I am a driver who commutes…

I am a driver who commutes from the Uxbridge area to Toronto twice a week for the past 4 years. This proposal seems like it is going to put barriers up to creating safe roads for both cyclists and drivers. It says that it "Recognizes that accidents and lane closures can worsen traffic congestion", and yet, it seems to be discouraging creating more bike lanes. Is hitting a cyclist not considered an accident? Does it not result in lane closures? I fully support more bike lanes, not fewer. I have even changed my commute route from a 2 lane road to 1 lane with a bike lane (was taking Carlton across from Parliment, now taking Gerrard). It is not noticeably longer for me to take this new route. What I do notice is a peace of mind I have knowing that cyclists have their own lane, and I have mine. Cyclists aren't simply going to disappear if bike lanes are prevented or removed. They will continue to use roads, and I will have to continue to keep my head on a swivel, because I know that the onus is on me, the driver, if there is an accident with a cyclist. Additionally, cyclists are helping to reduce pollution from driving, and they are taking steps to work healthy activity into their day, which will save our healthcare system money in the future.

I wholeheartedly disagree with this proposal. Please do not put up barriers to municipalities creating more bike lanes. This seems like needless extra tax payer money in administrative/bureaucratic processes, when I believe the municipalities themselves would have superior knowledge of their needs, not the provincial government.