I am deeply troubled by the…

I am deeply troubled by the proposals in Bill 212.

As both a car driver and cyclist in Toronto for over 50 years I have a balanced perspective on this issue.

As a car driver I appreciate the safety and separation of my vehicle from cyclists. This is certainly true on Yonge Street, University and Bloor which I routinely cycle and occasionally drive. While driving I do not notice any increased congestion on these streets. Even if there might be a longer drive time of a few minutes - that is an excellent trade-off for the peace of mind. And I feel equally sorry for the driver who accidentally kills or maims a cyclist as I do for the victim and their family.

New cycling infrastructure in this city has allowed me to choose my bike over my car. Except for occasional driving to transport passengers or large goods I now ride my bike everywhere for business shopping, and pleasure. Distance is not a deterrent. I ride year round in all weather except snow. I have cycled 7,000 km in Toronto on my bike since September 2021 when I started keeping count. That is 7K of travel with one less car on Toronto roads. More space for those who cannot ride and must drive.

We are all still learning how to manage more cars and more bikes. It is a fact of the densifying city. As a driver and rider I am doing my part to be more conscientious and aware of how to share the road.

Removing bike lanes is a enormous waste of money and almost certainly will lead to new fatalities. I would rather money be spent on a plan to licence cyclists and educate them in the rules of the road - so they can be as accountable and safety-minded as car drivers must be.

Do we really want the congestion that will come when drivers and riders are disrupted -- again -- to un-build cycling infrastructure? In addition to the buyout of the Beer Store contract and the excessive and unnecessary costs of relocating the Ontario Science Centre, if the Government of Ontario seeks another banner project that signals waste of tax dollars -- this might do it.

I also oppose the construction, disruption and cost of Hwy 413. Hwy 407 is already an east-west alternative to 401. It is almost empty whenever I use it. Spend money to buy it back for public non-toll use. This would avoid the destruction of farmlands and nature from building 413. It would avoid the massive greenhouse gas emissions generated when all that concrete would be manufactured.

The goals of this legislation may be laudable but the means are senseless.