Re Bill 212: Given the…

Re Bill 212: Given the current Ontario government often references their actions as "for the people", surely your goal is to move PEOPLE, not just cars? No evidence anywhere in the world shows that increasing car lanes in cities moves more PEOPLE.

Around the world, in dense cities like ours (London, New York, Paris, Vancouver, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Rio de Janeiro, and many others), leaders are prioritizing the movement of as many PEOPLE as possible by building more bike lanes, safe and effective rapid transit, and reducing the number of cars on the road, so that those who want or need to use cars can do so with less congestion.

There are reams of data from around the world that support building bike infrastructure, and I have no doubt you have read it. Bill 212 is politically motivated, not about congestion, and not visionary. If you proceed, we will become the laughingstock of forward-thinking governments and cities worldwide, as they understand that the future of the efficient, safe and pleasurable movement of people in cities depends on various transportation options and that prioritizing cars in large cities does not work.

Looking back on your careers in years to come, wouldn't you rather be applauded for being a visionary government to make our city truly world-class than bending to voters for a short-term and ill-fated decision to take our city backwards?

Stop your jurisdictional overreach and allow the professionals (City of Toronto planners, Association of Municipalities of Ontario, Ontario Professional Planners Institute, Ontario Society of Professional Engineers, and Ontario Traffic Council) to make decisions on how best to move people through Toronto. Please repeal Bill 212.

For what it's worth, as this bill is clearly designed for votes, I am a 60-year-old female professional high-income earner who cycles, walks, takes public transit, and drives in the city. And this bill certainly doesn't buy my vote.