Bill 60, the "Fighting…

Bill 60, the "Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act", restricts municipalities' ability to make informed decisions about public infrastructure, particularly by banning new bike lanes that remove vehicular traffic. For cyclists this limits the ability to reduce car use, free up parking, enjoy the health benefits of biking, and more.

The bill’s potential to block initiatives like CafeTO and bus lanes is also troubling. I enjoy outdoor dining and recognize the importance of bus lanes, which promote efficient public transit over car use.

Bill 212, the "Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act", already caused delays for the Sheppard Complete Streets project by introducing unnecessary red tape. Now, with Bill 60, the province is moving toward outright banning bike lanes that remove traffic lanes, further proving a lack of genuine dialogue on this issue.

Courts have shown that removing bike lanes doesn’t improve congestion and may even reduce safety. Meanwhile, the government has suggested reducing car speeds through traffic calming measures, while opposing bike lanes that could ease car congestion. This contradiction undermines efforts to promote sustainable transportation.

Toronto’s growing population requires more efficient use of public space, especially since single-occupancy cars are the least effective mode of transport. In areas where street widening isn’t possible, removing a vehicular lane for bike lanes or bus lanes is necessary to support public transit and cycling.

The right lane on many streets is often used for parking, effectively reducing them to one lane. Blocking the creation of bike or bus lanes through this bill only worsens congestion.

Cycling is increasingly popular, with Bike Share Toronto hitting 7 million rides in 2024, with demand remaining strong even in winter. Food couriers rely on year-round biking as well.

We need to invest in transportation options that move people efficiently, not perpetuate car dependency. It’s disappointing that this bill undermines local control over how roads are used, and I urge you to reconsider the impact of this legislation.