January 2025
In October 2024, Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government tabled a bill that would require municipalities to ask the province for permission to install bike lanes if it involves removing a lane of vehicle traffic. Ford also began the process of removing bike lanes on Yonge, Bloor and University and restoring them as lanes for vehicle traffic.
Some will complain about the cost to the taxpayers for removing the bike lanes. Perhaps we should fund the removal, along with the creation and maintenance of any future bike lanes, by licensing bicycles. As a conservative with libertarian leanings, I’m frequently reluctant to advocate for things like user fees, but in the case of biking infrastructure, cyclists are literally getting a free ride. Drivers of motor vehicles have to pay taxes that are (supposed to be) earmarked for road construction and maintenance, yet cyclists pay nothing.
Next, we start talking about imposing some sort of fee/tax on electric vehicles to compensate for the fact that they don’t pay gas taxes that are also supposed to be earmarked for road construction and maintenance.
Sources: Ontario plans to remove Toronto bike lanes on Bloor, Yonge, University | CBC News.
