It has been very frustrating…

It has been very frustrating the last few years to see the changes made to our downtown streets. While I certainly understand making streets safer, it seems as though decisions are made by persons as though it were a board game rather than real life. Bike lands that are basically not used for at least half of the year have come to dominate the city.

Gridlock on the city is out of control and much has to do with the over zealous reduction of the ability for drivers to get around. This is Canada. This is Toronto. There will always be drivers. Making it difficult and slow to traverse through the city does no one any good and makes for angry residents. Do we honestly think that adding bike lanes is going to make a 50 year old woman ride her bike in November rather than drive to the grocery store?

You are making our city unpleasant to live in. These are not improvements to the overall fabric of our city.

The addition of the bikelanes on Yonge street has been a nightmare. I live off of Yonge Street near Bloor The additional time it now takes to move around the city hear that area is truly unbelievable. The time it can take to move a few blocks is horrendous because the lanes have been so reduced. It took me 7 minutes to move from Aylmer street to Crescent Road last week. I timed it. The distance is approximately 200 yards at best. This is because the bike lanes have taken over. So while I sat there, 7 bikes - only 7 - passed me by on the right. How does that make any sense. This while we are still in bike riding season. Two months from now, it will probably be 2 or 3 bikes while all traffic is gridlocked as the 2-3 bikes drive by - (probably while almost being run down by the electric bike).

Another huge and increasing problem in the city are the electric bikes who now use the bike lanes to travel unimpeded through bike lanes at tremendous speeds. They are a huge problem for drivers, pedestrians and also cyclists. If you want to make the city safer, do something about enforcing rules for ebikes. They drive those roads, sidewalks, bike lanes and everywhere else at ridiculous speeds and with absolutely o sense of safety. They drive as though there are no lanes and no rules.