Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria says the provincial government is introducing legislation that would require municipalities to receive provincial approval before removing traffic lanes to install new bike paths.

Ontario’s municipalities say upcoming legislation that would require cities to get provincial approval for some bike lanes is a “significant overreach” of power.

Ontario's municipalities say upcoming legislation that would require cities to get provincial approval for some bike lanes is a "significant overreach" of power.

The Ontario government says it will introduce legislation that would require municipalities to get provincial approval before building any new bike lanes that reduce lanes of vehicle traffic.Municipalities would need to demonstrate any proposed bike lanes will not have a "negative impact on vehicle traffic,

TORONTO — Ontario cities would have to seek the province’s permission to install new bike lanes that remove lanes of vehicle traffic under upcoming legislation, the transportation minister announced Tuesday.

The government, which has made gridlock a priority, intends to introduce legislation next week to change the process for installing bike lanes across the province

Any future bike lanes coming to Ontario towns and cities could soon need provincial approval thanks to new rules proposed by Brampton MP and Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria.

London academics and cycling advocates are puzzled by the province’s commitment to restrict new bike lanes, as city hall anxiously awaits how the legislation will look and work in practice.

Waterloo's mayor says the provincial government has overstepped in making the announcement of potential legislation requiring municipalities to seek provincial approval for new bike lanes.