Removing bike lanes on Bloor…

Removing bike lanes on Bloor West, Yonge and University, as referenced in the amendment of October 31, 2024, will not reduce congestion, but will increase risk to public safety, and is an alarming move away from evidence-based practices. This proposal is counter to the 2024 Provincial Planning Statement, which includes several policies that support the use of bike lanes.

As for the suggestion that bike lanes should be on secondary roads, the primary challenge with an east-west route such as the Bloor-Danforth Cycle Track is that there is no viable secondary alternative. The Bloor-Danforth Cycle Track is a watershed achievement, increasing connections across the city for sustainable, healthy transportation — it also doubles the route of an efficient and affordable transit line. The western portion of the route is still in its trouble-shooting phase and traffic light timings are being adjusted. Instead of blowing the City's whole bike lane plan up, how about expressing concerns and let the City do its job.

Congestion, in the GTHA especially, is at an all-time high, and there is consensus that action is needed to reduce traffic while recognizing the confines of limited space on roadways. Please work collaboratively with professionals with the understanding and expertise to create roadways that are safe for all road users and that provide people with multiple options to get around, including walking, cycling, public transit and driving.

Over 120 physicians and researchers from the University of Toronto have called on The Ministry of Transportation to take responsibility for serving the people of Ontario, not its motor vehicles. They demand: "We must address the root causes of traffic congestion and provide options for solutions, such as improved transit connectivity and reliability, incentives for choosing alternatives to motor vehicle travel, and support for complete streets that offer safe and efficient transportation options for all people.

Legislation proposing to guide road design decisions, such as Bill 212, should explicitly place a higher priority on road safety than motor vehicle travel times. We oppose the proposed legislation as currently written and remain available should the government seek broader input from stakeholders of road traffic trauma – us and others – who aim to help improve traffic safety for everyone in Ontario."

I'm quoting these people because they've done the research and understand the full picture of what's at stake. This amendment feeds grievance politics, targets vulnerable road users and adds to the already dangerous levels of road rage on our streets. The destruction of existing bicycle infrastructure puts lives at risk - not just on our roads - but through undermining efforts to address the dire impacts of climate change through clean, green, active transportation.