I am registering my strong…

I am registering my strong disagreement with this proposal. At a time when we should be facilitating decreased use of cars to decrease traffic congestion, improve air quality and decrease dependence on fossil fuels, this proposal is retrogressive and represents a step backward. "Sustainable cities of the future will be those where transport options that do not depend on fossil-fueled private vehicles are the norm". Removal of existing bike lanes in Toronto will use money that could better be used elsewhere (education, health, housing) and the construction required to remove bike lanes will have detrimental environmental impacts. Furthermore, the proposal to remove bike lanes in Toronto and to require provincial approval for bike lanes in all municipalities oversteps the mandate of the provincial government.

Traffic congestion does not result from bike lanes. It does result from:
- lack of workable alternatives to the car, including networks of CONNECTED bike lanes and efficient public transportation
- blockage of roads by road construction projects, building construction that spills into traffic lanes, closure of traffic lanes to provide parking space for workers, failure to open up traffic lanes that no longer need to be closed
- delay in completion of construction, including that of public transportation lines

Bike lanes keep cyclists safe. They also make it easier for traffic to navigate streets used by vehicles and cyclists.