Toronto ambulance forced to use bike lane to avoid traffic [Video]

Video has emerged of a Toronto ambulance being forced to use a bike lane to avoid downtown traffic, an incident one biking advocate says highlights the utility of the separated roadways at a time when their existence and expansion face uncertainty.

In the video posted to Reddit by user “andyw8” on Thursday, the ambulance can be seen travelling eastbound on Adelaide Street West with its lights and sirens activated, meaning it is headed towards the scene of an emergency.

As the ambulance approaches what appears to be Bay Street, the driver encounters stand-still traffic amid construction in the area. The paramedic operating the vehicle then carefully merges into the bike lane ahead of the lone cyclist taking the video.

Ambulances, police cruisers, and fire service vehicles can use the city’s bike lanes if they are actively responding to an emergency.

David Shellnutt, known as The Biking Lawyer, shared the video with CTV News Toronto and said …