Removing bike lanes in…

Removing bike lanes in Toronto is a short-sighted and wasteful decision that jeopardizes cyclist safety, harms the environment, and wastes taxpayer money!! Adding more car lanes will only lead to increased traffic congestion in the long run, ignoring the PROVEN benefits of sustainable transportation.

See below for my key points.

Importance of Bike Lanes to Cities

1. Improved Safety for Cyclists and Pedestrians: Bike lanes create a safer environment for cyclists by providing a dedicated space separate from motor vehicles. Studies have shown that bike lanes reduce the risk of accidents involving cyclists by up to 50% [1].
2. Environmental Benefits: Encouraging cycling over car usage significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions. According to the European Cyclists' Federation, cycling 10 km each way to work instead of driving saves 1.5 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually [2].
3. Economic Gains: Investing in bike lanes has been shown to boost local economies. A study by the University of California, Davis found that bike-friendly cities attract more tourism and generate higher retail sales. Additionally, every dollar invested in bike infrastructure returns five dollars in economic benefits [3].

Adding More Car Lanes Will NOT Reduce Congestion in the Long Run.

4. Induced Demand Phenomenon: Increasing the number of car lanes often leads to more traffic, not less. The concept of induced demand shows that making more room for cars encourages more people to drive, ultimately leading to the same or even higher levels of congestion [4].
5. Diminished Returns on Investment: Extensive research by the Transportation Research Board indicates that while new road construction may temporarily alleviate congestion, it fails to provide long-term solutions. Within a few years, traffic volumes typically rebound to previous levels [5].
6. Promoting Sustainable Alternatives: Focusing on car infrastructure ignores the potential of sustainable transportation. Cities that prioritize public transit, cycling, and walking experience lower congestion levels and better overall mobility [6].

Waste of Taxpayer Dollars

7. High Costs of Removal and Reconstruction: Removing existing bike lanes and reallocating road space for cars involves significant expenses. These funds could be better used to improve current infrastructure and support sustainable transportation initiatives [7].
8. Loss of Previous Investments: Cities like Toronto have already invested heavily in bike infrastructure. Dismantling these systems would mean wasting taxpayer money that has already been spent on planning, construction, and maintenance [8].
9. Negative Economic Impact on Local Businesses: Research from Portland State University shows that bike lanes increase retail activity. Removing them could hurt local businesses that benefit from the increased foot and bike traffic, leading to potential revenue losses [9].

References
[1] National Institute for Transportation and Communities, "The Impacts of Bicycle Infrastructure: Evidence from Cities Across the U.S.," 2019. [Online]. Available: https://nitc.trec.pdx.edu/research/project/1127/The_Impacts_of_Bicycle_….
[2] European Cyclists' Federation, "Cycle More Often 2 Cool Down the Planet," 2011. [Online]. Available: https://ecf.com/what-we-do/climate-change.
[3] League of American Bicyclists, "The Economic Benefits of Bicycle Infrastructure Investments," 2018. [Online]. Available: https://bikeleague.org/content/economic-benefits.
[4] G. Duranton and M. Turner, "The Fundamental Law of Road Congestion: Evidence from US Cities," American Economic Review, vol. 101, no. 6, pp. 2616-2652, Oct. 2011.
[5] Transportation Research Board, "Highway Capacity Manual," National Academy of Sciences, 6th ed., 2016.
[6] T. Litman, "Evaluating Complete Streets: The Value of Designing Roads for Diverse Modes, Users and Activities," Victoria Transport Policy Institute, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.vtpi.org/compstr.pdf.
[7] The Guardian, "The True Cost of Car Dependency," 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/oct/23/the-true-cost-of-car-dep….
[8] Bike Portland, "How Much Does it Cost to Build a Protected Bike Lane?" 2021. [Online]. Available: https://bikeportland.org/2021/07/16/how-much-does-it-cost-to-build-a-pr….
[9] Portland State University, "Retail Sales and Bike Lanes," 2019. [Online]. Available: https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds/3924/.