Re: Bike Lanes
Enacting Bill 212 would be a colossal mistake. It is no exaggeration to say that the lives of everyday Ontarians, from the very young to the very old and from the able-bodied to the physically impaired, are at stake.
The science is clear: Bicycle lanes and cycling infrastructure save lives. They save the lives of cyclists, obviously, by separating them from fast moving, multi-ton vehicles. But they also save the lives of pedestrians, who can enjoy sidewalks and public spaces with an extra layer of separation from traffic as well.
Bicycle lanes provide options to people with mobility impairments, because now they can more comfortably ride their mobility devices on smooth pavement instead of a bumpy sidewalk. With bike lanes, children gain greater independence because they can safely transport themselves to school or a park or a friend’s home and not need to weave in and out of traffic.
Bicycle lanes even save the lives of drivers. Separating cars from slower moving vehicles allows everyone to act more predictably. Predictable drivers are safer drivers.
We need more bike lanes, not fewer.
Your claim that only 1.2% of people bike to work in Toronto is not evidence-backed, and even if it was, it would miss the point.
The world is in the midst of a climate and environmental crisis. Premier Ford, I do not know if you have noticed, but we are currently in late November and the temperature still regularly rises to double digits in Southern Ontario. I am sure you can remember winters past with extreme snowfalls, but those days look as if they are behind us. And while our automobile addiction is not the whole problem, it is a significant factor. We are driving ourselves towards catastrophe.
We need more cyclists, not fewer.
How can you expect to encourage people to make choices that are healthier for themselves and for the planet if you do not provide the tools for them to do so?
I implore you, as a cyclist, as a citizen, as a voter and as a member of my community to reconsider Bill 212. We can do better.
Respectfully,
Korey Francis
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Korey Francis 