Two things stand out for me…

Two things stand out for me in this discussion - both revolve around the way different governments behave. The third is logic.
1. The city spent years consulting with residents and the process went through two mayors and a different council make up where sensible policies finally are taking the place of backroom deals. This work cannot and should not be undone because some privileged folks make noise to an autocratic leader that overrides all of the work and process. I think that those who disagree need to go through the same process of consultations and bridge building between communities. We do not live in a dictatorship. (I know that constitutionally the province has a right to override city decisions - that needs to be updated - and doesn't give the right to meddle and micromanage city decisions.)

2. Off the cuff decision making to placate the base is getting humans in trouble all over the world - it has got to stop. Sure some folks disagree and are inconvenienced by the very idea of bike lanes (I know some and they have no real argument except for 'feelings') - many others are inconvenienced (and have been injured/killed) by drivers and we've accepted that as a part of life. But the fact that it is 'part of life' doesn't mean that it cannot be improved.

3. Almost one quarter of Toronto's land area is covered by streets - with about 5600 km of roadways. As of Dec 2022 we only had 270km of on street cycling with an additional 388km of cycling infrastructure in parks and other green spaces. City of Toronto planned to add another 100 between 2022 and 2024 so lets make it 700km of cycling spaces (many of them are shared spaces...) 700/5600 is 1.25%. The province wants to tell its citizens that taking up 1.25% of street space (which is a highest end estimate) for cycling is the root of all traffic. It is laughable and only makes sense if we have too much of #1 and #2 above.