Cyclists are pedestrians are…

Cyclists are pedestrians are on the road and have been protected with implemented bike lane infrastructure (especially hard infrastructure), similarly to how pedestrians are protected on sidewalks (i.e., hard infrastructure) from driving cars.

I am someone who has LEARNED to commute by biking on the streets BECAUSE of the existence of bike lanes and BECAUSE I feel safe ON BIKE LANES. I am also someone who does drive from time to time, but often opt to bike because because of car traffic, the environment, and because SAFE BIKE LANES EXIST. Though, from a driver's point of view (my own driving point of view), car traffic seems inevitably caused by the number of drivers, not that lack of driving lanes. Car traffic and gridlock exists on the Gardiner and the DVP, yet there are no bike lanes there.

This proposal is misinformed and misguided (not evidence based) - removing bike lanes from the main downtown lanes will not solve car traffic, but perhaps implementing more bike lanes will encourage people to bike more than drive. The proposal to remove bike lanes to alleviate car traffic is not representative of Torontonians and Toronto's huge cycling community (which is the everyday person). Making Toronto a more car-centric city will a) cause more traffic and b) cause more deaths from drivers killing cyclers. Also, promoting more drivers in the city is a) adding more CO2 emissions to an existing and alarming climate crisis (REMINDER: Toronto did become flooded twice this summer) and b) is excluding accessible modes of transportation to ALL demographics (youth, adults, and seniors - since you do not need a license to bike!). Removing bike lanes will make Toronto a non-inclusive City, since cars are not an accessible mode of transportation - not everyone drives or knows how to drive, nor does everyone own a car. And, provided that there are UNMANAGED HIGH LIVING COSTS, cycling and bike lane infrastructure to support cycling MUST CONTINUE TO BE SUPPORTED as a primary mode of transportation. Again, CYCLISTS ARE PEDESTRIANS ON THE ROAD.

This argument to remove bike lanes for cars can be equated to removing sidewalks dedicated to pedestrians - it is a non-sensical. Drivers are not educated to share the rode with cyclists and often cyclists are put in danger when drivers are entitled to take up the biking lane - i.e., SPACE that HAS been designated to cyclists.

Removing bike lanes will cause more serious life-long injuries and deaths. I have known people to be concussed from getting doored by cars (while still wearing a helmet). And, just a reminder: cyclists died this year due to unsafe roads and unsafe drivers. Bike lanes are for people who seek an accessible mode of transportation and just want to get home safe.

As a cyclist, I do not want to get run over by a car on Yonge St., Bloor St. and University Ave. As a driver, I do not want to run over a cyclist - I would much rather cyclists have their own lanes. Safe streets save lives.

Also, the Province should NOT be deciding anything for the City of Toronto - and millions of dollars have been put into bike lane infrastructure already. We don't want Doug Ford making decisions for the City of Toronto - the Provincial Government is already contributing to a boiling hot climate as it is.