I used to be terrified of…

I used to be terrified of biking in downtown Toronto. It wasn’t until a friend spent days persuading me to try it—promising we’d stick to bike lanes—that I finally gave in and bought a 24-hour city bike pass. That decision changed my life. Ever since that day, I’ve fallen in love with Toronto in a way I never had before. To date, I’ve taken 1,153 trips using Toronto’s bike-share system, covering 2,705 kilometers.

Wanting to pass on this joy, I’ve convinced many friends to give biking a try—friends who once relied on Uber or their own cars to get around the city. I’ve even taught a friend (to the best of my abilities) to ride a bike for the very first time.

Still, I often wonder: What if those who drive cars in the city took a leap of faith and tried cycling, just once, like I did? Would they see what I see: a way to move through the city that’s freeing, efficient, and even transformative? And would they then realize how terrifying it is to ride alongside vehicles that could take your life in the blink of an eye?

For me and many others, removing bike lanes won’t stop us from cycling. But it will increase the likelihood that I will one day die from being struck by a car. What will removing bike lanes achieve? At best, a temporary sense of convenience. Encouraging more drivers on the road only creates more congestion, leading to calls for additional road space. This is, in effect, a dog chasing its tail—an endless cycle that squeezes Toronto’s urban core and prioritizes cars at the expense of everything else.

Biking in Toronto, supported by leadership that actively promotes ridership, benefits everyone—including those who oppose bike lanes even if they don’t know it. It fosters a healthier city, reducing healthcare spending. It creates a greener, more sustainable urban environment. And it positions Toronto as a global leader in urban design and liveability.

I don’t want to die while riding my bike. Removing bike infrastructure is a step backward, and I believe the passage of Bill 212 would harm our city.