Are you in favour of bike lanes on major city roads, such as Jarvis St. and University Ave.?
Giorgio Mammoliti: No.
Joe Pantalone: Yes on Jarvis and yes on University, if the pilot project is successful.
Rocco Rossi: No. No more new lanes on major arterial roads.
George Smitherman: The answer to this question isn't black and white. I'm in favour of no new lanes until an integrated, city-wide transportation plan is drafted.
Sarah Thomson: This is not a yes or no answer.
Rob Ford: No.
If no, would you remove the lanes if you are elected?
Mammoliti: Yes. I can promise you this: When I'm the mayor of the City of Toronto, if they succeed with these bike lanes, I will take them down – and that will be the first thing that I do.
Rossi: Yes, I would remove these new lanes.
Smitherman: No.
Ford: No. It would be a waste of money to remove it if it's already there; that is, unless there was a huge public outcry in the area.
What is your general philosophy regarding bike lanes?
Mammoliti: The war on the car must end now! There absolutely needs to be a pro-bike agenda in this city, but we can't be turning everything upside-down to accommodate a very small percentage of the population. We need to be realistic and realize that bikes will never take over the car, not without proper transit. It just won't cut it in this city.
Pantalone: I strongly believe that cycling is an essential part of Toronto's transportation solution. Cycling is healthy for individuals. Cycling is environmentally friendly. Cycling moves people around the city.
Rossi: I have been clear on this from the beginning. Bike lanes don't belong on major arterials where there are quieter, nearby parallel roads like Sherbourne (instead of Jarvis) and Beverley/St. George (instead of University). Bike lanes that eliminate car lanes on major city roads will cause further gridlock.
Smitherman: Toronto needs an integrated transportation plan that doesn't pit one form of transportation against another. I've said clearly with respect to bike lanes that I see a place for them, but for now, I think we need a timeout on new ones. If the city has financial resources to dedicate this year to bike lanes, let's improve the quality and safety of the ones we have.
Thomson: I am in favour of bike lanes done properly using a connected grid system across Toronto. On streets where emergency vehicles abound they need to be separated physically ... Jarvis St. is another example of political agenda, not common sense. We already have a bike lane on Sherbourne. If this were planned out properly we would have another north-south route on a street two or three west. Not right beside Sherbourne.
Ford: I don't live downtown, but if I did, I'd probably own a bike. It would be more economical. I generally support bike lanes, but it's really up to the individual community.