Cyclists ride through downtown Guelph to protest seasonal bike lane closures

Cycling advocates braved the cold Monday night to protest a bylaw that would close bike lanes for five months of the year. CTV's Alexandra Holyk reports.

Dozens of cyclists braved the bitter cold Monday night to ride through downtown Guelph in protest of proposed bike lane closures and a lack of winter maintenance.

Around 50 cyclists and supporters gathered outside the Old Quebec Street Shoppes, before the rubber hit the road all the way to Gordon Street and College Avenue.

“Tonight is a response to the City of Guelph’s decision – in a 6-7 vote, very close – to shut down winter maintenance on bike lanes,” said David Shellnutt, a cyclist advocate and founder of The Biking Lawyer.

Earlier this month, Guelph city council voted against adding on-street bike lane snow removal to the 2026 operating budget. The inclusion would see an additional $650,000 in maintenance costs.

On Tuesday, Guelph city council is expected to vote on a bylaw that would shut down bike lanes every year from Nov. 15 to April 15. If passed, the rule would take effect immediately, closing all bike lanes across the city until April 2026.

“I hope it doesn’t pass,” Ward 1 Coun. Erin Caton said. “It’s our goal to ensure that it doesn’t.”

If the bylaw passes, riders believe it will make it difficult for them to get around.

“It’s been pretty vital just for myself, for mobility,” Andrea Bidgood, Guelph’s Bicycle Mayor said.

“Right now, my back is killing me, and I can’t really walk at all, so that takes out transit as an option for me,” she continued. “But I can cycle absolutely no problem.”

Caton said she believes bike lane access is an accessibility issue.

“I think everybody has the right to move around the city however is best affordable to them, that is comfortable to them,” she said. “And bike lanes are a big part of that.”

Others said cycling isn’t a seasonal activity and that an annual shutdown could put riders at greater risk.

“Especially with the snow that we got this week, that’s very evident,” said James Fedosov, co-owner of Speed River Bicycle in downtown Guelph. “The road got narrower for everybody and it got more unsafe for everybody.”

Advocates also pointed out the concern isn’t strictly about cyclists.

“How not clearing bike lanes affects drainage issues and bus stops,” Shellnutt said. “There’s a whole grove of problems here and Guelph city council’s about to step in it.”

CTV News reached out to Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie who said he wasn’t available for comment Monday evening.

Council is expected to meet Tuesday morning to discuss the motion.