Regarding the proposed…

Regarding the proposed amendments to Part XII: I am deeply concerned about the negative impact this legislation would have on cyclist safety and sustainable transportation initiatives in our community and across Ontario.

I strongly reject the arguments presented by the Conservative government in support of this bill, which seem to be rooted in short-sighted concerns about traffic congestion and parking availability.

The MTO is all about being safe - they have rigid traffic control plans and mandatory safety requirements for their workers, contractors, or suppliers that work on Ontario roads. They do not take this issue lightly. In fact, as published in the 2021 Ontario Road Safety Annual Report forward, "we are committed to improving safety for all drivers and passengers on our roads."

This proposed change in legislation goes against this core value of the MTO, which is related to keeping people safe. The focus is not safety - it is getting drivers to their destination faster and quicker, and safety is now no longer the MTO's priority. It begs Ontarians like myself to question - what other shortcuts is the MTO taking regarding the public's safety? If this bill is passed, it will be clear to me that the MTO no longer puts safety as a priority.

No other provincial government in Canada has decision-making abilities over bike lane planning or placement. Why now must the Ontario Government feel they have to control this? It is truly a decision of the municipality and the population of that municipality when and where these bike lanes can and should be placed. For example, the MTO does not regulate where large shoulders should be placed to accommodate horse and buggy vehicles because this is not a province-wide issue. Selected communities in Ontario have a Mennonite population and they have specific requirements locally on accommodating these transportation needs.

We, as individuals, residents of Ontario, Canada, and the world, need to change our habits to adjust to the changing climate. It means we have to stop getting into our cars and try other forms of sustainable transportation. Expanding a bike lane network in any city is a continuing step to making these positive changes to help our climate. Removing these and adding more traffic lanes is a huge step back. Research consistently demonstrates that well-designed cycling infrastructure not only enhances safety for cyclists but also improves overall traffic flow and reduces congestion in the long term (Toronto Centre for Active Transportation, 2018). Additionally, studies show that businesses in areas with protected bike lanes tend to see an increase in sales, driven by greater foot and bicycle traffic (New York City Department of Transportation, 2014). These facts contradict the government’s claims that bike lanes negatively impact local businesses and inconvenience motorists.

I strongly urge you to remove the amendments to Part XII from Bill 212. This is not a provincial issue. Ontario has 444 municipalities. There is one municipality - the City of Toronto, which appears to be the reason for this change in legislation. The remaining 443 do not apply. Keep local issues at the municipal level and keep Ontario-wide issues at the provincial level.