By Aisha Duldul
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation has proposed a new bill on Oct. 21 that would give the province authority to remove or restrict bike lanes in the province.
Bill 212, Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act 2024, would require municipalities to get approval from the provincial government to install bike lanes in their cities to reduce traffic congestion on major city streets.
The bill is currently going through a comment period where members of the public can write their thoughts on the impact this would have. This period ends on Nov. 20.
This adjustment could potentially affect existing routes on Bloor Street, University Avenue and Yonge Street in Toronto, which may impact commuter times and safety.
Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) students expressed concern over the new bill and are worried biking and driving to school may take longer if bike lanes are removed from these routes.
Amira Werah, a first-year business management student at TMU, bikes to school daily. She said bike lanes are essential for her safety as they separate her from car traffic, making her feel more secure while riding on busy streets downtown.
Werah added that without bike lanes, she would be more hesitant to use this method of transportation frequently in the city. She said biking would be less accessible if these lanes were removed.
“I might have to switch to public transportation or walk more often as biking would feel much less safe, especially during peak time when there’s a lot of traffic,” said Werah.
A study released by ScienceDirect in June 2024 echoes Werah’s concerns, stating that limiting access to safe cycling routes may discourage people from relying on bicycles for transportation. The study also said keeping bike lanes could make cycling a real option.
Rob Goodman, an assistant professor of politics and public administration who regularly bikes to campus, said the government lacks sufficient data to justify the removal of bike lanes in Toronto.
Goodman argued that biking relieves congestion by getting people out of cars, noting his own bike commute as “one less car on the road”.
He believes that removing bike lanes would cause more congestion and pollution. Other students who commute by car argue that removing bike lanes will create less congestion on busy roads in the city.
Davitta Mohan, a first-year biology student at TMU who drives to campus, said removing bike lanes will create shorter commute times for those relying on cars, especially during rush hour downtown.
However, she added that “it could make the roads less safe for cyclists and ultimately lead to more conflicts.”
“I believe bike lanes can make Toronto streets safer overall. They provide a designated space for cyclists, reducing the chances of accidents with cars and promoting a more balanced transportation system,” said Mohan.
Evan Cleave, an assistant professor of geography and environmental studies at TMU, said removing active transportation like bike lanes will bring heavier usage to using cars, which could lead to a negative environmental impact.
Cleave added that the removal will cause “more air pollution and more usage of electricity with electric cars and their charging stations.”
“The removal of bike lanes can cause more unhealthy environmental noise, and the main cause of environmental noise is traffic,” he said.
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