As an Ontario resident who…

As an Ontario resident who travels throughout the province by car and by bicycle, I have a number of concerns regarding the proposed legislation to require provincial approval for the installation of new bike lanes and to compel municipalities to collect and provide information on existing bike lanes for the purpose of overriding previous decisions to enable these facilities to be provided.

I recognize the importance of reducing gridlock on Ontario roads, and the benefits of saving drivers time and money. However the proposed legislation fails to recognize the benefits of bike lanes that in many cases outweigh any impact to commuting time and traffic volumes.

The main benefit is safety. Protected bicycle lanes have greatly improved the safety of roads where they have been installed. This safety benefit includes not only cyclists, but all users (including motor vehicle drivers/passengers). A U.S. study found that fatalities fell by over 38% in Chicago, 40% in Denver, nearly 50% in San Francisco, 60% in Seattle, and a whopping 75% in Portland, OR when protected bicycle lanes were implemented. The proposed legislation removes a tool that municipalities can use to avoid injuries and fatalities on their roads.

Another benefit of bike lanes is their ability to facilitate shift in modes. Within the width of a single lane of traffic, it is possible to move 9000 people per hour on a two-way cycling facility. This greatly exceeds the capacity of a lane dedicated to automobile traffic (1000 - 1500 people per hour depending on traffic lights). Many cities in North America have seen considerable numbers of cyclists when new protected cycling infrastructure was introduced. This may include some new recreational traffic, but also includes users who have shifted from driving or taking transit. These shifts reduce the number of cars on the road, which is the direct cause of traffic congestion in Ontario.

In addition, the 'specified criteria' for approval of new bike lanes is not transparent. In many municipal cycling infrastructure projects, there may be a portion which requires lane narrowing, or the elimination of dangerous slip lanes or merges to avoid conflicts between cyclists and cars & trucks. Would such changes to streets also require municipal approval? Are you singling out bike lane projects to be treated differently from other road safety initiatives? Will there be a maximum traffic level? (e.g. cycling projects cannot eliminate a lane of traffic on roads greater than 20,000 vehicles per day) Will dedicated lanes for transit also be included in this legislation if they permit bicycles to use them?

In my opinion the proposed legislation is overbearing and creates additional red tape for municipalities who are seeking to find solutions to their traffic congestion and road safety issues. Catering to personal vehicles above all else will provide additional incentive for Ontario residents to drive instead of using other modes of travel. Ontario already subsidizes driving heavily through rebating license fees, provincial and municipal roadway maintainance costs, police and enforcement, as well as the health impacts from encouraging sedentary lifestyles and injuries and deaths from automobile collisions. Ultimately, adding friction to the use of cycling as a solution to these issues will cost Ontario residents, both in terms of their health and well-being, and in their pocketbook over the short and the long-term. I urge the Government of Ontario to reconsider this legislation.