I strongly oppose the bill…

I strongly oppose the bill to reduce the number of bike lanes on major city streets. There is no compelling evidence to suggest that removing bike lanes will have a significant impact on traffic congestion or improve the flow of traffic. In fact, many studies show that well-designed bike lanes actually reduce congestion by encouraging more people to use alternative modes of transportation, which decreases the number of cars on the road.

Reducing bike lanes undermines efforts to make our cities more sustainable, safer for cyclists, and more pedestrian-friendly. It also sends the wrong message about prioritizing car-centric solutions over more balanced transportation options that benefit the entire community. Instead of eliminating bike lanes, we should be expanding them to support a healthier, less congested, and more livable urban environment.

I strongly recommend the Province explore alternate methods of reducing congestion in highly populated urban centers. Some alternatives to this bill that have proven successful in reducing congestion include expanding/improving public transportation, promoting/expanding cycling infrastructure, improved traffic management technology, better parking management, and pedestrianizing areas. These initiatives are mainly managed at the municipal level, however, the Province should consider supporting municipalities in pursuing these efforts if meaningful change is to be accomplished.