I am completely outraged by…

I am completely outraged by the government's plan about controlling and eliminating bike lanes. I don't know what to say about it, because I know this office, the legislative committee, as well as the Premier's and Minister's offices have been flooded with data about the criticality of cycling in Toronto, and why this is such a terrible and ignorant move. Why should I repeat this, when the government is ignoring it, and ramming this through without any thought or research?

I am beyond dismayed that the government ignores all this information, and has provided NO evidence at all justifying this move. I watched almost the full Nov. 18 committee meeting. Deputant after deputant presented deeply researched information, referencing studies around North America and the world with *facts* about cycling, and bike lanes' impacts on congestion, local businesses, safety (deaths will be certain with this bill), climate change. People noted evidence that all recent apartment and condominium buildings built in central Toronto, and near transit are built with vastly more bike parking than for cars - because that's who lives in those places.

Safety gets no mention from the government, except to claim "safe side streets" can be used. This is a non-starter, those streets are utterly impractical to use when they exist, and there are *no* side street alternatives to Bloor & Yonge, and likely for other streets where the province will prevent future lanes. Again, whoever is pushing this bill knows nothing about cycling, and/or chooses to ignore all evidence.

Shame, shame, shame. People will die. Toronto and other Ontario cities will be dragged back to the 1950s and 60s when cities are dedicated to the car.