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A third person was arrested on Thursday as part of an ongoing protest by cyclists opposed to the removal of bike lanes in Toronto.
In a new release on Friday, Toronto police said the woman, 24, was arrested at a demonstration in the area of Bloor Street W. and Royal York Road, at about 3:10 p.m.
Police said she has been charged with mischief, interfere with lawful use of property, and obstructing police. She is due to appear in court on Jan. 8, 2027.
On Wednesday, two people were arrested on Bloor Street W. in roughly the same area, police said. The first person, a 25-year-old woman from Hamilton, was arrested in the morning and the second person, a 20-year-old from Toronto, was arrested in the afternoon.
Police said the woman has been charged with obstructing a police officer and mischief, interfere with property, under $5,000, while the 20-year-old has been charged with mischief, interfere with lawful use of property and theft under $5,000.
According to police, protesters, including the third person arrested, entered a bike lane on Thursday when work was underway to remove the curb barriers that separate the bike lanes from the road.
“The accused, who was using a wheelchair, positioned herself on one of the curb barriers, interfering with its removal. Officers directed the accused to leave the area multiple times, providing her with opportunities to comply, but she refused,” police said.
The woman got out of her wheelchair and moved into the middle of the bike lane “impeding the road work,” police said.
Cyclists have been trying this week to block the Ontario government from ripping out bike lanes on a stretch of Bloor Street W. in Etobicoke.
The cyclists were able to delay the work on Tuesday evening, but it has begun under police protection.
According to the province, removing the lanes is meant to ease traffic congestion. But many cyclists say the move makes the roads less safe for all road users.
The work to remove the bike lanes is occurring on a 1.2-kilometre section of Bloor Street W. between Clissold Road and Royal York Road.