Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act
| Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act | |
|---|---|
| Legislative Assembly of Ontario | |
| |
| Citation | S.O. 2024, c. 25 |
| Assented to | November 25, 2024 |
| Legislative history | |
| Bill citation | Bill 212 |
| Introduced by | Prabmeet Sarkaria MPP, Minister of Transportation |
| First reading | October 21, 2024 |
| Second reading | November 7, 2024 |
| Third reading | November 25, 2024 |
| Status: Current legislation | |
The Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, 2024 (French: Loi de 2024 sur le désengorgement du réseau routier et le gain de temps) is an act of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario relating to road transportation infrastructure in Ontario.
Provisions
Highway 413
The legislation expedites the construction of Highway 413.[1] This means that there would not be a full environmental assessment or Indigenous consultation by the time construction started.[2]
Bicycle lanes
The legislation gives the provincial government significant control over municipal bicycle lanes.[3] It requires the municipalities asking the provincial government for permission over approval to implement bicycle lanes if this would remove a lane for other traffic.[3] Three major bicycle lanes in Toronto are removed under the legislation.[3]
The legislation also ensures that no cyclists could sue the provincial government for injuries sustained due to the lack of a bicycle lane.[4] It stipulates the provincial government will not pay costs for initial bike lane implementation.[4]
Reception
The City of Toronto and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario have criticized the legislation as contradicting other legal obligations on municipalities, such as those relating to mobility besides cars.[5]
In late July 2025, a court ruling declared that the province's plan to remove bike lanes from three streets in Toronto was "unconstitutional".[6]
See also
- Bill 24, similar Nova Scotia legislation
References
- ^ Yadav, Anushka (November 3, 2024). "Ford's latest bill fast tracking construction of 413 could be the gateway for 'highways to hell'". The Pointer. Archived from the original on February 7, 2025. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
- ^ Carter, Adam (November 25, 2024). "Ontario passes bill that allows major Toronto bike lanes to be ripped out". CBC News. Archived from the original on November 26, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Why bike lanes should remain on Ontario's roads". The Conversation. March 2, 2025. Archived from the original on March 6, 2025. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
- ^ a b Carter, Adam (November 21, 2024). "Injured cyclists can't sue province under amendment to new Ontario bike lane bill, NDP says". CBC News. Archived from the original on January 24, 2025. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
- ^ McGrath, John Michael (December 11, 2024). "Is there a right to bike lanes? Bill 212's Charter challenge, explained". TVO Today. Archived from the original on January 22, 2025. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
- ^ Alevato, Julie (July 30, 2025). "Ontario court strikes down Ford government's plan to remove Toronto bike lanes". CBC News Toronto. Retrieved August 7, 2025.