Cyclists continue protest as bike lane removal work underway in Etobicoke

Cycling advocates continued their protest of the removal of bike lanes on Bloor Street West in Etobicoke for a third day on Thursday, with many arriving as early as 6 a.m. As sparks flew while work crews cut into rebar to dismantle a cycling platform near a bus stop on Islington Avenue, a contingent of peaceful protesters were seen gathered on the platform in front of them, with police officers separating the two. Aly Van Wyck-Smart – a two-time Canadian paralympic swimmer, born with cerebral palsy – joined the demonstration, protesting in her wheelchair with a sign saying, “This is why we can’t get decent healthcare.” She told CityNews she feels the removal of bike lanes is both dangerous and a waste of money.

“I can’t get medication covered but the Ontario government can spend upwards of $45 million to do something that is dangerous and unnecessary… this is a waste of money and people will die,” she said. A police officer on scene was heard speaking to protesters, warning that if they impede or prevent the work from continuing, they will be arrested for mischief. Van Wyck-Smart said she is fully aware of the risks.

“I do not care – I just know how bad it will look for them if I get arrested,” she said. Another protester said they were there to show their opposition and “make it a little less comfortable for them to rip out the bike lanes,” while a third said people don’t quite understand that without bike lanes, cyclists have to risk their lives riding in traffic with other vehicles. “It’s ridiculous… I’m 61, I don’t want to be in a roadway with cars behind me.

I want a safe bike lane,” she said. Around 10 a.m., as protesters refused to move off the platform being worked on, crews were only able to dismantle a portion of it and moved on to another section of bike lanes, leaving the area temporarily cordoned off with pylons. Related: 2 arrests made at protest to stop Etobicoke bike lane removal The protests began Tuesday night when hundreds of protesters gathered in the area of Bloor Street West and Islington Avenue and managed to turn back work trucks that arrived to begin removing the cycling infrastructure as per the Ford government’s mandate.

At the time Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said on X that the work was only “halted by protesters,” vowing that it will go ahead. “Make no mistake: these bike lanes are coming out.