I have a number of issues…

I have a number of issues with the proposed legislation that would require provincial approval for new bike lanes and, worse, would even potentially remove existing bike lanes:

1) Common sense approach

The PC party mentions often that it is a party that uses a "common sense" approach to managing our transportation network, however common sense should never replace experts such as engineers, planners, and scientists, especially for something as complex as transportation and road planning. I would never attempt to build a house based on my personal common sense opinion about building -- I would consult a qualified builder as a minimum, and possibly an architect as well.

2) Removing car lanes could exacerbate the situation

The suggestion that removing car lanes or adding bike lanes would make traffic congestion worse seems intuitively correct, however actual scientific studies have shown just the opposite -- making it easier to drive actually increases traffic and makes congestion worse, in the long term. This is an example where relying on common sense would lead you to the wrong conclusion.

Here are some posts and studies which explore this idea further:
https://bsky.app/profile/mbonsma.bsky.social/post/3l6n25us3f52m

https://nacto.org/docs/usdg/disappearing_traffic_cairns.pdf

https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Impact_of_Highway_Ca…

(Links provided by University of Toronto Data Sciences Institute)

3) Problems, particularly for small businesses that depend on vehicle access for customers

Lastly, the suggestion that reducing car lanes is damaging to local businesses has also been shown to be incorrect. In fact, increased foot and alternative traffic can actually improve the situation for local businesses, not make things worse. Many businesses in the Bloor Street West business area have signed a petition requesting that the existing bike lanes already there remain, since they have been shown to be beneficial to their businesses.

The Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering and the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering at the University of Toronto have published a joint study in which they studied the impact of bicycle infrastructure and how to prioritize new infrastructure that is equitable and optimal. The paper associated with this study can be viewed here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2024.104010

I hope that your party will reconsider this proposed legislation and instead allow Ontario's transportation experts to do their jobs unimpeded by this wrong-headed and unnecessary encumbrance.

Thank you.