Dear Premier Ford, I am…

Dear Premier Ford,
I am writing to you as a concerned constituent, regarding the proposed Bill-212 Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act 2024.
As both a cyclist and a driver, I am greatly opposed to this bill. Not only will it be ineffective, it will inevitably result in a loss of human life when cyclists get hit by cars.
Closing bike lanes won't reduce gridlock or save you time. Simply put, motor vehicles cause congestion, not bikes. Despite unfounded claims to the contrary, the evidence shows that bike lanes do not create additional congestion, whereas people switching from bikes to cars does. Combined with proposals to build the new 413 highway and create a traffic tunnel under the 401, these plans further lock us into the car-centric planning decisions that lead to congestion in the first place.
Removing bike lanes can be considerably more costly than installation. Municipalities have not budgeted for this, and even if the province picks up the tab, ripping out functional transportation infrastructure is not fiscally responsible.
• Bike lanes are an incredibly efficient way of moving people and are able to move many more people per hour than a lane focused primary on moving motor vehicles.
• Bike lanes help to provide transportation choice, which helps to reduce the overall number of motor vehicles on the road. Just as highways result in more car trips, bike lanes increase cycling trips.
• Bike lanes save lives, and help to make our roads safer for everyone, including people in motor vehicles.
• Reallocating road space to transit and active transportation reduced traffic volumes and GHG emissions without substantially changing traffic speeds.
I urge you to revoke your support for Bill-212.