The bike lanes have improved…

The bike lanes have improved my life in the city of Toronto. They have help reduce grid lock by providing safe transportation alternatives. With the new bike lanes I've now become a bike share member. It helps me get through the city in a quick and safe manner. As a young adult I would ride my bike through the city on Bloor and would be terrified. The constant dodging of pot holes and riding next to both moving and parked cars made me constantly uneasy. Worring someone would open their door and cause an unintended accident in a live rode. I would ride in fear. Especially after I flipped over my handle bars after breaking to a car that idled half in and out of a parking position. I fell into a live lane of traffic and was deeply shaken up. I eventually stopped riding all together for over 5 years. With the introduction of the Bloor bike lanes I began trying to ride. I am able to ride along the city with ease and affordability. These bike lanes bring a lot of safety to riders. Please please do not impede the development of new bike lanes. As this infrastructure was something we had been asking for for years and now that we finally got it the provincial government wants to tear it down. It's an essential piece to creating affordable infrastructure and reducing grid lock. Transit infrastructure needs to incorporate new elements to evolve and not focus relying on old ways. There are multiple studies done in major cities like NYC showing that bike lanes move more people and don’t impact traffic times significantly. I will also say walking as a pedestrian on bloor street easier with the bike lanes introduced. The side walks feel less cramped. If something happens we can step into a bike lane for a moment and not be at risk of being hit by a car. It’s made bloor so much safer.
- Toronto resident