As a bike rider AND a driver…

As a bike rider AND a driver, I am deeply concerned about bill 212 for a number of reasons: 1) our cities are suffering with traffic congestion, which has gotten worse since before the pandemic despite less commuting and likely owing to lower transit use. Adding MORE safe and affordable options to get around including safe, dedicated bike lanes will help ease congestion (look at Montreal that has seen traffic decrease by 10% and cycling increase by 28%. The change is visible: traffic has decreased in Montreal making for a much more pleasant and safe city for everyone including drivers but mostly importantly for those who live, visit and work in Montreal.) 2) taking away cycling infrastructure takes away options for a cities’ most vulnerable: seniors, low-income and kids who can’t or don’t drive creating even less equitable cities at a time when urban living is at an all time high; I see many seniors and youth biking in my neighbourhood to school, work or for exercise. Bike lanes allow these users to safely travel without a car. 3) Transportation projects are YEARS in the making from studies to detailed engineering. Adding a layer of bureaucracy not only slows these projects, it threatens to eliminate funding or requires a complete redesign. Both of which will be MORE COSTLY and less effective in delivering any road work for cars or bike riders. 4) Cities are generators of majority of Canada's GDP but they are also places where people live, work and visit. Focusing on moving cars through a few neighbourhoods to save drivers who are travelling in secure, safe and comfortable vehicles to save a matter of MINUTES to someone's commute is antithetical to creating livable, sustainable and climate resilient cities. Removing bike lanes will either force more people into cars thus exacerbating the problem OR result in cyclists biking in car lanes creating opportunities for conflicts, accidents and less efficient movement for both cars and bikes. The province should be focused on solving the real crises: housing, healthcare and transit NOT spending tax payer money to remove millions in existing infrastructure for no demonstrable benefit.