Discussion
If they are removing bike lanes, why did they bother rebuilding them here?
So of course I hear a lot about the plan to remove the bike lanes. They've been doing construction here on the Danforth for the last couple months; and now that they're finishing I see they rebuilt the bike lanes.
Not complaining, just wondering why if they're planning to remove them anyway? Or is that actually not a sure thing?
This is 100% it - the only bike lanes targeted and Bloor from Etobicoke into the city, Avenue, Queen's Park, and University. AKA all routes Dougie takes into town
Grew up in Summerhill and am an avid cyclist so I understand. St George is nice if you can get over there, or through Rosedale and down Sherbourne. Between the two... it's pretty bad. Though Avenue Road south of Dupont is showing promise.
Too bad they didn't do a multi-use trail or something above the subway tracks between St Clair and Bloor
I feel the lanes should be on safer side streets but they should've planned it better from the start, now it's just gonna create more unnecessary construction.
I assume most don't care too much where the bike lanes are as long as everything is connected enough so that you can reach places by bike safely. Otherwise it doesn't help that a bike lane exists for a 5km stretch that you need to pass through 2km of driving on the road to reach.
I don't see why it couldn't be on the main roads. If there are shops on the street, then it's clearly not major enough for it to be an issue and bikes can help bring clients; and if it's practically a stroad, then you should have enough space that fitting it should not be an issue.
Though I agree that it really doesn't matter as long as they exist, so I wouldn't complain if it was just on a side road to start with.
It's true in practice, although e-bikes with a throttle (basically all the deliveries) are legally prohibited from protected bike lanes so they are supposed to be in the road anyway.
How about all the e-bikes and bikes weaving around all the parked cars taking up the right lane and all the incidents involving people opening car doors into traffic?
Oh no, he used to give a shit. He has an MA in urban planning from U of T. When he first ran for public office he touted the benefits of cycling infrastructure based on his education and experience in urban planning. Once in office has saw the opportunity to do a 180 to get more votes. His current anti-bike stance is based only on opportunism. He has no principles. He has the education and experience to know better but he hopes he'll be elected by people who don't know better.
Ty. I feel it makes even less sense to remove those bike lanes than these ones so this is weird. Like, you should probably avoid driving a car downtown anyway. I would park near a subway station and take transit there. And if I actually lived there, I could understand how bike lanes would be the best way to get around.
I mean complaining as though their bike lanes are being removed too. I never said I thought it was a good idea, chill. I'm trying to understand the rationale of removing the bike lanes and why only certain areas. It sounded like it was all TO
People who don't live in a neighbourhood might still drive there and appreciate that the bike lanes help cars not have to deal with bike traffic. They also might be offended by provincial overreach and be concerned thst the same ripping out could happen in places they or their family members ride.
The rationale is that people care about more than just their immediate route to work, people care about the safety of others and well as building a network. You dont have to care about only the things directly in front of you own face.
Also if they rip them out in one area without opposition, whats to stop them for doing it elsewhere.
YES I KNOW. Ffs. I am wondering if they are planning to rip out the new bike lane they just built and waste money. I am NOT arguing against bike lanes in any way, shape, or form. I understand and support the benefits of bike lanes.
Yeah I think I'm getting a better handle on the situation now.
These bike lanes in particular were not slated to be removed, so they rebuilt them. However, removing those other bike lanes sets a precedent of provincial overreach and they(provincial) may still decide to remove them in the near future, right?
I don’t think you understand the concept of bike lanes or even roads for that matter. The bike lanes in my neighbourhood are not MY bike lanes. I use bike lanes all over the city. That’s kind of the whole point of a bike lane network.
I don't think you understood my question. I am not debating the usefullness of bike lanes. I'm asking if they are going to waste money by ripping up brand new bike lanes they just built. That's all.
Only Doug Ford and the PC Party know that. They have the power to fuck over Toronto in whatever way they want. As of right now, the bike lanes near you are not on their plans to rip out.
Thank you. I think that puts it together for me. They built them here cause there is no plan to remove them yet. But also I should beware because the provincial government has already overreached, and don't be surprised if he does decide to remove them in the near future if he wants. Is that about right?
Yep exactly. They would have to table and pass additional legislation if they want to remove the lanes by you. As of right now, they haven’t done so or indicated they plan to.
You don’t need to live in a neighbourhood to use its bike lanes. I live downtown and use bike lanes all over the city. This is like asking why people who live in the inner suburbs support the existence of roads downtown.
Ok and do you think it makes sense that they are removing the lanes downtown but not here? Which areas are they most useful to you?
I feel like everyone here is projecting whatever arguments they've been having about these lanes unto me and assuming I'm either for or against bike lanes; whichever makes them mad.
I only posted this because I keep hearing of bike lane removal, and they just put brand new bike-lanes on my street so I was just hoping they didn't do that to rip it out next year.
Huh? I don’t support removing bike lanes from anywhere! Only 3-4% of Toronto’s roads have bike lanes. We have SO MANY car only roads. We need a proper cycling network city-wide.
Ok? I never disagreed with that. You all need to calm down. I will repeat here again: I am only concerned that they built these new lanes only to remove them in a year, which wastes our taxes. I'm not saying to remove them. I'm actually hoping that they don't
So I'm guessing if you live outside of downtown you must stay there, and never leave your neighborhood or have an opinion about anything else in the City you live in 🤦
Ok but now some people say this area is not planning to remove them. So now I'm wondering what the selecrion process was for where to remove them. The areas people are telling me sound like areas that would benefit greatly from bike lanes.
It’s the province removing bike lanes not the city. The city doesn’t want the bike lanes removed.
That’s a city construction project and they are not going to make the province’s job easier by not putting the lanes back in.
And crucially Doug Ford never drives on the Danforth so not a priority for him anyways.
They started with Bloor lanes in Etobicoke because that’s where he lives. He hates seeing bike lanes on his commute so lanes are only being removed where he can see them.
He hates seeing bikes going faster than his limo on Bloor. He is dumb as a bag of rocks and doesn’t understand how traffic works and how removing bike lanes is only going to make his commute worse not better.
Incorrect - over 2/3 of people in Toronto would like the bike lanes removed and support these actions. A small vocal group and Mayor Chow support the bike lanes. A fair portion of people also just don't care.
This is from a poll held recently by CityNews and supported by further polls held before that.
To this thread those 2/3s of the city would probably also like the ones on Danforth removed.
Pick your favourite poll. Responses are heavily shaped by the survey question. Say “should the province spend $50 million to override the city and rip out bike lanes despite no evidence it improves congestion” and see what response you get
That poll has a very leading and misleading question, and it's telling that CityNews doesn't show the question or even link to the poll in their reporting.
Q. In early September 2026, the Ontario government announced it would begin the process of “restoring motor vehicle
lanes” by removing bike lanes on Bloor Street, Yonge Street, University Avenue, Queen’s Park, Queen’s Park Crescent and
Avenue Road. Do you support or oppose the move to turn the bike lanes on these streets back into lanes for use by motor
vehicles?
This uses the province's false framing about restoring vehicle lanes, when the city has already provided plans to restore lanes while removing street parking and the province rejected them. "Do you support the province removing protected bike lanes to restore street parking even though it's own studies show that this won't help congestion at all and will increase danger to all road users"? Is a more accurate question and I suspect it would return very different results.
A different poll shows that 2/3 of the city thinks that the city should decide where bike lanes go, not the province.
This is nothing but an example of how easy it is to craft a narrative using poll questions.
His party has targeted things that have inconvenienced members in the past. Iirc the last time they were adamant on the removal of something, it was when members of the Ontario Conservatives were caught (on multiple occasions) speeding. Suddenly, speed cameras became problematic for the Ontario Conservatives, so they went and removed them.
At this point, I assume that moving the science center was partly to reduce the travel time in the event that he'd want to go.
Doug Ford also wanted to be mayor of Toronto but couldnt beat John Tory. It's reasonably speculated he ran for premier in order to rule over Toronto. And you can see how much he interferes compared to Ottawa & other cities.
Didn’t even trying hide that it’s obviously just the roads in his daily commute by like tearing out lanes outside of it. Corrupt politicians used to be much more discrete.
Yep, he was angry about cyclists passing him on his way to work and did ALL of this, because it also panders to his suburban fanbase that always votes him in. He also wrote in legislation that his administration cant be sued for any deaths that occur as a result of the removal of bike lanes, to the tune of $48M of the provincial budget. People in Sudbury, Thunder Bay, and Ottawa are paying for lane removal in Toronto. It's government overreach, plain and simple
So the selection process was literally the areas DOFO drives? Or is that a joke/exagerration? I mean it's kinda believable when you hear where he plans to remove them
I am literally not joking, check the removal plans, every bike lane being removed is on the west end of town (except Yonge Street), on the routes he uses to get to Queen's Park. University, Bloor, and Avenue Road. If this was actually about "fixing gridlock" as they claim, they wouldn't be targeting the west side, they would be targeting major thoroughfares throughout the city such as Richmond and Adelaide, but they aren't.
"Clear mandate" my ass. Only 40% of eligible voters voted. Do they think people in Thunder Bay or Windsor give a fuck about Toronto bike lanes? This pig is just petty against a city that hates him.
I hate that he says people of ontario, like all of ontario drives on those few lanes. He's so full of shit. Populist, 1-issue, culture-war politicians that pander to smooth-brained voters who salivate at the hope to "finally" show off how they really feel about people who just want to go home without being stuck in traffic.
Because, in provincial politics, construction and developer companies own the politicians.
I don't think this is even about Doug wanting to get to Queens Park even faster. This is just a way to send a big cheque to the people doing the demo work
First past the post mathematically tends towards a state of "bi-stable extremism."
This problem has been understood for hundreds of years. You can verify it with a computer program.
Under any modern system Ford would never have been the premier of Ontario. There aren't enough conservatives to enable that; he is in power because of vote splitting and the civic disengagement caused by FPTP.
Edit: you'd think with all the money they charge, they can afford to fix their off-code stairs. Be a real shame if people made AODA complaints, necessitating the Crooked Cue to close down while they were ordered to become compliant
Honestly curious, how come we don’t hear the other parties challenging this? I thought there was some small balance of power to not turn the province into an authoritarian regime.
Marit Stiles Ontario NDP leader has been active in calling this shit out. There are also other liberal and ndp MPPs that are calling out other hypocrisies created by the ford gov't, like the OSAP reduction, or the how Ford is buying electricity from the states for $250million, but ford had cancelled all the green-energy projects in ontario when he came into power. Or the staples deal for ontario teachers to move away from Grand & Toy contract.
So they're definitely saying something, but you have to just tune to the right news articles or social media algorithms.
Mostly cause the provincial liberals are leaderless still and generally still a mess. I also have to search hard for anything from the provincial NDP - it's partly algorithms I'm sure but it's also an issue with message control and getting out in front of the cameras with clear, simple, repeated messaging.
I was thinking this, talking is one thing but show up to the protests. Any of these guys showing up would get great exposure and probably get a lot of voters. I think we need to bring back politicians actually being in the streets instead of putting up a millionth radio ad
Right, it’s very easy to just be in front of a camera and say you’re opposed to whatever the opponent is doing. On issues where it matters and locals are coming out, id love it if they came out to show support when they can. Even 1 member. Otherwise, im wondering if anyone’s voted against this on the other side of the aisle.
Why doesn't the largely conservative owned media put a bigger spotlight on questionable actions of a conservative government who represent their interests? The question answers itself.
The bike lanes are only being removed on Bloor from Clissold (near Islington) to Castle Frank. Not the Danforth. Plus they’re doing water main replacement + street resurfacing there anyways, so the city often bundles cycling infrastructure with the project since they’re tearing up the road anyways. It also better future proofs it and makes it much harder to rip out unlike the flexipost + pre cast modular curbs.
I used to ride my bike from St Clair and Bathurst, to downsView everyday without snow. For about 6 yrs.
No bike lanes , but I just respected the cars .I also have rode a motorcycle for .50 +yrs now and still respected the cars . They can kill you either way !
I never really had any major problems riding up Bathurst, it's busy yes , cars get close to u , yes.
I dont know why we really needed bike lanes in the first place .
Bike lane or no bike lane , right or wrong . The Car or Truck always wins over any kinda bike .So ride safe !
Why? If there is no congestion bikes can ride on the road. If there is congestion, a bike on the road would make it worse. Otherwise they riding on the sidewalk through pedestrians.
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u/Forsaken-Swim-3055 1d ago
The Danforth bike lanes weren't targeted for removal.