A couple of huge issues…

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A couple of huge issues front and centre with this proposal.

While gridlock is a huge problem and we as Ontarians should be duly concerned, the proposal is rife with bad policy. Its quite honestly terrible. Anyone that both drives and cycles will agree.

The focus needs to not just be on improving existing infrastructure for cars by building much needed highways, but also really doubling down by focusing on transit. Thats the biggest denominator as to reducing traffic in our city.

One: Removing the bikelanes in those main arteries will not have any meaningful impact to reducing traffic. In fact it could induce more demand. Kindly refer to research online that has been supported ad nauseam by well researched sources.

Also, are cyclists really going to move off the roads without the bike lanes? I admire the trust this government has in our drivers and cyclists co-existing peacefully, but it would be prudent to not do so. 9x more accidents to cyclists happen without bike lanes.

Two: Instead of removing bikelanes, we should remove street parking in these main arteries. This will open up 2-3 extra, measurable lanes to speed up traffic. They can also co exist with bikelanes. We could always have more parking in the side streets, and Green P lots. Designated load/unload and accesibility zones can remain.

Three: There needs to be a renewed focus on streetcar priority for improved commute times. Faster streetcars/improved times = lower reliance on cars which gets more drivers off the road.

We could do so via signal prioritization given we already have the systems in place for it. Transit lanes that are strict, melbourne style left turns. We should almost be like converting streetcar stops to LRTs. By speeding streetcars up, we will be able to encourage higher ridership.

Finally, when is the crosstown going to open? This will really speed things up.

Let's encourage transit and pedestrianisation of Toronto, and not a regression to the dreadful car centricism of the 70s.

If even Detroit, the Motor city is implementing policy to pedestrainising their city and making downtown super walkable, no excuses for why we cannot do so.