As active seniors, despite…

As active seniors, despite joint replacements and heart valve issues, we love riding our bikes for recreation and transportation. Living north of Bloor however, means that we have no access to safe routes to get us to downtown and the superb infrastructure already in place south of Bloor. So what do we do - ride on the sidewalks (illegal and dangerous for pedestrians), risk our lives on very busy streets with parked cars taking up most of the lane we would ride on (note the risk of getting doored), or do we just give up and put our bikes in our car and drive to where we can ride? But that defeats the whole purpose of active travel. We like to visit our local shops, cafes, restaurants, Drs, and meet friends in the the parks on our bikes but this government's ridiculous hatred for our mobility choices is taking these options away from us.

We can't believe we have to keep communicating our distress and disgust at this Ontario government's relentless attack on the humble bicycle. With so much wrong with the world, and Ontario in particular, at present, why is your focus on such a lame issue. How many hours have you wasted in discussions of how to attack cyclists, hours that we are paying for? You know full well that protected lanes for cyclists do NOT create traffic congestion and you know that they make our roads safer for ALL road users, drivers included. We strongly believe that your attack on bike lanes along with your recent attack on speed cameras shows that you just want to have the road for motor vehicles and no others. What's next? Ripping out our sidewalks and removing traffic lights? And it takes this government away from dealing with the really serious issues we face: climate change (bikes help reduce emissions), health care (bikes keep us fitter), mental health (bikes can reduce stress), homelessness, high cost of affordable rental units for the many who can't afford a place of their own ... and the list goes on. But no, you prefer to put your energy into attacking us - two vital and active seniors who believe in community, sustainability and integrity.

Bill 212 at least pretended it would set criteria for new bike lanes. But Bill 60 drops that pretense. It lets the Province ban any reduction of motor vehicle lanes, and the wording is so broad that it will not just impact bike lanes but also affect bus priority lanes, patios, school streets, and other street improvements that rely on reallocating space. This isn't just about settling grudges against Toronto. The consequences will be felt across Ontario. Why are you so intent on stripping our towns and cities of their own decision-making powers? Why are you ignoring so many of us who have fought back against this ridiculousness?

This all smacks of Trumpism - we believe that Premier Ford, despite what he says on camera, actually admires Donald Trump and the power he's getting across the US, particularly in punishing democratically aligned states, and now he feels he could so the same thing!! Make a huge power grab against those who clearly, via the votes, do not support him. Shame on you all at government.

So, what will it be - Trump style policies that are forced through despite the public outrage? Or will you start listening to sane minds and stay in your lane. Let municipalities steer their own paths and make their own decisions.