I live downtown near Bloor…

I live downtown near Bloor Street, and I actually drive more often than I bike. Nevertheless, I condemn Doug Ford’s personal vendetta against Toronto’s bike lane infrastructure. The vast majority of urban planners and traffic experts, people who trust data and not just their gut, agree that bike lanes reduce congestion and make streets safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers alike. As someone who sometimes drives Toronto’s streets, I appreciate the separation of bikes from cars on the roads. I don’t have to creep along behind hoards of bike riders, nor do I have to deal with the unpredictable behaviours of riders dodging between cars and hiding in my blind spots. Removing existing bike lanes will only ensure that drivers are slowed down and that more riders will lose their lives. That last part might not mean anything to someone who doesn’t have neighbours, family and friends who ride, but I do. There is a ghost bike memorial up the street from my house already, and I am not keen to see even more. In addition, removing existing bike lanes will be a wasteful endeavour on top of what we as a province have already wasted breaking contracts (e.g., alcohol sales) and selling off land (Ontario Place) for the benefit of Ford’s cronies. The idea of adding even more red tape for cities to improve infrastructure by making them get approval to add bike lanes is a blatant power grab. So much for small government! Instead of constantly trying to be mayor of Toronto, which we have already rejected, Ford should spend OUR money on the things we actually lack, such as access to public healthcare, daycare, addiction programs, affordable housing and public transit. If Ford wants to be mayor that badly, he can run again. Until then, he should stay in his lane.