I am 100% opposed to Bill…

I am 100% opposed to Bill 212 as it relates to bike lanes. It seems ill-conceived, under-researched, and grossly lacking in data-driven reasoning and transparency. I have not seen any data to support this huge tax-payer expense and suggest that this is an over-reach by the provincial government into specific municipal-level concerns.

As someone who drives in downtown Toronto, I have welcomed bike lanes and seen traffic improve in terms of well-being and safety. Before bike lanes, cyclists would weave in and out of traffic. This was not only stressful for drivers like me, but it meant cars were constantly breaking to accommodate cyclists that seemed to come from nowhere (usually avoiding potholes, storm grates, and garbage near the curbs) and slow down and speed up in irregular ways. Anyone who has had a cyclist suddenly fall over in front of their car because of a pothole or issue with their bike will agree with me that giving cyclists their own lane out of car traffic has significantly reduced the stress and anxiety of driving downtown.

Further, since the bike lanes have gone in on Bloor/Danforth, Yonge, and University, I have not seen any road rage incidents related to bicycles and have not seen any bicycles "doored" or police or ambulances stopping traffic to deal with these incidents. I no longer worry about bicycles in my path and feel that Toronto is a world-class city when I look over to see entire families riding (even with small children) and tourists on rented bikes using the bike lanes.

To recap:
- having bicycles out of traffic reduces stress and danger to both cars and cyclists
- bike lanes do not inhibit traffic flow
- bike lanes are a sign of a world-class city

The idea has been put forth that bike lanes will be shifted to residential neighbourhoods. If anyone in the provincial government lives in a downtown residential neighbourhood, then they must know that this is not a realistic move. Residential streets in Toronto have only one lane plus parking, so there is no space to put in a dedicated lane. Second, this assumes all cyclists are riding for pleasure and have no limits on their time or energy. Most cyclists are commuting to work or on errands. They will be taking the shortest and most energy-efficient route, even if that means going back into traffic. Simply, residential bike routes are not realistic and will do nothing to keep cyclists out of traffic.

To recap:
- Building dedicated bike lanes in downtown residential streets is impossible because of limited space
- Commuter and delivery cyclists, as well as those on personal errands choose routes for speed and energy efficiency: they will not use meandering "detours" through neighbourhoods.

Overall, I question who is asking the Ontario government to step outside its mandate in order to meddle in municipal concerns. The hard-line nature of this issue reduces my faith in provincial government as a transparent office and reduces my confidence that the provincial government is making wise fiscal decisions with my tax dollars.

To go forward with this bill will mean I will not vote for this government to continue in its role in the next election.