I am writing to express my…

I am writing to express my extreme displeasure with the proposed provincial legislation concerning bike lanes (in The Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, 2024). By having this provincial government rule on whether municipalities can remove an existing vehicle lane to create a bike lane, you are potentially prohibiting the expansion of active transportation corridors in older areas of cities and towns.

Studies in various North American and European cities have shown that bike lanes don't contribute to gridlock. Improving inter-connected active transportation routes and public transit takes more vehicles off the roads, which actually decreases traffic congestion.

Toronto's proposal to implement a congestion charge, and put that money into public transit, would have done more to improve gridlock. Unfortunately, this provincial government refused to consider that plan, and traffic continues to increase in the city. I live outside of Toronto, and would have wholeheartedly supported a congestion charge to travel into the city by car.

An additional concern about the proposed legislation is that municipalities might have to remove existing bike lanes. Cities and towns have spent money studying, planning, and implementing these infrastructure improvements. To require them to remove the lanes, and assist in paying for their removal, represents a significant amount of wasted spending. Municipalities have challenges keeping costs under control and funding their priorities. Requiring them to spend taxpayers money to remove something that was paid for by taxpayers is simply counterproductive.

By potentially curtailing bike lanes, this provincial government is prioritizing car users over bicycle users. Active transportation will increase if people feel safe using dedicated bike lanes. If they have to compete with vehicles on the roads, they will feel unsafe and will be less likely to use bicycles for transportation. Getting people out of their cars and walking or biking would improve their health, decreasing reliance on our struggling health-care system.

One of the supposed goals of this provincial government is to eliminate red tape. By requiring provincial approval for new bike lanes, you are actually adding to the bureaucratic red tape for municipalities. Municipal leaders know their communities best. Let them do their work without so much provincial legislative interference, and concentrate on province-wide issues that are part of your mandate.

I've read that many of Toronto's gridlock issues have been caused more by construction than by bike lanes. Blaming bike lanes without considering other contributing factors shows single-minded support for a car-dependent society. Progressive countries and cities have embraced public transit and active transportation, thereby reducing car usage. If you want Toronto to be considered a world-class city, let it act like one and have the ability to implement its own innovative infrastructure policies.