It is with great dismay that…

It is with great dismay that I heard about the Provincial Government's proposal to remove existing bike lanes in the city of Toronto. I live in the west end of the city, am retired, and use my bicycle for much of the year when there isn't snow on the streets. I regularly drive Bloor St. both in a car and on a bicycle. I believe that it is vital to maintain and expand safe bicycle routes through the city. Riding a bicycle on roads without a bike lane is dangerous. Bike paths in cities are the future, and it is the only way we are going to maintain a livable downtown that is not congested with cars.

The idea that congestion will be eased by making it more easy for cars to get downtown is absurd. We need fewer cars, not more. As anyone who has visited any major city in Europe will see, the answer to traffic is less traffic. Yes, the roads should allow for cars to pass efficiently, but bike lanes are not impeding that. It is construction projects, poor planning, and too many vehicles.

Please come to your senses and base your decisions on sound evidence, not anecdotal information from angry drivers.