I'm retired, and I still…

I'm retired, and I still ride my bike. I used to ride it to work, despite the difficulties of doing so without protected bike baths. Recently, I rode it along the Bloor West bike lanes to get to my hair dresser, and to my dentist. It was wonderful! I also occasionally drive a car, and I now find driving much easier with the bike paths in place. With just one lane, and turn lanes where needed, it was much safer than when drivers are weaving in and out of two lanes in their desperate attempt to shave two minutes off their trip. And finally, I use the subway a lot, and often wonder about the drivers who could be using the Bloor line. I realize that not everyone can ride a bike or the subway, but if those who could did, just think what it would mean for our environment!

Impact on the environment should be the key consideration. The announcement says: "Implications to the environment will be considered as the ministry identifies and develops the criteria for evaluating proposed new and existing cycling lanes." What measurements will be done to determine the implications of possibly eliminating bike lanes? We already know that fires, floods, hurricanes and other disasters are being exacerbated by the use of fossil fuels. We should be encouraging, not discouraging, people's use of bicycles. The guidelines for a decision should also consider the health implications of encouraging people to cycle. We struggle to provide enough doctors, nurses and other medical help for people, knowing that prevention of illness is one of the keys. Cycling helps to keep people healthy.

It will take time for people in suburbs such as Etobicoke to start using the bike paths in sufficient numbers to counter the opposition of drivers. The heavy use of bike lanes in the downtown areas suggests that we should give the bike lanes on Bloor West a chance, and evaluate them after a few years. Some of the current congestion is related to construction. There has always been congestion at the intersections of Bloor and Jane, and Bloor and South Kingsway. However, the condo construction at the corner of Bloor and South Kingsway, and the diversion of city buses on to Bloor Street instead of north on Jane because of the redevelopment of the Jane subway station are adding to it. I wonder, as well, if a left turn signal at the corner of Bloor and Armadale would prevent unnecessary backup of eastbound traffic on Bloor.