As a resident of a large…

As a resident of a large municipality in Ontario, a vehicle driver, cyclist and pedestrian I understand the challenges in balancing the needs of all road users to achieve efficient and timely flow of traffic. Unfortunately Bill 212 will do nothing to solve the grid lock problems in the major cities of Ontario, no matter how it is titled.

Bill 212 simply reinforces motor vehicles as the priority for transportation in and around our cities and puts cyclists and other active road and infrastructure users as second-class citizens.

Bill 212 flies in the face of well founded research and studies that demonstrate that increasing the number of lanes for motor vehicles does nothing to ease congestion. Bike lanes are not the problem, but for some reason the Ford government has decided to make cyclists their scapegoat.

Only providing safe and efficient alternatives to taking a motor vehicle reduces that congestion - be it public transit, active transportation infrastructure (such as dedicated/segregated bike lanes) or pedestrian walkways. It should be obvious, and a priority, given Ontario's ever increasing emissions problem that providing alternatives to motor vehicles is what is needed.

Bill 212 will worsen the quality of life for city dwellers due to increased congestion, increased pollution from vehicle exhaust and will further increase medical costs for the province due to illnesses caused by air pollution and reduction of active transportation options for people to be outside, be active and enjoy healthy living.

Bill 212 only serves to reinforce the already existing isolation of people from their cities by putting the priority on motor vehicles.

Bill 212 will increase the number of incidents of cyclists being injured or killed by motor vehicles by removing formerly safe cycling infrastructure and forcing them back onto roadways where they are highly vulnerable.

The province should not, must not, be reaching so deeply into the decision making process of municipalities. This is more government over-reach and interference, not less. The government promised less government when elected. This is a very long-handled screwdriver, so to speak.

Bill 212 is a study of deep over-reach by the provincial government into municipal affairs and is not good governance. It will not solve the grid lock problem but it will hurt cyclists and other active road users for no reason. It is a mean-spirited and cynical swipe at a whole demographic of Ontario citizens. Bill 212 should be deleted.