Ontario’s bill to remove certain bike lanes to be tested with Charter challenge [Video]

The Ontario government’s “irrational and dangerous” bid to remove three major Toronto bike lanes should be ruled unconstitutional, a lawyer for a group of cyclists said in court Wednesday, arguing the province’s own internal advice and experts suggest the move won’t accomplish its stated goal to ease congestion.

Lawyers for a Toronto cycling advocacy group and two other cyclists are asking the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to strike down parts of a law empowering the province to remove the 19 kilometres of protected bike lanes on Yonge Street, Bloor Street and University Avenue, and replace them with vehicle lanes.

“It’s a narrow challenge to what we see as the irrational and dangerous ways that this government has chosen to remove these bike lanes,” said lawyer Andrew Lewis.

The challenge was brought by the advocacy group Cycle Toronto and two other cyclists — a university student who relies on the …