I have a few concerns…

I have a few concerns regarding Bill 212, especially the Oct 31st update that proposes the removal of bike lanes.

1.) Ford frequently mentions wanting to save the tax payers money. So, why is he wasting my money and the money of others to remove much-needed bike lanes? As statements like "getting drivers where they need to go faster" suggest, Bill 212 favours drivers. However, drivers are not the only tax payers in this province. I am tax payer who does not drive and this bill does not address my needs. The Ford government’s limited car-centric vision signals a larger issue: The issue is not cars needing more lanes, but rather the lack of government funding for public mass transportation like trains and buses. As a tax payer, I also need ask: What are the projected costs for road maintenance on highways and city streets with increased traffic?

2.) The Ford government's proposal is not guided by data or research. Studies show that bike lanes reduce congestion and generate more business for local business (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5c0e5848e5274a0bf3cbe124…). There is no clear and evidenced backed connection between reducing bike lanes and increasing traffic flow in cities and on highways. However, as the linked source shows, there are some very good reasons (including road safety AND INCREASED TRAFFIC FLOW) to keep bike lanes. Ford’s government has either read this research and decided to disregard it because it doesn’t suit their plan or his government doesn’t care enough to read it. Both are unacceptable for elected officials who are meant to represent all peoples of Ontario. This brings me to point 3.

3.) It cannot be overlooked that adding the removal of bike lanes to Bill 212 is Ford pandering to his base and this decision targets and discriminates against those who live in Toronto; specifically, Bloor Street, Yonge Street, and University Avenue. This discrimination is further amplified by the punitive measure of requiring the City of Toronto to bear the cost of removing these lanes. The removal of bike lanes is not only poor urban management and costly, it is also the peak of pettiness. However, this is not surprising. Let’s not forget that Premier Ford and his government have a history of making decisions out of self-interest rather than integrity. Part of this history was Premier Ford’s unilateral decision to sell off the Greenbelt to property developers with whom he seems to have had personal ties (https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ont-greenbelt-timeline-1.6974715). Bearing this in mind, further inquiries need to be made into Premier Ford’s ties with those who will undertake construction work if Bill 212 is passed. Is Premier Ford’s goal to also create potential avenues of income for himself by taking honorary board seats with any of these companies in retirement? As sign of good faith, would Premier Ford sign a legally binding document that he will take no such seats and will in no way financially benefit from the proposed changes of Bill 212?

Bill 212 is myopic. It is populist pandering. It is not good, long-term planning. It will prove to be both a waste of time and money for all.