Bill 60 and the Future of Safe Cycling in Ontario: Why Legal Guidance Matters

December 04, 2025, Kitchener, Ontario

Posted by: Robert Deutschmann, Personal Injury Lawyer

Bill 60, The Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025, has sparked serious concern among cyclists, safety advocates, and municipalities across Ontario. Introduced by Premier Doug Ford’s government, the bill places new restrictions on how local governments can manage roadways—specifically by prohibiting the reduction of car lanes to create new bike lanes.

This change could dramatically slow or even halt the rollout of safe cycling infrastructure in communities that have invested years in planning connected, separated bike networks. For injured cyclists or those concerned about road safety, the implications extend well beyond policy—they can directly affect liability, safety, and access to justice.

The Importance of Bike Lanes for Road Safety

Bike lanes save lives. They create predictable movement patterns, reduce vehicle–cyclist collisions, and encourage more people to use bicycles as an affordable and sustainable form of transportation.

International studies and experience in Canadian cities such as Ottawa, Toronto, and Waterloo Region have shown that protected bike lanes significantly reduce accidents at busy intersections. However, under Bill 60, if municipalities cannot reconfigure existing car lanes, they may lose their most effective tool for improving safety without costly road reconstruction.

Removing local flexibility not only slows progress but also increases risk for cyclists who remain forced into mixed traffic. Fewer bike lanes mean more potential for severe injury—and that makes legal recourse and public accountability all the more critical.

Legal and Practical Implications for Cyclists

When a cyclist is injured by a negligent driver, poor road design, or unsafe road conditions, proving liability depends on evidence, municipal records, and sometimes expert testimony about roadway design. If Bill 60 limits municipalities’ ability to modify or maintain safe infrastructure, future cases may involve even more complex litigation over fault.

If you've been injured in a bike accident:

• Do gather detailed evidence immediately after a collision—photos, witness names, and police reports provide essential documentation.
• Do contact an experienced personal injury lawyer early, especially before engaging with insurers or municipal officials.
• Don’t assume a municipality or driver will share all relevant records without a formal request under Ontario’s Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA).
• Don’t delay seeking medical evaluations, as early records strengthen both treatment outcomes and legal claims.

Our experienced personal injury lawyers at Deutschmann de Koning Personal Injury Law can guide injured cyclists through these steps, ensuring evidence is preserved and all responsible parties are identified.

Defence and Municipal Considerations

Defendants, including municipalities or insurers, may face increased scrutiny as infrastructure plans and road safety expectations evolve. Municipalities once protected by standard‑of‑care defences might now encounter challenges if decisions to restrict bike‑safety improvements appear politically—not safety‑—driven.

Evidence and Privacy in Cycling Claims

Video and sensor data from cyclists’ devices increasingly play a role in Ontario personal injury litigation. Dash‑cams, GPS trackers, and smartphone apps can corroborate speed, traffic flow, and visibility—factors critical to proving negligence. However, privacy boundaries apply.

A personal injury lawyer familiar with evidentiary standards can ensure that electronic data strengthens, rather than undermines, a claim.

Strategic case planning by seasoned counsel ensures that claims reflect both technical road‑safety realities and current statutory frameworks.

Why Choose Deutschmann de Koning Personal Injury Law

For Ontario cyclists, navigating these legal and policy changes can be overwhelming. Deutschmann de Koning Personal Injury Law has decades of experience representing bike‑injury victims across Southwestern Ontario. Their lawyers combine deep understanding of personal injury law with advocacy for safer streets and fair compensation.

When collisions occur on roads made less safe by legislative choices, legal action serves more than individual recovery—it reinforces accountability and public safety standards that protect all road users.

If you or someone you know has been injured while cycling, whether due to a negligent driver or unsafe infrastructure, trust Deutschmann de Koning Personal Injury Law to provide clear advice, compassionate representation, and a results‑driven approach to justice.

About Deutschmann de Koning Law

Deutschmann de Koning Law serves South-Western Ontario with offices in Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Woodstock, Brantford, Stratford and Ayr. The law practice of Robert Deutschmann and Nick de Koning focuses almost exclusively in personal injury and disability insurance matters. For more information, please visit www.ddinjurylaw.com or call us at 1-519-742-7774.