安大略省最高法院周五做出裁决，推翻了下级法院7月份的判决，确认该省政府有权拆除多伦多的自行车道[1]。法院认定不存在关于自行车道的宪章权利，政府可自由改变相关立法[1]。Justice Huscroft在判决书中表示"政府或议会无义务接受政策建议"[1]。
福特政府2024年通过立法，授权拆除覆盖19公里道路的自行车道[1]。该决定遭到骑行倡导组织的法律挑战，但最终被法院驳回[1]。多伦多市2024年的一份报告估计，拆除这些自行车道将使纳税人额外承担4800万加元的成本[1]。多伦多市长奥利维亚·周表示正与省政府协商，寻求"保持每条道路使用者安全"的前进道路[1]。
Ontario's highest court has cleared the way for the provincial government to dismantle Toronto's bike lanes, overturning a lower court decision from July that had blocked the removals on constitutional grounds [1]. The ruling means the Ford government can proceed with legislation passed in 2024 that permits the removal of bike lanes spanning 19 kilometers of roadway [1].
The court determined that no charter right to bike lanes exists, allowing the government to freely modify the related legislation [1]. In the decision, Justice Huscroft wrote that "government or parliament has no obligation to accept policy recommendations" [1]. The removal project has faced legal challenges from cycling advocacy organizations opposed to dismantling the infrastructure.
The proposed demolition carries significant financial implications for taxpayers. A 2024 city report estimated the removal would cost residents an additional 48 million Canadian dollars [1]. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow stated she is negotiating with the provincial government to find "a way forward that keeps every road user safe" [1].