I am a driver, walker,…

ERO number

019-9265

Comment ID

119704

Commenting on behalf of

Individual

Comment status

Comment approved More about comment statuses

Comment

I am a driver, walker, transit rider and cyclist. I use the method that is safest and most efficient in the situation. My primary consideration is getting from one location to another, not to advocate for a single travel modality.   

The considerations when developing transportation must balance moving the most people in the most efficient way (time and cost). Depending on the specific location this may be walking, cycling, public transit, shared vehicles (e.g. taxi, rideshare) or private vehicle. Most importantly, some methodologies which are best in one location (e.g. private vehicle in rural or sub-urban Ontario) are different in another (e.g. public transit, walking, and cycling in dense urban environments). Trying to impose an inefficient solution will actually make transportation efficiency worse - building a subway in a small town is as ill suited as depending solely on private vehicles in a large city. It is impossible to successfully build an urban environment which relies on private vehicles, there will always be serious traffic congestion, there is just not enough space to build enough roads as there is in low density rural and suburban spaces. 

People have the freedom to choose between transportation strategies - the primary influence for this choice is safety, and second time efficiency, of course within affordability parameters. 
Removing bike lanes is counter-productive. A safe and efficient bike network will complement safe pedestrian infrastructure and efficient public transit. Such a system cannot be built only on secondary roads, they are not continuous and intended for transportation, they are designed for local access. To remove and limit a city's ability to design their transportation is counter-productive: in the long term it will only create more congestion and ensuing loss of productivity among residents in cities and those who commute into cities. 

There has been a significant increase in cycling in Toronto in the past several years. As the network grows, this trend will continue, which will alleviate road congestion. Removing infrastructure will put people back in cars, and will increase congestion. Either strategy creates a feedback loop. 

The priority must be moving people - Bill 212 has the false premise that we need to build more highways and roads as the primary way to reduce congestion. This only has a very temporary impact - many studies have proven this repeatedly. The only way to reduce congestion and improve transportation efficiency is an overall system view, not a single parameter (private vehicle).