I am frankly baffled by Bill…

I am frankly baffled by Bill 212, which makes no sense to me on a practical level.

It will cost millions of dollars to dig up the bike lanes that have been installed (additionally wasting the money the city has already spent on their installation), and create months or years of construction mess - adding to traffic gridlock in the city.

I also think the Bill is an example of provincial overreach. Municipalities are in the best position, and have the legal right and responsibility, to oversee infrastructure projects in the interest of their citizens.

Thirdly, the Bill is an example of backwards thinking on the part of the province. World class cities all around the world are investing in cycling infrastructure, with excellent results in terms of safety, quality of life and last but not least, traffic gridlock.

Fourthly, the rationale underlying the proposal is not borne out by the facts. Traffic congestion in our cities has been created by poor planning, provincial interference and unrestrained development over the past decades (and in particular over the past 5 years). While running roughshod over the city's ability to reign in speculators and big developers who throw up massive condo towers throughout the city core, the province then blames the resulting congestion and traffic chaos on bike lanes.

Finally, separated bike lanes actually work! They encourage more people to cycle as a form of commuting - not just young fit men, but women, youth and older people who are at present more fearful of hazarding a biking commute in the traffic nightmare that is Toronto. Separated, safe bike lanes are part of the solution to traffic congestion, not a cause.

Thank you in advance for taking my comments into consideration.