As a taxpayer, lifelong…

As a taxpayer, lifelong resident of Ontario, a long-term resident of Toronto, a pedestrian, cyclist, transit user and driver, I have extensive experience getting around this city on all available forms of transportation, unlike, frankly, many of the MPPs in the Ontario legislature. I strongly object to any bill or amendment to any bill that proposes removing existing infrastructure that is designed to both make people safer in their commutes and to encourage a multi-modal approach to commuting that also takes into consideration environmental impacts. I also object to taxpayer money being used to dismantle these bike routes that are widely used within the GTA. I live on Bloor Street - I see how car traffic flows and how bike lanes are used. It's a system that works! Bloor Street is an obvious smart route for bike lanes because it also runs atop a subway line - no one has any excuse not to take advantage of the subway when travelling into downtown Toronto, even if they are not able or interested in using the Bloor bike lanes. Any legislation that priorities car traffic as a central mode of transport in cities is a step backwards that ignores the data available and the extensive consultation and study that municipalities undertake for these projects, not only in a city like Toronto, but also in cities across the world that prioritize expansions to public transportation, to pedestrian-friendly streets, and support safe routes for cyclists. Be very clear - pedestrians and cyclists are not going anywhere. Even if existing bike lanes are removed, people will still cycle and car gridlock will still proliferate - it will just be more stressful and unsafe for everyone. Cars create gridlock, not bike lanes. Create more lanes for cars and they will simply fill with more cars. People need to be given alternatives to driving that are safe and reasonable. Invest money in transit if you want to make a a real difference in this issue. I am really horrified by this government and the tremendous retrograde decision-making represented in this bill that wantonly panders to an increasingly diminished base of support - as a reminder, this government was formed with only 40.84% of the vote in the lowest turnout of voters in Ontario's history (43.53% of the population voted at all).