I am writing to express my…

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019-9266

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113728

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I am writing to express my strong opposition to the Progressive Conservative government's proposed Bill 212 (Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, 2024 - Framework for bike lanes that require removal of a traffic lane) to close bike lanes in our community. Moreover, it aims to facilitate the closure of existing bike lanes going forward with exemptions from the Environmental Assessment Act in an effort to "get drivers where they need to go faster" (Ministry of Transportation, 2024). As a concerned citizen, physician, and an advocate for preventative health and sustainable transportation, I believe that removing these essential infrastructure components would significantly undermine our progress toward safer and healthier cities.

It is frighteningly common for me to care for patients after they have sustained injuries in a collision while biking. "Cyclist struck by car", "bike vs bus": who do you think wins? These injuries can be life threatening- multi organ system trauma injuries, broken bones requiring surgical repair, and hospitalization with subsequent rehabilitation- or result in the walking wounded, who may still be left with long lasting impacts from their injuries. This could look like a disruption of the intricate ligament scaffold that allows our hands to function after getting hit by a car door blindly opening or a concussion, which can result in persistent symptoms in about 15% of patients (Leddy et al. 2016; Theadom et al. 2016).

Knowing this, I still bike to work at hospitals across the city. I wear my helmet and bright colors, use lights on my bike, and signal to those around me.
In a city where the cost of living (never mind parking) is expensive, where it can take more time to drive than to cycle or take public transit, and in a world struggling environmentally, this remains the best option. I opt for roads with bike lanes where possible because if I ride on a road without a bike lane, invariably I will have cars yelling at me to ride on the side walk (illegal), or they will nearly take me along with them as they pass me too closely. When there is no bike lane, I ride in fear, thinking, at least if I get hit, I am on my way to a hospital.

I ask you to consider the following relevant information:
1. Injury prevention is essential in our strained health care system- In 2023, Toronto Police Service reports 33 collisions resulting in major injuries and 1 fatal collision (TPS). Though this is already 34 too many, it is likely an underrepresentation based off the work by Macpherson and colleagues (2024), who noted police reporting of collisions captured only 8% of all cycling injuries when comparing data from 2016 to 2021 in administrative health services databases (Macpherson et al., 2024). In 2021, there were an estimated 5344 emergency department visits and 431 hospitalizations related to cyclist injuries. Bike lanes in Germany have been associated with less severe cyclist injuries, and reduced use of sidewalks for cycling which can prevent pedestrian-cyclist injuries (FLOW Project, 2016). In an already strained system, the provincial and municipal governments must do everything to prevent injuries.
2. Bike lanes can reduce traffic related congestion- When we examine the bike lanes installed in 2020 on University Avenue, the city of Toronto has noted "data analysis during a 12-month evaluation period following the street configuration changes shows limited to no impacts on motor vehicle travel times" (Jones 2024). Moreover, with this lane including Hospital Row, "Emergency services have not raised any issues about traffic." Evaluation of bike lane systems across several European studies suggested no significant increase in travel times, with the Netherlands even showing a reduction in travel times for cars and bikes (FLOW Project, 2016).
3. Adding more traffic lanes contributes to traffic.- As more traffic lanes are added, an induced demand develops, where people who may have not chosen to drive initially opt to drive, contributing to traffic (Department of Transport, 2018).
4. Our government needs to create opportunities for safe physical activity- In a country where only 18% of adults and <12% children meet the recommended physical activity targets, our province needs to create opportunities for safe physical activity (Statistic Canada, 2017). Insufficient physical activity is the 4th leading risk factor for premature death (World Health Organization, 2018). Cycle commuting has been associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease and hospitalizations, cancer related death and hospitalizations, lower mental health related disease burden and overall lower all cause mortality (Friel et al. 2024).These health benefits translate into lower healthcare costs for our communities, which is particularly relevant given our overwhelmed healthcare system.
5. Our government needs to factor environmental impacts into decisions- I am also deeply concerned about the power given to the provincial government to remove lanes, " including an exemption from the Environmental Assessment Act." At a time where our country is already struggling with climate change, forgoing environmental assessments is unacceptable. $564 million could be saved annually in reduced greenhouse gas emissions if just 1% of people living in Canada switched from private car use to active transportation (CFLRI & CPRA, 2023).
6. Bike lanes can benefit our local economy- Locally, after bike lanes were installed on Bloor, some areas experienced a 30% increase in sales for nearby shops and cafes, as cyclists tend to stop more frequently and spend money in their local communities (Smith Lea et al., 2017).

In light of these compelling statistics and the numerous benefits that bike lanes provide—enhanced safety, improved public health, and economic growth—I urge you to reconsider the proposed legislation. We should be investing in and expanding cycling infrastructure, not dismantling it.
Our commitment to sustainable transportation and the health of our communities should be at the forefront of our decision-making processes. I encourage you to stand with your constituents in support of keeping our bike lanes open and accessible.

Thank you for your attention to this crucial matter. I look forward to your response and to seeing action towards a safer and healthier community. References can be found as an attached file.

Supporting documents