Fight for Bikes at Queen’s Park and Yonge Street

Yesterday, over 1000 people gathered at Queen’s Park for the second “Fight for Bikes” protest two weeks after their highly successful début. It marked the third protest in a week against Bill 212 including Sunday’s World Day of Remembrance and Thursday’s delivery of two ghost bikes. Unlike other events which had feeder rides meet at a central location, this rally split into three rides along University, Bloor, and Yonge Streets.

Eva and Zev – the founders of “Fight for Bikes” – welcomed everyone to Queen’s Park. Zev talked about how he biked to school every day along College and was afraid for the first few blocks without bike lanes, while he was concerned fellow students would see their trips become more dangerous should bike lanes on Bloor, Yonge, and University be removed. Eva stressed some of the impacts about Bill 212 and said she didn’t want to think she’s making a brave choice when cycling, but rather wants to make a choice that makes the city better and herself healthier.

Robin Richardson talked about Yonge4All’s efforts to save the Yonge Street bike lanes from removal the first time back in February 2023, as well as encouraged everyone to “keep riding our bikes”. She said if Doug Ford takes away our bike lanes that we would take away his.

Michael Ross was referred to by his wife as an “octogenarian on wheels” and he talked about how he rides on Yonge to get to the Beltline Trail safely. He said he doesn’t think Doug Ford is evil since his aims are OK such as fighting gridlock, but that the means are not. He also talked about how an upcoming development on Yonge would have 700 units and only 18 parking spaces because of the subway and bike lanes.

Oda Al-Anizi was recently featured on CBC about his modified wheelchair and how bike lanes give him freedom that is now threatened because of Doug Ford. He reflected on the many issues of getting around on subways and buses as a wheelchair user, as well as the understaffing and unreliable nature of Wheel-Trans. He also called Bill 212 a violation of Section 7 of the Charter regarding the life, liberty, and security of the person.

Angela Bischoff talked about the long road to getting bike lanes on Bloor including when she, Hamish Wilson, and others started “Take The Tooker” as a legacy to her late husband Tooker Gomberg. Hamish backed up Bischoff’s speech with his puns such as the need for “tunnel vision” with subways and how “Carservatives are not fiscally conservative”!

Meteorologist Anthony Farnell was originally from Montréal where cycling has become ingrained and no longer a culture war, though he said he lived in Toronto long enough to bike there before bike lanes. I also appreciate how he sometimes bikes with his dog Storm, while he debunked myths about nobody cycling in the winter and how using side streets don’t make any sense.

Alex from Fridays for Future was very passionate and pulled no punches. He said “this is not the time for division” when calling on the NDP and liberals to work together, as well as accused Ford of betraying suburban drivers with this bill since we all want to get around quickly and safely. He called for unity, love, and rage, while closing with the chant “For the city! For the suburbs! Bike lanes should not be gutted!”

Zev and Eva then gave instructions for people to start the rides along Bloor, University, and Yonge. I chose to do the Yonge ride, while you can read Jun’s blog about the Bloor one and here’s a video from Heather Jackson who covered University.

Our friends know how to rock a protest ride! Thanks to fightforbikes.org for organizing the speeches and three ride routes. This is just the University Ave crew! Even more people cycled Bloor St and Yonge St! #BikeTO @jsquaredink.bsky.social @kristineff.bsky.social @alilabanane.bsky.social

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— Bromptoning (Heather & Pier) (@bromptoning.bsky.social) November 23, 2024 at 7:38 PM

Jun brought his dog Loki to the protest. Should have brought Mozzie!

Here’s the Bloor ride making their way north.

And here’s the Yonge ride gathering.

Approaching Bloor Street.

Chris Hoyle on his recumbent at Rowanwood.

Going uphill past the CP Rail line.

Queued up at St. Clair.

Past the Beltline Trail.

Gathered at Davisville Avenue where the bike lanes end.

The Yonge ride ultimately ended at Eglinton where Zev thanked everyone for attending before we dispersed.

I recorded a few videos of the ride at Charles, Rowanwood, and Balliol which you can see here.

Thanks Eva and Zev for another successful protest. The Third Reading of Bill 212 is expected to happen on Monday. Unfortunately, some disturbing amendments were introduced such as banning people from suing the government – which they did for Ontario Place, long term care homes, and the cancellation of the cap-and-trade program. If you live in a Progressive Conservative riding, please contact your MPP as soon as possible. Even if this bill passes – which is a given at this point – we must organize like never before to vote Ford out of office!

The rally got some media coverage in CBC and Radio-Canada (en français).

For those wondering when the next events will be, there will be a Critical Mass ride on Friday, November 29 - Meet 6 PM at Bloor & Spadina for 6:30 PM departure - and please save Sunday, December 8 for the Toronto Community Bikeways Coalition's Cycling Good Cheer ride. Details TBD.