Poll finds 62% of Toronto residents support province removing bike lanes
A Canada Pulse Insights survey found 62 per cent of Toronto residents support the Ford government's plan to remove protected bike lanes on major streets, with Olivia Chow and Brad Bradford taking opposite positions on who should control city streets.
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A poll conducted for CityNews found that 62 per cent of Toronto residents support the Ford government turning protected bike lanes back into motor vehicle lanes on major city streets. The survey, by Canada Pulse Insights, covered 510 adult Toronto residents interviewed between September 14 and 24, 2026, and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 4.3 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
The poll was published Tuesday as provincial crews began removing bike lanes on Bloor Street in Etobicoke. That work marks the first phase of the province's plan to remove 19 kilometres of protected bike lanes on Bloor Street, Yonge Street and University Avenue, according to CityNews. Work on the remaining sections is expected to begin in spring 2027.
Both candidates in the Toronto mayoral race have stated positions on the removal. Mayor Olivia Chow made an offer to the province that would have restored vehicle lanes on portions of Bloor Street West while keeping cycling infrastructure in place. The province rejected that offer. Challenger Brad Bradford supported the Etobicoke removal but said decisions about Toronto's streets should be made by the city, not by the provincial government at Queen's Park.
The poll found that support for removal varied by which mayoral candidate people backed. Among Bradford supporters, 77 per cent said they support turning bike lanes back into motor vehicle lanes. Among Chow supporters, responses were split: 50 per cent supported removal and 50 per cent opposed it. Among undecided voters, 63 per cent supported the removal.
Cycling advocates and lawyers involved in an ongoing legal challenge against the province's bike lane legislation announced Tuesday they plan to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. They say the question goes beyond transportation policy and could affect road user safety.
Toronto voters will choose the next mayor and city councillors on October 26, 2026. Candidate information for the mayoral race is at /on/toronto-2026/candidates#mayor.
Questions this story answers
What did the Canada Pulse Insights poll find about Toronto bike lanes?
Canada Pulse Insights surveyed 510 adult Toronto residents between September 14 and 24, 2026, for CityNews. The poll found that 62 per cent of respondents support the province turning protected bike lanes back into motor vehicle lanes on major Toronto streets. The margin of error for the survey is plus or minus 4.3 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
How did supporters of each mayoral candidate respond in the poll?
Among people who support Brad Bradford for mayor, 77 per cent said they support the removal of bike lanes in favour of motor vehicle lanes. Among Olivia Chow supporters, responses were split evenly, with 50 per cent on each side. Among undecided voters, 63 per cent said they support turning the bike lanes on major Toronto streets back into motor vehicle lanes, according to the Canada Pulse Insights survey.
What position has Olivia Chow taken on the bike lane removal?
According to the CityNews report, Mayor Olivia Chow made an offer to the provincial government that would have restored vehicle lanes on portions of Bloor Street West while keeping cycling infrastructure in place. The province rejected that proposal. Chow has described the provincial removal as outrageous, according to earlier CityNews reporting.
What position has Brad Bradford taken on the bike lane removal?
Brad Bradford, the main challenger in the Toronto mayoral race, supported removing the bike lanes on Bloor West in Etobicoke, according to the CityNews report. Bradford also said that decisions about Toronto's streets should be made by the city rather than the provincial government at Queen's Park.
Which streets are having bike lanes removed?
The province's plan covers 19 kilometres of protected bike lanes on Bloor Street, Yonge Street and University Avenue, according to CityNews. Work on the Bloor Street Etobicoke section began in October 2026 as the first phase. Work on the remaining sections is expected to begin in spring 2027.
What legal challenge is underway about the bike lane removal?
According to CityNews, cycling advocates and lawyers involved in an ongoing legal challenge against the province's bike lane legislation announced they plan to take their appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. They say the issue goes beyond transportation policy and could affect road user safety.
How does this poll matter for Toronto voters?
Bike lane policy is a visible issue in the mayoral race. Olivia Chow and Brad Bradford have taken different positions on who should decide Toronto's street design and how to balance cycling infrastructure with motor vehicle lanes. Voters go to the polls on October 26, 2026.
Where can I find information about voting in the Toronto election?
Toronto's municipal election takes place on October 26, 2026. You can find candidate information at the Toronto election candidate pages at /on/toronto-2026/candidates#mayor. The City of Toronto has information about voting locations and how to cast your ballot.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- CityNews Toronto: Nearly two-thirds of Torontonians support bike lane removalstoronto.citynews.ca
- CityNews Toronto: Chow and Bradford on Bloor West bike lanes (October 8)toronto.citynews.ca
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