Bill 212 - ERO 019-9266 …

Bill 212 - ERO 019-9266 Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, 2024
Bill 212, Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, 2024 - Legislative Assembly of Ontario

Bill 212 undermines municipal oversight under the guise of bike lanes versus gridlock, threatens more land on the Greenbelt, and removes an extra watchdog over provincial decisions. Submissions end November 20th!

Please use the information provided to cut and paste as you wish at this link to the ERO site:

https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-9266

As commentary on ERO 019-9266, Bill 212 Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, 2024,

I, (name)
● Support municipal authority in determining bike lane development without added provincial oversight. Municipal representatives are closer to their constituents and better able to respond to the needs/wants of the community regarding both vehicle and bike transit as well as growth and development in neighborhoods. Research from major cities (New York, Paris, Copenhagen, Montreal) shows that bike lanes significantly reduce car commuter times.
● Back municipalities' efforts to decrease emissions and acknowledges the impact of increased bike ridership, as seen in Toronto, where bike trips rose by 4 million over eight years. More cyclists can alleviate road congestion and reduce vehicle numbers, contributing to lower emissions.
● Highlight that cycling has a much smaller carbon footprint than cars, with the environmental impact of bike manufacturing offset within a year of use, making bike lanes crucial for combating climate change.
● Remind the government that cycling is an affordable, sustainable lifestyle choice and cyclists are equally entitled as drivers to arrive safely to their destinations.
● Raise concerns about relocating utility infrastructure potentially leading to the expropriation of more agricultural and Greenbelt lands, which are vital for food supply and carbon sinks.
● Call for thorough environmental assessments for Highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass, ensuring compliance with species at risk legislation.
● Oppose the expropriation of Greenbelt and agricultural lands for highway projects and
● Argue against transferring regulatory powers for towing zones from the Lieutenant Governor to the Minister of Transportation, as this reduces accountability for the province.
Therefore, I oppose Bill 212 as it currently stands.