To the Environmental…

To the Environmental Registry of Ontario,

As a practicing Registered Professional Planner with almost two decades of urban and rural planning experience in both local and provincial government, I am writing to express my deep concern about the framework proposed in Bill 212. This legislation conflicts with the Provincial Planning Statement (PPS), 2024, which was authored by the Government of Ontario and sets out clear priorities for sustainable urban development, active transportation, and climate resilience.

In addition to my professional expertise, I am also an avid cyclist who regularly uses bike lanes on Bloor Street, Yonge Street, and University Avenue in Toronto for commuting to work, for exercise, and for shopping at local businesses. Bike lanes are critical infrastructure that keeps cyclists like me safe and ensures I can return home to my family at the end of the day. Cycling is not only the fastest way to navigate Toronto’s busy streets but also allows me to rely less on a vehicle for transportation. Bike lanes protect lives, prevent accidents, and provide a safer alternative for those choosing active modes of travel, as is encouraged by the Province's own Provincial Planning Statement.

I am deeply saddened by the prospect of the removal of key bike lanes in Toronto, including those on Bloor Street, Yonge Street, and University Avenue, as part of this bill. These bike lanes represent not only the significant investments made in cycling infrastructure but also the collective effort to foster a safer, more sustainable transportation network for the city. The removal of such infrastructure would be a step backward in Toronto’s ongoing efforts to improve urban mobility, reduce congestion, and encourage the use of sustainable transportation options.

The PPS, 2024, prioritizes multi-modal transportation systems and active transportation infrastructure as essential components of compact, efficient, and livable urban communities. Policies under Section 1.6 emphasize the importance of reducing reliance on private automobiles and creating integrated networks that support cycling and walking. Many bike lanes currently slated for removal in Toronto—such as those on major arterial roads like Bloor Street, Yonge Street, and University Avenue—are located within Major Transit Station Areas and other high-density urban corridors. These are precisely the areas where cycling infrastructure is most effective in reducing congestion, improving safety, and encouraging shifts toward sustainable mobility by integrating active transportation with transit-oriented development.

Section 2.4.2.6 of the PPS, 2024, further emphasizes the need to plan Major Transit Station Areas to be transit-supportive and to achieve multimodal access to stations. This includes providing infrastructure that accommodates a range of mobility needs, such as bicycle lanes, sidewalks, and secure bicycle parking, where feasible. The removal of bike lanes from key areas in Toronto undermines these objectives and detracts from efforts to improve integration between transit and active transportation. As our urban centers continue to grow, prioritizing bike lanes as a key component of multimodal networks is essential to meeting the mobility needs of residents and ensuring the success of transit-oriented development.

Bill 212 undermines this framework by enabling the removal of critical bike lanes and centralizing decision-making away from municipalities, which have the local knowledge and expertise to make decisions that best suit their communities. This increased provincial interference in municipal planning disregards the importance of local autonomy in shaping urban mobility solutions. Municipalities have long been responsible for the planning and implementation of transportation infrastructure, as they are closest to the residents and understand the specific needs of their communities.

The Province's overreach in this regard weakens the ability of municipalities to manage their own transportation networks effectively and adapt to local circumstances. Furthermore, these actions not only disregard the significant public investments already made in cycling infrastructure but also counteract efforts to combat climate change. Encouraging car dependency at the expense of active transportation directly contradicts Ontario’s own policy commitments to sustainability and urban resilience as articulated in the PPS, 2024.

Effective planning relies on collaborative and evidence-based approaches that balance the needs of all transportation modes to build safer, more inclusive cities.

I urge the Ministry to reconsider the approach outlined in Bill 212 and align future actions with the PPS, 2024, ensuring that provincial policies uphold sustainability, safety, and municipal autonomy.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback.