I have lived in downtown…

I have lived in downtown Toronto, North York and now live in Uxbridge. Since childhood, I have used a bicycle to get around the city, including biking to elementary, secondary school and university, work and after having a child, biked to daycare/work with my child in a child seat. I have also been a driver on the same streets.

Having also travelled to European cities that are very bike friendly, I can confidently say that we have room for improvement in Ontario. In summary:
- Insufficient planned space: Most of the roads we bike on in Ontario are fully shared with vehicles with inadequate space for safe biking alongside cars. Many roads have no shoulder or space for a cyclist and car to pass safely.
- Poor driver education: A good proportion of drivers are unaware the cyclists have a right to share the road. I have had individuals yell at me that I shouldnt be there, coal-roll me and intentionally drive onto a gravel shoulder in front of me to kick up gravel in my face.
- Lack of protective infrastructure: In busy urban areas protective infrastructure like barriers or separations between cyclists and cars are rare. These are needed to increase safety for cyclists, and increase the number of people who use bikes for transportation. Many are scared to ride bikes in urban areas because these are missing.

I pay significant provincial taxes and expect our provincial government to do better when it comes to establishing a framework and systematic supports to improve our active transportation system. This bill will degrade current state as follows:
- The scope of the legislation extends province-wide and the risks include the politicization and polarization of bike lanes
- Bill 212 restricts where new bike lanes can be built
- An addendum to the framework will require the province to remove sections of the Bloor Street, Yonge Street, and University Avenue bike lanes in the City of Toronto and return them to a lane of traffic for motor vehicles
- If passed, Bill 212 will provide the province with the authority to establish a review process on other existing bike lanes

I strongly urge you to revise this Bill prior to passing it to law so that we will build a strong active transportation system in Ontario.

Sincerely,
49yr old female now living in the Durham Region.