I oppose this bill in the…

I oppose this bill in the strongest possible terms. Removing these bike lanes is a callous, wasteful, and utterly reprehensible decision that will put Torontonian lives at risk, lead to a rise in accidents, and cost millions of taxpayer dollars.

If this proposal goes through, cyclists will lose access to some of the only protected lanes that exist in this city, with no realistic proposal for alternatives. Cycling in Toronto is dangerous enough as it stands (six cyclists have been killed on our roads this year alone) and the government's proposal will increase this risk even further. It's not an exaggeration to say that should this pass, people will be killed. Innocent people — trying to get to work, get to school, or make deliveries — will die in the street.

Studies have shown time and again that adding lanes of traffic does not reduce congestion. Instead, we'll spend millions of dollars to remove these bike lanes, only to see the same continued gridlock, but with a greater incidence of bicycle-related accidents. Nobody wins.

In truth, this bill is some of the most despicable political theatre I have ever had the displeasure of witnessing in this city or province, and I hope everyone involved with proposing it feels a deep sense of shame. It reduces public safety, spends public dollars, and offers no appreciable benefit to anyone.

This is a shameful, wasteful bill, that threatens the safety of tens of thousands of Torontonians. It must not pass.