I am a pedestrian, a bicycle…

I am a pedestrian, a bicycle rider, and a vehicle driver. I am opposed to the bike lane and Highway Traffic Act amendments in Bill 60 for many reasons.

- It strips cities of local authority and decision-making, even when projects are supported by evidence and local residents. Local governments know what is best for their communities.

- It will worsen traffic congestion, not reduce it. The government’s own experts have consistently said that bike lanes are not a cause of gridlock.

- It will make roads more dangerous. Protected bike lanes prevent serious injuries and deaths for people biking, walking, and driving. Unprotected bikes slow traffic down as drivers try to navigate passing safely. And many drivers have no idea about giving bikes a safe amount of space. My husband has been nearly run off the road on his bicycle several times - and he is a lifelong experienced cyclist.

- It threatens other uses of road space that communities rely on, including transit priority, safe crossings, patios, curbside access, and school streets.

- It undermines climate goals and public health by locking cities into car-dependent street designs.

Thank you for your consideration.