I am writing to oppose Bill…

I am writing to oppose Bill 212’s proposal to subject new bike lanes to ministerial approval and existing bike lanes to ministerial review and removal orders.

The Minister should leave these matters to municipal governments like the City of Toronto, which has conducted extensive consultation and planning in deciding where and how to implement new bike lanes to help Toronto residents commute and get around their city. It is overreach for the provincial government to step in as proposed, particularly to remove existing lanes on Bloor, University and Yonge streets. As a regular user of the first two sets of lanes, I have seen how long it has taken to finish the careful construction of infrastructure in support of these separated lanes. They are much more than simple paint on the roads; they are part of a carefully designed streetscape involving space for pedestrians, cyclists, parking and automobile traffic. Removing these recently completed bike lanes is a complete waste of taxpayer money and will only serve to generate more congestion given the construction that will be necessary to remove them. Based on my observation, these lanes are well used and the protection they afford will only lead to more use, which is of course part of the goal of providing people with safe travel options in the City (which is particularly important for novice cyclists).

Ontario needs to look at what every other major city in the world is doing to reduce traffic congestion. None of them are removing bike lanes or subjecting them to oversight by a higher order of government. Instead, they are reducing traffic volumes through transit initiatives, more dedicated bus and cycling lanes and congestion charges. In Toronto, attention could also be given to building projects which spillover into traffic lanes for years on end. Removing bike lanes will make Toronto a case study in poor urban traffic and transit planning.

The government needs to rethink Bill 212’s bike lane provisions and should remove them from this law.