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,

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe says the city intends to keep investing in cycling infrastructure even as the provincial government brings in new rules to restrict bicycle lanes in what Ontario municipalities complain is a “significant overreach” of provincial power.

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.

Local political leaders are reacting to the Ontario government's announcement that will require municipalities to receive provincial approval before removing traffic lanes to install new bike lanes.

Proposed changes are set to be introduced Oct. 21 — when the Ontario legislature sits again for the fall session.

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.

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