Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Streetsblog

Have Toronto’s Bike Lane Butchers Found Another Target?

11:07 AM EDT on June 6, 2012

How did Toronto -- a great global city of glass highrises and extensive transit -- come to be the only city in North America actively removing bike lanes? This city has 20,000 daily cycle commuters [PDF], and a population density that is well above San Francisco's. We're talking about Jane Jacobs' adopted home city here, removing bike lanes.

The answer, of course, is Mayor Rob "Bicyclists are a pain in the a*s" Ford and his coalition at City Hall. Toronto took the opposite tack of virtually every other city on the continent last summer when the city removed a bike lane from Jarvis Street, on one of the most important north-south thoroughfares.

Now the city is threatening to take out another one, reports Jake Tobin Garrett at Network blog Spacing Toronto:

According to a press release put out by Cycle Toronto today, the City will be creating an Options Report for Dupont Street that may include, with pressure from a certain councillor, the removal of the bike lanes.

From the mouth of Cycle Toronto: "Cycle Toronto strongly disagrees with Councillor Palacio’s intention to remove cycling infrastructure on Dupont Street. The Dupont Street bike lanes provide a safe passage under the Weston railway bridge, a location where a cyclist was killed and several others injured in recent years."

According to Ben Spurr over at Now Toronto, Dan Egan, Manager of Cycling and Pedestrian Infrastructure, said that Transportation Services has not be directed to remove the Dupont bike lanes. However, given the current climate at City Hall and past actions that have seen councillors sneak in motions to remove bike lanes without public consultation (Jarvis, anyone?), cyclists can be forgiven for being a little jumpy on this issue.

With the removal of the Pharmarcy and Birchmount bike lanes last year, Toronto actually had a negative amount of bike lanes installed in 2011. This is something that we cannot let continue in 2012. We have to move forward.

Elsewhere on the Network today: Mobilizing the Region reports New Jersey's debt-burdened transportation system is preparing for another round of borrowing, despite Governor Chris Christie's pledges to the contrary. Seattle Bike Blog shares a video exploring Vancouver's evolution as a bike friendly city over the past 30 years. And UrbanIndy tries to imagine a plan b, should the area's grand plan for regional transit fail to win state support.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Labor Gains: Judge Tosses App Giants’ Suit to Stop Deliverista Minimum Wage

Justice Nicholas Moyne cleared the way for a long-delayed wage hike for workers who brave dangerous roads to bring food directly to New Yorkers.

September 29, 2023

Fed Up Bronxites Tell Mayor To Forget About Bus Ride Invitation After Fordham Road ‘Betrayal’

"I really would think that our mayor would be a little bit more active and speak with us, because he hasn't really made any time with riders. We're not the enemy. We just want better bus service."

September 29, 2023

City Pays $150K to Settle Suit Over Cops Who Harassed Man Who Reported Police Parking Misconduct

Justin Sherwood and his lawyer will pocket $152,000 to settle his federal civil rights suit against the city and several officers who harassed him following his 311 calls.

September 28, 2023

Police Brass Gets Booed During E-Vehicle Safety Alliance Meeting for Applauding Deliveristas

Attendees of the E-Vehicle Safety Alliance's latest meeting castigated a Transportation Bureau deputy inspector for saying that delivery workers are responsive to safety issues.

September 28, 2023
See all posts