It is astonishing that the…

It is astonishing that the Conservative Party believes they can pass a bill based on zero factual information. Both the premier and the minister of transport have made statements that are untrue, easily verified by numerous studies. That their base may be galvanised to vote for them based on this erroneous information is perhaps the main intent for putting forward this bill. It appears that the premier and transport minister have decided to pay lip service to the massive problem we face with climate chaos, whilst following a disastrous course, throwing good money after bad on road construction schemes that are doomed to fail.

Numerous cities in numerous countries have implemented progressive multi mode transportation systems, Toronto in particular would benefit immensely from a properly planned, consistent and contiguous network of bike lanes.

Please review the networks implemented in successful cities such as Montreal, London UK, Barcelona, Amsterdam and Copenhagen (indeed all of Scandinavia). Let us acknowledge that there is a way forward, not just digging a deeper hole.

Toronto, in common with most of our larger cities, is already at capacity for private vehicle traffic. Adding more lanes, especially if we lose bike lanes, is only going to exacerbate the problem. The ludicrous sums this government is putting in to roads, would be far better invested in continuous improvement of public transportation and cycling infrastructure, which will actually reduce congestion. Of course, a sure way to reduce private vehicles causing traffic congestion is to implement congestion fees and tolls, while improving the availability of public transit.

Please note, thorough planning and coordinated implementation are critical to successful results. The haphazard design and implementation of Ontario cycling infrastructure is problematic, in that vulnerable road users will not use infrastructure that does not meet their needs. The planners in Toronto are vastly more qualified than either the premier or the minister of transport to plan for the future of Toronto transportation, the province has no business whatever interfering.