The neverending bike lane debacle rolls on in Ontario. Toronto city council is set this week to decide whether to move ahead with more than 20 km of new bike lanes, part of the city’s 2025 Cycling Infrastructure Fourth Quarter Update.
The report, known as IE26.6, recommends new cycling routes on several corridors. According to city staff, none of the proposed projects would remove existing motor-vehicle travel lanes. That’s a key point as cycling infrastructure continues to draw scrutiny in Toronto. That’s a result of Premier Doug Ford and his government back in November 2024, when Bill 212, or “Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, 2024,” was passed.
The upcoming vote follows a tense meeting of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee earlier this month. There, several speakers gave up their allotted time to ensure enough councillors remained present for a vote. There was a risk the item would have been pushed back to February 2026.
Doug Ford vows to fight bike lanes and build a giant car tunnel
Cycling advocates say that delay would have effectively shelved projects that are already designed and funded.
Ahead of council’s vote, Cycle Toronto will hold a press conference Tuesday morning at Toronto City Hall to urge councillors to approve the recommendations.
“City staff have shown it’s possible to deliver bike infrastructure even under Bill 60,” Michael Longfield, executive director of Cycle Toronto, said. “But it’s only a win-win if council approves the staff recommendations.”
If approved, the projects would add to Toronto’s growing cycling network at a time when municipalities across Ontario are reassessing how — and whether — to expand bike infrastructure under tighter provincial oversight.
Council is expected to debate the item later this week.