Ontario court rules province can remove 19 kilometres of Toronto's protected bike lanes
The Court of Appeal for Ontario reversed a lower-court decision Friday, allowing the Ford government to tear out bike infrastructure debated, approved, and paid for by the city.
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Ontario's appeal court ruled Friday that the province can remove 19 kilometres of protected bike lanes in Toronto, reversing a lower-court decision that had blocked the removal on safety grounds.
The bike lanes—running along Bloor Street, Yonge Street, and University Avenue—were debated, approved by city council, and built using city funding. The removal is one piece of a broader pattern of provincial intervention in Toronto governance under Premier Doug Ford.
In October 2024, the Ford government passed the Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, which gave the Minister of Transportation veto power over any new bike lanes that reduce motor vehicle traffic lanes. Ford subsequently sought to tear out the existing 19 kilometres.
The lower court had stopped the removal, citing unconstitutional risk to cyclist safety. The appeal court's reversal now clears the legal path for the work to proceed, though the current status—whether removal has begun or is planned—remains unclear.
This ruling is the latest in a series of provincial moves that have constrained Toronto's autonomy. In December 2024, Ford passed the Community Care and Recovery Act, directing Toronto Public Health to close all city-run safe injection sites. The Building a More Competitive Economy Act, passed in November 2025, stripped the city of its right to operate speed cameras. In June 2025, Ford placed Toronto's English-language school boards under provincial supervision, removing trustees' elected authority. A follow-up measure, the Putting Student Achievement First Act passed in May 2026, gave the province control over school board budgets, communications, property decisions, and collective bargaining, while reducing the number of English-language trustees.
When will the province begin removing the bike lanes, and which sections will be prioritized?
What is the estimated cost of removal and reconstruction of vehicle lanes?
Will the city pursue further legal challenges or legislative responses?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
How many kilometres of Toronto bike lanes can Ontario remove?
Ontario can remove 19 kilometres of protected bike lanes running along Bloor Street, Yonge Street, and University Avenue.
What law gave the province power over Toronto's bike lanes?
The Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, passed in October 2024, gave the Minister of Transportation veto power over any new bike lanes that reduce motor vehicle traffic lanes.
Why did the lower court initially block the bike lane removal?
The lower court cited unconstitutional risk to cyclist safety as grounds to stop the removal.
