I am writing to express my…

I am writing to express my strong opposition to Bill 212. While I understand the importance of addressing gridlock, this bill fails to recognize the serious safety risks it poses to users of non-motorized transportation like cyclists, scooter riders, rollerbladers (my primary mode of transportation), and pedestrians.

By requiring provincial approval for new bike lanes that could reduce traffic lanes, the bill discourages the development of protected spaces that are essential for the safety of cyclists and other non-motorized vehicle users. Without dedicated infrastructure, we are forced onto roads alongside speeding vehicles, increasing the risk of collisions, serious injuries, and fatalities.

In a year when pedestrian deaths have tragically risen, largely due to speeding drivers, this bill’s provisions—such as encouraging faster traffic flow and raising speed limits—only make our streets more dangerous. Non-motorized transportation plays a critical role in reducing congestion and pollution, and should be encouraged through safer infrastructure, not jeopardized by legislative barriers.

I urge you to reconsider Bill 212, as it compromises the safety of those who rely on active, sustainable transportation methods. Protecting lives should take precedence over marginal reductions in traffic time.