The proposal to interfere…

The proposal to interfere with municipal decisions about bike lanes is a terrible idea. Bike lanes are approved by city councils that are democratically elected - if the population didn't want them, they would elect different councillors and mayors. As well, bike lanes are essential for intensifying central Toronto. While many new condos and apartments are being built, there's no room for any more cars in central Toronto. Instead, new buildings are providing bike parking so that people use bicycles INSTEAD of cars. If all of those people are made to drive, Toronto's terrible congestion will only get worse, whether or not am extra curb lane in provided.

As well, most of the bike lanes are replacing curb lanes that were used for parking most of the day. During rush hours, when they were supposed to be open, they were rarely used for through traffic because they were blocked by people turning right, or by people making illegal short stops. The only use was for sometimes high-speed dangerous passing on the right, but cars in those lanes always had to merge back eventually, which only made congestion worse. I know this because I have been both a driver and a cyclist on some of the streets targeted for bike lane removal, before the bike lanes were installed and after. They are now safer and faster to use as a cyclist, and no slower as a driver but definitely safer. All that's required to maintain existing travel speeds is to make sure there are turn lanes at intersections, which the city has been systematic in providing.

Please abandon this terrible idea - it is a waste of provincial time and resources, and can only make things worse. The whole point of municipal governments is they have a better idea of local needs than a remote provincial government.