November 19, 2024 Hon…

November 19, 2024

Hon. Prabmeet Sarkaria
Minister of Transportation
5th Floor – 777 Bay Street
Toronto, ON M7A 1Z8

Dear Minister Sarkaria,

RE: ERO 019-9266 – Bill 212, Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, 2024 – Framework for bike lanes that require removal of a traffic lane

On behalf of Vélo Canada Bikes, we are writing to express our strong opposition to the proposed Bill 212, “Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, 2024” which would require provincial approval for new bike lanes on municipal roads involving the removal of a traffic lane, and would allow for the removal of existing bike lanes where a traffic lane has been taken away.

As the national voice for everyday cycling, Vélo Canada Bikes has been working for 12 years to promote evidence-based approaches to urban planning. We played a leading role in advocating for the establishment of Canada’s National Active Transportation Strategy and Active Transportation Fund in order to support the creation of the very type of safe infrastructure which this bill threatens.

This bill represents a serious setback to the progress that has been made in Ontario toward improving road safety, public health, and sustainability. It is based on gross misconceptions about the causes of road congestion, undermines municipal autonomy, and will worsen the safety of vulnerable road users, including cyclists, pedestrians and wheelchair users.

Removing Bike Lanes Will Not Solve Road Congestion
The assumption that removing bike lanes, to allow for more car lanes, will lead to decreased road congestion is fundamentally flawed and entirely without evidence. Traffic congestion in municipalities in Ontario is driven primarily by over-reliance on single-occupancy vehicles, decades of under-investment in public transportation and active transportation infrastructure, and a lack of policies to reduce car use. When more car lanes are available, congestion actually gets worse due to the well-established phenomenon of induced demand. The removal of bike lanes will not address these core issues but will instead reinforce a car-dependent culture that exacerbates congestion.

By prioritizing cars over other forms of transportation, Bill 212 fails to recognize the positive role that bike lanes play in reducing the number of vehicles on the road. Dedicated cycling lanes provide a safe and efficient means for moving people around cities. A two-way protected bike lane can move 7,500 people/hour compared to only 600 to 1600 people/hour for a single car lane. Encouraging cycling reduces the overall number of cars on the road, helps ease congestion, contributes to cleaner air, improves population health, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and enhances quality of life.

Rather than restricting or removing bike lanes, Ontario should be focused on supporting the construction of multi-modal transportation networks that include cycling, public transit, and walking infrastructure, as these are proven ways to reduce road congestion and improve the overall efficiency of the Province’s transportation system, including for drivers.

Increased Risk to Vulnerable Road Users
A very concerning consequence of this proposed bill is that it will increase the risk of serious injury or death for vulnerable road users, particularly cyclists, pedestrians, and wheelchair users. Removing bike lanes forces cyclists to share lanes with cars, making them more vulnerable to collisions.

Multiple studies have shown that dedicated bike lanes are a critical element in reducing cyclist fatalities and injuries. Removing them would result in fewer safe spaces for cyclists, thereby increasing their risk of injuries and death. Without safe infrastructure for cycling, we risk a greater number of preventable deaths and injuries on Ontario’s roads, which will place a substantial and unnecessary burden on Ontario’s health care system.

Jurisdictional Overreach and Municipal Autonomy
Another troubling aspect of this bill is the overreach of provincial authority into municipal decision-making. Municipalities are best placed to understand the specific needs of their communities and to make decisions about transportation infrastructure accordingly. Duly elected local governments, in consultation with their residents, are working hard to create safer, healthier, and more sustainable transportation networks and communities.

This bill would strip municipalities of their ability to make decisions that reflect the priorities and needs of their residents. Cities like Toronto, Ottawa, and Hamilton have made significant progress in improving active transportation infrastructure, but this bill would slow down that progress and potentially reverse the positive steps already taken. Municipalities should have the autonomy to decide what is best for their communities, not have these decisions dictated by the province.

Lack of Evidence and Best Practices
Finally, Bill 212 is not based on evidence or best practices for addressing congestion or improving road safety. Cities across the world, from Copenhagen to New York, have successfully integrated bike lanes into their road networks, demonstrating that cycling infrastructure can reduce traffic congestion, improve safety and quality of life, and serve as an economic driver. Businesses in Ontario who would be impacted by this ill-advised Bill have already voiced their strong opposition to the removal of bike lanes given the strong economic benefit that bike lanes provide.

The proposed bill to remove bike lanes is out of step with global best practices to prioritize active transportation and public transit. Instead of encouraging sustainable mobility, this bill reflects an outdated, car-centric approach to urban planning, which has been proven to be ineffective in addressing congestion, expensive, and harmful to public health.

In conclusion, the proposed bill will not solve congestion. Instead, it risks making Ontario's roads more dangerous for vulnerable road users, undermines municipal autonomy, disregards evidence-based best practices, and wastes money. Rather than removing bike lanes, we should be expanding and improving cycling infrastructure to make our streets safer and more sustainable for everyone.

We urge you to reconsider this bill and support evidence-based policies that promote safer, healthier, and more sustainable transportation options. Municipalities should be empowered to make decisions that meet the needs of their residents, and bike lanes should be recognized as an important tool in reducing congestion, improving road safety, and promoting active transportation.

Thank you for your time and consideration of our concerns.

Sincerely,

Kate Walker
Chair of the Board
Vélo Canada Bikes

Samuel Benoit
Executive Director
Vélo Canada Bikes