SCOOP: The bike lane ban goes under the microscope
A fresh poll is gauging support for a controversial push to ban new cycling routes on major roads
THE LEDE
SCOOP — With the Ford government eyeing legislation to halt the construction of new bike lanes on major streets, the new proposal is going under the microscope.
The plan — set to be included in a transit bill that will be introduced when the House returns — would ban the creation of new cycling routes on major roads if they lead to the reduction of lanes for cars, buses or other travel.
“We want to make sure that all forms of transportation move quickly, and that’s what it comes down to — making sure you aren’t putting bike lanes in the middle of some of the busiest streets in the country,” Premier Ford said at a Monday presser in Cobourg. “Put them on the secondary roads.”
Publicly, with congestion pushing people out of the Greater Toronto Area, the move could appeal to motorists and suburbanites. But privately, with Ford considering an early election, it’s political — “a perfect wedge,” as one Progressive Conservative insider described it — and the government is already taking the temperature on the controversial proposal.
A fresh poll by Campaign Research, the Tories’ go-to polling shop, is sizing up support for the ban.
It’s uncertain if the poll was commissioned by the government (still, it likely was: caucus shelled out nearly a million dollars to the shop for internal polling last year, per public receipts).
Here’s what was asked, according to a copy of the survey:
— “Generally speaking, do you support or oppose more bike lanes being added to the street networks where you live?”
Support many more bike lanes being added
Support some more bike lanes being added
There could be a few more bike lanes being added, but not too many more
Oppose any more bike lanes being added
Don’t know or unsure
— “When you think about bike lanes, should your city/town be looking to add bike lanes across the entire city/town or just add bike lanes in the downtown core?”
Add bike lanes across the city/town
Add bike lanes in the downtown core
No more bike lanes added anywhere
Don’t know or unsure
— “Many cities and towns have introduced new bike lanes. Which view is closest to your own?”
Some people say that cities and towns should be much more aggressive and introduce even more bike lanes, even if it causes an increase in traffic and congestion
Other people say that cities and towns should proceed with introducing more bike lanes, but should be cautious and make sure new bike lanes are only in places where there will be minimal impact on traffic and congestion
And some other people say that cities and towns already have too many bike lanes and should be removing some bike lanes to improve traffic and congestion
Don’t know or unsure
— “The government is considering new rules that would prohibit the installation of bike lanes when lanes for motor vehicles (cars) are removed as a result. Based on what you know, do you support or oppose the government stopping cities and towns from removing car lanes to install bike lanes?”
Strongly support
Somewhat support
Somewhat oppose
Strongly oppose
Don’t know or unsure
— “In larger cities and their surrounding areas, congestion has become worse. The installation of new bike lanes has proved to be controversial in some parts of these regions. Premier Ford has said his government intends to address congestion. Which is closest to your own view?”
Some people say the Yonge Street bike lanes between Bloor Street and Davisville Avenue cause too much traffic congestion and lead to too much of an increase in travel times for drivers, and that they should be removed immediately
Other people say that the city should continue to keep this stretch of bike lanes in place
Don’t know or unsure
For background: To Ford, it’s a community issue. The expansion of a bike lane on Bloor Street into Etobicoke, home of Ford Nation, irked PC MPPs — including one, who said Toronto needed “a pragmatic, not an ideological approach to bike lanes.”
The project’s proposed expansion into Mississauga, too, became a hot issue during the mayoral race: Dipika Damerla promised to cancel the “poorly designed” expansion, while rival Alvin Tedjo charged Damerla was seeking “cheap political points,” running on the need for a “safe, separated bike and cycling and wheel infrastructure.”
Municipalities are keeping a close eye on the looming bill — and some are already sounding the alarm.
Tedjo said residents rejected these policies during the election and that he is “extremely concerned about any measures that would further restrict” this infrastructure. Guelph, meanwhile, will rebut the proposal in a letter to the province, calling it “Toronto-centric.”
“Ford is pining to be Toronto’s mayor and meddling in municipal issues once more,” one source reacted.
For the populist Ford, the proposal could win over motorists in the next election, pushing political rivals — including Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie — into a corner. “Bike lanes are a culture war issue in the Greater Toronto Area in a way they really aren’t in the rest of the province,” the insider said. “But, then again, congestion is an issue in a way it isn't in the rest of the province.”
“This issue pits Bonnie’s bike lane loving downtown activists against swing voters in the burbs. One makes trouble for her inside the Liberal Party, the other can make bigger problems for her on election day.”
Meanwhile, for Crombie, she’s not weighing in. “Instead of helping you, Doug Ford is picking a fight over bike lanes,” she said. “Doug’s made his priorities clear: booze, bike lanes and his buddies.”
“Nobody asked for the government to dictate people’s transportation choices or get in the way of local communities deciding what works best for them,” NDP critic Joel Harden reacted, faulting the government for “putting wedge politics over real solutions.”
“To Ford, this might be cheap politics, but to people across the province, this is politics that plays with people’s lives.”
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Where do you stand on bike lanes — for or against? Hit me up with a juicy leak or tip, item of gossip, story idea or anything else I should hear. I'll keep you anon. We're back in your inbox on Friday.
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