I live in downtown Toronto…

I live in downtown Toronto. I'm not a cyclist. I own/co-own three vehicles.

I am strongly in favour of bike lanes. This is because bike lanes keep cyclists safe. They also keep bikes off sidewalks, which keeps pedestrians safe.

The science is clear, albeit counter-intuitive, that reducing traffic jams requires reducing the number of cars, not widening roads. Widening roads invites more cars and increases traffic. Jane Jacobs proved this back in the 1960s. Let's fund improved public transit with a hefty tax on vehicle permits: such a policy will get everyone moving, and moving safely.

Relying on science that is counter-intuitive requires political bravery as well as the capacity to reason and examine evidence. Our politicians are typically short on both of these ingredients, which is why we should be consulting with urban planners, not grandstanding about a fictional "war on cars".