Alberta Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen says his government plans to learn from an Ontario court ruling that found a law looking to remove three Toronto bike lanes was unconstitutional. Dreeshen arrives at the United Conservative caucus to determine next steps after leader Jason Kenney announced he is stepping down as in Calgary, Thursday, May 19, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntoshAlbertas transportation minister says the province plans to learn from an Ontario court ruling that found a law seeking to remove some Torontobikelanesto be unconstitutional.Devin Dreeshen, speaking at an unrelated press conference in Airdrie, Alta., told reporters his government will be watching the case with interest, especially since Ontario plans to appeal the ruling.Dreeshen has said in recent months that the province wasnt ruling out putting forward similar legislation. On July 30, he was more committal, saying that being the second province to go down the same path is helpful.You can look at pieces of legislation that have been introduced in the past and whats the good and bad of them, so obviously watching the Ontario case is great, he said.Dreeshen has said Albertas two major cities have been going the wrong way when it comes to building cycling infrastructure. And he has called on Edmonton and Calgary to removebikelanesfrom major corridors.He has said repeatedly that the province doesnt want to seebikelanesbuilt at the expense oflanes for vehicles, He added July 30 that such moves are not proper or smart city planning.If you have a municipal council that is taking away drivinglanes, thats actually increasing peoples daily commutes, or (preventing) emergency vehicles or delivery vehicles from being able to just do what they do, thats obviously a problem, he said.While neither city has agreed to the ministers request, Dreeshen met earlier on July 30 with Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek to discuss bikelanes.Dreeshen and Gondek told reporters at separate news conferences that the meeting was collaborative and they agreedbikelanesare temporary.There was a commitment from Mayor Gondek to be able to work more collaboratively with the province to make sure thatbikeroutes, where theyre independent from any road network, so folks can be able to get around their communities, Dreeshen said.When you havebikelanesthat are cannibalizing and taking over (drivinglanes), thats obviously a problem.Gondek, speaking to reporters at Calgary City Hall, said the meeting was very friendly.Their relationship hasnt always been amicable.Until earlier this year, the two spent months lobbing attacks at each other over the future of the Green Line, Calgarys long-planned public transit line stalled by a ballooning budget and gradually shrinking footprint.Gondek said she told Dreeshen that she doesnt view Calgarysbikelanesas permanent.If abikelane is creating issues with congestion or parking, our traffic team is open to making changes, she said.But she also said the city will do what it can to protect cyclists, which was a key consideration in the Ontario ruling.There have been some pretty horrific accidents, and there have been lives lost, when it comes to cycling in our city, she said. Ultimately, everyone in our city should be able to travel to and from where theyre going in the safest possible way.Gondek wouldnt comment directly on the ruling in Ontario.Whatever happened in Ontario is the perspective of that government and what is there.Ontario Superior Court Justice Paul Schabas ruled that removing three Torontolaneseyed by Premier Doug Ford would put people at an increased risk of harm and death.The evidence is clear that restoring a lane of motor vehicle traffic, where it will involve the removal of the protected, or separated, nature of the targetbikelanes, will create greater risk to cyclists and to other users of the roads, the decision says.When asked about the ruling, Dreeshen didnt address the safety considerations identified by the judge but said he has asked Calgary to provide ridership numbers for certainbikelanes.Dreeshen also said he plans to soon meet with Edmonton city council to discussbikelanesin the capital city.This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 30, 2025. By Jack Farrell in Edmonton and Matthew Scace in Calgary, with files from Liam Casey and Rianna Lim in TorontoThe post Alberta government to learn from ruling on Ontario bike lane law: minister appeared first on Canadian Architect.