I am very concerned about…

I am very concerned about the proposed legislation from the Ontario government that would deny municipalities the ability to install new bike lanes on major streets without provincial approval. If passed, the new rules would severely limit municipalities’ ability to protect all road users, fight climate change, and ease congestion.

All of Ontario’s municipalities are struggling to address road safety, congestion and its negative impacts on local economies, public health, the environment and climate. Limiting their options - and forcing them to seek provincial approval for local decisions - will only make the situation worse and create more time-consuming government red tape, and worse, will lead to an increase in traffic fatalities. Bike lanes allow more people to travel in less road space, in addition to improving safety for all road users.

Municipalities in Ontario need the power to implement the Transportation Master Plans they have developed for their context.
The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) stated that bike lanes are crucial for urban transportation planning and road safety, and requiring provincial approval would be a significant overreach.

AMO has further emphasized the importance of local knowledge and community input to develop transportation plans that balance traffic flow with priorities like active transportation and environmental protection.

I strongly urge the government to reconsider this legislation and allow municipalities to freely undertake their responsibility for transportation planning.