connect lanes on Bloor Street across the city. This will create a safer way for cyclists to traverse Toronto.

Extending existing bike lanes

“The Bloor Street West Complete Street Extension aims to make travel on the street safer, more inviting, and attractive for everyone,” the City of Toronto posted. It was approved by City Council on June 14.

Jagmeet Singh and Doug Ford’s two-wheeled Political Blind Date

In a press conference which had nothing to do with bikes at all, Ford expressed his views on the new lanes.

He said he thinks they should be removed as he never sees cyclists using them. Ford governs the province of Ontario, not the city of Toronto, so bike lanes are not in his jurisdiction.

Petition to re-evaluate

He’s not the only Torontonian complaining about the crucial infrastructure. Residents in Etobicoke, a borough of Toronto, launched an online petition calling on the city to re-evaluate the new lanes.

Should Ontario cyclists be concerned about their premier’s behaviour on the road?

The petition appeared on Monday and listed several complaints, including what one man called “noticeable congestion due to lane reductions, and the observed scarcity of cyclists.”

“We advocate for a re-evaluation to ensure a harmonious and safe balance between bike lanes and vehicular traffic, emphasizing the need for Bloor Street to retain two lanes of traffic in each direction,” Cody MacRae, the petition’s creator, said.

Worse still, drivers aren’t seeming get the message that the lanes are for bikes…not parking.

Lanes full of cars

David Shellnutt, a.k.a The Biking Lawyer, shared a video on X (formerly Twitter) showing a slew of cars parked on the newly created bike lanes.

“That’s funny, these painted lanes seem to be getting tons of use,” Shellnutt posted.