Bike Lanes part of Mayoral Campaign

Transportation issues have been a dominant part of the mayoral campaign so far, which kicked off on Jan. 4.

Earlier this week, many candidates voiced their outrage at a city proposal to establish physically-separated bicycle lanes on a portion of University Avenue in the downtown core on a four-month trial basis.

City traffic engineers have said the lanes will have little or no impact on traffic.

Rocco Rossi, the former national director of the Liberal Party, has long staked out a stance of opposing bicycle lanes on major thoroughfares. He called the plan 'sheer madness.'

Coun. Giorgio Mammoliti (Ward 7, York West) has vowed to remove new bike lanes and wants to impose a tax of $20 to $30 on bicycles. He had offered to support the city's 2010 operating budget if Miller waived the vehicle registration free for seniors -- a voting demographic Mammoliti has been targeting.

Coun. Rob Ford (Ward 2, Etobicoke North) has also come out against the lanes.

Former provincial cabinet minister George Smitherman has called for a timeout on new bicycle lanes."