The proposal presupposes…

The proposal presupposes that adding more lanes for drivers is all it takes to solve the city's congestion issues. While this makes some intuitive sense to someone who doesn't know anything about traffic flow theory, it's shockingly simplistic as the basis for a government proposal, and it simply isn't true in general. I have seen no data from the provincial government to back up their assertion, and while Premier Ford claims that removal of the bike lanes is "very popular" with voters, I strongly believe that those of us who actually live in the affected areas think differently.

I have no doubt that narrowing roads can make congestion marginally worse. The trap is in thinking that a marginal improvement is some kind of solution. It's not. You'll disrupt the commutes of many thousands of people, spend untold millions, and for what - a 10% improvement in commute times? Maybe 20%? How long will that last when folks who previous commuted by bike give up and start driving? Does the government have its next scapegoat lined up already?

I grew up in Toronto's west end, live in downtown Toronto now (just a humble apartment renter, thanks), and I make use of the Bloor Street bike lanes virtually every day, whether it's to run errands, visit my parents, or head to work and classes. Ditto for the University lanes. They are a treasure and the city desperately needs more of them. Their use is growing year after year - people who actually live in Toronto want alternatives to driving.

I also have many less-than-fond memories of being stuck in downtown gridlock on a Greyhound while heading down from Kitchener-Waterloo for the weekend. That was over ten years ago, and there weren't any bike lanes to blame then. Even today the transit options for getting between Toronto and KW are a sad joke - when is the province going to do something about that? Right now the best option by far is to drive. What a shame for all the students and tech workers who do so much to contribute to Ontario's economy, today and in the future. No wonder so many of us pack up and go to the US. This proposal makes me want to move back - I'd have to start driving again, but hey, what's the difference?

I humbly suggest that the provincial government spend its resources more wisely and focus on infrastructure that will serve us for the next fifty years, not pander to the whims of drivers who live far outside the city, who think that their problems will be gone after some easy "win." Cars cause traffic. When everyone drives downtown every day, there will be congestion, bike lanes or not. Please focus on serious solutions instead of pandering.