September 11, 2026 - (Toronto, ON) Last week, the Toronto Star reported that the Ford government walked away from a deal with Mayor Chow and the City of Toronto that would have restored car lanes while keeping protected bike lanes along Bloor St W through Etobicoke.
As the province continues to move forward with its plan to remove 19 km of protected bike lanes, including sections between Islington Ave and Royal York Rd in Etobicoke to be done “immediately”, cycling advocates are inviting Premier Ford and Minister Sarkaria on a bike ride along the side streets and so-called “secondary roads” that would ostensibly replace the Bloor St protected bike lanes.
“Cyclists Aren’t Secondary” Ride
Date: Saturday, September 12
Time: 10 am meet; 10:15 am ride; 11:00 am arrival
Start: Tom Riley Park parking lot near Bloor St W and Islington Ave (3216 Bloor St W)
End: Neil McLellan Park near Bloor St W and Runnymede Rd (263 Beresford Ave)
What: ~9 km bike ride avoiding the Bloor bike lanes and other arterial roads
Note: Bike Share bikes are available at Tom Riley Park
The media are welcome to attend and document.
The province’s rejection of the city’s offer is seemingly at odds with previous statements from the government and even the purpose of the legislation itself, which was to “restore the lanes for use by motor vehicle traffic.” Neither the Premier nor the Minister of Transportation explained why the city’s offer was not accepted, nor has the province provided any alternative routes to replace the bike lanes. This is despite both Premier Ford and Minister Sarkaria having long insisted on putting bike lanes “where they make sense.”
Back in April 2025, Minister Sarkaria’s office told TorontoToday, “Where both a reinstated car lane and a bike lane can exist, we are open to collaboration with the city of Toronto, provided they fund their portion of their identified infrastructure needs.” When asked about the bike lanes in a June 2025 press conference, Premier Ford said, “I want to work collaboratively with the Mayor… hopefully we can find alternatives.”
This issue also continues to be a hot topic within the municipal election: Councillor and mayoral candidate Brad Bradford has also committed to removing the Bloor W bike lanes if elected, suggesting instead a “city cycling investment into a network of residential streets and multi-use trails in parks, hydro corridors and ravines.”
Michael Longfield, Cycle Toronto executive director, said, “The province’s own experts know that bike lanes do not cause traffic congestion, and ripping them out will put people’s lives at risk. While the courts have ruled that the province can proceed with restoring car vehicle lanes, now we’re learning the province rejected a win-win deal from Mayor Chow and the city. With the Taste of the Kingsway already closing Bloor to vehicles this weekend, we invite the premier to join us on a bike ride through the side streets of Etobicoke.”
