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Cycle Toronto @cycletoronto.bsky.social · 1h

Over 400 people have already added their voice. Have your say:

www.cycleto.ca/move_forward...

Move Forward with Sheppard

www.cycleto.ca

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Cycle Toronto @cycletoronto.bsky.social · 1h

Our submission opposing any delays implementing the Sheppard Complete Street. We cannot let fear or uncertainty of provincial bullying block our progress. Not moving forward with the Cycling Network Plan by the City effectively hand Council's own power to the Premier and undermine its authority.

Dear Councillor Carroll, Mayor Chow, and members of City Council,

Re: MM33.5 - Protecting Public Investment & Advancing Interim Solutions Along Sheppard Avenue East

We are writing to express our strong support for completing the Sheppard Avenue East Complete Street project as originally approved by City Council in June 2023. We urge you to reject MM33.5.

There is currently nothing in the Province’s Bill 212, Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, 2024 that blocks the City from moving forward with the Sheppard Avenue East Compete Street or any cycling infrastructure project, even those involving lane reconfigurations (though the majority of this project would not). Toronto is not a “prescribed municipality”, and to date no regulations have been issued requiring Ministerial approval:

(3) Subsection (1) does not apply to a municipality in respect of a bicycle lane if, on the day the municipality is prescribed for the purposes of subsection (1), a contract has already been awarded or entered into for the construction, installation or marking of the bicycle lane or, if the construction, installation or marking of the bicycle lane is to be done by the municipality and not by any party under contract, such work has already commenced.

Cycle Toronto’s recent legal win challenging the constitutionality of the Province’s attempt to remove and reconfigure the bike lanes on Bloor, Yonge, and University makes clear that the underlying legislation is arbitrary and reckless.

Bundling these improvements on Sheppard with planned road work is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for North York. We cannot let fear or uncertainty of provincial bullying block our progress. Any delays to the approved Cycling Network Plan by the City effectively hand your power to the Premier and undermine your authority.

Michael Longfield
Executive Director

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Reposted by Cycle Toronto

Lanrick Bennett @lanrickbennett.bsky.social · 2h

#FYI

"According to an online obituary, Alexandra Amaro, 23, was fatally struck by two vehicles outside Dufferin Mall on Dec. 2. She is being remembered as a kind and intelligent young woman who was studying to be a journalist."

h/t @cycletoronto.bsky.social

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

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Reposted by Cycle Toronto

Diana Chan McNally @dianacmcnally.bsky.social · 20h

A reminder that Ford has repeatedly used or threatened to use the Notwithstanding Clause to undermine democracy by:

- Limiting third party election advertising
- Slashing Toronto City Council mid-election
- Undermining education workers' labour rights
- Evicting encampments
- Removing bike lanes

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Cycle Toronto @cycletoronto.bsky.social · 18h

A new motion risks delaying or even shelving the Sheppard Ave E Complete Street indefinitely. Nothing in Bill 212 blocks the City from proceeding with the project. Tell the City we need leadership that stands firm, and not let fear of bullying block our progress.

www.cycleto.ca/move_forward...

Move Forward with Sheppard

www.cycleto.ca

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Cycle Toronto @cycletoronto.bsky.social · 1d

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Cycle Toronto @cycletoronto.bsky.social · 2d

Legal or illegal? Think you know the difference?

Last week we deputed at Infrastructure and Environmental Committee (IEC) about the challenges of micromobility enforcement, and urged the city to instead focus its priorities and resources on eliminating deaths and serious injuries caused by drivers.

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Cycle Toronto @cycletoronto.bsky.social · 4d

Bill 212 is arbitrary and reckless, but it does NOT block every new bike lane project in Toronto or anywhere in Ontario. And to date no municipality has been prescribed to require provincial approval, not even Toronto despite the (now unconstitutional) attempts to remove Bloor, Yonge, University.

Minister approval for bicycle lanes required

195.3 (1) In the circumstances described in subsection (2), a prescribed municipality does not have the power to construct, install or mark a bicycle lane on a highway or part of a highway under its jurisdiction and control unless the design for the bicycle lane has been approved by the Minister and, in considering whether to give such approval, the Minister may require information from the municipality including traffic information relating to the design for the bicycle lane and the highway.

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Cycle Toronto @cycletoronto.bsky.social · 4d

ICYMI back in September more than 100 people joined our Rally and Ride for Eglinton demanding the City deliver on its commitment to build bike lanes Eglinton now. Delaying will drive up costs, disrupt traffic twice, and risk provincial interference under Bill 212.

www.cycleto.ca/ride_and_ral...

More than 100 riders in the Eglinton bike lanes.

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Reposted by Cycle Toronto

Friends and Families for Safe Streets @ffsafestreets.bsky.social · 8d

📢DIRECT ACTION ALERT! SHARE WIDELY!
Join us to "circle the strollers" around the speed camera at Bloor and Dundas to protest our Premier's reckless attack on road safety. Tens of thousands of kids will be defenseless against speeding drivers in school zones!!
More info: www.ffsafestreets.ca/events

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Cycle Toronto @cycletoronto.bsky.social · 5d

Rather than heed the advice of his government’s own experts that ripping out protected bike lanes WILL NOT solve traffic congestion, Doug Ford is wasting taxpayer money and playing politics with your fundamental rights and freedoms.

Internal government documents reveal (again) that Doug Ford is misleading Ontarians.
The government’s claim in response to Cycle Toronto’s Bill 212 legal challenge that they only intend to “reconfigure” bike lanes is false.
Design work supported by Canadian engineering firm Stantec identifies sections of the Bloor and Yonge bike lanes for “priority removal“.

Screenshots from the Toronto Star of internal government documents identifying ~ 1 km of bike lanes for "priority removal".

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Cycle Toronto @cycletoronto.bsky.social · Sep 4

This will cost more, snarl traffic twice, keep people unsafe, and risk provincial interference under Bill 212.

Eglinton has waited too long. We need to act now. Tell the City to stick to the plan and build the Eglinton bike lanes now:

www.cycleto.ca/complete_egl...

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Complete Eglinton Now

www.cycleto.ca

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Cycle Toronto @cycletoronto.bsky.social · Sep 4

But the City of Toronto is reversing course and plans to delay the Eglinton Complete Street from Keele to Mount Pleasant until later. That means resurfacing the road now, then ripping it up again to install bike lanes.

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Cycle Toronto @cycletoronto.bsky.social · Sep 4

For communities along Eglinton, there was finally a light at the end of the tunnel. After more than a decade of LRT construction, residents and businesses were looking forward to improved access to safe and protected cycling infrastructure.

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Cycle Toronto @cycletoronto.bsky.social · Aug 28

A year and a half later, the bike lanes have been approved, but there has been almost no progress in building them. What's taking so long?

Sign the petition:
www.cycleto.ca/eglinton

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Cycle Toronto @cycletoronto.bsky.social · Aug 22

The strength of the evidence and the reasoning of the decision gives our incredible lawyers from Ecojustice and Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein LLP confidence as we head to the Court of Appeal for Ontario to defend our win for people in Toronto and across the province.

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Cycle Toronto @cycletoronto.bsky.social · Aug 22

The province has appealed the decision in Cycle Toronto's case against Ontario's anti-bike lane legislation that would remove the lanes on Yonge, University, and Bloor.

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www.cycleto.ca/defending_ou...

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Cycle Toronto @cycletoronto.bsky.social · Aug 18

...It simply requires that before a government takes the extraordinary step of ordering the removal of lanes that have already been built – an action guaranteed to cost some lives and put many more in peril – it ought at least to have some basis in evidence or logic for doing so."

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Cycle Toronto @cycletoronto.bsky.social · Aug 18

Andrew Coyne on the courts making the right decision in "Cycle Toronto v Ontario":

"Nothing in the decision obliges the government to build new bicycle lanes. As such it involves no “positive rights,” which conservatives are right to oppose...

www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...

Opinion: A government can’t kill people for no reason? When will this judicial madness end?!

Conservatives were apoplectic when a court overturned Ontario’s decision to remove bike lanes

www.theglobeandmail.com

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Cycle Toronto @cycletoronto.bsky.social · Aug 14

Cycle Toronto’s Big Toronto Bike Ride presented by McLeish Orlando Lawyers is back for another year!

Join us on a lively all ages and abilities slow roll around town, and connect with other cyclists at the post-ride gathering.

Learn more and register now:
www.cycleto.ca/the_big_toro...

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Reposted by Cycle Toronto

Bike Talk @biketalk.bsky.social · Aug 8

Toronto saves its bike lanes in court! And other positive topics. @cycletoronto.bsky.social @parkingreform.org @roboslerwriter.bsky.social #bikesky soundcloud.com/biketalk/253...

#2531 Making The Case For Bikes

Bike Lawyer Andrew Lewis on defending Cycle Toronto and saving Toronto's most popular bike lanes from the populist, tricky, anti-bike lane administration of Ontario Premier Doug Ford (0:29). Cities l

soundcloud.com

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Cycle Toronto @cycletoronto.bsky.social · Aug 6

Thank you again for your support. This win is yours.

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Cycle Toronto @cycletoronto.bsky.social · Aug 6

Last week’s Victory Rally was unforgettable. Thank you for joining us 🚲

On the evening after a decision was reached in our case against the province’s anti-bike lane legislation, we gathered outside of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to celebrate our win.

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Cycle Toronto @cycletoronto.bsky.social · Jul 31

Join us to celebrate the win tonight:

www.cycleto.ca/victory_ride...

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Cycle Toronto @cycletoronto.bsky.social · Jul 31

We won!

It's great news for Toronto. It's great news for anyone who supports local democracy and local decision-making, and for anyone who rides a bike in the city. This victory is yours.

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