I am a driver and a cyclist…

I am a driver and a cyclist. Traffic is very bad in Toronto, but removing the Bloor bike lanes will not solve that. Studies (like this https://tcat.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Bike-Lanes-and-Business-on-B…) show that bike lanes are a good thing, and increase business! If the MOT wants to make a positive economic impact (as he claims removing lanes will do) we should actually build more. Yes it can be inconvenient as a driver, but that doesn't mean they should be removed. Bike lanes feel more comfortable to bike safely through the city. Meaning one less person driving or using public transit. One less car parked somewhere. These bike lanes are essential.

It's also incredibly frustrating the Premiere of Ontario thinks he should be making municipal decisions. He should not. He should leave it to the city government. I understand people in Etobicoke are frustrated by the bike lanes, but people in Toronto like them and use them. The Minister of Transportation continues to cite decades old stats to try to back up this bill, when in reality I'm sure he and the Premier know that today's stats wouldn't support removing the lanes. Drivers will always be angry and frustrated by traffic, removing bike lanes will not change that. Mr. Ford will still receive calls from angry drivers until the end of time.

Other major cities are building more bike infrastructure, not removing it. Why? Because they increase business for local shops and increase safety for cyclists (and drivers!) among other proven positivies. Toronto (and Ontario) should continue moving forward to the future, even if it's not always by car.