The Ford government plans to start its Toronto bike lane removals on or after the first day of spring.
"We have just received instructions and can advise that Ontario does not intend to make any physical changes to the infrastructure in question (the Yonge, Bloor or University bike lanes) before March 20, 2025," reads a Dec. 12 email from Ontario's Ministry of the Attorney General obtained by TorontoToday.
Ministry lawyer Cara Zwibel sent the email to attorneys representing Cycle Toronto, a charity that is challenging the Progressive Conservative government's plans to remove some or all of Toronto's Bloor Street, Yonge Street and University Avenue bike lanes.
Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria has not said which parts of the lanes will be torn out.
Sarkaria’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
“That will give us some time so that we could work collaboratively to find a win-win solution,” Mayor Olivia Chow said on Tuesday, after commenting that it's hard "to have cement cure in the middle of a cold winter."
There had been rumours the work would be started much earlier.
Ottawa NDP MPP Joel Harden wrote in his Nov. 29 newsletter to constituents that the provincial government told the City of Toronto that it intended to remove "500 metres of the most western section of the Bloor Street bike lane and 400 metres of the Yonge Street bike lane" by the end of December.
At the time, Sarkaria's office told TorontoToday that Harden's post was "inaccurate" and no decisions had been made.
Cycle Toronto executive director Michael Longfield, who is seeking an injunction against the bike lane removals, said the March date is a win.
“This is a pretty good sign that in response to our injunction threat, the government's not going to attempt to move forward right away,” he said.
“Our goal is that they don't ever get the chance to start at all,” he said.
Bike lanes have been a major issue at city council in recent months.
In November, city staff released a report saying it would cost nearly $50 million to tear out the three bike lanes and replace them with car lanes. Premier Doug Ford said the price tag was “hogwash.” His government hasn’t offered an estimate of its own.
That same day, councillors asked the city solicitor to prepare a report on “the potential for commending litigation” to challenge the bill.
Councillors have received the report but the section on legal advice has been kept confidential. They may discuss it at Tuesday or Wednesday’s council meeting.
