Most of the areas in our…

Most of the areas in our cities and towns in Ontario have been developed for car travel over the past decades. Many people are now realizing that the large amounts of common space used for car travel and parking, together with the tax dollars to maintain them, are disproportionate compared to other public space uses. While they may themselves be car users, they are also pedestrians and cyclists or would choose to do more walking and biking if safe and convenient spaces existed to do so. Encouraging cycling is in society's best interest, as it improves people's health while eliminating the pollution associated with the gasoline or electricity use of car transportation. If municipalities, which are run by elected representatives and exist to serve their inhabitants, decide that a fairer, safer and more environmentally friendly use of their local road lanes is to convert them to bicycle lanes or pedestrian spaces, it should remain in their power to do so, and such changes should be supported financially by the Ontario government, given the value in improved health, reduced pollution and better societal wellbeing. The proposed restriction of this in Bill 60 is not in the public interest and it is an illogical imposition on something that cleary should be decided at the municipal level. I am very unhappy about the proposed changes to the Highway traffic act in this bill and strongly believe they should not become law, as it would take this province a step backwards, preventing it from becoming a more attractive place to live with a better quality of life.