I am a suburban resident in…

I am a suburban resident in a riding that is currently Conservative, and I strongly oppose this bill. Removing bike lanes would not reduce gridlock, since it would just cause bikes to go in the car lane. On the other hand, providing safe alternatives to driving for people who want them helps traffic. It removes cars from the road and prevents accidents. This is not a matter of choosing between the best interests of drivers and cyclists - both are helped by including bike lanes in road design. It is also good for business, because cyclists go at lower speeds and have more flexibility, making them more likely to stop and shop.

Furthermore, I urge the government to protect our farmland and protected areas, and to save taxpayers billions of dollars by abandoning Highway 413. We are facing increasingly more destructive natural disasters and food prices are astronomically high. The cost of both of these factors need to be considered when deciding to destroy our rich farmland and green spaces for a massive infrastructure project that will induce more demand for driving.

Lastly, I oppose the provincial government’s continual attempts to override other elected representatives, like municipalities and school boards, and to exempt itself from existing laws. I would like to see more respect for the separation of powers that keep democracy strong. Micromanaging municipal matters is inefficient and does not serve Ontarians. We elected local representatives who best understand the needs of our communities, and they should be allowed to do their jobs.