Following the passage of Bill 212, cycling groups argue that the bill could undermine progressive urban planning and cycling safety
On Nov. 25, the Ontario government officially passed Bill 212, a piece of legislation granting the province authority over municipal bike lane decisions and expediting highway construction projects, including Highway 413. Notably, the construction of Highway 413 is exempt from the Environmental Assessment Act, allowing work to proceed before completing consultations Indigenous communities or environmental assessments.
On Oct. 21, Prabmeet Sarkaria, the Ontario minister of transportation, introduced Bill 212, Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time, 2024, which includes the Building Highways Faster and Highway 413 acts. The provincial government argues that the bill will help alleviate traffic congestion by accelerating the construction of key infrastructure projects.
The bill mandates that municipalities seek provincial approval to install bike lanes if doing so involves removing an existing traffic lane. The bill also allows the removal of three major Toronto bike lanes on Bloor Street, Yonge Street and University Avenue.
On Nov. 23, 2025, hundreds of people gathered outside Queen’s Park to protest the Ford government’s Bill 212. Many cycling advocates have protested the passage of the bill, who argue that the legislation undermines efforts to promote safe and sustainable transportation.
Similarly, on Oct. 23, 2024, community members in Hamilton organized a bike ride and rally at Hamilton’s city hall in protest against the bill.
Paul Brown, a co-chair of Cycle Hamilton, expressed concerns about how bike lanes in Hamilton could be impacted by the new legislation. He noted that the bill undermines urban planning and infrastructure development at a time when efforts are focused on encouraging individuals to adopt diverse modes of transportation.
“There are many different ways to get to places other than the car and until recently, urban planners have been designing urban centers with this in mind. This bill seems like a step backward, away from forward progression towards improved transportation around the city,” said Brown.
This bill seems like a step backward, away from forward progression towards improved transportation around the city.
Paul Brown, Co-Chair
Cycle Hamilton
Brown highlighted that bike lanes are essential not only for encouraging healthy lifestyles but also for supporting local businesses. He suggested that cyclists tend to explore their surroundings more, often stopping at local businesses along the bikeways. Promoting cycling, he claimed, benefits the community as a whole.
“I would think that the removal of bike lanes or the discouragement of building bike lanes would therefore affect the amount of people that would get on bikes. I think that politicians down the road can then say that people aren’t riding bikes. I worry politically about what this is the beginning of and we want to just make sure that doesn’t happen,” said Brown.
Brown believes that there is a disconnect between what the public appears to support and prioritise versus the direction taken by the current provincial government.
Following the bike rallies and protests, Brown believes that the primary goal cycling advocates sought to achieve was to ensure that the provincial government recognizes their presence and concerns. "There seems to be a complete forgetting of the fact that there are people that actually ride their bikes year-round,” said Brown.
There seems to be a complete forgetting of the fact that there are people that actually ride their bikes year-round.
Paul Brown, Co-Chair
Cycle Hamilton
“These rallies serve as a reminder to the provincial government, but also to the general public, that cyclists are here. People just want to ride their bike to work or ride for fun. We shouldn’t have to calculate our safety every time we hop on a bike,” said Brown.
Holiday travel plans can bring us together with family and loved ones. However, because winter weather in Canada can be extreme, it’s important to take a few precautions before you hit the road so you arrive safe and sound.
The York Regional Police, based just north of Toronto, have provided a few tips to help keep you safe on the roads.
Weathering the conditions: Double-check the weather conditions before heading out. Weather can be severe and change quickly, so it’s extremely important to know the latest weather and traffic conditions, and to leave yourself plenty of time to arrive safely.
Get road-ready: Ensure your vehicle is prepared for the winter. Investing in winter tires is a good place to start. Top-up windshield fluids and antifreeze, ensure you have enough gas for every journey, and update your car’s emergency kit. Clear snow and ice from the windshield and mirrors, as well as from the top of the car and from wheel-wells to increase safety for other drivers.
Buckle up: Always wear your seatbelt, and make sure all of your passengers do too. While this may seem obvious as it's the law, it’s also the most important safety consideration no matter the road conditions.
Eyes on the road: Drive slowly and be aware of other motorists and road hazards. Winter roadways can feature big snow-removal vehicles and sand/salt-trucks, as well as distracted drivers and crosswalks full of pedestrians with arm-loads of gifts! Take the necessary precautions and make sure you’re always in control of your vehicle.
Arrive alive: The holidays are all about good times with family and friends. Don’t drink and drive.
Icy roads, limited visibility, Top 40 Radio…lots of things can impact your time on the road this winter. If you are involved in a fender-bender this season, remember to contact local police immediately if your collision involves:
View original article from TD Insurance.
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Jason Woo
The Silhouette
I know it sucks being the one that doesn’t belong. You’re neither a car nor a pedestrian. Heck, you ain’t even a motorcycle. You exist in the gray area of transportation, but that doesn’t mean the rules you have to follow are ambiguous.
As a pedestrian, I often feel the right to walk whenever I please. I don’t mean jaywalking (although cutting across any space diagonally does feel both efficient and respectful to Pythagoras), but rather strolling through crosswalks and parking lots without looking, or worse, walking while ‘knowing’ the car approaching will stop for me. It’s an intuition our generation has been graced with.
And yet, as a driver, I don’t hesitate to unleash my rage upon pedestrians. Why do you think I should stop for you? Why do you insist on walking blindly and slowly whenever you please? Who do you think you are? (Me?)
As an amateur cyclist, I embody the worst attributes and contradictions of both classes; I act like a pedestrian with cars, and a car with pedestrians. It’s really quite an expletive-filled experience. One minute I am genuinely upset and unnerved because a car didn’t stop for me. The next, some truly outrageous obscenities I wasn’t even aware I knew burst through my lips when I had to stop for a pedestrian.
So trust me when I say this, my dear amateur cyclist: I understand you. However, it’s time to face the facts. You are a vehicle, not a pedestrian. So don’t expect people to stop for you at an intersection. Don’t ride through a crowd on the sidewalk while silently cursing over their snail pace, even if they really are walking at the speed of senior citizens.
Don’t have a conversation with your friend while biking. You’re not good at riding in a straight line normally, so why do you think it’ll get any better when you’re laughing at your friend’s joke? (Although, I must applaud your optimism.)
Learn to signal. Most drivers are not telepaths. Now this may be surprising, a lack of telepathy skills means they do not know which way you are going to turn.
Today I’m writing to you as both a pedestrian and a driver, on behalf of all amateur cyclists. Relish in the fact that the next time I ride my bike I still won’t know the signals. I’ll still ride on the sidewalks occasionally because, truth be told, cars scare me. And I still might end up scaring even myself with the obscenities that I come up with when plowing through the snail-paced folk.
But at the end of the day, I like to think of this messy transition onto the road, into the gray area of transportation, as a rite of passage. I may stumble with the rules, but I have the best of intentions to follow them one day. So, fellow amateur cyclists, please just try to do the same. For me?
One of you,
Not-the-next-Lance-Armstrong (with or without doping)
