Brief
62% of Torontonians back province’s plan to remove bike lanes on major streets
The poll, conducted in September, shows strong public backing for the Ford government's first phase of bike‑lane removals.
By Felo News Desk · Published
CityNews reported that a Canada Pulse Insights poll of 510 Toronto adults found 62% support for the province’s plan to turn protected bike lanes on major streets back into motor‑vehicle lanes, while 38% oppose the move.
The first phase targets roughly 19 kilometres of bike lanes on Bloor Street, Yonge Street and University Avenue, with work on Bloor Street in Etobicoke slated to begin Tuesday. The remaining sections are expected to start next spring.
Mayor Olivia Chow offered a compromise to restore vehicle lanes on parts of Bloor Street West while keeping cycling infrastructure, but the province rejected the proposal. Mayoral candidate Brad Bradford argued the city, not Queen’s Park, should decide street policy; 77% of his supporters favor the removals, compared with a 50‑50 split among Chow supporters.
Among undecided voters, 63% back the conversion. Cycling advocates and lawyers involved in a Charter challenge said they will now take their appeal to the Supreme Court, arguing the issue extends beyond transport policy.
Key facts
- 62% of surveyed Torontonians support converting bike lanes to vehicle lanes (toronto.citynews.ca)
- The province plans to remove about 19 km of protected bike lanes on Bloor, Yonge and University (toronto.citynews.ca)
- Work on Bloor Street in Etobicoke begins Tuesday, with remaining sections slated for next spring (toronto.citynews.ca)
- Brad Bradford’s supporters show 77% backing for lane removals (toronto.citynews.ca)
- Cycling advocates intend to appeal the province’s legislation to the Supreme Court (toronto.citynews.ca)
Sources
- [1] toronto.citynews.ca — originally reported as “Nearly two-thirds of Torontonians support bike lane removals on major streets by the province: poll”
