Comment
The only was you can reduce traffic congestion is by giving people viable alternatives to using cars. If you build a city that is only accessible with the use of motor vehicles, people will be forced to use them, and congestion will only get worse. This is a well-researched and studied subject, and is the reason why the 401 traffic congestion will never alleviated by more lanes: increasing people's NEED to use cars, FORCES them to use cars. Every cyclist you see in a bike lane is a car taken out of traffic.
Bike lanes are crucial to many Torontonians living in this city. Eliminating lanes forces cyclists using these crucial networks to either a) use a car, adding more vehicles to the road and exacerbating the existing congestion, pollution, and parking problems, or b) ride their bikes in unprotected lanes, putting them at much greater risk of collision or slowing existing traffic.
Toronto has a car congestion problem; this is undeniable. And oftentimes it is so bad that cycling is actually the fastest mode of transit in the city: even faster than walking, using public transit, or driving. Bloor and University are the "arteries" of Toronto's bike network; the best and safest way for cyclists to commute East-West and North-South. Expanding upon the bike network should be a huge priority as a a means of alleviating traffic. This bill is a step in the complete opposite direction.
By eliminating bike lanes and making them harder to build, you are condemning the people who use them to rely on vehicles, and effectively making the problem this bill is setting out to solve even worse.
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Submitted November 4, 2024 10:05 AM
Comment on
Bill 212 - Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, 2024 - Framework for bike lanes that require removal of a traffic lane.
ERO number
019-9266
Comment ID
112522
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Comment status