Cities & Infrastructure Roundup
This week's infrastructure news is dominated by the escalating conflict over bike lane removals in Toronto, where Ontario Premier Doug Ford's provincial government has begun physically stripping lanes from major streets despite protests, legal challenges, and significant public debate. Meanwhile, Paris is moving in the opposite direction with a major cycling investment commitment, and Britain registers a notable cultural shift as cycling ranks as the country's second most in-demand adventure activity. London's City Police also drew attention with an unusual but apparently effective compliance initiative targeting red-light violations.
- Toronto's province-mandated bike lane removals began on Bloor Street, triggering street protests and at least one arrest.
- Cycling advocates escalated the fight, petitioning Canada's Supreme Court to review the legality of the Ford government's removal legislation.
- A poll found nearly two-thirds of Torontonians support removing lanes from major streets — complicating the advocacy narrative.
- Paris committed €200 million to expand its cycling network ahead of a 2032 target, bucking the North American rollback trend.
- Cycling has become the second most in-demand adventure activity in Britain, signalling growing consumer interest for the trade.
- London's City Police launched a 'Sin Bin' video programme for red-light-jumping cyclists, reportedly changing rider behaviour.
Sources
- Cycling is now 2nd most in-demand adventure activity in Britain · Cycling Industry News
- Protesters gather to prevent Etobicoke bike lane removal as province moves to start construction - CityNews Toronto · Google News · Cycling Infrastructure (EU/EN)
- Chow has ‘no plan’ to improve bike lanes, Bradford says he wants to ‘expand cycling infrastructure’ - CP24 · Google News · Cycling Infrastructure (EU/EN)
- Cyclists attempt to block Toronto bike lane removals for second day, one arrested - Toronto Star · Google News · Cycling Infrastructure (EU/EN)
- Nearly two-thirds of Torontonians support bike lane removals on major streets by the province: poll - CityNews Toronto · Google News · Cycling Infrastructure (EU/EN)
- Paris investiert 200 Millionen Euro in Radwege bis 2032 - FAZ · Google News · Fahrrad Infrastruktur (DE)
- 9 stupid bike lane comments, debunked - Canadian Cycling Magazine · Google News · Cycling Infrastructure (EU/EN)
- Cycling protest blocks Toronto bike lane removal work along Bloor Street stretch - constructconnect.com · Google News · Cycling Infrastructure (EU/EN)
- “What’s the point?” Work set to begin on controversial contraflow bike lane through park as baffled cyclists say they “can’t understand what problem this is solving” - Road.cc · Google News · Cycling Infrastructure (EU/EN)
- Toronto bike lane advocates take fight to Supreme Court - Canadian Cycling Magazine · Google News · Cycling Infrastructure (EU/EN)
- Cycle Toronto on bike lanes removal: ‘If you’re not somebody in Toronto, you should be extra pissed off about this $48 million’ - Canadian Cycling Magazine · Google News · Cycling Infrastructure (EU/EN)
- I watched the video shown to rule-breaking cyclists by the police in London, and I’ll never ride through a red light again · Cycling Weekly
- As Ford begins bike lane removals Mississauga residents ‘angry’ over $27M Bloor Street redesign that failed to address similar concerns - The Pointer · Google News · Cycling Infrastructure (EU/EN)
- Toronto cyclists to gather as Bloor bike lane removals set to begin - Canadian Cycling Magazine · Google News · Cycling Infrastructure (EU/EN)
- Doug Ford’s bike lane removals begin this week despite significant public pushback - Toronto Life · Google News · Cycling Infrastructure (EU/EN)
- Cycling group asks Supreme Court to weigh in on Ford government bike lane removals - The Trillium · Google News · Cycling Infrastructure (EU/EN)
- Als je de verkeersborden niet kent, stap dan niet op de fiets - Dagblad010 · Google News · Fietsinfrastructuur (NL)
- Cyclists attempt to block Toronto bike lane removals for second day, one arrested - constructconnect.com · Google News · Cycling Infrastructure (EU/EN)