I am very concerned about…

I am very concerned about bill 212 as both a former citizen of Toronto and for my new city of Stratford, where I have lived for the past 4 years.

All road users should feel safe when. Using our roads, be it drivers, public transit users, cyclists or pedestrians. Unfortunately priority has generally been given to drivers, the least efficient and most dangerous of all road users. Bicycle lanes provide an important safety measure allowing more people to use the roads in an efficient manner. I have bicycled in Toronto since I was a teenager and have appreciated the modern improvements to bike safety. Multiple studies have shown that cyclists make more stops at local stores, improving the local economy. They also reduce wear on the roads, requiring less maintenance. Bicycles also use less space than cars, creating less traffic. I am very concerned that the government is ignoring these benefits, while scapegoating cyclists as the cause of traffic. The true cause of increased traffic is increased cars, and a responsible government would do everything to create options to encourage people to use alternatives to cars.

I am concerned by bill 212 as a former Toronto resident, first of all, because it is clearly provincial over reach on what couldn't be a more municipal issue. I'm also concerned because removing bike lanes will decrease safety and cause more cyclist injuries and deaths.

I am also concerned for my new city. The recent city of Stratford master transportation plan calls for new bike lanes, including across our waterfront. We have very little traffic in Stratford and could easily a very bike friendly city. Unfortunately we are also in a rural area where not all drivers are used to cyclists. As a very tourist friendly city, with poor public transit, it would be a huge benefit for us to have more alternatives to cars, as proposed in the new transportation plan. Unfortunately bill 212 would make it very difficult for the city to implement this plan, as it would require the removal of existing traffic lanes. This decision should be left in the hands of our local government without the unnecessary obstruction of the provincial government.

To recap my concerns:
- This bill is provincial government over reach.
- This bill ignores the rights of cyclists to safety (possible charter violation).
- This bill ignores the economic value of having complete streets where pedestrians and cyclists can easily support local businesses.
- This bill is specifically designed to scapegoat cyclists, while doing nothing to address the true cause of traffic (too many cars).

Please do not move forward with bill 212.

Stratford, ON

Riding: Perth-Wellington