Decisions about adding bike…

Decisions about adding bike lanes in a community shouldn’t be made at the provincial level; it’s too broad a scope to understand the unique needs of each municipality. Bike lanes are a local issue, and it doesn’t make sense for provincial authorities to be overruling or directing these kinds of projects. Bill 212 is a serious overreach.

As someone who works and lives in the city core while also bikes year-round, I’ve seen firsthand how valuable bike lanes are. There’s so much evidence showing they improve the health, safety, and well-being of communities. Bike lanes encourage people to stay active, reduce dependence on cars, and help make neighborhoods cleaner and more pedestrian-friendly. Removing them would just push more people into cars, adding to road congestion and forcing cyclists to use driving lanes, which slows traffic even more. This year alone, six cyclists have already died on Toronto streets. Cutting back on bike lanes would be a huge step backward—we actually need more bike lanes, not fewer.

Having strong cycling infrastructure, along with other alternative transportation options, makes our cities fairer and safer for everyone. I really hope the Ministry will look at the overwhelming data backing these benefits and make a decision based on evidence.

Another part of Bill 212 is that it would allow projects like Highway 413 to skip the Environmental Assessment Act, which sets standards to protect our environment. Skipping these assessments just to speed up projects is reckless and short-sighted. We need these measures to hold everyone accountable and make sure developments are sustainable. I urge the Ministry to stick to its commitment to a healthy, sustainable future for all of us.