As a Toronto resident, I am…

As a Toronto resident, I am appalled at the provincial government's approach to this issue. Premier Doug Ford shows that he either does not understand or does not care about the complexity of the transportation problems in Toronto and how it effects Toronto residents and visitors. This provincial overreach seems to be specifically targeted at Toronto. Municipalities are best positioned to determine infrastructure needs for their community, not the provincial government. Doug Ford stepping in to specifically target Toronto appears to be motivated by a combination of ignorance, spite, and stupidity.
Prioritizing cars and out-of-town commuters to ensure that a precious few minutes are saved in traffic ignores the multitudes of studies support their use. Studies have shown that bike lanes reduce congestion by providing a safer environment for more drivers to switch to biking and have a net-positive effect that benefits drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. For one such study see Monsere et al.'s (2014) "Lessons from the Green Lanes: Evaluating Protected Bike Lanes in the U.S." which showed that no collisions or near-collisions were observed after installing protected bike lanes and 75% of residents supported building more of these lanes. In Toronto, we have seen that removing bike lanes is much costlier than installing them, and the stated goal of reducing traffic has proven to be false.
Many municipalities see the value in bike lanes and yet Ford has his sights set on dismantling Toronto's exclusively. Why is that? The majority of Torontonians, even those who don't bike, support these lanes. I infrequently bike, but when I do, I am acutely aware of how dangerous it is. This was made evident after being hit by a car last month. I am even more cautious now about biking in the city. I have to say I am quite perturbed that politicians think it is wise to waste money and resources to dismantle bike lanes. However, it is not surprising considering the illogical decision of costing taxpayers $225 million to enable convenience stores to carry alcohol. It makes us wonder exactly what is motivating these types of decisions which cost our province money and show little (or no) benefit to anyone outside of Doug Ford’s social and business circles.
If Ford continues on this short-sighted vendetta he has against Toronto, he will be doing this great city and its residents a disservice. We have a vibrant, beautiful, and cultural centre that attracts tourists and business from the entertainment industry. We see celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger hopping on city bikes to enjoy Toronto's sites. We do not need more cars on the road, we need less. Gridlock traffic is not because of bike lanes. We need to find ways to reduce the number of cars on the road, not take away safe transportation alternatives. Politicians should be relying on qualified individuals in city planning and transportation, rather than allowing their emotions and ambitions to rule their judgement.
We have very real concerns that need attention when it comes to transportation, such as problems with the Gardiner Expressway and the debacle that is the Crosstown LRT. If Doug Ford actually wants to reduce gridlock and save us time in transportation, perhaps he should actually address the root causes rather than waving false flags that have already been debunked. Is this simply a diversionary tactic to distract Ontarians from the ineptitude of our corrupt provincial government that has handed out sweetheart deals to crony capitalists? Is this rhetoric meant to appeal to a constituency of voters who commute into Toronto from the 905 area and like to blame cyclists for traffic because they lack a basic understanding of the actual causes of traffic (construction, car accidents, bad drivers, illegal parking, etc.)? Why not decrease the amount of street parking if the premier actually cares about increasing lanes of traffic? Why not increase the cost of penalties for unsafe driving, which we seem to have noticed a sharp increase in? Why not focus on ensuring DriveTest centres are not handing out driver's licences to unqualified and dangerous drivers in an apparent scandal of bribery and greed that was facilitated by the privatization of this industry? Why not issue fines to drivers via new models of accountability that allow citizens to submit video/photo complaints of drivers who block bike lanes, park illegally, and violate traffic laws that endanger citizens?
How much is this study costing us in time, resources, and funds that could be better allocated to addressing the actual problems Toronto and other municipalities are facing and the real concerns Ontario residents have? How many more cyclists have to die for politicians to understand that this is not a game? We should be prioritizing human life over the greed and whims of politicians. We don't need beer in convenience stores, we don't need a luxury spa on Toronto's waterfront that allows a select few to profit, we didn't want the Science Centre to be closed prematurely and moved illogically, and we certainly don't want to see Ford and his pals getting away with corrupt behaviour that saw the Greenbelt scandal unfold. Municipalities have spent millions of dollars to assess and develop strategic plans for safe transportation to meet increasing demands due to exploding population density. Yet Ford wants the power to veto decisions and remove bike lanes as he sees fit. We want safe transportation, accountability, and a focus on the key issues facing Ontarians. Stop getting in the way of municipalities doing their jobs and start working with the Federal government to address problems in housing and healthcare which Ontario residents demand immediate efforts be focused on. This is a waste of time and a distraction. We see you Doug Ford.