I cannot help but feel this…

I cannot help but feel this proposed legislation is poorly timed. As a person who has both recreationally cycled and commuted to work via bicycle in Toronto for many years, I can tell you that we have only just begun to feel the benefits of enhancements to the city’s cycle network. It has too often felt like any roads with safe cycling infrastructure will sooner than later lead you on to other roads with limited or nonexistent infrastructure. This amounts to a given journey beginning safely and swiftly, but inevitably being followed by moments of fear, where you are forced to take decisions that are at best risky, and at worst potentially fatal. Some routes have become more connected in recent years, and I truly believe that ridership rates are only just starting to reflect the increased confidence cyclists are feeling as they become aware of these improved connections. With respect to University Avenue’s consideration for removal in particular, the cycling infrastructure has been discontinuous (i.e. ending abruptly at King st., thereby reducing potential demand for the route if wanting to continue quickly to Union station or further to the waterfront) or under construction (along hospital row and around Queens Park Circle) up until the present day. This, in my view makes any short-term statistical assessment of impact on motor vehicle traffic or demand for the cycle path along this route incomplete and therefore misleading. I believe that both our cycling and public transportation networks are modest and would do well with a persistent effort to improve them. If you allow us to build a city with safe, fast alternative means of getting from A to B, congestion will certainly be reduced and the city will feel more vibrant. Cars are one great way of getting around, but they should not be the only way. To add a personal anecdote, I have benefited from having a Bikeshare membership for the past several years, and have loved the valet station at King/Bay West side. This station now often has 300-500 bikes locked in front of the dock by 10am midweek, as the staff work to keep the dock available. This was simply not possible, prior to instituting this system. Previously, 20 or so bikes would have been docked with no capacity for further arrivals. This approach has very clearly incentivized new demand/ridership at a very local level. Let’s expand this thinking.