NEWS RELEASE: Jaffer Calls for Moratorium on Bike Lanes

Edmonton, Alta. (July 24, 2025) — Edmonton mayoral candidate Rahim Jaffer has announced that, if elected, he would pursue a moratorium on new bike lane projects.

“For years now, city hall has been pushing ahead with costly bike lanes while ignoring the actual priorities of a vast majority of Edmontonians,” Jaffer said. “We’ve got crumbling roads, we’re failing at snow removal, rising crime, while neighbourhoods are being turned upside down by huge projects, and usable city-owned land sits empty. All this is happening, and city council is focused on spending even more taxpayer money painting bike lanes, while traffic is getting worse and worse.”

Jaffer said the decision to pause all new bike lane construction is about restoring balance, rebuilding trust and putting taxpayers first.

“We are not an anti-bike city — we are an anti-absurd-priorities city,” Jaffer said. “Before spending another dime on more bike lanes, we’ve got to fix the potholes, plow the roads and get core services working again for all of Edmonton — drivers, bus and train users, pedestrians, and yes, cyclists too.”

Jaffer said the current approach to bike lane planning has been top-down, disruptive and dismissive of residents, businesses and commuters. The moratorium would remain in place until a full public review of the city’s transportation and infrastructure plans is completed.

“This isn’t just my view. It’s the view of Edmontonians and what I’ve been hearing over and over since launching the Revive Edmonton Tour,” Jaffer said. “The people of this city want to see a road and traffic policy driven by common sense, not out-of-touch ideology. That’s what I’m going to deliver.”

The next Revive Edmonton Town Hall is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on July 25 and can be accessed at votejaffer.ca.