May 5, 2025 - On April 22, following an Ontario Superior Court hearing on April 16, Justice Paul Schabas granted
a temporary injunction preventing Ontario’s provincial government from ripping out bike lanes on Bloor St., Yonge St. and University Avenue, until he releases his decision on a Charter challenge of their removal.

Schabas said the government hadn’t proved its urgent need to move ahead with the removal of the bike lanes. “Despite professing an urgent need to reduce congestion, no evidence of any plans to demolish the lanes or what would go in their place was presented by (the province),” he wrote.

The hearing resulted from Cycle Toronto’s challenge that the provincial government’s Bill 212 – Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, 2024 would put lives at risk, thus violating Section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees life, liberty and security of the person.

Lawyers from Ecojustice and Paliare Roland LLP, who represented Cycle Toronto, also argued that the removals are arbitrary and bear no logical connection to the premier’s stated purpose of reducing congestion, for which they have provided no evidence.

In March, Cycle Toronto had sought an injunction to block any removals, which was not granted. Schabas noted that granting the injunction “will not effectively provide success on the application.”