Speaking as a constituent…

Speaking as a constituent who uses both a car and a bike to travel between work sites, this proposal would have a negative impact on my commute. The removal of bike lanes on Bloor, Yonge, and University would make my commute both slower and less safe. The removal of these bike lanes would not incentivize me to switch to my car while within the city (the bike is simply more cost effective, faster, flexible, and easier to store), but it would make the bike commutes significantly more dangerous and put me at higher risk of accidents.

Additionally, there is evidence that the installation of bike lanes on Bloor resulted in increased retail traffic and economic activity for merchants in the area. The study found that customers who bike or walk return more frequently than those who drive. In fact, less than 10% of retail customers on Bloor St arrive by car; the vast majority arrive by foot, bike, or transit. The removal of bike lanes in this area would have a negative effect on retailers in the area.

Source:

Arancibia, D., Farber, S., Savan, B., Verlinden, Y., Smith Lea, N., Allen, J., & Vernich, L. (2019). Measuring the Local Economic Impacts of Replacing On-Street Parking With Bike Lanes: A Toronto (Canada) Case Study. Journal of the American Planning Association, 85(4), 463–481. https://doi.org/10.1080/01944363.2019.1638816