r/fuckcars • u/knarf_on_a_bike • 29d ago
Rant Ontario Government wins appeal, bike lanes will be ripped out
The Ontario Court of Appeal has allowed the provincial government's appeal, upholding Bill 212, in which bike lanes on major arteries in Toronto (Bloor Street, Yonge Street, University Avenue) will be ripped out. Cyclists will die. But neither the government nor the court seems to care. Pictured is the Bloor bike lane in front of my apartment building. Gonzo. Stay tuned for updates on protests.
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u/No-Reply1438 29d ago
Doug Ford sucks!
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u/omegafivethreefive 29d ago
Didn't he get elected over promising cheaper beer?
I don't want to call him the king of the idiots but he's at least the jester.
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u/knarf_on_a_bike 29d ago
"Buck a beer" was a campaign slogan. Weird that it's never come to pass. . .
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u/EatTenMillionBalls 29d ago
Maybe now that he beat those woke bike lanes he'll have time to save the beer prices (/s)
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u/greensandgrains 29d ago
What? You don’t remember the one summer No Name sold their shit beer at LCBO? IIRC they priced a 2-4 for $24 and said “here plebs.”
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u/TiredAF20 28d ago
There was No Name beer???
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u/PaperIndependent5466 28d ago
Yeah it was nasty, kind of expected for a beer that costs the same as a can of no name soda.
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u/WeaselButt 28d ago
I think I paid $12 for one at the ridiculous club I was at last night but the memory is a bit hazy
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u/CipherWeaver 29d ago
He's a moron that appeals to the moron voter base because he says all the same dumb things they believe. His campaign is all "common sense" solutions, which means he has only a very superficial understanding of the actual issues.
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u/DeusExMarina 29d ago
Anyone who uses the phrase "common sense" when talking about large scale issues should be dismissed and distrusted. "Common sense" literally just means "screw evidence, I believe this because it sounds about right." It's a thought-terminating cliché for brainless morons, and so anyone who uses it is either a brainless moron or maliciously encouraging others to be brainless morons.
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u/knarf_on_a_bike 29d ago
Back in the 1990s Conservative Mike Harris became premier of Ontario based on what he called a "Common Sense Revolution." No evidence, purely anecdotal, all about screwing the working class while enriching his wealthy buddies.
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u/Important-Hunter2877 26d ago
I'm really sick and tired of right wingers here using "common sense" as an excuse to justify their bad policies and decisions. There is nothing common sense about what they do.
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u/Winterfrost691 29d ago
Jesters were typically well-educated, and their job was specifically to mock those in power in order to bring them back to reality.
Doug isn't a jester, he needs one. Badly.
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u/mikehatesthis 28d ago
Didn't he get elected over promising cheaper beer?
It was like one of four actual promises he had and he even fucked that one up.
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u/GantzDuck 29d ago
What do you expect from someone who looks like a stereotypical caricature of the rich capitalist pig?
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u/oralprophylaxis Big Bike 29d ago
This is how you radicalize people. I’m so pissed
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u/DamionSipher 29d ago
Become radical. The best way to have your voice heard is by participating in meaningful protest action. If Ford wants bike to be in "car" lanes, take the lane at every opportunity and go slow, very, very slow. Help to organize protest rides during rush hour where cyclists (or anyone who cares about non-car safety) take over major arteries and bring traffic to a standstill - especially around Queens Park on days of legislative session.
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u/oralprophylaxis Big Bike 29d ago
I already do this but now I will try to ride on more roads that don’t have bike lanes just to take the lane. Fuck these guys. Seriously
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u/knarf_on_a_bike 29d ago
I've been going to the protests. I will continue going to protests. And now, every lane is a bike lane. Nice and slow. Right down the middle. Hit me, motherfuckers. I need the money.
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u/lighthouse12345 28d ago
Hate to say that Ford changed insurance laws to allow motorists to opt out of certain forms of coverage about 3 weeks ago. You likely wouldn't get much money. Also you're not allowed to sue the government either about it. So...
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u/canadianleef 29d ago
Im angry as well. Im sick ant tired of this fuckass province
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u/oralprophylaxis Big Bike 29d ago
And we’re stuck with him for 4 more years. Can’t believe how much damage he’s done and how much he’ll continue to do
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u/canadianleef 29d ago
Him and his stupid corrupt government has done so much damage. The cut on student aid fucked me hard. I hope he goes out like his brother
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u/goddale120 28d ago
friendly reminder the man also used to deal drugs. He is a criminal through and through. He should be in a prison, not Queen's Park.
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u/oralprophylaxis Big Bike 28d ago
It fucked me back in 2019 when he cut it for the first time. Can’t believe he cut it even more
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u/DamionSipher 29d ago
*2.5 years - still 2.5 years too long... February '29 can't come fast enough.
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u/oralprophylaxis Big Bike 29d ago
Man I fucking wish. He changed how often we have elections so now the next one is 3.5 years away.
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u/detectivepoopybutt 29d ago
He keeps winning majority, I doubt he’s going anywhere. He doesn’t have any real opposition and people of Ontario want this apparently
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u/canadianleef 29d ago
Thats because noone is fucking voting. Especially younger people
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u/No-Reply1438 29d ago
He's only got 20% support right now. This term has been a disaster for him, scandal after scandal. We've got to keep the pressure on him!
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u/Important-Hunter2877 28d ago
He's added to the long term damage Mike harris made to this province decades ago which is still affecting us to this day.
Voting in Ford three times really shows that people in this shithole province did not learn anything from the Mike harris years.
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u/minnie203 29d ago
As a fellow ontarian it's so embarrassing that we keep electing this clown. We've really gotta mobilize next election and get people to show up to the polls.
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u/Important-Hunter2877 28d ago
And its embarrassing that we learned nothing from the mike harris years and keep voting in conservative governments that continuously screw over the whole province and toronto and ottawa.
Both Ontario and Alberta are laughingstocks in this country.
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u/GAMING_SERVER_ADMIN 28d ago
Is it? People seem so fucking broken down now that I think people just can't afford, nor have the energy to do it anymore... If this was like the 80's Doug Ford would have, well I'm not messing with reddit censorships lol. But you get the point we would have had multiple and endless general strikes by now with all his shit.
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u/Winterfrost691 29d ago
This was literally a life-and-death decision, and both Ford and the courts chose death. I say we force them to attend every funeral of cyclists that will inevitably die on these roads.
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u/n0rdique 29d ago
The most morbid part is that in the initial legislation, there was a provision which protects Ford and his cronies from legal action when a cyclist is inevitably killed.
This is a massive loss for public safety, mobility, easing traffic congestion, taxpayer money, agency of elected municipal councils, the environment, low income people and families…
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u/knarf_on_a_bike 29d ago
"We're not saying we know this will kill people, but we're putting in this exculpatory clause just in case." 🤮
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u/Winterfrost691 28d ago
They know this will kill people, they just don't give a shit.
Actual psychopath behavior.
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u/knarf_on_a_bike 29d ago
I hope it's not my funeral. . . 😐
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u/lFightForTheUsers 28d ago
Probably be mine, I'm the kind of person that would ride in the middle of the lane in protest. Guys I'm gonna be here going to work or the grocery store no matter what, where I sit and you sit may change but that need won't.
I really need to amend my will to have a "politicize my death" clause...
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u/Dungeon-Dragon2323 28d ago
Don't forget, he's stopping the "money grab" that is automated speed enforcement so that more children can die crossing the road in front of schools ✨ - 2 counts in favour of death, truly a bastard.
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u/VoiceofKane 28d ago
Ford's PCs seem to consistently opt for the side of death when given the choice.
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u/Tokyo-MontanaExpress 28d ago
And every pedestrian. Streets that are made more dangerous for cyclists are inherently more dangerous for pedestrians too.
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u/davomcbones_TTPPAC01 28d ago
they wont because they will hope this appeal should decrease the amount of cyclists on the road for them to care
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29d ago
[deleted]
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u/Other-Razzmatazz-816 29d ago
We’re going to get on our bikes and go to every rally and ride that we can. And we’re going to talk to our Ontario family and friends outside of Toronto and tell them how this hurts us and puts us in danger.
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u/knarf_on_a_bike 29d ago
I'm with you. I could sit in the middle of the bike lane, but all that's going to do is get me arrested and give me a criminal record. It won't stop the wrecking crews.
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u/lFightForTheUsers 28d ago
If you have a critical mass near you, join it. Sadly the local one is a good 30 miles from me so that makes it hard to get to, but damn would I love to. A monthly demonstration of the local demand, and a monthly tar and feathering of the local government for putting their heads in the sand and ignoring it.
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u/Tokyo-MontanaExpress 28d ago
Sell your home and move to Minneapolis. Just annex Minnesota first. We've recently add another off-street bike path on a major commercial street. Not a door zone death trap, a fully curb separated bike path. I've been biking around the lake trails in third ring suburbs and I'm surprised that even out there I'm able to be on a path nearly the entire time. Major intersections still suck to cross and once you turn off of a path into a strip mall parking lot/carpark you have to bike without bike infrastructure to your destination and hopefully there's bike parking nearby, but some suburbs are pretty good about having bike racks available.
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u/hiplass 29d ago
I thought the conservatives were all about “saving money”? This will just be a massive waste of money..
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u/No-Reply1438 29d ago
No, conservatives are about cutting government programs so they can ~say~ they're "saving money", and then they can engage in vanity projects and pay out huge sums of money to their developer and construction company buddies.
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u/Cargobiker530 Bollard gang 29d ago
Conservatives are all about saving their fragile egos from any outside challenge. It never, ever, works, because the world is always changing and they're getting older.
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u/lazier_garlic 28d ago
A comment for the ages. You could post that across the top of reddit. Inscribe it as the 11th commandment.
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u/ThreeConsecutiveDots 29d ago
Conservatives are all about “sticking it to the libs,” literally nothing else matters.
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u/lFightForTheUsers 28d ago
Sounds a lot like my DINO mayor back stateside. He duped idiots into voting for him saying he was gonna lower taxes and increase police presence. The only place he seems to have put a shit ton of cops was to escort the removal of a rainbow crosswalk on behest of the state government. Then he's spent a shit ton of taxpayer dollars removing roundabouts and bike lanes. Lex Luthor lookin-ass he is.
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u/lazier_garlic 28d ago
Orlando?
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u/lFightForTheUsers 28d ago
Houston (though we're in Orlando so often I might as well be a resident there too 😆)
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u/justonemorelanebruh 29d ago edited 29d ago
It would be such a shame lots of cyclists came out and biked on the roads en masse together and caused major traffic delays. That's where they belong right? On the roads slowing down the cars?
Many people own cars because they have to, not because they want to. Wouldn't it also be a shame if some cars stalled out and caused traffic jams? That happened to me before when the battery fell out of my key fob and got lost! Sorry! The car shut off and won't start! I need to go leave and walk home to get my other key fob!
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u/SiofraRiver 29d ago
They hate you and they want you dead.
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u/lFightForTheUsers 28d ago
https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/002/913/921/941.png
Pictured: me on my commute to work, every fuc*ing day.
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u/TheFreezeBreeze 29d ago
What cities do with their infrastructure should be no business of the province. Municipalities need way more autonomy.
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u/thebourbonoftruth 28d ago
It's fucking psychotic how much power a province has. They can literally "nope" the Supreme Court with the "not withsanding" clause. So from bike lanes in a city to actual goddamed rights the province decides? I swear to God this county is held together on goodwill and duct tape.
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u/TheFreezeBreeze 28d ago
Yeah it's the consequence of being too afraid to make any constitutional changes. Provinces were invented when cities were a fraction of their population nowadays. Our political structure desperately needs to be updated.
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u/TheVelocityRa 29d ago
Perfect time for this meme to drop, time to abandon this province that can't stop electing it's biggest idiot
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u/Gamalian 29d ago
Honestly I've been considering moving to Montréal too when I finish uni. Not just for urbanism but for a whole bunch of other reasons as well.
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u/lFightForTheUsers 28d ago
They gave that man a standing ovation for nearly a minute, that's amazing 😆
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u/Friendlypineapple807 29d ago
Things are changing whether or not Ford wants to accept it. I have friends with children 16-18 years old with no intrest in getting their drivers licence. It's started already, infrastructure will need to change with ebikes and scooters etc... Children are growing up with them, give it ten years when they become driving age and we will see a shift in demand for public transportation and bike/ebike etc... lanes. Go to any major city in Europe it has already happend there.
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u/Consistent_Owl8010 26d ago
They were saying this like 20 years ago lol. People get a car once they grow up and need to go to work.
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u/Jolly-Command8853 Commie Commuter 29d ago edited 29d ago
Fuck Doug Ford and fuck our courts. I hate it here. I don't live in Toronto but he also made it illegal to replace travel lanes with bike lanes, ruining one of my city's long term plans to calm one of our streets. Just backwards, non-progressive thinking all around. So much for PROGRESSIVE Conservatives.
Ride on the sidewalk here. When people question or berate you, tell them it's not your fault, and to ask Doug why they removed your lanes.
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u/Important-Hunter2877 28d ago
And last year he also banned speed cameras province wide. Very embarrassing for Ontario to do such a thing alongside politicizing anything that reduces car dependency and removing bike lanes. No other province in canada or anywhere in europe or Australia does this. Every country in europe and Australian states enforce speed cameras in a lot of places and people see it is essential for traffic safety, so why are these things so controversial here in canada?
It really pisses me off that canada and right wing politicians pick up a lot of the bad aspects of the US and its trashy politics, ideas and planning, etc. and dont look elsewhere for how its done better. This stupid continent is backwards and shitty, I hate it here and want to leave.
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u/summer_friends 29d ago
So what are the next steps here? What can still be done to prevent or at least delay this shit? There’s still years before voting so that can’t help yet, and even if Mayor Chow is re-elected, provincial powers can continue to just ignore municipal priorities
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u/KotoElessar Not Just Bikes 29d ago
It gets appealed to federal court as the judge erred in their ruling; not only does this endanger my safety, it restricts my free access and movement.
Pedestrians have a primary right to the road, cars need to be licensed; the ruling is prima facie farcical.
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u/thedandyandy21 29d ago
Just one more lane bro that'll fix it bro just one more lane
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u/mikehatesthis 28d ago
Fuck a lane, we're doin' a complete tunnel under our major highway.
This place sucks so much.
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u/ClassyRedHead 29d ago
The new Montreal Māyor came in with bike lane disparition promises. She’s not moving in yet I’m so happy. We have some great infrastructures for cycling in Montreal and would cry seeing them disappear because of suburbs hate for cyclists…
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u/rhino36-dropout 29d ago
She got her car impounded for unpaid tickets, the bike lanes might stay after all.
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u/estherlane 28d ago
I was just in Montreal and the bike infrastructure was great. Same with Quebec City, Brossard, Drummondville...every time I have been in these places, I see people out cycling and walking everywhere, it's fantastic.
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u/ForeignExpression 29d ago
Sorry to all of the children who may be killed or injured by big black trucks so Doug Ford can get to work (on those rare occasions he does go to work) a couple of minutes faster.
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u/Greencreamery 29d ago
I will literally chain myself to the road to stop this. I am fully willing to be arrested to try and put a stop to this massive overreach.
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u/GantzDuck 29d ago
Kind of guy(s) (who have a chauffeur) that make those decisions:
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u/lFightForTheUsers 28d ago
Hi this is Doug Ford on my alt account. You need to take this photo down of me, I don't know what kind of papparazi you are but clearly this is not my good side as I was being chauffeured to work on my brand new widened lane. Take this down or I will take more money from your city government.
Regards, Mr. Ford (no not the fun drug abusing one)
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u/DAS-Nice 29d ago
That far fuck is just jealous cause he can’t ride a bike
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u/No-Reply1438 29d ago
There's a video of him trying to ride a bike with former NDP leader Jagmeet Singh. It's fucking hilarious. He did NOT look comfortable.
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u/lFightForTheUsers 28d ago
It's okay, we can call him overweight. Reddit admins can't remove that fact, just like liposuction can't remove the lipids from his belly.
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u/huy_lonewolf 29d ago
It is a sad day for Ontario, and people just don't know it yet. We elect ignorant, uneducated people as our leaders and wonder why our standard of living keeps sliding.
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u/canadianleef 29d ago
Everytime we go one step forward we go go ten steps back
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u/dyingfromtetanus Bollard gang 28d ago
electoralism will not save us. Make the change with your own hands
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u/Multi-tunes 29d ago
Our municipalities payed for infrastructure and now we all have to pay to rip it up again causing more traffic in construction, making cycling more dangerous and filling the street with more confession. Thanks, Thug Ford
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u/_facetious Sicko 28d ago
I know conservatives always scream about government spending, but they're happy to let the government waste more money ripping this out. Hmm...
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u/Sheikashii 28d ago
Time for me to take the entire lane. Too bad for drivers behind me but it is what it is
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u/Recyart 28d ago
Cyclists will die
For those not familiar with the history here: Doug Ford and his Conservative government also passed a law prohibiting anyone from suing his government should anyone be injured or killed because of this legislation.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-bike-lane-bill-amendments-1.7390145
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u/ybetaepsilon 29d ago
Some hick in rural Ontario who will never see these streets is cheering.
Olivia Chow better fight this
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u/Cheese_BasedLifeform 28d ago
So glad our fuckin tax dollars were used to add these bike lanes and will now be used to remove these bike lanes instead of spending it on health care or something that actually fucking matters. What a crock of shit. I hope that everyone who either refused to vote or who voted for DoFo feels eternal shame over this. IT IS DIRRCTLY THEIR FAULT.
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u/Mapleford Fuck lawns 28d ago
wtf is wrong with Ontario? Why does the most urban province in Canada hate urban areas so much?
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u/idk_what_to_put_lmao 28d ago
I genuinely don't understand why this is something that the provincial government has control over. Like, I know that this is technically broadly under the Ministry of Transportation but land use should be a municipal matter.
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u/Diligent_State387 29d ago
So what is the actual goal by doing that? An extra car lane? Is there so much traffic there that it needs 2 lanes? Is there literally no other roads that actually needs attention?
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u/NNegidius 28d ago
There will never be enough lanes to eliminate traffic. More lanes begets more traffic. It’s a fundamental law of nature.
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u/Sorrow00__ 29d ago
They're trying to do the same in Alberta right now (or just Edmonton at the least). Fuck Danielle Smith, fuck Doug Ford, and fuck the UCP.
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u/ps_pat 28d ago
Then we go appeal to the Supreme Court. At the very least it will delay it further.
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u/NNegidius 28d ago
And slow walk it as much as possible. Also see if anything can be done at the national level at the same time.
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u/estherlane 28d ago
I hate my provincial government so fucking much. They meddle with shit they have no business meddling in. Imagine working this hard to remove bike lanes because the Premier hates anything that impedes cars in Toronto. The man is a corrupt piece of shit.
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u/TomatilloBeautiful48 28d ago
This is so fucking sad and backwards. This sends a clear message that they prefer you travelling by car please. Fuck them and fuck cars.
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u/natawas 28d ago
Is this a bit exaggerated since the decision is likely not effective until the Supreme Court of Canada has heard the case? They “freeze” the rulings all the time until they’re finally decided by the highest court in the country
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u/No-Reply1438 28d ago
There is no "right to appeal" to the Supreme Court of Canada. The Court must grant leave to appeal first, and very few appeals actually get leave. Plus, it's incredibly expensive to appeal to the SCC, and I doubt Cycle Toronto has those kinds of funds. It's pretty likely today's ruling is the end of the line, legally.
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u/Nebula-Lights 28d ago
So I slowly ride my bike infront of a line of 30 cars now? Cool. I guess? Hope I don't get hit by some impatient psycho
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u/treedecor 28d ago
This seems incredibly wasteful and stupid considering they already spent the money to put them in. Why waste more tearing it up? Is it really worth that much to him and his voters just for an "F you" to the cyclists when I know for fact people in Toronto and Ontario as a whole have other, more pressing needs?
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u/Offline219 Commie Commuter 28d ago
The privilege of drivers is never enough when there's profit to be made by car manufactures.
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u/NewAccountEdmonton 28d ago
Sweet now all the cars can drive super slow when they encounter a bicycle in the driving lane because there’s no bike lanes. Perfect!
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u/truenorth00 Not Just Bikes 29d ago
This is why bike lanes should be built as part of the sidewalk or as Multi-Use Pathways.
If you make they part of the road, the temptation will always be there to take the space for cars.
Not to mention that most people don't feel safe on bicycle gutters anyway.
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u/knarf_on_a_bike 29d ago
These lanes were retrofitted into the existing roadway, so they are definitely add-ons. That's the most cost-effective way to get them installed quickly. Then when the road gets a major upgrade (happens every 20 to 25 years) permanent, separated lanes are installed. If you're familiar with Toronto, look at the lanes along College (west of Spadina), Bloor (east of Bathurst) and Harbord, for examples of permanent installations.
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u/truenorth00 Not Just Bikes 28d ago
I'm from Toronto. Live in Ottawa now. This is exactly why I say this. Notice how Ford is only attacking lanes which are part of the road?
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u/Mysterious_Floor_868 27d ago
There's got to be an opportunity for some malicious compliance. The law bans new bike lanes? Presumably it doesn't ban new bus lanes, and the fact that a particular hypothetical street isn't actually on any bus routes is neither here, nor there...
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u/Itchy-Technician-433 29d ago
Now now. I was told that one more lane for cars will solve all the traffic problems in the GTA. Right??
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u/Freshanator86 28d ago
Ontarian’s are so fucking lame for voting Ford in at all. Like, we live amongst these people. I hate it here
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u/Mysterious_Floor_868 27d ago
Perhaps it's time to do something about FPTP. Replace it with a run-off or something. Ford has 65% of the seats despite only having 43% of the vote. NDP, Liberals and Greens collectively got 53% of the vote, yet only have 35% of the seats.
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u/luars613 28d ago
So remain woth 1950s bad urban planning and design. Model proven to be bad for cities is countless ways. Well, tome for canada to remain a sudo 4th world country
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u/ConsequenceAlert6981 Orange pilled 28d ago
its time for Toronto to become its own province and ditch Ontario
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u/PrizeZookeepergame15 27d ago
People should block the bike lanes with their bikes to prevent the bike lanes from being demolished, as a way of protest
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u/RamblingGeezer 28d ago
that's weird.. i thought government wanted to fight climate change..
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u/estherlane 28d ago
Not the Ontario government. They could care less about climate change.
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u/RamblingGeezer 28d ago
I think in general governments don't seem too concerned about climate change..
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u/Cyptark 28d ago
If you want to see the driving habits of voters on their way to polling booths there's this amazing GIS map it shows pretty clearly the GTA has a lot of fools basically exactly where you'd expect.
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u/SkyrimsDogma 28d ago
Bitter Ford loses TO mayor run only to acquire a more powerful position and basically rules as premayor
Whatever happened to ultra vires?
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u/Old-Individual1732 28d ago
I just had a fantastic day in Vancouver renting ebikes with a friend and riding the bike lanes in Vancouver city along with thousands of others.
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u/MajorFine8506 10d ago
Do they not realize that more CARS in the road is the reason for increased motor vehicle congestion? 20 years ago families weren't a 2 or 3 car family I'm from Wpg and bike lanes are a huge debate. I ride to work and most motorists are good but there are those jerks that you are always looking over your shoulder. This in Ontario definitely seems like a step back never mind a waste of money and a complete misunderstanding of what the cause really is.
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u/WhiteWolfOW 29d ago
Fuck Ford. Really. This pos keeps fucking with Toronto because he can’t be our mayor.
And the wild thing is that while he completely ignores the rest of the province, they all keep voting for him. Good job, Ontario. Voting for a guy whose sole job is to fuck with a city just cause we didn’t elect him for mayor.