I chose to live in the…

I chose to live in the biggest city in Canada because I get to be car-free and commute by walking, cycling, or transit. I am writing to express my deepest disappointment with this proposal. The proposed removal of existing functional and well-used infrastructure, i.e. bike lanes, is an unconscionable waste of taxpayer dollars. While all other world-class cities are expanding their active transportation networks, this proposal by the Ontario government would make Toronto the only city to contract (in fact, destroy) its own network. Instead of focusing on bike lanes, the government should take accountability for the disastrous delays in the construction of multiple transit projects in Toronto and deliver the projects as promised to Ontarians.

Commute times have increased all over the province, including roads with absolutely no relationship to bike lanes (such as the 401). To meaningfully improve commute times and improve gridlock, as this bill claims to do, more people should be able and incentivized to use public transit instead of driving. Toronto's road network is not just a funnel for commuters - its primary purpose is to serve the people of Toronto. Forcing people off their bikes by making roads more dangerous is going to make gridlock worse, not better.