Biking lanes are on the retreat in Toronto, but they're actually on the rise in Regina.

In Toronto people are accusing Mayor Rob Ford of waging a war on bikes. Since he's come to office he hasn't just stopped adding bike lanes, but he's started taking some out all together.

In recent years Regina has been adding similar biking only lanes to the city's roads and a project manager with the City of Regina, Sharla Cote, said as they build more bike lanes more cyclists are on the roads.

“Definitely there’s uptake over each year that they’re in place.”

Watching the bike lanes Thursday afternoon there were a few cyclists using them, but there were also a lot of vehicles driving in what is supposed to be a lane for cyclists only.

Some of those drivers admitted they didn’t know it was a bike lane, but others knew full well…

“No I didn’t see a biker here, so if he’s not here then I’m using it.”

Cyclists say it can be difficult to bike in Regina.

“I’ve been hit a couple times,” said one cyclist, “there’s always people driving in the bike lanes.”

“People drive in there and they just think they don’t need to move out of the way,” said another man who was biking in the lane.

During the lunch hour there were also some joggers using the bike lane, “we like to use the bike lanes because it’s safer, cars are supposedly aren’t supposed to be in there.”

Cote said the city is looking at options to ease vehicle congestion in the city - and believe more bike lanes would encourage more people to peddle instead of hitting the gas.

At the end of the month a comprehensive transportation plan is due out that will include the development of more bike dedicated lanes.

Edited by CJME's Lisa Schick.