The proposal to create…

The proposal to create additional barriers to block the addition of bike lanes, or their outright removal is ridiculous.

There is a wealth of research showing adding bike lanes reduces congestion by offering better alternatives to driving. In contrast, the addition of more lanes to highways typically increases congestion by inducing more demand for drivers to use cars rather than lower impact alternative like biking and public transport.

Further, bike lanes save lives. This summer was the most deadly summer for cycling deaths in Toronto in years. Doug Ford himself went cycling with Jagmeet Singh in a television segment and acknowledged how much he appreciated not having to share a lane with traffic and felt much safer with dedicated bike lanes. Alternatively, when cyclists have to share a lane with cars, they slow the flow of traffic as vehicles have to wait for a safe opportunity to pass the cyclists. This scenario can be circumvented entirely by improving dedicated cycling infrastructure.

Additionally, promoting active transport methods like walking, cycling, or using public transit reduces greenhouse gas emissions in a two-fold manner. Commuters choosing to use active transport options reduces the total number of greenhouse gas emitting vehicles on the road, but also reduces congestion, allowing the remaining vehicles on the road to get where they want to go faster with less idling in traffic jams.

A less talked about benefit to active transport alternatives is the opportunity for more people to get active. Currently, a minority of Canadian adults achieve the minimum recommended physical activity guidelines recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to lead healthy lives. As we grapple with an obesity epidemic, weighing heavily on our healthcare system, reducing quality of life, and shortening life expectancies, encouraging Canadians to use active transport options like cycling can improve the lives of people across the country and reduce healthcare burden by preventing obesity and the many comorbidities commonly associated with the disease.