I live in downtown Toronto…

I live in downtown Toronto and I've been biking since just before the pandemic started. It's my primary mode of transportation. I use it to get to and from work, to pick up groceries or visit friends, etc.

Having bike lanes has been essential to make this a viable option, and having a direct path through main arterial routes saves me time and helps me get through the city safely.

I wear a helmet, use safety lights, use hand signals and obey road rules. Despite this, every day I have close calls with drivers who don't check their side mirrors, run red lights, fail to indicate, etc.

If bike lanes are removed, I will continue to bike and instead I'll have to bike within car lanes. It's a risk to myself, and I imagine drivers will get fed up and make unsafe manoeuvres due to impatience in trying to get around me. Overall it'll be a bad scene that will not deliver drivers the outcome they're looking for, and removing these lanes that have been created after extensive data and consultation is a massive waste of taxpayer money.

Please put the money into healthcare or homelessness instead.

Thanks