Mr. Ford (not Premier Ford), once again, you have failed the people of Ontario on issues of environmental protection and road congestion.
Bike lanes in major cities like Toronto are essential for daily transportation and play a crucial role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. I agree that there has been poor planning with some of Toronto’s bike lanes, but announcing their removal is not a solution. Just as you relied on medical experts during the COVID pandemic, turn to cycling experts—such as Cycle Toronto—and the City of Toronto to find a collaborative solution for bike lanes and road congestion. Also, focus on the major reasons for road congestion first – get the Eglinton LRT running, allow trucks to travel on the 407 free, and start cleaning up our road construction especially in downtown Toronto.
Back to bike lanes. Evidence shows that providing safe infrastructure, like separated bike lanes, has a traffic-calming effect by encouraging more people to choose cycling as a mode of transportation. In Toronto, the Bike Share program has grown from 655,000 in 2015 to to 4.6 million in 2022. Mr. Ford, Bike Sharing is working and growing! Mr. Ford, as a businessman, you should understand that removing bike lanes could harm businesses along these routes, as they benefit from cyclists who stop and shop along the way.
In summary, Mr. Ford, collaborate with transportation experts, including cycling advocates, before declaring, ‘we’re ripping up Toronto bike lanes.’ This approach does not benefit our environment, our transportation needs, or even your political standing. Focus on and announce smarter solutions to address road congestion—removing bike lanes and building new highways is not the answer for now or the future.
Watch Video: Bike Lanes
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