Reject Bill 212 bike lane…

Reject Bill 212 bike lane nonsense!

I write to you to express my extreme disappointment, frustration and shock of the Provincial government to WASTE taxpayer dollars by meddling in local municipal issues with Bill 212’s bike lane approvals and removals. You don’t have the local knowledge to make these decisions. You are adding more red tape than Santa Clauses’ workshop has for a lifetime!

I was born and raised in Toronto and have lived in Etobicoke for more than 40 years. I walk, cycle and drive in the city. I have cycled on Toronto roads since the 90s, with and without bike lanes. I bike from Etobicoke to Downtown for work. I have had near misses with vehicles while cycling and walking, and felt that the “Moving Ontarians Safely Act, 2023” recognized the real risks to all road users and highlighted the care that everyone needs to take for one another. But unfortunately it is not enough. Pedestrians and cyclist continue to die on our roads from motor vehicles. The main roads cannot be used like a highway. Stay in your lane and leave the local roads to the locals.

Have you cycled in Toronto? If not, I would encourage you to try it - on small and large roads, with and without bike lanes. I guarantee you will feel the real difference having a painted line, a few plastic bollards or a curb between you and a transport truck makes. We need the main roads to have bike lanes to cross major barriers, such as Hwy 401, rivers and creeks and railways. I challenge you to get from north Etobicoke to south Etobicoke, or along any east/west route, without riding on a main road. I have experienced many times when mapping a route to my destination, biking is quicker than transit or car. We need bike lanes for people to feel safe, and be safe, with this option and reduce the cars on the road. This is the local knowledge you do not have, thus should not be involved in making decisions on bike lanes.

What is causing our gridlock? Have you looked at the population numbers? The constant overruling by the Province on Municipal zoning decisions, without proper consideration for supporting infrastructure, has pushed the population densities of our neighbourhoods beyond the infrastructure’s capacity - thus gridlock. This is the mess it has made. Not to mention the non-stop development construction that closes and blocks lanes. We cannot travel the same way we did 50 years ago. High speed rail connecting Ontario city centres - YES PLEASE! That should be your focus and that is where I want my tax dollars to go, instead of removing bike lanes under Bill 212 and wasting tax payers dollars.

Toronto does not have the room to make wider roads. Bike lanes move more people in less space. It is healthy (which is good for our health care system! You should focus on that) and reduces emissions (oh, that’s good for our health and the environment and the future of our planet!). Bike lanes make our city more livable. Make solutions for our grandchildren’s children that they will be proud of.

You say not everyone can cycle. Well, not everyone can afford a car, along with the insurance, maintenance and gas, plus parking. What good is affordable housing if people cannot move around in ways they want or need to.

Progressive Conservatives? Ha! I say Prehistoric Conservatives. Bill 212 bike lane approval requirements is ridiculous red tape and removing existing bike lanes is taking us backwards! Focus on moving people throughout the Province. Let Toronto make decisions on planning approvals and local transportation. Don’t make it worse for Torontonians. This is a clear attack on Toronto.

Stay in your lane, please. Reject Bill 212 bike lane approvals and removals and bring us high speed rail.