I am writing to express my…

I am writing to express my opposition to your proposed regulation to permit the province to block new bike lanes in municipalities and to remove existing bike lanes.

This will do nothing to improve the traffic situation in the city of Toronto. In fact, it will add more cars to the road, since many cyclists are only willing to face the dangers posed by cars and trucks on the road due to the existence of separate bike lanes. This is (to put it mildly) an unbelievably short sighted and non-evidence-based policy that will result in more congestion and more death and injuries to cyclists. Biking is a cheap, healthy, efficient and environmentally friendly mode of transportation. These are all things that should be encouraged in today's society - and indeed, many cities around the world are expanding bike lanes and access for cyclists (Paris and NYC, to name two), and other cities, such as Amsterdam and Copenhagen, have been cyclist friendly for years. Just because none of you cycle (I assume) and prefer to drive, is no reason to prevent the rest of us from doing it.

As an example, it takes me about the same time to bike or drive to my office in Toronto's financial district. But unlike driving, cycling is free - I don't have to pay for gas or $35 dollars per day to park. And it is faster and cheaper than taking the TTC. As a bonus, I get a bit of a work out on my way to and from work.

There have been numerous studies showing that the addition of bike lanes actually REDUCE congestion. And believe it or not, the bike lanes near me (on the Danforth) and near my office (on Adelaide Street West) and in between are in full use all winter. We are hardier than you think!

Furthermore, the government of Ontario should not be PAYING to remove bike lanes. We have plenty of better things to spend our (taxpayers like me) money on: I would prefer fully funded hospitals, schools, transit and housing, to name a few, instead of wasting our tax dollars to rip out bike lanes that are fully utilized and are actually one of the answers to Toronto's congestion problems. Our healthcare system is crumbling and my kids attend underfunded public schools that are short staffed and in serious need of building repair - but you decide to waste the province's limited finances on removing bike lanes?

I also do not understand why the province is once again interfering with municipal decision making. Bike lanes should be a municipal decision, made by the mayor and city council and not made by MPPs who live nowhere near the municipalities in question.

Finally, in order to assist you in making policy, based on evidence and facts, rather than on anecdotes, I have also attached some links to actual studies for your consideration (also just search “Toronto bike lanes” on Twitter/x to see how much popular support there is for bike lanes).

I sincerely hope you will reconsidered this policy decision - it will ultimately lead to more congestion and more death and injury to cyclists.

The provincial government is intended to represent all residents of Ontario: not just drivers. We non-drivers and very occasional drivers pay taxes too, and we have kids who bike because they are too young to drive. And we believe that the roads should be safe and accessible for all residents, whether they are drivers or non-drivers or taxpayers or non-taxpayers. You have lost my trust that you represent anyone other than your donors and your cronies.