The Ministry of…

The Ministry of Transportation has its responsibility to manage and maintain the provincial road network. There is no place for provincial legislature to dictate how municipal roads are managed. This falls under the jurisdiction of the municipalities and their tax paying residents. Transportation authorities have a duty to a holistic approach to transportation which includes all modes and not limited to just vehicular traffic. The City of Toronto has taken this approach with their arterial roads and applied Complete Streets and Vision Zero initiatives which focus on the movement and safety of all users including the most vulnerable, while mitigating aggressive driver behaviour. The removal of bike lanes in favour of some additional capacity for vehicles is not a long-term sustainable solution to addressing traffic congestion. More ways of getting around means less congestion and less risk of fatal collisions. Without dedicated cycling infrastructure on arterials, cyclist will be forced to occupy general purpose lanes, which they are entitled to under the Highway Traffic Act, subjecting them to safety hazards of aggressive drivers. Furthermore, this will also lead to cyclists operating on sidewalk which poses safety risks to pedestrians. If the minister proposes removal of existing lanes, there should be public consultation for residents to provide input in a forum such as a Public Information Centre. Is this the case?

This legislature is unlawful and not supported by Ontario's metropolitan cities and their residents. It prioritizes the movement of vehicles over movement and safety of people. If the province wants complete oversight on municipal roads, they should examine uploading them to the provincial road network at their cost.