To whom it may concern in…

To whom it may concern in the Ontario government,

I am writing to voice my concerns and serious dismay regarding the potential removal of cycle tracks on Bloor St., Yonge St., and University Ave. Not only will it put the lives of my friends and family directly at risk, but it will also make Toronto and Ontario less attractive places for the world's top talent looking for a vibrant and innovative place to live.

Regarding safety, I have several close friends who don't have cars and use these cycle tracks on a daily basis. One of my best friends uses the Bloor cycle track to get to work downtown from his home along Bloor St. Three of my friends frequently use University Ave. to traverse downtown and access businesses such as gyms. These people do not have cars, and these cycle tracks serve as lifelines for getting around the city. If they are removed, not only will many of the city's amenities will become more inaccessible to them, but their lives will also be put in direct danger as they ride in mixed traffic with cars and trucks, so I will be terribly worried for their safety. Over half of households in Toronto's densest wards in the urban core do not own cars (see TTS survey in the attached URL), and cycle tracks make our city's streets more accessible and safer for these households.

Regarding making Toronto less attractive, I can speak from experience. I am a Torontonian PhD student studying engineering in Boston-Cambridge. I grew up in Toronto and went to U of T for undergrad; I love the city and wish to make it my home in the future. Currently living in Cambridge, Massachusetts, I have discovered the benefits of safe and comprehensive cycling infrastructure. The city has invested significantly in connecting different areas with safe cycle tracks along main streets. This has empowered many people like me, who came to Cambridge to take part in its innovative academic and entrepreneurial organizations, to be able to get around efficiently, safely, and affordably without owning a car. It has enabled me to see my friends, attend community events, and access local businesses and restaurants without stressing about parking or getting stuck in traffic. This demonstrates how cycle tracks provide an alternative way to get around that makes sense in dense neighbourhoods such as Toronto's innovative urban core. If all the newcomers in these densifying neihbourhoods drove, our streets would be even more congested and grimy, no matter how many car lanes there are, making our city a worse place to live. I dream of moving back to Toronto after finishing my PhD, but if I am faced with a Bloor St. that is grimy, congested, and unsafe, then I would seriously have to reconsider that choice and perhaps choose more livable cities like Cambridge instead.

I desperately plead for my elected representatives in Ontario's government to respect the needs of residents in Toronto's densest neighbourhoods by preserving these crucial cycle tracks. They enable safe, affordable, and efficient transportation for many people, make our main streets vibrant and attractive, and make our city more livable and competitive on the global stage.