The proposal is contrary to…

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019-9266

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114516

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The proposal is contrary to the overwhelming body of research indicating that bike lanes reduce traffic, reduce accidents, and are good for business on those thoroughfares. https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/bike-lanes-impacts-1.7358319. It is not an evidence-based policy choice and will worsen traffic, accident rates, business, and the environment.

Numbers that the Province has tried to use to support its claim, such as the fact that "only 1.2% of Toronto citizens use bike lanes," misrepresent the reality that bike lanes are used where they exist and that bike lane usage is much higher in areas where there are actually bike lanes to be used. In particular, that statistic includes areas like Richmond Hill and Vaughan, whereas bike usage studies in the city proper "found that 44 per cent of Torontonians bike in good weather to get to school, work, shop or visit friends. It also found 26 per cent of people bike for fun or fitness only, making 70 per cent of Torontonians cyclists in some capacity" https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-bike-lane-1-2-per-cent-1…

Beyond its focus on Toronto, looking across the province this legislation runs counter to the prevailing evidence that bike lanes promote local business, reduce traffic, reduce accidents, and should be a goal for municipalities across the province to strive towards rather than a target for removal and restriction.