I am strongly opposed to…

I am strongly opposed to Bill 212 and the Highway 413 Act, 2024.

I’ve never owned a car and don’t ever plan to, primarily for environmental and health reasons. I also live in Toronto’s west end and don’t need a car - I’m fortunate to live near a subway station and walk or bike whenever I’m able. Cycling has increasingly been my main mode of transportation for the last couple of decades and since I live right off Bloor, I bike on it almost daily as I commute, run errands, visit family and friends and shop at local businesses. The protected bike lane along Bloor have made my bike rides so much safer and have enabled many more people, including my dad and nephews, to be able to travel more safely on two wheels. My 68 year-old dad, who also lives near Bloor, used to drive everywhere, but after getting an e-assist bike a few years ago, his main mode of transportation is his bike and it’s enabled him to see the city with completely new eyes - he’s logged over 5,000 km this year! Like for me, biking has been so good for his physical and mental health, not to mention saving money and contributing to a cleaner environment. My dad admits that there’s no way he would be biking if it weren’t for all the safe cycling infrastructure the City of Toronto installed over the last several years.

I know that there’s some opposition to some bike lanes in Toronto, but the reality is that we cannot all drive. There’s just too many of us in this rapidly growing city and the planet is getting increasingly hotter every year. Just like many of us put on masks and got vaccinated during the pandemic for the greater good (i.e. to protect the public), those of us who are able to, ought to consider alternatives to driving, whether it’s walking, biking, taking transit, etc. for the health and safety of people and the planet.

Congestion is bad in Toronto, but numerous studies and historical data have shown that removing bike lanes will not ease congestion. More importantly, removing bike lanes will cause more injuries and fatalities. Bike lanes don’t just protect cyclists - they make streets safer for pedestrians and drivers too. Why would the Ontario government pass legislation that puts lives at risk? So drivers can save a few minutes? Already six people have been killed riding their bikes in Toronto this year (more than the previous three years combined) and as Doug Ford himself said in 2017, “one death is way too many”.

I am also deeply concerned about the plan to fast-track the construction of Highway 413, including exempting it from the Environmental Assessment Act. This highway will destroy thousands of acres of farmland and hundreds of acres of Greenbelt, causing irreversible harm to lands that are vital for protecting our air, water, and wildlife. Highway 413 will also increase greenhouse gas emissions, further exacerbating the climate crisis. Transportation is already the largest source of emissions in Ontario, and this project will lock us into decades of higher emissions.

Moreover, Highway 413 won’t solve congestion, but will in fact make it worse. Experts around the world have proven that building more highways leads to induced demand, creating more traffic and pollution. If we want to reduce gridlock, we need to focus on investing in alternatives to driving, like public transit and cycling infrastructure. These alternatives will also reduce emissions and improve public health, while supporting the local economy.

In summary, Bill 212 is a huge step backward for Toronto and the province as a whole. I urge you to reconsider and prioritize investments that protect our environment and health while addressing congestion in meaningful ways.