The need for bike lanes in…

The need for bike lanes in Toronto, especially on Bloor, Yonge, and University, should not be decided upon by provincial legislators who spend little time commuting in the Toronto downtown core. They are commuting in from their respective areas like Brampton, North York, etc. and if they choose to drive instead of taking Go Trains, etc, they should blame themselves and not Toronto locals who cycle to help reduce traffic, parking, noise and air pollution, and importantly improve safety for pedestrians and other cyclists.

The city of Toronto has and has had mayors and councillors that prioritize bike lanes, because that is what the city and its residents want and need. Reducing traffic by encouraging cycling does a lot more for reducing gridlock than increasing traffic with more car lanes.

Toronto is a metropolitan city, not a sprawling suburb. We need more efficient ways of travel, like cycling, rapid transit, subways. The provincial government, and especially Doug Ford, need to focus on their responsibilities of funding transit construction and holding the contracted companies responsible for the endless, pathetic delays. They are as incompetent as the companies and workers who fail to finish the job of the Eglinton Crosstown and not-so-soon-to-be Ontario Line.

Let the experts do the talking, Doug. Get out of your car and start cycling, and then you’ll understand. Any Ontario MLA who supports this bill must also get on their bikes and experience Dupont Street, Yonge or Bay Street where there are no bike lanes. To take out major arterial bike lanes that are, often times, too narrow to be car lanes, is frankly, stupid. It is parked cars that take up space for car lanes. They need to be moved to underground and above ground lots. Build those, Doug, if you love cars so much!

The solution to grid lock is more transit and more healthy, safe cyclists who do not need to worry for their lives as the work, learn, and in live in OUR city of Toronto.