As a longtime Toronto…

As a longtime Toronto resident with family from across Mississauga, Kitchener, Toronto, and other parts of southern Ontario, I have serious concerns about this proposed bill. I am writing this comment in support of bike lines, and urge you to consider the negative impact of Bill 212, on the environment, our province's broader ecological goals, and the well-being of commuters and travellers.

We know from overwhelming evidence that bike lanes help to:
- reduce gridlock
- reduce greenhouse gases
- get people moving faster
- improve the safety of cyclists

Bike lanes are not just a matter of convenience; they are vital for many residents who rely on affordable transportation options, who need to cycle for financial or health reasons, or who have made commitments to cycle for its positive environmental impacts. Delivery drivers, including those in food and courier services, as well as individuals who simply cannot afford vehicles due to the high cost of living, depend on bike lanes to move around the city. The rising cost of living has made car ownership unattainable for many, further highlighting the need for equitable, accessible alternatives like cycling infrastructure.

On a personal note, as a long-term cyclist, I personally rely on bike lanes to commute to work on a daily basis. On roads where I do not have access to a bike lane for my commute, I am forced to drive within and among car traffic, which has noticeably slowed my own commute, slowed the commute of drivers around me, and increased the risk of car accidents.

Investing in safe, accessible bike infrastructure is essential for the health, safety, and well-being of our communities, as well as for addressing Toronto's pressing environmental and transportation challenges. Bike lanes are a practical, immediate step that can provide tangible benefits for Toronto residents, but we need all levels of government working together, in good faith, to make them a reality.

On the contrary, the proposed bill will increase congestion on our roads, not fix it: cyclists will be forced to either bike on the roads proper (which is dangerous and clogs traffic), or switch to commuting by car themselves (causing potentially devastating environmental impact while also similarly clogging traffic). In addition, it's a waste of resources and money - undoing environmentally-friendly work that has already been completed, in a way that will increase gridlock and danger on the roads rather than fixing it.

These actions are not only distractions from the real needs of our city and province, they also betray a lack of true vision and leadership. We need a government that supports making decisions that are based in evidence, and that makes a strong commitment towards our environmental and ecological goals. This bill will do the opposite.

(M5B 2J5)