The ministry proposes to…

The ministry proposes to remove existing bike lanes on three streets in downtown Toronto that form the core of the cycling network, linking the downtown to midtown, East York and Etobicoke. They will also require a redundant review process that would create an unnecessary bureaucracy to delay new bike lanes.

Treating bike lanes as a wedge issue instead of part of a complete congestion & safety plan is insulting and dangerous. This is a life and death matter. This proposal will result in more deaths and injuries on Toronto's roads. These physically separated lanes have reduced injuries for all road users while increasing active transportation options in a clogged and growing city. But we need to do more, not less! Six people were killed on their bicycles this year in Toronto - including on Avenue Road, where the city has finally taken steps to make the road safer for everyone.

This proposal will also waste tens of millions of dollars, hurt local businesses, and fail to meet the supposed objective of reducing gridlock. Downtown Toronto will never fit the cars of everyone who works and lives there, and no amount of roads will fix that. T The province should focus on accelerating and opening new transit lines that can move more people, improve travel options, and leave space for those who really need to drive. Lessons could be learned from the Gardiner to get those projects in service faster so more people will have transit as an option to get to work and other destinations.

And please don't forget, not everyone who bikes chooses to bike - for some people it is their livelihood or the only way they can afford to get around. I think Premier Ford's said it best after biking in the city: "You're nervous when there's no bike lanes. At least I was. We have to do everything we can to make sure there's never a death in the city. One death is way too many when it comes to bicycle riders."

The government should withdraw this bill and instead focus on how to increase safety and mobility for everyone across Ontario.