As a resident of Ontario,…

As a resident of Ontario, specifically the Greater Toronto Area, I am deeply concerned by Premier Ford's  Bill 212 – Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act. It shows wanton disregard for the people of Ontario and the millions of tourists who visit Toronto every year.
 
Questions for Premier Ford:

- *Why is the provincial government proposing to step on the mandate of a municipality?* Mayor Chow and Toronto City Council, who represent the residents of Toronto, have formally expressed opposition to Bill 212: https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.CC23.1 How do you respond to their formal opposition? 

- 120 physicians  and researchers at the University of Toronto have opposed Bill 212. These include emergency medicine , trauma, surgery, anesthesiology, intensive care, rehabilitation, psychiatry, pediatrics and family medicine doctors, all  who bear witness to the trauma inflicted on pedestrians, cyclists and the drivers of motor vehicles due to traffic-related injuries. I.e., 120 experts in human health and safety. *How have you taken the health and safety of Ontario's residents, including cyclists and pedestrians, into consideration with the " Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time " Act?*

- As physicians have stated, "among survivors [of road collisions and accidents] the horrific consequences of motor vehicles hitting pedestrians, cyclists and people in other vehicles are difficult to imagine. Brain injuries that fundamentally change personalities, memories and cognition; torn spinal cords that commit people to lifelong ventilatory support; scars from surgeries; post-traumatic stress disorder from both the trauma and the care required to help people survive. These patients spend weeks and months in hospital, and often never return to work or school. https://healthydebate.ca/2024/10/topic/legislation-road-design-safety-t…  

- So far in 2024, 14 motorists, 3 motorcyclists, 6 cyclists and 18 pedestrians  are dead, never to be seen by their friends and family again, due to traffic related  trauma. (source: https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/streets-parking-transportation…  ) Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act states that "accidents and lane closures can worsen traffic congestion and impact the quality of life of Ontarians" - yes, they can also lead to the loss of life of Ontarians, such as was the tragic fate of the 24 year old woman killed on July 25, 2024  when a construction bin blocked the bike lane at Bloor Street, near Avenue Road, forcing her to merge into traffic whereby she was hit by a large commerical vehicle. This death was preventable. *With your proposal to remove bikes lanes and prevent the installation of future ones, have you considered how many more people will die or be severly injured?* (source on death https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/dumpster-in-cyclists-death-illegally-b….)

Bike lanes save lives.