Ontario Superior Court Sides With Cyclists

From CBC:

An Ontario court has deemed the province's plan to remove three major Toronto bike lanes unconstitutional.

The judge ruled Wednesday that Cycle Toronto and others "have established that removal of the target bike lanes will put people at increased risk of harm and death, which engages the right to life and security of the person."

In December, lawyers for the Toronto cycling advocacy group and other cyclists asked the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to strike down parts of a law empowering the province to remove the 19 kilometres of protected bike lanes on Yonge Street, Bloor Street and University Avenue, and replace them with vehicle lanes.

The province has been pushing for the removals as a solution to Toronto's traffic congestion, but cyclists and advocates say bike lanes are crucial for public safety and that removing them won't solve traffic concerns.

Justice Paul Schabas concluded Wednesday that the bike lane removals will not reduce congestion.

"The evidence shows that restoring lanes for cars will not result in less congestion, as it will induce more people to use cars and therefore any reduction in driving time will be short-lived, if at all, and will lead to more congestion," said Schabas in his decision.

This news pleases me, not only as an avid cyclist, but as a bike dad.