Edmonton’s mayor is warning Alberta’s government to stay in their lane after an Ontario provincial court ruled the government there can remove bike lanes.
“There is a lot of time being wasted across the country about things that don’t have a significant impact on the day-to-day lives of Canadians,” said Mayor Andrew Knack.
Friday, Ontario’s Court of Appeal ruled there’s no legal or constitutional right to bike lanes in that province. That ruling was immediately celebrated by Alberta’s minister of transportation.
The province has taken issue with some planned bike lanes on Edmonton’s 50 Street and the headaches they may create for drivers. The Alberta government launched an online survey looking for feedback about bike lanes.
A cyclist rides past three cars on an Edmonton street on July 16, 2026. (CityNews)
Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen told CityNews in a statement the Ontario court’s ruling is a win for common sense.
“Our government is developing legislation to make sure transportation infrastructure works for all road users,” Dreeshen’s statement went on to read.
“The Ontario Court of Appeal’s findings will be carefully considered as we finalize our legislation.”
But Mayor Knack shared frustration with the ongoing debate. He says he’d rather talk to the minister about the deadly state of the city’s roads.
“We’ve seen more fatalities on our streets in the last two years,” the mayor said. “I’d much rather spend my time and attention working with the minister on how we make our roads safer. I’d much rather spend time with the minister working on how we continue to build out goods- and people-moving corridors, for both the roadway network and our transit network.”
Allison McIntosh, a member of the cycling advocacy group Ward Métis Bikes, thinks the Alberta government is using the battle over bike lanes as a way to whip up support among their base.
A bike lane in Edmonton in August 2026. (CityNews)
McIntosh says she and others in Edmonton voted for pro-bike city councillors.
“I don’t own a car, and biking’s my main way of getting around. I also use transit,” she said. “I live in Forest Heights. Part of the reason I bought my house in Forest Heights is because I knew that there’d be a bike lane coming on 79th. Now that that’s under threat, I’m really frustrated.”
McIntosh says it’s tough enough out there to be a cyclist on Edmonton roads.
“Drivers are really hostile to cyclists,” she said. “So that’s really frustrating too to experience when, again, it’s my neighbourhood and I’m just getting around safely. I’m keeping cars off the road for them too. I’m not contributing to congestion and to pollution.”
Minister Dreeshen says the province plans to make a decision that puts safety and quality of life first, adding for too long transportation decisions have been driven by ideology rather than common sense.
A bike lane in Edmonton in August 2026. (CityNews)
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