Feedback on Bill 212-…

Feedback on Bill 212- Reducing gridlock / saving your time
I strongly oppose the parts of Bill 212 which have a focus on removing existing bike lanes and making it harder to introduce new bike lanes. This proposal totally ignores the 2024 urgent reality that we need to manage the impacts of climate change and build communities where all people can lead connected productive lives that support our collective well being. The answer to reducing gridlock can no longer be the increasing of car lanes and traffic flow. The only rational response at this point is to do everything in our power to make the use of public transit and alternatives such as cycling and walking safer and more attractive.

The proposal as outlined in the Bill has a binary focus on bike lanes vs increasing lanes for drivers of vehicles. This simplistic approach completely ignores the fact that these cycle ways and roads are part of often high density residential areas where the majority of the community are neither cycling or driving. With federal data for Bloor/Ossington showing that 36 percent of the population drive and 8.3 percent cycle the priority actually needs to be the remaining 55.3 percentage of the population and optimising the conditions for all.

The introduction of the Bloor west cycle lane is showing a steady increase in use by cyclists and with time this will continue. However the outstanding and more immediate benefit has been an increase in pedestrian traffic and general community use of public spaces. Encouragingly some economic benefits to these neighbourhoods is already being realised with new retail activity attracted by increased foot traffic. But there have also been significant gains in public safety and enjoyment of public spaces which are no longer dominated by multiple lanes of vehicle traffic. Having previously personally witnessed vehicle / pedestrian accidents and having had a family member impacted by a vehicle / cyclist accident the value of the traffic quietening since the introduction of the cycleways is significant. This value has not been just in the reduction of harm but in the increased community access and positive use of community spaces.

We would like to commend the introduction of the cycle lanes already established and urge that the significant benefits being seen are understood from a whole of community perspective. This can no longer be a single minded focus on ensuring car users can travel more quickly along roadways and must consider the needs and well being of all community members. This way we can collectively optimise our public spaces and build stronger , more cohesive , connected and resilient communities.