I have cycled in Toronto my…

I have cycled in Toronto my whole life, from biking to school in the downtown core as a child to biking to work downtown from the west end at least eight months of the year through my working life and now, as a retiree, biking to my doctors’ appointments, to exercise class and to social events. I always look for a route along a bike lane because I feel much safer than riding side by side with the cars on busy streets. I fear if the bike lanes on Bloor Street, Yonge Street and University Avenue are removed, the number of cyclist deaths will increase dramatically. It will likely mean I will choose my bicycle less often for my trips around the city. I doubt it will deter the number of bicycle couriers on our streets, so their lives will be put in danger. There are many studies that show the positive benefits of bike lanes. I think the government needs to show the public some studies that show that tearing out bike lanes improves traffic congestion and doesn’t lead to more deaths of cyclists. A responsible government wouldn’t arbitrarily introduce a bill like this without reputable proof that what they propose will alleviate congestion. The article in the link below summarizes a lot of the key benefits of bike lanes.