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 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.

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.

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.