As a downtown resident, I…

As a downtown resident, I rely every day on protected bike lanes to commute to and from work. The expansion of protected bike lanes in the city has been instrumental to increasing the safety and speed of my trip. At the same time, we've observed the success of the Toronto Bike Share program leading to 6M+ new cycling trips per year - directly reducing traffic on Toronto streets. As demonstrated by the Bike Share program, it's important to consider that choosing to bike is not a political choice but a practical decision to get to where you need to go quickly and efficiently.

For some perspective, I am fortunate enough to be able to afford a car and I am financially able to drive to work. Instead of choosing to bike or take the TTC, I can easily choose to drive every day. If the legislation passes and bike lanes are removed, why should I risk my livelihood to continue to bike to work? Instead, your government would incentivize me to drive, in turn, creating more traffic in downtown Toronto. Given tens of thousands cyclists ride everyday, any cyclists that chooses to drive will only worsen the traffic issue in Toronto. Lastly, the government must consider the vulnerability of cyclists in mixed traffic. Unfortunately, a cyclist died in Toronto in 2023 and nearly 30 people have been critically injured. The province is responsible for the health and safety of its residents.

Overall, I appreciate the government's commitment to reducing gridlock in the GTA. In particular, I believe the progress on the Ontario Line and GO Transit Expansion program will be transformational for the region. I strongly encourage the government to strengthen their investment into transit to address the issue instead:
> (Similar to the Gardiner) Accelerate the constructions of SmartTrack stations and GO Expansion projects
> Invest in the GO Bolton-Caledon line
> Build ambitions projects like the Midtown GO Line
> Fund the TTC & safe bike infrastructure