TORONTO

Bike lanes on University Ave. could ride into reality if any of the four frontrunners vying to replace Mayor Rob Ford get elected.

But none of them will put bike lanes back on Jarvis St.

The Toronto Sun asked the four main mayoral contenders on Monday whether they would support bike lanes on University — a plan that was scrubbed by council in a tight vote before the 2010 election — and whether they would support bringing bike lanes back to Jarvis.

All four were open to bike lanes on University Ave. and committed to leaving Jarvis St. alone in the wake of council’s 2011 decision to scrap that street’s bike lanes.

Council voted 15 to 13 back in May 2010 to reject a proposal to allow bike lanes separated by flexible posts along University Ave. from Wellesley to Richmond Sts.

A city spokesman confirmed Monday that the University Ave. bike lanes issue could be back on council’s plate next term, although there is nothing official yet.

“Transportation Services is in the process of developing an on-street cycling plan that is expected to be presented to the new council next year. I am sure that University Ave. will be considered as part of it,” spokesman Steve Johnston said.

Olivia Chow spokesman Jamey Heath said she would support bike lanes on University Ave. “because we need to move to a network.”

But Heath said Chow won’t support bike lanes returning to Jarvis St. because Sherbourne now has lanes allowing for north-south travel.

The John Tory campaign wouldn’t say directly whether their candidate will or won’t support bike lanes on University Ave.

“John is in favour of building a network of separated bike lanes where it is practical, to ensure cyclists can safely travel throughout our city,” Tory spokesman Amanda Galbraith told the Sun.

“Cycling has added benefits for both traffic congestion and the environment. As mayor, he would work collaboratively with the cycling community to ensure their needs are considered when making decisions about infrastructure and transit.”

As for Jarvis St., Tory “does not support anything that increases commute times for drivers, including bringing back bike lanes to Jarvis St.,” Galbraith said.

Candidate Karen Stintz — who missed the University Ave. bike lane vote back in 2010 — said she’d be open to a bike lane pilot project along University Ave. from Adelaide St. up to College St. and along Queen’s Park Cres. up to Bloor St.

“The issue is the hospital and we have to figure out how we don’t impede ambulances and vehicles out of the hospital,” Stintz said. “I think there is capacity on (University Ave.).”

Candidate David Soknacki was keeping on open mind on University Ave. bike lanes provided it could be part of a bike lane network.

“With respect to University Ave., the jury is out. My principles on that will be we’re going to ask for the planning for an overall cycling network and we’re going to see how that works both in terms of priorities and to make sure it is safe for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists alike,” he said.

“I’m certainly not averse to looking at the University lanes as long as it is part of a network.”

“It makes no sense to put up a bike lane that isn’t attached to anything,” he added.