I am writing to express my…

I am writing to express my strong opposition to Bill 60, particularly Schedule 5, which would prevent municipalities from reducing the number of motor vehicle lanes to create or maintain bicycle lanes. This section poses a serious threat to road safety, active transportation, and local municipal autonomy across Ontario.

The section in question reads:

SCHEDULE 5 – HIGHWAY TRAFFIC ACT
195.3(1) Except as permitted by the regulations, a municipality shall not, by by-law or otherwise, reduce or permit a reduction in the number of marked lanes available for travel by motor vehicles on a highway or a portion of a highway under the municipality’s jurisdiction and control for any of the following purposes:

1. A bicycle lane.
2. Any other prescribed purpose.

I am deeply concerned about this clause and urge the Committee to remove Schedule 5 in its entirety from Bill 60. Restricting municipalities from reallocating lanes toward safer and more sustainable transportation infrastructure will make our communities less safe, less accessible, and less resilient.

As a regular cyclist and pedestrian living in an urban area, I rely on protected bike lanes and well-designed pedestrian infrastructure to move safely through my city. I use my bike to get to work, run errands, and visit local businesses. Without safe cycling routes, many trips would feel unsafe or simply impossible, especially on roads dominated by high-speed traffic.

Bike lanes and other lane reduction measures don’t just serve cyclists like me—they make streets safer for everyone: drivers, pedestrians, seniors, children, and people with mobility challenges. When cities invest in protected bike infrastructure, sidewalks become calmer, crossings safer, and overall accessibility improves. These lanes create predictable, separated spaces for all users and reduce conflicts between cars, bikes, and pedestrians.

From a climate-conscious perspective, bike lanes help reduce reliance on personal motorized vehicles, which in turn lowers greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, contributing to better public health and climate-resilient urban design.

Bike lanes also encourage more local economic activity: bike‐friendly streets draw people into neighbourhoods, support small businesses, reduce traffic congestion, and make cities more livable.

Finally, traffic reduction measures like bike lanes advance equity: not everyone can afford a car or wishes to drive; high-quality bike lanes offer a lower-cost, healthier transportation choice available to many.

Accessibility and inclusion must be central to any transportation system. Protected bike lanes help vulnerable populations—children biking to school, older adults using e-bikes or scooters, and people who cannot afford or operate a car. They offer a low-cost, environmentally friendly, and physically active form of transportation that improves health and builds community.

Removing a municipality’s ability to install or adjust bike lanes will only discourage safe, active transportation and deepen reliance on personal vehicles. This runs counter to Ontario’s commitments to road safety, climate responsibility, and healthy cities.

The need for safe cycling infrastructure could not be clearer. Just this past June, a child on a bicycle was tragically killed by a school bus west of Ottawa. Every death like this is preventable. By blocking municipalities from taking measures to protect cyclists, Bill 60 risks more unnecessary tragedies.

I therefore urge you to stand up and work to:

1. Completely remove Schedule 5 from Bill 60.
2. Protect and empower municipalities’ authority to make locally informed decisions about lane reallocation and active transportation planning for the safety and benefit of their residents.
3. Require inclusive planning: ensure that bike lanes are built so that young people, older adults, persons with disabilities, and everyday commuters feel safe using them (eg: protected, separated bike lanes). Recognize that safe cycling and walking infrastructure benefits people of all ages and abilities, not just cyclists. It helps reduce the burden of vehicles on the road and makes transit faster and safer for all.
4. Collect and publish data on cycling infrastructure usage, safety outcomes (including collisions involving cyclists), and mode-shift impacts (how many people move from cars to bikes). This transparency will help assess the benefits of investment and guide future infrastructure.
5. Prioritize neighbourhoods with the greatest need, including schools, community centres, transit hubs, and areas currently underserved by safe cycling routes.

Ontario should be investing in a transportation system that prioritizes safety, sustainability, and accessibility—not restricting progress toward it.

Thank you for your time and for considering my submission. I hope you will stand up for safer, more inclusive streets and remove Schedule 5 from Bill 60.