This proposal fundamentally…

This proposal fundamentally misunderstands the relationship between road infrastructure and traffic congestion.

The well-documented concept of 'induced demand' shows that adding car lanes typically increases traffic, while bike infrastructure helps reduce it. Cities like Copenhagen, Amsterdam, and Montreal have demonstrated that robust bike infrastructure reduces overall congestion by providing efficient alternatives to car travel.

Research consistently shows that bike lanes can actually improve traffic flow:
- Protected bike lanes in New York City reduced travel times for all users
- Studies in Toronto showed that the Richmond-Adelaide bike lanes improved car travel times despite removing a vehicle lane
- The 'fundamental law of road congestion' (Duranton & Turner, 2011) demonstrates that adding road capacity for cars does not solve congestion long-term"

The proposal overlooks the economic benefits of bike infrastructure:
- Increased retail activity along bike lanes (studies show cyclists spend more at local businesses)
- Reduced infrastructure maintenance costs compared to car-only roads
- Health benefits and reduced healthcare costs from active transportation
- Attraction of young professionals and businesses to bike-friendly cities

While this proposal mentions environmental implications will be 'considered,' it fails to acknowledge that bike infrastructure is crucial for meeting Ontario's climate commitments, that active transportation reduces air pollution and associated health costs, and that bike lanes improve public safety for all road users, including drivers.

Rather than restricting municipal authority over bike infrastructure, the province should support municipalities in expanding both protected bike lanes and public transit, focus on proven congestion-reduction strategies like improved transit and complete streets, and help municipalities collect data on the positive impacts of existing bike infrastructure.

Thank you,
Concerned Ontario Citizen