As a Toronto resident and…

As a Toronto resident and someone who both drives to work and bikes to get around the city, I strongly oppose this bill. While gridlock is certainly a problem, removing bike lanes will only cause further traffic as bikes would be forced to more closely mix with cars and people who otherwise would have chosen to bike will chose to contribute to traffic by driving.

While driving, bike lanes give me peace of mind that I will not encounter a cyclist mixed with the cars. Driving on roads like Spadina Rd is a great example of the benefit of bike lanes. Spadina does not have protected bike lanes but still has plenty of bikers. The result is a need for hyper vigilance while driving on Spadina to avoid hitting the bikes, especially as the bikers weave to avoid parked cars or to turn. The bike lanes on University Ave in contrast makes driving a better experience than Spadina. I don't need to worry about a biker dodging around a car in front of me or trying to find a time to pass around a biker.

Furthermore, the existence of bike lanes makes biking in the city a safe and viable option to get around. The bike lanes create an environment where leaving my car at home and choosing to bike to my destination is a viable option, and one which I often choose. By leaving my car at home, I don't contribute to the traffic on the streets or take up one of the limited parking spaces.

The solution to grid lock is not to force bikers onto the road.