July 30, 2025 - Superior Court Justice Paul Schabas has ruled against the Ford government’s plan to tear out dedicated bike lanes from three Toronto routes saying the move would be unconstitutional reports Global News, CBC and other outlets.
“Any steps taken to ‘reconfigure’ the target bike lanes that removes their protected character for the purpose of installing a lane for motor vehicles in order to reduce congestion, would be in breach of s. 7 of the Charter,” the ruling said.
The ruling comes after months of legal wrangling and a court-imposed injunction that has, so far, prevented the province from following through on its promise to remove the dedicated bike lanes on Bloor Street West, Yonge Street and University Avenue.
The injunction was granted on April 22 by Justice Paul Schabas following a challenge in Dec. by advocacy group, Cycling Toronto, arguing that Ontario’s Bill 212, the Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act passed last November, violated the Charter-protected rights to life and security of the person.
An appeal was filed by the government but in July, the court injunction was upheld by a Divisional Court panel of judges – read more here.
The Premier Doug Ford’s government says it will appeal a court ruling.
Read the Global News report here and the CBC report here.
Read the court judgement here.
