I strongly disagree with…

I strongly disagree with this proposal to remove bike lanes especially on arterial roads and especially new bike lanes. As bike lanes are slowly being implemented and connected for greater distances, newer cyclists of all ages are gaining confidence to cycle. As the cycling culture gains traction, it has a positive impact to both society (i.e climate change) and one's own personal being (ie. physical health and finances). I personally bike (manual pedal) everywhere to work, shopping, events, etc and bike about 90% time on arterial roads because (guess what,) I live, work and shop where majority of these buildings are on arterial roads. For 90% of my trips, there is no parallel side road to cycle without increasing the cycling time by 3 or 4 times greater than the direct route of using the arterial road. And as I live in postal code M5R, the main arterial roads I use are Avenue Road, Queen's Park, University Avenue, Yonge St., and Bloor St West/East. Because of higher expenses in housing, food and communications (i.e. cell & internet), like many other residents in the city, one cannot afford public transit let alone taxis, Uber or owing a private car especially with gas and car insurance so high. Thus, cycling is the main mode of transportation for many residents; myself included.

Bike lanes also are being used by people in wheelchairs especially where sidewalks are too narrow, blocked and inaccessible (ie. lack of ramps). Even as pedestrian, sometimes I am forced to step out on the bike line for a couple of steps due to blocked sidewalk; but that's better than stepping out on busy road.

This type of removal equates to removal of sidewalks for pedestrians and saying to pedestrians walk the roads and hope for the best navigating the fast moving vehicular traffic on the roads. Many drivers are not respecting pedestrians or cyclists when driving. It's why the city has planned and is deploying Vision Zero to make residents feel safer moving about in the city. Please respect the elected city officials' decision to make decisions to facilitate a safer city life for all people whether it's the local residents or guests from out of town.

Removing bike lanes will increase the number of cyclists getting hit and injured or worse death. There are already six dead this year; mourned and missed by their families and friends. This does not include hundreds of injured requiring medical assistance that could also lead to time off from work, school, etc making Ontario less productive.

Arterial roads within city limits are used by everyone: pedestrians, cyclists and drivers; it should NOT used exclusively by drivers who treat them as if its their own personal highway.

Spending money to rip out bike lanes that were recently added is burning money up in smoke, when those funds could be used more wisely towards issues of greater need such as public transit, healthcare, housing, climate change, etc