I live in Toronto, Ontario,…

I live in Toronto, Ontario, and I oppose Bill 212.

Re: SCHEDULE 4 - HIGHWAY TRAFFIC ACT
I support the bicycle lanes on Bloor Street, Yonge Street, and University Avenue. Bicycles are a vital form of transportation for many people in the city who cannot afford a car – cycling is not just a cute hobby. Bicycle lanes also make it possible for people to learn about local businesses and make quick stops compared to taking the Bloor street or Yonge street subway lines. Many residents make trips of less than 5km that could easily be taken by bicycle instead of by car, reducing the number of cars on the road and improving circulation.

When I worked on University Avenue and commuted 30min by bicycle, the Bloor Street bike lane made me safer every single day. I continue to use this lane to go grocery shopping, visit friends, and otherwise travel across the city. When I talk to people about why they do not ride their bicycles in Toronto, the concerns are usually safety. Making cycling and public transit more affordable, safer, and easier so there are fewer cars on the road will improve traffic for the cars that are left. Also, these vehicle lanes transformed into bike lanes had a lot of parking beforehand, so reinstating them will not improve circulation. To address congestion, it might be more helpful to review the increasing numbers of ride share drivers and users who frequently block traffic lanes, as well as deliveries being made during peak commuting hours.

Furthermore, the review process for municipal submissions adds an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy and delay by paying the provincial public service to do work that municipal planners already do before bike lanes are installed, with the benefit of local expertise and context. In the case of the Toronto bike lanes, the work has already been finished, and removing the lanes will be costly and lead to additional car lane closures during the removal. No timelines are provided for developing the criteria for evaluating bike lanes, nor are specific details given regarding the stakeholders targeted.

Re: SCHEDULE 2 - BUILDING HIGHWAYS FASTER ACT, 2024
This section of the act inappropriately overrides municipalities’ local by-laws in favour of giving the provincial government more power.

Re: SCHEDULE 3 - HIGHWAY 413 ACT, 2024
The exemption from environmental assessment of the highway 413 project will have devastating impacts on local ecosystems, as well as potentially on the highway itself. Summer 2024 was rainy, causing flooding and damage in Toronto due to building roadways without adequate drainage, leading to water building up on roadways and making them dangerous and impassable. Exempting highway 413 from these considerations risks repeating past mistakes.