This is a terrible,…

This is a terrible, counterproductive, evidence-free policy that will get in the way of municipalities who actually want to address congestion by providing meaningful alternatives to driving.

The evidence that has been compiled over the last 10 years is conclusive: bike infrastructure does not slow emergency response, it helps local commerce, is significant more efficient for commercial deliveries in urban contexts, improves safety for cyclists/pedestrians/drivers and it makes cities accessible to people who cannot themselves drive.

If the province wants to get involved with cycling policy, it should focus on provincially significant areas such as reforming how the MTO designs highway interchanges, modifying the HTA to allow cyclists to proceed on leading pedestrian intervals, developing standards to facilitate emergency vehicle use of bike infrastructure (i.e. they should be wide enough for ambulances) and developing an e-bike rebate program comparable to the federal electric vehicle rebate. These are provincial areas of jurisdiction that could promote cycling, cashing in on the many health and economic benefits that comes from providing transportation more efficiently using active methods.