Removal work on the Bloor Street bike lanes in Toronto began on Wednesday, October 14, drawing protesters and leading to arrests, as the latest chapter opened in the city's long fight with the province over who controls its streets.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, who is campaigning for re-election, condemned the plan in strong terms, linking it to other provincial moves to override city decisions. She called the removal a costly waste and an affront to local democracy.
Her main challenger, Brad Bradford, has supported removing the Bloor lanes in Etobicoke, pointing to frustration among some local businesses, while saying residents and their city should decide street by street.
The city has put the cost of removing all the targeted lanes on Bloor, Yonge Street and University Avenue at $48 million, a figure the province disputes. Ontario has asked bidders to study options that restore vehicle traffic while looking for ways to retain or reconfigure lanes where they make sense.
