Brampton Council has voted to remove bike infrastructure again — part of a growing pattern. The removals are accelerating, alongside a broader political environment increasingly hostile to active transportation.
In January, Council voted against staff recommendations and removed one of only three protected cycling corridors in Brampton: Howden Boulevard. Despite months of staff work, public consultation, surveys, and multiple compromise options, councillors rejected every alternative and restored the road to four traffic lanes — even though staff warned it would worsen safety and encourage speeding.
Yesterday, my message to Council was simple: I am livid. Livid that Brampton continues to prioritize free car storage and traffic capacity over safe transportation choices. Livid that decisions are being driven by hyperbole and motornormativity instead of evidence and endorsed plans. And livid that a 15-year-old cyclist understands the value of protected bike lanes better than many elected officials.
If residents who support cycling infrastructure stay silent, these removals will continue. Council repeatedly claims they only hear from angry drivers and “the same handful of cyclists.” That needs to change. The future of cycling in Brampton depends on people speaking up now.
