To the Government of Ontario…

To the Government of Ontario, Premier Doug Ford, and Minister Sarkaria,

I am writing to express my profound disapproval of the proposed legislation mandating the removal of key bike lanes in Toronto, along with new regulatory powers over municipal cycling infrastructure decisions. This proposal not only undermines local governance but also disrespects the will of Toronto’s residents and taxpayers.

1. Municipal Autonomy and Provincial Overreach
This proposal represents a blatant overreach by the provincial government into matters that fall within the jurisdiction of municipalities. Cycling infrastructure decisions, including the placement and maintenance of bike lanes, should remain the responsibility of Toronto’s local government, who are best equipped to respond to the specific needs and priorities of their community. The proposal to impose provincial review and approval processes strips Toronto of its authority, undermining the very principles of municipal self-governance.

2. Disregard for Toronto's Electorate and Taxpayers
Toronto residents have already expressed their support for bike lanes through their elected representatives, reflecting a strong democratic mandate. Taxpayers have willingly funded these projects as part of Toronto’s vision for a safer, greener, and more accessible city. For the province to mandate the removal of this infrastructure, taxpayers will now not only lose the benefits of their investment but also be forced to fund this unwanted change—a gross misuse of public funds.

**3. Wasted Resources and Misallocation of Provincial Taxpayer Money**
The broader taxpayer base across Ontario will be footing the bill for road alterations in Toronto that serve no expressed public interest. With Ontario's cities facing real challenges, such as affordable housing, healthcare, and public transit funding, diverting resources to dismantle functioning, community-supported bike lanes is both wasteful and misaligned with provincial priorities.

4. Compromised Safety for All Road Users
Bike lanes serve as a critical measure to improve road safety for cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists alike. Removing these lanes will force cyclists back into vehicle lanes, creating greater risk and conflict on busy streets. This legislation disregards the safety of all road users in favor of an approach that prioritizes vehicular traffic at the cost of alternative, sustainable, and safer modes of transportation.

5. Worsening of Congestion by Eliminating Transportation Alternatives
Traffic congestion results directly from overreliance on cars. Removing bike lanes restricts options for safe, alternative transportation, forcing more people to rely on vehicles, thereby worsening congestion. Rather than “fighting gridlock,” this proposal will intensify it by effectively eliminating alternatives that reduce vehicular pressure on Toronto’s roads.

While the provisions requiring provincial approval for new municipal bike lanes and provisions setting out a process for the review of existing infrastructure remain an unwelcome overreach, at the very least, the existing bike infrastructure on Yonge, Bloor, and University should be subject to the same data-driven, evidence-based, criteria-established decision-making process rather than removed by decree without any supporting evidence of the effects of this decision.

In summary, this legislation represents an unwelcome and intrusive intervention in the affairs of municipalities across the province of Ontario which sets a terrible precedent for urban planning investments at the municipal level--how can cities go forward and make investments in their infrastructure without being confident that the provincial government will not simply reverse this work and waste the taxpayer's money that they spent? It is also an unwelcome and intrusive intervention in Toronto’s urban planning, a waste of taxpayer resources, and a move toward less safe, less sustainable, and more congested streets.

I strongly urge the Ontario government to respect municipal autonomy, taxpayer investment, and the expressed will of Toronto’s residents by abandoning this proposed legislation.