The proposal in Schedule 4…

The proposal in Schedule 4 that states: "it is also amended to require Ministry approval before municipalities may construct bicycle lanes in certain circumstances, and to require municipalities to provide the Ministry with information, including information relating to bicycle lanes" is an overreach of provincial government that will create unnecessary bureaucracy and clog up municipal development in red tape.

The provincial government should, instead, be acting to reduce restrictions for municipal developments approved by mayors and councilors, NOT increase them.

The focus on bicycle lanes in Bill 212 is also completely arbitrary, since the government has not been able to show that bicycle lanes do, in fact, increase gridlock when a motor vehicle lane is removed. There is not even any information provided in the Bill on requirements or methods for granting approval "in certain circumstances", or what kind of information is needed from municipalities for city planning. The arbitrary focus on bicycle lanes in the Bill is specifically significant since many municipalities across the world have shown that creating infrastructure that increases bicycle use actually does more for reducing gridlock than increasing lanes for motor vehicles.

Furthermore, particularly in larger cities like Toronto, a significant (and significantly growing) number of citizens choose to use bicycles to commute to and from work, school, shopping centres, and places of leisure and socialization, simply because cycling is one of the most convenient and fastest modes of transportation. The proposal to hinder the development of bicycle lanes and favour lanes for motor vehicles will not only fail in reducing gridlock, but will make commuting more difficult for both cyclists and motor vehicle drivers. The bill does not give reasons why citizens who choose to commute via motor vehicles should be favoured over those who commute via bicycles.