I am a mother of two…

I am a mother of two children who lives in the area of Bloor West (between Runnymede and Jane, north of Bloor). The implementation of bike lanes along Bloor St. West have greatly improved the quality of life for my family in our neighbourhood in terms of safety, area enjoyment and walkability/bikeability.

We shop the local businesses along Bloor St. West daily and have found that the street now feels majestic and grand and like a true Avenue where we were can, as pedestrians and bikers, enjoy life, free of the fear of getting hit by a car or having to run across four lanes of traffic to cross the road. The traffic has slowed down and the bike lanes have created a barrier between the sidewalks and cars and it is truly enjoyable and relaxing and I now have the feeling of being in a European city where we know the local shop owners as do our children.

We use the bike lanes daily to take our children to school from north of Bloor, along Bloor and then South of Bloor. We also use them to bike to our children's activities (tennis and baseball and soccer south of Bloor) and to enjoy High Park and Rennie park and Swansea both on weekdays and weekends. We rarely have to rely on our car as I have a basket on my bike to carry items (like a small trunk of a car).

Before the bike lanes were implemented, I had to navigate local side streets, which still do not feel safe to take children on due to parked cars, narrow streets and two way driving and drivers not regularly abiding by local signage (speed limits, stop signs, etc). The Bloor West bike lanes are free of debris, create unobstructed pathways for transportation and the barriers provide safety and space between bikers and cars. I feel these lanes are safe for my children and require cars to slow down and look as they can expect bikers (prior to turning for example) where on local side streets, this is not the case.

I do not think the provincial government should be overriding the municipal government in this case. This is a local matter and should be handled by local government.

There are a number of fast driving thoroughfares in our neighbourhood (Queensway, Dundas, Lakeshore Blvd W, even Annette and the QEW). Cars do not need to stop and shop along these stretches of road as there are limited businesses on them. Bloor St. W should be for leisure and is not intended to be a thoroughfare. There is ample parking behind the stores on the north side. I would even suggest that most people in the area are walking and pedestrians and not drivers (between Runnymede and Jane).

I would suggest that all those opposed to the Bloor bike lanes try to walk the street on a sunshiney day, buy a croissant from a local bakery and just sit and enjoy life. When you're sitting in traffic, you get angry but there is a different way and it is here and I am proud to show my children what is possible and create a beautiful, local life for them. The Bloor West bike lanes have made this possible. I have no doubt.

Thank-you for your consideration.