Removing bike lanes in urban…

Removing bike lanes in urban areas like downtown Toronto on Bloor is probably one of the most unhelpful and nonsensical solutions to solving congested traffic issues. Just think about it for more than 5 seconds:

1) bicycles are significantly smaller than one single car. Did you know that means more people can fit on the road per bike vs per car? That implies more people can travel more efficiently, which means less traffic.

2) more moving cars on the road also reduces safety for literally everyone on the roads, including drivers. Fun fact: that means more vehicle accidents, which means more car-related injuries which require more need for emergency vehicles to respond, and guess what all that comes with? More traffic congestion.

3) removing a bike lane also removes a lane that can be more easily used by emergency vehicles navigating urban streets. What's easier to move for a massive firetruck? Several active cyclists that are already aware they're biking beside a road, or a 5000+ lb SUVs stuck in traffic? It's not a trick question.

4) increasing traffic for "more efficiency" in daily commuting never works. That just invites more traffic and doesn't solve anything. You know what else it does though? Increases traffic

5) no one likes to mention the environment anymore but it's still a thing so please never disregard it. The only time (non-motorized) bikes produce greenhouse gas emissions is when the bike is actually being made. You know when cars emit GHGs? When they're made AND everytime the damn thing needs to move.

Please do not take this comment as a personal attack, I am just very frustrated with this style of urban planning and I'm tired of cities designed for cars instead of the people actually living in it. I've lived in the GTA for 28 years and I know Toronto and the rest of Canada can be better than this. Increasing more traffic is never sustainable for anyone, let alone the environment. Give people the option to travel within the city how they want, whether it's by bike or car. Giving them the proper space to do so safely should be the ultimate goal of urban planning.