I don't understand why this…

I don't understand why this legislation is necessary or desirable. I elect my municipal politicians to make decisions that pertain to the municipality in which I live. I expect them to live in my community, understand the particular needs of my community, and make informed decisions based on that local knowledge.

The proposal removes a level of flexibility in making alterations to communities that seems completely unnecessary and unwarranted. If a municipal politician makes a bad decision, we have the right to vote them out at the ballot box. This proposal also seems to unnecessarily target cyclists; it is still legal to remove vehicular for all other manner of other activities that could impede the flow of traffic, including adding parking (benefiting some motorists over others) and expanding sidewalks (benefiting pedestrians over motorists).

I don't expect much from my government, but I do expect fair and equal treatment under and by the laws of the land. This proposal seems intent on classifying (1) those that ride their bikes as a secondary class of citizens for whom accommodations cannot be made and (2) removing yet more authority from local decision-makers to enact local solutions to local problems.

I urge the government to leave these decisions up to the citizens of each municipality and give all Ontarians equal opportunity to use the common spaces that we all collectively own.