Hello -- I am a High Park…

Hello -- I am a High Park resident writing to voice my strong support for the bike lanes on Bloor Street and University Avenue. In any given week, I am a driver, a pedestrian, a transit user, and a cyclist. My interest is getting around the city as quickly as possible, and cycling is often the fastest way.

The bike lanes, especially those on Bloor, have made it easier to run errands; I do most of my shopping in the neighbourhood and I am able to support local businesses much more easily by being able to lock my bike directly in front of them. I spend more money in the neighbourhoods that make our city special and unique, and having bike lanes makes this safer and more accessible.

Moreover, I am an avid road cyclist for fitness, making destinations out of many smaller communities in Halton, Durham, Peel, and Niagara this year alone. When there, I often make a day out of visiting (and spending money at) local businesses and coffee shops. While Toronto's bike lanes don't affect these trips directly, they encourage people to get into cycling, which naturally extends our enthusiasm to get out of the city and travel by bike throughout southern Ontario. But getting more people on bikes safely, especially on busy streets, is the first step.

Lastly, I plead that our scarce provincial tax dollars be directed to the dire and pressing challenges we face as a province: homelessness, crumbling schools, and a heavily strained health care system. Please direct our tax dollars toward projects that will improve as many lives as possible -- taking out newly installed bike lanes isn't that. Minimally increased transit times are not the greatest problem to solve; big cities are busy -- it's what makes them economic engines. Please direct our resources to those issues that will make this, in the PC's own words, a place to grow.

Thank you.