The removal of bike lanes on…

The removal of bike lanes on these major streets proposed would be disastrous for the safety of cyclists; whom already are at a heightened risk of injury and death in the case of collision compared to motor vehicle drivers. The statistics offered by the provincial government as reasoning for reattributing road space to drivers is deeply skewed and fallacious. In the downtown core area, cycling is an undoubtedly popular form of short transit and growing in popularity (paralleling the increase in bike infrastructure in recent years), likely for it's cost efficiency, physical health benefits associated with exercise, and low environmental impact. The proposed act would most greatly affect the residents of the Toronto core, where there is a much higher proportion of cyclists to drivers.

For cyclists, these bike lanes, especially on Bloor, Yonge, and University, are essential for completing their trip safely by staying out of the way of cars. Taking alternate routes to their destination simply is not an option considering many of the destinations are along these major streets. Regardless of the presence of dedicated bike infrastructure or not, cyclists will be on these roads, in the same lanes with drivers on Bloor, Yonge, and University. There is also a great incentive for drivers in Toronto to keep these bike lanes in place. For drivers, these bike lanes offer peace of mind knowing that cyclists have their own space and are not creeping into drivers' blind spots, creating dangerous situations for everyone involved.

While gridlock is a concern, it's urgency pales in comparison to the life-threatening risk posed to cyclists and other road users with the absence of these bike lanes. It is in everyone's interest to keep these bike lanes in place and find alternative ways to reducing grid lock – such as but not limited to, providing alternate routes and forms of transit that make use of road space more efficiently. Time is valuable to everyone, but it is not more valuable than people's lives and safety.