As a disabled person who…

As a disabled person who relies on a bicycle for accessible transportation, I strongly oppose Bill 212. This bill oversteps municipal authority and undermines local decision-making on bike lane infrastructure. Local governments, not the provincial legislature, are best suited to determine the transportation needs of their residents. Bill 212 is a dangerous step backward. Municipalities like Toronto need the flexibility to design safe, inclusive streets, on the basis of expert opinion, staff reports, and resident input. This bill politicizes road safety for short-term political gain.

Bike lanes are crucial for safe, sustainable urban travel, and the province should support—not restrict—them. They reduce traffic by giving residents safe alternatives to driving. Removing bike lanes will actually increase congestion and car dependency, which will harm all road users. Forcing cyclists into car lanes will only worsen traffic and result in more injuries and cyclist deaths. Our public streets are for all road users, not just drivers.

This bill disregards the evidence that bike lanes improve road safety and reduce congestion. It is a clear example of provincial overreach and a step back for sustainable urban development. Bill 212 is unnecessary and wasteful. Municipalities already consult the public on transportation matters, and this bill only serves to centralize control, undermining local democracy.