I am an avid cyclist who…

I am an avid cyclist who bikes most days to work and around the city, barring a couple of months when the slush and snow make that difficult.

The proposed removal of bike lanes is extremely disconcerting on multiple fronts.
- Increased cycling safety: I will actively take longer routes to ensure that my ride is both safe and enjoyable.
- Improved driving experience: Not needing to share or navigate a lane with a cyclist improves the driving experience, as there is often insufficient space for both, so a car either needs to switch lanes temporarily or, get dangerously close to a cyclist.
- Sustainability: Contributes toward meeting the country’s carbon goals by using a means of transportation that is green and improves one’s fitness.

In the instance of the Bloor West bike lane, this seems to be a case of further review required to see if modifications can be made to address valid concerns. For example, is the route of EMS vehicles okay as-is? What has been done elsewhere with similar street layouts?

The argument that having bike lanes contributes to congestion goes against what the rest of the developed world is moving toward. I have yet to see substantiated proof of this and regardless, safety trumps saving a couple minutes of driving in all instances. ‘Vision zero’ is our goal.

Thanks for your consideration.