This legislation will have…

This legislation is a travesty regarding understanding of the factors to reducing traffic congestion, will result in billion dollars of spending for the province and will have deadly consequences for little to no benefit to the public at large. There will be a slight decrease in traffic for a brief period of time — then induced demand will bring the roads to a standstill within no time at all. Studies show time and time again that adding lanes of traffic, over the long run, actually serves to make traffic worse while deprecating the quality of life for those who do not drive and makes our province even less navigable for those who do not drive. These billions in taxpayer dollars can far better be utilized by transit solutions that are actually planned for long-term sustainable growth and urban development that prioritizes mobility while deprioritizing personal motor vehicles.

The demonization and destruction of cycling infrastructure is the most tragic part of this plan. Drivers will see a meagre improvement to their travel time for a brief moment before returning to baseline. Meanwhile, us and our neighbours who do not drive, and choose to take an efficient, sustainable, and healthy way around our town will suffer for it and risk getting seriously injured or killed, all for what? A few minutes shaved off of drivers’ morning commute? Your convenience as a driver does not outweigh cyclists right to safety. This thinking demonstrates a complete carelessness for the wellbeing of ALL Ontarians, increasing inequality between drivers and non-motorists.

If you really care about reducing congestion - create reasonable and effective alternatives to driving (transit, cycling infrastructure, better pedestrian access to amenities). Reduce the need to drive and make it easier to not need a car. The success of GO transit in getting suburban commuters to downtown should be a sign that we need more of this and less reliance on inefficient, costly, high-emissions travel modes. Plan smarter.