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Cyclists in Toronto delayed the province’s scheduled removal of a portion of the Bloor Street W. bike lane in Etobicoke Tuesday by holding a sit-in protest that stopped scheduled construction from until Wednesday afternoon.
The work to take out the bike lane near Bloor and Islington, part of an Ontario government plan to rip out bike lanes on three major Toronto roads, was set to begin Tuesday evening.
The construction was blocked, however, when cyclists near the intersection surrounded the trucks, not allowing them to move, shortly after 8 p.m. Organizers said it aimed to send a message that ripping out the lanes makes the roads less safe for all road users.
A number of cyclists were still holding a sit-in at the bike lane early Wednesday afternoon before they were dispersed by police officers. Some protesters still remained nearby.
In a post to social media platform X on Wednesday, police said they arrested one woman for mischief and obstructing a peace officer.
Michael Longfield, executive director of cycling advocacy group Cycle Toronto, told CBC Radio’s Metro Morning Wednesday that the protest was “quite a moment.”
He commended the protesters for their dedication, saying hundreds came out in support of their cause and that the group is keen to continue to hold off construction.
“I don’t think we know what the next day or the day after that holds,” he said. “But certainly tonight, I think people are very motivated to go back out again.”
Toronto police said they arrested a woman for mischief and obstructing a peace officer in connection to the protest that happened against Bloor Street W. bike lane removal in Etobicoke. (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press)
The protest started Tuesday afternoon and saw crowds of cyclists, including many children, looping around the area of the intersection on their bikes before the lane removal was set to start.
When asked about the protest at an unrelated news conference Wednesday, Toronto police Chief Myron Demkiw called the removal “lawful work that is going to continue.”
Demkiw said he appreciates the “different perspectives” but said people should not interfere with lawful activity and that police will be prepared to “do what we need to do” to ensure work continues.
“If you fail to follow our officer’s instructions or interfere with what is lawful activity, you do stand the chance of being charged criminally and being put before the courts,” he said.
Longfield encouraged the province to reconsider the plan to remove bike lanes and opt instead for one pitched by Toronto mayor Olivia Chow which would see traffic lanes added while keeping protected lanes for cyclists.
Ontario’s transportation minister, Prabmeet Sarkaria, said the delay due to the protesters does not change the province’s plans.
“Make no mistake: these bike lanes are coming out,” Sarkaria wrote in a post on social media platform X following the protest on Tuesday. “We have a clear mandate and we will deliver.”
WATCH | Toronto cyclists make legal appeal to protect the city’s bike lanes:
Toronto cyclists take fight over Ford’s bike lane removal to Supreme Court
Cycle Toronto and co-applicants said Tuesday they will seek leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada to stop Ontario’s plan to remove bike lanes on three major Toronto roads. As CBC’s Mercedes Gaztambide explains, advocacy group leaders argue the move threatens cyclist safety, while the province maintains removing the lanes will ease traffic congestion.A continuing legal battle
Cycle Toronto is also trying to stop the province from removing bike lanes by seeking leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada.
Taking the issue to Canada’s top court would be the latest move in a long legal battle over a 2024 law allowing the province to take out the bike lanes. The move was framed by the province as a way to reduce congestion.
A lower court initially ruled the province’s plan to replace 19 kilometres of bike lanes with car lanes on three major roads was an unconstitutional risk to cyclist safety. That decision was later overturned by the Ontario Court of Appeal in an August ruling that said the judge in the first trial had overstepped into policy-making and political considerations.
WATCH | What you need to know about Ford’s plans to remove Toronto bike lanes:
Ford government to begin Toronto bike lane removal. Here’s what you need to know
The Ford government is going ahead with bike lane removals, the province announced Tuesday. CBC’s Lane Harrison breaks down what you need to know.
Bronwyn Roe, a staff lawyer with one of the legal groups that represents Cycle Toronto and its co-applicants, environmental law charity Ecojustice, said that although their application is now in, it will make no difference to the immediate removals the province has planned.
“It could stop the work that is supposed to start, likely in the spring, on the remaining bike lanes,” she said.