How one wheelchair user feels about prospect of losing bike lanes

Oda Al-Anizi had never been to a TFC game or frequented High Park because he dreaded how long it would take him to make the trip — until this year.

Al-Anizi, who works for Spinal Cord Injury Ontario, outfitted his wheelchair with a special attachment that transformed his wheelchair intro a bike. This allowed him to navigate the city as a cyclist, and he says it's been a game changer.

"I've been able to go all over the city, explore the trails, I'd never done that in all my years of being here," he said, adding it's done wonders for his mental health and made him much more social. 

Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria introduced legislation last month that would require municipalities to ask the province for permission to install bike lanes when t would involve removing a lane of vehicle traffic. 

It would also allow the province to remove bike lanes specifically on Bloor Street, University Avenue and Yonge Street, bike lanes that Al-Anizi uses the most. 

"I was shocked when I heard this because these lanes give me a lot of freedom and I see a lot of people using them," he said.

Toronto city councillors voted in favour of a motion by Mayor Olivia Chow on Thursday to formally oppose the legislation. The motion says council will ask the province to work with cities to address congestion and road safety and to remove amendments in the legislation that deal with bike lanes.

Council will also direct the city solicitor to review the bill and its regulations, once they are in force, and report back on the potential for a legal challenge. As well, council will appear before the Ontario legislative committee as part of public hearings to express its opposition.

The city should pay no costs of the bike lane removal, including staff time, planning, design, construction and traffic management that will be needed as a result of congestion created, the motion says.

Al-Anizi participated in a large protest last week in support of bike lanes, and he's hoping their voices are heard.

"Having Bloor Street ripped up and having me use alternate routes, I feel like my safety is not being taken into consideration as a citizen, a person with a disability," he said.

"It makes me feel dispensable, like they don't care."