I am writing to let you know…

I am writing to let you know that I am totally and strongly AGAINST this proposal.
I am a 53 year old woman and my mode of transportation in Toronto is mainly bicycle. In the past 30 years of biking in Toronto, I have been hit by no fewer than 5 cars.
The last accident could have KILLED me had the SUV driver been going any faster -- and that accident could not have happened had the bike lane that is now finally on Woodbine Avenue been there then! That bike lane, had it been installed earlier, would have saved the healthcare system all of the money it cost to hospitalize me, perform 2 surgeries to fix my broken bones, etc., never mind the time and lost productivity because I had to be off work for months to recover.
This Proposed Bill ignores all the research that shows very conclusively that bike lanes reduce gridlock and emissions. This Proposed Bill inflicts wasteful and onerous expenses as well as unnecessary red tape on municipalities that need every dollar to deal with the actually urgent issues like housing. The Proposed Bill also sets a dangerous precedent and erodes democracy by overriding municipal decisions, made by representatives who have been elected to make determinations on local issues.
I most strongly object to the proposal to remove already existing bike lanes in Toronto. This is a callous and daft idea. The bike lanes on Bloor, Yonge and University make Toronto more cosmopolitan, more livable, prettier and enhance the safety and physical health of Torontonians and our visitors. Above all, when well constructed and separated from traffic, bike lanes are literally LIFE SAVING!
Please, do not allow this Proposed Bill to proceed any further.