TORONTO — Premier Doug Ford's government has been ordered to keep its hands off three major Toronto bike lanes until a judge can decide whether a plan to remove them is unconstitutional. The injunction handed down Tuesday was heralded as a win by the cyclist group challenging Ontario's bid to rip up the lanes on Bloor Street, Yonge Street and University Avenue. "It's definitely a win for anyone who wants fact-based and data-driven decisions," said Michael Longfield, Cycle Toronto's executive director. "I hope this gives the province an opportunity to maybe pause and reverse this legislation and instead work on real solutions that will keep Torontonians and Ontarians moving." Ford's Progressive Conservative government gave itself the power last year to remove 19 kilometres of protected bike lanes, over the objections of the city. It passed a law that also requires cities to seek provincial approval to install new lanes that cut into vehicle traffic. The province suggested that targeting bike lanes on the three major roadways would help reduce Toronto's traffic congestion. Ontario Superior Court Justice Paul Schabas, who heard a challenge of the law brought by Cycle Toronto and two cyclists, appeared to be skeptical of that justification. "There is evidence that their removal will have little or no impact on the professed objectives of the legislation as stated by the minister of transportation," Schabas wrote in Tuesday's injunction ruling. The ruling said despite the government's claim that there was an urgent need to cut congestion, it presented no evidence about the process to remove the lanes or plans on what would go in their place. Not granting the pause would mean the government could try to dismantle the bike lanes before he has time to decide the case, Schabas wrote. "It is likely that the bike lanes are more easily removed than rebuilt or restored," his ruling said. Tuesday's injunction ruling said the legal challenge raised "important and complex constitutional issues" and he had not yet formed a "final view on the matter." But the evidence before him after last week's hearing, he wrote, is that removing the bike lanes could cause increased collisions, injuries and even deaths of cyclists. The government did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday afternoon. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 22, 2025. Jordan Omstead, The Canadian Press