As a resident of Etobicoke,…

As a resident of Etobicoke, Ontario, I wish to express my opposition to Bill 212: Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act. As a motorist, I oppose the inadequacy of the proposed actions as a solution to municipal gridlock. As a cyclist, I oppose the inadequacy of this Bill in ensuring safe and equitable access for all vehicles. Furthermore, as a concerned citizen, I oppose the proposed construction of roadways, specifically Highway 413 without comprehensive planning. Altogether, I strongly believe that these measures represent, at best, a short-term, band-aid solution to gridlock that will only push greater problems onto Ontarians in the future.

I live with my husband and small children in Etobicoke, less than 500m north of Bloor Street, and work in the downtown core, near Union Station. I am a frequent motorist, cyclist and pedestrian, and therefore have a great deal of personal experience with the infrastructure affected by Bill 212.

Traffic congestion in Toronto is a complex and long-standing issue which significantly predates the installation of bicycle lanes on arterial roadways into the city centre. With continuing population growth within the city and surrounding area, particularly in light of imminent development in the Kipling-Bloor area, simply reallocating an additional pre-existing lane of car traffic on these roads is woefully inadequate and shortsighted. Rather, this issue calls for innovative solutions that enable and encourage alternate modes of transport, including transit use, walking and cycling.

This is particularly true on mixed-use main streets such Bloor Street and Yonge Street, which support a large number of local residential, commercial and institutional destinations. The greatest benefit to both residents and local businesses requires access by a multitude of users, including motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, mobility device users, transit users, delivery services and emergency services. Unlike roadways such as the Gardiner Expressway, the primary function of these mixed-use roads is not to funnel the greatest possible number of vehicles to and from the city centre. As long as such local functions exist on these streets, they will be poorly suited to serve as the quickest and most reliable access to downtown by car.

The Bloor Street cycling lanes have particular personal relevance to me, I have used them to cycle downtown to work and to take my daughter to and from nursery school about 3km away along Bloor St. Without the stretch of bicycle lanes from Kipling Ave. to Islington Ave., in particular, there are no viable alternative routes that avoid major roads. I also cycle my son to daycare further north on Kipling Ave. I do not feel safe cycling alongside high-speed traffic on Kipling Ave., especially with a toddler in tow, and therefore I use side roads and trails. This increases my travel time by at least 60%, and also requires me to cross four major roads at uncontrolled intersections. Not only is this slow and dangerous, but it also frequently delays motorists behind me as I wait for a gap in 2-4 lanes of traffic. Despite this, cycling remains the most practical method to reach these destinations. Purchasing and operating a second vehicle simply to get our children to school is financially absurd.

While the Ministry of Transportation defines bicycles as vehicles and has broad responsibility for ensuring their safe and appropriate use, it has traditionally been left to local municipalities to decide on the most appropriate way to ensure equitable access by motor vehicles and bicycles. To adequately perform this function, municipalities have developed a great deal of resources, knowledge and infrastructure, including local consultation with residents and businesses, urban planning experts, computer modelling, and traffic studies. As such, these municipalities are currently best placed to decide if and where cycling infrastructure should be installed. The use of side roads or trails for cycling is not objectionable in and of itself, provided these side roads provide a similarly efficient route to destinations across the city, including appropriate measures to allow timely and safe crossings at any major roads. Until such time as the MTO builds out the appropriate capacity to provision the alternate routes, it is evident that it does not have sufficient capability and expertise to ensure safe and equitable access to local roads, especially as the scope of this bill does not include the responsibility to ensure the suitability and adequacy of alternate cycling infrastructure. Local mixed-use roads are funded by taxes paid by residents and businesses within the municipality, and municipal governments are most familiar with local needs and most answerable to local taxpayers. Oversight over the particulars of these local roads must therefore continue to rest with local governments.

Finally, I must also oppose Bill 212 with respect to accelerated construction on the proposed Highway 413. In addition to significant impacts on local residents and the environment, expressways constitute a significant component of provincial transportation. As such, it is absolutely vital that these projects are thoughtfully and thoroughly considered to ensure that they serve their intended function while minimizing negative consequences. Poor planning will only increase the likelihood of greater costs to taxpayers in the future.

I was born in Ontario, and I am greatly appreciative of my home province and have deep roots here. I grew up mainly in small towns in the Golden Horseshoe. Some of my happiest childhood memories were at my grandparents' orchard in Niagara-on-the-Lake and my other grandparents' home and cottage near Georgian Bay. As an adult, I still visit relatives and travel around the province with my own family, whenever I can. As a resident of Etobicoke, I love my local neighborhood and neighbours. I appreciate the thriving, bustling city of Toronto that provides vital employment and cultural opportunities. I take pride in the bounty of produce that comes from highly fertile Ontario agricultural land and the beauty and inherent environmental value of our pristine wilderness. It is clear to me that if Ontario is to remain "A Place to Grow" for existing and future residents, thoughtful, thorough planning and good faith integration of all road users must be maintained and encouraged.