I am a local utility and…

I am a local utility and commuter cyclist (vulnerable road user), using my bike to get to/from work and for travel, besides far more tasks unrelated to work, bringing cargo on a trailer from a store to my home.

I utilise bike infrastructure (bike lanes) where it is available for a far safer and more comfortable commute, including if bringing fragile items home (or donating large items to places which accept them). This also allows bringing my cats to the veterinarian for a check-up on occasion.

Without safer streets (bike infrastructure included), road violence becomes a far bigger problem for everybody not driving, resulting in motorists being impatient about getting "slowed down" when we are rightfully taking the lane (HTA 147) to be as visible as possible and doing a DANGEROUS CLOSE PASS (HTA 148, 6.1) in retaliation, throwing things at us, threatening violence or death, or hitting us with their vehicle, because we are rightfully using the road to commute or to do our jobs.

This is unacceptable behaviour and removing bike infrastructure will only put everyone who doesn't drive, in danger. It is very much seen as regressive, rather than progressive, especially if it interferes with municipalities rights to progress and make all roads safer for everybody who walks, bikes, wheels, rolls (which is a charter protected right), uses public transit or drives.

Each vehicle (on average) takes up the space of six to nine bicycles in motion, or 10-20 if parked, regardless what type of bike it is. This is a known proven fact. Anyone can do this measurement and demonstrate it by doing a group ride with appropriate spacing.