I am opposed to Bill 212 –…

I am opposed to Bill 212 – Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act. I believe this act is regressive and will not have the desired effects of reducing gridlock or saving time.
I firmly believe that building highway 413 will encourage more development farther away from where people work, leading to increased traffic which will quickly overwhelm any new highways. Furthermore, there is already an underutilized highway, Highway 407, which could be used at far less expense to the Province of Ontario. Building Highway 413 will take years and will not significantly reduce commute times. It is well known that the best way to move large numbers of people quickly and efficiently is by mass public transit. Therefore, I urge the Province of Ontario to invest the money they would spend on building highway 413 on increasing GO Transit service and finishing the transit projects in the City of Toronto that have been dragging on for years. Investing in public transit over car infrastructure will save precious Greenbelt land and preserve habitats for many species while ensuring that pollution is not increased by increased numbers of car on Ontario roads.
I also want to comment that I do not believe the Province should be interfering with the decisions of municipalities to build bicycle infrastructure. It is up to cities and the people who live there to decide how they want space to be used. Bicycle infrastructure is very important for people who do not own cars, are unable to drive, cannot afford cars, or choose not to drive. Bicycle lanes provide a safe way for people to get to work, school, appointments, public transit and other destinations that does not make noise, cause pollution, or take up a lot of space. Where there are no bike lanes, people who need to use bicycles to travel are in constant danger from faster and larger cars and trucks. Any city that is looking to the future will be investing in active transport and micromobility, and it seems that the Province wishes to go backward in time. Furthermore, removing already existing bicycle infrastructure is a huge waste of money and resources that will result in more traffic and reduce quality of life for the people who live in cities.