Cycling in Waterloo Region

[danbrotherston]

I read it in the posted article. I didn't read the bill.

The bill amended the Highway Traffic Act, and the changes only impact conversion of traffic lanes. Here is the wording:

Code:

195.3 (1) Except as permitted by the regulations, a municipality shall not, by by-law or otherwise, reduce or permit a reduction in the number of marked lanes available for travel by motor vehicles on a highway or a portion of a highway under the municipality’s jurisdiction and control for any of the following purposes:

1. A bicycle lane.
2. Any other prescribed purpose.

Note that only conversions to bicycle lanes are prescribed at this time, but the provincial government could issue regulations at any time forbidding lane reductions for other uses.

https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/s25014#sched5s1

That is such an insane law. “I love cars and you must always maximize space for them, but I especially hate bicycles and although I am already prohibiting taking space from cars for any reason, I will single out bicycles again”

However, if engineers were flexible and activists were smart we would use this as a cudgel against widening roads. “Widening roads is a risk because by law you can never narrow them.”