Cyclists might want to sue the province for removing bike lanes on Bloor, Yonge and University, but even if they could, they’re likely facing an uphill battle.
The Ford government’s Bill 212, which was pushed through Queen’s Park on Monday, forces municipalities to get provincial approval for any new bike lanes that remove a traffic lane, while also taking special aim at Toronto’s bike lanes on arterial streets. A late addendum to the legislation also protects the province against any lawsuits from people or their families from suing if someone is killed or injured on a road where a bike lane was removed, a move that caused outcry from advocates and opposition party leaders.