Ottawa says three major bike lane plans may be halted under Ontario’s Bill 60, raising costs, delays, and concerns over local transportation priorities.
Bill 60 Puts Key Ottawa Bike Lane Projects on Hold
Provincial Rules Trigger Project Cancellations
Ottawa officials say new provincial legislation is forcing the city to halt at least three planned bike lane projects. A report presented Thursday to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee outlines how Bill 60, passed earlier this week, restricts municipalities from removing motor-vehicle lanes to build cycling infrastructure unless construction contracts are already signed.
Projects Affected Across Ottawa
City staff confirmed the legislation directly impacts two downtown projects — the planned extension of the O’Connor Street bike lane to Wellington Street, and cycling-related changes tied to the eventual removal of bus lanes along Albert and Slater streets. Approximately $1.7 million has already been invested in planning and early design work for these corridors.
A third project, a redesign of St. Joseph Boulevard between Jeanne d’Arc and Belcourt boulevards in Orléans, is also unlikely to proceed under the new rules.
Why the Law Is Causing Delays
Bill 60 prevents municipalities from reducing the number of vehicle travel lanes for bike lanes or “other prescribed purposes” unless contracts are in place. City engineers told councillors this restriction may require costly redesigns for multiple future projects. The city has not yet determined the full financial impact or how long new planning processes may take.
City Examines Legal and Policy Implications
Staff said they are reviewing the legislation to clarify how it applies to streets that currently permit both driving and parking in the same lane, and whether flexibility may still exist in certain mixed-use configurations. The report notes that more than 70 cycling projects in the Transportation Master Plan remain compliant because they do not involve removing vehicle lanes.
Cycling Growth and Community Reaction
Ottawa has seen “rapid growth” in cycling over the past 15 years, with nearly 10% of downtown residents and 4% of residents citywide making daily trips by bike. Advocacy groups argue Bill 60 undermines this momentum.
Bike Ottawa board member Florence Lehmann, who protested the legislation earlier this month, called the bill “extremely regressive” and warned it discourages active transportation.
“I’m a second-class citizen from a transportation perspective,” she said. “What the province is saying is: if you’re not in a car, you don’t matter.”
Concerns Over Local Authority
Urban planning advocates share similar concerns. Marko Miljusevic of Strong Towns Ottawa said the province is overreaching into municipal responsibilities.
“Transportation is best managed locally,” he said. “Every city is different. Taking this out of the city’s toolbox limits our ability to design safe, modern streets.”
City Plans to Redirect Funding
City staff recommend reallocating funds from halted projects to pedestrian and vulnerable-road-user initiatives. Both Coun. Ariel Troster and advocacy groups welcomed this approach but stressed that long-planned cycling upgrades should remain preserved if legislative changes or legal challenges arise.
“Many of these projects have been years in the making,” Troster said. “If they disappear now, it’s going to be a complete waste.”
