Dedicated bike lanes enhance…

Dedicated bike lanes enhance the safety of commuters who do not drive motorvehicles - not everyone who needs to go somewhere in Toronto necessarily drives a car. Many cannot afford one, or they are students who are too young to drive independently. Bikes are a comparatively more affordable form of transportation, accessible to people across socio-economic classes, and ages. The province needs to consider how bike lanes contribute to the safety of these people too, every day.

Single-passenger vehicles play a significant role in traffic congestion, and by making cycling safer and more convenient for commuters, we can help reduce the number of single-passenger vehicles on the roads. Research proves that when roads are widened, drivers make more trips, make longer trips, and choose the car more frequently. The cycle of traffic continues, despite the increase in roadway capacity. Rather than encourage more drivers, a better strategy would be to create safer, more convenient alternatives for people.

There is also extensive evidence to suggest that the design of our built environment is in fact a significant contributor to community health. By designing environments that are conducive to cycling and walking, we help more people fold physical activity into their daily routines. This not only eases traffic congestion, but it provides us with the opportunity to also foster our community's health and wellbeing.

This proposal, being put forward by the province is unlikely to reduce traffic congestion over the long term, and will have a net negative impact on community health and safety. It does not appear to be grounded in any real, documented urban planning best practices. It is a misleading and costly proposal designed to build political populism for the current provincial government.