Comment
This proposal is terrible for many reasons.
First off, this is bad policy. Bike lanes do not cause gridlock. The real cause of gridlock is that there are more cars on the road. This is because successive provincial governments - including the current one - have not created the conditions for densification that would provide people real alternatives to needing a car to get around. The current government is only making this worse by building more roads farther from urban centers AND at the same time not incentivizing - or even mandating - higher density construction across ALL municipalities; something that is clearly within provincial control and within the provincial mandate. How are all those people who will be living up near the 413 going to get to work? They are going to have to drive. And that is what makes gridlock.
Secondly, it is poor allocation of the provincial gvernment's resources. Why should the province be spending its time regulating bike lanes from Thunder Bay to Whitby? This is ridiculous. How long will it take to even get bike lanes that offend no drivers (if such a thing even exists) approved? Controlling bike lanes is in the hands of cities for a reason. Leave it there.
Thirdly, this decision is anti-democratic. The city of Toronto just had an election not too long ago for mayor, where one candidate was very anti-bike lane and promised to rip out bike lanes on Bloor and Yonge street. Guess what? He lost. Just because some people are unhappy with that does not justify the province stepping in to override the collective will of the people in the city of Toronto (yet again).
For all of these reasons, I disagree with this proposed legislation.
If the government wants to truly impact gridlock, they should speed up the opening of the Eglinton West LRT and Eglinton West LRT extension, the Finch LRT, all-day 2-way Go service etc and other cycling projects, like the West Toronto Railpath extension that get people on bikes off of roads etc. They should also stop parking expansion in crowded urban areas, such as the massive parking lot that is planned for Ontario Place. Building parking down there just encourages people to drive, increasing traffic on the already busy Gardiner Expwy and Lakeshore Blvd.
Submitted October 28, 2024 10:44 PM
Comment on
Bill 212 - Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, 2024 - Framework for bike lanes that require removal of a traffic lane.
ERO number
019-9266
Comment ID
107594
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Comment status