Bill 212 is a threat to road…

Bill 212 is a threat to road safety, local businesses and climate change. While the bill proposes a framework to tackle gridlock, its approach is not based in evidence and data.

There is so much research that shows that bike lanes are not the cause of traffic congestion. For example:

1. Adding vehicle lanes to roadways actually increases congestion and carbon emissions because it's creating induced demand by encouraging more cars on the road in the long-run. Source: http://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5c0e5848e5274a0bf3cbe124/…

2. Bike lanes encourage more people to leave their cars at home and gives them a more reliable way to get from point A to B. Between 2015-2023, Bike Share Toronto ridership has increased from 665,000 bike trips to 5.7 million trips annually. Source: https://schoolofcities.github.io/bike-share-toronto/growth Every one of those trips is taking a vehicle off the road to reduce congestion. This shows that if you invest in bike infrastructure, people will use it.

3. Bike lanes bring in more customers to local businesses. A 2019 study found that the number of customers frequenting local businesses increased after the installation of the Bloor bike lane. Businesses also reported more consumer spending post-bike lane installation. Customers who arrived by bike or foot also reported higher spending in the area than folks who arrived by car or transit. Source: https://www.tcat.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Bloor-Economic-Impact-St… During a time when many local businesses are struggling to bounce back from COVID due to rising rent and inflation, this Bill will further hurt storefronts along Bloor St., Yonge St., and University Ave.

4. Bike lanes keep people safe. 6 cyclists have died in 2024, which is the highest number of cyclist fatalities in the city in the last five years. Personally, I was in a bike accident on Adelaide a few years ago before they put in separated bike lanes. Sadly, my story is not unique as the majority of cyclists in this city have also been in at least one accident. It's terrifying to bike on roads without proper bike infrastructure and I now limit my routes to ones that have bike lanes. Removing bike lanes and impeding the development of bike infrastructure in this city is completely negligent, irresponsible and dangerous to the safety of Torontonians. Removing bike lanes will without a doubt cause more cyclist accidents and deaths.

The root cause of gridlock in the city is an underfunded and crumbling transit system and limited bike infrastructure giving people alternative ways to get around the city. The reality is that COVID has also increased the number of vehicles on the road as many Torontonians have been priced out of the city due to rising housing costs but still need to commute into the city. Rather than propose a Bill that's based on false claims about bike lanes adding to congestion, the Province needs to be spending taxpayer dollars on holistic and evidence-based solutions that will support transit and transformation infrastructure development that benefits EVERYBODY. This Bill is irresponsible and short-sighted to say the least.