Not only is this proposal…

Not only is this proposal seem like a HUGE overreach for the province to attempt to police municipal roads, but it goes against all the transportation planning policy and goals of the Province and as a transportation engineering professional I am appalled. Earlier this year the Province’s Bill 185 received Royal Assent which removed parking minimums in Protected Major Transit Station Areas. Furthermore, we’re seeing municipalities aim to reduce automotive trips, including Toronto which have reduced most parking minimums. With reduced parking requirements throughout the Province, we should be investing in cycling infrastructure instead of wasting money to remove it or make it harder to implement. In the City of Toronto specifically, the goals outlined in TransformTO include all work and school trips < 5km to be via sustainable modes by 2030 and all trips < 5 km via sustainable modes by 2050. This proposal works against all of the policies the Province and municipalities are implementing and will frankly make the Province worse. Bike lanes are NOT the problem. Cycling is an important mode of transportation and part of the solution to solving grid lock in urban areas. You will NOT reduce traffic by removing the bike lanes you will just make it worse.