Ford government wins court appeal in Toronto bike lanes case

TORONTO — Ontario’s top court has cleared the way for the province to remove bike lanes in Toronto, overturning a lower-court ruling that found the plan created an unconstitutional risk to cyclist safety.

The Ontario Court of Appeal’s ruling says there is no Charter right to bike lanes and the government is free to change or repeal policy choices made by previous governments, even if it goes against expert advice.

The strongly worded ruling says the lower court decision had not only misapplied the law but appeared to overstep by involving itself in policy making and political considerations.

The ruling written by Justice Grant Huscroft says, “something has gone wrong.”

Superior Court Justice Paul Schabas initially ruled that the government’s plan to remove protected bike lanes on Bloor Street, Yonge Street and University Avenue was an unconstitutional risk to cyclists’ safety that would lead to more accidents, injuries and death.

He found the government pursued the plan even though its own advisers and external experts broadly agreed it would not accomplish its stated goal to reduce traffic congestion — and could possibly make it worse.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Aug. 14, 2026. 

The Canadian Press