I lived in Toronto when…

I lived in Toronto when there were no bike lanes, and I often cycled around the city to business meetings and to social engagements. It was much more dangerous to cycle then. Now, when I go back to visit Toronto, I feel much safer and more willing to cycle, particularly as I age. Cycling is good for aging people because of the balance, cardio-vascular and general health benefits, so it helps decrease costs for our public health care system. And, bike lanes encourage more cycling, thereby decreasing congestion on the roads and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

Now, I live on a farm near the small town of Campbellford and I still enjoy cycling. Our local municipal government of Trent Hills has marked some bike lanes on some of the major roads, and it's a great safety improvement. It has also encouraged more people to cycle because they feel safer.

The Provincial government should stay out of these kinds of decisions, that are better left to municipal governments. We need more investment in health care, education and the environment. The cost of planning, designing and building the bike lanes, and now having the Ontario Government wanting to mandate their removal is an irresponsible use of taxpayers' money. We should all be encouraging active transportation like walking and cycling.