ERO number019-9266 I have…

ERO number019-9266

I have serious concerns with this proposal. The underlying assumption is that more traffic lanes would equal faster traffic and this is NOT true. More traffic lanes encourage more traffic to take that route, increasing congestion.
It also ignores the massive contribution safe bike lanes make to reducing traffic as more bikes on the roads equals fewer cars on the road.

I have lived in a number of large and small cities in the province and often find that biking is a faster mode of transportation than public transportation or driving; and the health and wellness benefits can't be denied.

In my experience having designated bike lanes increases the number of people choosing to bike.

I strongly disagree with the provincial government giving itself the authority to prioritize traffic lanes over bike lanes. Municipalities should have the ability to make these decisions for themselves.

I now live in a small town in a rural area with no public transportation and insufficient sidewalks. It often feels unsafe to walk or bike. The town is working hard to build more sidewalks and designated bike lanes. Imposing bureaucratic barriers that would strain an already stretched municipal office would mean bike lanes wouldn't be built/maintained and residents would suffer.

Bike lanes in larger cities are critical to ensure safety of those who commute by bike as well as families with children who would otherwise have no where to bike safely.