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City’s snow-removal efforts are giving cyclists cold comfort their safety is being prioritized
Published Feb 01, 2026 • 2 minute read
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Bike lanes running along Bloor St. remain blocked on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Toronto, a week after the city received a historic dump of snow. Photo by Kathryn Mannie /THE CANADIAN PRESSArticle content
Cyclists have spoken: The city’s snow-removal efforts are giving cold comfort that their safety is top of mind.
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A week after Toronto endured a record-breaking snowstorm that dumped more than a half-metre of the white stuff in some neighbourhoods, bike riders are speaking up about how hard it is to navigate streets across the city.
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The status of the city’s bike lanes has led one cycling advocate to write to Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow in an effort to have the situation rectified.
“We are now five days out from this storm and nearly all bike lanes remain completely blocked,” lawyer Dave Shellnutt said in a letter on his website dated Friday. “Not just with snow piled up at the entrances and exits to the bike lanes, but with a foot and a half of snow and ice throughout.
“Our huge network of city infrastructure has been rendered useless and transportation options for many remain limited.”
City recovering from record snowstorm
A record 46 cm of snow fell Jan. 25 at Pearson International Airport, while some areas of the city — Toronto city centre and south Scarborough — saw 60 cm or more hit the ground.
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The city’s major snowstorm provisions, however, have meant crews this weekend were prioritizing snow removal from residential streets, highway ramps, bridge decks and hospital routes.
But Shellnutt said that has “seriously impacted” cycling commuters and volunteer operations like the Toronto Bike Brigade, which delivers essentials from food banks to people in need.
“Our riders are out nearly 365 days a year in all weather and all temperatures,” he said. “However, without bike lanes separating us from motorists on slippery city streets, many of our riders do not feel comfortable or safe out there.”
Karan Singh, who uses his bike to deliver food for Uber, echoed those comments to The Canadian Press, saying it is “very scary” for cyclists on the road right now as most bike lanes are impassible.
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Cycle Toronto executive director Michael Longfield is asking for the city to communicate a clear plan to riders as a result.
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“I think there’s been a lot of patience and a lot of understanding that this was a major snow event,” Longfield said, via CP. “But I think at this point folks are starting to wonder what’s the plan?
“It’s been a week and we don’t really have any clarity on when these bikeways will be clear and usable.”
The city told The Canadian Press on Sunday that it had received hundreds of calls about bike lane maintenance over the last week, but could not provide a specific timeline for when all bikeways would be cleared.
“During prolonged or heavy snowfall, crews often need to return multiple times to maintain safe conditions as bike lanes can become re‑covered by snow after being cleared due to passing traffic, blowing snow or nearby road-plowing operations,” the city said, according to CP.
— With files from The Canadian Press.
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