I rely on the Bloor St bike…

I rely on the Bloor St bike lane to get to and from work safely and quickly. Every day, all year, I ride from East York down the Danforth, across the Don Valley, crossing Yonge, Bay, and University, before arriving at my workplace. This bike lane is literally a life saver, protecting me from cars and trucks. It’s also the only direct route from my home to my workplace and back. There are no side streets that will get me across the Don Valley. Removal of the bike lane would force me to drive to work, adding yet another car to our congested streets. There is an enormous amount of research about “induced demand,” which tells us that adding lanes will only prompt more people to drive, ultimately increasing congestion and commute times. We want to induce demand for cyclists because it will mean fewer cars on the road, which will benefit those who need to drive. Please do not take away Toronto’s ability to add cycling infrastructure, which protects vulnerable road users while providing alternative means of transportation that lessens traffic. As someone who also drives occasionally, I hate sharing a lane with cyclists. Driving is much more comfortable and safe if cyclists have their own dedicated lane. Forcing drivers to share the car lanes with slower, more vulnerable cyclists will further slow down traffic. It will also dramatically increase the likelihood of collisions, too many of which will be fatal. My daily commute along Bloor is full of cyclists. Many of these road users will not disappear if the lanes are removed. They will be forced on to the roads with cars, slowing the roads down and causing accidents. Please respect the expertise of Toronto’s city planners and keep Toronto’s bike lanes.