I am writing to express my…

I am writing to express my profound disappointment and vehement opposition to the proposed removal of Toronto's bike lanes, an unnecessary and misguided intervention into city planning that undermines our community’s safety and prosperity. This unilateral decision to interfere with local infrastructure not only sidesteps municipal authority but also poses a real threat to the safety of all road users—cyclists, drivers, and pedestrians alike. It will waste millions of taxpayer dollars while achieving no measurable improvement to traffic flow or road use efficiency.

Bike lanes are a critical part of our urban infrastructure. They are not a luxury or a side project but a necessity for the safe and efficient movement of people within our densely populated city. Removing these lanes disregards evidence-backed data on how multimodal infrastructure enhances traffic flow, reduces collisions, and ultimately promotes a healthier, more sustainable city. There is no research that supports the claim that removing bike lanes will reduce congestion or improve travel times in a meaningful way; in fact, studies repeatedly show that bike lanes improve traffic flow and reduce overall congestion in the long term. This decision demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of modern urban planning and Toronto’s specific needs.

Furthermore, the millions of dollars necessary for this project could be far better spent on initiatives that actually address our province’s needs—whether in healthcare, housing, or public education. Toronto’s residents, who have invested time, effort, and money into the city’s active transportation networks, deserve their voices and decisions to be respected by provincial leadership, not trampled by unnecessary and costly interferences.

I urge you to respect Toronto’s right to self-governance and immediately halt these actions. Allow our elected city council to work with local stakeholders to determine the infrastructure that best supports Toronto’s needs. This overreach does not serve the people of Toronto, nor does it align with the values of safety, sustainability, and fiscal responsibility that our community holds dear.