Bike lanes to remain a priority in Ottawa despite new provincial rules, mayor says

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Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe says the city intends to keep investing in cycling infrastructure even as the provincial government brings in new rules to restrict bicycle lanes in what Ontario municipalities complain is a “significant overreach” of provincial power.

The Conservative government of Premier Doug Ford confirmed that it will have veto power to block bike lanes that would remove a lane for vehicles. Ford has complained about gridlock on Toronto’s Bloor Street, blaming it on new bike lanes that he described as “an absolute disaster.”

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The new law would require municipalities to get the province’s approval to turn a vehicle lane into a bike lane.

On Thursday, Ford went even further, saying in a speech to Toronto’s Empire Club that he intends to remove existing bike lanes as well.

“We need to and will remove and replace existing bike lanes on primary roads that are bringing traffic in our cities to a standstill,” Ford said, according to the Globe and Mail.

Speaking to reporters after this week’s council meeting, Sutcliffe said he doesn’t know what the new provincial rules will look like, but said active transportation routes remain a city priority.

“We’ll continue with our plans, and if there’s a new step in the process where we need to go to the provincial government, then that’s what we’ll do. But we’ll continue to build a transportation network that works for everyone,” Sutcliffe said.

“It’s going to be priority for the city to build new bike lanes, even if there are new regulations from the province.”

Ottawa’s first segregated bike lane opened on Laurier Avenue West in 2013 after a two-year pilot project. Overall, there are more than 700 kilometres of bike lanes and dedicated pathways in the National Capital Region, including ones operated by the National Capital Commission and the City of Gatineau, neither of which would be affected by the new Ontario rules.

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Encouraging public transit and active transportation such as cycling and walking is a key component of Ottawa’s transportation master plan, currently being developed. A June 2024 report by the consulting firm Arcadis said the investment appears to be paying off.

“The City has made significant investments in walking and cycling infrastructure and has seen dramatic increases in the proportion of trips made by active modes. In particular, the cycling mode share has doubled since 2011. Experience in other cities suggests that even more trips could be made by walking and cycling in the future,” the report says.

Bike use varies greatly depending on where you live, of course. A spring 2024 survey for the transportation master plan found seven per cent of trips in the downtown and inner urban core were made by bike while about 70 per cent of people travelled as either a car driver or passenger. In the outer urban, suburban and rural areas, however, bicycles made up just three, two and two per cent of daily trips.

Sutcliffe said it was important to strike a balance between vehicle and bicycle travel.

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“I know there are lots of passionate cyclists, people who ride their bikes to work or go elsewhere who want to see more safe cycling infrastructure. We all want that. I don’t think there’s anyone around the council table who doesn’t support that,” he said.

“But at the same time I’ve also heard the frustration of motorists who see increasing traffic … and they see, in some cases, roads being closed or lanes being closed to support active transportation. And sometims those lanes are being used a lot. And sometimes, not so much.

“I think it’s all about striking the right balance and serving the needs of everyone (so that) everybody can get to where they want to be by their method of choice.”

Meanwhile, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario said the province needs to butt out of micromanaging transit planning. None of its 444 members were consulted or shown evidence the province is using to justify its proposed veto power over new bike lanes, the association wrote in a statement.

“Bicycle lanes are an essential element of urban transportation planning and road safety,” the association said.

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“Requiring provincial approval would be a significant overreach into municipal jurisdiction.”

The association said municipalities develop transportation plans based on local knowledge and community input. They are also balancing car traffic flow with active transportation and take into consideration health and environmental concerns.

“It is unclear how the Ministry of Transportation will be in a better position than municipalities to make decisions about local transportation matters,” the association said.

“Rather than micromanaging bike lanes, the Ministry of Transportation could focus on accelerating its own approval processes to help support new housing.”

— with files from The Canadian Press

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