Ford passed the legislation for ripping up the bike lanes TODAY!!
- Thread starter mandrill
- Start date
As usual, the jackass Doug Fraud ignores evidence in favor of personal and political opportunism via cynical and corrupt culture war divisiveness.
Ford government’s own research warned that removing Toronto bike lanes may not ease congestion, may make roads less safe
The government was warned that its plan to remove bike lanes may not get traffic moving as advertised, documents show.
Updated 1 hr ago
March 12, 2025
By Andy TakagiTransportation Reporter
The Ford government’s plan to remove bike lanes might not ease Toronto’s congestion — and may make the roads more dangerous — according to the provincial government’s own internal documents.
The heavily redacted documents — including confidential cabinet memos, briefings prepared by Ministry of Transportation staff and a consultant’s white paper on the bike lane removals — were filed in court Tuesday as part of a hearing on whether to grant a temporary injunction to stop the removal of the bike lanes from Bloor Street, Yonge Street and University Avenue until a Charter challenge of the move is heard on April 16.
A confidential cabinet office committee briefing note that is part of Tuesday’s court filing and is dated Sept. 9 — weeks before the government’s plans to restrict bike lanes was first reported on by media — warns, “There is a medium risk that the proposed change will not achieve the desired outcomes, given that current data and research does not confirm that removing bike lanes that occupy a lane of traffic would significantly alleviate congestion.”
That briefing note also warns that the province’s bike lane bill “may not reduce congestion,” citing research from cities such as New York, Washington and Vancouver, that suggest bike lanes can discourage car use and reduce traffic.
A report commissioned by the provincial government from engineering consultancy firm CIMA is also part of the court submissions.
The CIMA report — created in November 2024 and which cost the government more than $15,000 — warns that bike lane removals could increase collisions by more than 54 per cent, might increase the number of bicycles on sidewalks and create lane closures during the bike lane removal process.
Removing bike lanes, the report’s authors say, may increase vehicle capacity on the roads, but “the actual alleviation of congestion may be negligible or short-lived due to other confounding factors or induced demand,” they warned.
That induced demand — which happens when increased road capacity leads to more drivers — might occur as cyclists who use the bike lanes shift back to cars for their commute, crowding the roads for both car-users and transit riders alike.
Godfrey did not answer questions about why Sarkaria moved forward with the legislation despite internal concerns and whether the government had acted counter to expert advice.
The court documents also show there were concerns about the effects of removing bike lanes on small businesses — a worry echoed publicly by the Bloor Annex Business Improvement Area.
A briefing note from the MTO dated in August 2024, raised concerns that bike lane removals could lead to “negative impacts on local businesses” due to reduced foot traffic, as “evidence shows that bike lanes have a positive impact on local retail businesses.” That same briefing also notes that “cycling has been shown to have a positive impact on congestion in North American cities,” warning that the proposed restrictions on bike lanes “may not have the desired goal of reducing congestion.”
MTO staff also warned that the removal of city infrastructure may not be viewed as “the best use of taxpayers resources,” and paying for bike lane removals may risk “potential legal action and audit.”
A cabinet document, signed off by Sarkaria and Environment Minister Andrea Khanjin, also noted that bike lane removals might have a negative impact on middle- and low-income Ontarians’ access to “a low-cost transportation mode,” and that overall, requiring municipalities to get provincial approval, would go against the province’s stated goal of reducing red tape.
Cycle Toronto, along with two cyclists, filed a challenge with the Superior Court in December, arguing the removal of the Toronto bike lanes violates their Charter-protected rights to life and security of person. They have argued that removing the bike lanes would not reduce congestion and would only increase collisions for cyclists.
Ford government’s own research warned that removing Toronto bike lanes may not ease congestion, may make roads less safe
The government was warned that its plan to remove bike lanes may not get traffic moving as advertised, documents show.
Updated 1 hr ago
March 12, 2025
By Andy TakagiTransportation Reporter
The Ford government’s plan to remove bike lanes might not ease Toronto’s congestion — and may make the roads more dangerous — according to the provincial government’s own internal documents.
The heavily redacted documents — including confidential cabinet memos, briefings prepared by Ministry of Transportation staff and a consultant’s white paper on the bike lane removals — were filed in court Tuesday as part of a hearing on whether to grant a temporary injunction to stop the removal of the bike lanes from Bloor Street, Yonge Street and University Avenue until a Charter challenge of the move is heard on April 16.
A confidential cabinet office committee briefing note that is part of Tuesday’s court filing and is dated Sept. 9 — weeks before the government’s plans to restrict bike lanes was first reported on by media — warns, “There is a medium risk that the proposed change will not achieve the desired outcomes, given that current data and research does not confirm that removing bike lanes that occupy a lane of traffic would significantly alleviate congestion.”
That briefing note also warns that the province’s bike lane bill “may not reduce congestion,” citing research from cities such as New York, Washington and Vancouver, that suggest bike lanes can discourage car use and reduce traffic.
A report commissioned by the provincial government from engineering consultancy firm CIMA is also part of the court submissions.
The CIMA report — created in November 2024 and which cost the government more than $15,000 — warns that bike lane removals could increase collisions by more than 54 per cent, might increase the number of bicycles on sidewalks and create lane closures during the bike lane removal process.
Removing bike lanes, the report’s authors say, may increase vehicle capacity on the roads, but “the actual alleviation of congestion may be negligible or short-lived due to other confounding factors or induced demand,” they warned.
That induced demand — which happens when increased road capacity leads to more drivers — might occur as cyclists who use the bike lanes shift back to cars for their commute, crowding the roads for both car-users and transit riders alike.
Godfrey did not answer questions about why Sarkaria moved forward with the legislation despite internal concerns and whether the government had acted counter to expert advice.
The court documents also show there were concerns about the effects of removing bike lanes on small businesses — a worry echoed publicly by the Bloor Annex Business Improvement Area.
A briefing note from the MTO dated in August 2024, raised concerns that bike lane removals could lead to “negative impacts on local businesses” due to reduced foot traffic, as “evidence shows that bike lanes have a positive impact on local retail businesses.” That same briefing also notes that “cycling has been shown to have a positive impact on congestion in North American cities,” warning that the proposed restrictions on bike lanes “may not have the desired goal of reducing congestion.”
MTO staff also warned that the removal of city infrastructure may not be viewed as “the best use of taxpayers resources,” and paying for bike lane removals may risk “potential legal action and audit.”
A cabinet document, signed off by Sarkaria and Environment Minister Andrea Khanjin, also noted that bike lane removals might have a negative impact on middle- and low-income Ontarians’ access to “a low-cost transportation mode,” and that overall, requiring municipalities to get provincial approval, would go against the province’s stated goal of reducing red tape.
Cycle Toronto, along with two cyclists, filed a challenge with the Superior Court in December, arguing the removal of the Toronto bike lanes violates their Charter-protected rights to life and security of person. They have argued that removing the bike lanes would not reduce congestion and would only increase collisions for cyclists.
Stop being silly. It's no response to the congestion created downtown by the bike lanes to find other congestion 10 miles away and post a photo.
You've been doing this for months and folks just laugh at you..
Folks are laughing at you.
Ford's own report says collisions will go up 54% and traffic will not go faster.
All you will do is cause mass protest and shut down the streets.
Not to mention wasting $54 million to tear it down and another $100 to rebuild it later.
Calling somebody a liar is the only option when you have no facts to prove them wrong.
They are making a conjecture. That is not a fact.
A fact is that the bike lanes have not improved congestion or commute times via car or transit and the number of people using bikes is miniscule compared to those other modes.
Your post is conjecture.
The people who studied and issued the report are experts who have studied bike lanes and traffic globally.
You, not at all.
Please don't make ignorant posts.
The headline says "removing the lanes may not...". They are admitting that they do not know for sure. They are guessing, which is the definition of conjecture.
The bike lanes have been in for a number of years and they have proven by their use that they do not improve congestion or commute times. That is fact. It is history. It is proof. There is no conjecture.
CONJECTURE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
Conjecture is a noun or verb that means a guess or opinion based on how something seems, not on proof. Learn more about its synonyms, usage and examples from the Cambridge Dictionary.
Your post is conjecture.
You have no proof to claim anything about congestion, commute time or how many more people are moving on those streets with or without bike lanes.
Conjecture.
As I have stated before, I do not use bike lanes when cycling unless it is unavoidable, however tens upon tens of thousands of cyclists require bike lanes for safety and security both physically and psychologically.
YOU on the other hand, whine and cry, bray and bitch like tens upon tens of thousands of other overwrought, emotional basket case motor vehicle drivers about feeling trapped, suffocated and strangled in motor vehicle caused traffic congestion, gridlock and mayhem and any and all evidence thrust into your faces that it is YOU and other motor vehicle drivers who are the SOURCE of your and their frustrations, impotence and cringe worthy whining is rejected like a tantrum throwing toddler.
The only thing that will make getting around Toronto better is fewer cars and mor people taking public transit, cycling or walking. There is no other way. Experts know this. Evidence tells us this.
A driver's number 1 obstacle is OTHER DRIVERS. Get more of them out of the way and those who MUST drive, such as tradespeople, will be better off.
Use your brain, not your basketful of emotional trash, for once on this issue.
Oh and btw, if you really believe that Doug faced down Trump, you really are askew.
Doug is Trump, all populist bullshit signifying and accomplishing shit.
Fact. The lanes have been in place for years. Traffic/congestion/commute times have not improved. Evidence based on facts is not conjecture. Bike lanes have been a failure.
Toronto ranked worst city in North America for traffic, new index finds
Toronto has topped the list of the most congested cities in North America, beating out both New York and Mexico City, according to new traffic data released by navigation and location technology company TomTom.
The company, which released its annual traffic index on Thursday, ranked Toronto third on a list of the most congested cities in the world, falling behind only London and Dublin.
According to the index, it takes Toronto commuters an average of 29 minutes to complete a 10-kilometre trip, 50 seconds longer than it took just last year. Toronto’s drivers have only a slightly better commute compared to Dublin, where it takes 29 minutes and 30 seconds to go 10 kilometres. In London, the city identified in the index as having the worst traffic globally, it takes 37 minutes, 20 seconds to travel that distance.
Bike lanes have improved commute times in the same way the carbon tax has improved the climate.
Carbon tax has now been scrapped because it was so successful and the "climate crisis" is over, so scrapping bike lanes is sure to follow.
Hard to move on on when these bike lanes are still in place and stalling traffic.
Bike lanes were never meant as a butt balm or pimple ointment for motor vehicle caused traffic congestion.
