I am a pedestrian, a cyclist…

I am a pedestrian, a cyclist, a public transportation user and a driver in the City of Toronto.

Traffic can be slow at peak hours - that isn't going to change with the removal of bike lanes. It will just add more cars to those streets. When I am driving on streets with bike lanes, I am significantly more alert to cyclists sharing the road with me. This means safer turns and lane changes. If I want to minimize my interactions with cyclists, I will change my route to not include streets with bike lanes. As a driver in Toronto, I accept the realities of sharing lanes with cyclists, with slow traffic and I plan my trip accordingly - because I am a responsible adult. I trust that others can do the same.

As a cyclist, I avoid streets without bike lanes when at all possible. Bike lanes naturally redirect cyclists to streets with bike lanes because it is safer, meaning less cyclists on other roads to interact with drivers.

On streets with bike lanes, as a cyclist - I feel significantly safer! I feel more visible, I feel like I've got more space and I'm less worried about being doored. When I bike on streets without bike lanes, I take up far more space on the road in order to protect myself and ensure I have space.

Life is very busy, I have to work multiple jobs to afford my basic needs. My bike is ESSENTIAL for me to travel within the city, it keeps my transportation costs down. I don't have the opportunity to get to the gym or exercise classes (both because they are expensive and because I am working more than I should have too to survive), that means my bike is one of the main ways I am physically active. Cycling kills two birds with one stone - I commute to my destination & I get some cardio in.

My safety while cycling isn't worth drivers getting to their destination 5, maybe 10minutes earlier.

Also, to Doug Ford & the Ontario Conservative government - grow up, get out of municipal politics and instead of recklessly spending out tax payer dollars on ripping up bike lanes, use those funds to invest in health care, affordable housing & education.

If Doug Ford and his government decide to bully their way in (again) to Toronto politics, he better come with a cheque to reimburse Toronto for all the money spent on putting the bike lanes in & maintaining them.