安大略省上诉法院周五做出裁决，推翻下级法院此前的决定，确认省政府有权移除多伦多繁忙街道上的自行车道 1。这一裁决涉及19公里道路上的自行车设施 1。福特政府于2024年通过立法以获得移除这些车道的权限，随后遭到自行车倡导组织的法律挑战 1。上诉法院在裁决中认为，宪章中不存在自行车道的权利，因此政府有权改变相关立法 1。法官Huscroft在裁决中表示："政府和立法机构没有任何义务接受政策建议" 1。
省交通部长Prabmeet Sarkaria称该裁决是"常识的胜利" 1。然而，自行车倡导组织Cycle Toronto的执行主任Michael Longfield对此表示失望，指出自行车道不仅关乎骑自行车人的安全，还能帮助行人和其他司机，具有重要的交通平静效果 1。根据2024年城市报告估计，移除这些车道将使纳税人付出额外C$4800万的代价 1。省政府工作人员的内部简报曾发现自行车道的移除不会减少拥堵，反而可能使其恶化 1。
Ontario's highest provincial court has cleared the way for the government to remove bicycle lanes from Toronto's busy streets.1 The Court of Appeal for Ontario on Friday overturned a lower court decision that had found the removals would violate constitutional rights.1 The decision allows the Ford government to proceed with legislation passed in 2024 that authorized the elimination of bike lanes spanning 19 kilometers across the city.1
Justice Huscroft stated in the ruling that "government and legislatures have no obligation to accept policy recommendations," rejecting arguments that the removal infringed on charter rights.1 The court determined that no constitutional right to bicycle infrastructure exists and that the province retained authority to alter the relevant legislation.1 A 2024 city report had estimated that removing the lanes would cost taxpayers an additional CAD $48 million, yet internal briefings from provincial government staff found that the removal would not reduce congestion and could potentially worsen it.1
Cycle Toronto's executive director Michael Longfield expressed disappointment with the outcome, arguing that bike lanes serve broader purposes: "This is not only about protecting the safety of people cycling. It helps pedestrians. It helps other drivers. It has the very strong traffic calming effect we need in a big city."1 Ontario's Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria, meanwhile, characterized the court's decision as "a victory for common sense."1
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