We are writing as…

We are writing as professional representatives from public health, planning, transportation to share our deep concerns about proposed Bill 212. The Ontario Public Health Association, the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI), and the Ontario Traffic Council (OTC) are united in our appeal to the Province to remove the requirement for municipalities to seek provincial approval for bike lanes that will remove a lane of vehicular traffic. We have attached the Ontario Public Health Association's submission, as well as those of OPPI and OTC.

This legislation would be a setback for municipalities’ efforts to plan for and develop safe and efficient multi-modal transportation systems. Municipalities know their communities and use the best information ad evidence available to them to integrate active transportation into their transportation networks. There is documented evidence that bike lanes do not contribute to traffic congestion.

Providing more infrastructure for people to cycle safely will benefit the environment, local economies, and public health. It will help ensure that more people can get to where they need to go safely, regardless of age, ability or income. We urge you to review the evidence and information presented in the attached letters and amend Bill 212.

Yours truly,
The Ontario Public Health Association (OPHA)