Cycling advocates optimistic about fate of Toronto bike lanes after province says it's open to compromise

Some Toronto cycling advocates say they're hopeful the province will walk back its plans to remove three key bike lanes after Ontario's transportation minister indicated there may be room to compromise with the city. 

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and the city have proposed a solution to the province that would allow for a car lane to be returned to those roads while also keeping a bike lane. 

Dakota Brasier, a spokeswoman for Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria, said where both a reinstated car lane and a bike lane can exist, "we are open to collaboration with the City of Toronto, provided they fund their portion of their identified infrastructure needs."

Albert Koehl, a co-ordinator with the Toronto Community Bikeways Coalition, said it's a positive development "that is hopefully the first step in something very good to come."

But Koehl said he hopes that the province will ultimately back down from its plans. 

"I think the province knows that they're not going to solve traffic congestion by taking out bike lanes," he said Saturday ahead of a panel discussion in North York on the issue. 

"Hopefully, the next step will be planning together and then finally coming to the realization that the route the city was taking really is the best route if we're going to build a better city and a better province."

WATCH | Government signals room to compromise: 

Ontario government open to compromising with Toronto on bike lane removals

3 days ago

Duration 3:42

Last year the Ontario government passed legislation to remove some Toronto bike lanes, citing it would help reduce the city’s congestion. Now, the transportation minister’s office says the province is open to compromising with the city. CBC’s Clara Pasieka has the details.

Jessica Spieker, a spokesperson for Friends and Families for Safe Streets, said she'd like to see more details on what the city's proposed solution is before giving it her support. 

"If they're stripping away any of the protective barriers and the speed calming measures, then I don't think it's worth compromising on," she said. 

Spieker called the province's plans "morally abhorrent." 

"It's going to get people killed. It is going to shatter families and devastate individuals who are severely injured and who are not at fault," Spieker said. 

"And it's grossly unfair to value the convenience of a handful of privileged people on corridors that have subways running underneath them above the safety of any other road users." 

Court challenge to be heard this week 

Cycle Toronto is leading a group of cyclists in a Charter challenge against the legislation.

Cycle Toronto executive director Michael Longfield said he hopes the province will reconsider its legislation without being forced to by the courts "and instead work with the city to find, you know, data-driven solutions to keep people moving and keep them safe."

"I think we're heartened to hear there's talk of a potential compromise on this," he said. "The mayor herself seems very dedicated to keeping this infrastructure."

The Charter challenge is set to be heard in court starting Wednesday. 

It states that the government's reasoning for removing bike lanes is arbitrary, alleging Premier Doug Ford and Minister Sarkaria have not shown evidence to support their characterizations of the lanes. 

It also argues the removal is a violation of section seven of the Charter and Rights of Freedoms, saying the removal deprives cyclists of life and security of the person.