This proposal is not backed…

This proposal is not backed by science or logic, and will only serve to degrade the wellness and environment of those in and around Toronto.

I use my bike to transit almost everywhere in this city, year-round. Six cyclists have already been killed on Toronto roads in 2024. Losing bike lanes means losing more lives.

If you look at the situations surrounding their deaths, they can be linked almost directly to poor infrastructure and compliance to the laws (both by cyclists and drivers)

Mr. Ford seems perfectly content to cut off Toronto's nose to spite its face, despite research from around the world indicating that his "solution" will only exacerbate traffic and kill more people.

My partner and I are looking to start my family in Toronto, but if bike lanes are removed, my life - as well as those of thousands of other cyclists - will be put in danger.

For example, I cycle down Yonge from Eglinton to Bloor daily. I am a safe cyclist. I signal, wear highly visible clothing, and keep as far to the right as is reasonable. On the stretches of Yonge where there are no bike lanes, I have had so many near misses where negligent drivers swerve to take a right turn, cutting me off and nearly hitting me. This -obviously - does not happen when there are protected bike lanes.

Furthermore, intentionally degrading the cycling infrastructure in favor of more car infrastructure will ultimately increase the number of cars on our roads, increasing emissions and further polluting our province.

Finally, the logic of this proposal is unbalanced and unfair to those who wish to introduce new bike lanes. The proposal could "compel municipalities to collect and provide information to the province on existing bike lanes where a lane of traffic was removed."

Why is Mr. Ford not held to the same standard? Why can we not also compel HIM to collect and provide information to his constituents on existing car lanes where a lane of cyclist traffic was removed?

I believe it is because he is well aware that his proposal has no scientific, environmental, nor moral foundation.

The proposal itself admits that it has not analysed the impacts to the environment: "Implications to the environment will be considered as the ministry identifies and develops the criteria for evaluating proposed new cycling lanes." How can we allow this to pass without any analysis being conducted?

If we want to achieve our climate goals, we cannot aim to increase car use. This is completely counterproductive.