Would you look at that? It seems Ontario Premier Doug Ford is a bit of a trendsetter. But for cyclists, it’s not such a great fad he’s starting.
The Alberta government is preparing legislation that could give the province authority to review and potentially remove municipal bike lanes. That means they may setting up a debate that is already drawing comparisons to a seemingly never-ending fight over cycling infrastructure in Ontario.
The latest in Alberta
Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen said Monday that Alberta’s rapidly growing cities need to prioritize road capacity, arguing some bike lane projects have created ripple effects for drivers and surrounding communities. The chatter is hardly new. Dreeshen has been saying that this was in the works for some time.
“When you’re taking that lane away, that has a whole bunch of cascading effects to people that live in that area,” Dreeshen said to CBC News.
Doug Ford vows to fight bike lanes and build a giant car tunnel
The minister added that the province is not opposed to cycling infrastructure altogether, saying bike lanes are acceptable “if they’re put in proper places.”
Legislation’s a-comin’
The proposed legislation, expected this fall, follows comments Dreeshen made last summer when he urged Edmonton to reconsider planned cycling infrastructure on the city’s north side. He also suggested the province could respond to petitions or protests targeting existing bike lanes, leaving open the possibility that some already-built routes could be removed.
Edmonto mayor, Andrew Knack, pushed back against the proposal and said the city has taken a measured approach to transportation planning.
“This whole dynamic of car drivers versus cyclists versus pedestrians, I hate it,” Knack said. “I will not subscribe to that.”
Knack also expressed concern about the idea of retroactively removing lanes, warning there could be significant costs and disruptions attached to tearing out existing infrastructure.
Berta pulls an Onterrible
The debate mirrors Ontario’s ongoing legal and political battle over bike lane removals under Ford’s government. Like, a lot. It’s a case Alberta officials say they are watching closely as they shape their own legislation. So that’s fun. Although in Ontario the debate is far from over.
Ontario’s Bill 212 became a flashpoint in the province’s fight over cycling infrastructure after the provincial government moved to make it harder for municipalities to install bike lanes that remove lanes from vehicle traffic. The whole debacle began back in November of 2024.
The legislation also opened the door for the province to order the removal of some existing lanes in Toronto, arguing the changes were needed to reduce congestion and keep traffic moving.
Cycling advocates like Cycle Toronto and city officials pushed back hard. The groups said the bill ignored safety data and undermined local planning decisions. The dispute eventually ended up in court, where a judge struck down parts of the legislation tied to removing Toronto bike lanes, though the Ontario government later appealed the ruling. And that’s where things are at now–a waiting game for cyclists in the province–and notably Toronto, for the next ruling from the judge.
Alberta activists are apparently already talking to Cycle Toronto for tips and tricks as it seems like they will be doing the same dance soon.