In a city with finite space,…

In a city with finite space, not everyone can drive and alternatives to driving are crucial to allow movement within the city. When we place moving *people* as the important metric to track (instead of cars), it becomes clear that a focus on cars is counterproductive. Instead, the focus should be on the most efficient means of transportation: transit, walking, and cycling.

Countless studies illustrate that bike lanes calm traffic, reduce congestion, and are even a boon for businesses. After all, when one is riding a bike, they are intimately connected to their surroundings and can easily stop at a shop that catches their eye. Further to this point, studies have shown that in urban areas, people driving to shops amount to under 10%, whereas 70+% arrived by walking, cycling, and transit.

Studies also show that in the neighborhood of 50% of all car trips in a city are under 5km. This is a distance that is easily bikeable for a majority of people. Yet, removing bike lanes will have the effect of dissuading cycling for these trips. In other words, the lost potential of removing up to 50% of all local car traffic.

Following the idea of induced demand, removing bike lanes dissuades people from cycling, and at least some of these people will now drive instead. I think we can all agree that a car occupies a lot more space than a bike. So, we counterintuitively find ourselves in the situation where we have added car traffic to fight congestion - not a winning strategy.

Furthermore, the idea of putting significant money into the removal of bike lanes is an affront to all transit users in this city. The TTC is underfunded and not meeting the needs of people. The Eglinton Crosstown is *still* not open. Funding towards these ends will move a profoundly larger group of people than catering to the car.

On a personal level, I use bike lanes every day - for going to work, going shopping, and meeting up with friends at restaurants. If bike lanes are removed, my health will be endangered as I ride along Bloor to work. Merely going shopping may cost me my life. Socializing will occur less frequently (I.e. less business for local restaurants and shops). I implore you to leave management of bike lanes to the local government. I also implore you to focus on provincial priorities, such as getting the Eglinton LRT open, properly funding and supporting health care, and addressing the housing shortage by allowing increased density and dissuading sprawl.