I am writing to express my…

I am writing to express my strong opposition to your proposed legislation (Bill 212) to restrict the
installation of bicycle lanes where motor vehicle lanes would be removed, as well as the removal
of several protected bicycle lanes in Toronto.
Please leave decisions about transit infrastructure to the city, and do not implement laws that will needlessly cost Ontario taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars, while not even achieving the stated goal of increasing traffic speeds in Toronto. Decisions about local transit infrastructure should be based on science and evidence, and should be made with the best interests of citizens and taxpayers in mind.
It is well known in the field of urban planning that increasing road capacity does not
improve congestion due to induced demand (1). The most effective way to reduce congestion and to speed up travel speeds for drivers is to provide viable alternatives to driving, such as cycling or public transit. By removing and limiting protected bicycle infrastructure on main streets that provide direct routes and easy access to destinations, the Ontario government will fail to improve traffic flow by reducing the viability of cycling as a mode of transport.
Placing bicycle infrastructure on secondary streets will limit access to local businesses located
along main streets, depriving these businesses of the economic benefits of cycling activity.
Studies have found that visitors to Bloor St. spent more money following the installation of bike
lanes in 2016, and that individuals in North American cities (including Toronto) spend more
money in commercial areas when they arrive by foot or bicycle than by car (2,3). In New York
City, retail sales increased along commercial corridors after the installation of bike lanes (4).
Additionally, placing bicycle routes on secondary streets results in less direct routes and limited
access to destinations, reducing convenience for individuals travelling by bicycle. Therefore,
individuals travelling by bicycle will likely continue to use main streets – only without the
separation and protection provided by bicycle lanes. As a result of this, cyclists will travel
among motor vehicles and will be at an increased risk of injury and death, while potentially
slowing motor vehicle traffic. In Canada, 73% of deaths by cycling collisions involve a collision
with a motor vehicle (5). By removing bicycle infrastructure on major corridors, the Ontario
government will be directly responsible for increased injuries and fatalities on these routes.
I urge the government to reconsider this legislation and to allow municipalities to decide
themselves where bicycle infrastructure is needed.

References
1. Speck, J. (2018). Understand Induced Demand. Accessed from:
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.5822/978-1-61091-899-2_27
2. Arancibia, D. et al. (2019). Measuring the Local Economic Impacts of Replacing On-Street Parking With Bike Lanes. Journal of the American Planning Association
85(4):463-481. Accessed from:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01944363.2019.1638816?casa…
3. Volker, J. and Handy, S. (2021). Economic impacts on local businesses of investments in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure: a review of the evidence. Transport Reviews 41(4):401-431. Accessed from:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01441647.2021.1912849#d1e2…
4. New York City Department of Transportation. (no date). The Economic Benefits of Sustainable Streets. Accessed from: https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/dot-economic-benefits-of-sus…
5. CAA. (no date). Cycling by the Numbers. Accessed from: https://www.caa.ca/driving-safely/cycling/bike-statistics/