Protesters block Ford government’s removal of Bloor Street bike lanes in Etobicoke

[u/thecanadiansniper1-2]

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/ford-government-begins-removing-bike-lanes-in-etobicoke/article_9340bd34-ab52-4007-b541-0dc27314a0bb.html

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[u/lifeisarichcarpet]

The province's move to rip up the lanes based on vibes and vibes alone really showed the limits of electoralism and made this kind of direct action inevitable. Toronto voted in municipal representatives who approved the lanes, voted OUT the local MPP who opposed the Bloor lane, and yet the lanes are coming out. I applaud these cyclists and any and all future attempts on their part to slow down or outright prevent the removals. I also applaud and fear for the brave cyclists who are rightfully going to go right down the middle of the driving lane every day now. People will try to kill them and other people, many of them in leadership positions in the city (like various MPs and our possibly new mayor), are going approve of it if they die.

[u/MTL_Dude666]

"Provincial government documents released as part of an injunction hearing warned that removing the bike lanes may not ease congestion, and instead could increase the risk of collisions and negatively affect businesses."

And this relates to this news article from March 2025:

Ford government’s own research warned that removing Toronto bike lanes may not ease congestion, may make roads less safe
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/ford-government-s-own-research-warned-that-removing-toronto-bike-lanes-may-not-ease-congestion/article_ec8f7d44-ff67-11ef-8c1d-074311646abf.html

What's the point of doing research and listen to facts when you can simply do whatever you want just because it makes your hardcore fans happy? Some politicians seem to think that politics is simply a popularity contest and society can just s*ck it up!

[u/penis-muncher785 → u/MTL_Dude666]

Feel like all this is gonna do is result in me seeing more ctv articles about someone being killed on a bike in Toronto

[u/GraveDiggingCynic → u/penis-muncher785]

When did populists ever care about people being killed? Apparently bike riders are an "out group' with Ontario Conservatives, and therefore their deaths are irrelevant, or perhaps even desirable.

[u/misterwalkway → u/GraveDiggingCynic]

Exactly. This entire endeavor is about 'owning the libs', ie to delight his base by harming the people they hate. It is completely devoid of any rational policy goal.

[u/chaobreaker → u/GraveDiggingCynic]

This is Ford’s base: suburbanites whose resentment of cyclists and bike lanes has turned violent.

https://www.blogto.com/city/2024/03/toronto-meeting-locals-cheer-kill-cyclists/

This is what this bike lane removal is catered to.

[u/KingofLingerie → u/penis-muncher785]

Luckily the ford government passed a law that made it impossible for a cyclist or their family to sue the province if a cyclist is injured or dies.

[u/WillListenToStories → u/MTL_Dude666]

Conservatives want less effective transportation systems. It's crazy and I don't understand it, but that's what's going on.

[u/GuidoOfCanada → u/WillListenToStories]

Right? I understand the strategy when it comes to privatizing health care, etc - wreck the service then sell it off to their buddies... But good transportation benefits everyone! Oh wait, I just answered the question. They'll happy hurt everyone if it hurts a minority...

[u/JadeLens → u/WillListenToStories]

One and all are practically in the pocket of big oil.

[u/CptCoatrack → u/WillListenToStories]

Everything's about reaffirming the hierarchy. Time and again they've shown themselves willing to suffer if it means someone they see as below them, like cyclists, pedestrians or transit users suffer more.

[u/Dragonsandman]

You love to see it. Even by the nonexistent standards of the Ford government, this move to rip out bike lanes is unbelievably stupid and hideously anti-democratic.

[u/UnderWatered]

Good, I hope they undertake civil disobedience. This is about ensuring families, including those who bike with kids, have safe places to travel in. Road space in Toronto is nearly totally allocated to cars, where is the fairness?