As a Toronto resident,…

As a Toronto resident, cyclist, and father, I am heartbroken to learn that the Ontario government is proposing not only to block future bike lanes, but to tear out existing ones.

Well-planned, well-designed bike lanes are essential infrastructure for a liveable city. They encourage active transportation and ensure that drivers and cyclists can share roadways in clearly defined ways.

The bike lane on Bloor Street, in particular, has long been a cherished dream of the cycling community - and once the period of construction and initial adjustment is behind us, I believe there's every reason to hope it will be broadly received as a landmark of a healthy, modern, climate-aware city.

We don't need to get mired in unhelpful rhetoric that pits drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, and transit users against each other. Many people use all four of these modes of transportation to get around, and we should be able to do it in the confidence that our safety and dignity are well supported at every level of government.

With urgency, I'm asking you to respect local decision making, and not undo the recent progress in making Toronto a bikeable city.