The following is respectful…

The following is respectful submitted in response to Bill 212 - Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, 2024 - Framework for bike lanes that require removal of a traffic lane.

This bill’s stated intention is to reduce gridlock or traffic congestion, but this proposed law will have the opposite effect.
- Research has repeatedly shown that widening roads makes congestion worse.
- What this research has shown is that adding more transportation OPTIONS, including safe and separated bike lanes, timely and efficient public transportation, IN ADDITION to individual cars, has the commutative effect of helping to reduce traffic congestion.
- Ontarians need more options to get around, not fewer.
- Bike lanes benefit every road user, including those behind the wheel.

Removing bike lanes will cause local businesses to suffer from a reduction in foot traffic.
* refer to link - Bike lanes in Vancouver have moderate economic impact
- Bike lanes in Vancouver dramatically increase sales for local businesses.
* For example, refer to link - Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association completely changed from being opposed to bike lanes

Removing bike lanes is a waste of taxpayers money.

This bill will add red tape to municipal governments.
- The Province shouldn’t meddle in decisions best made by municipalities.

Removing bike lanes is indirectly an attack on poor and marginalized people in Ontario.
- The poorest people in our province cannot afford a car. They do not care about gridlock.
- What they can afford is a bike, taking bike lanes away is an attack on their ability to get to work, earn money and pay there taxes.

Removing bike lanes will endanger my life and those of my loved ones

Removing bike lanes will further endanger the life of all pedestrians, as cars will be going faster.
- Everyone is a pedestrian at one point or another, when going somewhere, eventually people have to park and walk.

We need to dramatically reduce carbon emissions, and encouraging people to bike is an important part of this reduction