As a regular user of bike…

As a regular user of bike lanes in the City of Toronto it is inconceivable to me that the government would be willing to sacrifice my safety by removing bike lanes.

Cycling is my primary mode of transportation and I rely on the bike lanes to safely and efficiently move around the city and patronize local business.

If I am injured or killed while cycling because the bike lanes have been removed, what would Premier Ford say to my wife and my eight month old daughter? That removing bike lanes was worth my child growing up without a father?

Removing bike lanes won’t impact congestion, it will only increase accidents involving the most vulnerable road users. I applaud the government for its commitment to improving public transit on the GO lines and the new Ontario line. Bike lanes are no different. Focusing on providing alternatives to driving is the only way to truly decrease congestion.

Roads should not be monopolized by cars and in my experience, the worst congestion is caused when a lane of traffic is take up by parked cars, not by bike lanes. I think this act would be better served opening up roadways by preventing cars from parking in the street and blocking an entire lane of traffic.

Additionally, I am deeply concerned with the removal of the requirement for environmental assessments for Hwy 413. If the government chooses to go ahead with this project it should not be at the expense of the environment. The government has a regulatory agency has a responsibility to ensure that any construction does not negatively impact the environment and members of the nearby communities.