I am very much against this…

I am very much against this policy change for so many reasons.

- Cities are in the best position to make decisions about how to serve their citizens. Centralizing these decisions at the provincial level removes decision making power from those best positioned to make the trade offs. It used to be, at least according to their own press releases, that conservative governments supported small government with local accountability, not central planning.

- The policy posits, even in the title, that removing bike lanes will reduce gridlock while numerous studies have shown that is not true. Adding lanes to roads and removing bike lanes can temporarily improve flow but even if they do the effect is short lived and soon overwhelmed by the addition of more cars. This government seems to have a knee jerk preference for cars and their drivers, often from the suburbs, at the expense of all other users. I have two sons both of whom live in denser parts of Ottawa and Toronto and neither own or use a car. (For studies see: (https://epub.wupperinst.org/frontdoor/deliver/index/docId/6597/file/659… and https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5c0e5848e5274a0bf3cbe124… for example)

- Cars, bicycles and pedestrians are in competition for increasingly scarce space in dense urban settings. Cars should not be winning that competition. Bike lanes, increased walking space and other measures make streets safer for people and invite greater use. Business associations have seen the results of these improvements which is why the Bloor BIA for example is asking that you keep your hands off their bike lanes.

- To achieve our climate goals we should be putting more energy into encouraging greener transportation options like bikes and walking as well as investing more in mass transit. Any effort to increase the use of cars is a very short sighted choice. Even if you don't care about or believe in climate change just the extra health damage from vehicular emissions and micro-plastics from tire wear should be enough to desire a reduction in our use of cars. A similar argument can be made for traffic fatalities.

- The policy does not appear to be based on any research, or detailed planning work, instead it seems to be the personal preference of a few senior politicians. This is not how our government should work, governments should be making decisions based on policy proposals backed up by research and best practices from around the world.

- Bike lanes and bike shares are finally starting to get the kind of traction they deserve. The massive increase in use of the Toronto and Montreal bike share programs over the past few years show just how popular this transportation option is. The people using bikes to get around deserve to be able to do so safely and enjoyably every bit as much as drivers do.

To sum up, MORE BIKE LANES NOT LESS, and certainly never remove those that have finally and at great cost been installed.