After ten years of riding flat, it’s time to get a provincial cycling strategy in gear: NDP

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Today in the legislature, Davenport MPP Jonah Schein marked the launch of Bike Month by asking the Premier to finally deliver on the government’s promised provincial cycling strategy. 

“Today is the launch of Bike Month, a good day to remember the vast majority of Ontarians think the provincial government should be investing more in bike lanes and cycling infrastructure,” said Schein. “Yet, while Quebec has invested hundreds of millions in a provincial bike network, Ontario’s motto on cycling seems to be ‘go slow.'”

Schein noted that 600,000 people cycle every day in Ontario.

“Why are Ontarians still waiting for a new provincial cycling strategy more than three years after Premier Wynne, as Minister of Transportation, promised it?”

With ten years to make cycling a priority, the Liberal government’s record is marked by frequent back-pedalling. Some of the government’s lowlights include: 

• – removed explicit mention of funding for municipal bike infrastructure from its 2011 draft bike strategy
• – rejected calls to invest a mere 1% of its highway budget into bike lanes.
• – allowed Toronto to remove bike lanes on Jarvis without an provincial environmental assessment
• – opposed simple updates to the Highway Traffic Act to ensure safe streets for all users 

“When will this government finally make Ontario a leader – rather than a laggard – when it comes to cycling?” asked Schein.