I've been a resident of…

I've been a resident of Mississauga for 26 years, and recently became a homeowner. I have seen first hand how narrowing Rathburn Road and introducing bike lanes over the past year has made the area safer. I've recently made it my goal to use my bike for as many trips as possible for environmental and physical/mental health reasons, and I'll be using the bike trails to do my grocery shopping. They also connect me directly to visiting my dad, and let me easily access other parts of the cycling network like Chechalk and Etobicoke trail, and the multi use path that runs along Burnhamthorpe.

We previously had problems with street racing due to the street being overly wide, and now that the street is narrower and designed to prevent speeding, I'll feel so much better about my future kids crossing it. There are lots of schools and seniors' homes in the area, and crossing the road will now be a less daunting task for dozens of children and elderly people each day. Cyclists (including kids biking to school!) will be much safer too. The new street makes the neighbourhood look more inviting, and like a real community rather than just a way to get to another place. I've talked with 3 of my neighbours who had positive thoughts on the project as well!

This is just one example where removing a car lane made sense, because the street was too wide. Cities know their streets best, and it doesn't make sense that the provincial government could tell the city that they can't undertake a project like this. I think it would be an overreach of provincial government. 

I know that each street will be decided on individually, and this is not a blanket ban, but I believe that moving these decisions up to the provincial level removes accountability. As a citizen, I have direct contact with my councilor and city committees. If they make a decision I disagree with, I can talk to them, and they will have time for me. If the provnice makes such a decision, they likely wont have as much time for citizen engagement for a relatively small municipal project, and it will be harder to be heard.

Given all this, I urge you to please reconsider provincial interference in city planning regarding bike lanes, for the safety and well being of our communities.