I am a family physician in…

I am a family physician in Toronto, as well as an avid cycle commuter. I bike to work for my own mental and physical health, and for the environmental health of our community, and I try to promote the same for my patients. However, bike infrastructure is critical to keep cyclists safe and to encourage more people cycle.

This proposal is extremely detrimental to our communities and our province. It will make roads more dangerous. Protected bike lanes prevent serious injuries and deaths for people biking, walking, and driving.

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

As well, it undermines climate goals and public health by locking cities into car-dependent street designs. Planning for car-dependent street designs is not sustainable as our cities grow, and we need to be supporting a variety of transportation modes. By prioritizing cars, it also threatens other uses of road space that communities rely on, including transit priority, safe crossings, patios, curbside access, and school streets. Instead, bike lanes can promote safer, more vibrant streets that also promote the economy: bike lanes have been shown to boost sales in areas where they are installed.

The principle of this proposal is also dangerous. It strips cities of local authority and decision-making, even when projects are supported by evidence and local residents.

For these above reasons, and many more, Bill 60 should not be passed. Cities should have the ability to lead their own urban planning for a sustainable future, which should involve involve embracing multi-modal transportation solutions, including expanded and improved cycling infrastructure.