I strongly oppose Bill 212,…

I strongly oppose Bill 212, Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, 2024, which introduces a top-down framework for managing bike lanes by requiring the removal of traffic lanes to follow provincial procedures. This legislation undermines the principle of municipal autonomy, which is central to effective urban planning and governance. Municipalities, being closest to their residents, must have the final say in adding or removing bike lanes, reflecting the priorities and unique needs of their communities.

This bill is extremely regressive. If anything, Ontario should be moving towards increased adoption of well-segregated bike lanes, which are essential not just from a sustainability perspective but also for improving public health and safety. Numerous studies highlight that protected bike lanes can encourage more people to cycle, reducing car dependency, carbon emissions, and congestion. Furthermore, encouraging active transportation plays a crucial role in tackling chronic health issues like obesity and heart disease, while fostering more livable, connected neighborhoods.

Restricting municipal authority to implement bike lanes will discourage progress toward these goals and weaken local efforts to achieve greener, healthier urban environments. I urge the government to reconsider this approach and empower municipalities to lead bike lane decisions, in alignment with the principles of bottom-up governance.