Bike lanes are essential for…

Bike lanes are essential for creating a livable, people-centered city. A city is more than just cars moving from point A to point B; it’s about providing spaces that support people’s quality of life, health, and connection to their surroundings. Removing bike lanes on major streets like Bloor, Yonge, and University in Toronto would set the city back years in terms of progress toward sustainable, accessible transportation options.

As more people feel safe and confident on the roads, cycling rates will increase, reducing reliance on cars and, by extension, cutting down on traffic congestion. Encouraging alternatives like one-way traffic patterns or addressing specific choke points are viable ways to tackle congestion without dismantling vital infrastructure that people rely on.

Bike lanes also reduce environmental impact, promote healthier lifestyles, and make urban spaces more attractive and accessible. If we limit cycling infrastructure, we inadvertently push more people toward car ownership, which only compounds traffic issues and pollution. Instead, a city should foster environments where walking, cycling, and public transit are viable and attractive options for everyone. If long-term solutions are needed, investing in forward-thinking solutions like hyperloop technology would make much more sense than dismantling infrastructure that encourages sustainable transportation. Let’s preserve and expand on the progress we’ve made, not reverse it.