The proposal of Bill 212…

The proposal of Bill 212 will not have the impact that some think will have. The only way to reduce car traffic is to reduce the number of cars by giving people more choices on how they get around safely in a city. This has been proven over time and time again. The principal if induced demand means that people will take the transportation method presented to them. If driving is the only option, then everyone will drive. If other options such as cycling, some will drive and some will cycle. Bike lanes are much more efficient at moving the same number of people. Most cars on the road only have one occupant, but take up much more space than a cyclist.
People using bike lanes in the city are not just doing it for recreation. They are doing to get to and from destinations. Those destinations are schools, work, doctor’s appointments, groceries and other errands. The same destinations where someone would drive to.
With regards to winter, people also bike year-round provided that bike lanes are plowed. If you don’t plow roads, people won’t be able to drive. The same applies to bike lanes.
Traffic management in a city is a city issue, not a provincial issue. However this goes beyond traffic congestion. It’s a safety issue. If safe cycling infrastructure is removes, people who continue to bike will be forced into traffic with cars. Their safety and well-being will be put at risk. They will need to take up space in the main travel lane, drivers will get even more frustrated and cause more danger to everyone.
Trust me, no cyclists want to ride in the same travel lane as cars. It isn’t safe and a very unpleasant experience.
I attached a few links. One is a youtube video titled “The Best Country in the World for Drivers”. Spoilers it is the Netherlands because they provide people with different options to drive. Amsterdam used to be a very congested city, but they solved that problem by reducing the dependence on cars.
The end link is from CAA, the Canadian Automobile Association, about “Congestion Solutions for Canada” Bike infrastructure, encouraging active transportation are talked about multiple times as part of the solution to the congestion problem.
If Bill 212 goes ahead, bike lanes are removed and there is no change in traffic congestion or is actually worse, what will the province do then? What will be blamed for the traffic congestion?