Good day, I am a planning…

Good day,
I am a planning grad student, and I am opposed to Bill 212 in its entirety. Specifically, for this comment, I am opposed to the removal of any existing bike lanes. Removing bike lanes increases the risk of cyclists being injured and killed on the road, and will not help to increase the flow of traffic, as is evidenced in many traffic studies.. This move appears to be less about evidence-based decision making and more about a political culture war that will result in people getting killed. Is that worth political points? Removing lanes will just push cyclists into the existing car traffic lanes, or will move those cyclists back to driving, both of which will slow traffic down. Toronto EMS has stated response times have improved since the bike lanes were installed, so what is the justification for removing them? If cyclists end up dying, and traffic does not improve, will the Provincial Government be liable for those deaths?

I am also opposed to having any additional cycling lanes go through an approval process. What a ridiculous waste of time and money to have an additional bureaucratic step to implement something that planners know will help save lives, improve traffic flow, reduce carbon emissions and increase public health.
It is very embarrassing and ridiculous to have the Province meddling in what should be an entirely municipal affair, and that has so much positive evidence backing it.

The Province should be having an open and honest dialogue with communties about how they want to get around their communities, make sure that is backed by the latest planning evidence (ie reducing the number of car trips by allowing multiple modes of transportation!) And help to implement solutions, instead of authoritatively pushing cars and car-dependancy as the only solution. Cars are incredibly negatively impactful to our communties, and any opportunity to have other mode shares, which help to reduce traffic, greenhouse has emissions, improve public health etc. Should be promoted.