I disagree completely with…

I disagree completely with the intent of this proposal. Ontario municipalities should have the autonomy to make decisions on active transportation within their jurisdiction, including bike lanes, to accommodate the needs of all residents and visitors. Toronto has bike lanes for a reason - the road traffic is and has always been a danger to cyclists. I myself, and my family members, have ridden there since 1990 — there are more cyclists than ever now (if Mr Ford and his staff ever got out of a car and rode in the city during morning rush hour they would know how important the core bike lanes are for the safety of the growing number of cyclists and other mobility device riders). Many Toronto residents, and many commuters NEED the bike lanes to make getting to work reasonably affordable. Taking the bike lanes away won’t do anything to solve grid lock, but it will guarantee that people who can barely afford housing in this city (a travesty itself), will find it harder and harder to get to work (you think they will be the ones enjoying that extra lane of car traffic? Decisions like this will also drive young professionals who work in the downtown core to leave the city because it will be impossible for them to get around safely and if they have to buy a car they’ll head to the suburbs where they can have driveways to store them. The parking situation in Toronto which is already untenable, won’t improve by bringing even more cars into the city core. There needs to be careful (not populist) evaluation of what the transportation needs are for this region, and a long term plan (with financial commitment) to achieve it. Look at cities like Amsterdam, Oslo, Helsinki, and Stockholm for inspiration. We do not all need to be behind a steering wheel. Our health improves when more people engage in active transportation. Our politicians need to make decisions that are more equitable for all. Why not consider making Toronto’s downtown core car free instead?