I disapprove with this new…

I disapprove with this new bill, particularly the removal of bike lanes on Bloor, Yonge, and University in the City of Toronto.

First, this government is overreaching on its jursidiction and is using provincial funds to go against municipal planning.

Second, this government is basing policy on statistics that is biased and out of scope. The commonly used "2% of commuters are bikers" encompasses districts OUTSIDE where the bike lanes proposed for removal. It also ignores recreational use, ages below 15, and other demographics including students.

Third, this government has not studied the benefits of these newly established bike lanes before removal. There is NO strong evidence that congestion has worsened pre-bike lane when controlling for the effects of the pandemic.

Fourth, there is a study conducted by the City of Toronto in 2019 that shows numerous citizens use bikes for commuting and recreation, plus there are numerous citizens who would consider using bikes if infrastructure was available (for improved safety).

Fifth, this government is ignoring multiple studies that bike lanes improve safety for all road users plus small businesses. There are businesses on Bloor that have received increased business due to the flexibility of bikes parking directly outside businesses.

Sixth, this government has not considered the number of commuters that move on these major streets when including and excluding bikers. It only considers the movement of cars, which may or may not hold only 1 passenger at times.

The government should seriously listen to its constituents, especially citizens who live directly in the downtown area of the City of Toronto. Basing policy based on pure observations without supporting evidence is extremely ignorant.