---
title: "Ontario finishes removing bike lanes on Bloor Street West in Etobicoke"
description: "The province says it has finished removing 1.2 kilometres of protected cycling infrastructure between Clissold Road and Royal York Road, the first completed bike lane removal under the Ford government's program."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/on/toronto-2026/news/bloor-west-bike-lane-removal-complete-october-30"
last_updated: "2026-10-30T13:48:44.683Z"
---

The Ontario government said Friday it has finished removing protected bike lanes on a 1.2-kilometre stretch of Bloor Street West in Etobicoke, between Clissold Road and Royal York Road. CityNews Toronto reported the news, citing a provincial release issued the same day.

The province says crews removed precast curbs, delineators, signage and bus pads before completing pavement repairs, resurfacing, new road markings and updated traffic signage. Motor vehicle lanes have been reinstated in both directions along the corridor.

Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said the project delivers on a commitment to restore road capacity. "We've been clear that bike lanes belong where they make sense, not where they make congestion worse," Sarkaria said in a statement. "Today, we're delivering on our commitment to restore road capacity on Bloor Street West."

This is the first bike lane removal the Ford government has completed in Toronto.

## Legal and political fight

The removal followed a court battle. In August, the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled unanimously that decisions about the design of public roads are matters of public policy within the authority of the provincial legislature, clearing the way for the province to proceed.

Mayor Olivia Chow had called the bike lane removals "outrageous" when the province announced work on this stretch earlier in October. She argued the province had not demonstrated the changes would reduce congestion. Cycling advocates staged protests as crews began work on October 14, and police made arrests during demonstrations at the site. Advocates later installed a memorial bicycle sculpture along the corridor, citing concerns about cyclist safety.

## What comes next

CityNews Toronto reported that the province issued a request for proposals in September for design options on several other major roads, including sections of Bloor Street, Yonge Street, University Avenue, Queen's Park, Queen's Park Crescent and Avenue Road. That study will also examine where bike lanes can be kept or changed without increasing congestion, the province said.

Cyclists who used the Bloor Street West protected lanes between Clissold Road and Royal York Road now share motor vehicle lanes on that stretch. Residents can follow decisions by the City of Toronto and Mayor Chow at the [Toronto 2026 news page](/on/toronto-2026/news) and track the mayor's commitments at [Olivia Chow's page on voche.me](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/olivia-chow).

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](/on/toronto-2026/sitemap.md) for all pages.