The proposed legislation is…

The proposed legislation is an evidence free direct assault on the health, welfare, and commuting convenience of cyclists throughout the province, although principally targeted at those in Toronto. The legislation is motivated by the elected government’s desire to gin up its base rather than for a legitimate legislative purpose, and the government is prepared to kill and injure cyclists to do so, all while meddling in municipal affairs. Bike lanes, and in particular fully separated bike lanes, have been proven, statistically, time and time again, to:

(1) improve safety of all road users;
(2) not increase vehicle travel times materially, and sometime to reduce them a bit;
(3) make vehicle traffic more regular and safer because vehicles (and bikes) are not changing lanes;
(4) increase revenues for businesses located along bike lane routes; and
(5) not interfere with emergency service vehicles or their time of response.

The elected government knows all of this. The bureaucracy knows all this. But the elected government, led by politicians who wouldn’t ride a bike if their lives depended on it and who view life only through the windows of their SUVs and pickup trucks, is choosing to ignore this evidence so it can kill and injure cyclists and thereby gain applause from people who likewise ignore all evidence in favour of political messaging and spin.

This bill is an outrage and should be withdrawn immediately.