The Ontario government has lost its attempt to overturn a court injunction preventing the removal of bike lanes on three major Toronto streets, delivering a major victory for cycling advocates.
A Divisional Court panel of three judges rejected the province’s appeal request in a decision released Tuesday. The ruling upholds a previous injunction issued by Superior Court Justice Paul Schabas, which halted the planned dismantling of bike lanes on Bloor Street, Yonge Street, and University Avenue until a full Charter challenge is heard.
Justice Schabas emphasized the critical importance of cyclist safety and criticized the Ford government’s failure to present solid evidence showing that the bike lanes had worsened traffic congestion. The court found that the province’s arguments did not outweigh the public safety concerns raised by the removal.
The legal battle is being spearheaded by Cycle Toronto, a prominent advocacy group. Their lawsuit argues that the provincial law behind the lane removals is arbitrary and undermines public safety. With this latest court decision, the group says their case has gained further legal momentum—and, more importantly, ensures that cyclists are protected for the time being.
As of now, the provincial government has not confirmed whether it plans to escalate the matter to a higher court. Until then, Toronto’s contested bike lanes will remain in place as the case continues.