Waterloo’s mayor reacts to ruling striking down Ford’s plan to rip up bike lanes

An Ontario court struck down Premier Doug Ford’s bike lane law. CTV’s Heather Senoran finds out what that will mean for Waterloo Region.

Waterloo’s Mayor, Dorothy McCabe, says she is pleased to see Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice block a plan by the provincial government to rip up bike lanes in Toronto.

In a ruling handed down Wednesday, Justice Paul Schabas found the Ford government’s decision to remove bike lanes installed by the city violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

• Ontario court strikes down Ford government’s plan to tear up Toronto bike lanes

In the Region of Waterloo, there have been plans to get rid of traffic lanes and add more bike lanes. But last year, the plan faced uncertainty once Premier Ford’s bill was introduced.

Mayor McCabe, who is also a regional councillor, said for years the region has had a policy in place that says when regional roads are redeveloped, pedestrian-friendly sidewalks and separated bike lanes will be added.

She said after today’s ruling, there’s no reason to take a different approach. “The province has an important jurisdiction. The federal government has an important jurisdiction. And municipal parties have important jurisdictional responsibilities. And I think we collaborate when we need to, but we know our communities best. And I think the court is reaffirming that. So I’m pleased to see that,” she told CTV News.

McCabe said bike lanes are important and added that Waterloo and other cities in the region are trying to build a community where people can move around and be connected to their employment, services, events and activities in a safe way.

“This is another piece of our transportation system,” McCabe said.