It is abundantly clear to me…

It is abundantly clear to me that the Ford government cares little for science, facts or the safety of its constituents. This short-sighted bill does nothing but send Ontario further back into the dark ages. These are some of the numerous reasons why Ontario's bike lanes must stay:

1. Numerous studies around the world have PROVEN that bike lanes reduce congestion. What increases congestion is induced demand, which comes from adding more traffic lanes. Research shows that the more traffic lanes that are put in, the more it appeals to people who may not otherwise have chosen to drive, thereby putting more cars on the roads and increasing congestion. Removing bike lanes will not improve congestion. Adding more lanes for cars will increase congestion.

2. The provincial government shouldn't be adding red tape and bureaucracy to slow down local governments trying to increase transportation options. Doug Ford needs to stay in his lane. I don't want my tax dollars being used to rip up infrastructure that not only many people use, but was expensive to install. It's extremely wasteful in so many ways.

3. I live in Toronto and use bike lanes everyday. I consider them essential transportation infrastructure.

4. We need to think about guaranteeing safety and providing options for vulnerable road users instead of just maximizing the number of cars on the road. Putting me directly in traffic SEVERELY reduces my safety, but Doug Ford has make it clear that the lives of cyclists don't matter as much as those of car owners.

5. If the number one complaint people have against cyclists is that they ride in the road at low speeds and get in the way, obviously if there’s a bike lane that’s not going to be an issue. It’s only when there’s no dedicated cycling infrastructure and they’re forced to occupy the same space as vehicles that it becomes one. It’s not like cyclists are getting in the way intentionally, if there’s nowhere else to ride there’s nowhere else to ride, so removing bike lanes only exacerbates this problem.

6. With fewer cars on the road, emissions are reduced, helping in the fight against climate change, something we should be striving for!

7. When I drive, I would much rather cyclists be out of my way in their own bike lanes, feeling safer for EVERYONE on the road. Bike lanes have also been shown to decrease speeds on roads, making them safer for not only cyclists, but also pedestrians.

8. Bike lanes support transit by making it easier to get to stations.

9. Why is removing street parking on major thoroughfares never on the table to reduce gridlock? If you remove street parking, you free up a lane. It's honestly a no brainer.

10. There are no good alternative routes for Yonge or Bloor that go for any lengthy distance so it's simply not an option for cyclists to take alternative roads. They will be in traffic if the bike lanes are removed.

11. I have this last, but it most important: Bike lanes save lives.