"Doug Ford has introduced…

"Doug Ford has introduced legislation, Bill 212, that is jeopardizing our safety and rolling back transportation choice by usurping democratically elected municipal councils powers to install future bike lanes and ripping out existing ones, especially on Bloor St in Toronto. This bill would affect our cycling plan in the City of Hamilton.

I volunteer with Cycling Without Age (CWA), a program that gives shut in Seniors the right to the wind in their hair with rides on pedal assist electric trishaw. An organization like CWA brings a different perspective to the utility of and need for bike lanes. It's an equity issue: seniors and people with limited physical mobility would otherwise not be able to enjoy the benefits of cycling, being out and about, experience the social interaction and conversation, etc. Thanks to CWA, they can participate in a way that their circumstances would otherwise preclude. Dedicated, safe bike lanes facilitate their social and physical participation in an activity from which they would otherwise be foreclosed. Bike lanes, especially protected ones are essential to their safety (all of our safety).

I oppose this bill to increase highways, and remove bike lanes in any committee. More importantly I oppose the right of this bill to take away the muncipalities right to design or build for the residents of their city.

I oppose this Bill.