I am one of many young…

I am one of many young Torontonians who commute to work and school by bike. I have recently finished a graduate degree in engineering and I have been determined to remain in Toronto, despite the higher pay in engineering in the United States. I want to stay in Toronto both so that I can support the economy here and because I love living in Toronto, where I can commute safely while also getting my daily exercise. I use the Yonge, Bloor, and University bike lanes on my commute. Removing the bike lanes that allow me to get to work would increase my risk and worsen my commute every single day. If I am driving or taking the subway to work, I would also no longer have an easy way to stop at the local businesses that I currently pass by daily. I cannot overstate how much the changes proposed in this bill would negatively impact me every day. Quite frankly, if I am no longer able to get to work safely, I will start to look at leaving the country to work for American engineering firms---because at least California cities have safe bike lanes. Removing bike lanes by force would be a mistake, and it is clear to everyone I know that the provincial government is motivated to push this bill by political reasons rather than by the good of the province. Please, for the sake of everyone who uses Toronto bike lanes to commute, get some exercise, or sightsee, don't remove our bike lanes.