Ward 3 Councillor Amber Morley and Transportation Services head Barbara Gray are named in the multi-million dollar lawsuit.
The Bloor Street W. bike lane removal saga continues.
Some 40 outraged business owners have filed a lawsuit against the City of Toronto seeking the removal of five kilometres of bike lanes that runs from Runnymede to Resurrection Roads and connects Bloor Street West Village to the Kingsway.
Ward 3 Councillor and Deputy Mayor Amber Morley and Barbara Gray, the City’s General Manager of Transportation Services, have been named in the legal action that was filed on February 21 before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. The two are accused of ‘misfeasance of public office.’
Bloor St. W. small businesses have repeatedly complained of a loss of business due to the bike lanes.
The business owners are suing the City for $10 million in damages for ‘negligence and nuisance’ caused by the bike lanes.
The small companies have repeatedly complained their business have plummeted with the installation of the bike lanes as it is difficult for customers to park and the elderly with mobility issues to get to their stores.
The Ontario government have banned the installation of bike lanes from busy roads and vow to remove them from Bloor Street W., University Avenue and Bloor Street W.
Ward 3 Councillor Amber Morley has been named in the $10 million lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleges the City has failed to properly monitor the impacts of the bike lanes, including how they affect emergency response times. Police and fire officials have said the lanes slow down their response time for emergency calls.
A Statement of Claim states that the bike lanes have eroded the character of the neighbourhood, decreased surrounding property values and reduced business and foot traffic in the area.
The group, which consists of a variety of businesses, is seeking an injunction that would require bike lanes to be removed to make way for motor vehicles.
No court date has been set for a hearing into the legal action.
The action claims the bike lanes have negatively impacted business and resulted in traffic congestion issues.
Residents are also complaining that side roads in the area are clogged with motorists trying to race around the Bloor Street W. bike lanes.
The Statement of Claim alleges Morley gave preferential treatment to an advocacy group over the voices of local businesses, and deliberately misrepresented the nature and extent of consultations on the project.
It claims Gray was being unlawfully lobbied by the pro-cycle group during consultations, and that she deliberately misrepresented or ignored bike lane data.
The allegations have not been proven in court and no date has been set for a hearing.
City officials did not provide a comment as the matter is before the courts.