The proposed law is…

The proposed law is counterproductive and far from achieving its aim of improving traffic, it will only serve to make things worse by removing alternatives to driving. I strongly recommend looking into the concept of "induced demand."

With this bill, the province will encourage more drive and discourage those seeking alternative means (such as biking). Studies have show that this will lead to more people driving cars, making traffic worse for everyone. Put another way, bike lanes move more people in smaller spaces while cars are inefficient in comparison, especially if only one or two of the seats are used (as is most common).

In addition, bike lanes have been shown to spur economic activity. Business owners often fear bike lanes because they wrongly assess how people access urban shops. More people on bikes means more customers because it is physically easier for someone on a bike to stop and buy something as bikes are easier to park, and they can make repeat small purchases.

This bill is also corrosive to the idea of local government making local decisions. The province has the right to set rules for municipalities, but that right should not be used as a cudgel. Municipalities need more tools to solve traffic (especially by helping those who want to to get out of their personal vehicles), not less. This top down imposition ignores evidence and expertise while undermining local planning and basic democratic principles.

In effect, the proposed law is a repudiation of evidence. It puts forward a false narrative that is contradicted by many studies over decades. It will make traffic worse and limit municipalities ability to do what is best for them to actually solve these problems in nimble and locally appropriate ways.