While I appreciate that…

While I appreciate that there are some members of our community that travel by bikes. I do not believe this implementation was done in a thoughtful or inclusive manner. As a healthcare leader that lives in the west end of Toronto, I rely on these impacted roads such as Bloor Street to commute downtown for my job. I can easily say that it has at minimum doubled my commute time as a result of these changes. Further, I hear from my staff and colleagues on how difficult their commutes have become and that they do not wish to work in downtown hospitals as a result. Unfortunately, as I am sure you are aware, many of the most specialized hospitals are in the downtown area and are depended on by thousands of Ontarian's each year to receive the most intensive and complex care needs. Further, I have personally witnessed more aggressive and frustrated drivers, that are to an extent justified in their emotions. It is without debate that Toronto's public transit system is sub-par in performance to other global cities, and often dangerous. I point you to many public news articles and eye-witness testimonies from day to day public transit users in Toronto as an exhibit of its extremely disappointing service and infrastructure. These new bike lanes have created an environment that is unfathomable for those that are simply trying to work and live.

On a personal level, I have stopped frequenting many businesses along these bike lanes due to longer commutes, less parking availabilities and general inconvenience. As a resident of Etobicoke, we frequented many restaurants and local businesses along Bloor Street in the past. Upon installation of these bike lanes we have stopped attending these businesses not due to their respective faults, but due to the business unfriendly environment that the City of Toronto imposed on them. It is truly unfair and punitive that the City would introduce such measures to local businesses that are trying to survive after many years of hardship during the pandemic.

Further, I ask what design studies were conducted in creating these bike lanes. The City speaks as if inclusivity and accessibility is a key driver of their initiatives. I argue that not only were these bike lanes not created with thought, but that they do not even meet the requirements of AODA. To provide an anecdotal example, I have an elderly mother who has movement issues that I often accompany to medical appointments. Unfortunately, one of her appointments were along the newly minted Bloor Street bike lanes. Not only was finding a parking spot nearby nearly impossible, once we did find a parking spot, and she exited from the passenger side and she nearly tripped on the rock dividers almost getting hit by a cyclist that was travelling at an extremely excessive speed.

I urge the Province to step in and remove these bike lanes. These lanes are not only an inconvenience, but are dangerous and have created an environment that is not conducive to growing and living in Ontario. Thank you for you attention to this important matter.