Given the age of the city of…

Given the age of the city of Toronto, in addition to the many hills, ravines, and streams that exist within the city, there are few to no alternatives to having bike lanes on major roads. Bike lanes on University Avenue provide critical safe pathways for healthcare workers, such as myself, to get to work on time and in a safe manner. Without these bike lanes, my and many of my colleagues' rides to work would be far more dangerous, and would lead to increased rates of injury amongst hospital staff. Bike lanes on Bloor Street cross the city, allowing for our interconnected communities to navigate the city core safely. Given the varied physical geography of the city, there exist no side streets that would allow for someone to cross the city in this area.

In addition to the safety concerns, bike lanes have been shown to increase rates of cycling in cities. As a public health physiotherapist, I am a mobility and wellness expert; increasing rates of cycling and active transportation in our communities is directly correlated with healthier communities, and thus reduced burden on the healthcare system and reduced healthcare spending.

I implore you to read the following evidence-based article (link below) from the CBC describing the falsehood that building more roads/lanes will reduce congestion - "The more traffic lanes that are put in, the more it appeals to people who may not otherwise have chosen to drive, thereby putting more cars on the roads and increasing congestion... Conversely, if you put in more dedicated bike lanes, people tend to feel safer and demand for use increases."

If our government's goal is to avoid worsening gridlock and reducing the quality of life in our cities, it is imperative that existing bike lanes be maintained, and that additional biking infrastructure is implemented to encourage the development of healthy, safe, and happy communities.