TORONTO – TTCriders is deeply concerned that the provincial government is considering a ban on dedicated streetcar and bus lanes on major arterial roads in Toronto.
Premier Doug Ford and his team must understand that the way to ease gridlock in this city is by getting more people out of cars and onto alternatives like reliable transit. Dedicated lanes for buses and streetcars is essential infrastructure that helps transit move efficiently and convinces more people to ride rather than drive.
“Our message to Ford is to fire your advisors. They are recommending policies that aren’t evidence-based solutions to gridlock, but will only score cheap temporary political points. The only proven way to fix gridlock is by having fewer cars. That means better transit service, and streetcar and bus lanes that actually work,” said Andrew Pulsifer, Executive Director of TTCriders. “Get your hands out of municipal affairs and off of our transit lanes.”
The technical briefing for the proposed Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025 shows that under the “Keeping People Moving” section, the province is planning to prohibit municipalities from reducing the number of motor-vehicle lanes when installing new bicycle lanes, and give the minister regulation-making authority to prescribe “additional activities” that would prevent lane removals altogether.
This means that the province appears to be on track to ban any use of road space that takes a lane away from cars, which could include dedicated transit lanes, street festivals and CafeTO patios.
When it comes to the province’s previously passed legislation (Bill 212) there is already an injunction in place preventing the government from removing certain major bicycle lanes until the court has ruled on the constitutionality of the law. If the government is being stopped from removing bike lanes under Bill 212 because of the risk to people and traffic outcomes, then that should also raise serious questions about removing or undermining transit-priority lanes.
“TTCriders calls on the Ford Government to rescind any measures that prohibits or weakens transit lanes on arterial roads in Toronto,” said Pulsifer. “We are eager to work with the Province and the City of Toronto to improve transit reliability, but also stand ready to oppose every and any measure that tries to interfere with the priorities of riders in Toronto.”
Media Contact
Andrew Pulsifer - Executive Director, TTCriders