Bill 212 is a major…

Bill 212 is a major overreach and encroachment on a municipality’s ability to develop safe and efficient road networks. The proposal does not consider global evidence on bike lanes and congestion in good faith.
The proposed bill actually acts in opposition to provincial policies and plans it has previously championed such as the Provincial Policy Statement, 2024 (PPS 2024) and the Transportation Plan for the Greater Holden Horseshoe, 2022. The PPS 2024 says transportation systems should be provided which are safe, energy efficient and facilitate the movement of people and goods. Prioritizing vehicles over the movement of people generally is misguided. Further, the PPS 2024 says that as part of a multi-modal transportation system, connectivity within and among transportation systems and modes should be planned for, maintained and, where possible, improved. How does the removal of high-quality and safe bike lanes maintain or improve multimodal transportation systems? The answer is it reverses the progress made to establish multimodal transportation systems in our cities.
In major Ontario cities, such as Toronto, bike lanes on main street serve as connectors to higher order transit stations, local retail, workplaces, parks, and other key community services. A comprehensive local cycling network enhances the major transit investments made by the Province. First and last mile commutes to transit stations should be well served by safe active transportation options, like bike lanes (as recommended in the PPS 2024 (s3.2 3). Deferring bike lanes to adjacent streets prioritizes single occupancy vehicles on major streets that are high volume pedestrian and cycling corridors. This is a regressive step for Toronto’s urban environment and transportation network.
In response to the proposed Bill 212, the City of Toronto estimated that it would cost more than $48 million to remove bike lanes on Bloor Street, Yonge Street, and University Avenue and lead to minimally faster commutes for drivers. This assumes that the removal of these bike lanes would not induce greater vehicular demand on these streets – which any transportation study would conclude is inevitable. Many sections of these bike lanes have included curb reconstructions to make cycling safer for users.
As an avid biker living in the City of Toronto, I strongly oppose the removal of bike lanes by the Province and strongly oppose the Province making deeply impactful local decisions about our local road networks. This is a gross overstep by the Province and one that does not appear to be backed in reputable evidence. This bill builds on a pattern of provincial exertion of power onto municipalities, particularly the City of Toronto. Local decisions should be made by local actors and our City Councils are best suited to study and respond to these issues.
This is undeniably a bad faith proposal and should not move forward.