I am strongly opposed to…

I am strongly opposed to Bill 212, and in particular, the provisions requiring provincial approval of new bicycle lanes and removal of existing bike lanes on Bloor Street, Yonge Street, and University Avenue, because:

(1) It represents an unwarranted intrusion onto municipal responsibilities
(2) It allows one person (the Minister) to over-ride decisions (the construction of the afore-mentioned bike lanes) that were the result of a long consultative process involving all stakeholders and professional planners
(3) The reasons given for these actions (to reduce traffic congestion) are invalid (it has long been demonstrated that increasing road capacity by adding or, in this case, restoring traffic lanes does not cause a significant long-term decrease in congestion because it simply attracts more drivers).
(4) The are other and better ways to address the reason given for removal bike lanes – such as better management of construction, better enforcement of illegal parking and turns, and improved rapid transit alternatives to driving.
(5) To the extent that there is an inconvenience for drivers, this has to be weighed against the benefits for cyclists (especially reduced risk of accidents and death!).
(6) The world, including Canada, is facing the prospect of catastrophic climatic change due to emissions of greenhouse gases, with many obvious warning signs (extreme heat and rain, droughts, and forest fires) associated with the small (1.2 C global mean) warming that has occurred already. This means that urgent action is required in every area to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and that means doing everything possible to encourage less use of cars and more use of alternatives – including cycling for short distances.

It light especially of global warming, the governments actions in Bill 212 are incredibly backward and contrary to the amazing actions to provide networks of interconnected and physically separate bike lanes in other cities around the world – Paris, France being perhaps the most prominent recent example. For its health and environmental benefits, the Government of Ontario should be doing whatever it can to encourage people to drive less and cycle (and walk) more, not making it harder and dangerous to choose the better alternative!

It light of the above, Bill 212 should be withdrawn.