I am a driver, a cyclist,…

I am a driver, a cyclist, and a pedestrian. During most weeks, except in the dead of winter, I practice all three of these modes of transportation.

As a cyclist, I find that bike lanes help keep me safe by providing a specific place on the road for me to ride. I also find that motorists recognize the purpose of bike lanes and are better at providing space for cyclists than they are on roads that do not have cyling infrastructure.

When I am driving a motor vehicle, I also find that bike lanes work well to separate the various modes of traffic. I have never found personally that bike lanes cause congestion.

Even outside of my support for bike lanes, I find it upsetting that this bill is taking decision-making away from municipal governments. Does this government not recognize that municipal councilors have the local knowledge to make decisions about road infrastructure? Local planners and local governments should have the say in how our roads are used. Please do not move forward with this bill and take that responsibility away.