As a novice/casual cyclist…

As a novice/casual cyclist who rides for transportation, the presence of bike lanes is crucial for my ability to get around on my bike. Toronto has made great strides in its cycling infrastructure in recent years, incentivizing myself (and many others) to choose cycling over driving. However, there is much work to do if Toronto wants to be considered a world class city in this regard. Studies have shown — and cities such as Amsterdam, Paris, London, Copenhagen, and Montreal have demonstrated — that we can create demand for cycling if we provide the infrastructure, even in cities with cold winters.

For each bike on the road, imagine if that cyclist no longer felt safe on their bike and opted to drive instead. Said a different way, each cyclist represents up to one less car on the road. Cycling infrastructure is crucial for reducing gridlock and slows the speed of traffic, ultimately making roads safer for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists alike.

It is time for the province to catch up with the modern world, or at least get out of the city’s way as we incentivize green, active transportation; provide safe transportation options so folks can opt not to drive; and ultimately get more cars off the road to reduce gridlock. Instead of bike lanes, let’s focus on enhancing public transportation and completing long overdue transit projects to provide more options and get more people out of cars.