I live near Bloor and The…

I live near Bloor and The Kingsway, and I walk through The Kingsway daily. I rarely see congestion. Sure, there is congestion at rush hour, but there always has been and there always will be. Removing the bike lanes would only make it worse, and the bikes aren’t going anywhere. More cars would mean cyclists would be forced to mix unsafely in traffic. As a driver, pedestrian, and cyclist, I know these bike lanes have made Bloor safer: the speed limit has been reduced and a new pedestrian walkway was added near Prince Edward Cemetery. Before the bike lanes and pedestrian walkway, people tended to jaywalk across two lanes of often speeding traffic.

Bike lanes aren’t just a safety feature; they’re critical for connectivity in our city. Without them on Bloor, crossing the Humber River by bike would become significantly more challenging, if not prohibitive. A detour through side streets would require navigating a steep hill—an obstacle that many cyclists simply could not overcome. This lack of direct, accessible routes would hinder active commuting options.

In terms of broader impact, supporting bike infrastructure like the Bloor Street lanes isn’t just about local benefits—it’s about the environment and creating a sustainable city. Studies have shown that cities with comprehensive bike lanes experience reduced carbon emissions, less air pollution, and healthier, safer communities. Removing bike lanes would send us backward, not forward, in tackling climate change and creating a city built around safety and common sense.