The three major bike lanes…

The three major bike lanes along Bloor, Yonge and University Avenues have been game-changers for me as a professional commuter in Toronto in the last few years. I have been commuting to a downtown-core office since 2017, primarily as a cyclist. It's my primary method of getting to work because it is (a) free; and (b) faster than any other option, including driving or TTCing. When I'm cycling, I'm in full control of my schedule to get to work, and not governed by construction delays, transit delays, or any other external impacts.

Before these bike lanes were formalized as separated, protected spaces, it was much scarier and less comfortable to get to work. Driving culture in downtown Toronto has been incredibly intense for years (and was intense and full of drivers who would be pushed to do illegal / scary things because they felt desperate in gridlock even before those bike lanes went in... this is NOT a context caused by the bike lanes), and the commute to work was not safe - but I did it anyway because of the reasons mentioned above.

The bike lanes have completely changed my experience. They make me feel safe, secure, and able to commute in a way that's much less stressful and on guard. I have been so proud to live in a city that's building progressive multi-modal infrastructure, which is in line with best practices in urban planning (I am an urban planner, with a Master of Planning degree). Beyond politics, there are many things your government is doing that are in line with best practices in planning (e.g. acceleration of the provision of housing, major moves to address municipal red tape), but this one is explicitly regressive and counter to best practices. Cyclists are also your constituents, and the fact that we don't necessarily have access to vehicles to drive to work, or that we just know it's always been impractical to drive into Toronto's downtown core during rush hour, should not exempt us from substantial infrastructure for a safe commute.

Finally, the massive waste of taxpayer money involved in ripping out infrastructure that has JUST been built is mind-boggling, and it's amazing to me that this is even under consideration. Please, please don't do this.

Thank you very much for your time and attention.