I am writing this to say…

I am writing this to say that I do not support Bill 212 and would like MPPs to vote against it.

I understand the frustration from Ontario commuters about being stuck in traffic. However, Bill 212 will not reduce gridlock and will not save anyone any time. Studies have demonstrated that bike lanes actually reduce congestion [1], can reduce car travel time [2], will make roads safer for all users (including drivers and pedestrians) [3], and have been shown to provide economic benefits to local businesses in Toronto [4].

The existing bike lanes on Bloor St., Yonge St., and University Ave. are key travel arteries for the nearly 50% [5] of residents of Toronto/East York who cycle to work, school, go shopping, or visit friends. If bike lanes are removed as a result of this bill, then traffic will actually be more congested and slower. Therefore, the opposite of the goal of this bill will be achieved, if it is implemented.

If bike lanes are removed, cyclists may no longer feel safe cycling and they could switch to driving instead which will cause more cars on the road and thereby more traffic congestion. It has been repeatedly shown that more lanes leads to more traffic, not less, due to induced demand [6]. Furthermore, this will also increase the amount of greenhouse emissions put into the air (thus making it more difficult for Ontario to meet its goal of "reducing our emissions to 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030" [7]).

Alternatively, if bike lanes are removed, cyclists may continue to bike on the streets where the bike lanes were, but they will instead be forced to bike in the car lanes. This leads to cars moving slower as they wait for an opening in the adjacent lane to swerve into to move around the cyclist which clearly impedes and slows down traffic. Also, cycling in car lanes is more dangerous for everyone. Cyclists should have the right to have a safe place to ride, especially given the recent increase in cycling-related fatalities [8].

Lastly, ripping out bike lanes will cost the province hundreds of thousands of dollars [9] and would cause a lot of congestion in the process. As a Toronto cyclist and Ontario taxpayer, I don't want my tax dollars used to remove existing infrastructure which keeps me and millions of others safe, all under the false pretense of "reducing gridlock and saving time" when in reality, there will be more traffic and longer travel times.