I strongly believe that the…

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019-9266

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112219

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I strongly believe that the province should neither remove existing bike infrastructure nor require provincial approval for new bike lanes, for several reasons:
1. Safe bike infrastructure that covers large parts of the city will reduce the number of cars on the road over time. The ability to bike safely will provide an incentive to switch from driving to biking, which will either reduce or have no effect on car traffic, even if the number of traffic lanes is reduced, since bikes take up a lot less space than cars. This is supported by several studies in many cities (see supporting link #1).
2. Bike lanes do not have a negative impact on businesses, even if traffic lanes are reduced (see supporting link #2). They are also beneficial for the economy, because:
a. Their cost as a means of moving commuters is minuscule compared to the cost of building infrastructure for cars.
b. Since bike lanes reduce the number of cars on the road (see point #1), they also lessen the wear and tear on roads, thus reducing maintenance costs.
3. Bike lanes increase transportation freedom, by providing safe alternatives to driving. Not everyone is able to drive or own a car, for several reasons: they might be underage, they might not be able to afford the costs associated with owning/renting a car, etc. These individuals should have access to a safe alternative to driving.
4. Requiring provincial approval to build bike infrastructure will increase bureaucracy and slow down the development of important projects aimed at enhancing transportation options.
5. Protected bike lanes make driving simpler and safer for car drivers, because cyclists do not interfere with traffic.
6. If there are concerns that bike lanes occupy important traffic space, eliminating on-street parking should be considered first, since it takes up a lot more traffic lanes in many major streets in Toronto.