More lanes for cars doesn't…

More lanes for cars doesn't improve traffic. Bike lanes are far more efficient in transporting people than cars, which are often single occupancy. Blaming bike lanes for the prioritization that cars gets is not going to improve our infrastructure. Rather, we need to promote efficient alternatives, including fast and efficient public transit, bike lanes, and pedestrian paths.

I live in downtown Ottawa (Centretown). As someone who has a visual disability, I cannot drive a car, but I can still ride a bike under certain circumstances. Having safe bike lanes is one additional way that I can get around, but with limited infrastructure to support it, I do not feel safe to do so. The public transit is infrequent and unreliable, so I am often left taking an Uber. I don't want to do this as it just adds to our ongoing traffic issues. But there is empirical evidence to support multiple modes of transit--and not just cars.

I have attached a Vox article that discusses widening roads, which is a related issue. I also included a press release with a link to the final report from Portland State University on the positive economic impact of bike lanes. There are far more benefits to having bike lanes than saving space for cars. Adding limits to sustainability is not the direction the government should be going, and I oppose the proposed initiative.