Removing bike lanes on Bloor…

Removing bike lanes on Bloor, Yonge, and University only helps 0.05% of people who drive to work in the GTHA. 2 million people drive to work in the GTHA, of those it is estimated only 10,000 drive in rush hour in Toronto. One vehicle lane moves 600 to 1600 cars per hour. This level of policy meddling is an over reach on the provincial government. The removal of three bike lanes will not address the congestion on the 401 will and the economic impact on the trucking and commercial industry will be unchanged. Why can’t this government research and actually table real solutions rather than pandering time, money, and resources. This is a disgrace to propose such a regressive policy and then ask working professionals in policy, planning, and engineers to go against their professional recommendations and research to support a selfish, unsupportive transportation policy.

If this government wants to actually help with alleviating congestion, they would invest in automobile alternatives rather than wasting money and resources reversing progress.

In addition to this, the construction of the 413 will only encourage further sprawl and increase car dependency. This government needs to get serious and actually look at cities that have improved congestion and begin to recommend and implement actual solutions such as better, affordable, reliable, affordable transit, improve safety and access to bike amenities (parking, lanes, driver training), and purchase the 407 or offer trucking and commercial companies a subsidy to get goods moving through the GTHA. Driving and parking has been subsidized far too long, why does it cost 1 to 3 dollars to park my car and transit is $3.30? Why is a parking fine almost four time less expensive than a ttc fine?

I want to see, as a tax payer, a government that comes with facts, evidence and data before making a policy decision. I have been working and contributing in a professional capacity in the GTHA for 8 years - since this government took over. I can confidentially say this government has ensured that my quality of life has declined. Life is more unaffordable and many of my friends feel the same way and are leaving Ontario. I don’t want to be forced to own a car, I don’t want to have to feel unsafe if I choose to walk, bike or take transit.

Please - this is a terrible policy for the reasons stated above.