I am writing to strongly…

I am writing to strongly oppose Bill 212. Bike lanes should be a municipal decision, built according to the needs and desires of the municipality in which bike lanes serve as important transportation infrastructure. This should not (nor has it been in the past) be a Provicially-led decision.

The basis of this proposal - that the removal of bike lanes will alleviate traffic - has no scientific, practical, or financial basis. I would urge you to cite research or proof that the removal of these bike lanes would improve traffic congestion, rather than providing anecdotal insights and the Premier's personal viewpoints on cyclists.

Bike lanes are life-saving infrastructure that allow for a city's inhabitants to more easily opt out of driving. Studies of bike lanes in Toronto show that bike lanes increased cyclist volume by over 2.5x, which translates to a real reduction in the number of cars on the road. The use of Bike Share in Toronto has increased many times over - amounting to almost 6 million rides taken in 2023 alone.The roads are meant to be used by everyone and all vulnerable users of it have equal rights to belong. The city's infrastructure should be a reflection of all users, and not strongly cater to one particular kind. All residents (pedestrians, cyclist, food delivery riders, cars, transit users) pay taxes and have equal rights to feel safe while using the city's roads.

Bike lanes are future-oriented infrastructure - not only for the fundamental fact that they prevent fatalities, but for the economic and environmental wellbeing of cities. Bike lanes are proven to reduce cyclist fatalities and reduce emissions (based on actual research). There is no supporting evidence that the addition of car lanes reduces traffic.

Should the provincial government remove bike lanes, many cyclists will be forced to use car lanes to navigate the city, which will increase confusion and create gridlock and frustration among car users. Removing bike lanes will not remove cyclists. They will simply remove SAFE cycling, forcing bikes onto the road with motor vehicles.

I would also note that the Province's first point in the Environment Plan is to encourage cycling or transit as a transportation option. This Bill would directly contradict this important plan

The provincial government should not spend taxpayer money on undoing municipal infrastructure projects and should instead focus on fixing the Gardiner, finishing the Eglinton LRT, and developing non-car-related methods for alleviating traffic in the city.