Dear Ford Government and…

Dear Ford Government and Ministry of Transportation,

I urge you to reconsider passing this bill. I’d like to preface my concerns by presenting facts, alongside the voices of the Toronto public.

I recently moved to Toronto this year from the sprawling suburbs of York Region, and I was excited about the proximity and infrastructure my new home would offer in terms of both work and city life. In the suburbs, I was dependent on a car to get around—transit was slow, infrequent, and disconnected, with key destinations often too far apart. Since moving to Downtown Toronto, I’ve adopted a more eco-friendly, cost-effective, and time-saving lifestyle by walking, biking, and taking the TTC. I regularly use the Bloor/Danforth and University bike lanes to commute to work and navigate the city. In fact, I’ve come to realize that many of my neighbours and friends in Toronto don’t own cars and manage to get around the city just as I do—without depending on a motor vehicle.

According to the 2018 Transportation Tomorrow Survey, 55% of households in Downtown Toronto do not own a vehicle. This is no surprise. Much of the vehicle traffic entering the city comes from suburban commuters who are forced to rely on cars due to the lack of efficient transit options. The frustration that arises from inadequate transit infrastructure for Greater Toronto Area (GTA) commuters is the primary driver of motor vehicle dependency and gridlock—not bike lanes.

This bill is a distraction from the root issue that has plagued urban planning in North American cities for decades. Expanding roads for more cars will not solve congestion in the long term. It is unsustainable. With the GTA’s population growing and limited development of new downtown neighbourhoods, people are forced to commute to Toronto for work and leisure. Without a functional, interconnected transit system, more people will turn to cars as their primary mode of transport. People choose the fastest and most convenient option to get where they need to go. If transit is not the fastest option—when it should be—drivers will resort to cars, creating more traffic. No amount of additional vehicle lanes can solve this problem.

For cities to manage traffic effectively, we need infrastructure that serves all commuters. First, we must eliminate the red tape that has stalled key transit projects. The completion of the Metro Line, the ongoing delays with the Eglinton LRT, and the lingering future of the Ontario Line need urgent attention. Second, we should prioritize dedicated lanes and traffic signals for motor vehicles, transit, and cyclists. Everyone deserves their own lane and signal for safe, efficient travel.

The mistake we are making now, and further compounding with this bill, is maintaining lanes exclusively for motor vehicles. This has serious implications for both congestion and safety. Without dedicated lanes for vehicles, transit, and cyclists, we end up with everyone fighting for space in the same lanes. This not only confuses road users but also creates unsafe conditions, increasing the likelihood of accidents and fatalities. Does the Ford government really want blood on its hands?

As a taxpayer, I would much rather see my money spent wisely on completing transit projects and maintaining infrastructure for all users—whether they travel by car, bike, or public transit. Using our tax dollars to remove bike lanes and undo the progress we’ve made feels counterproductive and frustrating.

This bill is akin to opening a can of worms, and I strongly urge the Ford government to educate itself on the broader context and hear from the many voices advocating for bike lanes. Bike lanes are essential for reducing congestion, improving safety, and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Critics who argue that bike lanes increase traffic congestion are overlooking the bigger picture. Below, I’ve summarized key points from a CBC article that outlines global studies on this issue:

Key Points:
1) Induced Demand and Traffic Congestion:
Research shows that adding more car lanes does not reduce congestion long-term due to "induced demand"—more lanes attract more drivers, leading to even worse traffic conditions over time.
In contrast, bike lanes do not contribute to congestion. They often result in safer, more efficient travel and reduce car dependency.

2) Benefits of Bike Lanes:
Cities like New York, Copenhagen, and Paris have shown that dedicated bike lanes can improve traffic flow, reduce travel times for cars, and increase cycling rates. For instance, in New York, bike lanes in a busy corridor reduced car travel time by 35% due to better lane configurations. In Copenhagen, widespread bike lanes have facilitated smoother travel for buses and goods transport.

3) Increased Demand for Cycling:
Shoshanna Saxe, a professor at the University of Toronto, notes that the introduction of bike lanes leads to rapid increases in cycling demand, as seen in Toronto’s Bike Share program, which saw ridership grow from 665,000 trips in 2015 to 5.7 million in 2023.

4) Impact on Cities:
Paris saw a 54% increase in bike use from 2018 to 2019, while car use decreased by 5% between 2010 and 2018. In Canadian cities like Montreal, Vancouver, and Edmonton, bike lanes are heavily used, with Montreal alone boasting over 1,000 km of bike lanes.

5) Misconceptions and Correlation:
Critics often blame bike lanes for traffic congestion, but studies suggest that factors like population growth and the post-pandemic recovery are more significant contributors to increased vehicle traffic.

6) Safety and Environmental Benefits:
Bike lanes reduce speeds on roads, making them safer for all users. Additionally, fewer cars on the road help reduce emissions and combat climate change.

7) Economic Impact:
In Toronto, businesses along streets with new bike lanes have reported increased customer traffic, suggesting that bike lanes can also have positive economic effects.

I hope my concerns and those of many others are taken seriously. Thank you for your consideration.