I strongly urge the…

I strongly urge the provincial government to end its war on Toronto bike lanes. Toronto is a complex major city of many millions, with its own local government that's responsible for running the city in ways that serves the residents best, including making decisions such as how to improve transportation safety.

The city has spent years studying how to improve transportation safety, with cycling infrastructure being a necessary mode for a city this size. I would like to see what studies the province is basing its decision on to dictate that the city undo all this work. Arbitrary top-down dictation of commands by the province is not healthy for a thriving mega city such as Toronto.

Why is the provincial government overreaching and antagonizing the residents of Toronto, particularly those who bike regularly. As a major city, public transit, walk-ability, and biking infrastructure are the best options for people who live here to move around. Just like in all major cities world over, transport by car should compliment but not supersede the other safer modes of transport for various reasons. I will highlight a few reasons why bike lanes are great for Toronto.

1). Safety: Dedicated bike lanes ensure drivers and bikers alike are aware of their zones, hence reducing the likelihood of accidents. Deaths of bikers in Toronto have been a sad statistic over the years and the city's efforts to reverse this trend by focusing on bike safety through bike lanes has made a huge difference.
2). Health and environmental benefits: No pollutants are left behind with biking. Biking is also keeps people active physically, which is good for health and that indirectly trickles down to lower stresses on our already overburdened health care system.
3). Reduced congestion: Local residents seeking to move around the city by bike ensures fewer cars on the roads and the associated benefits of that shift: reduced congestion, reduced pollution, etc.
4). Community and business cohesion: Moving around by bike makes it easier to connect city neighborhoods and businesses. Be it kids visiting friends by bike or folks going about they weekend activities such as shopping at farmer's markets or other local businesses.

Please don't divide us by trying to solve something that needs no solving. The optics of this entire charade sound scream 'politics'. Stay in your lane (pan intended).