I am very strongly opposed…

I am very strongly opposed to the legislation proposed in Bill 212.

I am concerned that removing bike lanes would be an expensive step backwards, especially since many of these lanes were only completed recently. The removal of bike lanes in the city of Toronto is estimated to cost $48 million or more given that there would be unknown costs for designing and building alternate cycling routes, which would utterly waste the money spent to construct them in the first place.

Moreover, the proposed initiative is not an effective way of solving the issue of congestion. Bike lanes prevent cyclists from taking up space on the road and can reduce the overall number of drivers on the road. Due to induced demand, increasing the number of lanes for cars is not a viable method for reducing traffic congestion. Furthermore, forcing cyclists back onto the road places them at a higher risk of being struck and injured or killed by a vehicle.

Aside from the proposed legislation against bike lanes, I am also strongly opposed to the legislation proposed to accelerate highway construction, particularly Highway 413 Act. The area proposed for the construction of highway 413 is critically important for our watershed and includes thousands of acres of prime farmland. Any construction undertaken in such a sensitive area should be subject to the regular environmental assessment process and not be rushed through it. In addition, I do not think highway 413 is an effective method of reducing highway congestion.