I urge the province to back…

I urge the province to back away from challenging existing bike lanes and taking a role in approving new ones. I am a driver, cyclist, transit rider, and pedestrian in Toronto. As a driver, I prefer giving cyclists there own space on the road and as a cyclist, the safety I feel in a dedicated lane is very important to me. Additionally, a direct route, using arterial roads and not winding side streets makes cycling viable. If I had to only bike on side streets that didn't connect well, I may cycle less because it would take longer. That is not a good substitute for a direct bike lane. A reduction in bike lanes could lead some cyclists to start driving, even worsening road congestion. Removing bike lanes will make Toronto and Ontario look amateurish and short-sighted compared to global cities like New York and Paris that are investing in cycling infrastructure.