This proposal is completely…

This proposal is completely misinformed about the nature and causes of traffic congestion, and will cost taxpayers money, time, space, and safety.

Urban planners generally agree that transit users choose modes based on what is made available to them--if we build roads, people will drive; if we build trams, people take the tram; if we build safe and connected bike lanes, people will bike. We have over-built for cars in such a way as to induce demand for driving, leading to some of the worst traffic congestion on the continent (see link below on induced demand). This cannot be blamed on bike lanes.

Bike lanes are not only necessary to prevent cyclist deaths and to provide affordable, sustainable transit alternatives, they also are a boon to local economies. The fact is that drivers are not likely to stop at a local business, whereas pedestrians and cyclists are. This fact has been established by decades of research (see articles linked below). Personally, I can attest that as a Toronto citizen the largest barrier to me going out and patronizing businesses in this city is the danger, noise, and inconvenience of battling vehicle traffic.

I am not a cyclist, but I might choose to be if the bike network in Toronto was better. Cities like Amsterdam have successfully reduced traffic and vehicular accidents by promoting safer road design and more options for cyclists and pedestrians.