I'm writing to express my…

I'm writing to express my deep opposition to the "Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act", a proposal that poses a real and present danger to public safety by requiring municipalities to seek provincial approval to develop bike lanes if doing so would reduce car lanes. This bill is, frankly, a reckless overreach that threatens lives, undermines municipal authority, and prioritizes cars at the expense of safer, healthier communities.

Bike infrastructure isn’t just a convenience—it’s a necessity. In the past two months, Ottawa has seen two tragic cyclist fatalities, both preventable if there had been adequate bike lanes. Less than a month ago, a member of my own family was hit by a car while cycling in the rural town of Russell. They sustained life-threatening injuries: a brain bleed, multiple fractures in their spine, a broken pelvis, and a shattered knee. If a bike lane had been in place, this accident could have been entirely avoided. The lack of safe infrastructure forced them onto the road, placing them at risk.

Just two weeks ago, I personally witnessed another cyclist hit on one of Ottawa’s main arteries, an accident that was horrifyingly predictable given the absence of a bike lane. I watched in shock as the cyclist was flung into the air, his bike smashed into a car windshield, and his body hit the pavement hard as he attempted to brace his fall. He was fortunate to have sustained no serious injuries. These incidents are not isolated—this is the grim reality of insufficient bike infrastructure in our city.

This Act’s focus on preserving car lanes rather than investing in safe, sustainable transportation options is shortsighted and irresponsible. People will continue to bike, whether or not the province chooses to make it safe for them. Prioritizing car lanes over the well-being of cyclists is an active decision to place Ontarians at risk, and it is unconscionable. The fact that this legislation even prioritizes reducing gridlock for motor vehicles shows a disturbing disregard for the human and environmental costs of traffic-heavy urban areas. Car traffic is a primary contributor to the pollution of our air, the warming of our planet, and the congestion that makes our cities inaccessible. If drivers experience gridlock, that is simply a reflection of the realities they themselves contribute to. Meanwhile, those of us who choose active transportation are left in danger because we lack basic safety infrastructure.

Beyond safety, failing to build bike lanes ignores the broader benefits of active transportation. Numerous studies show that bike-friendly cities enjoy cleaner air, healthier populations, and happier residents. Research has shown that communities with more bike infrastructure are safer, healthier, and more enjoyable places to live, and that the absence of safe cycling routes is a major contributor to injuries and fatalities. Prioritizing cars and neglecting these benefits shows an utter disregard for public health, the environment, and quality of life in Ontario.

Finally, the Premier’s recent comments about the unhoused, urging them to “get off [their] ass and start working like everyone else,” further reveal his profound disconnect from the daily realities of so many Ontarians. This policy, much like his approach to safe injection sites, represents a government that is not only out of touch but actively chooses to ignore both public health data and the safety of its citizens.

Simply, the "Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act" represents a significant and dangerous shift in Ontario’s transportation policy, one that threatens the safety, well-being, and autonomy of our communities. I urge the government to withdraw this bill and allow municipalities the freedom to protect and improve their communities as they see fit. We need legislation that prioritizes people, not cars.