This current proposal…

This current proposal prioritizes drivers and individual automobiles commuters over the many other transit options in the city. Toronto and the GTA is already car-centric in many ways: the perpetual underfunding of public transit options such as the TTC, the scarcity of bike lanes, and city infrastructure that focuses on parking lots and highways. There is already an abundance of literature, data, and research that concludes clearly that the addition of more roads and highways does not help overall in depleting congestion as demand for cars and driving rises proportionately. There is a deep hostility against cyclists currently by drivers and personally, many of my friends and colleagues have been harmed by drivers who are not mindful of other people on the road who are not also in cars. I have friends, who as pedestrians have been struck by cars, and at best are shaken and traumatized, or worst, sent to ICU in the hospital or even worst, have died from impact. Many of my peers are afraid of biking around the city, knowing exactly how dangerous it is and the risks that car drivers pose. More safe bike lanes, however, could mean less drivers as they can pivot to cycling instead. That, in fact, would be more helpful in decongesting traffic.
This new proposal continues to ignore the need for diverse means of travelling in the city. Not everyone can afford a car, and by privileging cars and drivers as the most important form of commuting is to ignore those with less income, less choices, and contribute in making vulnerable communities more marginalized by reducing options for reliable and affordable transit. For the record, I don't even ride a bike: but I can recognize how absolutely vital it is to ensure an equitable city with folks who are dependent on other modes of transport to get around to their jobs, see their families, etc. It escapes me as to why the Provincial government is overreaching in regards to Municipal affairs. It's clear that this proposal will increase opacity and bureaucratic red tape in implementing much needed bike lanes.