Toronto bicycle accident lawyers explain what cyclists need to know
A proposal to remove bike lanes in Toronto has pitted Ontario officials who claim that extra vehicle lanes are necessary to relieve constant traffic congestion against city officials who insist that removing lanes would put cyclists at risk and increase the number of bicycle accidents in Toronto.
“The city was finally making strides,” Melanie Ng said in an interview with The New York Times in support of keeping bicycle lanes in Toronto rather than tearing some of them out.
An Ontario Superior Court Justice recently agreed, saying that removing bike lanes in Toronto “would put people at an ‘increased risk of harm and death’ and violate the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,” according to a recent City News article.
What does all this mean for cyclists in Toronto? The bicycle accident lawyers at Smitiuch Injury Law explain.
Ontario officials push to remove Toronto bike lanes
Doug Ford, Ontario’s premier, passed a law earlier this year that called for removing 19 kilometres of bike lanes from three major city streets in downtown Toronto, according to The New York Times. Ford proposed removing the bicycle lanes since he said they made the city’s notorious traffic congestion even worse.
Some Toronto drivers agree with Ford. “There’s so much traffic because of bike lanes,” longtime Toronto taxi driver Nasser Moradman said in The New York Times article. “It’s miserable. It’s very tough to drive in the city.”
Other officials added that Toronto’s traffic congestion has resulted in $45 billion in lost productivity per year, according to a report by the Canadian Center for Economic Analysis as cited by The New York Times.
Giles Gherson, president of the Toronto Board of Trade, agreed. “Congestion has reached crisis levels,” Gherson told The New York Times.
Judge rules in favour of keeping Toronto bike lanes
While removing bike lanes in Toronto has the support of Ford and some Ontario business officials, an Ontario Superior Court judge ruled on Aug. 6 in favour of keeping the bike lanes based on public safety concerns.
Ontario Superior Court Justice Paul Schabas ruled that the proposal to remove 19 kilometres of bicycle lanes in Toronto would put cyclists at an "increased risk of harm and death" and violate the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, according to CBC News.
Schabas added that the government received advice and reports from traffic experts, Toronto officials and others that removing bike lanes in Toronto "will not achieve the asserted goal" of the law to reduce traffic, CBC News reported.
Ford immediately criticized the judge’s ruling. “Worst case of trampling on people's rights that I've ever seen ever,” Ford said during a press conference.
How bad are bicycle accidents in Toronto?
The short answer? Worse than ever. In 2024, more cyclists were killed (6 deaths total) in bicycle accidents in Toronto than any other year in the city in the past two decades, according to The New York Times.
And between 2016 and 2023, bicycle accidents in Toronto resulted in 260 serious injuries involving cyclists. In 2023 alone, 34 cyclists in Toronto were injured in collisions involving motor vehicles, according to accident data collected by the Toronto Police Service.
Why do bicycle accidents happen in Toronto?
Accidents involving cyclists hit by a car happen for many different reasons in Toronto. In many cases, mistakes made by reckless or aggressive drivers result in accidents involving cyclists. Specific common causes of Toronto bicycle accidents often include:
- Speeding – Many drivers go too fast and don’t have time to slow down and avoid hitting a cyclist.
- Distracted driving – Drivers who are texting, talking on a phone or doing other distracting behaviours often don’t see cyclists and hit them.
- Aggressive driving – Many drivers don’t share the road with cyclists, resulting in sideswipe or rear-end bicycle accidents in Toronto.
- Impaired driving – Drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs sometimes lose control of their vehicle and hit a cyclist.
Whatever the cause of your Toronto bicycle accident, make sure you take your accident seriously right from the start. Make sure you have a lawyer on your side, looking out for your best interests every step of the way.
Why should I hire a Toronto bicycle accident lawyer?
Collisions involving bicycles and vehicles in Toronto often quickly turn into debates over who did what when. Even if a driver clearly caused your collision, don’t be surprised if the at-fault driver’s insurance company tries to blame you for causing your bicycle accident.
This is just one of many reasons why you need an experienced Toronto bicycle accident lawyer from Smitiuch Injury Law on your side. We know how the legal system works in Ontario. We understand the rights of cyclists and how to build a strong legal case based on solid evidence.
Our case results speak for themselves, including several arbitration decisions in favour of injured cyclists. Get the Toronto law firm that gets you. Contact us and schedule a free consultation with a Toronto bicycle accident lawyer focused on winning your case. Our law firm has three offices conveniently located in Toronto, Brantford and Simcoe, Ontario.
“Smitiuch Injury Law are the best team of lawyers you can ask for. They are professional, knowledgeable, proactive, and straightforward.” – Sean M., ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
