Thank you for the…

Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback concerning Bill 212.

There is no doubt that gridlock is a significant challenge for Ontarian's that must be addressed. Accordingly, this bill seems well intentioned. However, the bill is misguided in it’s approach as not only does it fail to solve the problem of gridlock but it also;
Risks to harm a viable alternative that actually reduces grid lock, i.e. bike lanes.
Increases risk of traffic injuries and fatalities by displacing cyclists from dedicated lanes and into regular vehicular traffic, thus hobbling the implementation of of the Vision Zero program.
Is an overstep by the provincial government in to the local administrative purview of municipal governments and increases the levels of bureaucracy.
Wastes taxpayer dollars, particularly in the context of removing bike lanes that have already been build

Gridlock
A 2019 city survey found that nearly 10 per cent of residents cycled to work. Another 25 per cent reported cycling regularly for other reasons. Cycling lanes in fact can reduce gridlock when correctly implemented. The more people have access to bike lanes, the more they come out of the woodwork and start biking,” said an associate professor in the University of Toronto’s civil and mineral engineering department and Canada Research Chair in sustainable infrastructure.
The evidence shows that bike lanes do not create additional congestion (https://cyclingsolutions.info/cost-benefit-of-cycling-infrastructure/)

Traffic Injuries and Fatalities
Bike lanes save lives, and help to make our roads safer for everyone, including people in motor vehicles. This is something already addressed in the Vision Zero program, that is to consider all active modes of transportation, such as driving, walking and cycling.

Provincial Government Overstep
At present, municipalities have the authority to design and install bicycle lanes on roads under their jurisdiction based on their own priorities and transportation context. This bill is provincial overreach into municipal decision-making. Local input from ordinary citizens like myself in to municipal affairs could be overruled by provincial government actors who are removed from the local process.

Waste of Taxpayer Dollars
Removing bike lanes can be considerably more costly than installation. Removing functional transportation infrastructure is not fiscally responsible

I hope you will carefully consider some of these points before moving ahead with Bill 212.