I am in strong opposition…

I am in strong opposition. This is limiting municipalities' ability to make decisions and install bike lanes. Bike lanes are proven to reduce traffic congestion, reduce pollution, improve health and community safety. Our cities should no longer be built entirely for the benefit of drivers when so many people are choosing to cycle! Reducing car lanes in favour of bike lanes will encourage people to cycle and discourage people from driving unnecessarily- which is what we want for the sake of the environment and community health and safety

To assist policy analysts reviewing this, here is a summary of evidence to support my view:

Bike Lanes: Proven to Save Lives and Reduce Congestion

1. Bike lanes save lives

**Protected bike lanes** (physically separated from car traffic) are one of the most effective road-safety measures cities can adopt.

* Cities with more protected lanes have **44% fewer road fatalities** and **50% fewer serious injuries** per capita than those without them. *(Marshall & Ferenchak, 2019, *Journal of Transport & Health*)*
* In New York City, adding protected bike lanes led to **a 40–60% drop in injuries** for all road users on those streets. *(NYC Department of Transportation, 2014)*
* London’s “Low Traffic Neighbourhoods,” which combine protected lanes and traffic calming, saw **35% fewer total injuries** and **37% fewer deaths or serious injuries**. *(Aldred et al., 2021, *Findings*)*

**Why it works:** separating bikes from cars reduces collisions, lowers driving speeds, and encourages safer behavior by all users.

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2. Bike lanes improve traffic flow and reduce congestion

Contrary to popular belief, reallocating space for bikes often **improves overall efficiency** of city streets.

* A single protected bike lane can move **up to 7 times more people per hour** than a car lane during peak travel times. *(NACTO Urban Street Design Guide, 2020)*
* After protected lanes were installed, **New York, Washington D.C., and Vancouver** recorded *no increase in travel time* for cars — and in some corridors, smoother overall flow. *(NACTO Case Studies, 2019; City of Vancouver, 2017)*
* The launch of **bike-share systems** in major cities has been linked to **measurable drops in traffic congestion**, particularly for short urban trips. *(Zhou et al., 2020, *Transportation Research Part A*)*

**Why it works:** bike lanes shift short trips (often <5 km) from cars to bikes, reducing traffic volume and freeing up road capacity.

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3. Added benefits

* **Economic:** Streets with bike lanes often see **higher retail sales** and local foot traffic.
* **Health:** Increased cycling boosts physical activity and reduces air pollution exposure.
* **Equity:** Protected lanes make cycling safer for all ages and abilities, not just experienced riders.

In summary

**Protected bike lanes are a triple win** — saving lives, supporting climate and health goals, and keeping cities moving efficiently.
Cities that invest in safe cycling infrastructure consistently see **fewer crashes, lower congestion, and higher quality of life**.

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**Key Sources:**

* Marshall, W. & Ferenchak, N. (2019). *Why cities with high bicycling rates are safer for all road users.* *Journal of Transport & Health.*
* NYC Department of Transportation (2014). *Measuring the Street.*
* Aldred, R. et al. (2021). *Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and Injury Reductions.* *Findings Journal.*
* NACTO (2020). *Urban Street Design Guide.*
* Zhou, X. et al. (2020). *Bike-sharing and congestion reduction.* *Transportation Research Part A.*
* City of Vancouver (2017). *Cycling and Traffic Flow Report.*

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