The Ontario government has introduced legislation they say could make life easier for drivers by requiring municipalities to get provincial approval before installing new bike lanes that would remove vehicle lanes.
If passed, municipalities would be required to demonstrate that proposed bike lanes won’t have a negative impact on vehicle traffic.
Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria noted the rise in bike lanes installed during the pandemic, saying “fewer vehicles were on the road and their impacts on traffic were unclear.”
Sarkaria added, “too many drivers are now stuck in gridlock as a result, which is why our government is bringing informed decision-making and oversight to bike lanes as well as taking steps to increase speed limits safely and clean up potholes.”
The proposed legislation also includes the plan to increase speed limits to 110 km/h on all 400-series highways where safe.
Additionally, Ontario will launch a pothole prevention fund in 2025 to help smaller municipalities improve road conditions.
Lastly, the government is proposing to enshrine in the legislation the current freeze on knowledge and road test fees so that any future increases would require a legislative amendment.
The freeze on fee increases, which was scheduled to rise roughly 4.5 per cent a year, is said to save Ontarians $72 million this decade.
Written by: K. Freeman
