The Ontario government is planning to introduce legislation that would require provincial approval to reduce traffic lanes to make way for bike paths.

Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said it would provide oversight to a process that has become chaotic. While it would not require removing existing paths, the government would request data on projects over the past five years to assess their effectiveness.

Sarkaria said that bike paths are important for cities when properly placed, but should not create problems on congested roads.

The minister also said he would be making new decisions about bike paths. The government also plans to increase the speed limit on new highways to 120 km/h and freeze the cost of driver’s license tests, which would cost $72 million over 10 years.

Yana B