The latest development for the Ontario government’s new bike lane legislation would include review and removal of existing bike lanes, Premier Doug Ford has announced, and some Ottawa city councillors are voicing their displeasure.
Coun. Laine Johnson represents College Ward and has been advocating for multi-modal transportation options to address traffic and congestion on busy roads in her ward like Baseline Road and Merivale Road.
“I think the concept of removing bike lanes where they already exist ignores the reasons bike lanes are implemented: road safety,” said Johnson. “They serve both to offer safe infrastructure for riders but also to slow traffic.
“The cost implications for municipalities to undo existing infrastructure is irresponsible to taxpayers.”
The “fiscally irresponsible idea” of removing existing bike lanes would also increase labour and supply chain pressure, said Johnson.
“Could you imagine if we had crews assigned to undoing existing work and then couldn’t source labour for new builds?”
If Rideau-Vanier Coun. Stéphanie Plante had a “wish list” for the Premier, it would include bike lanes and legislation to design streets inspired by Quebec and Paris.
“Streets are for people,” she said. “Bike lanes not only make good fiscal and environmental sense, but they are the future of transit in nation’s capital.
“In areas like mine where only 35 per cent of residents have access to a car, they are essential for people who use scooters and wheelchairs,” she continued. “Riding a bike is a great way to get around, and while we need to empower all modes of transit, we have to consider the safety and security of our most vulnerable residents.”
River Ward Coun. Riley Brockington said the province “needs to focus its attention on provincial issues and municipal councils focus on municipal issues.”
“If the provincial government is concerned about gridlock and delayed commutes, investing in active transportation and public transit are wise projects and are cheaper to operate and maintain with a lower GHG footprint,” Brockington told Ottawa Compass. He said he is not currently aware of any bike lanes in his ward that have been causing issues with the flow of traffic.
David Brown, Councillor for Rideau-Jock, has a slightly different view as the representative of a more rural ward. He says he agrees that “in some cases, municipalities have introduced bike lanes in a way that is not based on actual benefits.”
“I have seen in my own ward City staff fight me when I advocate for multi-use paths or sidewalk infrastructure to be prioritized before bike lanes, as many of the rural communities in my ward still lack this most basic and necessary infrastructure,” Brown told Ottawa Compass. “In that respect, the changes being introduced by the province could make sure that bike lanes are introduced in a more thoughtful fashion.”
The legislation could “encourage” the city to introduce different solutions, like multi-use paths “that have a smaller footprint than separate cycling and pedestrian facilities.”
That said, Brown said he agrees that “one size does not fit all.” His ward includes the villages of Manotick, Richmond, North Gower, Munster, Kars, Fallowfield, Ashton, Burritts Rapids and the former Goulbourn Township south and west of Stittsville.
“What works along Somerset might not work in Munster,” he explained. “I am always concerned when decision-making is removed from the local government as this can tie our hands and prevent the City from tailoring solutions to meet individual communities’ needs.”
Ariel Troster, the councillor for Somerset Ward, called the move a “profound overstep” by the provincial government that is a “wild and complete waste of time and money.”
In the announcement, Ford referenced the bike lane on O’Connor Street as an example of one for review and possible removal. This lane is in Troster’s ward.
“We have invested millions of dollars in a lane like this and it’s been wildly successful. I use it to get to and from work all the time,” said Troster. “We talk about red tape just to get new bike lanes, and then on top of it, they want to review existing infrastructure that’s already being used, and potentially force us to spend millions of dollars on it. It’s beyond me.”
Her sentiments were echoed by Capital Councillor Shawn Menard.
“This is a significant overreach that will reduce safety, increase congestion and cost the province and the city a lot of money, like many of the provincial policies we are seeing from this government,” Menard told Ottawa Compass.
Adding bike lanes in his ward, particularly on the Bank Street Bridge, have increased safety without worsening congestion, said Menard.
“There are now kids safely riding on Bank Street over the [bridge], which we never saw before we added these lanes.”
Other city councillors did not respond to requests for comment in time for publication.
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe has previously told Ottawa Compass that bike lanes are “an important part of our transportation infrastructure that we have been investing in for many years, and we will continue to do so within the new framework proposed by the provincial government.”
