I do not believe that taking…

I do not believe that taking out bike lanes is in the interests of citizens living in Toronto. I have lived in Toronto all my life and have always used my bicycle to get around. I have seen many changes over 4 decades. In the last few years, there are more cyclists of all kinds on the roads including couriers and those of us who use the bicycle as our primary vehicle in the city. Without bike lanes, it would not be safe for me to cycle on downtown streets.

By using my bicycle I can move around the city in a quick and inexpensive fashion while also staying healthy with the exercise I get. The last thing I want is to be forced into my car in what will undeniably be gridlock in an ever more densely populated city. The increase in bicycles and other vehicles makes it essential to have bike lanes that protect our safety as cyclists and make it possible to keep cycling. The environmental benefits are self evident. We know that more cyclists means fewer cars on the road.

I absolutely do not want to see my elected representatives spending their time and our money undoing progressive building projects such as bike lanes! It doesn't make sense for those of us who live here. Please put your energy into something that is more useful and enterprising. Around the world, the best run cities do have bicycle lanes that benefit their citizens, the environment and the quality of life there. Toronto is moving in the right direction already and I am shocked that there would be a suggestion of going backward. I appreciate the chance to express my opinion as someone who lives here and uses the infrastructure here every day. I hope you will consider my experience and thoughts carefully.