Cities Start to Backpedal on Bike Lanes: A Growing Crisis for Cyclists

First it was Premier Doug Ford in Ontario, Canada proposing and enacting legislation to rip up millions of dollars in bicycle infrastructure. There are protests ongoing, local politicians and groups lined up to oppose the move, but still it happens. The trend to remove bike lanes is growing, and it is scary, and based in an imaginary world where the only thing that exists is a car and its suburban driver. There are no real congestion issue, no real environmental issues, no climate emergency, no transit funding crisis, nothing.

In San Mateo,  the city’s decision to remove its longest bike lanes to install more parking spots is a clear step backward. This move is touted as a “compromise,” but it’s far from it. Replacing protected lanes with sharrows or bike boulevards, which offer no actual protection from traffic, simply undermines the safety of cyclists.

Now, surprising nobody, U.S. President Donald Trump is weighing in on the issue of bike lanes and congestion taxes in New York City, stating both will come to an end.

“Despite all of this, President Trump wants to bring back traffic. Getting rid of congestion pricing will bring more vehicles back into the zone – trapping New Yorkers in some of the worst traffic in the world,” said Ben Furnas, Executive Director at Transportation Alternatives. “Removing the bike lanes that make streets safer and make it easier for people to get around without a car will only lead to even worse traffic for everyone else, more traffic crashes, dirtier air ,and noisier neighborhoods. New Yorkers deserve to move, not sit trapped in endless gridlock – and New York City can’t let him destroy the most effective street policy the city’s seen in a generation.”

It’s one thing to remove a painted bike lane, which offered little protection anyway. But, to invest the resources to actually remove safe and separated bike lanes that take planning, and millions of dollars of investment, is so non-sensical it’s always comedic if it weren’t so tragic.

Bike lanes have become a culture war where those in favor are seen as “woke” or some other terrible conservative slur. But, most who use bike lanes are just regular people who want to save some money, and get the mental and health benefits to cycling to work.

Urban cyclists, bike commuters, and advocates for safer streets, have all noticed a troubling trend. What was once a symbol of progress toward sustainable transportation and safer roads for all is being reversed in multiple cities across North America.

For residents like Madeleine Bonsma-Fisher, a Toronto cyclist and parent, the threat to current and future bike lanes is personal.

“If this policy is passed, it will become harder and more dangerous to ride a bike. The city won’t be able to move forward on their sustainable mobility plans. I bike to work almost every day using the Danforth and Bloor bike lanes,” she said, for a previous Momentum article. “Before those bike lanes existed, I would never have dreamed I would be making that trip regularly. But most importantly, this policy is a threat to the safety of Ontarians — without safe bike infrastructure, more people will be hurt and killed by cars.”

For those of us who bike every day, they’re a lifeline—connecting us to our destinations safely, encouraging healthier lifestyles, and reducing congestion. Yet, despite these benefits, cities are removing them at an alarming rate. What’s driving this? And what can we do about it?

The Pushback: Car-Centric Cities vs. Cyclists

A major reason for these rollbacks is the vocal opposition from car drivers and business owners who claim bike lanes disrupt traffic flow and reduce parking availability. The truth, though, is that bikes are far more efficient at moving people through dense urban areas than cars are. We know that bike lanes are far from empty—especially during rush hour. But it’s the squeaky wheel syndrome: those who are loud and resistant to change often overshadow the quieter voices advocating for better, safer alternatives.

In many cities, those pushing for the removal of bike lanes don’t face the same daily struggles cyclists do. The people who show up to city council meetings are often those with more time, money, and privilege—those who can afford to drive everywhere and park near their destinations. But for us, the cyclists—many of whom are from marginalized communities—bike lanes represent far more than just a mode of transportation. They represent safety, accessibility, and freedom from the gridlock that cars create.

Lack of Commitment to Real Change

Another key issue is the lack of long-term commitment to building true cycling infrastructure. A real bike network isn’t just a few painted lines or token bike boulevards. It’s a commitment to creating a connected, protected network that spans an entire city—one that allows cyclists to get from point A to point B without dodging traffic, worrying about unsafe intersections, or feeling like an afterthought in a car-dominated city.

And, it’s a formula that works. Investing in a safe cycling network pays off in a myriad of ways including economic benefits for local businesses. In Toronto, when the Ontario government threatened to remove the city’s oldest separated bike lanes along Bloor Street, one of the first groups to voice opposition to the proposal was a local business association.

In Cambridge, Massachusetts, the city didn’t stop at just installing a few bike lanes—they mandated protected lanes, and investing in infrastructure that makes cycling not only safer but also more accessible. The result? A significant increase in cycling.

And it happens over and over — Montreal, Seattle, Minneapolis, even, despite what Donald Trump might think, New York City, where an investment in cycling infrastructure has resulted in a massive increase in ridership.

The message here is clear: half-hearted efforts won’t work. If cities want to create real bike infrastructure, they need to commit to the long haul—just as they’ve done for car-centric infrastructure. Anything less simply won’t cut it.

What Can We Do? Don’t Let the Momentum Die

So what can we, as urban cyclists and commuters, do to fight this trend? First and foremost, we need to stay the course. We’ve fought for bike lanes before—against the tide of opposition and skepticism—and we can do it again. It’s no wonder critical mass rides are growing across North America. Toronto, for instance, has one scheduled for this weekend, Feb. 21. It won’t be easy, but it’s crucial that we continue to push for safe, accessible, and well-connected bike networks in our cities.

Take inspiration from cities such as Copenhagen and Amsterdam where cars also used to rule the streets until local residents said no more. Now, they are some of the most liveable, and bicycle-friendly places on earth.