Bike lanes contribute to…

Bike lanes contribute to inclusive and well-rounded communities by offering people convenient and equitable transportation options to meet their daily needs. As a Registered Professional Planner, bike lanes provide people with options, improve public health and safety, support economic activity, foster social interaction and community connectivity, improve air quality and mitigate climate change
impacts.

The proposed legislative changes will not alleviate congestion, but will heighten public safety risks, and deviate from evidence-based practices. Additionally, these changes contradict the 2024 Provincial Planning Statement, which includes several policies that advocate for the use of bike lanes.

Congestion, particularly in the GTHA, is at an unprecedented level, and there is a general agreement that measures must be taken to reduce traffic while acknowledging the limitations of available roadway space. That being said, when I did live in Toronto I only travelled by bike and public transit, despite having a car. Cycling in the City was a healthy and a more time/cost-effecient mode of transporation. The Province's focus should be to develop roadways that ensure safety for all users and offer multiple transportation options, including walking, cycling, public transit, and driving.

I also believe the Province should avoid evaluating bike lane infrastructure for all of Ontario solely through the perspective of the GTHA. Similar to the PPS 2024 (which is now GTHA-centric), this approach reflects a narrow view of development across the Province. In my experience with planning in Windsor, there are numerous underutilized roadways that would be ideal for cycling infrastructure. Implementing this additional layer of regulation will further hinder an already slow-moving process.